The East-West Shrine Bowl was played on Thursday night after a week of practices and concluded a productive week. Plenty of players put out some good tape and here are five of the biggest offensive Shrine Bowl risers.
Here Are Five NFL Draft Prospects Who Became Offensive Shrine Bowl Risers With Their Performances
QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse
The Syracuse gunslinger has become a sort of media darling as the NFL Draft season has progressed. He came into the Shrine Bowl and his performance solidified that. McCord’s arm talent was on full display and he dissected different coverages in team drills. He could sneak into Day 2 with QB-desperate teams in a tough spot with a thin group of prospects at that position. The signal caller definitely moved himself up boards this week, despite not playing in the actual game.
Potential Team Fit: Los Angeles Rams
RB Jacory Croskey-Merrit, Arizona
Croskey-Merritt’s meteoric rise up draft boards continued throughout the week and he was one of the best players there. His quickness and ability to fly through gaps and create chunk plays were visible all week and was a clear practice standout. He built off of his strong Hula Bowl performance back in early January. and continued to show scouts that he fits the bill of an NFL running back. His week was capped off with 97 yards and two scores on 11 carries in the game Thursday night, taking home Offensive MVP honors.
Potential Team Fit: Las Vegas Raiders
WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington
The comparison between Chism III and former Eastern Washington star Cooper Kupp was running wild on social media as the FCS wideout shined in practice. He flashed an impressive pairing of sharp movements and strong hands to tear apart defenses in both one-on-ones and team sessions. He caught all four of his targets for 43 total yards and showed he can win across multiple levels. The experienced WR has proved himself to be much more than a fun small school story and could see himself getting drafted come April.
Potential Team Fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
Wester transferred to Colorado from Florida Atlantic before the 2024 season and has quietly propelled himself into legitimate draft conversations. Similar to Tez Johnson at the Senior Bowl, he looked purely unstoppable in one-on-ones and kept easily working himself open. His twitchiness and “can’t press what you can’t touch” playstyle lit up practices all week. He’s been a special teams ace across his five years in college and with his recent solid offensive showings, his stock is on the rise.
Potential Team Fit: Tennessee Titans
OL Thomas Perry, Middlebury
Middlebury was one of the biggest stories throughout the week and has swiftly made his name known to many within draft media circles. The Division III lineman showed he truly belonged with top collegiate talent and was a force in OL/DL drills. He saw reps at center and both guard positions and held his own during most of his opportunities. He’s still raw as a prospect and will be more of a developmental project, but his Shrine Bowl week is sure to get him more NFL looks.
Potential Team Fit: Philadelphia Eagles
Main Photo: [Jerome Miron] – USA Today Sports
