2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Preview

Players to watch Thursday in Las Vegas

On Thursday, January 30, at 8:00pm ET the East-West Shrine Bowl will celebrate it’s 100th year of a game that benefits Shriners Children’s. It is one of the first stops for college prospects on their road to the NFL and this year features a lot of talented players. A few of the prospects from last year’s game that made an impact this season are Tarheeb Still, Isaac Guerendo, Edgerrin Cooper, and Tyrone Tracy. The Commanders’ brass selected Dominique Hampton from last year’s game and recently signed Anim Dankwah to a reserve/future contract.

Below are a few prospects to watch in this year’s game that could improve the Commanders’ roster. The roster for both teams can be found here. Feel free to share your thoughts on these players in the comments and mention additional prospects that you are looking forward to seeing in the game.

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East Team Offense

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, RB, Senior, South Carolina

If you’re interested in a big bruiser at running back, consider Rocket Sanders. The 6’, 224 lb Gamecock is a load to bring down because of his size and how hard he runs. He doesn’t have the most burst of acceleration, but his feet are quick and he has subtle movements to get through the hole. For his size, the long speed is impressive. Sanders is most effective when he doesn’t have to stop his feet or change direction quickly.

Kaden Prather, WR, Senior, Maryland

Although his teammate Tai Felton – a Senior Bowl invite – is considered the higher-ranked prospect, Kaden Prather has qualities teams look for at receiver. He’s a bigger target at 6’3”, 209 lbs, but does well getting open at that size despite not being a polished route runner. In contested catch situations, he easily adjusts to the ball and shows off good body control. Unfortunately, that body control isn’t on display as a runner after the catch as he often goes down at first contact and seems to lose balance easily.

Theo Wease, Jr., WR, Senior, Missouri

There are a few similarities between Theo Wease, Jr. and Kaden Prather. Wease, Jr. also has a teammate at receiver who is considered a better prospect – Luther Burden III. They are similar sizes with Wease, Jr. being a little smaller than Prather at 6’2”, 202 lbs. Their play style is similar with both finding ways to get open at that size. Wease, Jr. is a bit more polished at running routes, a little more sudden in his movements and offers a little more after the catch.

Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Senior, Tennessee

The East Team has large wideouts with Thornton, Jr. being the biggest. The 6’5”, 214 lb (not Shrine Bowl official measurements), Volunteer doesn’t have the biggest route tree, but he is effective running in-breaking routes and using his frame to shield defenders from the ball. He also uses that size to win contested catches downfield and win in the redzone. After the catch, the speed is good and Thornton, Jr. has a knack for finding the angle to get the most YAC possible.

Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Senior, Auburn

The East Team features four tight ends, three of which have been discussed in the Future Hogs series: Ben Yurosek, Mitchell Evans, and Oronde Gadsden II. Fairweather was Auburn’s leading receiver in 2023 with just shy of 400 yards and put up similar numbers this season. The catch radius on Fairweather’s 6’3”, 246 pound frame is large, showing it off by making impressive catches outside the frame of his body. The speed down the seam looks like what you see from NFL tight ends. He even lines up outside and creates mismatches on smaller defensive backs. He’s a willing blocker who will win some battles, but this is an area of his game that could use improvement overall.

Dalton Cooper, OT, Redshirt Senior, Oklahoma State

6’5.5, 323 lbs, Dalton Cooper has the measurables of a NFL offensive tackle. In the pass game, Cooper’s feet might not be the fastest but he reaches his landmarks and mirrors rushers pretty well. His hands are strong enough to maintain contact with defenders. He could stand to get a little stronger through his lower half so he can move defenders rather than just walling them off.

Thomas Perry, OG, Senior, Middlebury

Did you know Middlebury College is in Vermont? I did not . . . . Anyhow, Thomas Perry is a stout lineman at 6’2”, 311 lbs and a D3 All-American at left guard. What stands out about him is how quick he is. He fires off the ball, gets his hands into defenders, and keeps his feet moving. He’s been taking reps at center at the Shrine Bowl practices and holding his own. If he can keep showing teams he can handle the step up in competition, he’ll hear his name called early in the draft.

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East Team Defense

Tonka Hemingway, DT, Senior, South Carolina

The South Carolina defensive line had a ton of talent this past season. Tonka Hemingway’s role in that line was to use his quickness to get upfield quickly and disrupt the play. At 6’3”, 288 lbs (not Shrine Bowl official measurements), he is a smaller interior defensive lineman that is quick off the snap and has a high motor. His hand usage is good, but he often relies on his athleticism to beat blockers, so he’ll need to improve his technique. Dan Quinn likes smaller DTs and uses a deep rotation, so Hemingway might be a developmental prospect worth watching.

Johnny Walker, Jr., DE, Senior, Missouri

Did I choose this prospect because of his name…yes. Might he make a good addition to the Commanders…also yes. Walker, Jr. has good length at 6’2” with long arms. While he was successful to the tune of 9.5a sacks, he wins a lot with speed or power rushes. The pass rush moves need to be developed so he can win consistently against stronger, more athletic, and savvier blockers. Although he’s only 246 lbs, he holds up well against the run.

Fadil Diggs, DE, Senior, Syracuse

If you prefer a bigger player on the edge, consider Fadil Diggs. At 6’4” and 258 lbs, Diggs looks like an NFL defensive end. With that size comes some stiffness and lack of explosiveness. Nonetheless, Diggs uses his length to get around the edge and flashes some pass rush moves such as rip moves around the edge. He’s been productive with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss. Syracuse moved him around, even standing him up in the middle of the defense like a Mike linebacker, so he may offer some versatility.

Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Senior, Miami

The Hurricanes leading tackler this past season, Francisco Mauigoa has NFL size at 6’1.5”, 231 lbs. When Mauigoa trusts his eyes and follows his keys, he can blow up plays. He is physical and isn’t afraid to take on blockers and hits hard. My biggest concerns with Mauigoa is that he doesn’t look like he has the best athletic profile. His change of direction, acceleration, and speed don’t look impressive. It is most evident in coverage.

Mello Dotson, CB, Senior, Kansas

Mello Dotson is 6’, 190 lbs, and looks like a corner that Dan Quinn would like. On top of having good size, Dotson is productive. He had five interceptions this season and four career pick-sixes. While I never saw Dotson beaten deep, his long speed is a little bit of a question for me. Another concern is that it can be difficult for him to change direction quickly.

Isas Waxter, CB, Senior, Villanova

I haven’t seen a lot of Isas Waxter, but he shows promise in the little I’ve seen. An FCS All-American and All-CAA player, Waxter is almost 6’1”, 212 lbs with the athleticism to compete at the NFL level. What really stands out is how quickly he can start and stop as receivers work through their routes. He didn’t have a ton of interceptions with only three for his career. but he does have 19 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.

RJ Mickens, S, Senior, Clemson

If you want experience on the backend of the defense, RJ Mickens has that and then some. The son of former NFL defensive back Ray Mickens, RJ is 6’, 207, lbs, and played 60 games for the Tigers moving from slot corner to safety this season. He had one of his best statistical seasons this last year with career highs in tackles, tackles for loss, and pass deflections. I don’t know if Mickens will have the ideal athletic profile of an NFL safety, but his knowledge of the game should help him play faster than he tests.

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West Team Offense

Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB, Redshirt Senior, Arkansas

A big, tall running back at 6’1.5”, 225 lbs, Ja’Quinden Jackson played quarterback in high school before attending Utah and switching positions. What stands out most with Jackson is his vision. He seems to be able to find a running lane and gain positive yardage with his runs. Jackson runs with good body lean to avoid contact and has quick feet to make defenders miss in space. When he needs to, he can lower the shoulder and pick up a few more yards. One thing to note is Jackson did not have a game over 100 yards against any SEC teams, so its fair to be concerned about how productive he’ll be at the next level.

Antwane “Juice” Wells, WR, Redshirt Senior, Ole Miss

Juice Wells spent his first two years at James Madison before transferring to South Carolina. He lost much of his last year at South Carolina to a fractured foot. Fully healthy, he transferred to Ole Miss and returned to his productive ways. At 6’, 203 lbs, Wells uses his suddenness and explosiveness to get open. After the catch, Wells has enough speed to take it to the house and shows his strength by being tough to bring down. He’ll have to answer for some inconsistency throughout the season as he had a few games with no catches.

Carter Runyon, TE, Redshirt Senior, Towson

An All-American in the FCS, Carter Runyon is a talented receiver at the tight end position. He not only can run down the seam and effortlessly catch the ball, but he is a good route runner who can adjust to the ball in the air. His catch radius is big given his height at 6’4” and with an 81” wingspan. He is only 235 lbs, so I’ll have to see how he handles blocking against other NFL prospects. If the team is interested in a later round tight that is more of a receiver, he could be an option.

Luke Lachey, TE, Senior, Iowa

The son of Jim Lachey who played offensive tackle for Washington from 1988-1995, Luke is a little closer to prototypical size for an NFL tight end: 6’5”, 245 lbs. As a receiver, Lachey was not the most productive with only 28 catches, 231 yards, and no TDs, but he is coming off an ankle injury in 2023 that required surgery. Nonetheless, he was a reliable outlet for his quarterback and flashed a little elusiveness and run after the catch. To Lachey’s credit, Iowa’s passing game has not been very productive and the Hawkeyes emphasize rushing the ball. As a blocker, he is willing and shows decent technique, but he has to get stronger in order to hold blocks longer and move defenders off the ball.

Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OT, Redshirt Senior, Florida

Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson transferred to the Gators this past season from San Diego State and showed well against a lot of NFL-caliber pass rushers. That’s thanks to a large body at 6’6.5”, 313 lbs, long 34.5 inch arms, and good ability to move. His feet are fairly quick to help him mirror rushers and can dispose of rushers when he gets his hands into their chests. As a run blocker, he does a good job moving defenders. If he could sink his hips and play a little lower with better leverage, he could be a more effective player.

John Williams, OT, Redshirt Senior, Cincinnati

Another talented tackle prospect on the West team, John Williams plays with a little nasty to his game. He will move players in the run game and is stout as a pass blocker. While he moves well enough to make blocks at he second level, athleticism is an area of improvement for him. I worry that his wide steps in pass sets leave him susceptible to counter moves inside. I don’t like to move tackles to guard until they show they can’t do it, but Williams looks like a player that might make a excellent guard. What isn’t a concern is Williams’ size; he’s 6’3”, 324 lbs, and has 34.5 inch arms.

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West Team Defense

CJ West, DT, Redshirt Senior, Indiana

Indiana had one of the best run defenses in the country this past season and CJ West was one of the major reasons. He is an athletic 314 pounder with a blend of hand usage, quickness, and power to get into the backfield. His eight tackles for loss and two sacks from the defensive tackle position are evidence of that. While only being 6’ tall might help him get leverage against blockers, I worry that shorter arms might make it hard for him to consistently get off blocks at the next level.

Elijah Roberts, DE, Senior, SMU

The West defense has a lot of bigger defensive ends. Elijah Roberts is big, 6’3”, 290 lbs big, but I think he has enough tools and athleticism to play in a 4-3. If not, he can line up inside and pose a potential mismatch for interior linemen. Power is Roberts calling card and he uses it effectively in both the run and pass game. He also shows some good hand usage to get free of blockers, but the ability to bend around the corner is lacking.

Chazz Chambliss, LB, Senior, Georgia

On a defense full of draft prospects, Chazz Chambliss might get overlooked. Chambliss is short at 6’1”, but at 240 lbs he has the mass you look for at linebacker. It allows him to take on blockers instead of avoiding them and deliver good hits when he meets a ball carrier in the hole. He looks like he has enough athleticism to play at the next level, especially on early downs. His style of play for the Bulldogs reminds me a little of how the Commanders use Frankie Luvu.

Zy Alexander, CB, Senior, LSU

Another big corner, Zy Alexander transferred to LSU two seasons ago. Every bit of 6’1”, 192 lbs, Alexander is a physical corner who doesn’t hesitate to get involved in the run game. Each season, he’s been productive with multiple interceptions and several PBUs. However, a few of those INTs were more the result of poor passes than solid coverage. I need to see more of his footwork and how he moves before I’m sold on him. Another question for him will be long speed.

Shamari Simmons, S, Senior, Arizona State

If you want someone who isn’t afraid, look no further that Shamari Simmons. It’s almost as if he has no interest on the football field other than lighting up someone on offense. It’s a little surprising because he’s only 6’, 195 lbs (there are no official measurements for him from the Shrine Bowl.) Regardless of size, Simmons is relentless pursuing players and attacking the football, evidenced by his four forced fumbles. While he is a menace around the line and coming downhill, he needs a little work in coverage. He can be a little late recognizing routes.