What is the East-West Shrine Bowl? Who to keep an eye on and how to watch (2024)

For the first time in the game’s 98-year history, the East-West Shrine Bowl — college football’s longest-running all-star game — will be coached by two full NFL coaching staffs, with the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots sending representatives. This year’s East-West Shrine Bowl takes place Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the all-star game being a part of the NFL’s Pro Bowl Week events in Las Vegas. More importantly, it’s a showcase for prospects hoping to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Athletic breaks down who will be attending, what the event hopes to accomplish and the charitable goals of the game.

What is the Shrine Bowl and how does it work?

The Shrine Bowl brings together some of the best senior football players in the country.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith and Patriots coach Bill Belichick will work as supervisors this year, allowing other staff members to coach up a level or lead a new position group. Smith and Belichick are expected to be at all practices and the game.

The game will also have coaches from HBCU schools participate during the week of practice.

Since 1925, the Shrine Bowl has partnered with Shriners Hospital for Children, with a mission to provide excellent specialty care for children in need regardless of the families ability to pay. Net proceeds from the game benefit Shriners Children’s, a network of non-profit medical facilities.

Players to watch

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: Flowers is one of the more talented players attending the Shrine Bowl. In his four-year career at Boston College, he became the Eagles’ all-time leader in career receptions (200), receiving yards (3,056) and receiving touchdowns (29). What NFL scouts love most is his combination of versatility and explosiveness. He’s a weapon that can be used all over the field and has the ability to make highlight reel plays. The Athletic’sDane Brugler has the two-time first-team All-ACC selection rated as the ninth-best WR.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU: Hodges-Tomlinson continued building his draft stock during the Horned Frogs’ breakout year, recording 50 total tackles while intercepting three passes and adding 15 deflections. During the past three seasons, Hodges-Tomlinson logged five interceptions and 41 pass breakups, earning him three first-team All-Big 12 selections (2020-22). Over the past six years, every Jim Thorpe Award winner was drafted in the first four rounds of his draft class. Hodges-Tomlinson will look to add his name to that list.

Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota: Ibrahim led the FBS in rushing touchdowns with 20 and was third in rushing yards at 1,665. The sixth-year senior led Power 5 backs yards after contact (1,106 yards), per PFF. Despite battling a few injuries, Ibrahim bounced back in a major way and will look to showcase his patient running style at the East–West Shrine Bowl. After Day 1 of practices, Ibrahim showcased more versatility as a runner and showed bursts of speed when running through the hole, according to The Athletic’sNate Tice.

Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue:Only a few can identify with going from walk-on to potential NFL draftee: O’Connell is hoping to be added to that list. Over his four-year career, he totaled 9,219 yards and 65 passing touchdowns. The two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection is rated as the eighth-best QB, according toThe Athletic’sDane Brugler.

The 14th-ranked QB on Brugler’s list is UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who will face off against O’Connell in the Shrine Bowl. Through Day 1 of practices, both O’Connell and Thompson-Robinson stood out toThe Athletic’sNate Tice.

Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan:Schoonmaker is known more for his blocking skills, but over the last two years of his career he caught 52 balls for 583 yards receiving and six scores. This year’s TE class is deep and Schoonmaker will use this time to showcase his pass-catching and route-running skills in hopes of improving his draft stock.The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Michigan standout is currently ranked as the seventh-best TE on Brugler’s list.

Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest:All eyes will be on Turner at the Shrine Bowl as he has a great first step and one of the best motors of any interior lineman in this year’s draft. Turner’s career started as a walk-on at Richmond, an FCS school, where he dominated. He finished his three-year career at Richmond with 158 tackles, 65 solo and 93 assisted, while registering 33 1/2 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He made the All-Colonial Athletic Association team three times, including two straight first teams. In the 2021 spring season, he was named the CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year. In his lone year at Wake Forest, he racked up 38 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, including two sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

How many Shrine Bowl players are usually drafted?

Over 100 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and over 70 made final NFL rosters, including 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco and Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson.

A few popular names that have played in the Shrine Bowl over the years include Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley, Raiders tight end Darren Waller, Broncos running back Chase Edmonds, Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith.

Each year, more than 300 Shrine Bowl alumni are on NFL rosters, according to the bowl game.

When and where is the game?

The Shrine Bowl will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 2, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

How to watch the game

Watch the game live on NFL Network.

Required reading

• East-West Shrine Bowl: Day 1 standouts, including 2 QBs, disruptive D-linemen
• Patriots coaches keeping busy at Shrine Bowl, while Joe Judge question lingers
• Dane Brugler’s NFL mock draft 2023, 2.0: Two rounds, three trades for quarterbacks

(Photo: Winslow Townson / USA Today)