The Shrine Bowl keeps getting better.<\/p>\n
Last spring, a record-tying 92 players off East-West Shrine Bowl rosters were invited to the NFL combine, and 51 of them were drafted, including six in the top 115 picks. Practices for the 2026 edition of the all-star game begin Friday in Frisco, Texas, and \u2014 just like last year \u2014 several top-100 prospects (and at least one with first-round potential) are expected to take part.<\/p>\n
Shrine prospects will work out for NFL scouts Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday before playing in the 101st edition of the game Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, NFL Network).<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at some of the top prospects to watch by position:<\/p>\n
QuarterbackCade Klubnik, Clemson<\/p>\n
Coming off a pretty average performance at Clemson during his third year as a starter, Klubnik will be hoping to show scouts what type of arm talent he\u2019s truly working with. This is a big chance for Klubnik to prove that the 2025 season isn\u2019t who he is, or at least to prove that he still has a high ceiling.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also an important week for hyper-athletic, but often erratic Kansas QB Jalon Daniels and Iowa dual-threat passer Mark Gronowski.<\/p>\n
The Shrine Bowl features a Wilson QBX throwing session, which took place ahead of practices Thursday. Last year, Kyle McCord was the event\u2019s top-graded QBX thrower<\/a>, a result which pushed him firmly into a draftable grade for many teams. (He ultimately was selected in the sixth round.)<\/p>\n Running backDemond Claiborne, Wake Forest<\/p>\n The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder rushed for 21 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards combined over the last two seasons at Wake Forest. A very explosive runner with a great gas pedal, Claiborne has shown good patience at the line of scrimmage and plenty of wiggle in the open field. He\u2019s not very big, but he caught 55 passes and logged more than 200 special-teams snaps. Claiborne feels like a potential Day 3 back, possibly closer to the mid-rounds than the late rounds.<\/p>\n Another back to watch: slotback Eli Heidenreich, Navy\u2019s all-time leading receiver (1,994 yards) and a very interesting potential third-down\/slot piece for an NFL squad.<\/p>\n Get the ball in @ClaiborneDemond<\/a>\u2019s hands, and explosive plays happen \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa5: @TheCW_Sports<\/a> | #ShrineBowlWHOSNEXT<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pUYRZN6wOR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wide receiverSkyler Bell, UConn; De\u2019Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss; Chris Hilton, LSU<\/p>\n Bell was one of the most productive pass catchers in the country this season, racking up 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns as Connecticut\u2019s go-to option. A very long player despite standing just 5-11, 186 pounds, Bell is a very crafty route runner with good balance and twitch in space. He did have major issues with drops during his time at UConn, however, so he\u2019ll have to show better hands during Shrine week.<\/p>\n Stribling is a sturdy 6-2, 205-pounder with great length and good ball skills in the air, though I\u2019m curious about his explosion off the line, something we\u2019ll see tested in Texas.<\/p>\n A few other big-bodied WRs to watch: Georgia\u2019s Colbie Young (6-3, 215) and Noah Thomas (6-5, 205), Cincinnati\u2019s Jeff Caldwell (6-5, 215) and Florida\u2019s J. Michael Sturdivant (6-3, 205).<\/p>\n Hilton is a wild card. An elite athlete, he might have sub-4.3-second speed but was unable to carve out a role at LSU. That likely was due in part to his inconsistent play, but also because of how loaded the depth chart was in front of him.<\/p>\n Tight endEli Raridon, Notre Dame<\/p>\n The son of a former Notre Dame offensive lineman, Raridon (6-7, 252) has the length and frame of a tackle. He\u2019s also a smooth athlete for that size, and he is coming off a career year (32 catches for 482 yards), including six forced missed tackles. Raridon\u2019s potential as a blocker is terrific, too, but we\u2019ll see how he stacks up against quicker defenders this week.<\/p>\n Other tight ends to watch: USC\u2019s Lake McRee, Texas\u2019 Jack Endries and Utah\u2019s Dallen Bentley.<\/p>\n Offensive lineAamil Wagner, OT, Notre Dame; Brian Parker II, OT, Duke; Pat Coogan, C, Indiana; Diego Pounds, G\/T, Ole Miss; Micah Morris, G, Georgia<\/p>\n It\u2019d be a surprise to see Coogan do anything in pads this week, having just wrapped up a national title run Monday in Miami. But he\u2019s a notable prospect anyway, as his work at center this year for Indiana was outstanding and probably pushed him up the board on Day 3.<\/p>\n Wagner (6-6, 295) plays with a huge frame and moves like a tight end. Scouts will be looking this week to see how his anchor holds up in the run game and pass protection.<\/p>\n Parker is an explosive, powerful tackle with good hands and a ton of versatility. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see him play both right and left tackle this week, as well as some guard.<\/p>\n Defensive lineDarrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State; Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M; Tyreak Sapp, edge, Florida; Anthony Lucas, edge, USC<\/p>\n The defensive line group has some depth to it this year. Jackson, Cincinnati\u2019s Dontay Corleone, UCLA\u2019s Gary Smith, NC State\u2019s Brandon Cleveland, Clemson\u2019s DeMonte Capehart and Texas A&M\u2019s Albert Regis are all draftable prospects with an opportunity to help their stock.<\/p>\n Onyedim was one of the biggest draft risers this year. The Iowa State transfer had arguably the best year of his career as a three-tech for the Aggies.<\/p>\n At 6-5, 279, Lucas is dripping with physical potential as a versatile edge who can move around. However, a lack of consistency has been notable during his career.<\/p>\n LinebackerJake Golday, Cincinnati; Taurean York, Texas A&M; Harold Perkins Jr., LSU<\/p>\n Golday, who is expected to sit out on-field work this week because of an injury, is arguably the best player at the Shrine Bowl and one of the most underrated players in the country. A 6-4, 237-pounder with elite athleticism, Golday (a member of Bruce Feldman\u2019s \u201cFreaks List\u201d<\/a>) has flashes reminiscent of Detroit Lions All-Pro inside linebacker Jack Campbell \u2014 and, like Campbell, he could sneak into the first round. A big linebacker with impressive movement skills, Golday can rush off the edge and cover out in the slot.<\/p>\n York is another big-time athlete with elite range and consistent technique as a tackler.<\/p>\n Perkins is one of the most interesting prospects in the class. A supremely dynamic athlete who had 7.5 sacks and 41 pressures for LSU as a 6-1, 220-pound true freshman in 2022, he played the last three seasons as an off-ball linebacker. Though his numbers never came close to matching what he posted his first year, his athletic potential is still intriguing.<\/p>\n Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko and his team always find great linebacker talent. Last year\u2019s game featured former Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan, who went in the fourth round to Baltimore and eventually started as a rookie.<\/p>\n Harold Perkins is a great addition for the Shrine Bowl. <\/p>\n Big time athlete who showed development as an off-ball defender in 2025. Eager to see him in work out in person. https:\/\/t.co\/m49xoOVChQ<\/a><\/p>\n