Standouts and other observations from Day 1 of East-West Shrine Bowl
Day 1 of practice is in the books, so let's talk about it
I am here in Frisco, Texas for the East-West Shrine Bowl to kick off the 2025 NFL Draft pre-draft process, and the first day of practices is over with.
Practices are taking place at the University of North Texas campus in Denton, and there were plenty of standouts of note. There are plenty of guys here to prove they are worthy of investing a draft pick into. That’s what we’re going to discuss today.
It’s worth noting that before I dive in here most of my time and energy on the first day of practice was spent focusing on the trenches. Tomorrow will focus more on wide receivers and cornerbacks.
Here are some of the larger standouts from the first day of practices at the Shrine Bowl:
High-profile players sitting out
While a handful of players were hyped up as the high-profile additions to the Shrine Bowl, none have participated in practice.
Cornerback Shavon Revel is not present. Although he tore his ACL in September and was not going to practice anyway, he was expected to complete media access and team interviews. The Ole Miss wide receiver was another hurt player who was a late scratch and was supposed to complete media access and team interviews.
The two potential first-round picks in Frisco were Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. However, both of those players were walking around the North Texas indoor facility in sweats during the practice period.
Sanders is expected to complete media access and has already met with teams in Frisco, but it is yet to be determined whether he will participate in the quarterback showcase.
It’s disappointing, but it’s giving some other players space to shine.
Jordan Phillips is the best player at the Shrine Bowl
It became extremely evident that Maryland defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is the best player on the field for the East squad. Not only that, but he’s likely the best player here in general.
I came into the event already high on Phillips. I have a higher grade on Phillips than on Kenneth Grant and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen. He’s lethally explosive off the ball, he is rocked up head-to-toe, impossible to displace from his gap, and just 20 years old.
And it showed up.
In every run game drill, Phillips could not be moved. His knee drop technique stands out on film, and it showed up again in duo block drills. Phillips looks the part, and he played the part on the first day of practice.
In pass rush drills he routinely got his hands through the chest of the man across from him and walked them back into the pocket. He showed the prowess to reduce his surface area as a pass rusher and win through traffic.
I already have a top-75 grade on Phillips, and that is looking clean right now.
Small schools, big-time showings
There are a handful of small school offensive linemen in Frisco today. On the West squad, there were three small school players along their offensive line, and the East squad had one.
And they all put on a show on the first day of practices.
Division III’s Thomas Perry (Middlebury) was a shining star from the East portion of practice. His movement skills are awesome and his athleticism is evident watching him play. An interior offensive linemen, he is looking to break the bench press record. Training with OL Mastermind’s Duke Manyweather is a great way to get on the map too.
Lindenwood’s Gareth Warren and Minnesota-Duluth’s Aiden Williams are two others from the East squad who made a statement. Montana State’s Marcus Wehr, a converted tight end was on the West squad and displayed excellent feet and hands in pass rush one-on-ones and even got the best of Jordan Phillips on a rep.
Indiana’s CJ West gathering buzz
It’s not often we get to talk about a player who transferred from Kent State to Indiana. However, we do this year with CJ West. Fresh off of a playoff season with the Hoosiers, West proved to be unblockable on Day 1.
He plays low and with leverage, locking out just about every offensive tackle in one-on-one drills, and even proved fluid with a dynamic spin move along the outside shoulder. Perhaps his other defensive tackle teammate on the East squad Phillips was the only player who had a better day.
I’ve heard some top-125 buzz on the Indiana defensive tackle after a stellar year in Bloomington. He’s going to play in the NFL for a decade.
The QB play is…
Outside of Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, who is head-and-shoulders the best quarterback in Frisco this week (Again, Sanders isn’t practicing), the quarterback play at the Shrine Bowl is… substandard.
I’ll pay attention more to the wide receivers and whatnot tomorrow, but catching glimpses in 11-on-11, there were not many reps for the defensive backs and pass catchers to work with. With Sanders not practicing and with Memphis’ Seth Henigan getting a late call-up to the Senior Bowl, the Shrine quarterback rooms have been patched together.
Of note, however, I saw Cam Miller rip a skinny post up the seam to Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden into tight coverage that got me on my toes a bit.
I’ll watch more and check back in with you all on this.
Other Shrine Bowl notable standouts
There were other standouts worth mentioning. Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant, an anticipated Day 2 pick, played like it. He had an excellent session in wide receiver vs. cornerbacks one-on-one drills and put his movement skills and eyes on display in 11-on-11 periods.
Other offensive linemen not already mentioned in the small school section who stood out positively include Cincinnati’s John Williams, North Carolina State’s Timothy McKay, Kansas’ Bryce Cabeldue (who might be a pound-the-table guy for me), and Oklahoma State’s Dalton Cooper.
SMU’s Elijah Roberts flashed from multiple alignments in pass rusher drills as well after an extremely productive career in Dallas.