Three Shrine Game Participants to attend Senior Bowl
By Peter Smith
Due to players pulling out but also their own performances over the past week, three players that participated in this year’s East West Shrine Game will also be able to participate in the Senior Bowl. The rules allow for players to participate in up to two postseason All-Star games, which enables players to do this, so Kentucky defensive end Za’Darius Smith, TCU offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje and USC cornerback Josh Shaw will get the opportunity to continue to showcase themselves in front of NFL scouts and media.
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One of the players that dropped out of the event so that Smith could participate was his teammate and fellow pass rusher, Alvin ‘Bud’ Dupree. Smith has good size and bulk for the position and could be an intriguing prospect for teams that run an even front defensive scheme. Smith is strong and has long arms that could make him an asset in an NFL defensive line rotation while he continues to refine his game.
Fabuluje is huge, weighing just shy of 360lbs. He has terrific size and long arms but continuing to lose weight could help him become a more attractive player if he can get quicker with his feet. Fabuluje is one of a number of TCU Horned Frogs that have littered All-Star rosters that continue to sell and help build Gary Patterson’s program.
Shaw is the most interesting of the three because there might be the least doubt that he has NFL talent. A bizarre incident caused him to miss a number of games this year and will have teams vetting where they feel they can take him. On the field, Shaw has shown he has an NFL body and the physical tools to be a good corner. He might have been the best player in the East West Shrine Game, intercepting a pass.
Injuries could potentially allow for more players from the Shrine Game to be invited to Mobile for the Senior Bowl, but this is a great opportunity for these three prospects as they are able to continue to showcase their talents and receive NFL coaching in hopes of improving their stocks for the NFL Draft.