Here are some names to keep an eye on in the Shrine Bowl.
With the end of the College Football Playoff and draft season getting ready to kickoff, we get the start of the All-Star season with the oldest bowl game in football history, the East-West Shrine Bowl. The game will be played Thursday night (8 PM ET) at AT&T Stadium on the NFL Network.
This yearly bowl game has led to some better NFL draft outcomes in recent years, attracting more talent each subsequent year. Eric Galko, the Shrine Bowl’s director of football operations, is confident that the talent pool for 2025 will exceed last year’s impressive draft results.
When it comes to the all-star games, the Dallas Cowboys always show keen interest and many players over the years have come from these bowl games. Last year’s sixth-round draft pick Ryan Flournoy and seventh-round picks, Nathan Thomas and Justin Rogers, were all Shrine bowl players that left a mark on the coaches. And in 2023, Jalen Cropper, Princeton Fant, Luke Schoonmaker, Earl Bostick Jr, Tyrus Wheat, and Eric Scott Jr. all stood out to become Cowboys players thanks to the Shrine bowl.
So who are the expected standouts this year the Cowboys will look to add late in the draft or post-draft? Here are ten names to keep an eye during practices this week and in the game.
CB, Mello Dotson
Kansas
Mello Dotson could be an excellent fit for Dallas due to his versatile skill set and the fact that cornerback is a sneaky need right now for this defense. His ability to excel in both man and zone coverage makes him adaptable to various defensive schemes. His ball-hawking skills, evidenced by his interceptions, proves he could be a playmaker in the Cowboys’ secondary, providing the team with added turnover potential. His performance, including nine interceptions the last two seasons , suggests he could step in and contribute immediately, enhancing the Cowboys’ defense with his playmaking ability and adding some much needed depth.
DT, Kenneth Grant
Michigan
Talking about defensive linemen from Michigan is like cussing around Dallas. But always scout the player, not the logo. Grant is a mid-first-round prospect and has some traits that top fellow Michigan standout, Mason Graham, who is ranked as a top-10 prospect. Grant possesses a significant physical presence that makes him hard to move off the line. His sheer mass aids in halting single blocks and managing double-teams which showcases his potential as an elite run-stopper.
Despite his size, Grant demonstrates impressive athleticism for his position, including lateral agility and twitch off the snap. This combination of size and agility allows him to be disruptive on both run and pass plays. His ability to eat up space and two-gap in the middle of the line is notable.
Grant is a seriously compelling prospect for Dallas who are looking to bolster the defensive line, particularly against the run after last seasons issues and the potential loss of guys like Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston. His added potential to grow as a pass rusher only adds to the intrigue.
RB, Raheim Sanders
South Carolina
Running back is a big need for Dallas, especially given Brian Schottenheimer’s style of offense. The good news is that this is one of the most talented and deepest running back classes we’ve seen in a very long time. Being so deep means drafting a running back early in the first round may not be necessary. By the fourth round, players like Raheim Sanders enter into their own in value and would fit great in Dallas.
Sanders is known for his imposing size at 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, which he uses effectively to power through defenses. His build is likened to a “larger than life” presence on the field. His size is combined with good speed, with a projected 40-yard dash time of around 4.47 seconds. He exhibits elite burst and acceleration once the ball is in his hands, complemented by good vision to find lateral holes after breaking the line of scrimmage.
Sanders represents a high-upside running back with the only questions around his draft value being due to his durability. He has some medical red flags and the medicals will determine a lot in terms of his stock.
RB, Tahj Brooks
Texas Tech
Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks is an insanely productive back with a promising future in the NFL. Brooks went back to Texas Tech looking to break the school’s career rushing record. His 2024 season had him leading the Big 12 in rushing with 1,505 yards on 286 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and scoring 17 touchdowns. That’s balling.
Currently, Brooks is seen as a mid Day 3 pick, but his draft stock hinges on his performance at the Shrine bowl and Pro Days. This is because as he stands right now, Brooks projects best as a rotational back or in a committee where his physical running style can be utilized effectively. He’s a hard-nosed runner and for a team like Dallas looking for a dependable, physical back, he would fit right in.
His journey from here will depend on how he addresses his weaknesses, especially in pass-catching and protection roles. If he can showcase an improvement in these areas, he could climb draft boards.
WR, Ricky White
UNLV
This isn’t a particularly deep wide receiver group this year. It has talent at the top but lacks the depth we’ve all been accustomed to in past years. The Cowboys need a WR2 and if the coaches believe Jalen Tolbert isn’t capable of that role then this team needs to draft one.
White has demonstrated his capability to stretch the field, which could enhance the Cowboys’ offense, especially if they seek a deep threat. His versatility in playing both outside and in the slot is a valuable asset. A positive performance in the Shrine Bowl could make him an appealing mid-to-late round selection for Dallas, but this all depends on the new coaching philosophy.
Look for White’s stock to rise as most scouts view him as a fifth-round prospect. He led the Mountain West in 2023 in receiving yards and came third last year. He also has extra to add as a punt returner and scored a punt return touchdown last season.
WR, Nick Nash
Syracuse
Previously a quarterback, Nash transitioned to wide receiver and has excelled, leading with mind-blowing production. His ability to adjust to a new position and perform at a high level could intrigue the Cowboys, especially considering his contested catch rate and ability to force missed tackles.
In the 2024 regular season, among this year’s wide receiver class, Nash leads in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and first downs. His 29 missed tackles forced ranks second among this year’s wide receiver class.
DT, C.J. West
Indiana
So the Michigan defensive tackle thing still gives you nightmares. A late Day 3 defensive lineman to keep an eye on is Indiana’s C.J. West.
West has the size and frame typical of a nose tackle or one-tech. His dimensions would provide the Cowboys with a stout presence in the middle, an area where the Cowboys struggled last year and will need to fill given the players that could walk out of the building (as already mentioned). His natural strength and leverage advantage, along with the power to control and disengage blockers, make him very effective against the run.
West’s physical attributes, run-stopping ability, and potential for development align well with the Cowboys’ needs for a strong, interior defensive presence. His addition would boost the defensive line rotation and provide a solid option against the run.
DE, Bradyn Swinson
Defensive end is another area this Cowboys team needs to focus on this year. With DeMarcus Ware, Chauncey Golston out of contract and the uncertain future of Carl Lawson, the edge position needs beefing up.
Given that fact, Bradyn Swinson is a prospect who might catch the Cowboys’ eye at the Shrine Bowl. While his play has some weaknesses against the run, his pass-rushing techniques and quick burst off the edge could make him a valuable asset in sub-packages. His development in the NFL, and if drafted by Dallas under the new Cowboys’ coaching staff, would be crucial. But given the right insight he could evolve into a more complete player.
He’s a fringe third-round prospect that really needs a good Shrine performance to keep his momentum going. But given the fact the Cowboys have no fourth-round pick this year they would need to take Swinson in the third-round or look for other options.
OT, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
Florida
Dickson has experience playing on both the left and right tackle positions, which shows his adaptability and versatility. This trait is valuable for the Cowboys, who need depth at either side of the offensive line. His experience in pass protection, where he allowed only one sack last year against SEC talent, indicates a level of consistency and reliability that the Cowboys need right now.
At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, Crenshaw-Dickson has the physical stature the Cowboys scouts have looked for previously and he uses his size to his advantage. His experience and skill set would make a positive backup for an offensive line that struggled with injury last year.
OG, Tyler Cooper
Minnesota
Sticking with the offensive line, there’s also a question mark on what Zack Martin will do this year. Either way this team needs to look at filling the guard position and a guy like Tyler Cooper could fall to Dallas in the back half of Day 3.
Cooper has a wealth of experience at the college level, playing for the Golden Gophers since 2019 and starting the last two years. His record of durability, despite missing a couple of games in 2023, shows he can handle the physical demands of the NFL, an important factor. His contributions to Minnesota’s offensive line have been significant, and last year he had many strong performances, like against USC when Minnesota rushed for 193 yards.
Cooper’s performance at Minnesota, academic accolades, and the specific needs of the Cowboys’ offensive line make him a potentially good fit.
