2023 East-West Shrine Bowl: 5 Players Soaring Up NFL Draft Boards (EAST)
With the 98th East-West Shrine Bowl in the books, NFL scouting departments will re-gather and assess their draft boards before heading to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.
There were plenty of movers and shakers throughout the week in Sin City. Any savvy front office executive will tell you that NFL Drafts are won and lost in the middle/late rounds, which makes events such as the East-West Shrine Bowl so vital to the process.
Below are five prospects who are trending up within the scouting community after a strong performance in the East-West Shrine Bowl:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2023 EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL PLAYERS SOARING UP DRAFT BOARDS (WEST)
EAST TEAM
QB Aidan O’Connell, Purdue [Height: 6030 | Weight: 212 | Hand: 0978 | Arm: 3200 | Wingspan: 7638] – Capping off an impressive week was O’Connell who again was the best signal-caller come game time. He possesses beautiful touch and extremely accurate ball placement; he can also lace it into tight windows when needed. There is a great sense of calmness and awareness with O’Connell in the pocket; he’ll be a great value on Day Two.
FB Derek Parish, Houston [Height: 6007 | Weight: 241 | Hand: 0948 | Arm: 2900 | Wingspan: 7378] – A two-way player who also duals as a linebacker, Parish is known for his toughness (played through a broken hand), power (he can power clean 426 pounds) and speed (has been timed 4.58 in the forty-yard dash). In addition, he has logged over 400 special teams snaps during his Cougars career. A team captain, Parish appeared in just four games before a season-ending bicep injury, registering five sacks and eight and a half tackles for loss during that span. This is one player that NFL teams may vastly undervalue due to a recent injury and the lack of an identified position. However, Parish could very well have a Kyle Juszczyk-like impact.
WR Joseph Ngata, Clemson [Height: 6032 | Weight: 220 | Hand: 1014 | Arm: 3278 | Wingspan: 8058] – After a standout week at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Ngata continued to impress at the East-West Shrine Bowl and even showcased his ability to return kicks. His size, pedigree and special teams experience make him an ideal candidate as a WR4/WR5 in the NFL.
LB Brandon Thompson, Stephen F Austin [Height: 6053 | Weight: 238 | Hand: 1000 | Arm: 3438 | Wingspan: 8248] – The NFL Scouting Combine still has time to right a wrong (Thompson has yet to receive an invitation). The burst and explosion of Thompson were on full display in Las Vegas this week, as he proved to be a certified backfield disruptor. Blessed with one of the fastest first steps in this year’s draft, Thompson is an athletic freak who has reportedly been timed in the mid-4.5 range, and has a 40” vertical jump and 11-foot broad jump. Let’s hope that Jeff Foster and NIC do the right thing and get Thompson out to Indy, where he clearly belongs!
CB Kei’trel Clark, Louisville [Height: 5102 | Weight: 179 | Hand: 0838 | Arm: 2968 | Wingspan: 7300] – There is a large contingent within the scouting community who feel that Clark could very well be the highest player selected from the East-West Shrine Bowl in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite being downgraded for his lack of size, Clark proved that he can compete on the boundary, although he’ll be best suited for the slot at the next level. His physicality and versatility bode well for his draft stock. In addition, Clark is expected to test extremely well, which should put him in the mix to be a top 100 overall pick.
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