Shrine Bowl Draft Prospects for Giants to Watch

The college all-star games are ramping up, and Coach Gene Clemons has your list of prospects to watch during next week's Shrine Bowl.

When the Shrine Bowl practices begin, the New York Giants will be well represented in Frisco, Texas, with current offensive coordinator Mike Kafka serving as the head coach for the West squad.

With the team so intimately involved in the practices, fans should pay close attention to the prospects participating. Several intriguing talents from the FBS and FCS are taking part in the game, and there will be jewels on both sides of the ball on all three levels.

Here are a few names to pay attention to on the West and East squads.

OG Mason McCormick, South Dakota St. (West)

McCormick is a big, athletic, and nasty offensive guard who has spent his collegiate career playing in high-stakes games. McCormick has heavy hands and a strong punch. He has enough foot speed and quickness to be a good interior pass protector, but he excels in the run game.

Coming from the FCS, these Shrine Bowl practices will allow coaches to see him against some of the best prospects in the country. He possesses the qualities that Giants fans would no doubt love in an interior lineman.

OT Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh (West)

At 6’6” and 330 pounds, Goncalves is the NFL prototype. He is powerful and physical and plays his best in a confined space. An injury cut his senior season short early, and these practices will be his opportunity to show his fitness levels and improve his skills since his injuries.

He will need to show his ability to handle the speed rush. It will be a major interest of scouts as well. He could be a steal for the Giants as a swing tackle and possibly even a starter in the future.

CB M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh (West)

The Panthers have a long history of producing NFL cornerback talent. Devonshire had back-to-back great seasons for Pittsburgh, and his draft stock could not be any higher. He has long arms for his height and has played a ton of press coverage over the past two seasons. He has good ball skills and holds up decently against bigger receivers.

He may not be a sexy name, but Pittsburgh defensive backs rarely are. Giants scouts hope he's effective, tough, and willing to fight to fit in with the crew they are gathering in New York.

DE Javonte Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame (West)

The sixth-year defensive end for the Fighting Irish finished his career playing in the Sun Bowl, something you are seeing less and less pro prospects do. Playing in a meaningless bowl game may not say much to the average person, but it speaks to a player's dedication and love for the game.

The 6’5”, 260-pound defensive end used his extra year to go from a rotational player at Ohio State to a legitimate draft pick. This year, he has shown the ability to stand on the edge. That versatility will continue to be explored at the Shrine Game. The Giants front office could see him as much-needed depth on the edge or versatility and athleticism inside.

WR Jalen Coker, Holy Cross (West)

The most accomplished receiver in Holy Cross history. Coker was at the heart of the Crusaders’ ascent. The 6’3”, 213-pound receiver will bring arguably the best hands to the draft. Over the past two seasons, he has hauled in 109 passes for 1,952 yards and 26 touchdowns.

On top of having sticky hands, he has great body control, especially when the ball is in the air. He does an excellent job of using his body to position for passes. The Shrine Bowl will be the opportunity to show he can be an under-the-radar X-receiver. He could be a great big-bodied possession receiver in a Giants receiving corp with elements to stretch the field and be dynamic with the ball in their hands.

RB Jaden Sheridan, Monmouth (East)

Do not be fooled by Sheridan's 5’9” 195-pound frame. Sheridan is a workhorse back. Over the past two seasons, he has rushed for 3,178 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Sheridan has many of the same skills as current Giants running back Saquon Barkley. He can cut on a dime, is explosive through the line of scrimmage, and is dangerous in the open field. Sheridan could be a great understudy to pair with Barkley, but if the Giants decide to move on, he could be a nice replacement.

ILB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M (East)

Cooper is the size of a new-age interior linebacker; he also has good speed and pursues well. He has continually improved over his four seasons at Texas A&M. In his final season, he unlocked his abilities as a blitzer.

He amassed 12 hurries and ten sacks. That type of production will make a lot of franchises stand up and take notice, especially a team that desperately needs to find more assets that get pressure on the quarterback. Cooper could be an intriguing prospect for the Giants, who must improve their linebacker depth and special teams.

QB Jordan Travis FSU (East)

Travis will not be playing in the game, but he will be attending and thus will give teams a chance to check out his rehab and see where he is in the process. During his final season at Florida State, he made himself an NFL prospect with his playmaking ability and flare for the dramatic.

His ability with his legs has always been known, but the leaps he made as a passer now made him an intriguing prospect. If the Giants plan on going with Daniel Jones as their starter next year and do not resign Tyrod Taylor, they could be on the hunt for a dynamic prospect to pick up on Day two or three of the draft.

OG Christian Mahogany BC (East)

Mahogany is perfectly built to be an NFL guard. Boston College has a history of producing quality linemen. He has only given up one sack over the past two seasons. He takes great angles in run blocking and brings a tremendous punch that stops defenders.

In pass protection, he works well in the phone booth and has a great anchor that keeps him from getting bullrushed. Giants scouts will be looking at his lateral quickness in pass protection to see how he holds up.

DL Leonard Taylor III Miami (East)

Taylor is an intriguing prospect that could be an interior answer to losing Leonard Williams. He has burst and quickness like an edge rusher. His heavy anchor allows him to avoid being pushed off the line of scrimmage.

He does a great job fitting up a blocker and shedding them to make tackles. He still has a lot of room for growth, but he’s a disruptor. Pair him next to Dexter Lawrence, and they could form a dynamic duo in the interior. 

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