Stock Up: Five Prospects Who Shined at the Shrine Bowl
Kevin looks at five prospects who performed well at the Shrine Bowl.
After breaking down the biggest draft stock movers from Senior Bowl week, we now turn our attention to the next stop on the postseason all-star circuit: the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The 101st edition of the game returned to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on January 27, 2026, once again bringing together many of the nation’s top draft-eligible prospects. Coached by NFL staffs and evaluated by scouts from across the league, the Shrine Bowl provides a pro-style environment where players are asked to adapt quickly, absorb coaching, and compete against peers all fighting for the same limited draft capital.
While the Shrine Bowl doesn’t carry the same national spotlight as the Senior Bowl, it remains a critical evaluation tool for NFL teams—particularly for Day 2 and Day 3 prospects looking to separate themselves. The West emerged with a 21–17 victory in a tightly contested matchup, highlighted by Offensive MVP Mark Gronowski and Defensive MVP Mason Reiger, while Oklahoma offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for leadership, character, and service.
As with the Senior Bowl, this list isn’t about who will be drafted first—it’s about who made the most of their opportunity. Several prospects used Shrine Bowl week to put themselves firmly on the radar, and the following standouts did enough in Frisco to get scouts talking as the draft process moves forward.
Wide Receiver: Skyler Bell, UConn
Bell was one of the most consistently impressive receivers at the Shrine Bowl, and his week in Frisco matched the production profile he put on tape all season. After becoming one of just four receivers nationally to clear 100 catches in 2025, Bell showed he’s more than just a volume compiler, he’s a technician.
What stood out most during practices was his route running. Bell uses his entire body to create separation, snapping in and out of breaks with real suddenness and understanding of leverage. He was particularly effective attacking soft spots in zone and shaking defenders in one-on-ones, where his footwork and tempo consistently won reps. He also showed strong awareness after the catch, slipping tackles and maximizing space rather than going down on first contact.
Athletically, Bell checked more boxes than some expected. He was one of the fastest receivers on the field, hitting 20.1 mph on GPS tracking, and that speed shows up both vertically and after the catch. While he isn’t a prototypical size outlier, his frame and play strength held up well against physical coverage throughout the week.
Bell entered the Shrine Bowl viewed as a Day 3 projection, but his performance put him firmly on the radar as a player who could sneak into the Day 2 conversation. At minimum, he looks like a receiver who will outplay his draft slot and his profile is one that should translate well to dynasty rookie drafts if the draft capital follows.
Tight End: Eli Raridon, Notre Dame
Raridon quietly put together one of the better weeks among tight ends in Frisco and did exactly what evaluators want to see from the position: get open, catch the football, and handle a pro-style install without missing a beat.
At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds with strong hands, Raridon consistently worked himself open over the middle during team drills and showed reliable strength at the catch point. He also flashed more athleticism than expected, topping out at 19.2 mph on GPS tracking, notable movement skills for a tight end of his size. That athletic profile, paired with his polish, earned him a spot on the East All-Practice Team and ultimately led him to opt out of the game itself.
Production-wise, Raridon saved his best football for his senior season. He finished 2025 with 32 receptions for 482 yards, averaging a career-high 15.1 yards per catch, and ranked third on Notre Dame in both receptions and receiving yards. While the zero-touchdown total jumps off the page, the tape tells a different story; Raridon was consistently used as a vertical and intermediate weapon, stretching the field and creating chunk plays rather than being a red-zone focal point.
Raridon’s appeal goes beyond the passing game. He’s a capable in-line blocker, plays with effort and physicality, and offers enough versatility to stay on the field in multiple personnel groupings. Injuries earlier in his career capped his overall production, but he stayed healthy the last two seasons and showed steady growth when given a larger role.
He’s not a Day 2 lock, but Raridon looks like one of those late-round tight ends who sticks. For teams willing to bet on traits, reliability, and upward trajectory, he could end up being one of the better values to come out of this Shrine Bowl group.
Quarterback: Mark Gronowski, Iowa
While Clemson’s Cade Klubnik may ultimately be the first Shrine Bowl quarterback off the board, this week belonged to Gronowski. After an uneven season that included playing through injury, Gronowski arrived in Frisco healthy and it showed immediately.
At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, Gronowski brings an intriguing physical profile paired with legitimate athleticism. He moved well in the pocket, showed functional elusiveness when pressure closed in, and consistently hurt defenses as a scrambler when plays broke down. More importantly, his arm stood out throughout the week. Gronowski was comfortable pushing the ball downfield during team periods and delivered with consistency, confidence, and timing.
That momentum carried into the game, where he capped his week by earning Offensive MVP honors. He played with poise, avoided negative plays, and even made his presence felt without the ball; including a goal-line block that helped spring a touchdown run. That detail matters. Scouts notice quarterbacks who compete beyond the stat sheet.
Gronowski’s résumé speaks for itself. The winningest quarterback in NCAA history (58–10), he exits college with over 12,000 passing yards, 103 passing touchdowns, more than 2,300 rushing yards, and 53 scores on the ground. Wherever he’s played, he’s won and he’s commanded the room doing it.
He’s not a lock to go early, but Gronowski helped himself significantly this week. The team that takes him will be getting a tough, smart, competitive quarterback who can step into an offense and elevate the players around him.
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Tight End: Lake McRee, USC
McRee was one of those Shrine Bowl players who quietly stacked wins all week. He was consistently involved as a pass catcher, caught nearly everything thrown his way, and showed real value as a blocker; particularly on the perimeter.
Coming off his most productive collegiate season, McRee finished 2025 with 30 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns, serving as a reliable piece of USC’s passing game. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, he looks the part, but what separates him is how well his athleticism translates to the field. He shows burst through his route stems, accelerates cleanly after the catch, and has a massive catch radius paired with excellent body control.
McRee fits the mold of a player who is likely to be a better pro than he was a college player. The raw numbers won’t jump off the page, but the traits do. He consistently catches with intent, stays aware of defenders after securing the ball, and has shown strong contested-catch ability over the past two seasons.
As a blocker, McRee plays with an edge. He strikes with force, stays balanced at the second level, and shows the technique needed to hold up in pass protection. Add a bit more NFL strength, and his versatility becomes a real asset.
McRee may not be a headline name, but teams looking for upside, toughness, and a tight end who can stay on the field in multiple situations will have him on their boards.
Running Back: Dean Connors, Houston
Connors used the Shrine Bowl to showcase a well-rounded skill set that should appeal to teams looking for backfield versatility. He flashed both agility and power during the game, highlighted by a sharp jump cut near the goal line that turned into the game’s first touchdown. Later, he showed he could grind out tough yards, powering through an interior run on third down to move the chains.
At 5-foot-11, 208 pounds, Connors has a compact build and runs with purpose. His college career included productive stops at Rice before transferring to Houston for his final season, where he led the Cougars’ backfield in 2025 with 1,231 total yards and 11 touchdowns.
What makes Connors especially intriguing, though, is his receiving profile. Over his collegiate career, he caught 147 passes for 1,166 yards and nine touchdowns, real production, not window dressing. He’s comfortable running routes, catching the ball cleanly, and transitioning upfield quickly, which showed up again in Frisco.
Connors likely projects as a Day 3 selection, but his pass-catching ability gives him a clear path to a role at the next level. Teams looking for a third-down back or a rotational piece with receiving upside could find real value here.
Final Thoughts
The Shrine Bowl may not carry the same spotlight as the Senior Bowl, but it continues to matter, especially for prospects fighting for Day 3 positioning or looking to sneak into the Day 2 conversation. For these players, the week in Frisco was about stacking positive reps, showing adaptability in a pro-style environment, and giving scouts reasons to dig deeper. The draft process is far from finished, but Shrine Bowl week once again proved that opportunity, timing, and performance still go a long way in shaping how these prospects will be viewed when April arrives.