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SNS 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Fast Rising Prospects

Writer's picture: John B. Everett John B. Everett

Jacory Croskey-Merritt / RB / Arizona
Jacory Croskey-Merritt / RB / Arizona

The 100th Annual East-West Shrine Bowl game is in the books after the East squad posted a 25-0 victory over the West squad, the first shutout recorded since 1969. The prospects participating this week in Arlington tend to be late day two and day three picks (late third round to seventh round) that are vital for building a roster with enough quality depth to enable a team to make a playoff run into late January and early February. Several prospects improved their draft standing after four days of practice and Thursday’s game. Let’s take a look at some players who made themselves some money over the last week.


 

Kyle McCord / QB / Syracuse

McCord participated in practices but not the game on Thursday, but he had made a very positive impression during the four team practices that took place the previous weekend that not playing in the game did not hurt his stock. McCord looked far and away the best QB working out on the campus of North Texas, with the arm strength, field vision, and athleticism that NFL teams covet. The 2025 QB class lacks any “sure things” and McCord could climb draft boards quickly with a quality Combine performance. McCord looks locked in as a Top 100 prospect and should see him get drafted by the third or fourth round in April.


 

Jacory Croskey-Merritt / RB / Arizona

Croskey-Merritt, a transfer from New Mexico, played in only one game in 2024 for the Wildcats, rushing for 106 yards and a TD, before being declared ineligible by the NCAA. And one has to wonder what difference he could have made on the Arizona team that struggled mightily last year after he dominated practices and then the game on Thursday. Croskey-Merritt rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries, scoring two TDs, on his way to winning Offensive MVP. Croskey-Merritt has excellent agility, cutting ability, and burst through the hole and looked fresh and ready to work. He will need to workout well at the Combine (if invited) and during his Pro Day but looks like he should hear his name called in round five or six in Green Bay in April.


 

Nick Nash / WR / San Jose State

Nash, a former QB who converted to WR in 2023, burst on to the scene this past season winning the FBS receiving triple crown with 104 receptions for 1,382 yards and 16 TDs and displayed the size and length NFL teams desire at the position (6’2” / 31 and half inch arms / and over a 76” wingspan). He moved smoothly, showing solid route running skills, and the quickness and fluidity to create separation at the break point. Nash has natural hands and has the toughness to work the middle of the field. He should hear his name called in rounds five or six this April.


 

Efton Chism / WR / Eastern Washington

The most impressive WR working out on the campus of the University of North Texas last weekend was Chism, the small school receiving prospect who was virtually uncoverable during one on one and team drills. Chism broke most of Cooper Kupp’s records on the red turf of Eastern Washington University and looks like a solid midround draft pick this spring. Chism has great hands, is quick, agile, and fast, and is a great technician in the mold of Kupp. Chism could be a steal of a pick as a dangerous slot receiver that QBs will love.



 

Oronde Gadsden II / TE / Syracuse

Gadsden is a second-generation player who has many similarities to his father - Oronde I, a WR with over 3,000 career receiving yards with the Dolphins - he just plays a different position. The younger Gadsden has added good mass and looked good in blocking drills but has relatively little experience as an in-line blocker. What Gadsden excels at is playing in the slot or as an H-back and creating mismatches against LBs and safeties as a receiver in space. Gadsden has a large wingspan (81 and ¾ inches) and strong hands and fits the mold of the modern-era TE. The 2025 NFL Draft offers a deep and intriguing group of TEs and this may drive down several quality TEs to the later rounds in April. Regardless, the Syracuse TE looks to be a solid contributor at the NFL level as soon as his rookie year.



 

Hollin Pierce / OT / Rutgers

Pierce is HUGE - nearly 6’8”, weighing 342 lbs, with grapevines for arms (36 and 5/8”) and the largest wingspan of any player at the Shrine Bowl (86 and 5/8”) – and the NFL loves prospects that look like Pierce. The Scarlet Knight OT played exclusively on the left-side at Shrine Bowl practices and shut down every bull rush attempted but sometimes struggled against speed or counter moves in one-on-one drills. Pierce did not play in the game so he was not tested in real game situations this week but his traits, including natural strength, makes him a candidate to go as high as the third round in April.



 

Thomas Perry / OL / Middlebury College

One of the greatest benefits of the college All-Star game circuit is the opportunity to observe small school prospects against better competition. Perry, a three-time All-Conference selection at the Division III level, improved throughout the week and did not look out of his depth by the end of Tuesday’s practice. Perry played OLT in college but will need to slide inside at the next level, lacking the size, length, or agility to stay outside. He acquitted himself well at center at Shrine practices but struggled with snapping the ball during the game. Perry seems like a great practice squad candidate as a rookie and looks like a seventh-round pick or priority free agent this April.



 

Johnny Walker / EDGE / Missouri

Although the defensive MVP award went to another player (CB O’Donnell Fortune of South Carolina), the most impactful defensive player on the field on Thursday night was the Mizzou DE. Walker has a tremendous first step and his quick twitch made him nearly impossible to block one-on-one. His ability to bend, flatten, and close on the QB is reminiscent of Will McDonald (Jets), when he was coming out of Iowa State, and will intrigue every team needing a speedy EDGE to pressure the QB’s blindside. Walker lacks desired height and mass (6’2” / 246 lbs) but his length (33” arms) and wingspan (79 and 3/8”) allow him to create separation that enables him to unleash his athleticism and burst. If Walker works out well at the Combine later this month, he could get drafted in the second round.



 

Tyler Batty / EDGE / BYU

Batty has the measurements that NFL teams covet at 4-3 DE with the height (6’5”), weight (269 lbs), length (32 and half inch arms), and wingspan (79”) desired. Batty’s motor and drive is impressive – he was credited with 42 QB pressures last season - and he sets a strong edge, containing the outside run effectively. Unfortunately, he only generated 1.5 sacks during the 2024 season and his inability to finish is hard to understand when you consider his ability to get off at the snap and slice through the LOS he displayed on Thursday night. More film study is required, and how quickly he runs his 10-yard split at his Pro Day and Combine will be an important data point, but Batty shows enough traits to warrant a late round draft pick in Green Bay in April.



 

Jordan Phillips / IDL / Maryland

The defensive tackles and 5Ts available this coming April are an incredibly deep and talented group of versatile IDL that should provide some impactful interior pass rushers that should contribute as rookies. Phillips is a rapidly ascending prospect that has generated a ton of buzz during Shrine Bowl practices and has displayed a fantastic burst and movement skills during all four practices he participated in. Phillips has long arms and good mass and looks like a player who should contribute as a rookie next season. Phillips should be off the board by the end of round four in April.



 

Tonka Hemingway / IDL / South Carolina

Perhaps the most dominating performance put on the field in Arlington on Thursday night by any IDL was the performance of Hemingway, whose quick twitch at the snap haunted IOL all night.  Hemingway lacks some size and girth desired on the inside, and can be washed out of plays when his pad level rises, but his quickness and twitch are elite. Hemingway’s burst and quick-twitch makes him a great rotational piece upfront that can be used to pressure QB’s up the middle in passing situations. Hemingway has a non-stop motor that DL coaches will love. The Gamecock DT should be drafted in the fourth or fifth round in Green Bay this spring.



 

Tyron Herring / CB / Delaware

The most impactful performance put on by any DB on Thursday night was by Herring, who played extremely well in both zone and man coverage during the Shrine Bowl. Herring offers the size and length NFL teams covet at outside CB. He is instinctual and jumps routes after watching the QB’s eyes and is very physical in coverage. Herring is an aggressive run support player who sheds WR’s blocks effectively and is willing and physical tackler. Some NFL teams will consider shifting Herring to safety where his range, athleticism, and toughness could allow him to excel. Expect the Delaware Blue Hen DB to be drafted in the midround range in April.



Johnny Walker / EDGE / Missouri
Johnny Walker / EDGE / Missouri

 

 

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