Shrine Bowl 2025: Standout Players from Day 2 and 3

By / Devy & College Football / Leave a Comment
2025 Shrine Bowl, Jalin Conyers, The League Winners

Three days of practice for the 2025 Shrine Bowl are in the books. After an eventful first day of practice, both the East and West teams kept the show rolling on Sunday and Monday. The tempo was good, and the practices were fun to watch. More importantly, though, there were more standouts from both teams.

Some players continued their good performances from Saturday, while some players emerged on the scene with breakout performances. Who were these players, and why did they stand out? Follow along as we cover the standouts from Sunday and Monday!

2025 Shrine Bowl Standout Players

West Team, Day 2

Robert Longerbeam, CB – Rutgers

Across both practices, Robert Longerbeam had arguably one of the best overall performances of the day.

The standout Rutgers cornerback was a monster in coverage, shutting down all types of receivers and routes. On a whip/pivot route from UNLV wide receiver Ricky White, Longerbeam read the shifty wideout’s movements and broke up the pass intended for him.

Longerbeam also shut down Colorado receiver Will Sheppard on a slant route and erased Konata Mumpfield during the West’s “best-on-best” period.

Throughout the day, Longerbeam only gave up one significant reception to Oregon’s Traeshon Holden. But even on his one catch allowed, the Rutgers cornerback continued to have a high level of play.

Longerbeam stayed with receivers while not getting grabby, performing great technique by staying in their hip pocket. He showed off solid athleticism, speed, and ball skills during his reps on Sunday. And even when not targeted, Longerbeam showed a willingness to fly downhill to make plays in the run game.

As far as cornerbacks go, Longerbeam is extremely solid. He may not be the most imposing player, but the former Scarlet Knight showed that he belongs playing alongside the best players with his performance on Sunday.

Bam Martin-Scott, LB – South Carolina

Continuing his play from yesterday, South Carolina linebacker Bam Martin-Scott showed off his versatile skillset.

In pass coverage, Martin-Scott had speed and instincts. He did not hesitate to get into his zones and was explosive when he had to play man coverage. When the ball was in the air, Martin-Scott showed a good ability to click and close; this speed helped him force a PBU during one of the “live periods.”

As a run defender, Martin-Scott used his speed to get to the outside to pursue ball carriers. He showed some hesitancy in play-recognition but still played with strength against blockers.

Martin-Scott even showed off some pass-rushing moves, winning with a cross chop and almost getting a clean win with a spin move during 1-on-1s against the running backs.

Linebackers are very hard to fully gauge during an event like this, especially against the run. But with some more positive pass-rushing reps and coverage reps, Martin-Scott has a chance to show that he can have a role on a NFL roster, at the very least.

Sam Brown, WR – Miami

Another day, another explosive Miami wideout. While Jacolby George did well again on day two, his teammate Sam Brown showed off his own set of skills at Sunday’s practice.

The highlight of Brown’s day was during the 7-on-7 period; on an out route toward the sideline, Brown made a leaping and twisting grab. Brown bailed out his quarterback on a bad throw and showed off his impressive vertical in the process.

The Miami wideout had other great reps over the course of the Shrine Bowl practice, whether it was a diving catch over the middle of the field or beating the aforementioned Longerbeam on a deep route down the field.

With a combination of smooth route running, deep speed, and jump ball ability, Brown flashed the traits of being an all-around player at the next level. The modern NFL needs players who can fill a variety of roles at receiver; if Brown continues to play at this level, he will carve out a nice role for himself at the professional level.

Will Sheppard, WR – Colorado

While not as flashy as some of the other wideouts on his team, I have enjoyed what Colorado wideout Will Sheppard as displayed.

As a route runner, Sheppard has been very smooth. His best routes have been on speedouts, as he sets up the defender vertically and breaks late to create separation for his quarterbacks to make the throw.

In addition to this, Sheppard has been battling consistently through contact all week. Whether against Nohl Williams, Longerbeam, or any other corner, he is bringing his best every rep. This showed up on his highlight play on Sunday; battling through contact, Sheppard made a leaping catch along the sideline.

With upper-level movement skills, body control, and ball skills, Sheppard can be an instant impact player at the next level. But with more showings of smooth route running, the Colorado product could be a riser in this class.

Carter Runyon, TE – Towson

A sleeper from a smaller school, Carter Runyon popped with multiple splash plays on Sunday.

In the passing game, Runyon’s highlight play was a route against Cal’s Teddye Buchanan. Running a speed out, the tight end beat one of the best linebackers in the Shrine Bowl and made the catch in traffic.

On the next play, Runyon made a great block down the field against Buchanan, sticking with a very fast player for an extended period.

Two plays do not make a player’s draft stock. However, Runyon showcased a high level of receiving prowess. His movements look smooth and he showcased some solid explosiveness out of his routes.

Add in some more blocking, such as his rep against Buchanan, and the Shrine Bowl could have a fun offensive asset on its hands at the tight end position.

Honorable Mentions & Good Plays
  • LaJohntay Wester: Continued to look explosive and showcased more great route running.
  • Traeshon Holden: One of the few players to beat Longerbeam on Sunday. Nice combination of speed, size, and ball-tracking ability.
  • Jacolby George: On top of his shiftiness and speed, George showed great ball control on a touchdown grab in the corner of the endzone.
  • Jack Conley: Multiple great blocks, including a pass protection one in the “best-on-best” period.
  • Luke Lachey: The TE is catching everything in his orbit. Love seeing his route running and feel for the game.
  • Alijah Huzzie: Shutdown Wester on a rep, which was a first for a cornerback this week. He is a physical defensive back in the run and passing games while looking smooth with his techniques.

West Team, Day 3

Jalin Conyers, TE – Texas Tech

Tight ends who can thrive in the passing game have a firm spot in the modern NFL. Based on his Monday practice and overall Shrine Bowl performance, Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers could easily fit that mold at the next level.

Conyers displayed great route running ability all throughout the practice, utilizing a variety of moves to create separation from defensive players. Whether it was vertically, laterally, or a combination of both, Conyers got the job done.

Additionally, Conyers displayed some impressive contested catch ability. The primary example was when he fought through contact and secured a touchdown during a red zone period.

The Texas Tech product also displayed some good YAC skills. Serving as a dump-off option, Conyers ate up yards quickly and showed a willingness to take on defenders in the open field.

Conyers has been a great receiving option all week, and day three of practice was the best showcase of his overall abilities. Heading past the Shrine Bowl, he is a player to watch ahead of the NFL Combine.

Elijah Roberts, EDGE – SMU

On the defensive side of things for the West team, the trench play was a fun sight to watch unfold. And within that group, SMU’s Elijah Roberts ended up being one of the best players to step foot onto the field Monday.

As a pass rusher, Roberts displayed significant power and impressive bend. He showcased a good feel for pass rushing, attacking his opponents differently, and finding ways to win each time. If Roberts won with bend to the outside on one rep, he won with a bull rush on the next. If he won with a rip move, Roberts would then utilize a spin next.

The SMU product is not just a pass-rushing specialist, though. Roberts played strong against the run and even had a splash play where he blew up a toss in the backfield.

With his performance across three practices, Roberts has likely made his name very well known to scouts and coaches in Denton, Texas. Ahead of the NFL Combine, he should be a player that becomes a fast riser for many teams.

Tyler Batty, EDGE – BYU

Not to be outdone by his West team counterpart, BYU’s Tyler Batty had yet another good performance during Monday’s practice.

Batty displayed a deep pass-rushing arsenal against his opponents. Whether he won with power, bend, speed, or his hands, the BYU product was a constant in the offensive backfield.

However, Batty’s run defense was what was most impressive to me today. During team drills, the edge rusher beat his guy clean off the ball and flew into the backfield to blow up a handoff. Additionally, he did a good job setting the edge on additional plays in the run game.

In a similar fashion to Roberts, Batty has shown the ability to be a multifaceted player at the EDGE position. He can set the edge and make plays in the run game while having the ability to get after the passer consistently. As a result, NFL teams should definitely start doing their homework on Batty, as he could be a fun contributor to a defense in 2025.

Jordan Phillips, DL – Maryland

Along with Batty and Roberts, Maryland’s Jordan Phillips popped for me today.

I was really impressed by the consistent combination of pass-rushing and run defense that Phillips provided. As a pass rusher, the Maryland product showcased nice hand usage and a good cross-chop move. More impressively, in my opinion, was Phillips’s spin move. When Phillips broke it out, it left the offensive lineman in the dust and allowed the defensive tackle to get to the quarterback.

Phillips also provided stout run defense, as he was rarely moved off his spot and was usually in the right position to make an impact.

Monday was a great way for Phillips to progress and show that he has gotten better throughout the entirety of the Shrine Bowl. He has some very fun traits and abilities, which could help his draft stock rise throughout the rest of the process.

Jimmy Horn Jr., WR – Colorado

Each of the Colorado wideouts has had a day to stand out, and Monday was Jimmy Horn Jr.‘s time to shine.

The shifty wideout was a force, as usual, in one-on-one drills. He created separation with his route running and quickness, leaving solid windows for his quarterback to put the ball into.

However, Horn shined when it came to contested catches. The Colorado wideout fought through traffic and bodies to make plays that most people his size would not be able to. Horn’s most impressive play was on a TD from Brady Cook; the wideout made a leaping grab toward the side of the endzone, managing to get his feet down before getting hit by the cornerback.

He will not be a fit on every roster or team, but Horn has the skillset to make an impact in the NFL. He has shown that he can make contested grabs and create plenty of separation as a pure route runner.

Horn has shown what he can do in Denton during the Shrine Bowl. now, it will be up to teams to see if they can put the jittery and quick wideout in a position to succeed.

Honorable Mentions
  • Max Brosmer: A much better performance than his previous ones. Brosmer had some great throws, whether they were in the deep or intermediate areas of the field. He must, must, must build on the performance Tuesday.
  • Nash Jones: He had a very impressive win during the 1-on-1 period. Really like the strength he plays with.
  • Jacolby George: Another day, another practice where George creates plenty of separation with route running and speed. One of the most consistent players this week.
  • LaJohntay Wester: Just like Horn, Wester continues to get open against the West DBs. With his flashes/potential on special teams, too, Wester will be a player teams likely covet.
  • Hollin Pierce: Smooth, smooth operator in passing situations. I really like what Pierce can bring to the next level.
  • Ricky White: Ricky is always going to get open. He is a high-floor player who will be in the NFL for a decent amount of time, mainly due to his extremely refined route running.
  • Konata Mumpfield: Mumpfield had a smooth TD grab in Monday’s practice. He is another WR who uses a diverse route tree to get open and make plays.

East Team, Day 2

Isaiah Neyor, WR, Nebraska

For the East team, Isaiah Neyor was one of the true standouts of the day. The big-bodied WR showcased his route-running prowess early in the day, winning through contact and making a catch in the 7-on-7 period.

This continued all practice long for Neyor. He won vertically, showing his deep speed and ability to catch balls outside of his frame. He showed differentiation in his route running, never setting up defensive backs with the same move twice.

Neyor even showed vertical ability, making a twisting attempt at a catch outside his frame during one of the last plays of the team period.

It was an eye-opening performance, to say the least. Nayor showed a little bit of everything on Sunday, and all of the traits displayed are very suitable for the NFL level. I would love to see him build on this day, but the Nebraska product is one I will be watching more of ahead of the NFL Draft.

Cobee Bryant, CB – Kansas

On the defensive side of things, Cobee Bryant was arguably the best player in the secondary for the East team during the Shrine Bowl practice.

The former Kansas Jayhawk was aggressive and physical on every rep he took. No receiver had it easy; even if they made a play, they were going to have to work for it against Bryant.

Cobee had multiple PBUs, flying in to knock the ball out or sticking with WRs through their entire routes. These occurred in all areas of practice, whether it was 7-on-7 or team drills. He even had an incredible interception, snagging the ball away from a wideout before he hit the ground.

While he does not have the perfect measurables, Bryant has that “dog” in him. And at the next level, Bryant should be able to provide the energy and aggressiveness needed to make an impact immediately.

Efton Chism III, WR – Eastern Washington

Route running wizard is what comes to mind when discussing Efton Chism.

The Eastern Washington product was constantly getting open on Sunday, but it was not in the cheap way that can happen at these types of events. Instead, Chism was utilizing his full arsenal of moves and footwork. He was setting up corners, then breaking them off or running straight past them.

While he did not receive targets in team drills, the shifty wideout was still getting open. Chsim ramped up the route running, weaving in-between traffic, and attempting to make himself available for his quarterbacks. Unfortunately, they were not able to hit him on Sunday.

Despite this, Chism is a riser for me. His shiftiness and route running pop off the page; furthermore, his skillset should translate nicely to the NFL level. He is another player I will be keeping my eye on.

Warren Brinson, IDL – Georgia

A Georgia defensive lineman stood out? What a surprise… but not really.

Warren Brinson made his presence felt often on Sunday morning for the East team. He consistently exploded off the ball and was in a position to make plays. The Georgia Bulldog had an impressive leaping pass deflection and a sack where he displayed his pass rush arsenal. Both plays demonstrated the overall athleticism and skill the defensive lineman plays with.

With some more flashes as a pass rusher and some continued wins as a run defender this week, Brinson could exit the Shrine Bowl as one of the better interior defensive linemen in this game’s class.

Fadil Diggs – Edge, Syracuse

On top of Brinson, Syracuse edge rusher Fadil Diggs had a great performance on Sunday.

Diggs won with speed and power multiple times during team drills. He blew up a screen pass with quickness off the ball. He even had a good coverage rep, locking down a running back who released out of the backfield.

Diggs’ pass-rushing could take him a long way if he can translate it to the NFL. Those with speed and power can have long careers in the league, and the Syracuse product flashed both.

But if Diggs can consistently cover in the passing game and defend the run, he could be one of the more valuable players in this Shrine Bowl class. The reaming practices will be critical for him and his draft stock.

Honorable Mentions & Good Plays
  • Rivaldo Fairweather: Had another great catch in traffic during the seven on seven period. I want to see him more involved in the team period drills. Could be a fun downfield receiving threat in the NFL if he lands in the right scheme.
  • Oronde Gadsden Jr: The Syracuse TE had another good day of practice. His route running is so smooth and crisp. Gadsden Jr. always finds a way to get open. 
  • Cam Miller: Miller made some great throws again, but he also missed a few. Consistency will need to be his them for the remainder of the practices in Texas.
  • Nick Nash: I loved his route-running ability today, and he has the speed to attack all levels of the field. He needs to work on his consistency with his hands, though
  • Francisco Mauigoa: He made a big, big tackle for loss during the team period. I have loved how quick the Miami linebacker has looked this week.
  • Ja’Corey Brooks: Brooks is flashing his speed, route-running, and separation through two practices. The next step is for his quarterbacks to throw him catchable balls on a consistent basis.
  • KeAndre Lambert-Smith: His separation has been great, and so have the contested catches. He just needs more chances to showcase his full route-running arsenal.
  • Rocket Sanders: Sanders showed his dual-threat ability, breaking off some good runs and flashing his hands on a wheel route. Want to see him get more reception opportunities over the remainder of the week.
  • Jackson Meeks: Meeks won deep today and has made some nice contested catches. I want to see some more route-running wins over the remaining two practices.

East Practice, Day 3

Kyle McCord, QB – Syracuse

On Monday, Kyle McCord showed why he has been receiving buzz in the 2025 quarterback class.

This was especially evident in the 2-minute drill the East team ran toward the end of practice. McCord hit ultra-talented tight end Oronde Gadsden Jr. on a perfectly placed ball toward the sideline. He layered it over the defensive back and right into the arms of his former teammate.

After this play, McCord scrambled and hit Auburn wideout KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a nice ball in his chest. And on the final play, McCord threw a perfect back-shoulder ball to Nick Nash, who could not bring it in due to the great recovery by UTSA’s Zah Fraizer.

The Syracuse product showed off the touch, accuracy, and arm strength that made him such a productive player this past season. While dealing with inconsistencies in the first two Shrine Bowl practices, a fireball of a practice from McCord on Monday is the ship righting right when he needed it to.

Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB – Kentucky

Not many players have made the standouts list multiple times, but Jamon Dumas-Johnson deserves it for his play.

The standout play for the Kentucky linebacker came on a screen pass. As McCord dropped back to pass, Dumas-Johnson read the play perfectly and jumped the screen pass. He then showed nice awareness by remaining in-bounds along the sideline after making the catch.

Whether it’s ball skills, plays in the run game, or pass coverage, Dumas-Johnson has flashed and played well in all areas of the game. After three Shrine Bowl practices, he is one of my favorite players from this week and someone I am keeping an eye on for the foreseeable future.

Nick Nash, WR – San Jose State

Despite coming from a smaller school, Nick Nash is showing that he belongs playing at a high level.

The San Jose State product, with various moves, has constantly found ways to get open. He has won on deep, intermediate, and short routes. He has made contested grabs and fought through traffic or penalties in different instances.

Nash has missed a few plays due to drops, including on a perfectly balanced back-shoulder ball from Kyle McCord. But when looking at his full body of work, those look like the occasional lapse in concentration.

The San Jose State wideout has the intangibles and traits to be a productive wideout at the next level. And due to his Shrine Bowl performance, Nash should have a great chance to show them off at the next level.

Honorable Mentions
  • Rivaldo Fairweather: He had yet another contested grab in the middle of the field on a dart from Cam Miller. Fairweather looks like a fun field stretcher up the seam at the tight end position.
  • Tonka Hemingway: He had another solid day, winning most of his reps and never looking out of place against his opponents. At a minimum, Hemmignway will be a apart of a rotation and make an impact.
  • Cam Miller: The NDSU QB is fearless over the middle of the field. I want to see the coaches let him rip it down the field, though, as I still have questions about his ability to consistently hit throws in that area.
  • Rocket Sanders: He has some smooth and explosive moves as a runner. Very versatile player that I want to see in a true “live” setting again.
  • KeAndre Lambert-Smith: He is always getting open and has made some unbelievable contested catches. I would like to see him get a few more chances deep down the field.
  • Johnny Walker: I liked the bend he showed during 1-on-1 drills. There could be some untapped potential there.
  • Joe Huber: Great run blocking rep on the big Rocket Sanders run.
  • Efton Chism III: Such a great route-runner and overall receiver. I think he will make an instant impact in the NFL.

Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently a writer for Jets X-Factor. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and MMA fan.

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