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2022 East-West Shrine Bowl: Five Mountain West Players On All-Star Game Roster
The storied college football all-star game will feature five Mountain West football players looking for a spot in the pro ranks.
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The stars are bright in Las Vegas.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of the most famous of the college football games which mark the path to the NFL Draft, which means it is a big opportunity for the five Mountain West players hoping to find their way to the professional ranks.
Interestingly, the San Jose State Spartans are the only team with two players from the conference in this year’s game. Tight end Derrick Deese Jr. fully emerged as a weapon in Brent Brennan’s offense, pacing SJSU with 47 receptions, 730 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Offensive tackle Jack Snyder left the program as one of its longest-tenured athletes ever, appearing in 57 total games (including 52 starts, 50 of which came from 2017-21) and emerging as one of the Mountain West’s most reliable pass protectors, pacing the conference in Pro Football Focus’s grading metrics for pass and run blocking back in 2020.
Hawaii’s do-it-all offensive dynamo Calvin Turner Jr. will also get a chance to display his wide set of skills. After transferring from FCS Jacksonville before the 2020 season, Turner broke out in two seasons with the Warriors by averging 4.9 yards per rush attempt, 13.4 yards per reception, and 24.4 yards per kick return, scoring 23 total touchdowns in the process.
Ryan Stonehouse cemented his place in college football history during his time as Colorado State, leaving the program with the FBS record for yards per punt (47.8) and becoming the first punter in Mountain West history to make the all-conference first team three times.
Lastly, San Diego State offensive tackle Zachary Thomas quietly emerged as one of the Group of 5’s most talented linemen over the course of his Aztecs career. He built his reputation as a tenacious run blocker: Per Pro Football Focus, Thomas had a 90.1 grade on that front in 2020, fourth-best among FBS tackles, and a 89.6 grade in 2021.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled to kick off from Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, February 3, at 5:00 PM. It will be broadcast on the NFL Network.
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