The 2024 Shrine Bowl produced a historic class, as a total of 57 players who participated in the week were drafted — easily the most in the game’s history.

The 2025 Shrine Bowl, the all-star game’s 100th edition, could be even better.

The competition between the Senior Bowl and the Shrine Bowl for NFL Draft talent is one of football’s most underrated battles, and it appears it’s only getting more intense. This year’s Shrine game will feature plenty of top-50 talent, including Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Michigan DT Kenneth Grant and East Carolina corner Shavon Revel Jr., plus five prospects from Miami and more than 25 apiece from the SEC and Big Ten.

With Shrine Bowl practices scheduled to start Saturday ahead of next Thursday night’s game, here’s a look at 15 players to watch:

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The Shrine Bowl’s main event, Sanders is one of six Colorado players expected at the event (joining DB Shilo Sanders, WR Will Sheppard, DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and WR LaJohntay Wester) and will enter the weekend firmly in contention for the draft’s QB1 slot. These events aren’t be-all, end-all, but it counts for something that Sanders intends to work out at a showcase while Miami’s Cam Ward isn’t participating in either the Shrine or Senior Bowl.

The entire draft process is important if you’re in a true position battle, and Sanders and Ward absolutely are. A great Shrine Bowl week from Sanders would show off his accuracy, elite communication and comfort working the middle of the field.

Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

McCord had an interesting year. He called his transfer from Ohio State to Syracuse a “business decision” — the Buckeyes wouldn’t promise him another year as the team’s starter without an open competition. It’s hard to criticize that type of move in today’s NIL climate. Same time, competitors compete.

A former five-star recruit, McCord does have NFL arm talent and had many more opportunities to show that inside Syracuse’s offense this year (45.5 pass attempts per game). McCord was better this season against pressure, and he was more accurate (including the best off-target rate of his career) and got rid of the ball faster. If he can show consistency during this week’s practices, McCord will surprise people with where he lands on draft boards.

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Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota

A good athlete with quick feet and an explosive arm, Brosmer (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) had some real flash moments for Minnesota this year after spending the previous five seasons at New Hampshire. Brosmer attempted more than 1,400 career passes in his career but was at his most accurate as a Big Ten player in 2024.

As much as anything this season, Brosmer was fearless over the middle. If he can show that for scouts this week, his stock will rise in an uncertain QB class.

Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina

“Rocket” Sanders never quite replicated his tremendous sophomore season (1,443 yards rushing for Arkansas), but he’s still a 230-pounder with big-time burst and speed. Sanders had labrum surgery in the fall of 2023 and worked through a foot injury earlier this season but managed a few throwback performances (including vs. LSU and Texas A&M). He joined Louisville QB Tyler Shough and Utah State DB Ike Larsen as college football’s Comeback Player of the Year award winners.

This is a deep running back class, but Sanders has a huge chance to reintroduce himself here.

Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse

The son of a former NFL receiver, Gadsden was a 190-pound receiver himself when he signed with Syracuse out of high school; he didn’t move to tight end until his sophomore season. He’s still pretty thin (6-5, 236) and missed most of 2023 with a Lisfranc injury, but Gadsden did have two explosive years — his sophomore and senior seasons — as a big-play, highly productive flex tight end.

He made 16 contested catches this season and had only three drops on 103 targets. Run blocking is an adventure on his tape and his medicals will be important, but this is a name to remember.

Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State

One of three FBS players (and the only WR) to finish the year with 100-plus receptions, Nash (6-3, 195) was a quarterback through 2021 but had zero trouble adjusting to a new position. Nash finished his two-year run as a starting receiver with a combined 152 catches for 2,110 yards and 24 touchdowns.

He had 19 contested catches for this season and and tied Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden III with 29 forced missed tackles. He’s big, long and bouncy and can win in the slot (or anywhere else).

Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State

A four-year starting left tackle, Gray moved inside to left guard as a sixth-year player and is expected to take reps at center during Shrine week. His build and length at 6-4, 310 always had him headed for a likely move inside, but his ability to work any position could provide serious value.

If he can show the potential to make an impact at center, his stock will soar.

Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers

A gigantic former walk-on turned four-year starter at Rutgers, Pierce (6-8, 344) was a warrior for Greg Schiano, spending two years at right tackle and two at left tackle. There definitely are times when Pierce’s height works against him and he’s a little stiff, but his power is real. He combines quick feet with an accurate, strong punch, and he’s a factor in the run game, both at the line of scrimmage and on the second level.

The big test now: Can he handle NFL-level speed off the edge?

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Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OT, Florida

Crenshaw (6-7, 320) is sort of like Pierce, albeit a bit smaller. There’s an athletic stiffness to him that can cause problems with his balance, both in protection and the run game. However, his combination of power and punch is the real deal, and he has the right attitude to be a possible factor for an NFL ground game.

If Crenshaw-Dickson can avoid lunging and maintain his power, scouts will like what they see from the big man.

Teddye Buchanan, LB, California

A high school QB who moved to linebacker due to a hand injury, Buchanan (6-2, 235) was a quick study in the stack for three years at UC Davis before making 114 tackles and five sacks this season. He’s a super versatile linebacker who moves like a safety.

Buchanan is still a bit of a work in progress and needs to be a better tackler, but the tools are absolutely there.

Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

A terrific athlete who is close to the preferred size for an NFL stack linebacker, Paul (6-1, 235) was one of the most versatile and active linebackers in America this year. After spending his first three seasons at Arkansas, Paul transferred to Ole Miss, where he forced four incompletions, broke up four passes and was a menace in opposing backfields.

This is a very fun linebacker class, and Paul will be a top-75 player on many boards.

Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa

A highly productive stack linebacker, Higgins (6-2, 230) put up 100-plus tackles for the second straight year. He was a two-time captain at Iowa and proved to be as sturdy as it gets in the box. He was one of the most dependable run fitters in college football for a bit.

Size will be an issue, and he’s not an overly explosive athlete — though, his IQ puts him around the ball constantly (four picks this season in Iowa’s zone-heavy scheme). There are some Ivan Pace Jr. qualities here, and teams shouldn’t forget that.

Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon

A multi-time transfer-portal jackpot winner, Muhammad is a super competitive corner with good feet and movement skills and has a nose for the football. He had 10 pass breakups at Oregon last season after putting up 12 at Washington in 2023 and a dozen combined over the 2021-22 seasons for Oklahoma State.

Muhammad’s solidly built for his size, but he’s not huge and didn’t turn any of those pass breakups or forced incompletions (of which he had 12) last season into picks. But this type of all-star event should be perfect for him.

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Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

NFL teams love players who love football, and despite the fact he’s still healing from an in-season ACL injury, Revel will be in Texas to support his fellow prospects and — more importantly — interview with scouts and pro personnel. Despite missing most of this season, he’s still carrying first-round buzz as we head into draft season.

As long as the medicals check out, Revel has the physical tools to play any position in the secondary as a long, explosive playmaker.

Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA

Another giant corner, Frazier (6-3, 185) exploded as a senior with six picks, five pass breakups and eight forced incompletions. The problem? This was Frazier’s only season as a full-time starter in the FBS —  he joined UTSA after playing junior college ball. Physically, though, he’s very impressive.

(Photos of Jay Higgins and Shedeur Sanders: Matthew Holst; Ric Tapia / Getty Images)