Postseason all-star bowls are a vital part of the NFL draft process. They function as early job interviews for senior prospects, allowing the NFL hopefuls to try to impress teams both on and off the field between practice and interviews.
PFF has been live in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first few days of East-West Shrine practices before heading to Mobile, Alabama, for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Before we depart to get a look at another batch of promising prospects, let's highlight some of the biggest winners from Shrine Bowl practices.
WR KYLE PHILIPS, UCLA BRUINS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): N/A
Philips was one of the top slot receivers on the West Coast over the past few seasons. He earned a 70.0-plus PFF grade in each of the past three seasons, with his last as a Bruin being his best yet. Philips posted a 77.6 PFF grade and generated 2.11 yards per route run, both of which ranked in the top two in the Pac-12.
So far at the Shrine Bowl, the UCLA product has been the top offensive performer. He’s impressed with his route-running and footwork while holding up against tight coverage. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound receiver has been PFF’s highest-graded player at the position during practices so far.
WR vs. DB 1-on-1s at the goal line are incredibly difficult for the defense, but @UCLAFootball WR Kyle Philips continuing to show he’s on another level with his footwork and route running at @ShrineBowl practices pic.twitter.com/mGRxlBCtS3
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 31, 2022
OT KELLEN DIESCH, ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): 70th
There will be plenty of concerns about projecting Diesch as an NFL tackle because of his frame. The 6-foot-7 Diesch weighed in at 299 pounds with 32.5-inch arms. He doesn’t have the ideal anchor and length for that height. Yet, that underwhelming frame didn’t hinder him at Arizona State and hasn’t done so at the Shrine Bowl.
Diesch allowed only eight pressures across 413 pass-blocking snaps and 13 games en route to an 87.2 PFF grade (fifth-best in the Power Five). And on the first day of practice, he didn’t lose a single pass-block rep — something no other lineman in attendance accomplished. The production speaks for itself.
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OL CORDELL VOLSON, NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): 197th
Volson has been a secret superstar at the Shrine Bowl. The former North Dakota State tackle and future NFL guard plays with aggression and is strong throughout his frame. Volson boasts top-notch grip strength but isn’t the most fleet of foot, and he has a tendency to attack with wide hands. Still, that hasn’t stopped him from winning in Shrine Bowl practice. He lost just one of his first 18 pass-block reps en route to the second-highest pass-blocking grade in practices so far.
North Dakota St. OL Cordell Volson has been one of the biggest winners at the @ShrineBowl so far. Plays with aggression and has such a strong frame.
Allowed just 15 pressures (no sacks) across 974 pass-block snaps playing mostly tackle at NDSU. pic.twitter.com/XVONY0evYu
— Anthony Treash (@atreash_) February 1, 2022
EDGE ALI FAYAD, WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): N/A
Fayad has undoubtedly been the defensive MVP through Day 3 of practices. He may be undersized at 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds with 32-inch arms, but the Western Michigan product makes up for it with his high motor, pass-rush plan and move arsenal. He’s been rolling through one-on-ones, winning in advanced ways — including spin moves, fake spins, ghost rushes and more. Through the third day, no one has earned a higher pass-rush grade in practice than Fayad.
Western Michigan edge Ali Fayad getting Utah OT Bamidele Olaseni with the ghost move
Both have been standouts at the @ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/V7qc3pT2zz
— Anthony Treash (@atreash_) January 31, 2022
Considering his college production, this kind of output in practice isn’t much of a surprise. Fayad recorded elite pass-rush grades above 90.0 in each of the past two seasons.
EDGE JEFFERY GUNTER, COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): 176th
Gunter came into the week as one of the top prospects attending the Shrine Bowl, and through Day 3, he’s done nothing to change that. In fact, he’s raised his stock, as the 6-foot-4, 260-pound edge defender has been putting overall athleticism and physical tools into action. Gunter owns a top-three PFF grade among all defensive players in practice so far after posting 80.3 and 76.7 marks the last couple of years at Coastal Carolina.
DI MARQUAN MCCALL, KENTUCKY WILDCATS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): N/A
McCall — who is also known as “Bully” — has been one of the biggest risers of the week. The 6-foot-2, 346-pound nose tackle plays with a mean streak and has upper-body strength that makes interior linemen's lives hell. Not to mention, his personality and energy are infectious.
https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1487582899931004929?s=20&t=cIJWJOZH5eD5O5ZdMnv8Vw
He’s an intriguing prospect because he could barely see the field for the Wildcats due to weight issues. The Kentucky product has dropped approximately 40 pounds year over year, but he didn’t make much of an impact at Kentucky given his size. McCall played 229, 271 and 237 snaps in each of the last three seasons, recording 20 pressures and 29 defensive stops over that entire span. The inconsistent production, lack of value generated from a non-every-down player and a suspension at one point in his collegiate career all hurt his stock, but he is elevating it this week.
DI MATTHEW BUTLER, TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): 181st
Butler has been cooking out in Las Vegas thanks to his length, athleticism and hand usage. He’s been one of the five highest-graded pass-rushers in one-on-ones so far. The 6-foot-3, 299-pound interior defensive lineman was a sound performer this past season at Tennessee, recording a 72.9 pass-rush grade, but his high-level reps in practice are a surprise. Butler is proving to be an advanced pass-rusher and significantly boosting his stock.
P RYAN STONEHOUSE, COLORADO STATE RAMS
PFF Big Board Rank (before the week): N/A
Stonehouse has only been hitting nukes out in Las Vegas. Considering he was the second-highest-graded punter in the FBS for the 2021 season, this isn’t a surprise.
Ryan Stonehouse sending punts into another galaxy… @ShrineBowl • @CSUFootball pic.twitter.com/Te7vj0xaGD
— It's Just Football (@PFF_IJF) January 30, 2022
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