2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Practice Notes: Day Four East Team

2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Practice: Day Four East Team

If you came for storytime, don’t worry, you’re just going to have to read the West team practice notes too. I already assume you did that but if you, here is the link for that. Feel free to comment on your thoughts on storytime. The feedback is welcome. So are your likes and shares. The good news for you is that the final day for the East Team notes at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will be more in-depth since this unit was more active.

The practices were kinda inverted. The East team was super slow on day one then ramped up late. Again, one last reminder that we have the film this year so those reviewing the film posts will come in a few weeks or so with much more detail.

Quarterbacks:

If we’re still in the mood of taking suggestions from Trey, let’s send Payton Thorne home. Guy is a waste of time. We don’t need to see another snap from him. Don’t need to see him during the game either.

Kyle McCord is miles better than every other quarterback at this event regardless of which team.

Running Backs:

Josh Williams out of LSU is a new add here. Dude has some tree trunks on his calves. Honestly, he’s better than some of the guys who were invited in front of him. Just lower on the depth chart at LSU. Thought he had a decent showing. I’ll say this. Should have just never invited Montrell Johnson in the first place and made Williams the original invite.

Catch the ball, Rocket. It’s about the only negative I can say on the guy.

Arizona is a pass catcher only. Nothing else.

Wide Receivers:

Lambert-Smith passes the test in terms of the bend department. He’s the best talent in this group.

What a beautiful route by KeAndre Lambert-Smith‼️ pic.twitter.com/0a2QHRe5jN

— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) January 28, 2025

Jackson Meeks can get lower to the ground. Not elite but has some zooming qualities.

Isaiah Nayor is a bit tight hipped. Rounding some of these drills. Neyor is in the Nash category. He is inconsistent but his best plays are good ones.

Dominic Lovett is worthy of a draft pick. Just not a high one. Slot role he can do it.

Nick Nash hasn’t been consistent but his best plays have been good ones.

Can’t recall a big time play Ja’Corey Brooks has made the entire week.

Tight End:

Rivaldo Fairweather is a lump of clay. I don’t see him taking massive steps forward into becoming elite but he’s not a bad athlete. They were having him play FB in some of the team stuff, which goes to show that right now he’s clay and they’re trying to find spots for him.

Oronde Gadsen has grown on me. I will not lie.

Offensive Line:

Esa Pole keeps winning. Beats Tyler Baron again. Looks better playing left tackle compared to right. Really underrated feet. Can get to where he wants to go and in control. Worth the gamble as a developmental tackle with plus upside to get better.

Thomas Perry needs to play center and needs to get stronger.

Defensive Line:

JJ Pegues is blowing me away. The gear on a guy with his frame is just wow. Just overwhelming everyone.

Nazir Stackhouse is right on Nebraska’s heel going through these hoop drills. Nebraska has one pitch. Has to win with power. If not, he loses. Honestly, he’s not that strong either. Stackhouse has one move. It’s all bull right up the middle.

Virginia Tech couldn’t chase down Tonka Hemingway at South Carolina. He’s got some flair to him. V-Tech guy honestly doesn’t impress me. It’s shades of Amare Barno except Powell-Ryland is a better version. Oklahoma State buried him to the ground.

Cal Poly guy is horrible. Doesn’t belong. One of the worst guys I’ve seen here.

Tyler Baron has disappointed me. Liked him during the year. Hasn’t really had any dominating reps.

West Virginia more of the same. Same being horrible. Penn State beat him up.

South Carolina is a hand fighting machine. Tonka keeps doing the thing.

Linebackers:

Cornerbacks:

Glendon Miller didn’t have the wheels to keep up with Lovett.

Good reps from O’Donnell Fortune. Kept up with Nayor well in a route.

Flags were a bit out of control so it was kinda hard to judge the DBs.

Cobee Bryant didn’t practice today. The other Kansas corner had a decent showing. Had a nice pick going against Lambert-Smith.

2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Practice Notes: Day Four West Team

Safeties:

RJ Mickens picked off a route run by Gadsen.

Clemson DB RJ Mickens with the pick against Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden Jr. (luckily, there were no #Panthers beat writers harmed in the making of his video). #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/kJqz26GnRA

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 28, 2025

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