Frank Gore Jr., Taulia Tagovailoa Impress Fans as West Beats East in 2024 Shrine Game

With the 2023 NFL season nearing its conclusion, teams are beginning to ramp up their preparation for the 2024 draft this spring.

That preparation began this week with the 99th installment of the East-West Shrine Bowl. More than 120 of the best players in college football suited up this week for practices in front of NFL scouts, and they capped it off with an All-Star Game on Thursday night at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

The West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 26-11 in the annual event.

Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr., the son of former Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore, was one of the highlights of this year's game as he broke off a couple of big runs for the West All-Stars, including one of which went for a touchdown.

Gore Jr. finished the game having rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown on six carries en route to being named the game's Offensive MVP.

Gore Jr., who was also invited to the NFL Combine, spent his entire four-year collegiate career with Southern Miss. He put together back-to-back 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons in 2022 and 2023 and accumulated 4,022 yards across his four seasons.

During the 2023 season, Gore Jr., rushed for 1,131 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. He also caught 27 passes for 221 yards and three scores.

Pro Football Focus has Gore Jr. ranked as the 17th-best running back in the 2024 draft class. That said, it's looking like one team might get a steal in the Southern Miss running back in the later rounds of the draft.

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the brother of Miami Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa, also impressed in Thursday's game, completing 9 of 14 passes for 142 yards. He also rushed for a score to help the West All-Stars to victory.

Tagovailoa began his college career at Alabama before transferring to Maryland, where he spent the last four seasons.

During the 2023 season, he completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 12 games, in addition to rushing for 18 yards and five scores.

While Tagovailoa isn't considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 draft class, he should still receive a decent amount of looks given the fact his brother has molded into one of the NFL's best.

On the defensive side, Tulane cornerback Jarius Monroe had a solid performance for the West All-Stars, posting an interception and a tackle to be named the game's Defensive MVP.

Monroe spent the last two seasons at Tulane after beginning his college career with the Nicholls Colonels. He finished the 2023 season with one sack, three interceptions, 48 tackles, 10 passes defended and one forced fumble in 13 games.