East-West Shrine Game 2015: Schedule and Players to Watch in All-Star Contest

The list of former players and coaches alone should be enough to entice you to watch the East-West Shrine Game this season. 

After all, names like Don Shula, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, John Elway and Walter Payton are all part of this game’s storied history, and who could have guessed they would become some of the most legendary names in the sport at the time?

Perhaps some of the next greats are on the 2015 East-West Shrine Game rosters.

This is the longest running college all-star game in the nation (started in 1925) and is sure to feature some thrills along the way. Here is a look at the essential information for the contest, as well as some prospects the more than 300 NFL scouts will have their eyes on.

Full rosters can be found here, courtesy of NFL.com.

2015 East-West Shrine Game

Date: Saturday, Jan. 17

Time: 4 p.m. ET

Where: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. 

TV: NFL Network

Prospects to Watch

WR Devin Gardner, Michigan

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

There aren’t many players at the Shrine Game transitioning from one position to another, but that is exactly what former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner is trying in an effort to boost his draft stock.

These reps that Gardner is getting at wide receiver are monumentally important because he only has limited experience at the position (he played there some at Michigan when Denard Robinson was quarterback). If Gardner can make plays in traffic and prove to coaches that his route-running ability is solid and his hands are passable, he could hear his name called on draft day.

Plus, he has raw physical skills at 6’4” with speed that can make for difficult matchups downfield.

Gardner discussed the move, via Mike Huguenin of NFL.com: "This is fun for me. I'm excited to be able to compete."

That’s all anyone can ask for at this point.

WR Tre McBride, William & Mary

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Tre McBride is one of the better prospects at the Shrine Game, but this entire process is more important for him than many Power Five conference players because he has not had the opportunities to play in front of a national audience at William & Mary.

If he can put up formidable numbers against quality competition at the game, it will validate what he did throughout his career at a smaller program. 

Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com had nothing but praise for McBride:

"

Entering the week, McBride was my highest-rated Shrine Game prospect and after a full week of practice, that hasn't changed. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds with 4.50 speed, he doesn't have imposing size or blazing speed, but he prides himself on the details, selling routes and using his foot quickness in his breaks to create just enough separation. McBride did an excellent job attacking the ball in the air with his quick eyes and hands, also taking reps as a punt returner. He is more smooth than explosive, reminding me a lot of Pierre Garcon when he entered the NFL out of Mount Union.

"

Blazing speed or not, McBride is a solid route-runner who has the versatility to be a returner as well. He finished his career with 196 catches for 2,753 yards and 19 touchdowns and will look to move that production to the next level with an impressive predraft performance that starts with this game and finishes at the NFL Scouting Combine.

RB Malcolm Brown, Texas

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Malcolm Brown finished with 708 rushing yards and six touchdowns as a senior and 904 rushing yards and nine touchdowns as a junior at Texas, but even those numbers are a bit misleading.

The stats are more impressive when you consider the fact that the Longhorns offered virtually no threat of a downfield passing game in the latter stages of Brown’s career. It will be interesting to see how he performs when the defense isn’t necessarily keying in on stopping just him.

After all, Brown was one of the most highly touted running backs in the country as a recruit and hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to show what he can do outside of Texas’ lackluster offense. 

Saturday represents one of those chances.

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