East-West Shrine Game 2026 Highlights, Top Performers Who Boosted Draft Stock

The march to the 2026 NFL draft is well underway, and one big event took place on Tuesday evening in Frisco, Texas. The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl was played at Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility, and several NFL hopefuls got the opportunity to shine.

While the Shrine Bowl is now often overshadowed by the Senior Bowl, which will be played on Saturday, it has its own rich history of showcasing draft talent. The first Shrine Bowl was played in 1925, and the list of alumni includes the likes of Tom Brady, John Elway, Walter Payton, and Lawrence Taylor.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt earned MVP honors in last year's game.

This year's contest was a hard-fought battle that the West won 21-17. Here, you'll find some highlights and top performers from Tuesday's game.

Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa

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Quarterback Mark Gronowski is one of the biggest winners of this year's Shrine Bowl, and not just because he was named the game's offensive MVP—though he was.

The Iowa product and former South Dakota State quarterback impressed well ahead of Tuesday's game. He measured in with archetypal size, and he turned plenty of heads during the week's practices.

"He is extremely interesting at 6-2, 235 with great athleticism and an ability to do damage as a scrambler," The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner wrote. "Gronowski's arm, though, was the main event in Texas, as he was comfortable and consistent delivering downfield shots in team periods."

Gronowski put his skills on display in the game, too, finishing with 86 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, and one key block on a rushing touchdown.

Gronowski threw for just 1,741 yards and 10 touchdowns in his lone season at Iowa, but he did flash his athleticism with 545 rushing yards and another 16 scores. He's an intriguing dual-threat prospect who should get a longer heading into the draft because of Tuesday's performance.

Dom Richardson, RB, Tulsa

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Several Shrine Bowl invitees opted not to participate in this year's game, which opened the door for some late additions to step in and stand out.

Tulsa running back Dominic Richardson was just such a player, added to the West roster on Sunday. Head coach Lunda Wells, who currently serves as the Cowboys' tight ends coach, got Richardson up to speed quickly and found a role for him in his offense.

Richardson filled the closer role, practically taking over the game on West's final drive. He racked up 51 yards on the series and capped it with the game's go-ahead touchdown.

A redshirt senior, Richardson spent time at Oklahoma State and Baylor before finding a substantial role at Tulsa. This past season, he rushed for 1,065 yards and 5.0 yards per carry while adding 20 catches for another 130 yards.

With a 6'0" frame and a physical running style, Richardson should find an opportunity to carve out a role in the NFL.

Mason Reiger, Edge, Wisconsin

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NFL teams can never have enough edge-defenders, which is why Wisconsin's Mason Reiger should be garnering attention with his Shrine Bowl performance.

Reiger, who came to Frisco at 6'4" and 245 pounds, tallied five sacks and six tackles for loss this past season with the Badgers. Two years ago, while playing along Louisville's defensive line, he also logged five sacks and six tackles for loss. Between those two campaigns, he missed the 2024 season following knee surgery.

On Tuesday, Reiger tallied four tackles and three sacks in a losing effort for the East team. Unsurprisingly, he also earned Defensive MVP honors.

Reiger also flashed during practices, which for many scouts, are more important than the game itself. While a strong final season and a great few days in Frisco probably won't be enough to make Reiger a top draft pick, he's probably done enough to hear his name called over draft weekend.