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2017 East-West Shrine Game: 5 Players who improved stock

By John Buhler

Jan 21, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA;East Team defensive end Trey Hendrickson (99) rushes during the second half of the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field. West Team defeated the East Team 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA;East Team defensive end Trey Hendrickson (99) rushes during the second half of the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field. West Team defeated the East Team 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2017 East-West Shrine Game is in the books. While it was low-scoring, here are the five players that helped their 2017 NFL Draft stock the most.

The 2017 East-West Shrine Game was the 92nd installment of the annual college football all-star. While there was great play from some stellar seniors on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, it was an incredibly low-scoring game.Winning the game by a lofty 10-3 margin, the West would top the East in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game being played at Tropicana Field.

This college football all-star game is set up to help young college athletes realize their pro football dreams. Many of the guys playing in this game will go in day three of the 2017 NFL Draft. Here are the five players that helped themselves out with solid games in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

5

Wes Lunt

Quarterback, Illinois Fighting Illini

Despite no touchdowns being thrown on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, one of the six quarterbacks stood out above the rest. Redshirt senior Wes Lunt of the Illinois Fighting Illini looked by far and away the best of the six NFL quarterback prospects.

He completed 11 of 14 passes for 101 yards and 7.2 yards per attempt. At least two of his incompletions were blatant drops by the West offense. Lunt had strong pocket presence, great mechanics, and threw the football with a level of touch his competitors couldn’t top.

While he didn’t complete the crucial 50 percent of his passes in his senior season at Illinois, that might have more to do with the lack of talent on Lovie Smith’s Big Ten football program. Keep in mind that Lunt did originally play for Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State Cowboys before transferring to Illinois.

Lunt didn’t project as a quarterback that would be drafted entering the East-West Shrine Game. However, he displayed traits that NFL scouts would like to see out of a backup quarterback prospect. Lunt had easily the best footwork of the six signal callers in the East-West Shrine Game. Though he may not get drafted, Lunt looked at least good enough to be on an NFL practice squad in 2017.

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