GAME NOTES: The 87th annual East-West Shrine game is on tap this weekend at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, as the nation's longest running all-star game traditionally showcases NFL stars of the future, while providing a huge benefit to the Shriner's Hospital for Children.
There have certainly been some legendary coaches patrolling the sidelines at this event, with big names such as Don Shula, Paul "Bear" Bryant and Steve Spurrier running things over the years.
This year's squads will feature Bobby Ross leading the East team and Brad Childress running things for the West.
The all-time series has the West holding a 45-36-5 advantage, although the East has won each of the last three contests.
The offense for the East will be led by a trio of interesting quarterbacks. Chattanooga's B.J. Coleman is the FCS's contribution under center. He will be joined by more household commodities in Florida's John Brantley and Southern Miss' Austin Davis. Of the three, Davis certainly had the most productive season. The talented gunslinger threw for almost 3,500 yards in 2011, with 30 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He also added 352 yards rushing and four more scores. A great story, Davis was named the 2011 Bulsworth Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding player that started his career as a walk-on.
Whomever is throwing the ball downfield, they will certainly have a plethora of options to look to. The receiving corps for the East is diverse, with players like California-PA's Thomas Mayo sharing playing time with stars like Illinois' A.J. Jenkins. Mayo (79 receptions, 1,359 yards, 16 TDs) put up huge numbers this year for the Vulcans at the Division II level, but the most explosive player on the outside is Jenkins, who hauled in 90 balls this year for the Illini, for 1,276 yards and eight scores, earning All-Big Ten First- Team honors.
Expect the East to use the run to complement the pass. There is talent in the backfield in the form of Florida Atlantic's Alfred Morris, Tennessee's Tauren Poole and Maryland's Davin Meggett. Morris had the best statistical season for the Owls, as he churned out 1,186 yards and nine TDs in 2011.
The East has its star power on the defensive side of the football as well. Up front, the team will look to players like Wake Forest's Kyle Wilber (70 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks), Virginia's Matt Conrath (66 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks), West Virginia's Julian Miller (57 tackles, 11.0 TFLs, 6.0 sacks) and Baylor's big man Nick Jean-Baptiste (36 tackles, 8.5 TFls, 4.0 sacks) to lead the way.
West Virginia's Najee Goode (team-high 87 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks), Army's Steve Erzinger (103 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks) and Penn State's Nick Sukay (66 tackles, three INTs, two fumble recoveries) are linebackers to keep an eye on in the middle of the defense for the East.
The East secondary has players like Notre Dame's Gary Gray (67 tackles, two INTs), Duke's Matt Daniels (126 tackles, two INTs, 14 PBUs) and North Carolina's Charles Brown. Daniels was a Second-Team All-American selection in 2011.
The stable of quarterbacks for the West is a strong bunch, comprised of Northwestern's Dan Persa, Northern Illinois' Chandler Harnish and Colorado's Tyler Hansen. Harnish had a huge season in 2011, as only Heisman winner Robert Griffin and Houston's Case Keenum had more total offensive yards this year. Harnish threw for 3,216 yards and 28 TDs, while rushing for 1,379 yards and 11 more scores, en route to being named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
The West's ground game will provide an opportunity for players like Louisiana Tech's Lennon Creer and USC's Marc Tyler to earn some recognition, but make no mistake about it, the crown jewel of the backfield has to be Western Kentucky's Bobby Rainey. The 5-8, 205-pounder concluded his collegiate career with the Hilltoppers in grand fashion, rolling up 1,695 yards on the ground and 13 TDs. His 141.3 yards rushing per game ranked second in the nation.
The West's receiving corps may not be chock-full of household names, but wideouts like Alabama's Darius Hanks, Michigan's Junior Hemingway and Arkansas' Jarius Wright will see plenty of balls, as will tight ends like NC State's George Bryan and Oregon's David Paulson.
On the defensive side of the football, the West's back seven will be a strength. The linebacking corps will be headlined by TCU's star Tank Carder (70 tackles, 4.5 TFls, two INTs). Nevada's Brandon Marshall (102 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks) has flown under the radar in terms of national attention in his time in Reno, but certainly possesses plenty of talent at the linebacker position as well.
The secondary for the West will be led by Texas safety Blake Gideon (78 tackles, two INTs).
There aren't any bona fide game-changers up front for the West, but players like Boise State's Tyrone Crawford (44 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks), Rutgers' Justin Francis (64 tackles, 13.0 TFLs, 6.5 sacks) and Hawaii's Vaughn Meatoga and Kaniela Tuipulotu will get every opportunity to impress.
The West will probably have the top two players in terms of skilled positions on the field in Harnish and Rainey. That kind of diversity and Brad Childress' penchant for offense should result in the West bringing an end to the East's recent reign.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: West 31, East 21
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