Nine Gophers named to East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
On Monday, the East-West Shrine Bowl released its annual preseason list of 1,000 players who are eligible for the East-West Shrine Bowl this winter in Frisco, Texas.
The 1,000 players signify the estimated number of players that are either drafted, signed as undrafted free agents, or attend rookie mini-camps each year. You can access the full list of the 1,000 players listed here.
That being said, among those 1,000 players are nine Minnesota Golden Gophers standouts.
Making the cut from the Golden Gophers are running back Darius Taylor, offensive linemen Greg Johnson and Marcellus Marshall, tight end Jameson Geers, defensive linemen Anthony Smith and Deven Eastern, linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Jeff Roberson, and cornerback Jaylen Bowden.
Overall, 192 Big Ten athletes were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, the second most of any conference, only behind the SEC’s 248. The Big 12 had 180 representatives, and the ACC was the only other conference with over 100 selections, with 172.
The upcoming edition of the Shine Bowl will be played on January 27, 2026, at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. In the 2025 Shine Bowl, three Golden Gophers suited up as quarterback Max Brosmer, offensive lineman Tyler Cooper, and cornerback Justin Walley all played in the game.
Thanks in part to his performance at the Shrine Bowl, Walley would be drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, while Brosmer would end up eventually signing with the Minnesota Vikings, and Cooper was signed by the Green Bay Packers.
