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Fourteen Gators make East-West Shrine Bowl 1000

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr08/01/25On3Keith
NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Florida
Nov 16, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) throws the ball as Florida Gators edge George Gumbs Jr. (34) pressures during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators return several key players from last season’s 8-5 team and many of them are likely to someday get a shot to play in the NFL. Recognizing that, 14 Gators have been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, a list of college players who are considered top prospects for the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game and the NFL Draft. 

The following UF players made the list: Defensive lineman Caleb Banks, offensive tackle Austin Barber, safety Jordan Castell, offensive guard Damieon George Jr., edge George Gumbs Jr., tight end Hayden Hansen, offensive guard Knijeah Harris, offensive tackle Bryce Lovett, edge Tyreak Sapp, center Jake Slaughter, kicker Trey Smack, receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, long snapper Rocco Underwood and receiver Eugene Wilson III.

The Shrine Bowl 1000, per Google, “aims to identify the best college players eligible for the East-West Shrine Bowl and the upcoming NFL Draft. The 1000 list is compiled by the Shrine Bowl’s scouting staff, with assistance with and college personnel, and includes players from all levels of college football.”

The Florida Gators are among the national leaders in most players on the list

From the Shrine Bowl’s official website, “Every year, approximately 1000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or attend a rookie mini-camp. Our aim is for this Shrine Bowl 1000 to serve as a look into our scouting process, as well as begin to preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and 2026 NFL Draft class. Putting together this list was extremely challenging for our team, as we scouted players from all four levels of football and consulted with NFL and college personnel to ensure the selection of the best 1000 players for the NFL level.”

From the 165 schools represented in the East-West Shrine Bowl 100, Florida is tied for 10th most in the number of players named to the list. Among SEC schools, Florida tied for ninth with Kentucky and Texas. Texas Tech, with 24 players, leads all schools.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is held in Frsico, Texas, on Jan. 27, 2026. It is the country’s oldest college football all-star game.

Most players selected for the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000

Number of PlayersSchool
24Texas Tech
23Alabama
22Texas A&M
21LSU, Miami (FL), Oklahoma
20Georgia
19Notre Dame, Oregon
17Baylor, Ole Miss
16Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State
15Arizona State, Auburn, Missouri, Penn State
14Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, Texas

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