Kentucky OL Jager Burton Receives Shrine Bowl Bid

Jager Burton made the most out of his final season at Kentucky. Now, he is getting an opportunity to prove he can perform at the next level.

The former Kentucky interior offensive lineman has accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. First played in 1925, it is the longest-running college football all-star game in the country. This year’s contest will be at The Star in Frisco, the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Senior Bowl has eclipsed this contest in prestige, but the Shrine Bowl has gotten more shine since its move to Texas. The event also serves as a fundraiser for Shriner’s Children’s.

Burton was a decorated recruit when the Blue Chip talent from Lexington chose to stay home and play for the Wildcats. His Kentucky career did not go according to plan.

He redshirted during Kentucky’s 10-win 2021 season. The following year, there was a mass exodus on the offensive line, and that included the position coach, Eric Wolford. Burton was thrust into a starting role a year ahead of schedule. He started in every single game at left guard, and despite earning SEC All-Freshman honors, there were plenty of growing pains.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Kentucky tried to move Burton to center. It was an experiment that was scrapped three games into the season after Burton had snapping issues. A strength when he arrived, as the offensive line faltered, much of that blame was put on Burton’s shoulders, fair or not.

Before his final season in Lexington, Burton brought his best. He gained a significant amount of good weight and repped snaps until it wasn’t an issue. He started in every game at center in 2025 and was Kentucky’s highest-graded offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus. Even though he did not end his career by getting back to a bowl game, his resiliency and perseverance were commendable.

“I would say I am proud of myself,” Burton said during the final week of the regular season. “I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. Everybody knows I’ve had an up and down career, moments I’m not proud of, where I haven’t played to the standard I’ve set for myself. But this year, I turn on the tape, and I’m proud of what I put on film this year. I couldn’t see it working out any better than it did with just getting a redemption shot at center and being able to prove that I can do that. Obviously, it didn’t go well the first time, so yeah. I am proud of myself.”

That quality season at center shows some positional versatility that will be intriguing for NFL scouts. They’ll assess him in person in the lead-up to the Shrine Game, which will be broadcast by the NFL Network on Jan. 27.