If you’re watching the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday afternoon, two of the best players on the field will also be two of the easiest guys to miss.
East-West Shrine Game 2013 prospects to watch: Keith Pough coming off big week of practice
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Standing at 5'9' and 5'10' respectively, running backs Zac Stacy and Ray Graham are two of the most underappreciated backs in this draft class and both will be playing for the East team on Saturday. The two complement one another fairly well, as Stacy is a physical back who relies on his vision, and Graham excels due to his explosive cuts.
The running backs are the best prospects on the Shrine Game roster, but some solid talent will be on display in St. Petersburg after a week of solid practices.
Check out our Shrine Game hub to see which players stood out in practice. Meanwhile, here are some other players to watch in Saturday’s game.
Keith Pough, linebacker, Howard (West team)
The postseason all-star games provides scouts with a chance to see small-school players play against a higher level of competition. Howard’s Keith Pough will have a chance to prove himself after a strong week of practice. He fits best at weak side linebacker in the NFL and could be a Day 2 selection if he performs well on Saturday.
NFL fit: Cincinnati Bengals
Earl Wolf, safety, North Carolina State (East Team)
Overshadowed in N.C. State's secondary by David Amerson, Earl Wolf is a rangy safety prospect who isn't likely to come off the board until the draft's final day. Still, Saturday's game is a chance for him to make an impression. His talent will be evident every time he steps on the field, but how will his discipline and cover skills hold up against the competition?
NFL fit: Baltimore Ravens
Terron Armstead, offensive lineman, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (East Team)
Terron Armstead is a small-school prospect that isn’t set in stone at one position on the offensive line. He drew the most positive reports out of all of the offensive linemen at this week’s practices. Armstead’s athleticism is his best trait, but he will have to prove he has the strength to hold up in the pros.
NFL fit: Dallas Cowboys
Christine Michael, running back, Texas A&M (West Team)
We already mentioned the East running backs above, and those two are certainly talented. But Christine Michael isn’t far behind either of them. Michael was inexplicably shorted this season in the Aggie backfield, making this game a big chance for him to make a statement.
NFL fit: Green Bay Packers
Jasper Collins, wide receiver, Mount Union (West Team)
Jasper Collins isn’t the biggest wide receiver, nor is he the fastest. But he finds a way to get the job done. He was the talk of the practice field this week, but will he be able to translate that into game action? Collins would be an interesting late-round flier for a team looking for wide receiver help.
NFL fit: Miami Dolphins
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