The West team won the Shrine Game for the fourth straight year on Saturday, but prospects on both sides caught the eyes of NFL scouts.
The Washington Redskins pre-draft evaluation continued on Saturday with the commencement of the 2019 East-West Shrine Game.
Heading into the game, some prospects stood out as players who deserved considerable attention, but the best function of the East-West Shrine Game is its ability to give unheralded prospects an opportunity to break onto the scene.
With that said, who managed to break onto the scene in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game? In the next few slides, we’ll take a look at some of the top standouts from the action!
Honorable Mentions: Elon OT Olisaemeka Udoh, Oregon EDGE Justin Hollins
No. 5 – LB B.J. Blunt – McNeese State
Other Standouts at LB: Ulysses Gilbert – Akron
Depending on how the situation with Reuben Foster ends up, and depending on how much development Shaun Dion Hamilton undergoes in the offseason, the Redskins’ pressing need at inside linebacker could soon become little more than a need for depth.
If this happens, the Redskins could be in the market for a player like B.J. Blunt. Blunt, in his final season with the McNeese State Cowboys, was a stat machine, logging 102 total tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, six pass deflections, and a blocked kick.
Blunt has a nose for the plays to make, and he also has an air of confidence. Blunt talked all week at the Shrine practices, and on Saturday, he backed up his talk with stellar play.
At 6-foot-1, 220, Blunt is a bit undersized for an NFL linebacker, as he made a position switch from safety. But his size wasn’t a problem yesterday. Rather, his speed, and his tenacity, was a problem for the opposing offense. Already possessing a hybrid linebacker with solid length in Josh Harvey-Clemons, the Redskins could do well to add an energetic reserve. Blunt stood out on Saturday, and with a chance, he could do the same on Sundays.
No. 4 – WR Terry Godwin – Georgia
With so many prospects lined up to get playing time, it’s sometimes hard for players to pad stats in the East-West Shrine Game. That’s why it’s so impressive that Georgia wide receiver Terry Godwin II got not one, but two touchdowns, for the East team, during a second half comeback.
Godwin, a former five-star recruit who stands at 5-foot-11, 185, never eclipsed 40 receptions or 650 receiving yards in a single season with the Bulldogs. Often, Godwin played second fiddle to Georgia standout Riley Ridley. As a result, his skill set fell under the radar.
On Saturday, however, Godwin emerged in a favorable setting, capitalizing on a late-game surge by the East team. He ended the game with four receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns, coming in clutch on several occasions with impressive body control catches.
Godwin is a bit undersized as an NFL prospect, but he could prove to provide good value for the Redskins, who need any help they can get in the receiving core.
No. 3 – CB Montre Hartage – Northwestern
Other Standouts at CB: Kadar Hollman – Toledo
The Redskins have favored cornerbacks with solid size-to-speed ratios in recent years, instating Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau as starters on defense.
In 2019, the Redskins could be in the market for a new cornerback, and if they were to address other needs first, they’d have to find a value deal at cornerback in the middle rounds. An option revealed himself in the Shrine Game: Northwestern cornerback Montre Hartage.
Hartage was sticky in coverage all game versus East team receivers. While in coverage against Terry Godwin, in the second quarter, Hartage forced a key fumble, which led to a West team touchdown. The forced fumble was an extension of his excellent coverage, as he made the play just after Godwin’s catch. Hartage showed tremendous focus, as well as an ability to use his length and footwork to his advantage.
Hartage’s ball skills are nothing new; over three years as a full-time starter with the Wildcats, Hartage logged nine interceptions and 26 pass deflections. To see it against fellow pro prospects, however, makes it that much more reassuring. Current Redskins Greg Stroman and Jeremy Reaves both played in the Shrine Game at some point. Could Hartage be next?
No. 2 – DE Daniel Wise – Kansas
Other Standouts at DE: Mathieu Betts – Canada
Referred to as “unblockable” throughout the week of Shrine practices, Kansas’ Daniel Wise upheld that reputation during the game itself, wreaking havoc on opposing offensive linemen.
Wise, who would fit well as a 3-4 defensive end for the Redskins, was moderately productive over his career in Kansas, amassing 17.0 sacks and 43.0 tackles for loss over four years. His disruptive style shined through on Saturday; although the sack total wasn’t high for Wise, his presence led directly to other sacks, as well as quarterback discomfort.
The Redskins are fairly well stocked at defensive end, but if they so pleased, they could add onto a stacked unit by picking Wise in the middle rounds. The former Jayhawk has a tireless motor and a good amount of upside to pair with it. As explained earlier, defensive end would be his place in a 3-4 scheme, but he played all around the defensive line in college, and that kind of versatility could be useful for Washington.
Wise and Canadian prospect Mathieu Betts set themselves apart at the Shrine Game. If you favor the alpha mentality with your defensive linemen, these guys have it.
No. 1 – QB Brett Rypien – Boise State
Other Standouts at QB: David Blough – Purdue, Easton Stick – North Dakota State
The hype around Brett Rypien isn’t just people “living in the past”, folks. Mark Rypien’s nephew might not have the most upside in this quarterback class, but he has a high floor and starting potential in the NFL. That starting potential was on display early in the East-West Shrine Game.
Rypien played mostly in the first quarter, where he engineered a very efficient touchdown drive. While other quarterbacks hindered their offenses and forced their teams to stay on the ground, Rypien showed he could open up the offense with little preparation, completing six of eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, which came on a nice touch pass to LSU’s Nick Brossette, seen below.
https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1086718820096430080
Many of the bullet points on Rypien’s scouting report, you could see on that drive. He’s not overly athletic, and his arm isn’t the most powerful, thus limiting his developmental upside. But he’s a adequately mobile signal caller who sees the field quick, stays poised in the pocket, and has a capable arm, one that can hit receivers in the right spot.
With his positive traits, Rypien’s 2018 production speaks for itself. The former Boise State Bronco threw for over eight yards per attempt, 30 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, and at the Shrine Game, he only reinforced his standing as one of the NFL Draft’s more underrated quarterbacks. It’s not just the name, folks. Little Rypien can play. And for the Redskins, who have a need at quarterback, but other needs to consider in Round 1, a high-floor player like Rypien would certainly be a value deal.
North Dakota State’s Easton Stick also flashed his talent on occasion for the Western squad, throwing a touchdown pass in the second half. Together, he and Rypien, along with Purdue’s David Blough, stood out from the rest of the Shrine group, and they should be on the Redskins radar, if Washington opts to pass on a quarterback in Round 1.