The country’s longest-running college all-star game is back for yet another run. And in 2023, the quarterback prospects are set to take top billing. Who leads the way, and which prospects do you need to know ahead of the week of practice leading up to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl?
Top 2023 Shrine Bowl Quarterback NFL Draft Prospects
1) Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
A longtime star at UCLA, Dorian Thompson-Robinson put himself on the map as a college football quarterback and a potential next-level QB with his growth in 2022. If one thing has never been in question about Thompson-Robinson, it’s the fact that he is a terrific creator with the football.
At the Shrine Bowl, he will look to showcase his downfield passing ability and consistency with the football from the pocket.
2) Aidan O’Connell, Purdue
A former walk-on turned back-to-back 3,000-yard passer, Aidan O’Connell has a prototypical skill set that may differentiate him from the rest of the quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. O’Connell’s intangibles aren’t eye-opening, but his production is.
While in Vegas, O’Connell has a chance to showcase his football intelligence as he commands the East offense. There, he can also put his arm talent, strength, and decision-making on display as well.
3) Tommy DeVito, Illinois
Tommy DeVito got a bad rap during his time at Syracuse. In fact, there were more highlights than lowlights during his time with the Orange, and he had perhaps more unfortunate drops than any other quarterback over that time period.
MORE: 2023 Shrine Bowl Coaching Staffs Announced
A year removed from a revolutionary season at Illinois, DeVito could take the all-star circuit and pre-draft process by storm. He has impeccable accuracy when he’s on top of his game and plenty of arm strength to find all levels of the field.
4) Tim DeMorat, Fordham
Not quite a household name, Tim DeMorat has already flashed this offseason, ahead of the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl. The former Fordham quarterback had just a handful of attempts at the 2023 Hula Bowl but made arguably the biggest splash with a perfectly-placed deep ball that was the game’s biggest highlight.
DeMorat threw for nearly 5,000 yards at Fordham last season and over 10,000 in his career. He has great size and ample arm strength. If he can showcase the ability to adjust to the system he’s coached in as well as the speed of the all-star defenders on the other side of the ball, DeMorat could rise in these rankings.
5) Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
One point seen as a first-round quarterback, Tanner Morgan‘s Minnesota career took a downward turn over the course of two seasons. However, two things that remained consistent were Morgan’s mechanics and teachability on and off the field.
Morgan has great strength and can progressively make positive throws. Given time in the pocket, few were better able to throw receivers open over the past few seasons. His time in Vegas will go a long way in showcasing that he still has that kind of talent.