The all-star events for the 2022 NFL draft are in full swing, as the last week of January marked the beginning of the East-West Shrine Bowl. After being held in Tampa, Florida, since 2010, the event made its debut in Las Vegas. With plenty of buildup and excitement surrounding the game, there were 130 total prospects competing against one another.
Each team had coaches from multiple NFL staffs throughout the league. Scouts from all 32 teams were in attendance, and many general managers also graced the sidelines of Fertitta Football Complex at UNLV. The game is scheduled to be played at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at Allegiant Stadium.
There were several prospects who helped themselves and improved their draft stock during the three days of fully padded practices. Here are 15 who caught my eye throughout the week, with notes on what they did well and where they could be picked in April's draft.
Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
Where he likely will be drafted: Early Day 3
The 6-foot-6, 259-pound, Woods is a physically imposing player who could have been mistaken for an offensive tackle. He is a bit of a goofy mover, but his coordination takes over when plucking the ball out of the air. He catches the ball well in all areas of the field and also showed savvy as a route runner against both man and zone coverage.
Recruited as a quarterback to Oklahoma State in 2017, Woods started 28 games for the Cowboys, mostly playing as a blocking tight end. He flourished as a pass-catcher in his lone season at Virginia, catching 44 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. He's still figuring out the details of playing tight end, but I expect him to continue to rise in this draft. After watching Woods move around, the player who immediately came to mind was Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Both have basketball backgrounds.
Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
Where he likely will be drafted: Early Day 3
I didn't know much about Philips coming into the event. He was one of the biggest surprises of practices, as he showed that he's a technician as a route runner and just understands how to get open. At 5-11, 186 pounds, Phillips is likely a slot-only threat, but he also has value as a punt returner. No matter the setting, he proved that he had a great feel for all types of coverages and brought something to the table after the catch as well.
With strong hands, unique spatial awareness and the ability to finish plays, Philips has the potential to end up as a high-end WR3 who could serve as a return specialist early on during his career. Talking to scouts in attendance to gauge which player impressed them the most during practices, Philips was the consensus. He caught 59 passes for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Bruins in 2021.
Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
Where he likely will be drafted: Early Day 3
After a strong opening performance during the first day of practice, Butler remained steady throughout the week. Coming in at 6-3, 299 pounds, his physical traits, power and energy immediately caught the eye of many scouts in attendance. Most noticeable in the one-on-ones portion of practice, Butler was easily penetrating his way to the quarterback, and he carried that over into the 11-on-11 sessions.
Overall, I thought Butler was the best player at the event, and he proved his worth during each period of practice. Playing in 53 career games for the Volunteers, he hit his stride during his final season as he had 47 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DL, Notre Dame
Where he likely will be drafted: Early Day 3
A lengthy and powerful player, Tagovailoa-Amosa's smarts with knowing how to use his limbs as a run defender coupled with his violence as a pass-rusher helped him piece together a great week of practice. Working half-line drills that tested the sturdiness of defensive lineman as they battled against two blockers, he constantly displayed his shock and shed ability.
With plenty of physicality in his game, Tagovailoa-Amosa had several highlight-worthy moments throughout the week, notably during the team session in which he split a double team in route to what would have been a tackle for loss in the backfield. At 6-2, 268 pounds, Tagovailoa-Amosa is a bit of a tweener, and his best NFL position and scheme fit will have mixed opinions.
Noah Elliss, DT, Idaho
Where he likely will be drafted: Early-to-Mid Day 3
No stranger to the NFL, Elliss' father, Luther, was drafted in the first round of the 1995 draft by the Detroit Lions and went on to spend 10 seasons in the league. Noah's career began at Mississippi State before transferring to Idaho, where Luther is the defensive line coach for the Vandals.
Coming in at 6-4, 359 pounds, Elliss is a true 0-technique tackle who can two-gap in a 3-4 defensive scheme. With a round and stout build, Elliss' power was overwhelming for most blockers that he matched up against in Vegas. He's a pocket pusher who elects to run right down the midline of interior offensive linemen, and his power places stress on the immediate sightline of quarterbacks.
Ali Fayad, EDGE, Western Michigan
Where he likely will be drafted: Early-to-mid Day 3
The most polished pass-rusher on either team, Fayad is a true stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker. He has already developed half and full spin moves, and he can shave the arc of the pocket and corner to the quarterback. He even tried to convert speed to power in pass-rush drills. Fayad mixes up his plan of attack quite a bit, and it's easy to see why he had so much success in the MAC. At 6-2, 248 pounds, he finished his career with 33.5 sacks. He had a career-high 13.5 sacks in 2021 en route to becoming conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Those traits were evident, and he has the potential to play early in his career as a designated pass-rusher who provides value on obvious passing downs.
Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa State
Where he likely will be drafted: Mid Day 3
The 6-5, 319-pound Uwazurike was active throughout the week, flashing his strength in drills. With plenty of pop in his hands, he routinely snapped backward the heads of linemen. A likely option as a 1-technique tackle in a four-down defensive scheme, Uwazurike proved that he's consistent at the point of attack, and he also has the shock-shed ability to disengage and finish plays in his assigned gap.
His ability to wreak havoc was evident last season as he finished with 12 total tackles for loss and nine sacks. His 60 career games played (46 starts) are the second most in program history.
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
Where he likely will be drafted: Mid Day 3
Thornton, a skilled route runner, continued to create separation during the practices leading up to the game. Although he's thin at 6-2, 177 pounds, he's a downfield threat who has plenty of speed to burn in order to get in and out of his breaks. An upright and long strider, he's nimble and precise with his routes, and it was easy to tell that he had plenty of experience with various types of coverages. Adding little details and nuance to all portions of his route stems, he performed subtle movements to generate extra room to haul in catches.
Thornton, who averaged 15.3 yards per catch in 2021, had an answer for off- and press-man coverage, and he was comfortable with fighting through the hands of defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. He's a deep threat who could be a late-round, developmental option for teams.
Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
Where he likely will be drafted: Mid-to-late Day 3
You will be hard-pressed to find a player who has had more college experience than Volson, who started 40 games and played in a whopping 65 games at offensive tackle for the Bison. At 6-6, 319 pounds, he switched between both guard and tackle throughout the week of practices. With no meaningful snaps along the interior since high school, the transition seemed to be seamless for Volson.
He impressed with outstanding power, finishing ability and versatility, and he could quickly become a popular late-round option for teams in search of tackle depth.
Jean Delance, OT, Florida
Where he likely will be drafted: Mid-to-late Day 3
I was excited to watch Delance coming into the week, and he displayed lots of promise as a pass protector and checked many boxes as a run blocker. Known for his instincts, power and consistency as a run blocker, it was Delance's feet as a pass protector that were the biggest question for his NFL future. In the one-on-one portions of practice, he showed that he has workable traits to develop.
Delance spent the 2016 season at Texas before transferring to Florida. Watching him against Alabama last season, he had moments that caught my eye, but he suffered a knee injury during the second quarter that sidelined him for the remainder of the game. At nearly 6-4, 296 pounds, Delance is a late-round project who could be an option to stash and develop as a swing tackle.
Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
Where he likely will be drafted: Late Day 3
Ingram helped himself tremendously during the four days of practice, showing off vision, electric feet and open-field ability. His feel for cutback lanes and his hands as a receiving threat really stood out. The Texas transfer had 89 catches in four college seasons.
#USC RB Keaontay Ingram (5114, 210) is a prospect who's really caught my eye this week at Shrine Bowl practices. Spent 3 years at Texas (2018-2020). Good feet, vision, runs with a plan, and is a natural as a pass catcher. pic.twitter.com/8jppoOPQ6C
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 31, 2022
Ingram's best session of practice came during the second day when he was able to show off that ability as a receiver. Because of his consistency as a catcher and loose movements, there isn't a route that he can't run out of the backfield, and he's also capable of splitting out wide if necessary. The biggest asterisk on Ingram's résumé is that he needs proper development of how to use his hands in pass protection, but both the physicality and want-to are apparent.
Armani Rogers, TE, Ohio
Where he likely will be drafted: Late Day 3
Rogers, a former quarterback at Ohio and UNLV, was the biggest surprise of the East-West Shrine Game, as he moved to tight end for the event. In an attempt to better his future and have a shot at sticking on a roster, he experimented with playing tight end, and it proved to work out for him. He showed a foundation to potentially build upon.
Considering that the four-day stretch of competition was his first action with his hand in the dirt, it was hardly noticeable. He displayed an understanding of how to run routes and made plenty of receptions in all types of situations. Rogers will be a project for teams seeking a late-round option at the position.
Derrick Tangelo, IDL, Penn State
Where he likely will be drafted: Late Day 3
Tangelo caught my eye during the final two padded practices, as he is a stout player who overpowered blockers at the point of attack. A Duke transfer, he played in 45 career games (27 starts) for the Blue Devils. His best day of practice came Monday when he constantly was a nuisance for the West team blockers. Against the run, he was consistent with locking out, extending and getting rid of matchups. He also displayed plenty of energy as a pass-rusher. Even when unable to get home, he was able to negate completions as he had a tipped pass during the 11-on-11 team portion of practice.
At 6-1, 304 pounds, he's a true up-the-field, penetrating 3-technique who is capable of playing against the run.
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
Where he likely will be drafted: Late Day 3
At 5-11, 203 pounds, Strong is a slender rusher with a similar build to former NFL running back LeSean McCoy. Day 3 was Strong's best performance as his hands as a pass catcher were on full display. He took a screen pass for a touchdown from 20 yards out, and his ability to turn up the field immediately after the catch and navigate his way through traffic matched what he showed on tape.
One of only four rushers to surpass the 4,000-rushing yard mark in program history, Strong has value as a three-down threat. He will likely be a change-of-pace back during the earlier parts of his career because he's a dangerous weapon in the passing game. He's a zone-scheme fit who is at his best on perimeter runs where he can make one cut and accelerate.
Isaih Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
Where he likely will be drafted: Late Day 3 or priority free agent
I watched Pacheco in practices at the Hula Bowl in Orlando the previous week, and I thought he was the most impressive prospect there following the three days of practice. A stout and determined runner at 5-10, 213 pounds, he's constantly on full-go through the entirety of practice. Standing on the sideline during the team portion of practice, there were multiple comments made about his play speed from his teammates. His effort on each play stood out, and there's hardly ever a circumstance in which he's not operating at full speed.
A one-cut and go running back, there's little wasted motion in the backfield as Pacheco is an on-schedule runner. He's comfortable as a pass catcher and pass protector, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him be a late-round pick who goes on to have success early in his career. He rushed for 2,424 yards in his Rutgers career.
Quick-hitters
As what usually happens at most all-star contests, the quarterbacks got off to shaky starts. They are tasked with adjusting to the new verbiage of NFL playbooks, surroundings and throwing to unfamiliar targets. Following the first day of practices, Iowa State's Brock Purdy and Notre Dame's Jack Coan proved to be the best of the bunch. Both settled in and had multiple highlight throws during Monday's session. It wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a chance on either late in the draft or as priority free agents.
During the second day of practices, Miami quarterback D'Eriq King took snaps at slot receiver. Because of his physical tools and size (5-8), this was something that scouts requested to see how he would look at the position.
Hawaii wide receiver Calvin Turner spent the entirety of the third day of practices at running back. He's another player who experimented with a different position in order to garner the attention of scouts. He seemed to be natural after making the switch.
During the special teams portion of practices, Florida International punter Tommy Heatherly put on a show. He had consistent hang time on his punts and a tight spiral that allowed the coverage team plenty of time to get down the field. The way that the ball exploded off of his foot caught the eye of many evaluators.