The NFL playoffs are
down to eight teams left . That means, for 24 of the NFL's 32 teams, it's
draft season. Some of draft season's iconic events, such as the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl are coming up, as well as some lesser-known college football all-star games that double as NFL draft showcases.
East-West Shrine Bowl
The game: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan 30, on NFL Network from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This year's edition of the East-West Shrine Bowl will be the 100th playing of the annual game. The roster this year is star-studded, including players such as Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Nick Nash, who led the FBS in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns at San Jose State in 2024. Former participants in the game include
Bengals' defensive end Trey Hendrickson , Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Brett Favre and Dick Butkus and even a former President of the United States,
Gerald Ford .
Local participants
RB Corey Kiner, Cincinnati (Roger Bacon): The former Ohio Mr. Football winner just capped off his third season with the Bearcats after transferring from LSU before the 2022 season. In 2024, Kiner rushed 204 times for 1,153 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.
LB DeShawn Pace, UCF (Colerain): The former Cincinnati Bearcat and brother of Ivan Pace, a former undrafted free agent signing who was a starting linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, recorded 61 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two passes defended in his first season with UCF in 2024.
OL John Williams, Cincinnati: The redshirt senior from Bolingbrook, Illinois, started every game at left tackle for the Bearcats in 2023 and 2024, and last season he allowed just one quarterback hit in 823 snaps.
Senior Bowl
The game: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, on NFL Network from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Arguably the highest-profile post-season college football all-star game, the Senior Bowl has been played in Mobile since 1951. This season, the roster includes stars such as Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Oklahoma State quarterback Ollie Gordon II and both quarterbacks expected to start in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game next Monday, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard and Ohio State's Will Howard. Alumni of the Senior Bowl include a myriad of Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Thurman Thomas, Derick Brooks and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Local participants
DB Malik Verdon, Iowa State (Hamilton): Verdon has had an excellent career at Iowa State, winning All-Big 12 second team honors in 2024 and All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition in 2023. This past season, he secured 76 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Hula Bowl
The game: noon Saturday, Jan. 11, on CBS Sports Network from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Hula Bowl originally started in 1946 and operated until 2008, being played in Hawaii in each of those years. The game was revived to start 2020 and played in Halawa, Hawaii, from then until 2021. Since 2022, the game has been played in Orlando, Florida. Even though it's no longer played in the Aloha State, the teams go by the same Hawaiian names they have since 2000, Aina (meaning land) and Kai (meaning ocean). This year, team Aina won 10-3, marking its first win since the game was canceled in 2008. Recent alumni of the Hula Bowl include Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and current New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy.
Local participants
OL Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan (Ryle): The former first-team All-Northern Kentucky offensive lineman has played 51 games across his five-year college career at Western Michigan, winning first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors in 2023 and 2024.
WR Xzavier Henderson, Cincinnati: In his second season with the Bearcats after transferring from Florida, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Henderson caught 59 passes for 738 yards and four touchdowns.
OL Reid Holskey, Miami (Ohio): Holskey's career spanned 55 games at Miami, with the Pataskala, Ohio, native earning All-MAC recognition in the last two seasons.
OL Luke Kandra, Cincinnati (Elder): Kandra had an incredible two-year career for the Bearcats after transferring home from Louisville before the 2023 season. He won All-Big 12 and All-American honors in both seasons with the Bearcats.
WR Cade McDonald, Miami (Ohio): McDonald transferred to the RedHawks before the 2023 season from Michigan State and recorded nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns on 80 catches across a strong two-year career with Miami.
K Graham Nicholson, Alabama (Summit Country Day): Nicholson, who won the
Lou Groza Award , which honors college's top placekicker each year, in 2023 with the Miami RedHawks, made 8-of-10 field goal attempts and was perfect on 53 extra-point tries for the Crimson Tide in 2024.
OL Dartanyan Tinsley, Cincinnati: Tinsley started his collegiate career at Kentucky Christian before transferring to UC for the 2022 season. He played in 31 games for the Bearcats and was a starter at guard in 2023 and 2024.
LB Jaheim Thomas, Wisconsin (Princeton): The senior started his career at Cincinnati and spent a year at Arkansas before finishing out his college career at Wisconsin in 2024. He recorded 53 tackles and a sack for the Badgers.
Tropical Bowl
The game: 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, on All America TV from Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida. Since starting in 2016, the Tropical Bowl has been played in Florida every year. Alumni of the game include Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, former Pro Bowler and Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II and Danny Etling, who was on the New England Patriots for the 2018 season when they beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.
Local participants
DL Darian Varner, Cincinnati: In 2024, Varner's lone season at Cincinnati after transferring from Wisconsin, he played in all 12 games for the Bearcats, recording 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. He earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2022 at Temple.
College Gridiron Showcase
The event: Friday, Jan. 10, to Sunday, Jan. 12, in Fort Worth, Texas. The College Gridiron Showcase, which has been in operation since 2015, mainly consists of drills and off-field education. Notable alumni include Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo, Super Bowl champion Sebastian Joseph-Day and former All-Pro punt returner Gunner Olszewski.
Local participants
WR Jamoi Mayes, Cincinnati: Mayes, who spent the first four years of his college career at Chattanooga, recording more than 2,000 receiving yards with the Mocs, caught 29 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown in his one season with the Bearcats.
