In the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the West beat the East 21–17 on Tuesday night after a week of practices that gave scouts a close look at midwinter prospects. Eight players in particular strengthened their draft profiles with game-day performances that mixed production on special teams, pass rush, protection and playmaking. Mason Reiger earned Defensive MVP honors after piling up three sacks, while Mark Gronowski was named Offensive MVP for his efficient drives. Those individual efforts, plus other notable showings, set the stage for further evaluation ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23.
Key Takeaways
- Mason Reiger (Edge, Wisconsin) recorded three sacks, including a third-quarter strip-sack, and was named Defensive MVP.
- Mark Gronowski (QB, Iowa) won Offensive MVP after a concise stint that featured accurate throws on the move and a key block on a touchdown play.
- Trey Smack (K, Florida) hit a 57-yard field goal late in the first half and made a critical kickoff tackle in the second half.
- Shad Banks (LB, UTSA) stood out on special teams with two kickoff stops and made multiple run-stopping plays and a pass breakup in the end zone.
- Dean Connors (RB, Houston), a Rice transfer, mixed power and suddenness, scoring the team’s first touchdown on a decisive cutback run.
- Garrett DiGiorgio (OT, UCLA) showed strength as a run blocker and mobility pulling to the second level; his 32 3/4-inch arm length projects a potential move inside at the next level.
- Eric Rivers (WR/KR, Georgia Tech) demonstrated reliable hands and route quickness for first downs and showed burst as a kick returner on the game-winning drive.
- Wesley Williams (Edge, Duke) combined pass-rush pressure with run-game discipline and finished with a strip-sack in the end zone that resulted in a scoring play.
Background
The East-West Shrine Bowl, now in its 101st edition, is one of the longest-running postseason showcases for draft-eligible college players, drawing NFL scouts and coaches for a week of practices capped by an all-star game. Held at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the event is designed to surface mid- and late-round prospects, specialists and players from Group of Five programs whose tape might otherwise attract limited attention. In recent years the Shrine Bowl has helped elevate lesser-known names into drafted players and roster contributors; last year’s standouts included Efton Chism III, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Nohl Williams, each of whom carved out NFL roles in 2025.
With the 2026 draft approaching on April 23 in Pittsburgh, performances in one-week settings like this can affect a player’s interview list, private workouts and pre-draft visits. Scouts weigh on-field production alongside medical checks, interviews and measurables collected at pro days and the combine. For many prospects in Frisco, the Shrine Bowl is a chance to confirm athletic traits seen on tape or to display versatility—special teams, positional flexibility and situational instincts—that can nudge late-round grades upward.
Main Event
The West squad managed a 21–17 victory in a tightly contested game that featured multiple momentum swings. Mason Reiger terrorized opposing tackles throughout the night, converting speed and power into three sacks; his third-quarter strip-sack was a clear game-altering play and the centerpiece of his Defensive MVP case. Mark Gronowski provided steady leadership in limited snaps, completing throws on the move and delivering a physical block that sprung Dean Connors’ touchdown, earning him Offensive MVP honors.
Shad Banks impacted both phases, making two early kickoff tackles and frequently finishing runs near the line of scrimmage; he also broke up a pass in the end zone late in the first half. Dean Connors flashed a blend of contact balance and suddenness—spinning out of backfield contact on one run and scoring on a sharp cutback that showcased his downhill burst. Meanwhile, Garrett DiGiorgio held the edge at right tackle, routinely stalling edge rushers and demonstrating pulling ability to the second level despite arm length that projects to a guard role in some evaluations.
On the perimeter, Eric Rivers caught several reliable targets over the middle and along the sideline, turning short gains into positive yardage on the game-winning drive and showing potential value as a returner. Wesley Williams combined edge quickness with run-support discipline, creating pressures from both outside and inside and finishing with a strip-sack in the end zone that led to a scoring play. Kicker Trey Smack’s 57-yard field goal provided a momentum spike at the end of the first half and underscored the value of specialists in all-star settings.
Analysis & Implications
Mason Reiger’s three-sack performance is the kind of condensed tape that evaluators catalog when projecting pass-rush upside. Sack totals in one-off games must be contextualized—matchups, blocking schemes and game script matter—but consistent ability to win with both speed and power in a controlled setting raises his floor for teams seeking rotational edge rushers. Reiger’s performance should prompt additional interviews and measured interest from clubs that value situational pass-rush depth.
Mark Gronowski’s MVP award reflects efficient processing and poise rather than volume. Scouts will weigh his live-drive play alongside pro-day metrics and medical history; however, his accuracy on the run and ability to sustain drives in team drills add to a quarterback profile that can warrant late-round consideration or an invite to rookie minicamps. Gronowski’s pass protection while blocking on a scoring play also signals a willingness to contribute in non-traditional ways, an attractive trait for developmental quarterbacks.
Offensive linemen like Garrett DiGiorgio generate mixed reactions: his run-blocking strength and mobility when pulling make him attractive in zone-heavy or gap-scheme systems, but his 32 3/4-inch arms suggest many teams may evaluate him as an interior option. For DiGiorgio, strong positional versatility and demonstrable technique versus skilled rushers can elevate his draft grade into Day 2 conversations for teams prioritizing guard/center athleticism.
Special-teams plays and kicking matter in the margins of roster construction. Shad Banks’ kickoff stops and Trey Smack’s long field goal are tangible, game-caliber contributions that help prospects separate themselves among peers with similar positional tape. Reliable specialists and versatile linebackers often secure undrafted free-agent contracts that lead to active-roster snaps; these Shrine Bowl plays provide concrete evidence for decision-makers.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Position (School) | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Mason Reiger | Edge (Wisconsin) | 3 sacks, Defensive MVP |
| Mark Gronowski | QB (Iowa) | Offensive MVP; accurate on the move |
| Trey Smack | K (Florida) | 57-yard FG; key kickoff tackle |
| Shad Banks | LB (UTSA) | 2 kickoff stops; pass breakup |
The table above highlights measurable, game-day outcomes that frequently matter to front offices: sacks, scoring plays and special-teams impact. While single-game stats must be balanced against season-long tape and medical evaluations, these outcomes serve as immediate evidence that a player can execute at a pro level in a live, scout-heavy environment. Additionally, a longer list of honorable mentions includes prospects from Power Five and Group of Five programs whose week in Frisco preserved or improved their pre-event standing.
Reactions & Quotes
“Mark Gronowski’s command and efficient ball placement during drives earned him clear Offensive MVP distinction in Frisco.”
East-West Shrine Bowl officials (postgame announcement)
“Reiger’s consistent pressure and three-sack night are the type of flashes that get edge rushers added to early Day 3 consideration lists.”
League evaluators (postgame notes)
“Special-teams snaps—like Banks’ kickoff tackles and Smack’s 57-yarder—often tip the scales for roster decisions later in spring evaluations.”
Pro scouting comment (team front-office source)
Unconfirmed
- No verified projections yet link these Shrine Bowl performances to specific draft-round movement; final grades will depend on combine/pro day results and medical clearances.
- There are no publicly confirmed reports about private workouts or pre-draft visits scheduled as a direct result of the Shrine Bowl showings; team interest may emerge over the coming weeks.
Bottom Line
The East-West Shrine Bowl delivered a focused platform for eight prospects to add meaningful, scout-friendly tape to their résumés: Mason Reiger’s dominant pass rush, Mark Gronowski’s composed drives, and several specialists and position players who flashed versatility. These on-field moments do not guarantee draft placement but provide tangible evidence evaluators use when constructing early draft boards and invitation lists for further testing.
From here, performance in the NFL Combine, pro days, medical evaluations and interviews will determine how much these Shrine Week showings translate into draft capital. For many of the players highlighted, the next three months will be about confirming upside, answering medical and athletic questions, and turning one-week impressions into sustained interest from NFL teams ahead of the April 23 draft in Pittsburgh.
Sources
- NFL.com (media report on game and prospect evaluations)
- East-West Shrine Bowl (official organizer information)
- The Star (Frisco) (venue details)