East-West Shrine Game Recap: Running Back Lennon Creer Shines

The East-West Shrine game is a great week for some lesser-known prospects to get some recognition, and that was true once again on Saturday as Louisiana Tech running back Lennon Creer, who was having a really good season until he got injured and missed a majority of the team’s final four games of the season.

He was on point on Saturday, though, rushing for 80 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, earning offensive MVP honors. The former Tennessee transfer will probably be a later round pick if he’s drafted, but this was a nice way to get noticed by scouts and make them go back and turn on more tape.

If he runs well at the Combine, he could be a mid-late round pick.

I was actually also really impressed with what I saw from UT Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman, and while the conditions were favorable for quarterbacks, I think he had a nice showing and put some zip on throws, made a couple of nice checks, and had a great start to the game.

Defensively, you have to look back at this week and talk about cornerback Josh Norman from Coastal Carolina, who obviously has some off-field concerns but looks like a guy who will go no later than the last pick of the third round at this point. His size, speed, and length are all favorable qualities and things that NFL coaches can work on to make this guy a stud at the next level as long as he keeps his head on straight.

I also got word that on the West squad, cornerbacks Shaun Prater (Iowa) and Keith Tandy (West Virginia) were “by far” the best two corners at practices this week.

Another player on the East squad who is definitely ahead of the curve is Miami (OH) guard Brandon Brooks. Brooks has great size at 6’5″ 353 pounds, and looked like a beast all week (including the game) according to reports. I think this guy will be drafted no later than the third round, and will be a starter pretty much right away in the league. I heard some comparing him to former Nebraska guard and Pro Bowler Carl Nicks (Saints).

One guy who also flashed and showed why his team’s defense has been so dominant at the college level was Tyrone Crawford, the defensive end from Boise State. He doesn’t have flashy numbers, but over the last two seasons as a Bronco, he had 27 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He has potential to be a starter early on in his career as a power end in a 4-3 defense or possibly even as a five-technique in a 3-4.

It’s really hard to get a read on linebackers in a game like this where defenses have to be really over-simplified, but I also like what I have seen of Jerry Franklin, the linebacker from Arkansas. I think Franklin has an opportunity to be a starting inside linebacker eventually, but he will need time to develop. He is a really good athlete and could be a nice value in the middle rounds in a weak linebacker class.

Another player I’m also really intrigued by is former LSU transfer Akiem Hicks, a 6’5″ 325 pound defensive lineman out of Regina (Canada). Hicks is extremely raw and will take some time getting used to the NFL game, but he has good quickness off the ball and great length. In the mid-late rounds, he is probably worth a flier based on his upside alone.