Chris Evans, Ben Mason, Nick Eubanks, and Carlo Kemp accepted invites to the 2021 East-West Shrine Bowl
The East-West Shrine Bowl is the nation's oldest all-star game for college seniors aspiring to play in the NFL.
https://www.shrinegame.com/players
December 8th, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
Does that mean none of them will be back next year even though this year didn’t count against eligibility?
December 8th, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
Good luck to all of them (assuming this means they're all going to go to the NFL). Makes sense for all of them to move on and try their luck in the pros. I don't think another year at Michigan would benefit their stock all that much. If Evans gets picked up by a team that throws to its RBs (similar to what Patriots do with James White), they're going to love him and I expect him to have a long career in the pros.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:54 AM ^
I can imagine Evans and Mason had the same reaction: "Great! I'll finally have a chance to get on the field this season."
December 8th, 2020 at 11:10 AM ^
Ben Mason has played more than enough.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
I wish he played more. This is the one year where I wish we were a conservative, I-formation team. 2008 was the other. Even if it only means we bleed clock and the games were over quicker, I think that would be sweet mercy for us.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
Can't bleed clock playing from behind. Shit, I guess that has been the formula this year. My Bad.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:54 AM ^
Christmas just isn't Christmas anymore without the Blue-Gray game being played that day.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
Uh ... Baby Jesus would like a word with you. /s
Seriously, though, I know what you mean. I remember Christmas Day when I was a kid, with the family gathered at my Grandma's. There would always be a group of male relatives clustered around the B&W portable TV in the bedroom, trying to watch that game over each other's shoulders.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
That surprises me somewhat. This year doesn't count. It sucked. And everyone regressed. If I was a betting man, I would have wagered that Evans, Mason, and Kemp would have returned. I definitely was looking forward to a Bench Mason redemption year in 2021.
C'est la vie. Best of luck gents.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:10 AM ^
Mason has zero reason to stay here in an offense that runs a QB sneak out of the shotgun.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
Good luck to all of them, I hope they kill it and get a draft nod!
However, I also can't help but think that they want nothing to do with sticking around this train wreck. Evans fought his ass off to get back on the team, and hasn't had a decent opportunity to play because of the rotation. I mean, 4 touches/game is ridiculous, and most of his touches are runs between the tackles - not his area of expertise. Eubanks has had shitty coaching - Moore can recruit, but the TE group has largely sucked under him as a coach. Mason's use has been so inconsistent that he can't know what's coming from game to game. Kemp is getting lambasted as part of the DT group that is, ahem, not good. Too bad he can't be parked at 3-tech, where he'd probably be a really good player.
I wish them well...
December 8th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Given Evans' usage this year I am kinda surprised he was invited. Hope he makes the most of it.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
congrats to the young men
December 8th, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
Chris Evans, man what a bizarre career he has had.
Freshman year: Came out of the gate his first game displaying a burst and acceleration to top speed almost right as he got the ball. While he never had elite top end speed, he was very shifty, and accelerated to top speed faster than any other back. In crunch time in the Orange Bowl, he was given the ball to make a play, and make a play he did.
Sophomore year: he was named the starter for the season ahead of Isaac and Higdon. He put on some muscle which drastically lowered what he did best: shiftiness and acceleration. Still he put together a solid season backing up Higdon (Minnesota game in the rain is a great memory). If O'Korn doesn't air mail him wide open on 4th down, we might win that game vs OSU.
Junior year: Higdon is the clear cut #1 but Evans gets decent run as a backup. He still isn't used in the pass game as much as would be hoped.
Senior year: speed in space is here and Evans seems to be the perfect back to use in the pass game. He is suspended from the team.
Senior year redux: He comes back and just looks mature and seasoned. Still isn't given the ball much in space, but when he does he continues to make plays.
When he split the d vs Hawaii and dove over the pylon vs FSU, I wouldn't have imagined the rest of his career to go as it did. Great player to have, but just wish he could have been used to his potential more.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
"...wish he could have been used to his potential more."
This seems to be a common theme under Harbaugh...
December 8th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
Definitely for the offensive skill positions. The defense has seen many guys outperform their recruiting rankings and o-line. I don't think a single offensive skill position has had someone outperform their recruiting rankings.
December 8th, 2020 at 1:01 PM ^
Ronnie Bell is the only one I can think of.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
dang, was really hoping to see what Carlo Kemp could do in his 8th year
December 8th, 2020 at 3:38 PM ^
And Evans in his 9th.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
Not sure that it matters, but given the freebie eligibility wise this year, do any seniors come back?
December 8th, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
Ben Mason moving on, eliminating a huge hole at a number of positions.
December 8th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^
This is an underrated comment
December 8th, 2020 at 12:02 PM ^
Happy for all those guys. I hope Chris lands on an NFL roster. After the Cowboy Classic, I thought Nick would blow up. Hopefully it will happen for him at the next level.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Paye is for sure leaving. Hutchinson 99%? McGrone is one to watch, I'd say he's 50-50.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:36 PM ^
Given that Hutchinson has a broken leg I would be surprised if he left for the NFL as he could not go through the combine process.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
man... will miss watching Ben Mason... one of my favorite players to watch and he is a true meeeechigan man! go out and make us PROUD!
December 8th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
Good for them. I hope the game gets played.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:34 PM ^
I won’t lie I was kind of hoping most of those guys would take advantage of the extra year of eligibility. I am not sure any of the 4 have much of an NFL future but could impact winning next year if they came back. Best of luck to 4 outstanding student athletes.