Shrine Bowl Rosters Include FCS Players From Incarnate Word, Montana, SC State

FCS talent is front and center at the East-West Shrine Bowl as practices begin in Frisco, Texas and the official rosters were published on Jan 24, 2026. The East roster lists wide receivers Jalen Walthall of Incarnate Word and Michael Wortham of Montana, linebacker Declan Williams of Incarnate Word, and cornerback Jarod Washington of South Carolina State. Their inclusion places small-school prospects alongside higher-profile FBS names for a compact, high-visibility pro scouting window.

The practice window runs Jan 23-26, with the Shrine Bowl game set for Jan 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. The Buccaneers' full roster post printed both East and West lists and explicitly flagged FCS participants in each position group, providing draft-watchers and NFL personnel a single reference as evaluation ramps up. With practices ongoing, the roster publication transforms speculative scouting into live evaluation opportunities.

On-field performance at practice and in the game will be the key currency for Walthall, Wortham, Williams, and Washington. Jalen Walthall and Michael Wortham will face rapid-fire comparison to FBS receivers on route precision, separation in quick-window reads, and special teams potential. Declan Williams will be judged on his approach to blitz pickup, sideline-to-sideline range, and coverage discipline in nickel and base fronts. Jarod Washington arrives from South Carolina State with a chance to show man coverage skills and ball instincts against pro-level route concepts. Even without college statistics appended to the roster release, positional matchups in practice will produce the tape and measurable plays NFL teams use to shift a prospect’s draft or undrafted trajectory.

This edition of the Shrine Bowl continues an industry trend of NFL talent evaluators mining FCS programs and HBCUs for high-upside, cost-effective prospects. For general managers and scouts focused on Day 3 selections and undrafted free agent signings, the Shrine Bowl functions as a business clearinghouse where college pedigree matters less than how a player performs in drills, meetings, and special teams periods. For smaller schools, roster spots generate recruiting lift and program visibility that can translate into increased exposure at the next recruiting cycle.

Culturally, Jarod Washington’s presence underscores the ongoing importance of HBCU representation in the pro pipeline, while multiple Incarnate Word players highlight how program development at the FCS level can yield NFL opportunities. For fans and draft-watchers, the next four practice days and the Jan 27 game are when narratives convert to tape and evaluations become actionable.

What comes next is straightforward: monitor practice reports, watch the Ford Center showcase on Jan 27, and track subsequent pro day and Combine conversations. For Walthall, Wortham, Williams, and Washington, the Shrine Bowl is a compressed audition that can change perceptions and unlock professional opportunities for both the players and the programs that produced them.