College football all-star rosters filled with in-state talent

North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest and East Carolina will be well-represented in the three major postseason college football all-star games this winter, with players from all four schools accepting invitations to the games

James Guillory—USA Today Sports
Nov 19

North Carolina kicker Nick Weiler is the latest player from a state school to accept an invitation to play in a postseason college football all-star game. He was named on Tuesday as a participant in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 21, 2017.Weiler made 39 field goals in his Tar Heel career, including 14 of 19 this season. He made three attempts of 50 yards or longer, highlighted by a game-winning 54-yarder as time expired at Florida State. He joins UNC teammate, center Lucas Crowley, NC State cornerback Jack Tocho, the Wake Forest duo of linebacker Marquel Lee and cornerback Brad Watson and Appalachian State running back Marcus Cox on the East-West Shrine roster.Players from UNC, State and East Carolina will also be represented at the Senior Bowl, the most prestigious of the three major postseason all-star games. Record-setting wide receivers Zay Jones of ECU and Ryan Switzer of UNC lead the list of in-state talent selected to the game that will be played in Montgomery, Ala., on Jan. 28, 2017. Joining them at the Senior Bowl is State running back Matt Dayes.ECU quarterback Philip Nelson and Duke cornerback Breon Borders, meanwhile, have accepted invitations to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Calif., on Jan. 21.Although the games themselves are an important showcase for soon-to-be draft eligible players, the week of practice preceding are even more beneficial as auditions attended by coaches, scouts and general managers from every NFL team.Here is the complete list of in-state and ACC players accepting all-star invitations (check back frequently for additions):SENIOR BOWLJan. 28, 2017 Mobile, Ala.Ryan Switzer, WR, UNCMatt Dayes, RB, NC StateZay Jones, WR, ECUAmba Etta-Tawo, WR, SyracuseJosh Harvey-Clemons, S, LouisvilleCole Hikutini, TE, LouisvilleJamari Staples, WR, LouisvilleSam Rogers, FB, Virginia TechCorn Elder, CB, MiamiRayshawn Jenkins, S, MiamiDanny Isidora, OG, MiamiJohn Johnson, S, Boston CollegeAdam Bisnowaty, OT, PittsburghColin Helbu, LS, LoiusvilleJustin Vogel, P, MiamiNate Peterman, QB, PittsburghMarquez White, CB, Florida StateDorian Johnson, OG, PittsburghEAST-WEST SHRINE GAMEJan. 21, 2017, St. Petersburg, Fla.Lucas Crowley, C, UNCNick Weiler, PK, UNCJack Tocho, CB, NC StateMarquel Lee, LB, Wake ForestBrad Watson, CB, Wake ForestMarcus Cox, RB, Appalachian StateNate Peterman, QB, PittsburghEjuan Price, DE, PittsburghScott Orndorff, TE, PittsburghJonathan McLaughlin, OT, Virginia TechDeAngelo Brown, DT, LouisvilleTobijah Hughley, C, LouisvilleDanny Isidora, OG, MiamiJamal Carter, S MiamiKermit Whitfield, WR/KR, Florida StateNFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWLJan. 21, 2017, Carson, Calif.Philip Nelson, QB, ECUBreon Borders, CB, DukeRyan Lewis, LB, Pittsburgh