State schools well represented at college football all-star games

Twenty-three players from North Carolina schools, including six from NC State, will play in the Senior Bowl, East-West game, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Tropical Bowl

NC State quarterback Ryan Finley and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers celebrate with coach Dave Doeren. Both Finley and Meyers will represent the Wolfpack at the Senior Bowl (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

  North Carolina schools will be well-represented in the three major all-star games for draft-eligible college football players.

  No fewer than 23 players from state schools, including seven from NC State, have accepted invitations to play in the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Tropical Bowl.

  The biggest concentration of North Carolina talent will be at the Senior Bowl — the premier showcase for NFL hopefuls. Among those looking to improve or solidify their draft stock at the Jan. 26 game in Mobile, Ala., are NC State teammates Ryan Finley, Jakobi Meyers, Rimington Trophy winner Garrett Bradbury and Germaine Pratt, along with Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, Appalachian State running back Jalin Moore and Charlotte offensive guard Nate Davis.

  The all-star game season begins this Sunday with the Tropical Bowl in Daytona Beach, Fla. The East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl will both be played a week later, on Jan. 19.

  As important as the games themselves are for the players involved, the week of practices leading up to them can be even more beneficial as an opportunity to showcase their skills for the multitude of NFL coaches, scouts and general managers that will be in attendance.

  Here is the complete list of players from state schools committed to playing in postseason all-star games:

Tropical Bowl

Jan. 13, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Aaron Blockman, WR, Campbell

Zachary Cannon, DT, Johnson C. Smith

Anthony Flory, LB, Appalachian State

Reggie Gallaspy, RB, NC State

Breonte Matthews, OL, NC A&T

Garrett McGhin, OL, ECU

Eldrick Wilson, DE, Mars Hill

Kofa Workpeh, WR, Charlotte

East-West Shrine Game

Jan. 19, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Malik Carney, DE, UNC

A.J. Cole III, P, NC State

Daniel Helm, TE, Duke

Cole Holcomb, LB, UNC

Tyler Jones, OG, NC State

Udoh Olisaemeka, OT, Elon

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Jan. 19, Pasadena, Calif.

Trevon Brown, WR, ECU

Phil Haynes, OG, Wake Forest

Senior Bowl

Jan. 26, Mobile, Ala.

Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State

Nate Davis, G, Charlotte

Ryan Finley, QB, NC State

Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

Jakobi Meyers, WR, NC State

Jalin Moore, RB, Appalachian State

Germaine Pratt, LB, NC State