The college football All-Star game season started Saturday with the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, FL.
It usually doesn't have the top-end talent we see at the Senior Bowl in Mobile the following week, but there are a ton of prospects looking to make their names known to the NFL scouting community.
One such prospect, former Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams, performed at an extremely high level during his stint in the game.
He completed 6-of-9 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, tallying touchdowns of 11, 93 and 10 yards.
The biggest concern for scouts regarding Adams is his hand size (8/12') and a lack of experience at a high college level. Adams started for only one season with the Oregon Ducks after transferring from Eastern Oregon.
Hand size is obviously a concern for all quarterback prospects. Remember, it caused the scouting community to take a step back when it came to Teddy Bridgewater leading up to the 2014 NFL draft. For comparison's sake, Bridgewater's hands measured in at 9/14'.
As it is, Adams proved himself to be the best overall player on the field in Florida on Saturday. That's going to be huge for him as the pre-draft process gets going.
Speaking of making an impact, former Florida cornerback Brian Poole picked off a Brandon Doughty pass in the first quarter, returning it 98 yards for a touchdown.
Poole jumped the receiver's route, showing the very same play-making ability that defined the end of his career with the Gators. Remember, he had a pick-six in the Birmingham Bowl last month.
Former Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo also made his name known big time in the game. He picked off two passes, including one against former teammate Joel Stave — a play that saw Caputo return the ball 68 yards.
Neither Poole nor Caputa are considered much more than late-round options or undrafted free agents types, but both likely forced scouts to give them a second look.
One player to really keep our eyes on during the pre-draft process is former CAL running back Daniel Lasco. He put up 62 rushing yards on six attempts, including a 41-yard scamper. Slippery out of the backfield and with a solid set of hands, the 6-foot-1, 201-pound Lasco should continue to receive looks leading up to the draft. Since taking over the CAL starting job as a junior, he's looked excellent in Sonny Dykes' system.
A player most of us had never heard of, former Stony Brook pass rusher, Victor Ochi, made a name for himself during practice prior to the game. When inserted into the game itself, he performed at an extremely high level. Ochi continually beat offensive linemen off the edge, showing a tremendous initial burst throughout the game. Teams are always looking for pass-rushing talent, so Ochi's performance likely didn't go unnoticed.
Former Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty and the aforementioned Stave both struggled big time. It most definitely wasn't a good look for both quarterbacks, especially considering they were passed over for the Senior Bowl — a game that boasts considerably more talent on the defensive end. Both have to be considered UDFA types at this early stage in the process.
eDraft will be down in Mobile for Senior Bowl week starting Monday. Check out Luke Inman's reports from Alabama throughout the week. We will also have a podcast live from Mobile on Monday.