JSU's Jones to play in East-West Shrine Game
SWAC.org
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Jackson State linebacker/defensive end Javancy Jones has accepted an invitation to play in the 92nd annual East-West Shrine Game.
Jones, who completed his senior season with all-conference honors at linebacker and defensive end, is one of the most dynamic and decorated defensive players to suit up in Tigers football history.
Having earned seven All-America selections in his career, the Macon, Miss. native led JSU with 82 tackles and 19.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage to go with four sacks. For his efforts, Jones was named an All-American by STATS, BOXTOROW and the American Football Coaches Association.
The contest is set for Jan. 21 at 2 PM and will take place in Tampa, Fla. and will be broadcast on NFL Network.
About the Game
Created by the Shriners in 1925, the East-West Shrine Game was the nation’s first college all-star football game. For more than 90 years, some of football’s greatest athletes and coaches have contributed to the tradition of the East-West Shrine Game. Players like Gale Sayers, Tom Brady, John Elway, Allan Page, Dick Butkus, Brett Favre, Gino Marchetti and Walter Payton, along with coaches Don Shula, Dick Vermeil, Paul "Bear" Bryant and Jerry Glanville, to name a few, have supported the East-West Shrine Game.
The East-West Shrine Game continues to be an important part of America’s football tradition, giving top college players a chance to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and a national television audience.
More than 90 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters. On average, more than 265 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year. Since the game’s inception, 72 former players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and more than 200 have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame. An invitation to take part in the annual East-West Shrine Game is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best collegiate football all-stars in the country to showcase their talents in front of top representatives from NFL teams. A strong performance in the game can greatly impact a player’s chances of a career in the NFL.
The players are selected based on their potential to make an NFL roster. A consensus of the 32 NFL teams is taken into consideration to field two teams of players who meet this criterion. The general divide used to assign East and West teams is the Mississippi River; however, exceptions are made to ensure that the best 100 players are selected for the game, regardless of location.