Here are five winners from Saturday's East-West Shrine Game:
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Garoppolo stood out as the best player during the week of practice and he put together a strong performance during the game on Saturday. He showed very quick feet in his setup, a lightning-quick release and accuracy to all three levels. I was very impressed with the command and poise he displayed in the pocket. He has built up a lot of momentum heading into the Reese's Senior Bowl (Jan. 25 on NFL Network).
2. Chandler Jones, WR, San Jose State
Jones is an undersized receiver who had a big week both outside and in the slot. He consistently made plays every day in practice and that carried over to the game, in which he caught seven balls for 73 yards. He doesn't have "wow" speed, but he's very quick off the line and he doesn't waste any steps getting in or out of his breaks. He has a very good feel for settling in zones and working back to the quarterback.
3. Dakota Dozier, G, Furman
Dozier played left tackle at Furman, but he did a very nice job as a guard this week and that is where he best projects at the next level. He has quick feet, excellent balance and strong hands. In the run game, he was able to generate movement at the point of attack. In the passing game he was an easy mover and didn't have much trouble anchoring down against power rushers or redirecting versus quicker opponents. I wouldn't be surprised if he landed somewhere in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
4. Alden Darby, S, Arizona State
Darby had a big game on Saturday night. The rangy Sun Devils safety flew around the field and picked off two passes. He needs to add some more bulk, but I was impressed by his combination of instincts and ball skills. I haven't evaluated him on tape, but I've talked to a couple different teams that view him as a fifth-round value.
5. Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia
Clarke had a solid week of practice, but he took his game to a new level Saturday. He has outstanding size and he created consistent pressure as a pass rusher. He uses his length and power to work through the outside shoulder of opposing tackles and he showed a nice closing burst to finish. He has plenty of strength to hold the point of attack in the run game, but he also displayed the quickness to penetrate and disrupt.
Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter @MoveTheSticks.
