Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams, who missed the season rehabilitating a foot injury, are among the latest 2016 NFL Draft prospects to accept an invitation to compete at the Reese's Senior Bowl.
Williams is expected to recover from his injury in time to participate, according to a Senior Bowl release. Shepard has enjoyed a career-best season as a senior, catching 69 passes for 1,114 yards and 10 touchdowns for an Oklahoma team that has a chance to provide him a College Football Playoff stage from which to impress NFL scouts. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks recently wrote that Shepard is a prospect on the rise for next year's draft. Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers, Houston cornerback William Jackson III, and Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Vernon Butler have also committed to play. An NFL scout recently told College Football 24/7 that Butler should carry a first-round draft grade.
There are now 36 players committed to competing in the game. The annual all-star game in Mobile, Ala., draws NFL personnel executives, scouts and coaches from all 32 teams to evaluate college football's top seniors and graduate fourth-year juniors. The game will be played Jan. 30 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will be televised on NFL Network.
Others to commit this week include Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel and RB Kenneth Dixon, Missouri OL Connor McGovern, Minnesota DB Eric Murray, Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert, Indiana OT Jason Spriggs, Arkansas OG Sebastian Tretola, and Arizona State G Christian Westerman.
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