Eight West Virginia Football Players Named to Shrine Bowl 1000

Eight West Virginia football players have been named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000, a list of the top 1,000 draft eligible college football players as determined by the group.

Defensive end Taijh Alston, safety Jasir Cox, quarterback J.T. Daniels, wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, offensive guard James Gmiter, wide receiver Sam James, defensive tackle Dante Stills and cornerback Charles Woods were selected from West Virginia.

The website also lists running back Lyn-J Dixon as part of West Virginia’s selection, though he is no longer with the program after entering the transfer portal in late June.

The @ShrineBowl will be watching 👀@Dstills55 @Samjames_13 @jtdaniels06 @c_woods9 @Gmiter74 @jasirupnext1 @Brycewheat3 @taijh01 pic.twitter.com/lMdwusHrHh

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) July 25, 2022

The main purpose of this selection is to help the 1,000 players find entry into the pro level. The selection makes each player eligible to participate in multiple events attended by pro scouts. This includes the postseason East-West Shrine Bowl, a college football all-star game of draft eligible players looking to boost their draft stock.

Only draft eligible players are eligible for the group and it encompasses all levels of college football, though it obviously is primarily composed of FBS players.

The players selected shouldn’t come as too much of a shock for West Virginia fans as they all serve to make up the core of the team this year.

Alston and Stills make up the core of the defensive line, one of the team’s strongest units while Daniels, Ford-Wheaton and James make up the team’s passing attack which is likely the focus of this year’s offense.

Gmiter will be one of the five returning offensive line starters from last season while Woods is the only returning starter in defensive backfield and is joined by Cox, a transfer from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State.