Fresno State Athletics
Walker prepared to dazzle NFL scouts at East-West Shrine Bowl on Saturday
1/17/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Mykal Walker, the Bulldogs' back-to-back All-Mountain West first-team defensive selection in 2018-19, is set to represent Fresno State at the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl on Saturday at 12 p.m. PT. The college all-star game that features some of college football's top senior prospects will be televised, live on the NFL Network from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. It will also be broadcast nationally on Sirius XM NFL Channel 88.
Walker will play for the West Team and will wear jersey No. 53. Each player will represent its college with their helmets.
"Playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl means so much to me because the meaning behind it," said Walker. "Going to the children's hospital and playing with the kids was so rewarding. It's things like that, that remind me why the game of football is so special to me. It will be an honor to put on my Fresno State helmet one last time and represent on Saturday."
The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is more than just a game, but a weeklong player experience. The experience allows players to visit patients and families at the local Shriners Hospitals for Children to get a first-hand perspective behind the namesake of the event, meet NFL scouts, agents, coaches and former players, and create relationships with peers who are going through the same process of seeking to make it to the next level.
While practices, Monday-Thursday, are arguably the most crucial days of the week from the playing field perspective, which have over 300 NFL scouts and agents in attendance watching during that time - it culminates on Saturday in front of a national audience. All the more reason why the East-West Shrine Bowl remains a major launching pad for top college players to play at the professional level.
Last year, Bulldogs KeeSean Johnson (WR) and Marcus McMaryion (QB) were invited to take part in the 2019 edition. Johnson was a sixth-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals and McMaryion is currently a member of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.
2020 West Team Linebackers
No. 40: John Houston Jr., USC
No. 42: Dante Olson, Montana
No. 44: Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
No. 47: Dele Harding, Illinois
No. 51: Casey Toohill, Stanford
No. 53: Mykal Walker, Fresno State
2020 West Team Coaches
HC: Ben Steele, Atlanta Falcons
OC: Gary Brown, Dallas Cowboys
DC: Blake Williams, New York Jets
QB: Blaine Stewart, Pittsburgh Steelers
RB: Michael Judge, Miami Dolphins
OL: Ben Wilkerson, New York Giants
TE: Klayton Adams, Indianapolis Colts
WR: Michael Snyder, Chicago Bears
LB: Dave Borgonzi, Indianapolis Colts
DL: Mack Brown, New York Jets
DB: David Overstreet, Indianapolis Colts
ST: Anthony Blevins, New York Giants
S&C: Mike Stacchiotti, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Name Change
The nation's longest-running college football all-star game announced a name change on Sept. 12, 2019, that being the 2020 contest would be known as the East-West Shrine Bowl. It was formally operated as the East-West Shrine Game.
For more information, visit www.shrinegame.com.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit www.bulldogfoundation.org.
Walker will play for the West Team and will wear jersey No. 53. Each player will represent its college with their helmets.
"Playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl means so much to me because the meaning behind it," said Walker. "Going to the children's hospital and playing with the kids was so rewarding. It's things like that, that remind me why the game of football is so special to me. It will be an honor to put on my Fresno State helmet one last time and represent on Saturday."
The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is more than just a game, but a weeklong player experience. The experience allows players to visit patients and families at the local Shriners Hospitals for Children to get a first-hand perspective behind the namesake of the event, meet NFL scouts, agents, coaches and former players, and create relationships with peers who are going through the same process of seeking to make it to the next level.
While practices, Monday-Thursday, are arguably the most crucial days of the week from the playing field perspective, which have over 300 NFL scouts and agents in attendance watching during that time - it culminates on Saturday in front of a national audience. All the more reason why the East-West Shrine Bowl remains a major launching pad for top college players to play at the professional level.
Last year, Bulldogs KeeSean Johnson (WR) and Marcus McMaryion (QB) were invited to take part in the 2019 edition. Johnson was a sixth-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals and McMaryion is currently a member of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.
2020 West Team Linebackers
No. 40: John Houston Jr., USC
No. 42: Dante Olson, Montana
No. 44: Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
No. 47: Dele Harding, Illinois
No. 51: Casey Toohill, Stanford
No. 53: Mykal Walker, Fresno State
2020 West Team Coaches
HC: Ben Steele, Atlanta Falcons
OC: Gary Brown, Dallas Cowboys
DC: Blake Williams, New York Jets
QB: Blaine Stewart, Pittsburgh Steelers
RB: Michael Judge, Miami Dolphins
OL: Ben Wilkerson, New York Giants
TE: Klayton Adams, Indianapolis Colts
WR: Michael Snyder, Chicago Bears
LB: Dave Borgonzi, Indianapolis Colts
DL: Mack Brown, New York Jets
DB: David Overstreet, Indianapolis Colts
ST: Anthony Blevins, New York Giants
S&C: Mike Stacchiotti, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Name Change
The nation's longest-running college football all-star game announced a name change on Sept. 12, 2019, that being the 2020 contest would be known as the East-West Shrine Bowl. It was formally operated as the East-West Shrine Game.
For more information, visit www.shrinegame.com.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit www.bulldogfoundation.org.
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