While Monti Ossenfort’s main focus will be on the Cardinals current Head Coach search, with practices at the East-West Shrine Bowl starting today, the white knuckle ride of draft season is also underway.

The Cardinals GM has shown a clear appreciation of the All-Star games having recruited a number of players that have been involved in either the Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl during his time at the helm of the organisation.

Though this year’s draft class isn’t considered to be as talent rich, either at the top of the tree or from a depth perspective as previous years, the All-Star events still represent a key component of the scouting process. Teams are able to get up close and personal with recruits and impressing at these events can make all the difference to a players stock.

Like last year, we’ve put together a list of potential targets or more aptly names of interest to keep an eye on during the course of the Shrine Bowl – with one coming next week for the Senior Bowl – for Cardinals fans.

From last year’s list, Cam Horsley, CJ West, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Chris Paul Jr. and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson all gained buzz during the Shrine Bowl whether through their performances in practice, in front of the media or after talking to teams.

While nobody from last year’s list eventually ended up with the Cardinals, some of them had solid starts to their NFL careers especially in relation to where they were taken in the draft. CJ West, a fourth-rounder, featured in 14 games for the 49ers while UDFA Jay Higgins made the Ravens 53-man roster and carved out a role on special teams.

Offensive Players

Cade Klubnik – QB – Clemson – 6’1 – 206 lbs

It’s no secret that the Arizona Cardinals quarterback of the future is not currently on the roster. That person is likely not in the 2026 draft class either. However, there are a couple of options in the later rounds that could be brought in as a development project. Chief amongst them is Clemson QB Cade Klubnik.

Klubnik’s draft evaluation is very much a tale of two halves. Put on the 2024 tape and you’ll see why some analysts were pegging Klubnik as a contender for the QB1 spot in this draft. At his best, the 22-year-old is an accurate, mobile operator that throws with touch and shows a knack for understanding when to use his legs to expose holes in a defence as a quick and brave runner of the football. Klubnik never looks like he’s trying too hard to throw the football, leading to easily-caught passes for his receivers.

In 2024, the Texas native was responsible for 36 touchdowns (with just 6 interceptions), 3642 passing yards, a 104.4 passer rating and a 62.6% completion percentage.

However, at his worst, Klubnik can unravel. When under pressure, his ability to read through progressions wavers and shines a light on his inconsistent throwing mechanics and footwork. He can get his feet crossed which weakens his platform and consequently leads to an erratic release.

Unfortunately for Klubnik, that side of his game was more apparent in 2025 in a Clemson team that struggled throughout the season. His end product took a major hit with just 16 touchdowns. Not all of Klubnik’s struggles were on him – 20 of his passes were dropped by teammates in 2025 and Klubnik was under pressure on almost a third of snaps – though his lack of elite arm strength meant he wasn’t able to dig the Tigers out of deep holes.

He seemed to grow in confidence against pressure as the season went on and PFF did grade him higher (62.6) under pressure than Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck.

If a coaching staff can round out the more fragile aspects of his game, there is potential in Klubnik to be *something* at the NFL level, though not at the heights that people may have expected this time last year.

What to watch out for: Can Cade Klubnik get his mechanics under control?

Demond Claiborne – RB – Wake Forest – 5’9 – 187 lbs

There are “types” of players that split the draft community. Whether it’s tall, athletic but rough around the edges receivers or hybrid backers that haven’t got a defined position, you can guarantee there will be a handful in every draft that have wildly different evaluations depending on who you speak to.

Small, fast running backs are another. They can be an immediate turn on for speed freaks and immediate turn offs for those concerned about their stature. Demond Claiborne falls into that camp.

The 5’9, 187-pounder out of Wake Forest certainly has the jets to succeed in the NFL. A high school track star who clocked in a 10.61 100m time, Claiborne is uncatchable when he gets going. With 26 touchdowns in his last three seasons, he has shown a nose for the endzone, and is astute at following his offensive linemen before exploding through gaps to hit a home-run finish. His 85-yard touchdown against WCU is testament to that.

He isn’t just a speed merchant though, showing good vision for identifying open spaces and has a shifty nature that helps him pull away from tacklers. Wake Forest have also allowed him to demonstrate his ability as a pass catcher, with Claiborne catching 50 passes over the past two seasons.

He has also had some experience as a returner and with the adjusted kick-off rules in the NFL, he could be someone that opposition special team coaches have to plan against to combat his high-end speed.

The main concerns around Claiborne evidently centre around his size and stature. At 5’9, 187 lbs he is small. There is no getting away from that and while he can evade tackles, when he is caught, he doesn’t have the strength or balance to stay upright. That also makes him a target in pass protection, though he at least shows a desire in that area that other running backs do not.

A worrying factor from this past year is also his ball security. The 22-year-old fumbled the ball 5 times and dropped 6 passes. While that’s something that can often fluctuate for backs (Claiborne didn’t have a recorded fumble from 2022-2024), when coupled with his size limitations, it could be a warning sign for teams.

Watch to watch out for: Ball security. Claiborne has to keep the ball safe over the next week.

Skyler Bell – UConn – WR – 5’11 – 187 lbs

Preparing for UConn’s passing game should’ve been a relatively easy procedure for opposing defensive coordinators in 2025. When the ball was in the air, nine out of ten times it was heading to Skyler Bell. Everyone knew that. Stopping Skyler Bell was a whole different ball game.

The receiver had a breakout year for the Huskies, accruing 1282 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns from 102 receptions, and being nominated for the Biletnikoff award.

Bell thrives in contested catch situations winning 20/37 of these aerial duels over the past two seasons, ranking 23rd in the nation with 13 in 2025. Despite his slender frame, he is not scared of contact and more often than not, catches balls outside of his frame instead of with his body. His ability to take care of the ball saw a marked improvement in 2025, cutting his 13.1% drop rate from 2024 down to 3.8% (4 drops) on 141 targets.

While not an exceptionally quick receiver, Bell has enough pace (especially at full tilt) to get away from defenders and has the vision to cause havoc in the open field. UConn did everything to get him the ball in 2025, highlighted by Bell being 5th amongst WRs for screen catches (38) and 8th for screen yards (257).

Being *mostly* a one year wonder – he did have a decent outing in 2024 with 856 yards and 5 touchdowns – that benefited from that amount of screens may impact his stock and it will remain to be seen what impact his size has on his ability to be such a contested catch monster at the next level. It didn’t make a difference for DeVonta Smith but Skyler Bell is not DeVonta Smith. I wasn’t overly impressed with his route running either, something he will have to work on to thrive at the next level.

With Greg Dortch pencilled to be a free agent, Bell could be an intriguing slot option for the Cardinals.

What to watch out for: I’m looking forward to seeing Bell go against Alabama’s Domani Jackson in practice. Jackson has the body type to give Bell problems.

Pat Coogan – C – Indiana – Height and Weight not recorded at Shrine Bowl

Not many players can say that they were involved in back-to-back National Championship games. Even fewer can say they did it on different teams but Pat Coogan can. After transferring from Notre Dame following their defeat to Ohio State, Coogan was part of an Indiana team that took the nation by storm as the Hoosiers became champions this month against Miami.

That level of championship, top-end experience is apparent in the way that Coogan approaches the game.A high-IQ player, Coogan is able to stay on schedule on a snap-by-snap basis, remains tight when challenging defensive tackles to stop them getting into his chest, and can target incoming dangers when blocking at the second level.

A modest athlete, Coogan has recognised his limitations and worked on using his stout frame to develop a strong anchor. While he can be walked back by stronger DTs, Coogan ensures that it will take them some time, allowing additional time for his quarterback. That is reflected in the fact that the center wasn’t held responsible for a single sack or QB hit in 2025.

The offensive MVP in the Rose Bowl, the 23-year-old has banked experience at center and guard with over 2500 snaps in the past 3 seasons. His experience of being at center for two incredibly different quarterbacks bodes well for his transition to the pros as well. Going from the mobile, run first ask questions later Riley Leonard to the more traditional pocket passing of Fernando Mendoza means that Coogan has seen both sides of the coin.

While he remains a key part of the Cardinals offence, Hjalte Froholdt enters the final year of his current contract in 2026 so the team may target an heir to the Desert Viking’s throne this offseason.

What to watch out for: Coogan’s 1-on-1 reps with Dontay Corleone could be MONEY.

Armaj Reed-Adams – G – Texas A&M – 6’5 – 317 lbs

Remember when we mentioned “types” when discussing Demond Claiborne? Everyone that enjoys a deep dive into the NFL draft, either as a hobby, professionally or casually because it’s that time of year, has a “type” that they are instantly drawn to.

For me, it’s big dudes that kick arse and Armaj Reed-Adams is a big dude that kicks arse.

A two-year starter at Texas A&M after transferring from Kansas, Reed-Adams has carved out a reputation as a menacing run blocker that waffles defenders at the line of scrimmage and in the open field. From a measurable standpoint, you don’t get much better when looking for a guard than Reed-Adams’ 34 2/8 inch arms, 84 2/8″ wingspan and 317 pounds of HEFT that defensive lineman have to try and shift out of the way.

A second team All-SEC and All-American in 2025, Reed-Adams does need to clean up in pass-pro where his eagerness to get his hands on the opposition can lead to him overextending and becoming unbalanced. When he is knocked back, his feet can become choppy as he struggles to get back on an even keel rather than the smooth + solid footwork you see from top-end prospects.

Reed-Adams would also benefit from working on his hand placement which would lead to less instances where he is knocked back or caught off balance.

What to watch out for: 1-on-1 drills. He’s going to wallop some prospects but some of the premier names could expose his shortcomings. How he deals with that could go a long way with his evaluation.

Defensive Players

Dontay Corleone – DT – Cincinnati – 6ft – No Weight Recorded at Shrine Bowl

When Dontay Corleone was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in 2024, his hopes of reaching the NFL could’ve been over. The fact that he has been able to overcome that situation and keep his name amongst the top defensive tackle prospects in the class is testament to a player whose attitude towards the game has improved year on year.

While he is nicknamed The Godfather (he is literally called Don Corleone), as a player he more resembles Luca Brasi, Don Vito’s terrifying enforcer. Though he’s only six foot tall, a complete outlier height-wise for an NFL defensive tackle, Corleone carries a reported 320+ pounds. He’s more of a chest freezer than a fridge.

That unique physical makeup comes with pros and cons. Being naturally lower down to the ground than 99% of offensive linemen, Corleone benefits from a low pad level that allows him to gain a leverage advantage and shoot into the chest of his opposing number.

There are a number of reps where Corleone wins this way before simply walking linemen into the quarterback or running back. This is amplified by his hand speed that’s more aligned with the Kung fu movies of the seventies and eighties rather than a gangster flick.

That does mean that Corleone has less than ideal arm length – measuring in at 31 5/8 inches – which is particularly an issue when attempting to rush the passer as he can be caught and held away by linemen.

With a 80.9 run defence grade via PFF and with a lack of pass-rush credentials, The Godfather’s future does lie primarily as an early-down DT, though a number of teams are crying out for a true nose tackle like him. Corleone is quicker than he has any right to be, so he can contribute in the open field too when runners are in space.

It hasn’t been an easy road back for the Bearcat and his output has taken a downturn since his time away following the blood clot diagnosis. That could be a major red flag to some organisations though we have seen Monti Ossenfort gamble on medical history – to both his gain and detriment.

What to watch out for: If there is any pass rush juice from The Godfather. Laying down some flashes of that along with his ability in the run game could make him a prospect that you can’t refuse.

Darrell Jackson Jr. -DT – Florida State – 6’5″ – 328 lbs

Six foot five (92nd percentile). 328 pounds (89th percentile). 11″ hands (97th percentile). 35″ arms (94th percentile).

Darrell Jackson Jr. is a big boy. They don’t make them like that very often.

Formerly of Maryland and Miami, Jackson found a home stopping the run for Florida State, posting a PFF run defence grade of 81.3 and a 8.9% run-stop rate in 2025.

When someone is as sizeable as Jackson, it breaks your heart when they don’t know how to use that size to their advantage. Thankfully, Jackson does, utilising his long arms to immediately find the chest of the poor soul having to block him and controlling their every move for the rest of the rep.

The Seminole can overwhelm players with his strength and he finds no problem with stacking and shedding blockers and has developed a good arm over movement to swipe away incoming hands. He’s not a major factor as a pass rusher but has been able to score 6 sacks over the last two campaigns and 35 hurries.

In a direct comparison to Corleone, Jackson’s size comes with issues in his game. His pad level, because of his size, is often poor and offers an opening for guards to get hold of him especially when he shoots upright. Some of that may also come from some stiffness in his hips and lower body, He’s only really got that one way of getting up out of his stance – up in a straight line.

At his size, Jackson isn’t a particularly impressive athlete either but his potential as a run-game wrecker is there.

What to watch out for: How much of an issue is his pad level when paired against prospects of similar quality?

Lander Barton – LB – Utah – 6’3″ – 233 lbs

The Barton family are straight from central casting for the American Dream™ that films from my childhood always showcased.

Dad Paul was a two-sport athlete at Utah (football and baseball) before signing for the Toronto Blue Jays. Mum Mikki is a Utah Hall of Famer for basketball. Brothers Cody and Jackson both made it to the NFL, with Jackson briefly playing for the Cardinals. Sister Dani (now Dani Drews) has represented America in volleyball. The Barton family name means something to Utah.

Youngest son Lander will hope to emulate the rest of his family’s sporting success as he enters the 2026 NFL Draft.

A heavy-hitting linebacker, Barton has gained much of his mother and father’s athletic genetics, showing good lateral quickness and agility when in pursuit of the ball carrier and is able to burst through a gap to take on the quarterback when asked.

Lander has also shown an ability to take the ball away, being one of five active Big 12 players with multiple pick-sixes, including an interception to seal the victory on his Senior Night in a 51-47 win over Kansas State. You could have rolled the credits there, to be fair.

His eagerness to engage in contact does result in some wild tackle attempts – Barton has a career missed tackle rate of 18.4% – and while he can get his hands on the ball, he can be targeted by intelligent quarterbacks in coverage as he lingers on the passer. For someone who enjoys the physical side of the sport so much, Barton can be swallowed up by blockers and struggle to get off.

While he is on the lower end of a high-end linebacker class, Barton’s enthusiasm and athleticism could be useful assets on special teams as he fine tunes other aspects of his game.

What to watch out for: How does Barton deal with being tasked to cover the explosive receivers on this year’s Shrine Bowl roster?

Jake Golday – LB – Cincinnati – Height and Weight not recorded at Shrine Bowl (Golday has withdrawn from the Shrine Bowl since time of writing).

At this time of year, we’re often discussing college middle linebackers that have been or could be shifted out to the edge to rush the passer. Jake Golday’s journey is the opposite.

A former outside linebacker with Central Arkansas where he notched 9 sacks in three seasons, Golday transferred to Cincinnati where he transitioned to middle linebacker in the Bearcats defence and enjoyed a career year in 2025.

He scored PFF grades of 90.6 in run defence and 77.5 in coverage, improved his missed tackle rate to 9% (11.8 in 2024, 13.5 in 2023), tied 17th in the nation for coverage stops (19) and made 104 total tackles.

A fluid athlete, Golday has impressive closing speed on the ball carrier (he can reportedly reach speeds of 22mph) and marries that with clean tackling technique and strength to bring down his intended target. He featured at #48 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List entering the season due to those speed recordings and after hitting 24 reps of 225-pounds on the bench press.

His discipline, particularly as a player changing roles, is admirable – Golday hasn’t been penalised once in the last four years.

As a player still learning his role, there are areas for improvement. His instincts and ability to diagnose plays are a work in progress, something which will take time, and can be guilty of staring down the quarterback instead of tracking runners.

What to watch out for: How hard will the coaches test Golday’s instincts during drills and how does he stand up to those tests?

Harold Perkins Jr. – LB – LSU – 6ft – 222 lbs

From a former outside linebacker who has become a middle linebacker to a…a…what is Harold Perkins Jr.?

A revelation as a freshman for LSU taking college football by storm as an all-action threat who excelled in blitzing and hunting quarterbacks. Over his first two seasons, Perkins lived up to his billing as a 5* recruit and looked like a lock to be a top name in whichever draft class he entered.

Perkins was then reverted to the “STAR” position in LSU’s defence and his career has faltered, something not helped by a season-ending ACL injury in 2024. Perkins had 16 sacks in his first two years at LSU and just 3 in the last two, saw his pass rush snaps over 160+ in ’22 and ’23 halved to 80 in ’25, and struggle mightily in coverage posting a PFF grade of 49.2 this year.

Perkins is a fascinating player because everything he is good at has in turn led to this failure to turn him into a position-less superstar. He has elite speed for either linebacker or edge, he IS versatile to a point, he plays much bigger than his diminutive frame, he recognises plays well and has a relentless motor which may be the most impressive asset he possesses. Other uber-hyped prospects could’ve thrown their toys out of the pram when this move didn’t work out, but Perkins has kept plugging away.

It’s hard to see exactly where he fits into the NFL because even if you take his best assets which come down to attacking the quarterback, there’s no way he lines up on the edge consistently as a 222-pound professional with 31 1/2″ arms. Even if he puts on 15 pounds, which is far more difficult than anyone will let on, he’d still be undersized. He’s not a good enough tackler (21% missed tackle rate in 2025) or in coverage to be a full-time linebacker either.

But then, you watch him. You watch him home in on a runner or explode through a gap to chase down a quarterback and there’s just something. Something that could work especially for a defensive minded HC like Chris Shula or Anthony Campanile.

What to watch out for: Whatever the hell the coaches at the Shrine Bowl get him to do.

Taurean York – LB – Texas A&M – 5’10” – 232 lbs

There was a time when Texas A&M prospects had a bit of a bad reputation. That seems to have been ironed out under the watch of team captain Taurean York after a campaign that saw the Aggies reach the playoffs.

A leader on and off the field, York possesses high-level experience having been a starter from the day he walked in the door at College Station, racking up just shy of 2000 defensive snaps before he could even legally buy a beer.

The ball is a homing beacon for York and it’s rare that an Aggies defensive snap ends without him somewhere in the vicinity of the leather. He is an exceptional gap shooter, waiting for the most opportune moment before exploding through to make contact with the ball carrier. 2025 also saw York improve in coverage, marking a 90.8 PFF grade and accounting for 18 coverage stops.

As we see the scales tip slightly back towards the traditional build for linebackers in the pros, York’s size may be held against him. Though he plays with the necessary tenacity, he can get caught out by bigger blockers at the point of attack and he isn’t going to blow anyone away with his strength.

What to watch out for: The media buzz. Similarly to Chris Paul Jr. last year, I think Taurean York will be a big hit with the media and that usually equals being a big hit with teams too.

Image Credits: Bleacher Report, Ken Reinard/USA Today, Wake Forest Athletics, Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images, UConn Athletics, Getty Images, Indiana University Athletics, Texas A&M Athletics, Kevin Jairaj – Imagn Images, NYT, Brice Tucker and Isaac Hale of Deseret News, Isabella Marley, AP