Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Practice Top Performers

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Several Power 4 and FBS signees from North Carolina and South Carolina are taking part in the 88th Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas this week. The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is the nation’s oldest high school football all-star game and generates proceeds for the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Practices run Monday through Thursday, with the game being played on Saturday.

On3 was on hand for two practices this week, with several prospects catching our eye.

On3 MVP: EDGE Donovan Darden – South Carolina

Donovan Darden is the easy choice as the most physically impressive prospect at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, the Havelock (N.C.) High product has a big frame and elite length. Even though he’s being brought in as a linebacker by South Carolina, we feel it’s likely he’ll outgrow that position and become a full-time EDGE player at some point in his college career, given the frame and room for growth. In addition to passing the eye test, Darden’s movement skills were impressive. He’s a loose, fluid athlete and covers ground with ease. He lined up at outside linebacker and defensive end in practice and made several plays during inside drills. Darden made a big move into the On300 on the heels of a strong senior season and ranks as the No. 122 overall prospect for On3.

2. IOL Tai Buster – Auburn

Tai Buster looked like the most athletic offensive lineman at Shrine Bowl practices. The Auburn signee is repping at left tackle for the North Carolina team and looked outstanding when working to the second level. Buster is a nimble, light-footed mover. He was able to reach defensive backs while blocking on screens and showed near effortless ability to pull in the run game. While Buster can continue improving his overall strength, he showed the ability to maintain good pad level and was able to generate a push on contact. The On300 prospect looks like a nice get out of North Carolina for the Tigers.

3. IOL Shed Sarratt – South Carolina

Shed Sarratt is working at left tackle for the South Carolina team and held up well. The Gaffney (S.C.) High product has a naturally wide build and plays with a strong base. Sarratt is able to halt pass rushers on contact and moves well for his size. Though he projects on the inside at the next level, the functional movement skills while working at left tackle bode well for his future an interior pass protector.

4. TE Mikkel Skinner – Kentucky

Mikkel Skinner is on the shortlist of the most physically impressive prospects at the Shrine Bowl. A well-built 6-foot-3.5, 220 pounds, Skinner is a jumbo wide receiver who could grow into a mismatch at tight end. The Kentucky signee’s athleticism popped in practice, as he showed burst and the ability to create separation. The ball skills were also encouraging. The four-star prospect has the opportunity to develop into a versatile offensive weapon in Lexington.

5. WR Jonathan Williams – East Carolina

Jonathan Williams caught our eye several times in practice. The East Carolina signee is coming off of a monster senior season that saw him finish as a top five wide receiver nationally with 1,825 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns to go with 514 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground. Williams showed good quickness within his routes along with the ability to separate vertically. He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands and saw some reps on direct snaps in practice. The Havelock (N.C.) High product looks to be a significant local steal for the Pirates.

6. QB AJ Brand – Virginia Tech

AJ Brand gets the nod as the top quarterback in Shrine Bowl practices. The Virginia Tech signee showed a strong downfield arm and spun the ball well, despite having a bandaged hand. As one of the top rushing threats at quarterback in the 2025 cycle, the non-contact practice setting didn’t allow Brand to show the full breadth of his skill set, but he still impressed. The Irmo (S.C.) High product can still stand to smooth out some of his mechanics, but the improvement as a passer in addition to his elite rushing ability should be reason for excitement among Hokie fans.

7. WR Jerel Bolder – NC State

Jerel Bolder flashed his polished skill set at Shrine Bowl practices. At 5-foot-11.5, 200 pounds, Bolder has a developed build and plays with a tangible physicality. He has the ability to finish through contact and plays bigger than his stature in jump ball situations. The NC State signee made drill work look easy at Shrine Bowl practice.

8. ATH Dajuan Gibson – Unsigned

The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas has a rich tradition as a proving ground for underrecruited prospects. This year, Dajuan Gibson of Laurinburg (N.C.) Scotland County caught our eye on multiple occasions. A late replacement for South Carolina signee Brian Rowe, Gibson showed noticeable burst within his routes and with the ball in his hands. He also showed nice ball skills, coming down with a diving catch over the middle during Wednesday afternoon’s practice. A two-way player for Scotland County as a wide receiver and cornerback, Gibson is a good athlete (11.1 second 100 meters) who looks like an FBS talent.

9. EDGE Anthony Addison – South Carolina

Anthony Addison mostly worked with the linebacker group for the South Carolina team during Shrine Bowl practice. The Sumter (S.C.) High product moved well while working off-ball. Addison took limited reps at defensive end in team drills and made a nice play behind the line of scrimmage. A prospect who is much younger for the cycle, the South Carolina signee looks to have added some size and is coming off a productive senior season.

10. CB RJ Rainer – Charlotte

RJ Rainer had a dominant sequence during North Carolina’s team period on Tuesday afternoon. The Charlotte signee showed a quick break on the ball in blowing up several quick passes and picked off a pass for a would-be pick-six. He also flashed some encouraging physicality and overall effort level.

Additional notes

+ The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas was pushed back a week due to the high school season being extended in both states due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. With the later schedule, several prospects who were slated to participate opted to enroll early and go through bowl practices with their college team. That group includes Isaiah Campbell (Tennessee) and South Carolina signees Malik Clark, Jayden Sellers, Brian Rowe, Cutter Woods. South Carolina signee Jaquavious Dodd participated in a few practices to start the week, but wasn’t present on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon.

+ Dan Mahan (Duke), Brady Stober (Samford), and Finley Polk (Gardner-Webb) are the three other quarterbacks at the Shrine Bowl. Mahan is an athletic signal caller who had a strong senior season. Stober is a steal for Samford and completed over 80% of his passes as a senior.

+ Duke signee Jamien Little rounds out a strong wide receiver group for the North Carolina team and has the opportunity to impress in Saturday’s game.

+ Charles House (Tennessee), Sterling Sanders (Boston College) and Taeshawn Alston (South Carolina) were the standouts along the defensive front. House has good size and was able to disrupt in the team period. Sanders has a big frame along the interior, as does Alston on the edge.

+ Jaquel Holman (South Carolina), Jamari Farmer (Indiana) and Damarcus Leach (South Carolina) were three more prospects who impressed in the defensive back seven. Holman repped at outside linebacker for the South Carolina team. Farmer is not the biggest prospect, but showed instincts as a run defender. Leach is a tall, high-cut safety prospect who showed good feet in drills.