Shrine Bowl invites six Vols with two confirmed for the all-star showing
The East-West Shrine Bowl has invited six Tennessee Volunteer seniors to play in the event, that’s set to take place on February 2, 2023 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. Linebacker Jeremy Banks and offensive lineman Jerome Carvin have already formally accepted their invitations.
Along with the above forementioned, quarterback Hendon Hooker, wide receiver Cedric Tillman, offensive tackle Darnell Wright and defensive end Byron Young were also invited – though they too were invited to take part in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 4.
The Shrine Bowl is the longest-running college all-star game in the country and 52 Vols have played in the event, all-time. Last season, Tennessee defensive lineman Matthew Butler and defensive back Theo Jackson played in the game ands both went on to become draft picks.
Banks has been a tackle machine for the Vols at linebacker, finishing the 2022 campaign with 53 stops, 4.5 TFLs and a key fumble recovery against Florida. He was one of the nation-leaders in tackles with 128 in 2021 and was a preseason All-SEC pick by several publications prior to his senior season.
Carvin, also a high school teammate of Banks at Cordova in Memphis, Tenn., was a critical piece to Tennessee’s top-offense in 2022. He started every game at left guard as a fifth-year senior and did not allow a sack in 12 games. In total, Carvin’s versatility has been key to his Volunteer success – making 41 career starts and logging 2,723 snaps on the interior of the Tennessee offensive line.
Hooker produced 3,565 total yards this season and 33 total touchdowns in 11 games. He’s a finalist for both the Maxwell Award and the Manning Award, having missed out on a Heisman Trophy finalist nod Monday night.
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Tillman’s 2022 season was cut short to just six games due to an ankle injury suffered against Akron in week three. Still, he hauled in a team-high nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns at South Carolina for his third multi-TD effort of his career. Tillman was targeted 18 times in a win at Pittsburgh in week two and experienced a breakout campaign last season with 64 receptions for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Wright was a two-time SEC offensive lineman of the week, who also did his part in blocking for the nation’s top offense, leading the country in points (47.3) and total offense (538.1). Tennessee’s offensive line was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the country’s top offensive line at season’s end.
Young had 14 quarterback hits, 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks in 12 games this season, finishing the regular season with 34 tackles in 12 games. Wright anchored an offensive line that gave up just 23.0 sacks through 12 games.
Tennessee takes on Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 30 at 8 pm eastern time at Hard rock Stadium in Miami.
