NFLPA Collegiate Bowl has come to a end and both the National and American teams put on a show. National team Head Coach Dick Vermeil (formerly the head coach of the Chiefs, Eagles and Rams) returned to defend his title from 2012 and 2013. The game was tied at 14 at halftime, but Vermil along side a solid former pro coaching staff, took down the American Team, 31-17, with a strong second-half showing.
Right out of the gate in the second half, Cincinnati QB Brendon Kay threw a 27-yard touchdown pass the Miami tight end Asante Cleveland. Then a 27 yard touchdown by Stanford’s Anthony Wilkerson gave the National team a commanding lead to start the fourth quarter.
Coach Vermeil’s National squad was led by South Carolina Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw. Shaw was one of the highest rated players in the game completing five of his six pass attempts for 70 yards. Wilkerson finished with 65 yards and a touchdown for 7 carries. Blocking at fullback for Wilkerson was the games MVP J.C. Copeland. LSU’s talented player not only was hitting blocks for the running backs but also ran for two touchdowns.
“The NFLPA has done a great job of elevating the caliber of players in this game. These kids have been together since Monday. They came out to play and win for each other,” the winning coach said.
“You picture it in your mind before you play the game and it just happened,” Copeland said. “It’s an amazing thing that I was put in a position to do it and I took advantage of it.”
Copeland, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound former defensive tackle, never had a multi-touchdown game in 42 career games at LSU.
“We originally didn’t have him in a running back position, he was always leading as a blocker,” said Vermeil. “When we saw him on the field, we said when we get down the field and it’s inches to go, we might as well give it to the 270-pounder.” When asked if he would switch positions in the NFL he passionately said, “I feel that I can do anything God allows. I can run through anyone
just give me the opportunity.”
ESPN announcers Bill Polian and Todd McShay, made sure to tell all viewer that this Tiger is a guy to watch come draft day.
Copeland was also impressed with the well respected pros coaching him saying that “was star struck at first with the coaching staff but the opportunity to play under them. I took away from this that Tomorrow is not promised….play today. ”
As for the American team, Coach Dennis Green made his first appearance at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He lead Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder who completed 13 of 17 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown to lead the American team. Franklyn Quiteh, from Division II Bloomsburg, ran a 20 yard touchdown in the first quarter. McNeese State’s Dionte Spencer also broke a tackle on a 15 yard pass and into the end zone right before halftime. Oklahoma running back Roy Fitch led all players with 122 all-purpose total yards and Quiteh carried nine times for 50 yards. Defensive back Demetrius Wright of USC, lead the American team defensively with 6 tackles, while SMU’s Kenneth Acker finished with 7 tackles for the Nationals.
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives draft eligible players a chance to compete in a post-season All Star game. Players lucky enough to receive an invite have an opportunity to showcase their talents and network themselves to potential future employers. Scouts and General Managers attended practices for both squads. Even a few coaches were seen in and out of practice to see the players for themselves. Among those coaches was Kansas City head man Andy Reid. Current NFL players also came out to support including E.J. Manuel (Bills), D’Andre Hopkins (Texans), Denard Robinson (Jaguars), and Le’Von Bell (Steelers).
With the 3rd Annual NFLPA Bowl behind us, the player participants look forward to getting a chance to make an NFL roster.
Photos of the game, from Pro Player Insiders Photographers Desiree Astorga and Emma Roll
Photos below by Theresa Villano
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