Evans, Jackson Named to East-West #ShrineBowl1000

PSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University football standouts Samson Evans (Crystal Lakes, Ill./Prairie Ridge/Iowa) and Jaylon Jackson (Burleson, Texas/Centennial/Lamar) have been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, the Bowl announced today, July 17. The list is the starting point for selecting the participants in the game that has been played since 1925 and will be played for the 99th time at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Feb. 1, 2024.
The Shrine Bowl 1000 is a comprehensive list of the top 1,000 all-star game eligible players at the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA levels. Approximately 1,000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or attended a rookie mini-camp every year. The aim for the Shrine Bowl 1000 is to look into the scouting process and preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl and 2024 NFL Draft class. Last year, Jose Ramirez was selected to play in the game before being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Recently, Evans was named to Athlon Sports' Preseason All-MAC First Team list and was tabbed for Phil Steele's All-MAC Second Team honors as well. Evans earned his first all-conference honors in 2022 after a historic season in the backfield for EMU. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native scored his 27th career rushing touchdown against Central Michigan University, Nov. 25, to move into first place in Eastern Michigan program history in the category during a 2022 season which saw him rush for 100+ yards in four contests, a career-best mark. His 29 scores put him in second on EMU's all-time touchdowns list (rushing and receiving). With 1,166 yards on the ground last season, Evans is the 14th EMU player to rush for a total of 1,000 yards or more in a single season. The senior's total was good for eighth all-time in single-season laurels at EMU. His 15 touchdowns in 2022 ranked first in the MAC and 15th nationally.
The athletic Jackson also earned spots on both preseason honor lists, including All-MAC First Team from Phil Steele and All-MAC Fourth Team from Athlon Sports. Jackson grabbed First Team All-MAC accolades in 2022 after joining the program from Lamar University. The Burleson, Texas, product was one of just four MAC players to record a kick return for a touchdown this season and one of just 29 nationwide to do so. Jackson ranked 18th nationally with an average of 24.8 yards per kick return.
The 2023 EMU football campaign kicks-off Friday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. versus the Howard Bison at Rynearson Stadium. Click here to secure your 2023 season tickets and see the Eagles take on the rest of the Mid-American Conference.
For the entire Shrine Bowl 1000 list, Click here.