Gamecock EDGE earns East-West Shrine Bowl invite as South Carolina’s NFL hopefuls emerge

South Carolina EDGE Bryan Thomas Jr. will get his shot on a national stage, as the East-West Shrine Bowl announced that Thomas has accepted an invitation to participate in the annual postseason all-star showcase. Thomas becomes the first Gamecock to publicly accept a Shrine Bowl bid this offseason, another tangible step in what has been a steady rise toward the NFL.

Bryan Thomas Jr.’s Rise to Greatness

Thomas spent all four years of his collegiate career with the Gamecocks, quietly developing before putting it all together as a senior. Once a rotational piece along the defensive line, he emerged as a difference-maker last season, posting eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. That performance earned him All-SEC honors. Over his career at South Carolina, Thomas totaled 13.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and 92 tackles.

Thomas officially declared for the NFL Draft last week after exhausting his collegiate eligibility. Entering the season, he was largely an afterthought in draft conversations, but by the end of the year, his name was beginning to be mentioned. The production, effort, and positional value Thomas brings to the field should make him a strong candidate for an undrafted free agent deal, at the least.

East-West Shrine Bowl Details and Broadcast Information

The East-West Shrine Bowl will be played Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with NFL Network carrying the broadcast and NFL.com streaming the game.

While Thomas is currently South Carolina’s lone Shrine Bowl participant, he won’t be the only Gamecock showcasing his talent this postseason. South Carolina running back Rahsul Faison, defensive back Jalon Kilgore, and defensive lineman Nick Barrett will take part in the Panini Senior Bowl. Meanwhile, defensive back DQ Smith has accepted an invitation to the Hula Bowl.