National Bowl Game
National Bowl Game | |
---|---|
Stadium | FIU Stadium |
Location | Miami, Florida |
Previous stadiums | J. Birney Crum Stadium |
Previous locations | Allentown, Pennsylvania |
Operated | 2010–present |
Sponsors | |
East Preps LLC |
The National Bowl Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each December or January in Miami, Florida at Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium on the college campus of Florida International University. The game showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III & NAIA. The National Bowl presents and is played as a doubleheader with the FCS BOWL at FIU Stadium National Bowl weekend. The National Bowl was first played in 2010 at the J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania and featured players from around the nation from all divisions but focuses on players below FBS/D1A. Players travel to the game from as far as Texas, Arkansas, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and more. With the Cactus Bowl and similar games being postponed indefinitely, the National Bowl has been touted by NFL Draft Experts as a premier post season all-star game for players from NCAA's FCS, Division 2 and 3 to get exposure in front of NFL scouts. In 2013, the first year the game was played at FIU, the National Bowl attracted 10 NFL teams, 4 CFL teams and over 20 total pro scouts. The National Bowl is presented by East Preps LLC which is the founder of the D2-D3 Pro Day renamed “National Pro Day” which has combined with the National Bowl and has seen 80+ players go pro (as of 2013). The National Bowl Game is organized by its founder and owner Michael Quartey, Esq. a former USA Football News All-American Defensive End at Franklin and Marshall College and the game is administered by Jacole Fletcher former Head Cheerleading Coach of Muhlenberg College. Staff include trainer Arlan Johnson, coaches Jim Collins, Scotty Walden, and football manager Katie Parry.
The rosters typically consist of 100 All-American and All-Conference college football players. The rosters give NFL scouts a chance to view and get to know some of the best players from smaller schools that are traditionally not scouted and many of those players' schools do not have a pro day. The game is followed by the National Pro Day scouting combine to give these same players a chance to be scouted by the NFL and other leagues such as the CFL, AFL, and other arena/indoor teams. The game is coached by pro coaches and has featured NFL Coach Mike Stock formerly of the Green Bay Packers as a Head Special Teams coordinator with 18 years of experience in the NFL and Pro indoor Head Coach of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Chris Thompson. The National Bowl has featured over 10 NFL teams including scouts from the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm, and Philadelphia Soul and many more teams. The game works directly with most NFL team’s such as the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers college scouting departments to compile player measurements, bio info, and game film. NFL Films started distributing the National Bowl Game Film and practice film exclusively to all 32 NFL teams for scouting purposes in 2013. All 32 NFL teams receive and review the National Bowl game film and the game has been touted by the Sports Agents Blog as a secret weapon for smaller school prospects. The game also runs with the Athletes and Agents Conference which is the first conference to feature NFL agents that educate parents and players directly on the process of selecting and agent and going pro. Panel members have included agents Jonathan Tilly, Chris Cabott, Scott Rochelle, Richard Larde II, and Timothy Brennan.
Venue
Winner
Year | Team | Score | Team | Score | Venue | Location |
2010 | Red Nation | 7 | Blue Nation | 10 | J. Birney Crum Stadium | Allentown, PA |
2011 | Red Nation | 31 | Blue Nation | 34 | J. Birney Crum Stadium | Allentown, PA |
2012 | Red Nation | 35 | Blue Nation | 21 | J. Birney Crum Stadium | Allentown, PA |
2013 | Red Nation | 40 | Blue Nation | 26 | FIU Stadium | Miami, FL |
2014 | Red Nation | 7 | Blue Nation | 14 | FIU Stadium | Miami, FL |
Most Valuable Players
Year | Overall MVP Player | Overall MVP School | Red Nation Off MVP | Red Nation Off School | Red Nation Def MVP | Red Nation Def MVP | Blue Nation Off MVP | Blue Nation Off School | Blue Nation Def MVP | Blue Nation Def MVP | Special Teams MVP Player | Special Teams MVP School | Lineman MVP Award Player | Lineman MVP Award School | James Pratt Courage Award Player | James Pratt Courage Award School |
2010 | Beau Reed | Fairleigh Dickinson University | Leonard Stevenson | Wesley College | Robert Wills | Bemidji State University | Nate Nurse | California University of Pennsylvania | Carlton Johnson Jr | University of Arkansas at Monticello | Chaz Jones | St. Vincent | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2011 | Jordan Griffin | Glenville State College | Joe Leach | University of Indianapolis | Royel Johnson III | University of Arkansas-Monticello | David Lenehan | Seton Hill University | David Stallings | Greensboro College | Akheem Figgs | Glenville State College | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2012 | Scott Pillar | Albright College | Sam Durley | Eureka College | Zach Anderson | Northern Michigan University | VJ Hunt | University of West Georgia | Kendall Davis | Missouri Western University | Stephen Campbell | West Virginia Wesleyan College | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2013 | Mason Espinosa | Ohio Wesleyan University | Jamaine Sherman | East Texas Baptist University | Jake Edmiston | Colorado Mesa University | Joe Clancy | Merrimack College | Darren Elliott | Glenville State College | Andrew Muzljakovich | Olivet Nazarene University | William Wright | University of West Georgia | Ryan Corbin | Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
2014 | Bobby Brown | Buena Vista College | Nick Ricciardelli | Humboldt State University | Reggie Slaton | Millersville University | Jacques Alston | North Carolina Wesleyan College | Julian Howsare | Clarion University | Rich Bruno | West Chester University | Colin Brown | St. Olaf University | Jaquel Pitts | Mayville State University |
National Bowl Weekend Players in the NFL
Following is a list of players who played with the NFL after appearing in the National Bowl & FCS National Bowl.
- Many other players go on to the CFL, AFL, Indoor leagues and Europe.