The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is an all-star event aimed to showcase the top players who are eligible to be a part of the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Ahead of the start of the 2025 season, a list of 1,000 players is created, noting who the top potential NFL targets could be in just a few months.
This year, the UNC football program had 9 players selected to the initial watch list.
9️⃣ players named to the @ShrineBowl Watch List! pic.twitter.com/tXIF7AhT15
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) July 28, 2025
There are quite a few first-year Tar Heels on the list, headlined by Thad Dixon. While five of the player selected are newcomers, four are returning players, including Marcus Allen, Austin Blaske, Kaleb Cost and Trevyon Green.
What the list proves is pretty simple: the UNC football program has quite a few prospects that scouts should be keeping a close eye on this upcoming season.
It's been a busy offseason in Chapel Hill for the UNC football program. Along with adding a new general manager and replacing one legendary head coach with another, the roster saw a complete overhaul, seeing a staggering 70 players join the program.
While the roster will look different, the aim to win remains at the forefront for Carolina football.
The 9 guys who earned spots on this list are all expected to play major roles for the Tar Heels in Bill Belichick's first season at the helm. Each student-athlete hopes that their play on the field helps them progress in this field of players as they aim for a chance to compete in the 2026 East-Wesr Shrine Bowl on January 27, 2026 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.