Jan. 22, 2008
MOBILE, Ala. – Five Georgia Tech standouts – running back Tashard Choice, defensive end Darrell Robertson, punter Durant Brooks and linebackers Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton — are among the top 100 senior NFL draft prospects participating this week at the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl.
Southern California, with nine, is the only school with more Under Armour Senior Bowl participants than Georgia Tech. Tech has had at least one player participate in the Senior Bowl each of the last five seasons (2003-present), but this is the first time more than three Yellow Jackets have played in the event at the same time.
Guyton, fresh off an impressive performance at the East-West Shrine Game last Saturday in Houston, Texas, was added to the roster today.
The players will have one practice per day during Senior Bowl Week, January 21-25, capped off by the 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl game on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the contest will be nationally-televised by the NFL Network.
Fans will also be able to follow the players’ progress through the NFL Network’s extensive coverage of this year’s Senior Bowl practices, as over 21 hours of Senior Bowl content will air during the week and on game day. NFL Network telecasts will air on Monday through Thursday of the week, including live practice coverage and nightly recap shows in primetime. All times are Central, and a complete NFL Network Senior Bowl broadcast schedule is listed at the bottom of this story.
The Under Armour Senior Bowl is the nation’s most unique football game and football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country’s best senior NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs from two National Football League teams. The Senior Bowl is also attended by over 800 NFL coaches, scouts and other front office personnel each year.
Over 575 former Senior Bowl players are currently active in the NFL, and the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl rosters features 25 former Senior Bowl players. A total of 90 players from the 2007 Under Armour Senior Bowl were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft, including 12 first-round picks. San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan and his staff are coaching the South squad, while Lane Kiffin and his Raiders staff will be coaching the North team.
Last year, the Senior Bowl produced 12 first-round picks in the NFL Draft, 90 total selections and a top five choice for the seventh consecutive year. 2007 Senior Bowl participant Patrick Willis was named the 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press and is one of 25 former Senior Bowl participants to be named to the 2008 Pro Bowl.
Over 575 former Senior Bowl players were on active rosters in the NFL in 2007, that group included the NFL’s leading rusher, LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers, its leading receiver in Reggie Wayne of the Colts, its leading tackler in rookie Willis of the 49ers, and the Eagles’ Brian Westbrook, who led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage.
The Senior Bowl is also a non-profit, charitable event that has donated over $4.2 million through the Food World-Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership over the last ten years.
Under Armour, known as the originator of moisture wicking performance apparel worn by athletes, launched its first line of footwear-football cleats-during the 2006 NFL draft with a major media campaign entitled CLICK-CLACKTM, a reference to the sound that cleats make on concrete just before the players step on the field. For more information, visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com
Below is a day-by-day breakdown of NFL Network’s planned television coverage of the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl:
2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl on NFL Network – all times are CST
Monday, Jan. 21
3:00 – Day 1: North Team Practice (HD)
7:00 – Day 1: Path to the Draft Senior Bowl Recap Show (HD)
Tuesday, Jan. 22
9:30 – Day 2: North Team Practice (HD)
3:30 - Day 2: South Team Practice (HD)
7:00 — Day 2: Path to the Draft Senior Bowl Recap Show (HD)
Wednesday, Jan. 23
9:30 – Day 3: North Team Practice (HD)
3:30 - Day 3: South Team Practice (HD)
7:00 – Day 3: Path to the Draft Senior Bowl Recap Show (HD)
Thursday, Jan. 24
9:30 – Day 4: North Team Practice (HD)
3:30 - Day 4: South Team Practice (HD)
7:00 – Day 4: Path to the Draft Senior Bowl Recap Show (HD)
Saturday, Jan. 26
2:30 – NFL Total Access Senior Bowl Pre-game Show (HD)
3:00 – 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl (HD)
6:00 – NFL Total Access Senior Bowl Post-game Show (HD)
Senior Bowl Participation By School
USC (9)
Georgia Tech (5)
LSU (4)
Kentucky (4)
Michigan (3)
Virginia Tech (3)
California (3)
Notre Dame (3)
Alabama (3)
Arkansas (3)
OregonState (2)
Purdue (2)
OklahomaState (2)
Indiana (2)
BostonCollege (2)
Colorado (2)
Tennessee (2)
Auburn (2)
Texas A&M (2)
UTEP (2)
Florida State (2)
Texas (2)
Wake Forest (2)
North Carolina (1)
Ohio State (1)
UNLV (1)
Penn State (1)
UCLA (1)
Michigan State (1)
North Dakota State (1)
Delaware (1)
Iowa (1)
East Carolina (1)
Eastern Michigan (1)
Kansas State (1)
Nebraska (1)
Arizona State (1)
NC State (1)
Northern Iowa (1)
Missouri (1)
West Virginia (1)
New Mexico (1)
Houston (1)
Newberry College (1)
Hawaii (1)
Mississippi State (1)
Florida (1)
Georgia (1)
Louisville (1)
Tulane (1)
Miami (1)
Hampton (1)
Bowling Green (1)
Pittsburgh (1)
Troy (1)
South Florida (1)
Maryland (1)
Clemson (1)
Tennessee State (1)
Vanderbilt (1)
Oklahoma (1)
