NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State senior All-American left tackle Drew Himmelman has received an invitation to the 2021 East-West Shrine Bowl. The annual all-star game has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however East-West Shrine Bowl organizers will be announcing selections for the game in December to recognize their achievements.
In conjunction with the National Football League, players will participate in virtual training/drill sessions with current NFL coaches and members of the NFL Operations staff. Some 2021 all-stars will also participate in various virtual experiences with Shriners Hospitals for Children® patients in recognition of the game's nearly century-long commitment to supporting the health care system's life-changing mission.
Himmelman is the seventh Redbird standout to earn an invite to the prestigious showcase. Last year, Himmelman's former teammates James Robinson and Luther Kirk had standout performances in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Robinson, now a star running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, accumulated 136 total yards (80 rushing, 56 passing) and scored the longest touchdown in the history of the game with a 63-yard score. Kirk, who is on the practice squad for the Minnesota Vikings, had two tackles and an interception (with another wiped out due to penalty) to earn Defensive Most Valuable Player honors. Current Baltimore Ravens defensive back Davontae Harris and Dalton Keene both represented Illinois State in 2018, and former ISU standouts Chad Pegues (1998) and Boomer Grigsby (2004) also played in the game.
Recently named one of 12 finalists for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, Himmelman earned All-American honors in 2019 and graded out at over 90 percent while helping Robinson record a conference-leading 1,899 rushing yards. The anchor of an offensive unit that averaged 345.8 yards per game of total offense last year, he helped lead Illinois State to the FCS Quarterfinals and a No. 7 final ranking. The three-year starter is a two-time All-MVFC performer, earning first team-honors in 2019 and second-team recognition in 2018.
Formerly called the East-West Shrine Game, the event has been played since 1925 to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children and its mission to provide advanced care for children with specialized medical needs. In any given season, approximately 300 East-West Shrine Bowl alumni are on NFL rosters, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame has inducted 77 former players from the game.
Among the hundreds of notable college all-stars who have played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and gone on to illustrious NFL careers are Tom Brady, Walter Payton, Brett Favre, Gale Sayers, John Elway, Dick Butkus, Roger Staubach, Mike Ditka, Mark Brunell, Troy Vincent and Willie McGinest.
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