Colorado State University Athletics
Pemberton to play in East-West Shrine Game Saturday
1/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 19, 2010
Kubiak photo gallery from Tuesday
By Weston Ackerman
Athletic Media Relations
ORLANDO, Fla. - CSU offensive tackle Cole Pemberton has earned himself an extra college football game, a trip to Florida, and an invitation to the NFL's scouting combine, where he'll join his neighbor on the Rams' line, Shelley Smith.
Pemberton, a 6-foot-7, 318-pound prospect out of Highlands Ranch, Colo., recently accepted an invitation to Saturday's 85th annual East-West Shrine Game. Smith, Pemberton and safety Klint Kubiak - all CSU captains in 2009 - give the Rams three representatives at this week's practices. The trio is joining a host of other NFL Draft-eligible players, scouts, front-office personnel and NFL coaches, in Central Florida.
This year's edition of the annual all-star game is Saturday at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is 1 p.m. MST on ESPN2.
Pemberton's selection marks the fifth time that CSU has had more than two players selected to the Shrine Game, but the first time since the game after the '98 season. That year Jason Craft, Joey Porter, Myron Terry and Damon Washington were all invited.
A former standout at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Pemberton is coming off a stellar senior season in 2009. A starter in all 12 games, his teammates voted him the Fum McGraw MVP, after he allowed just one sack, to TCU All-American Jerry Hughes, and one quarterback hurry in more than 300 passing plays. To that he added almost 70 knockdown blocks and 30 "outstanding efforts." A third-team midseason All-American (CollegeFootballNews.com), he played in 38 career games and totaled 35 starts, only missing two games due to injury.
He also joins an elite list of football greats, such as John Elway, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and 62 NFL Hall of Famers who have played in the East-West Shrine Game, America's longest-running college all-star football contest.
The players that receive a little extra exposure to potential NFL employers are not the only beneficiaries of the game. Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international pediatric specialty health care system, will receive all of the proceeds from Saturday's game.
Smith, Pemberton headed to Indianapolis
After the Shrine Game, Smith and Pemberton will continue training for the National Invitation Camp, more commonly known as the NFL scouting combine, next month in Indianapolis, Ind.
The two offensive linemen will join more than 300 of the nation's top college football players at Lucas Oil Stadium and its surrounding convention areas and hotels. At the intense, week-long event, Feb. 24-March 2, nearly every NFL personnel executive and all 32 coaching and medical staffs will be on hand to evaluate prospects for the annual NFL Draft.
The Rams' starter at weakside guard, Smith played in nine games with eight starts in `09, but did not miss a conference game. Like Pemberton an honorable-mention all-conference selection, Smith allowed only two QB hurries on the season, finishing with nearly 50 knockdown blocks in conference play alone, and 19 "outstanding efforts."
A preseason all-conference selection, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect also entered the year on the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, the first such CSU player since Erik Pears in 2004.
Last season, CSU's Gartrell Johnson and Kory Sperry received combine invitations. Johnson was drafted in the fourth round by San Diego and spent the season with the New York Giants. Sperry also began the year in San Diego before signing with the Miami Dolphins, where he spent the entire season.
The last time the Rams received multiple combine invitations in consecutive seasons was prior to the 2004-05 drafts. QB Bradlee Van Pelt joined DB Dexter Wynn in 2004, and Pears joined TE Joel Dreessen in 2005. All told, since 2000, 19 CSU players will have represented the Rams in Indianapolis after next month's combine.
The NFL draft in 2010 moves to prime time, with the first round starting on Thursday, April 22, at 5:30 p.m. MT. Rounds 2-3 are April 23, followed by Rounds 4-7 on April 24, at 10 a.m. ET.
