We got full pads in practice for day two of the East-West Shrine game on Tuesday. As more of the plays are installed, the competition is picking up in both individual position battles and the team drills. Here is who stood out on offense on day two:
EAST TEAM
WR Jamal Custis – Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange receiver came to the Shrine Game as the biggest wide receiver on the East squad at a listed 6-5, 213 pounds and it showed on Tuesday.
Custis is able to use his physicality and size to create separation and beat many of the cornerbacks that he lines up against at practice, but he also has deceptive speed and long strides that allowed him to get behind the defense and haul in two deep go routes today, one going for a touchdown and the other battling through defensive pass interference.
Jamal Custis likely had the best day of practice for a Shrine Game receiver thus far on Tuesday, and he’ll look to build on that performance throughout the week.
#Syracuse WR Jamal Custis gets open on the deep ball pic.twitter.com/LRAe5Z5ppJ
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 15, 2019
WR DaMarkus Lodge – Ole Miss
Wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge is the quickest wide receiver on the East team and he was able to flash his speed and great burst of acceleration off of the line of scrimmage during drills and scrimmages today.
He’s far from undersized at 6-2, 204 pounds, but Lodge has extremely quick feet for his size and can use his agility to find open space to make a play with a projected 40-yard time in the mid-4.5’s.
#Purdue QB David Blough connects here with #OleMiss WR DaMarkus Lodge pic.twitter.com/So089JsjF7
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 15, 2019
WEST TEAM
WR Cody Thompson – Toledo
The standout player on offense for the West was Cody Thompson from the University of Toledo Rockets.
Thompson stands 6’2″ and is listed at 205 pounds, putting him at a pretty standard size for a wide receiver, but his speed and agility are what have allowed him to set himself apart. Despite a dropped pass or two in early warm ups but continued his great week of practice with solid and consistent play after that.
Reportedly a guy that can run his 40-yard time in the mid-4.5’s as well, Thompson went from a guy that received just one scholarship offer to a name that’s plastered all over Toledo’s record books. Thompson’s 10 touchdown receptions in 2018 led the team and landed him first all-time in receiving touchdowns with 30 for his career. Thompson also ranks second all-time with 3,257 receiving yards and 10th with 176 receptions.