Gause and Lumpkin Accept All-Star Bowl Invitations
Dec 08 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Seniors Quentin Gause (Rochester, N.Y.) and Keith Lumpkin (Montclair, N.J.) have both recently accepted invitations to all-star bowl games. The two join senior Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J.) in action, as he will play in the 2016 Reese's Senior Bowl.
After posting career-best numbers in 2015, Gause will play in the fifth-annual NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at StubHub Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif. The contest will start at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. In addition, the practices on Jan. 20 and 21 will air live on ESPNU.
A three-year starter at left tackle for the Scarlet Knights, Lumpkin will travel to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., to be part of the 91st East-West Shrine Game. It will take also take place on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 with a 4 p.m. ET start and air on NFL Network.
An All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by the media, Gause finished 2015 with a career-best 96 total tackles which ranked second on the team. His 60 solo tackles were the sixth-highest total in the conference. He also led Rutgers with 12 tackles for loss. On two occasions, Gause recorded a career-high 15 tackles against Ohio State (Oct. 24) and at Wisconsin (Oct. 31).
Gause, who served as a team captain, was a team recipient of the "R" Man Cougar Award for demonstrating courage, belief, strength and inspiration to all. He was also the Scarlet Knights' representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl experience is much more than a game for the participating players. For one week, participants will receive an in-depth introduction to their future union. The NFLPA, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2016, is the primary resource for players for information on the business of football and how to succeed in the NFL and in their post-football careers. Former NFL head coaches Mike Martz and Mike Holmgren will each lead a side as participating players will benefit from instruction by some of the best to ever play and coach the sport. For more information about the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate visit http://collegiate.nflpa.com.
Lumpkin started the last 38 games of his collegiate career at left tackle, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He also picked up the Bender Trophy as Rutgers' top offensive lineman, helping pave the way for a trio of 500-yard rushers.
Created by the Shriners in 1925, the East-West Shrine Game was the nation's first college all-star football game. The game is driven by the desire to support Shriners Hospitals for Children in its mission to help children in need of expert medical care. More than one million children have benefited from Shriners Hospitals' unique way of providing hope and healing, regardless of the families' ability to pay for services.
Lumpkin is the 18th Scarlet Knight to be invited to the East-West Shrine Game, joining Antwan Lowery (2014), R.J. Dill (2013), Scott Vallone (2013), Desmond Wynn (2012), Kevin Haslam (2010), Courtney Greene (2009), Pedro Sosa (2007), Jeremy Zuttah (2007), Reggie Stephens (1998), Marco Battaglia (1996), Bruce Presley (1996), Ken Damman (1995), Shawn Williams (1993), Lee Getz (1987), Alan Andrews (1985), John Alexander (1977) and Frank Burns (1949).
The players are selected based on their potential to make an NFL roster. A consensus of the 32 NFL teams is taken into consideration to field two teams of players who meet this criterion. The general divide used to assign East and West teams is the Mississippi River; however, exceptions are made to ensure that the best 100 players are selected for the game, regardless of location. More than 90 players from last year's game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters. On average, more than 265 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year. Visit www.shrinegame.com for more information.
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