Week In Review: NFLPA Collegiate Bowl 2023 Breakdown

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The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl provided a look at talent to watch during draft season.

East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers walked away as MVP of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. His American squad won 19-17 after South Dakota kicker Eddie Ogamba converted the 24-yard game-winning field goal for the National team. Ahlers finished 9-of-12 for 180 yards and one touchdown, including a 61-yard bomb to Jason Brownlee. The East Carolina QB also added 22 rushing yards on four attempts. He also won MVP of the Hula Bowl, an earlier draft showcase. Ahlers said one of his goals was to win MVP. “A lot of people think I’m just a runner,” Ahlers said after the win. “I feel like I can sit in the pocket and make any throw and I showed that today.”

Star Performer

Ahlers said he turned down bigger offers to stay at East Carolina, which was his home school. He finished his career with almost 14,000 passing yards, completed over sixty percent of his passes, and scored ninety-seven touchdowns over his career. Ahlers also added 1,400 rushing yards and twenty-five rushing touchdowns over five seasons. “I had more notes from then talking than the actual playbook,” Ahlers said about his lessons from the coaching staff.

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Validation From A Pro

Winning head coach Jeff Fisher said about Ahlers: “He’s got a football mind and football instincts which will take him a long way.” Ogamba was a late addition to the game, flying in the day before. He went 2-2 for the day. Wyoming running back Titus Swen was the game’s leading rusher with 73 yards on eight carries. He was the only efficient running back from either team. The American back provided a spark late in the fourth quarter, including a few physical runs that helped set up the game-winning score. Swen also caught four passes for 22 yards. He rushed for 1,039 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns last year.

Shoddy Blocking

Otherwise, both offensive lines struggled a bit despite all their experience. The National team’s defense kept them in the game and helped them catch the Americans in the second half. National defensive back Jason Taylor registered a crucial forced fumble. Linebacker Zaire Barnes also got a nice interception and returned t for 26 yards. Boise State’s Scott Matlock showed great hands on a sack for the American team.  His teammate, Edge David Perales of Fresno State, also registered a tackle for loss and broke up a pass. Both were a problem all week.

Getting Home With Force

Jayson Ademilola also showcased his strength on a sack for the National team. Minnesota edge Thomas Rush registered two sacks for the National team too. The tight end group for both teams was strong but underwhelmed a bit in the game. Jahleel Billingsly caught one pass for 27 yards late in the second half for the National team. Baylor TE Ben Sims caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown as well. FSU tight end Camren McDonald caught one pass for 12 yards. The Long Beach native had several family members in attendance. The day before he said he was looking forward to helping show he was a willing blocker and catch to help his team win.

The Next Steps

Several players got called to other All-Star games after great weeks of practice. National QB Malik Cunningham received an invite to Reese’s Senior Bowl. Shepherd Tackle Joey Fisher and linebacker Marte Mapu of Sacramento State also were invited to the annual Mobile showcase. Corner Keidron Smith from Kentucky also accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl UCLA OL Jon Gaines II accepted an invite to Las Vegas’ East-West Shrine Bowl.

Who won the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl?

The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl started slow for the 2023 edition. Neither team scored in the first quarter. Louisville Quarterback Malik Cunningham had the highlight for the National team with a seventeen-yard scramble. Jonathan Cruz would miss a 44-yard field goal on the National team’s second drive. For the American squad, Sean Clifford converted a 48-yard pass to Xavier Gipson. Clifford was sacked twice in the first quarter. The team couldn’t convert the big pass play into points.

A Long Strike To The House

The first score of the day came from Ahlers, who found Christian Sims for a 37-yard American touchdown. The American Team looked poised to score later in the first half when Ahlers found Jason Brownlee for a 66-yard pass. Taylor forced a fumble for the Nationals. The National team would go on to add a Jonathan Cruz field goal just before the half.

Air Show On Full Display

In the third quarter, Lindsey Scott Jr. completed a 40-yard pass to Daniel Arias. Scott fumbled a play later to give the ball back to the National team. The Nationals would fumble a few plays later and Georgia Tech LB Ayinde Eley scooped for a score that made the game 16-3 in favor of the American team. National QB Todd Ceneio lead a touchdown drive.  He found Baylor TE Ben Sims for a TD that brought his team within a score in the third quarter. It was set up by a big vertical pass to Jahleel Billingsley.

Game-Changing Play

The game was 16-10 when Brown picked off Scott Jr. Brown returned the interception into the American team’s red zone. The Nationals would score off an Adrian Martinez run on the fourth. An extra point gave them their first lead of the game at 16-17 with 14:57 left in the contest. On the final drive, Titus Swen registered consecutive first-down runs. First, he burst for 23 yards, followed by a 24-yard run that put the Americans in scoring position.

Coach Versus Player

The game featured Jeff Fisher facing one of his legendary players Eddie George. George is the head coach of Tennessee State. Coach Fisher said the two go back to 1997. “I love being around him,” the former Titans and Rams coach said about coaching against one of his former players. Fisher added that he enjoys giving back to the NFL since has a lot of experience as a coach and player. He has no intention of going back to the NFL as he loves giving back. “The NFL has been great to me,” Fisher said. “… I’m just trying to share my experiences.” Overall, it was one of the smaller attended NFLPA Collegiate games in recent years. The collegiate all-star game at the Rose Bowl was broadcasted on NFL Network.