James, Trump Slated to Play in 2010 East-West Shrine Game
Jan. 13, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami running back Javarris James and center A.J. Trump have accepted invitations to play on the East team in the 85th Annual East-West Shrine Game – America’s longest-running college all-star football game. The East-West Shrine Game will be played in Orlando, Fla., for the first time in 85 years on Jan. 23.
James was Miami’s third-leading rusher in 2009 with 509 yards on 103 carries in 12 games. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns. He set a new career-high with 150 yards on 15 carries with a season-long 50-yard rush in the win over Oklahoma. James also had 85 receiving yards on 13 catches. He finished his career sixth all-time in career rushing yards (2,179) and third all-time in career rushing attempts with 505.
Trump started all 13 games at center and graded out at 91 percent with 27 pancake blocks. He helped the Miami offense rack up 5,199 yards (3,405 passing, 1,794 rushing), which is the most since the 2004 season (4,593 yards) as the Miami offense became just the eighth team in school history to gain 5,000 yards in a season. He finished his career playing in 33 games with 23 starts coming at center and offensive guard.
For the players, an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game is a chance to showcase their abilities to play in a professional-level game before representatives of all 32 NFL teams. NFL-affiliated coaching staff, NFL officials and rules, ESPN network television coverage and even official NFL footballs provide an authentic NFL experience.
The NFL Hall of Fame includes 62 players who in played in the East-West Shrine Game coming out of college. In April 2009, 90 percent of players from the 84th East-West Shrine Game – played on Jan. 17, 2009 – were either drafted or signed as free agents by NFL clubs.
While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children. This international pediatric specialty health care system provides all care without financial obligation to patients or their families.
Players will visit patients and families at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa on Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for fun-filled activities that include face painting, football toss and adaptive golf. Each patient will be given an East-West Shrine Game football for the players to autograph.
For more information about the East-West Shrine Game, including full team rosters and ticket sales, visit www.shrinegame.com.
