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Indiana Football: Nick Westbrook stands out at Shrine Bowl practices

By Alec Lasley

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Westbrook #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball for a touchdown in the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Westbrook #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball for a touchdown in the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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The former Indiana football wide receiver has had a very good past couple of days at the Shrine Bowl, leading scouts to believe he could find his way on a NFL roster.

While the college football season ended on Monday night, there is still one big game for seniors around the country to play in; the Shrine Bowl. Beginning in 1925, the Shrine Bowl has been another way for top seniors around the country to have another ‘tryout’ for the NFL before the pre-draft workouts and the NFL Combine.

For Indiana wideout Nick Westbrook, after a year in which he was overshadowed by some of the young guns on the offense, he has shown why he was a 1,000 yard receiver during his sophomore campaign.

Thus far, through the first two days of practice, Westbrook has been one of the best wide receivers on the field, if not the best, says Andy Fenelon of NFL.com.

"“He had the best day of any receiver. Real crisp and clean with his routes and he caught the ball naturally. Speed might be an issue. I talked with him and he’s targeting the low 4.5s. If he can run that range, he has a chance to be a really good player. Speed is the only question on him.”"

As Fenelon points out, Westbrook has never been a speedster but has always been a huge asset to the IU offense with his big frame, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds.

If Westbrook can find a way to continue to create separation from defensive backs, he will continue to be able to find his way onto a field.

In his Indiana career, Westbrook finished with 144 catches for 2,226 yards and 16 touchdowns. Following a torn ACL during his junior year on the first play of the game in the season opener against Ohio State, Westbrook took a back seat to some of the more athletic and dynamic wideouts for Indiana, seeing his yards per game drop from nearly 80 as a sophomore to the mid 40’s for his redshirt junior and senior years.

The Shrine Bowl takes place on Jan 18 at 3 pm on the NFL Network.

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