One of the most intriguing players coming into the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl was former Illinois offensive tackle Alex Palczewski. While he suffered a minor injury on the first day of practice and didn’t participate the rest of the week, he’s a player with a lot of pedigree.
As a senior, Palczewski paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged over 160 yards per game for a resurgent Illinois team that finished 8-5 and was named a Third Team AP All-American. He also tied the FBS record for games started, as he started his 65th game in his final collegiate game in the ReliaQuest Bowl.