QU offensive tackle accepts invitation to participate in East-West Shrine Bowl

QUINCY — B.J. Wilson’s invitation to play in the 98th East-West Shrine Bowl isn’t some run-of-the-mill honor tossed around to whoever might be available to play.

This is a direct path to the NFL.

The 6-foot-7, 320-pound Quincy University left tackle accepted an invitation this week to play in college football’s most elite all-star game for seniors, which takes place Feb. 2, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The game, which is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. Central Time Zone start, will air on the NFL Network.

In July, Wilson was named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000 list, which is a collection of athletes from more than 200 colleges who are viewed as potential targets for the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL draft class. Only 29 student-athletes from NCAA Division II programs made the list, and Wilson was the only player from a Great Lakes Valley Conference program to receive mention.

Now, he’s among the first batch of invitees.

“This is ‘B.J. becomes draftable’ big,” said QU coach Gary Bass, who has seen a cavalcade of NFL scouts and coaches attend practices this season. “For our football program, it’s the biggest outside of winning certain games that has ever happened in QU history.

“This is a guy who gets to go to the East-West Shrine game and work with NFL coaches against Division I talent. He’s going to put himself in position depending on how he plays there to get drafted.”

Currently, 20 offensive linemen who participated in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl are under contract with NFL franchises and two are starting as rookies. Wilson will be one of 24 offensive linemen from this year’s draft class invited to participate in the bowl.

NFL offensive line coaches and offensive coordinators will work directly with the players during their week in Las Vegas, and they will interact with Pro Bowl offensive linemen as well.

“He has to go there and play well,” Bass said. “He has to go there and show them how he’s capable of playing. If he does that, he will have the chance to have his name called during the draft.”

Wilson, a Florissant, Mo., product , who was originally recruited to QU as a tight end coming out of St. Louis University High, has made 42 starts at left tackle in his career and was a second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection in 2021.

“He is so big, strong, smart,” Bass said. “There are things he has to work on, but there are no issues when it comes to character. He works his tail off. He does everything right. He’s one of those kids who jumped ship and left after he graduated with his bachelor’s degree, but he didn’t. He believes in what we’re doing.”

That faith is being rewarded with a shot to play on Sundays.

“He has a legitimate chance,” Bass said.