Four Former Hoosiers Get Ready For All-Star Games Which Start Sunday

Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

Hoosier football fans have one more chance to watch some of their favorite Indiana players as they participate in postseason all-star games. Richard Lagow and Tony Fields will be playing in the Tropical Bowl. Tegray Scales earned a spot in the East-West Shrine Game, and Chris Covington was invited to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Hoosier Huddle is here to fill you in on everything you need to know.

SPIRAL Tropical Bowl (Richard Lagow & Tony Fields)

January 14th, 9:00AM EST | Daytona, Florida | Larry Kelly Field  

This will be the third annual Tropical Bowl – a game showcasing the top college football seniors to NFL scouts and General Managers. You can watch the game by streaming it online. Here is the link: http://www.tropicalbowl.com/tv. What is the overall mission of this all-star game? Tropical Bowl President & Owner Michael Quartey states "We look forward each year to bringing the best college football players from around the country to Daytona!" Indiana University will make its first-ever appearance in the Tropical Bowl thanks to Richard Lagow and Tony Fields.

Quarterback Richard Lagow amassed 5,298 yards and 34 touchdowns in 23 games for the Hoosiers. Lagow impressively bounced back after losing his starting job mid-season. Throughout an up-and-down year, Lagow proved himself to be an excellent teammate and remarkably humble individual. These traits earned him Coach Allen’s inaugural LEO (Love Each Other) Award. He threw for over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns during his last four games at IU. At the end of the day Lagow’s production on the field, size, and arm talent earned him a trip to Daytona.

Tony Fields was a force in the secondary while demonstrating superb senior leadership. His efforts helped anchor one of the best IU defenses in recent memory. Per iuhoosiers.com, Fields became the first player in program history to play in 50 games with 20 starts to boot. He had 56 tackles as a senior, one sack, and one interception. Indiana’s coaching staff recognized fields’ outstanding play by awarding him IU defensive player of the week two times. He also received Indiana’s Harold Mauro “Loyalty to IU Football” Award for his dedication to the game and university.

Over 110 Tropical Bowl alumni have gone on to play in the NFL since 2016. Michael Quartey released an article last week claiming this year’s Tropical Bowl is loaded with NFL level talent. Lagow and Fields will certainly use this opportunity to display their abilities to the numerous professional staff members in attendance. The Tropical Bowl has seen over 70 NFL scouts and representatives from 26 NFL teams. Congratulations to Richard Lagow and Tony Fields on this accomplishment!

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (Chris Covington)

January 20th, 4:00PM EST | Pasadena, California | Rose Bowl Stadium

Hoosier fans can watch the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on FS1 or stream it online at Fox Sports Go. The Collegiate Bowl touts itself as the “premier postseason all-star game for any draft-eligible college football player.” The event is described as a week-long experience that “not only prepares players for the speed and intensity of professional football, but also for the business and lifestyle changes that come with it.” The game also provides some players a chance to play at the storied Rose Bowl Stadium for the first time.

Chris Covington more than deserved his invite to this prestigious all-star game. He established himself as one of the most durable and consistent players on Indiana’s roster this past season. Covington started in all 12 games as a senior and recorded a tackle-for-loss in ten of those contests. He will be recognized as a key cog in the wheel of a memorable Hoosier linebacking corps. Chris was named the team’s defensive player of the week three times this season. Covington earned honorable mention for the All-Big Ten Team and was named IU’s Defensive Player of the Year. He tallied 85 tackles, 12 for a loss, three sacks, and one fumble recovery.

Partnered with the NFL’s Players Association, The Collegiate Bowl is dedicated to educating players and allowing them to showcase their skills. NFL scouts, player personnel staff, general managers, and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams will be watching live practices, conducting player interviews, and reviewing tape. Congratulations to Chris Covington on earning a trip to the Collegiate Bowl. We wish him luck as he pursues his professional career!

East-West Shrine Game (Tegray Scales)

January 20th, 3:07PM EST | St. Petersburg, FL | Tropicana Field

The 93rd annual East-West Shrine Game will be broadcast live on NFL Netwrok. The historical all-star game is more than just a game. Some history about the Shrine Game can be found on their website:

“Created by the Shriners in 1925, the East-West Shrine Game was the nation’s first college all-star football game. The game is driven by the desire to support Shriners Hospitals for Children in its mission to help children in need of expert medical care. More than 1 million children have benefited from Shriners Hospitals’ unique way of providing hope and healing, regardless of the families’ ability to pay for services.”

Indiana’s All-American linebacker Tegray Scales will continue a long-standing Hoosier tradition of sending players and coaches to participate in this postseason event. He will be the 58th player to participate in the game. Indiana has also sent four coaches: Bill Ingram, John Pont, Lee Corso, and Bill Mallory. Scales also marks the fifth-straight Shrine Game that will feature an IU player (Ted Bolser '14, Collin Rahrig '15, Nate Sudfeld '16, Ralph Green in '17).

Tegray Scales had a fantastic senior year, tallying 89 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and six sacks. He was top-ten in the B1G in tackles-for-loss with 12.5. Scales was awarded Indiana’s Anthony Thompson Most Valuable Player Award. He was nominated to several watch-lists such as the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, etc. Over its 93-year history, the Shrine Game has produced a plethora of NFL talent such as John Elway, Randall Cunningham, Brett Favre, Ed McCaffrey, Joey Galloway, Jimmy Garoppolo, and more. Scales continues to place his name in elite company, and represent Indiana football admirably. This is another step in his journey toward the NFL. Congratulations to Tegray Scales on this honor!

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