Junior Bergen has added to his preseason accolades haul with a place on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000, an annual watchlist of the top NFL prospects that are all-star game eligible in the coming season.
Bergen was one of nine players from the Big Sky Conference to earn a place on the list compiled by the Shrine Bowl’s team of scouts and coaches, with four different levels of college football represented.
Last week, Bergen earned three places on the preseason All-Big Sky team as a receiver, punt returner, and all-purpose player, the league announced from its kickoff event in Spokane.
The Billings native is once again expected to be one of the most explosive overall players in the FCS as a senior. He’s done a little bit of everything for the Griz in his time at Montana.
In 2023 he set a school record with an FCS-best three punt return touchdowns in a single season and tied the Big Sky record with the fifth return TD of his career. As a receiver he was one of three Grizzly wideouts to total 600+ yards with 791 on the year and five touchdown catches. He even threw what was the game-winning two-point conversion in the FCS Semifinal.
Add it all up and Bergen is coming off a year where he posted 1,680 all-purpose yards, a top 10 single season total in program history.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is a best-in-class all-star event that will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 30, 2025. Players will be coached by NFL coaches, in an NFL facility, and will have access to NFL-level resources, player-friendly schedules, and opportunities at the highest level.
One of the premiere annual college football all-star events, 12 Grizzlies have competed at the showcase since 1926 when “Wild Bill” Kelly played, on through to 2020 when Dante Olson earned an invite. Offensive tackle Chris Walker was also named to the watch list ahead of the 2022 season.
Also named to the East-West Shrine Bowl from the Big Sky were Cal Poly edge rusher Elijah Ponder, Eastern Washington receiver Efton Chism, Idaho cornerback Abraham Williams, MSU O-lineman Marcus Wehr, Northern Colorado edge David Hoage, Portland State QB Dante Chachere, Sac State O-lineman Jackson Slater, and UC Davis running back Lan Larison.