ELON, N.C. – Elon University football offensive lineman Olisaemeka Udoh has accepted invites to play in both the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game in January.
 
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players an opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected to be in attendance at this year's event to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape. This year, former NFL head coaches Mike Tice and Chuck Pagano will lead the two teams.
 
Last year, 112 college players participated with 84 different institutions represented. After the event, 42 players received invitations to the 2018 NFL Combine with 19 players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.  

Olisaemeka Udoh of Elon University has accepted the invitation to play in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. #shrinegame @OliUdoh @elonuniversity pic.twitter.com/HBHQ4v6Jvc

— Shrine Game (@Shrine_Game) December 13, 2018

  The East-West Shrine Game is the longest running college all-star football game in the nation and gives top college players a chance to showcase their talents to NFL scouts with a national television audience.
 
Throughout the years, players like Gale Sayers, Tom Brady, John Elway, Allan Page, Dick Butkus, Brett Favre, Gino Marchetti and Walter Payton have all played in the East-West Shrine Game. Some notable coaches of the game include Don Shula, Dick Vermeil, Paul "Bear" Bryant and Jerry Glanville.
 

.@OliUdoh from @ElonFootball has accepted his #NFLPABowl invite. See you in California. pic.twitter.com/zirU0PgTPG

— The Collegiate Bowl (@NFLPABowl) November 19, 2018

In 2018, Udoh was part of an offensive line that blocked for Elon's running game that amassed the second-most yards per game in the CAA with 199.5 per outing. Elon's ground game also ran for 22 of the team's 31 touchdowns to mark the second-most rushing TDs in the conference. Udoh also played a big role in keeping Elon's quaterbacks upright in only allowing a CAA-low 16 sacks on the year. For his efforts, Udoh was named a First Team All-CAA Football honoree.
   
Playing in either game, it will mark the first time a Phoenix has played in either contest in the program's Division I era. Kierre Brown's appearance in the 2014 FCS Senior Scout Bowl marks the last time an Elon player has played in a postseason bowl game.
 
Both games are slated to take place Jan. 19, 2019, with the Collegiate Bowl in Los Angeles and the Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Udoh's final playing decision will be announced at a later date.