CHICAGO (Jan. 25, 2019) – The 21st annual State Farm All-Star Football Challenge returns to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and will air on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 1. For the third consecutive year, the skills competition will feature 24 of college football’s brightest stars divided into six teams based on their college conference. Each team will consist of four players from the same conference that will compete for conference supremacy in a series of skills competitions. The conferences represented are the ACC, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the Pac-12, the SEC, and four of the best players outside of the Power Five that will be called the “Wild Card” team.
The following players will participate in the 2019 State Farm All-Star Football Challenge:
Team ACC
Brian Burns, DE, Florida State
Ryan Finley, QB, NC State
Julian Love, DB, Notre Dame
Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Team Big Ten
Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan
Trace McSorley, QB, Penn State
Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
Team Big 12
Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State
Kyle Kempt, QB, Iowa State
Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
Team Pac-12
Greg Gaines, DL, Washington
N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon
Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State
Team SEC
AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
Deionte Thompson, DB, Alabama
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Team “Wild Card”
Carl Granderson, DE, Wyoming
Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo
Anthony Jonson, WR, Buffalo
Oshane Ximines, LB, Old Dominion
Each player will individually participate in a timed event, and then finish with a full team event. All events will be timed and have individual winners, which will compile into a cumulative score to determine the winning team. For example, the quarterbacks from each team will compete against each other to win their competition. But ultimately, their time will be added to the times of the other competitors on their conference designated team to have a final team score. Individual events in the 2019 State Farm All-Star Football Challenge include: the State Farm QB Accuracy Competition, the Hands Competition, the Quicken Loans Lineman Strength Challenge and the Mercedes-Benz Obstacle Course. To conclude the program, the players will compete as teams in the State Farm Team Competition.
“Throughout the history of the State Farm All Star Football Challenge, the players have always brought incredible energy and passion. And with conference pride also on the line, the competition has amplified the excitement for players and fans alike,” said Drew Russell, executive vice president at Intersport, which operates the event. “This year’s class of athletes projects to be impact performers on the professional level, so we’re looking forward to a compelling and entertaining competition.”
As many as 11 athletes participating in the State Farm All Star Football Challenge are named as first-round prospects, according to a variety of draft projections. Additionally, five players earned All-America distinction following the 2018 season.
Alumni of the All-Star Football Challenge include 75 first-round NFL Draft picks, including 36 Pro Bowlers, such as: Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Ramsey, Derwin James, Landon Collins, Von Miller, Vernon Davis, Joe Flacco, Dez Bryant, Donovan McNabb, Reggie Wayne, and Edgerrin James, as well as three Heisman Trophy winners (Ron Dayne, Troy Smith and Jason White).
For more information on the 2019 State Farm All-Star Football Challenge, like our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AllStarFootball) and follow us on Twitter (@AllStarFBall) and Instagram (@AllStarFball).
About Intersport
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in the creation of sports, lifestyle and entertainment-based marketing platforms. With expertise in Sponsorship Consulting, Experiential Marketing, Hospitality, Customer Engagement, Content Marketing, Productions and Sports Properties, this Chicago-based Marketing & Media Solutions Company helps their clients to create ideas, content and experiences that attract and engage passionate audiences. To learn more about Intersport, visit www.intersportnet.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About State Farm®
The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its nearly 19,000 agents and approximately 65,000 employees serve approximately 83 million policies and accounts – approximately 81 million auto, fire, life, health and commercial policies and approximately 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 36 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
Contact:
Dan Mihalik, Intersport, dmihalik@intersportnet.com, 312-883-3998