January brings college football all-star games, which provide draft-eligible college football players an opportunity to impress NFL scouts.
The Senior Bowl, played every year in Mobile, Ala., since 1951 is the showcase game, but not the only game to draw top NFL talent. The benefit for prospects is they get to be coached by an actual NFL staff and this year it will be the Texans and Broncos coaches who get the hands-on experience with some of the nation's top seniors.
The Texans will coach the South team while Vance Joseph's Broncos staff will lead the North.
"The Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for our coaching staff to get a look at some of the top college players in the country," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "Anytime you get to work hands-on with these young players and put them through the rigors of NFL-level practices and meetings, it can be tremendously beneficial to both parties. We are all looking forward to the week and making the most of it."
Broncos general manager John Elway said the team "jumped" at the opportunity to send its coaching staff to Mobile.
"The Senior Bowl provides our staff an up-close look at some of the top prospects in this year’s draft," Joseph said. "Having coached the Senior Bowl in the past, it’s a tremendous evaluation tool spending all week with these players in a variety of group and individual settings.
"From the meeting rooms to the practice field, the Senior Bowl experience lets us see how these prospects work and prepare in a competitive environment."
A week before the Senior Bowl will be the East-West Shrine Game and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. While those are the three marquee game, the Dream Bowl and HBCU Spirit Bowl in Virginia Beach, and the Tropical Bowl in Daytona Beach provide other opportunities for NFL hopefuls to make one last impression.
Dates, times, location, prospects for each college all-star game
Tropical Bowl, Daytona Beach, Fla.
When: Jan. 14, 2018, 9 a.m. ET
Where: Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, Larry Kelly Field
What: The third annual Tropical Bowl is for FBS players not invited to any of the three premier all-star games. Last year's game drew over 70 scouts from 26 NFL teams.
How to Watch: FloFootball.com on Roku TV
Top Prospects: Austin Barnes, P, East Carolina; Danny Etling, QB, LSU; KeShun Freeman, DE, Georgia Tech; Nates Gaines, S, UTSA; James Graves, LB, Central Arkansas; Zach Green, RB, Arizona; Donnie Miles, DB, North Carolina
HBCU Spirit of America Bowl, Salem, Va.
When: Jan. 14, 2018, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Salem Stadium
What: The second annual HBCU Spirit Bowl features players from historically black schools.
How to Watch: Comcast/American Sports Network
Top Prospects: Jahlil Mathis, C, Texas Southern
Dream Bowl, Salem, Va.
When: Jan. 15, 2018, 12 p.m. ET
Where: Salem Stadium
What: Now in its sixth year, the Dream Bowl features players from FCS, Division II and D-III schools and invites NFL and CFL scouts to practices and the game.
How to Watch: Comcast/American Sports Network
Top Prospects: Chris Hardeman, CB, Houston Baptist
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
When: Jan. 20, 2018, 4 p.m. ET
Where: The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
What: Started in 2012, the NFLPA game prides itself on using former NFL players as position coaches. Former NFL head coach Mike Martz and Hall of Fame defensive back Darrell Green will lead the respective teams.
How to Watch: Fox Sports 1
Top Prospects: Devin Abraham, CB, South Florida; Austin Allen, QB, Arkansas; Amari Coleman, CB, Central Michigan; Chris Covington, LB, Indiana; Dalyn Dawkins, RB, Colorado State; Davon Grayson, WR, East Carolina; Shaquem Griffin, LB, Central Florida; Kenny Hill, QB, TCU; Detrez Newsome, RB, Western Carolina; Austin Ramesh, FB, Wisconsin; Diocemy Saint Juste, RB, Hawaii; David Steinmetz, OT, Purdue
East-West Shrine Game
When: Jan. 20, 2018, 3 p.m. ET
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
What: The East-West game is the oldest of the college showcase games, now in its 93rd year. The teams will be led by NFL coaching staffs to be announced later this month.
How to Watch: NFL Network
Top Prospects: Brian Allen, C, Michigan State; Riley Ferguson, QB, Memphis; Quinton Flowers, QB, South Florida; Marcell Frazier, DE, Missouri; DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State; James Hearns, DE, Louisville; Natrell Jamerson, DB, Wisconsin; Austin Kuhnert, OG, North Dakota State; Godwin Igwebuike, S, Northwestern; Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State; Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU; Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, DE, Arkansas State; Chad Thomas, DE, Miami; Chris Worley, LB, Ohio State
Senior Bowl
When: Jan. 27, 2018, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
What: The Senior Bowl is considered the best of the all-star games and will be coached by the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans coaching staffs.
How to Watch: NFL Network
Top Prospects: Marcell Ateman, WR, Iowa State; Michael Badgley, K, Miami; Davin Bellamy, LB, Georgia; Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia; Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami; Darren Carrington, WR, Utah; Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA; Garrett Dooley, DE, Wisconsin; Luke Falk, QB, Washington State; Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon; Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin; Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State; Mike Gesicki, TE; Penn State; Da'Shawn Hand, DT, Alabama; Justin Jones, DT, North Carolina State; Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College; Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma; Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan; Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State; Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss; Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa; Levi Wallace, CB, Alabama; James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
This article will be updated.