Nov. 11, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Considered one of the top NFL quarterback prospects in the country, Fordham senior John Skelton will now get a chance to compete against the elite players in the nation after he was selected to participate in the 85th East-West Shrine Game at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 23.

Skelton was one of 37 players to accept an invitation to the game, the organization announced on Tuesday. He was selected to the East roster, where Central Michigan's Dan Lefevour will join Skelton at the quarterback position. Skelton and wide receiver Andre Roberts of The Citadel were the only players from Football Championship Subdivision schools that were placed on the initial rosters.

Skelton has lived up to his expectations in 2009, after he was rated the No. 9 prospect among all senior college quarterbacks by Gil Brandt of NFL.com prior to the season. Skelton currently leads the Football Championship Subdivision with 324.1 passing yards per game, and places second in the nation in total offense (344.1) and third in completions (25.9) per game this season. He has completed 233-of-364 passes for 2,917 yards and 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions for the Rams, who are 4-5 overall and 1-3 in the Patriot League going into Saturday's game against Lehigh. Skelton earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors in 2007.

The team rosters, which will be updated regularly as players accept invitations, are posted on the East-West Shrine Game website

The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running college all-star football game in the country and features some of the highest-rated players in the projected NFL draft ranking. In April 2009, 90 percent of players from the 84th East-West Shrine Game (played on Jan. 17, 2009) were either drafted or signed as free agents by NFL clubs. A total of 307 East-West Shrine Game alumni were on 2009 NFL opening-day rosters.

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international pediatric specialty health care system. The 85th East-West Shrine Game will kick off at 3 p.m. EST and be televised live on ESNP2.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a system of 22 hospitals dedicated to providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, without financial obligation to patients or their families.

For more information about the East-West Shrine Game, visit www.shrinegame.com