The journey to the National Football League has begun for some of the team’s best seniors.

Senior tight end MyCole Pruitt will play in the 90th East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 17, 2015 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The game has featured more than 70 NFL Hall of Famers, and more than 260 alumni are on NFL rosters.

Toni Softli, NFL Insider for 101 ESPN radio in St. Louis, wrote in an email Pruitt is a prospect with a catching and blocking skill set that will improve under NFL tutelage.

“The yearly draft is a true projection,” he said. “I’ve seen All-Americans come to this level and crap their pants both mentally and physically.”

Senior long snapper Thor Hadfield said Pruitt can impress people at the game.

Hadfield said if the ball is thrown to Pruitt, he will find a way to catch it—his hands are his most impressive skill.

“If he can show that in the practices with the scouts watching, and then in the game for the fans, he’ll help his draft stock,” Hadfield said. “He’s going to be playing against the guys you see on TV every Saturday.”

Pruitt finished his collegiate career with 221 receptions, 2,601 yards and 25 touchdowns in 44 games. He is SIU’s all-time leader in receptions and second in both yards and touchdowns.

Senior running back Malcolm Agnew said Pruitt will have no problem facing Division I talent because of games against Illinois and Purdue the last two years.

“MyCole is a competitor,” he said. “He doesn’t care where you came from because he’s out there playing with confidence.”

Pruitt had 15 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown combined in the games against Illinois on Aug. 31, 2013, and Purdue on Sept. 20, 2014.

Agnew said Pruitt is one of the greatest to ever play at SIU.

“MyCole is one of the top five greatest to ever play here because of the numbers he put up and the impact he had on this program,” he said. “He’s a three-time All-American, he should be held in the highest terms.”

Agnew said he has no doubt Pruitt can make an NFL team and predicts he could be drafted between the third and fifth rounds.

Agnew said he was not invited to the East-West game, but he will play in the National Football League’s Players Association Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 17, 2015. He finished his SIU career with 316 rushes, 1,708 yards and 16 touchdowns in 19 games played. He is 17th all-time in rushing yards and 13th in touchdowns.

Multiple attempts to reach Pruitt for an interview were unanswered.

Brent Meske can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brentmeskeDE