BOISE, Idaho β Preseason recognition continues to pour in for a pair of Boise State defensive standouts following breakout campaigns during last fall's Mountain West title run.
Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein and cornerback A'Marion McCoy on Wednesday landed on the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, an early watch list for the annual all-star game featuring the nation's best NFL Draft prospects.
Both Broncos earned a spot on the preseason all-conference list earlier this month, with Hassanein claiming co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard. McCoy was one of four defensive backs honored in the Mountain West Media Days release.
The East-West Shrine Bowl said it worked with NFL and college personnel to pick the "best 1,000 players for the NFL level" across all four levels of football. The selections serve as a preview of who could suit up in the 100th edition of the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Roughly 1,000 bowl eligible players are drafted, signed afterward or attend a rookie mini-camp each year, the organization said. The all-star event is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT on Jan. 30, 2025, and will broadcast on NFL Network.
Hassanein was one of the most improved players in the Mountain West last season. After registering 2.5 sacks in 2022, the Egypt native jumped to 12.5 in 2023, the most by a Bronco since Curtis Weaver had 13.0 in 2019.
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound senior finished third in the conference with 16.5 tackles for loss and recorded at least half a sack in nine-straight games, the longest FBS streak since 2015. Hassanein ranked fifth in the FBS in sacks last season and seventh in sacks per game (0.89).
McCoy was named preseason All-Mountain West after tallying a team-high three interceptions, 31 total tackles, six pass breakups, two tackles for loss and a sack last fall. The last time a Bronco cornerback had more interceptions in a season was Donte Deayon with four in 2015.
The East Palo Alto native made seven starts and played in all 14 games in his Boise State debut following two seasons at Laney College. After rocking No. 21 in 2023, McCoy is switching to jersey No. 7 for the 2024 campaign.
The 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback appeared on Athlon Sports' preseason all-conference first team and picked up second-team honors from Phil Steele this offseason.
Last year's East-West Shrine Bowl watch list featured four Broncos in linebacker DJ Schramm, tight end Riley Smith, offensive tackle Cade Beresford and running back George Holani. Former Boise State standouts John Ojukwu and Tyreque Jones played in the game the year prior.
Click here to view the full list of the top 1,000 candidates for the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl.