Jager Burton’s college football journey didn’t follow a straight line-but it’s ending on a high note, and now he’s got a shot to show NFL scouts exactly what he’s made of.
The former Kentucky offensive lineman has accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation’s longest-running college football all-star game. Set to be held at The Star in Frisco-the Dallas Cowboys’ state-of-the-art headquarters-the Shrine Bowl is more than just a postseason showcase. It’s a proving ground for NFL hopefuls and a fundraiser for Shriners Children’s, blending football with a meaningful cause.
For Burton, this invite is more than a résumé builder. It’s a testament to the work he put in during a final season that saw him bounce back from adversity and finish strong.
Coming out of high school, Burton was a blue-chip recruit from Lexington who chose to stay home and suit up for the Wildcats. Expectations were high, but his path through college football was anything but smooth.
He redshirted in 2021 during Kentucky’s 10-win campaign, then found himself thrust into a starting role at left guard in 2022 after a wave of departures hit the offensive line-including the loss of position coach Eric Wolford. It was a year ahead of schedule, and while Burton earned SEC All-Freshman honors, the learning curve was steep.
The offensive line struggled, and as one of the new faces up front, Burton took more than his share of heat.
Heading into 2023, Kentucky tried to shift him to center-a move that didn’t stick. After just three games, snapping issues forced the staff to abandon the experiment. It was a tough stretch, and as the line continued to falter, Burton became an easy target for criticism, fair or not.
But instead of folding, he doubled down.
Ahead of his final season in 2025, Burton put in the work. He added good weight, repped snaps until they were second nature, and embraced the challenge of playing center again.
This time, it clicked. He started every game at center and, according to Pro Football Focus, graded out as Kentucky’s top offensive lineman.
The Wildcats didn’t make it back to a bowl game, but Burton’s personal redemption arc was undeniable.
“I would say I am proud of myself,” Burton said during the final week of the regular season. “I’m not gonna sugar-coat it.
Everybody knows I’ve had an up and down career, moments I’m not proud of, where I haven’t played to the standard I’ve set for myself. But this year, I turn on the tape, and I’m proud of what I put on film.
I couldn’t see it working out any better than it did with just getting a redemption shot at center and being able to prove that I can do that. Obviously, it didn’t go well the first time, so yeah.
I am proud of myself.”
That kind of honesty-and that kind of bounce-back-carries weight with NFL evaluators. Burton’s ability to play both guard and center gives him the kind of positional versatility that teams covet, especially in a league where offensive line depth is always at a premium.
Now, he’ll get a chance to show it all in person at the Shrine Bowl, with NFL scouts watching closely. The game will be broadcast on Jan. 27 by NFL Network, but for Burton, the real work will come in the practices leading up to it. That’s where scouts do most of their evaluating-watching how players move, how they communicate, how they respond to coaching.
Burton’s journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been real. He’s taken hits-on the field and off-but kept getting back up. And now, with one more chance to prove himself, he’s stepping into the spotlight with something he’s earned the hard way: confidence.