Kentucky’s Jager Burton is headed to one of college football’s most prestigious all-star stages. The senior offensive lineman has officially accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, set for January 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. ET and air live on NFL Network, giving Burton a national spotlight to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts and decision-makers.
For Burton, this is more than just an exhibition-it’s a well-earned opportunity to cap off a standout college career with a performance on a big stage. The 6-foot-4, 323-pound Lexington native made a seamless transition to full-time center in his final season, anchoring the Wildcats’ offensive line with consistency and toughness.
He started all 12 games this year, grading out at an impressive 98 percent on assignments and 85 percent on technique. Those numbers speak to a player who not only knows his job but executes it with precision.
Where Burton really made his presence felt was at the point of attack. He led the team with 158 blocks in that area, a stat that underscores just how central he was to Kentucky’s offensive front. That kind of production earned him third-team All-SEC honors from PFSN, a nod to his impact in one of the toughest conferences in college football.
Durability and reliability have also been hallmarks of Burton’s time in Lexington. Over his five-year career, he appeared in 51 games and started 47 of them consecutively. That kind of availability is rare, especially in the trenches, and it’s something NFL teams will undoubtedly take note of as they evaluate prospects for the next level.
Burton becomes the 42nd Kentucky player to receive an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, joining a legacy that dates back to 1954 when Ray Correll and Steve Meilinger represented the Wildcats. The Shrine Bowl itself is steeped in tradition-it’s the longest-running college all-star game in the country and has served as a key stepping stone for countless NFL careers.
Beyond the football, the event also supports a larger mission. Proceeds and awareness from the game benefit Shriners Children’s, a health care system that provides specialized care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate-regardless of a family’s ability to pay. It’s a powerful intersection of football and philanthropy, and players like Burton get to be part of something bigger than the game.
For Burton, this is the next chapter in a journey defined by growth, leadership, and steady excellence in the trenches. The Shrine Bowl will give him a chance to show NFL scouts what Kentucky fans have seen for years: a smart, physical, and technically sound lineman who’s ready for the next level.