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Duke

Duke's Oghobaase, State's Larsen to participate in East-West Shrine Game

By Ryan Craig

Nov 6, 2009

The 85th East-West Shrine Game will have a North Carolina flavor to it.

Defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase of Duke and center Ted Larsen of N.C. State have both committed to play for the East team on Janurary 23rd, 2010, as has cornerback Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest.

Several more players from the state of North Carolina were invited to participate in the game but have not yet responded as to whether or not they will play, including Wolfpack defensive end Willie Young and ECU defensive end C.J. Wilson.

A number of other athletes are on the Game's watch list, and could be invited to the event if previously invited players either choose not to attend or are injured and unable to play.

Neither team's roster has been finalized to this point. Thus far, 14 players have said they will play for the East team, while 18 have accepted their invitation to play for the West.

Every year since 1925, the East-West Game has been played to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and to bring awareness to the free expert care they provide for a variety of medical ailments.

According to Derrick Gardner, the director of player personnel with the East-West Shrine Game, candidates are invited based on a number of factors, including recommendations from college coaches, grades from NFL scouts, and conversations with the player personnel staffs of both NFL and college teams.