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Raiders wide receiver Pat Simonds ’10 has his hands full this week as he prepares to play in the East-West Shrine game, the longest-running college all-star football game in the nation.

The game, which will be televised on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. Saturday, features some of the highest-rated players in the projected NFL draft.

Simonds is considered by several draft analysts a potential sixth- or seventh-round NFL pick, and he is hoping to bolster his status this week in Orlando, Fla., where the all-star game will be played.

“The practice week leading up to the game is really where the scouts put their emphasis,” said the star wide receiver. “If I can have a good week of practice and interviews I feel that I can answer a lot of the unknowns about my game and hopefully increase my draft status.”

Pat Simonds, No. 80 for the Raiders, set a school record this year with 14 touchdowns.

 

Simonds is one of only three players selected to play in the game from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, former Division IAA). The others are Fordham quarterback John Skelton and The Citadel wide receiver Andre Roberts.

“There might be some pressure being a small school guy at the East-West game but I actually enjoy the pressure,” said Simonds, who is from Sidney, N.Y. “Hopefully I can give a good performance and represent the FCS and 51���� well.”

Simonds earned third-team honors on the Sports Network All-America team for the FCS, making him the third wide receiver in school history to achieve All-America status. Corey Hill was named to The Associated Press’ first team in 1998 and Luke Graham was named to the third team by Football Gazette in 2002.

A first-team Patriot League all-star, Simonds finished the 2009 regular season with 66 catches for 1,012 yards and a school-record 14 touchdowns. He is the third wide receiver in school history to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

He spent his winter break training at the Fischer Sports Facility in Phoenix, Ariz. He worked on his overall football skills, with an emphasis on improving his speed and agility.

Simonds, who is 6’6″ and about 226 pounds, plans to return to the facility before the NFL scouting combine for prospective pro players that will be held in Indianapolis starting Feb. 24. The draft will be held April 22-24.