Carson Bruener Will Match Father by Playing in East-West Shrine Bowl

Carson Bruener, the University of Washington's most decorated football player this past season, will close out his college career on Thursday in the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl, with the linebacker returning to Texas yet one more time at Arlington Stadium.

Over 25 months, the 6-foot-2, 226-pound Bruener will have played in San Antonio (Alamo Bowl), Houston (CFP national championship), El Paso (Sun Bowl) and now in the Dallas suburbs, in the home of the Cowboys, in an all-star game that means something to his family.

Exactly 30 years ago, Bruener's father, Mark, was a Husky tight end who played in the East-West Shrine Bowl when it was held at Stanford before he became a first-round NFL draft pick and the 27th overall selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Brueners will become the UW's only father-son connection to appear in this storied event, which is observing its 100th year.

To pursue his own pro career, Bruener will lean on his father, a Pittsburgh Steelers scout who played in the NFL for 14 years, for plenty of guidance.

"My dad has been a huge help for me, in just kind of getting feedback from him," Carson Bruener said before the Sun Bowl. "He went through the process. He's been around the sport for awhile. He knows a lot of agents."