All-American Lowery to compete in East-West Shrine Game today

San Jose State's All-American cornerback Dwight Lowery has one final game to wow NFL scouts.

The former Soquel High and Cabrillo College star will compete today in the 83rd annual East-West Shrine Game in Houston today.

Kickoff is at 4 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

"He's the best finisher on a ball I've ever coached," said Spartans assistant Keith Burns, who has coached several professional defensive backs, including Jason Sehorn. "Sure, I've coached guys with more speed, and better athletes -- Sehorn could 360 dunk and played nine years in the NFL -- but if it's Dwight Lowery and the receiver, Dwight Lowery wins. To me, it's one thing -- does the other guy catch it?"

Lowery, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior, is expected to be picked in the first three rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft in New York City on April 26 and 27, according to several online draft analysts.

Lowery was occupied with bowl game festivities Friday night and was unavailable for comment.

On Nov. 29, Lowery was honored by the American Football Coaches Association for a second straight year. He's the first player in SJSU history to be honored twice as a first-team All-American.

He finished with 13 interceptions in 25 games with the Spartans in two seasons.

Last season, he made four interceptions, seven pass breakups and 44 tackles for the Spartans [5-7 overall].

His biggest game in 2007 came in a 42-35 overtime loss against nationally ranked Hawaii on Oct. 12. He scored two touchdowns, returning a punt 84 yards in the second quarter and an interception 24 yards in the third quarter.


"I feel like I'm capable of doing that week in and out," Lowery said in November. "It's my expectation of how I need and want to play."

Lowery executed a school-record and national co-leading nine interceptions in 2006, when the Spartans won the New Mexico Bowl. He was given first-team All-American honors by the AFCA and Football Writers of America Association, and third-team honors by The Associated Press.

Before signing with San Jose State, Lowery made 13 picks in 15 games at Cabrillo College under then-coach Steve Cox.

Denver Broncos linebacker Jordan Beck, formerly of San Lorenzo Valley High and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was the last player from Santa Cruz County to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Beck competed in 2005, when the contest was held in San Francisco. He was later selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Source:http://www.santacruzsentinel.com