Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo has received an invitation to play in the 90th East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. and senior tackle Kyle Roberts has been invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, the Nevada football program announced the week of Nov. 24.
"We want to congratulate Cody Fajardo on his invitation to the East-West Shrine Game and Kyle Roberts on his invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl," second-year coach Brian Polian said. "Both young men are deserving of this terrific honor and I have no doubt that each will represent our program and the University of Nevada well."
A senior from Brea, Calif., Fajardo has led Nevada to a 6-5 mark this year with the opportunity to play in another bowl game following this weekend's Battle for the Fremont Cannon against UNLV.
The Shrine Game is set for Jan. 17 and is broadcast on the NFL Network. It represents an important opportunity for collegians display their talents in front of hundreds of NFL scouts and a national television audience.
"I'm overwhelmed by the honor to play alongside some of the nation's best players and thrilled for the opportunity to play one more game with the Wolf Pack helmet," Fajardo said.
Roberts is a two-year starter and local product from Reed High in Sparks. He'll compete in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on ESPN on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. Roberts is the third Nevada player to be invited in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which began in 2012 as Jeff Nady and Joel Bitonio have previously been invited.
"I'm excited for this honor to represent my hometown school and the opportunity to perform in front of the NFL scouts and play again on national television," Roberts said.
Fajardo is the third Nevada quarterback to receive an invitation to the Shrine Game and would be the second Wolf Pack quarterback to play in the game. Nevada standout Jeff Rowe played in the 2007 game following his senior season and was named the Offensive MVP after throwing a pair of touchdown passes to lead the West to a 21-3 victory. Colin Kaepernick was invited to the game after the 2010 season but instead played in the Senior Bowl.
Nevada did not have a participant in last year's East-West Shrine Game but four players were part of the 2013 game following the 2012 season: Linebacker Albert Rosette, tight end Zach Sudfeld and defensive backs Khalid Wooten and Duke Williams.
