Austin Hoyt accepts invitation to play in 94th East-West Shrine Game

TAMPA, Fla. – BYU senior offensive lineman Austin Hoyt has accepted an invitation to play in the 94th East-West Shrine Game® on January 19, 2019 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NFL Network and the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network.

Hoyt has started every game the past two seasons for BYU with 30 starts and 50 games played overall for the Cougars. The 6-foot-8, 315-pound native of Ione, California, has played at tackle and guard for the Cougars while primarily serving as BYU’s right tackle. A team captain in 2018, Hoyt has helped this year’s team average 230 rushing yards over the past three games to help the Cougars earn bowl eligibility.

Hoyt will participate for the West team at this year’s Shrine game. An invitation to take part in the annual East-West Shrine Game is an opportunity for the best collegiate football players in the country to showcase their talents in front of top representatives from NFL teams. A strong performance in the game can greatly impact a player’s chances of a career in the NFL. Many of professional football’s most recognized and decorated players, including Tom Brady, Brett Favre and John Elway, played in the East-West Shrine Game.

• More than 100 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters last season.
• On average, more than 300 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year.
• Since the game’s inception, 77 former players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• More than 200 former players have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

"The most important element of East-West Shrine Game has always been supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children," said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. "But during game week, it also affords our players an unmatched opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first taste of a potential career in the NFL."

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system that treats children in orthopedics, spinal cord injuries, cleft lift and palate, and burns, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

Those who would like to support the East-West Shrine Game can attend the event in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. ET, tune in to watch the game on NFL Network, or listen live on the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network.

Ticket Information:
• East-West Shrine Game tickets will be available for purchase beginning December 1 through all tickets.com outlets
• Game tickets are $15 general admission seating (price does not include service fees)

About Shriners Hospitals for Children:
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.