AZUSA, Calif. - For the second consecutive year, Azusa Pacific will be represented by two players at the nationally-televised NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, as cornerback Josh Atkinson and offensive lineman Paul Flores will participate in the Jan. 23 game at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., which will air live on ESPN2.

In last year’s NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Cougar running back Terrell Watson made the most of his appearance, earning game MVP honors after he led the National team to a 17-0 win by rushing for a game-high 55 yards and the game’s first touchdown (Game Recap). He was joined in the game by college teammate offensive lineman Cody Clay, as the duo became the first Cougar teammates to play in a major postseason all-star game in the same year. Both players signed free agent contracts after the NFL Draft, and Watson was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad for the 2015 season.

Atkinson and Flores repeat the accomplishment, giving Azusa Pacific back-to-back seasons with appearances in a postseason football all-star game after the Cougars had last been represented in a game by Jack Williams in the Hula Bowl in 2000. Christian Okoye played in the 1987 Senior Bowl, where he set a bowl record with four touchdowns in the game.

Atkinson anchored Division II’s second-ranked passing defense, which surrendered just 133.1 passing yards per game, finishing the season with 36 tackles (20 solo), three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He ranked fourth in the GNAC in both interceptions and passes defended (10), registering all three picks in the first five games and five of his seven breakups in the final five-game stretch. In a Homecoming victory over South Dakota Mines, whose offense was led by All-GNAC first team quarterback Trent McKinney, Atkinson recorded a season-high 10 tackles and had a pass breakup.

Flores bounced back from missing the entire 2014 season to injury, earning All-GNAC first team honors for his first career all-conference honor as the anchor of an offensive line which produced a 1,000-yard rusher for the fifth consecutive season. Flores started at left tackle in nine of the Cougars’ 10 games in 2015, helping Azusa Pacific produce 432.6 yards per game as Division II’s most balanced offense, with 216.5 yards per game rushing and 216.1 yards per game passing.

NFL coaching legends Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz will serve as Head Coaches for the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, with Holmgren coaching the American Team and facing Martz’s National Team. The position coaches for the cornerbacks are NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green and Stanford’s Director of Player Development Ron Lynn. The offensive linemen are coached by Jackie Slater, an NFL Hall of Famer and Azusa Pacific’s offensive line coach the past five years, along with Dan Price and seven-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson.

TELEVISION: The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices and game will be broadcasted live on the ESPN family of channels. The game, scheduled for a 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET kickoff, will air live on ESPN2. In addition, American and National Team practices on January 20 and 21 will be televised live on ESPNU. The game and practices will also be available via WatchESPN.

WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA:
INTERNET: collegiate.nflpa.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/nflpacollegiatebowl
TWITTER: @nflpabowl
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/nflpabowl
GOOGLE+: +NFLPACollegiateBowl

ABOUT THE NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL
The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is the premier post-season all-star game for draft-eligible college players. The week-long schedule provides participants with a first-class professional experience while introducing them to the business of the National Football League.

Founded in 2012, the annual game gives prospective NFL players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. In 2015, scouts from every NFL club and other professional leagues attended the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl’s practices and game. Nearly 200 NFL Scouts, Player Personnel Staff, GMs and Head Coaches not only watched the live practices and game but also conducted player interviews and reviewed tape.

Participants in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl have the unique opportunity to network with and learn from current and former NFL players. These veterans give players first-hand insight on what it takes to win on and off of the field.