University of Delaware Athletics

Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Marcus Yarns Invited to 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl
10/31/2024 2:21:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football running back Marcus Yarns has officially been invited to participate in the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl. The longest-running college all-star game in the country, the 100th rendition of the game will take place on January 30, 2025 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas and can be watched live on the NFL Network.
Yarns is the seventh Blue Hen to be invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and the first since Bilal Nichols in 2017.
A preseason All-American and member of the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, Yarns is having another strong season for the Blue & Gold. He leads the squad with 72.7 rushing yards per game and 108.5 all-purpose yards per game. He has scored eight total touchdowns, four rushing and four receiving, which is among the CAA leaders despite missing two games. Twice this season Yarns has rushed for at least 100 yards including a career-high 142 yards at Monmouth, and he has scored multiple touchdowns in three games. He had 170 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns in Delaware's homecoming victory over UAlbany.
The Salisbury, Maryland native received his first All-America award after a breakout 2023 season for the Blue Hens, earning a spot on the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team as well as All-CAA Second Team recognition. He led the Blue Hens with 939 rushing yards, ranking fourth in the nation with 6.90 yards per carry and had four games with at least 100 yards rushing. Yarns accounted for 1,250 total all-purpose yards as he also caught 24 passes for 311 yards. He ranked second in the country with 18 total touchdowns on the season, and fourth with 15 rushing scores which ranked ninth in Delaware's single-season history. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of UD's 13 games and had multiple scores in six games, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance at Towson that earned him CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Yarns is 64 yards away from becoming the 18th player in Delaware history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards and his 31 total touchdowns is 12th in program history. Overall, he has nine career games with multiple touchdowns scored and six games with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
About the East-West Shrine Bowl
The East-West Shrine Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best college football players in the world to showcase their talents as top NFL Draft prospects in front of all 32 NFL teams' scouts and executives. Many of professional football's most recognized and decorated players, including legends Tom Brady, Walter Payton, John Elway and current stars Brock Purdy, Zay Flowers and Isiah Pacheco, played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl has benefited Shriners Children's and its mission to provide excellent specialty care for children. This unique health care system provides excellent care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families' ability to pay for services. This special game helps raise the profile of Shriners Children, so that we can continue to offer hope and healing and reach more kids in more places. Through the experience, everyone connected with the East-West Shrine Bowl gains a deeper understanding of the amazing patients who receive care at Shriners Children's and the ways that they can support the health care system.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Yarns is the seventh Blue Hen to be invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and the first since Bilal Nichols in 2017.
A preseason All-American and member of the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, Yarns is having another strong season for the Blue & Gold. He leads the squad with 72.7 rushing yards per game and 108.5 all-purpose yards per game. He has scored eight total touchdowns, four rushing and four receiving, which is among the CAA leaders despite missing two games. Twice this season Yarns has rushed for at least 100 yards including a career-high 142 yards at Monmouth, and he has scored multiple touchdowns in three games. He had 170 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns in Delaware's homecoming victory over UAlbany.
The Salisbury, Maryland native received his first All-America award after a breakout 2023 season for the Blue Hens, earning a spot on the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team as well as All-CAA Second Team recognition. He led the Blue Hens with 939 rushing yards, ranking fourth in the nation with 6.90 yards per carry and had four games with at least 100 yards rushing. Yarns accounted for 1,250 total all-purpose yards as he also caught 24 passes for 311 yards. He ranked second in the country with 18 total touchdowns on the season, and fourth with 15 rushing scores which ranked ninth in Delaware's single-season history. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of UD's 13 games and had multiple scores in six games, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance at Towson that earned him CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Yarns is 64 yards away from becoming the 18th player in Delaware history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards and his 31 total touchdowns is 12th in program history. Overall, he has nine career games with multiple touchdowns scored and six games with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
About the East-West Shrine Bowl
The East-West Shrine Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best college football players in the world to showcase their talents as top NFL Draft prospects in front of all 32 NFL teams' scouts and executives. Many of professional football's most recognized and decorated players, including legends Tom Brady, Walter Payton, John Elway and current stars Brock Purdy, Zay Flowers and Isiah Pacheco, played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl has benefited Shriners Children's and its mission to provide excellent specialty care for children. This unique health care system provides excellent care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families' ability to pay for services. This special game helps raise the profile of Shriners Children, so that we can continue to offer hope and healing and reach more kids in more places. Through the experience, everyone connected with the East-West Shrine Bowl gains a deeper understanding of the amazing patients who receive care at Shriners Children's and the ways that they can support the health care system.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Delaware Football Postgame Press Conference - 68 Ventures Bowl vs. Louisiana - 12/17/25
Friday, December 19
Delaware Football Postgame Press Conference - UTEP 11/29/25
Saturday, November 29
Delaware Football Weekly Press Conference - Week 14
Monday, November 24
Delaware Football Weekly Press Conference - Week 13
Tuesday, November 18










