News
Officiating crews for the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl
Football Zebras has confirmed the officiating rosters for the two remaining college invitational all-star games: the Senior Bowl and the Hula Bowl.
Football Zebras has confirmed the officiating rosters for the two remaining college invitational all-star games: the Senior Bowl and the Hula Bowl.
While NFL scouts and teams will evaluate players again this weekend, the NFL will use the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. to evaluate some of its developmental officials in the Officiating Development Program.
Since the termination of NFL Europe in 2007, the NFL lacked a way to evaluate prospective officials. That changed in 2013 with the creation of the Officiating Development Program (ODP). Officials in this program typically officiate games during the NFL preseason and then return to their respective collegiate conferences for the regular season. In 2020, the program included 48 college officials across 6 conferences.
Under normal circumstances, the East-West Shrine Game and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl are also used for officiating development. However, those games have been cancelled this season due to the pandemic.
The Hula Bowl, reinstated last year after being dormant since 2008, does not have involvement with the NFL. The director of officiating is NFL replay official Matt Sumstine, who assembled the crew and is a member of the Hawaii Football Officials Association. The game is being played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
All times are Eastern.
Saturday, Jan. 30
Reese’s Senior Bowl, Mobile, Ala., 2:30 p.m. NFLN
This year, the line of scrimmage and deep wing officiating positions will rotate between different officials. Also, the referee and umpire will switch roles in the second half. NFL mechanics are followed, so there is no center judge.
| Name | ODP Seasons | NCAA Conf. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | James Carter | 2019-2020 | SEC |
| U | Bryan Banks | 2020 | Big Ten |
| H | Maia Chaka | 2014-2017, 2020 | Pac-12 |
| H | Chad Green | 2017 | SEC |
| L | Robin DeLorenzo | 2017-2020 | Big Ten |
| L | Brian Perry | 2019-2020 | AAC |
| F | Max Causey | 2018-2020 | Pac-12 |
| F | Alonzo Ramsey III | 2019-2020 | ACC |
| S | LaShell Nelson | 2016-2020 | Big Ten |
| S | Lo Van Pham | 2018-2020 | Big 12 |
| B | Tra Boger | 2019-2020 | SEC |
Sunday, Jan. 31
Hula Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii, 7:00 p.m. CBSSN
Umpire Francisco Villar is the only member of the Hula Bowl crew who is a part of the NFL Officiating Development Program. Other officials include members of the Hawaii Football Officials Association.
| Name | ODP Seasons | NCAA Conf. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | Steve Strimling | Pac-12 | |
| C | Brian Alos | Big 12 | |
| U | Francisco Villar | 2020 | Pac-12 |
| H | Jeff Hutcheon | CFO West | |
| L | Craig Shaner | HFOA | |
| F | Jonathan Thorpe | HFOA | |
| S | Duane Moku | CFO West | |
| B | John Morton | Pac-12 |
- Replay official: Matt Sumstine (NFL replay official and Hula Bowl coordinator of officiating)
- Replay communicator: James Decker (HFOA)
- Replay assistant: Mike Goshima (former WAC)
