David Gusta Accepts Invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl
Kentucky senior defensive lineman David Gusta has accepted an invitation to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl, to be played Jan. 27, 2026, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. He will join UK teammates Jager Burton and Kendrick Law in Frisco.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT (local) and the game will be televised on the NFL Network. Tickets can be purchased at ShrineBowl.com. A free Fan Fest will take place pre-game at The Star.
Gusta, a 6-foot-3, 317-pounder from San Bernardino, California was a stalwart on the interior of the defensive line in his one season at UK after transferring from Washington State. In 2025, he made 12 total tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries.
Gusta’s impact ran much deeper than statistics though. He started all 12 games and provided a steady presence in the middle of the line. He had four tackles against Texas and against Ole Miss had a quarterback hurry that directly led to an interception.
For his career, Gusta appeared in 44 games and made 36 starts. He made 74 tackles, including 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is the longest-running college all-star football game in the nation. An important part of America’s football tradition, the event gives top college players a chance to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and a national television audience.
Gusta becomes the 44th Wildcat to be invited to the event since Ray Correll and Steve Meilinger first participated in 1954.
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.
