NORFOLK, Va. – After a stellar four-year career, Norfolk State University defensive back Don Carey (Norfolk, Va.) will get two premier opportunities to display his talents with the best players in college football.

Carey has accepted an invitation to play in the 84th East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 17 and has also been invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine next month.

Carey will be the first Spartan player ever to play in the Shrine Game, the oldest and one of the most respected postseason all-star games in the country. He will play for the East team, which will be coached by former Maryland, Georgia Tech, Army and NFL head coach Bobby Ross. The West team will be led by former Alabama coach Gene Stallings.

Senior players from USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State, LSU and Florida State are among those on the all-star game roster. The game, which takes place at the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium, will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 4 p.m. ET on Jan. 17.

Carey will also get a chance to perform for the NFL scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 18-24. More than 300 of the top draft-eligible college football players will be on hand to interview and perform drills for all 32 NFL teams in advance of April's draft. Carey is the first Spartan to be invited to the NFL Combine in head coach Pete Adrian's tenure.

Carey earned All-MEAC second-team distinction each of the last two seasons. He tallied 10 interceptions in his career, and tied for the MEAC-lead with five picks this past season. Carey, also a three-time member of the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic team, ended his career with 173 tackles, 34 pass deflections, four fumble recoveries, two blocked extra points and two defensive touchdowns, both coming in 2008.