Marcus Cromartie to Play in 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

After concluding his senior season as one of Wisconsin's top two cornerbacks, Marcus Cromartie will begin his tour as a pro prospect in the 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Cromartie will be one of 100 players participating in the all-star game on Jan. 19, at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 with a 6 p.m. ET kickoff, and ESPNU will also air live broadcasts from practices on Jan. 17.

Along with fellow senior cornerback Devin Smith, Cromartie played a significant role in Wisconsin's 18th-ranked passing defense (193.6 yards per game). The Mansfield, Texas native finished the season as a consensus All-Big Ten honorable mention and recorded his first career interception -- which he returned for a 29-yard touchdown, also the first of his career -- in Wisconsin's 70-31 win over Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Cromartie, at least this early in the draft process, seems to face an uphill battle toward getting selected. He does, however, have at least one well established NFL connection in his cousin Antonio Cromartie, a cornerback for the New York Jets.

You can read up on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl here, and also check out the rest of the 100 players that will suit up.