14 College Football Players Who Can Raise NFL Draft Stock This Bowl Season
For those college football players who are eyeing a transition to the next level, bowl games are more than just the final time they strap on the shoulder pads for their schools.
The postseason can be a crucial time for those looking to improve their stock for the upcoming NFL draft.
Whether it's an opportunity to take advantage of a favorable matchup or a chance to get more eyeballs on their play thanks to a nationally televised stage, these players can rise even higher in the months of December and January.
Here are 14 draft-eligible players—seven on offense, seven on defense—who could raise their NFL draft stock during bowl season. Not all of these athletes have officially declared, but their play has already earned them high consideration on Bleacher Report NFL draft expert Matt Miller's most recent big board.
Of course, with the huge number of NFL-bound players in this year's bowl schedule, these 14 aren't the only ones who have a great opportunity to rise in the eyes of scouts and executives. Tell us who you think will see their stock soar during the postseason in the comments below.
Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
1 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 QB ranking: 2 (17 overall)
Bowl matchup: Birmingham Bowl vs. Auburn
One of the fastest-rising draft prospects this football season, Paxton Lynch has one more chance to nail down his first-round status in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn.
The 6'6" passer from Memphis has outstanding size and speed with a 28-3 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions this year. He completed nearly 69 percent of his passes and had the seventh-best efficiency rating of any quarterback in the FBS during the regular season.
With the exception of Ole Miss, though, Lynch's competition this season has been downgraded in the eyes of some analysts because he plays in the American Athletic Conference. A huge day against a big-play-prone Power Five team such as Auburn, which is in the midst of a defensive coordinator search, would do wonders for his already impressive stock.
Arkansas QB Brandon Allen
2 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 QB ranking: 6
Bowl matchup: Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas State
Brandon Allen's senior surge under first-year Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos was extraordinary, and he turned up his level of play even more down the stretch of the regular season. Allen threw for 848 yards, 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions in SEC contests against Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Now Allen gets one more chance to stuff the stat sheets and bring more attention to his NFL draft stock when the Razorbacks face Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. The Wildcats ranked 103rd nationally in passing yards allowed per attempt this season, and opponents threw for 24 touchdowns compared to just four picks.
Look for Arkansas to turn Allen loose in his final game with the program and send him out on top with a big day in the Liberty Bowl. If that happens, more NFL teams might take a closer look at the Hogs signal-caller.
Indiana RB Jordan Howard
3 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 RB ranking: 7 (79 overall)
Bowl matchup: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Duke
Jordan Howard didn't get a full season of work because of a knee injury that sidelined him a few games, but the former UAB transfer still had a fantastic season for Indiana. Miller rated Howard as his "biggest riser" in the running back category for his latest big board, as he ran for at least 145 yards in every game he received 20 or more carries.
Now Howard will face a good Duke defense, which is led by star safety Jeremy Cash. This will be the big individual matchup that fans and scouts alike will want to see in the Pinstripe Bowl, as Cash is a sure tackler who constantly makes big plays near the line of scrimmage.
With some extra rest to heal up from his knee injury, Howard should be ready to go full speed against the Blue Devils. A big day against Cash and the Duke defense would be huge for Howard's rising draft stock as we head into 2016.
Pittsburgh WR Tyler Boyd
4 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 WR ranking: 5 (38 overall)
Bowl matchup: Military Bowl vs. Navy
Tyler Boyd's draft stock took a hit early this year when he was suspended for a DUI, but the Pittsburgh wideout has recovered to put together another strong season for the Panthers. An excellent route-runner with all-around skills, Boyd would be a good pickup for any team needing an instant-impact receiver.
He has a great opportunity to improve his draft stock even more at the Military Bowl against Navy. The Midshipmen, who will be playing at their home stadium for this bowl matchup, are ranked 87th in passing yards allowed per attempt this season. They allowed several big plays through the air to option-running Army last weekend, and six different teams threw for more than 250 yards on them this year.
This game will get a good bit of spotlight with Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds playing in his last game, and Boyd could steal the show by taking full advantage of this positional matchup.
Arizona WR Cayleb Jones
5 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 WR ranking: 9 (72 overall)
Bowl matchup: New Mexico Bowl vs. New Mexico
It's been an underwhelming season for Arizona, which was preparing for a Fiesta Bowl matchup this time last year. But that hasn't hurt the draft prospects of Cayleb Jones, the Wildcats' 6'3" wide receiver who will line up against New Mexico this weekend.
"One of the top junior receivers in the nation, Cayleb Jones is moving up draft boards each week," Miller wrote in October. "And in a year that seems light at wide receiver, a player like Jones has a chance to make a move into the top 50."
The New Mexico defense Jones and the rest of the Wildcats will face in the New Mexico Bowl allowed eight yards per reception this season and at least 300 yards in four separate games. Look for Jones to exploit this mismatch and create some more buzz in this early bowl matchup.
Virginia Tech TE Bucky Hodges
6 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 TE ranking: 10
Bowl matchup: Independence Bowl vs. Tulsa
Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges is only a redshirt sophomore, but the growing skill set attached to his 6'7" frame makes him an exciting prospect right now. According to DraftInsider.net, Hodges is expected to declare for the draft this year.
"An imposing figure on the field, Hodges plays more like a possession receiver, displaying the ability to get downfield and snatch the ball from the air," the site reads. "He attracts the attention of opponents ... yet continually comes away with important receptions during the game's critical moments."
Hodges will be a matchup nightmare against an overmatched Tulsa defense—fifth-worst against the pass this season in the FBS—so look for him to get the ball a good bit in Frank Beamer's final game as Virginia Tech's head coach.
Ohio State OG Pat Elflein
7 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 OG ranking: 7
Bowl matchup: Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame
Pat Elflein is far from the most famous name in Ohio State's potentially record-breaking 2016 draft class, but the draft-eligible guard can rise even further with another great performance for the Buckeyes.
"Elflein has been perhaps Ohio State's most impressive offensive lineman this season, and that is saying something considering left tackle Taylor Decker could be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft," Elflein's bio reads on WalterFootball.com. "Guards have a harder time being first-rounders, and that hurts Elflein, but he did a tremendous job of opening up holes for Ezekiel Elliott."
Elflein's task in the Fiesta Bowl will be continuing his streak of excellent play against a Notre Dame defense that lines up Sheldon Day on the interior and can't-miss linebacker prospect Jaylon Smith. If Elflein can pave the way for a big game against this Irish defense, his stock should soar.
Boise State DE Kamalei Correa
8 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 EDGE ranking: 10 (55 overall)
Bowl matchup: Poinsettia Bowl vs. Northern Illinois
In a draft class filled with so much edge-rushing talent, it might be easy to miss Boise State defensive end Kamalei Correa. The Broncos didn't have a great season by their lofty standards, and Correa didn't have nearly the amount of production he had in 2014.
Part of the reason for that drop is that Correa has been asked to do more in pass coverage this season for the Boise State defense. But this fierce defensive end could reclaim some of the hype surrounding him with a good performance in a bowl game against fellow Group of Five power Northern Illinois.
The run-first Huskies gave up more than six tackles for loss per game this season, which makes for a great matchup for Correa. He should have more opportunities to break into the backfield than he had for most of the regular season for the Broncos.
Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
9 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 DL ranking: 10 (51 overall)
Bowl matchup: New Orleans Bowl vs. Arkansas State
One of the top small-school prospects in this year's draft class, Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Vernon Adams will be one to watch when the Bulldogs square off with Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl. He's already been pegged as a potential instant-impact player at the next level.
"NFL teams looking for bulk in the middle of the defensive line should invest a mid-round pick in Butler, who can push the pocket as well as attack one gap or play two to meet responsibilities as a run defender," Chad Reuter of NFL.com wrote last month. "The high demand for wide bodies with decent agility will push him up draft boards as the process unfolds."
Louisiana Tech's second-half surge was more than enough to give the Bulldogs a bowl berth, and Butler could take full advantage of the added attention from scouts with a big game against the Red Wolves. He's been a difference-maker at defensive tackle this season with double-digit tackles for loss.
Georgia OLB Jordan Jenkins
10 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 EDGE ranking: 6 (35 overall)
Bowl matchup: TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Penn State
The lower-rated one of Georgia's outstanding edge-rushing prospects—the other one being Leonard Floyd—Jordan Jenkins has an opportunity to command a ton of attention in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
Jenkins hasn't had a monster game since the Bulldogs' September win over Vanderbilt, when Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com wrote that he showed off first-round skills with 5.5 tackles for loss. Now he'll look to terrorize a Penn State offensive line that allowed 39 sacks and 89 tackles for loss in just 12 games this season.
If Jenkins can tee off on that Nittany Lions front five in the TaxSlayer Bowl, more and more people might be talking about him joining Floyd as first-rounders in next year's draft. He couldn't have asked for a better matchup to flash his pass-rushing credentials.
Utah State OLB Kyler Fackrell
11 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 RB ranking: 10
Bowl matchup: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Akron
Kyler Fackrell is another smaller-school standout who has a great opportunity ahead of him in a nationally televised bowl game. The Utah State leader in tackles for loss and sacks should garner a lot of attention from both scouts and the Aggies' opposition in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl—just like he got in 2013's postseason.
"When you talk about Kyler, you talk about a guy that has tremendous talent," former Utah State linebacker Zach Vigil told Wade Denniston of the Deseret News in October. "When we played Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl, their whole game plan was to stop Kyler. When you hear stuff like that, it shows you the kind of respect he demands when he’s on the field."
Fackrell has bounced back from a serious injury in 2014 to star for the Utah State defense and garner plenty of draft buzz. Another big game, like the ones he had against Colorado State and Boise State earlier this season, will be huge for his chances at the next level.
LSU CB Tre'Davious White
12 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 CB ranking: 4 (34 overall)
Bowl matchup: Texas Bowl vs. Texas Tech
Tre'Davious White has first-round potential as the latest star defensive back to come out of LSU, and a game that could possibly be his last for the Tigers will give him plenty of chances to show off his skills.
LSU will face pass-happy Texas Tech in this year's Texas Bowl, which should make for a busy day for White. The Red Raiders average the second-most pass attempts of any team at the FBS level, and they're prone to turning the ball over with all those passes.
As Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com noted, teams shied away from passing it in White's direction this year, which was partly because of LSU starting freshman corner Kevin Toliver on the opposite side of the field. Texas Tech, on the other hand, will look to sling the ball all over the place against the Tigers.
Houston CB William Jackson
13 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 CB ranking: 7 (65 overall)
Bowl matchup: Peach Bowl vs. Florida State
William Jackson has been one of the stars of Houston's 12-1 regular-season campaign under first-year head coach Tom Herman. This cornerback's stock soared late in the season as the Cougars kept winning games and secured a berth in a New Year's Six bowl.
"He's 6'0", 185 pounds, and runs a legit 4.5 in the 40-yard dash," Miller wrote in November. "And according to three scouts I texted with this week, he has a first-round grade heading into the last month of the season."
Scouts will most likely want to see how Jackson lines up against more talented receivers than the ones he faced in AAC play, and powerhouse Florida State will have a few of those in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. If Jackson can help Houston limit the Seminoles' passing attack and pull off the upset, he'll have a great chance at being a first-night pick.
Florida S Marcus Maye
14 of 14
Matt Miller's 2016 S ranking: 8 (81 overall)
Bowl matchup: Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan
Marcus Maye had perhaps the best season of any safety in college football, and he could potentially jump to the NFL a year early. Pro Football Focus named him a first-team All-American for his play in 2015.
"Maye moved around Florida’s defense as well, playing deep safety, as well as lining up in the box and in the slot," Steve Palazzolo of PFF wrote. "His plus-11.9 coverage grade ranks fifth among safeties while his plus-10.2 run grade ranks eighth as he brings one of the best all-around skill sets to the position."
If Maye decides to declare for the NFL draft, then he could definitely use a big game against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Maye had a less than stellar performance against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, which may have dinged his draft stock heading into bowl season. Putting it all together and playing well against a Michigan offense that will test the Gators downfield would be immense for Maye and his NFL future.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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