Champs Bowl 2011: Michael Floyd Needs Big Game to Ensure Top-15 Pick

Say what you want about the relevancy of non-BCS bowl games, but it has a huge impact on seniors looking to lock down a spot in the first round of the NFL draft.

Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd has that opportunity on Thursday against No. 25 Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Despite a rocky offseason that featured an arrest for DUI, the 22-year-old senior was still able to catch 95 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the main reason the Fighting Irish were able to average 30 points a game during the regular season.

At 6'3", 225 pounds, Floyd has the unique ability to beat defenders with his short routes due to his quickness and on long routes due to his top-notch overall foot speed.  He dropped about 10 pounds this season and has used the loss to get that much quicker.

Floyd will have to showcase his incredible versatility against a defense that is among the best in the entire nation.

He is facing a Seminoles defense that led the ACC and was fourth nationally, allowing 15.2 points per game, including 9.4 over the final five contests of the year.  They have a deadly pass rush that will force the QB tandem of Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix to get rid of the ball fairly quickly. This is the ultimate test for Floyd to show off his improved quickness.

If Floyd lets the Seminoles secondary get physical with him on the line of scrimmage and force him to break out of his routes later than normal, his ability to handle the physicality of the NFL will be questioned all the way until draft day.

This is his last chance to make a big impression on the hundreds of scouts that will be watching him carefully. A gigantic game might be the difference between sneaking into the top 15 and sliding all the way down to the second round.

Middle of the road bowl games have some sort of meaning after all.