10 CFB Stars Who Improved Their NFL Draft Stock Most During Bowl Season

With only four bowl games left, it's the last chance for many future NFL players to improve their draft stock. The good thing is that all of the games are on national television and everybody will be watching, just to see if you're as good as many claim you are.

There are always those players out there that you just can't lay a finger on. They give you a great performance, but there's just something about them that doesn't have you completely sold.

Here are 10 players that have improved their draft stock the most with just one bowl game.

Temple RB Bernard Pierce

Many people don't even know who running back Bernard Pierce is, because he plays for the Temple Owls. He finished his junior year with over 1,400 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. He's a huge back at 6'1", 218 pounds, and is a very powerful runner with a lot of strength.

With another 100-yard rushing performance against Wyoming and two touchdowns, he should head on to the NFL this season.

In a class that only has a couple of great runners, Pierce could be a steal for a team in the second to fourth round.

Marshall WR Aaron Dobson

Dobson had seven catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the bowl victory over FIU.

Aaron Dobson is known all over the Internet because of the catch you see against East Carolina. The truth is, this guy is a solid receiver and could be an underrated player in the draft. He's only a junior, so he does have another year of eligibility, but he is showing interest in coming out early.

Dobson is a big body at 6'3", 203 pounds, very physical, and as you can see, he can make the big plays. He would be a great red-zone target at the next level with his size and strength. Would like to see a bit more of him and better route running, but he would get picked up just off his potential and upside alone.

Oregon RB LaMichael James

LaMichael James had a very impressive game against Wisconsin, as he racked up 159 rushing yards and a touchdown. What made it such a great performance was that the Badgers were solid at stopping the run and have a big defensive line.

James really stepped up and averaged over six yards on that defense.

The Oregon running back that declared for the draft a year early has the goods to be successful at the next level. I just question his size at 5'9", 185 pounds. He is a tough runner, though, and will be a nice change-of-pace back.

He won't be one of the first backs taken, but will be a great value pick for some team needing depth at the position.

Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon

Many had Justin Blackmon as a top receiver in next year's draft. But it would always be a toss-up between him and South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey. I think it's safe to say he's the best receiver in the country after his 186-yard and three-touchdown performance against Stanford.

Blackmon isn't exactly huge at 6'1", 215 pounds, but he plays much bigger than he really is. He's physical and can go up and get the football with the best of them. He's fantastic after the catch, has strong hands and is a great blocker.

Blackmon is guaranteed to be a top-10 pick next April.

Wisconsin WR Nick Toon

Nick Toon finished his final season as a Wisconsin receiver with nine catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. He has moved up a few spots on the wide receiver list and could very well be a top-five receiver when the combine is over with.

He's a big body at 6'3", 220 pounds and will provide some team with a red zone threat. He's very strong, physical, has strong hands and can kill cornerbacks one-on-one with his excellent route running skills.

As of right now, Toon is a top-10 wide receiver in this year's class, but has the potential to be very effective at the next level.

Washington QB Keith Price

Washington quarterback Keith Price not only improved his draft stock against Baylor, he also made himself a Heisman contender heading into next season. Sure, he's only a sophomore, but with the recent success of dual-threat quarterbacks, Price may just be the next guy in line.

In his first season as a starter, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. He has a great arm and completes a high percentage of passes. He can also run when he needs to.

Anytime you have a game with nearly 500 total yards and seven total touchdowns, you deserve to move up a bit on any draft board.

Mississippi State RB Vick Ballard

After a very disappointing season for the Bulldogs, Vick Ballard really turned it on at the end of the year. Against Ole Miss, he ran for 144 yards, and in the bowl game against Wake Forest, he rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged nearly 13 yards per touch in the bowl victory.

The Mississippi State running back isn't high on most draft boards, but he does have great value. He's a tough nose runner with a big body at 5'11", 220 pounds. He's a tough runner, blocks well and has great vision of the field. At the very least, he'd be an effective short yardage back at the next level.

Great value in the later rounds.

Baylor QB Robert Griffin

Robert Griffin didn't put up crazy numbers in the shootout victory over Washington, but he was very effective. His 72 percent completion percentage was impressive, and he seems to be a player you fall more and more in love with every game.

His accuracy, the strong arm, his mobility, "Superman" is the total package. He's done so much this season that many are talking about him being placed above Andrew Luck, who was named the favorite to be the No.1 overall pick.

Regardless of where Griffin goes, he'll likely become a franchise quarterback at the next level.

West Virginia QB Geno Smith

Geno Smith will return for his senior season next year, but you can bet that game against Clemson really turned some heads. Smith is a dual-threat quarterback, but also makes some solid throws, and for the most part, makes good decisions with the football.

After a seven touchdown performance and over 400 total yards, he's a favorite to win next years Heisman. He also had to move up the list on draft boards as a quarterback prospect for next season. 

Don't expect him to jump Matt Barkley or even Landry Jones, but he could be a wildcard prospect that could surprise some people.

South Carolina LB Melvin Ingram

After another monster season, Melvin Ingram has moved his way probably into the late first round. The guy did everything for this Gamecocks team this season. He finished the year with two interceptions, 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and three touchdowns.

In the bowl victory over Nebraska, he had three tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Ingram is just a hard worker and a flat-out athlete. While South Carolina fans were all excited about Jadeveon Clowney, Ingram was always the guy that made the big play when the Gamecocks needed it most.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]