16 College Football Players Who Can Raise NFL Draft Stock This Bowl Season
Do the 36 non-playoff bowl games mean anything?
While each of the 72 teams involved gets to play for real rings and trophies, the titles themselves are hollow.
For the winning programs, a bowl victory could mean momentum for recruiting and next year, but meaning is more difficult to find for the individual players. That is, unless you are one of the few exceptional athletes with hopes of landing a spot in the 2015 NFL draft.
For many of these guys, bowl game provide a final opportunity to make their on-field case to the folks at the next level. It’s a chance to make a final statement, putting a cherry on top of an outstanding collegiate career.
Some of these potential pros will have a better opportunity than others, simply because they’ve drawn a bowl opponent with specific weaknesses that match up well with their strengths.
Not only do these guys have a chance to become the stars of the college-football postseason, they also have an opportunity to launch themselves up the NFL draft board.
All draft projections courtesy of CBSSports.com powered by NFLDraftScout.com.
Cody Fajardo, QB, Nevada
1 of 16
QB Projection: No. 8
Overall Projection: No. 155
Bowl Matchup: Nevada vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 20
Cody Fajardo and the Wolf Pack are set to square off against Louisiana-Lafayette’s No. 120-ranked pass defense, the same unit that coughed up 342 yards passing to Arkansas State and 483 to Louisiana-Monroe.
This is a significant opportunity for Fajardo—regardless of Nevada’s impotency through the air (ranked No. 94 in passing offense)—giving him a realistic shot at being one of the top passers in the postseason.
Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State
2 of 16
QB Projection: No. 7
Overall Projection: No. 129
Bowl Matchup: Colorado State vs. Utah, Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 20
Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson ranks No. 6 in FBS in total yards (3,779) and yards per game (314.9), while he also ranks No. 7 in touchdowns (32).
If that weren't enough, he’s No. 2 in passer efficiency (171.3), second only to Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (186.3).
This sets up a potential explosion against Utah’s No. 91-ranked pass defense, a unit giving up 245 yards per game. This is the same group that gave up 283 yards passing to Fresno State, 417 in the upset loss to Washington State and 317 in the near miss at Colorado in the finale.
Rakeem Cato, QB, Marshall
3 of 16
QB Projection: No. 30
Overall Projection: No. 600
Bowl Matchup: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois, Boca Raton Bowl, Dec. 23
Rakeem Cato is the leader of a Marshall offense that ranks No. 5 in scoring, No. 7 in rushing and No. 17 in passing. He is No. 3 in the FBS in passing touchdowns (37) and No. 8 in yards (3,622).
Though Northern Illinois' No. 36 ranking in scoring defense is decent, the Huskies are No. 61 against the pass, giving up 224.5 yards per game. NIU gave up an average of 299 passing yards to its first six FBS opponents, including coughing up 397 to UNLV and 346 to Miami (Ohio).
Since then, the Huskies faced the likes of Eastern Michigan (No. 117 in passing offense) and Ohio (No. 85), not exactly Baylor and Cal.
This means Cato and Co.—a unit that’s averaged 327 passing yards in its last four outings—could go off on the Northern Illinois secondary.
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Titus Davis, WR, Central Michigan
4 of 16
WR Projection: No. 23
Overall Projection: No. 176
Bowl Matchup: Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, Dec. 24
Despite missing three early games this season, Central Michigan’s Titus Davis is ranked No. 17 in FBS in receiving yards per game (93.7). He’s exceeded the 100-yard mark five times, including posting 181 yards and two scores in the win over Ohio.
This sets up well against Western Kentucky, a team that ranks No. 117 in pass defense. The Hilltoppers have given up 400-plus yards through the air three times this season: 456 to Illinois, 471 to Old Dominion and 417 to Marshall. Other lowlights include allowing 313 passing yards to Bowling Green, 300 to UAB, 341 to Florida Atlantic and 378 to Louisiana Tech.
Gary Nova, QB, Rutgers
5 of 16
QB Projection: No. 19
Overall Projection: No. 378
Bowl Matchup: Rutgers vs. North Carolina, Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26
Even though Rutgers hasn’t exactly been tearing it up through the air this season (No. 62 in passing yards), quarterback Gary Nova has posted the best quarterback rating of his career (144.6)—good for No. 27 in FBS. That puts him almost on par with Arizona State’s Taylor Kelly (145.3) and East Carolina’s Shane Carden (144.5).
Nova has a tremendous opportunity to close his collegiate career with a bang against North Carolina’s No. 108-ranked pass defense. This is the same unit that gave up 262 air yards to Duke (No. 80 in passing yards) and 218 to Pitt (No. 105).
Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Fla.)
6 of 16
RB Projection: No. 5
Overall Projection: No. 56
Bowl Matchup: Miami (Fla.) vs. South Carolina, Duck Commander Independence Bowl, Dec. 27
Though South Carolina has been lots of things this season, it hasn’t been good at stopping the run. The Gamecocks rank No. 109 in rushing defense and No. 13 in the SEC, giving up 214 ground yards per game.
This sets up ever so well for Miami’s Duke Johnson, No. 7 in all-purpose yards per game (157.5) and No. 14 in rushing yards per game (126.7).
South Carolina has allowed 200-plus rushing yards seven times this season, and Johnson posted 100-plus in six straight games, averaging 162 from Sept. 27 to Nov. 15.
Javorius Allen, RB, USC
7 of 16
RB Projection: No. 9
Overall Projection: No. 82
Bowl Matchup: USC vs. Nebraska, National University Holiday Bowl, Dec. 27
After giving up an average of only 139 rushing yards to its first nine opponents this season, Nebraska’s defense coughed up 335 per game to its final three foes.
This gives USC’s Javorius Allen, No. 25 in rushing yards per game (111.4), an opportunity to finish his junior year strong. Allen kicked off the season with back-to-back 130-plus yard outings against Fresno State and Stanford and then averaged 134 in a six-game run from Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. This included a 205-yard, three-score day in the win at Arizona.
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
8 of 16
WR Projection: No. 3
Overall Projection: No. 17
Bowl Matchup: West Virginia vs. Texas A&M, AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Dec. 29
What makes West Virginia’s matchup with Texas A&M’s secondary so compelling is it is the most lethal aerial attack the Aggies have faced all season.
A&M is No. 63 against the pass but hasn’t played an offense ranked in the top 20 in passing yards this year. The best it’s seen is No. 21 South Carolina, No. 22 Alabama and No. 23 Louisiana-Monroe, which put up 366, 304, 269 passing yards against the Aggies, respectively.
This makes the Mountaineers’ No. 9-ranked passing attack look terrifying. Kevin White is No. 6 in total receiving yards (1,318) and No. 7 in receiving yards per game (109.8).
Terrence Magee, RB, LSU
9 of 16
RB Projection: No. 17
Overall Projection: No. 180
Bowl Matchup: LSU vs. Notre Dame, Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Dec. 30
Though Terrence Magee isn’t LSU’s leading rusher, he is the No. 2 guy, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Magee and LSU’s No. 29-ranked rushing attack will square off against a Notre Dame defense that ranks No. 64 against the run but gave up an average of 244 rushing yards per game in its last five outings. It’s no coincidence the Irish lost four of those games.
Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss
10 of 16
QB Projection: No. 11
Overall Projection: No. 211
Bowl Matchup: Ole Miss vs. TCU, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Dec. 31
Though TCU has been dominant this season, it’s struggled against the pass, ranking No. 87. The Horned Frogs have given up 300-plus air yards five times; 309 to Oklahoma, 510 to Baylor, 345 to Texas Tech, 376 to Kansas State and 342 to Kansas.
This gives Bo Wallace and the Rebels’ No. 30-ranked passing attack a chance to shine in the Peach Bowl. Wallace is No. 20 in passer efficiency (147.7) and No. 26 in passing yards per game (257.1).
Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss
11 of 16
CB Projection: No. 7
Overall Projection: No. 69
Bowl Matchup: Ole Miss vs. TCU, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Dec. 31
Ole Miss’ Senquez Golson is No. 2 in interceptions (nine) and tied for No. 7 in passes defended with 17.
Though TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin has only thrown seven interceptions all season, he’s thrown one in each of his last three outings.
What bodes well for Golson is the sheer number of times the Horned Frogs throw the ball—their 492 attempts rank No. 13 in the nation. This means the talented Golson will get more opportunities to showcase his skills compared to facing say, Mississippi State, with only 372 passing attempts this season.
Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
12 of 16
OLB Projection: No. 13
Overall Projection: No. 165
Bowl Matchup: TCU vs. Ole Miss, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Dec. 31
With 18.5 tackles for a loss, TCU linebacker Paul Dawson is tied for the seventh most in the nation. He registered two-plus TFLs against Minnesota (four), Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas and Texas.
This lines up well against an Ole Miss offense that has given up 78 tackles for a loss this season, or 6.5 per game. That’s No. 12 among the 14 SEC teams (only Kentucky and Tennessee are worse) and No. 86 in the nation.
Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State
13 of 16
WR Projection: No. 16
Overall Projection: No. 111
Bowl Matchup: Michigan State vs. Baylor, Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1
Baylor is another top team that has struggled against the pass, ranking No. 104 in pass defense. The Bears allowed an average of 455 air yards versus their last two opponents (Texas Tech and Kansas State), games they won by a total of 13 points.
Though Michigan State is better known for its stifling defense, this season it ranks No. 7 in scoring offense and No. 39 in passing offense. Leading the receiving corps is Tony Lippett, No. 17 in receiving yards per game (93.7) and tied for No. 8 in receiving touchdowns (11).
He’s posted six 100-plus yard games this season, including a four-game run against Big Ten foes.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
14 of 16
QB Projection: No. 1
Overall Projection: No. 1
Bowl Matchup: Oregon vs. Florida State, Rose Bowl CFB Playoff Semifinal, Jan. 1
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota can’t climb any higher than No. 1 in the draft projections, but he can tighten his grip on the top spot with a big night against Florida State.
Though the Seminoles only gave up an average of 125 passing yards in their last three appearances, those games were against Boston College, Florida and Georgia Tech, squads that rank No. 123, No. 107 and No. 122 in passing yards, respectively.
Prior to that, Florida State gave up an average of 265 yards through the air to its first nine FBS opponents including 306 to Clemson, 359 to North Carolina State, 313 to Notre Dame, 330 to Louisville and 316 to Miami (Fla.).
This makes the matchup with Oregon’s No. 11-ranked passing offense seem scary at best. Mariota is ranked No. 1 in the nation in passer efficiency (186.3), No. 2 in touchdowns (38) and No. 12 in passing yards per game (291).
Erick Dargan, S, Oregon
15 of 16
SS Projection: No. 5
Overall Projection: No. 143
Bowl Matchup: Oregon vs. Florida State, Rose Bowl CFB Playoff Semifinal, Jan. 1
Did you know Florida State’s Jameis Winston dropped from a passer rating of 184.8 (No. 1 in the FBS) a year ago to 147.0 (No. 22) this season?
A huge component of that fall is his 17 interceptions thrown this season versus only 10 a year ago. In fact, only three FBS teams have thrown more picks than Florida State’s 19 team interceptions: Idaho (20), UNLV (22) and New Mexico State (24).
This is a golden opportunity for Ducks safety Erick Dargan, who is tied for No. 7 in interceptions (six) and is No. 1 in the Pac-12.
Though Winston didn’t throw a pick in the ACC title game win over Georgia Tech, he’s thrown at least one in every game since the Oct. 11 road trip to Syracuse, including three at Louisville and four against Florida.
Hau’oli Kikaha, DE/LB, Washington
16 of 16
OLB Projection: No. 5
Overall Projection: No. 47
Bowl Matchup: Washington vs. Oklahoma State, TicketCity Cactus Bowl, Jan. 2
Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha leads the nation in sacks (18) and is No. 2 in tackles for a loss (24). He is also No. 1 in the FBS in yards lost in both categories; registering 120 lost yards on sacks and 129 on tackles for a loss.
This sets up deliciously against an Oklahoma State offensive line that ranks No. 115 in sacks allowed (37) and tackles-for-loss allowed (87).
Kikaha has a real shot at beating his single-game, career-highs in sacks (three, a mark he’s achieved on four occasions) and tackles for a loss (4.5 at Cal this year).
Draft projections courtesy of CBSSports.com powered by NFLDraftScout.com. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com.
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