25 Players Guaranteed to Light Up the Stat Sheet This Bowl Season
We’re hurtling toward the end of the 2014 college football season. Following plenty of discussion from all corners, the inaugural College Football Playoff field is set. So are the 38 bowl games which will play out from San Francisco to the Bahamas, and Glendale, Arizona, to Yankee Stadium.
Over a three-week period, college football’s best will play for national championships, pride and, in some cases, just an extra win on the schedule for motivation entering spring practice. We’ll watch good football, bad football and some that’s in between.
Either way, we’ll see some impressive performances, without question. Here’s a look at 25 players who’ll put up big numbers in this postseason.
Note: Stats were taken from ESPN.com and teams' individual statistical sites.
Nebraska TB Ameer Abdullah
1 of 25
When Nebraska’s offense needed a big play this season, it turned one place: senior tailback Ameer Abdullah. This season didn’t finish the way the Cornhuskers (9-3) had hoped, resulting in coach Bo Pelini’s firing, but don’t blame Abdullah.
Abdullah piled up 1,523 rushing yards (No. 11 nationally) and 18 rushing touchdowns this season. He’s capable of scoring on any play, and he’ll get one last chance to showcase his talents in the Holiday Bowl against Southern California.
Abdullah faces a stiff challenge in a USC defensive line led by talented end Leonard Williams, who is expected to be among the top overall selections in next spring’s NFL draft.
But Abdullah will be a focal point of the Cornhuskers offense and will have plenty of opportunities to put up yardage and touchdowns.
Southern California WR Nelson Agholor
2 of 25
This fall, Nelson Agholor finally got the opportunity to serve as Southern California’s No. 1 receiver, and he didn’t disappoint.
Agholor put together a 97-catch season, pulling in 1,223 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He is one of college football’s most explosive players, a prolific deep threat who is also an excellent punt returner.
Agholor finished strong, too. In his final six games, he surpassed 100 receiving yards five times, including a pair of 200-yard games.
He has an excellent partnership with quarterback Cody Kessler, and the duo will get at least one more chance to build on it in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska. Against a team playing without its head coach, Agholor could run wild in the Cornhuskers secondary.
Boise State TB Jay Ajayi
3 of 25
When Boise State makes its return to the national spotlight with a Fiesta Bowl matchup against Arizona, one of the biggest benefactors will be tailback Jay Ajayi.
While Boise put up an impressive 10-2 season to win the "Group of Five" bowl position, its players remain largely anonymous. That shouldn’t be the case for Ajayi, who rushed for 1,689 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
The 6’0”, 210-pound junior ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards and has nine 100-yard rushing games, as well as a pair of 200-yard rushing games. Meanwhile, Arizona is allowing 170.4 rushing yards per game, No. 72 nationally. Ajayi should have room to run in Glendale.
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Clemson DE Vic Beasley
4 of 25
A year ago, Vic Beasley faced a decision: enter the NFL draft, or return to Clemson for another season of development. Beasley chose a final season of college football, and it’s hard to argue with his decision.
Beasley added mass and had a very productive season, recording 32 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He keyed a nasty Clemson defense that was the key to a 9-3 season and won ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Beasley played defensive end at Clemson but figures to be a hybrid end/rush linebacker combo in the NFL. He’ll get one more chance to improve his stats in the Russell Athletic Bowl against an up-and-down Oklahoma offense that could get back sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight, who has missed multiple games with “transient quadriplegia.”
In his final college game, Beasley will be motivated for a big night.
TCU QB Trevone Boykin
5 of 25
Has there been a better individual story this fall than TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin? After bouncing between quarterback and wide receiver, Boykin found a home under center in the Horned Frogs’ Air Raid offense.
He excelled, throwing for 3,714 yards with 30 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding 642 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Ole Miss’ defense will provide a stiff challenge: The Rebels yield just 13.8 points per game, best nationally, and they have an excellent secondary led by seniors Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt.
But with the College Football Playoff snub raw, expect Boykin to throw, throw and throw on the Rebs and complete more than his share.
Marshall QB Rakeem Cato
6 of 25
Before a 67-66 overtime loss to Western Kentucky in the regular-season finale, Marshall looked like the favorite to win the Group of Five spot in the CFP-affiliated bowls.
The Thundering Herd (12-1) played a weak schedule with no Power Five opponents, but they excelled against it, winning the Conference USA title.
Senior quarterback Rakeem Cato was the lynchpin. He threw for 3,622 yards with 37 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, and he also had six rushing touchdowns. He surpassed 400 passing yards twice and made the Herd’s offense go.
The South Florida native will get one last chance to show off before hometown fans in the Boca Raton Bowl, and here’s guessing he’ll make the most of it.
Minnesota TB David Cobb
7 of 25
Minnesota’s 8-4 record has been one of the most pleasant stories in the Big Ten and beyond, and the Gophers have accomplished that feat with a powerful running game.
Senior tailback David Cobb has been a force on the ground. He’s rushed for 1,548 yards with 13 touchdowns and ranks ninth nationally among FBS rushers.
Missouri’s rush defense has been relatively stingy, allowing 135.8 rushing yards per game, No. 30 nationally. But expect Minnesota to ride Cobb repeatedly in the Citrus Bowl, allowing him to put up big numbers against the Tigers defense on sheer volume alone.
Pitt TB James Conner
8 of 25
You might ask yourself, why would I watch a 6-6 Pitt team face off against a 7-5 Houston team that has fired its coach in Jan. 2’s Armed Forces Bowl? Good question.
The answer? James Conner. Pitt’s bowling ball of a power back is one of college football’s most impressive runners. He has rushed for 1,675 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, earning ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
Conner is hard to tackle for opposing linebackers but fun to watch as he rips through tackles. Facing a Houston team with questionable motivation after watching head coach Tony Levine lose his job is the perfect opportunity for a big day on the ground—if you enjoy that sort of thing.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper
9 of 25
When Alabama faces off with Ohio State in a College Football Playoff semifinal, big matchups will abound all over the field.
But one of the most important storylines will center around how the Buckeyes expect to contain Alabama junior wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper won the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top receiver, and it was well-deserved.
Through 13 games, Cooper has 115 receptions for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns. He leads the FBS in receptions and reception yardage and is tied for second in touchdowns. Most importantly, he’s been nearly impossible for defenders to slow down.
Cooper has seven 100-yard receiving games and a trio of 200-yard receiving games this season. He has scored multiple touchdowns in four games, and he has five games with at least 10 receptions.
Cooper is a quick and excellent deep threat, capable of making a big play at any moment and catching a pass on any cornerback. He’ll be a major headache for the Buckeyes secondary.
Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
10 of 25
Texas A&M’s defense was far from stellar this fall. But don’t put the blame on Myles Garrett’s shoulders. The true freshman defensive end emerged as one of the top pass-rushers in college football. He finished the regular season with 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks.
The sack total was a freshman record, racing past the old record of 8.0 set by former South Carolina end and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney. He also piled up 3.5 sacks against Louisiana-Monroe, setting an A&M freshman record.
Garrett stands 6’5”, 255 pounds and has excellent speed and power, the kind of edge-rusher coveted by defensive coordinators across the country. He surpassed Clowney’s SEC freshman sack record in just nine games and five starts.
Now, he’ll get to harass another Air Raid pass-based offense in West Virginia and quarterback Clint Trickett in the Liberty Bowl. It’s a high-profile matchup in a mid-tier bowl game.
Wisconsin TB Melvin Gordon
11 of 25
What a season it’s been for Melvin Gordon. Coming off a 1,609-yard sophomore season, Wisconsin’s junior tailback took another huge step forward, becoming a superstar.
Entering the Outback Bowl, Gordon has 2,336 rushing yards with 26 touchdowns. He’s averaging 7.6 yards per carry as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He took home the Doak Walker Award, given to college football’s top tailback, on Thursday night.
He has rushed for at least 122 yards in all but two games this season, and a 76-yard effort in the 59-0 Big Ten title loss to Ohio State broke a four-game streak with at least 151 rushing yards per game. Auburn has struggled to contain opposing offenses all season, and Gordon should feast on the Tigers in Tampa.
Gordon will be motivated, too. He told Dan Patrick on Thursday that this will be his final collegiate game before declaring for next spring’s NFL draft.
Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson
12 of 25
One of the quieter success stories this season has been Colorado State. The Rams went 10-2, but few took notice nationally—well, until Florida plucked Jim McElwain as its new head coach.
Senior quarterback Garrett Grayson played a huge role in the Rams’ offensive success, throwing for 3,779 yards with 32 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Grayson grew under McElwain’s watch, but now he’ll have something to prove without McElwain in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah.
Utah’s defense is allowing 245 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 88 nationally. Expect Grayson to carve up the Utes’ pass defense in Vegas and show why his old coach got a lucrative new position.
Florida State WR Rashad Greene
13 of 25
Florida State’s 13-0 College Football Playoff season hasn’t been easy. The Seminoles have won seven games by six points or less, overcoming a trio of double-digit road deficits in the process.
One of the most consistent pieces of this season? Senior receiver Rashad Greene. The Seminoles’ career leader in receptions and receiving yards has consistently come up big when his team needs it.
Last Saturday was no different, as Greene caught seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in FSU’s 37-35 ACC Championship Game win over Georgia Tech. On the season, Greene has 93 receptions for 1,306 yards and seven touchdowns—a handful for any cornerback to cover.
In the Rose Bowl, Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will draw him, in all likelihood. Ekpre-Olomu is one of the top corners in the Pac-12, but he’ll have his hands full with Greene, who stands 6’1”, 210 pounds and is a consistent deep threat. Regardless of the result, Greene will make his share of big plays in a big spot.
East Carolina WR Justin Hardy
14 of 25
The Birmingham Bowl’s matchup of East Carolina vs. Florida doesn’t look like much. The Gators are a lame-duck 6-5 team that’ll be playing without fired coach Will Muschamp, and ECU is still smarting after ending the regular season with a Hail Mary final-play home loss to Central Florida.
However, it does feature one of the nation’s best aerial duos in ECU quarterback Shane Carden and receiver Justin Hardy. Hardy has excelled all season catching passes from Carden, piling up 110 receptions for 1,334 yards (fifth-best nationally) and nine touchdowns.
His omission from the Biletnikoff Award’s semifinalist list was one of the most inexplicable snubs in college football’s award season. Hardy catches everything thrown his way, and he’ll have a tall task while covered by Florida corner Vernon Hargreaves III.
Still, ECU’s Air Raid offense has excelled against virtually all opponents, and don’t expect that to change in Birmingham.
Louisville S Gerod Holliman
15 of 25
If you’re looking for a breakout defensive player this fall, look no further than Louisville sophomore safety Gerod Holliman. Holliman was the best ball hawk in America.
The Cardinals safety pulled down 14 interceptions, tying the FBS single-season record, and amassed 245 interception return yards, including a pick-six.
Why watch the Belk Bowl, which will pit Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham against his former players? Well, it’s one more chance for Holliman to break the single-season interceptions record.
Holliman is a big-play safety, and he’ll be itching for one more opportunity against Hutson Mason and an average Georgia passing offense.
UCLA QB Brett Hundley
16 of 25
Entering this season, UCLA junior quarterback Brett Hundley was a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate. That didn’t happen, but Hundley had a rather impressive season regardless.
Entering the Alamo Bowl matchup against Kansas State, Hundley has thrown for 3,019 yards with 21 touchdowns against five interceptions, completing 70.9 percent of his passes. He is also the Bruins’ second-leading rusher, piling up 548 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Like Baylor’s Bryce Petty, Hundley is a mobile quarterback, capable of winning a game in multiple ways. K-State struggled to contain Petty, allowing 412 yards passing.
Expect UCLA to use Hundley in similar fashion and run all over the Wildcats defense in the Alamo. It will be his last game before turning pro, UCLA coach Jim Mora told reporters.
Miami TB Duke Johnson
17 of 25
After a broken ankle truncated his sophomore season, Miami tailback Duke Johnson had something to prove in 2014. And he did it.
Johnson rushed for 1,520 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 7.0 yards per carry, establishing himself as one of the nation’s top overall tailbacks. He had a six-game streak of 100-yard rushing games, including a 249-yard effort against Virginia Tech.
While an Independence Bowl matchup against South Carolina is off the radar, so is the Gamecocks’ rush defense. South Carolina has been awful against the run this season, allowing 214.4 yards per game, ranking No. 107 nationally.
Johnson should feast on that shoddy defense in what could be his final game in a Miami uniform, depending on his draft decision.
Kansas State WR Tyler Lockett
18 of 25
Tyler Lockett is proof good things come in small packages. The Kansas State senior receiver stands just 5’11”, 175 pounds, but he plays much bigger. This fall, Lockett pulled in 93 passes for 1,351 yards and nine touchdowns, ranking fourth in the FBS in receiving yards.
He is a big-play threat with excellent speed and deep-ball ability, capable of turning heads whenever he touches the ball. He also played well in notable games, putting up 196 yards in a loss to TCU and 158 in a loss to Baylor.
Lockett will finish his college career with an Alamo Bowl matchup against UCLA, and it’s fair to expect more fireworks in San Antonio.
Michigan State WR Tony Lippett
19 of 25
This fall, Michigan State needed a No. 1 option at wide receiver, and senior Tony Lippett was more than happy to step forward and fill the role.
Following a 613-yard junior season, Lippett caught 60 passes for 1,124 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, emerging as one of the Big Ten’s top receivers and Connor Cook’s top target.
Lippett had five 100-yard receiving games and caught passes all over the field. He’ll have one more chance at a big game in a Cotton Bowl showdown with Baylor, which narrowly missed the College Football Playoff.
The Bears yield 260 passing yards per game, No. 101 nationally, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities for Lippett in his collegiate swan song.
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
20 of 25While they’ll go through with the ceremony on Saturday night, there’s no question Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is college football’s best player and a lock to win the Heisman Trophy.
Mariota has earned the honor following an exceptional junior season, throwing for 3,783 yards with 38 touchdowns against two interceptions, adding 669 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
SI.com's Zac Ellis says Mariota stacks up well compared to recent Heisman winners.
Oregon’s offense has thrived under Mariota's leadership, and so have the Ducks as a whole. Oregon is 12-1 and will face off against Florida State in the Rose Bowl as one of two CFP semifinals.
Mariota will see plenty of time in the spotlight, which is just fine with him. He’s thrived there this season, throwing for 300 or more yards seven times and throwing for at least 210 yards in every game.
Florida State’s defense has taken a step back from last season’s national title-winning team, and don’t be surprised if Mariota does what he wants in Pasadena.
Oklahoma TB Samaje Perine
21 of 25
It’s fair to say that 2014 has been a disappointing year for Bob Stoops and Oklahoma. After a 2013 season that finished with an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, the Sooners entered 2014 as serious CFP contenders.
But a disheartening 38-35 home overtime loss to Oklahoma State dropped OU to 8-4, and it will face off with Clemson in Dec. 29’s Russell Athletic Bowl.
What will Sooners fans remember from 2014? How about freshman tailback Samaje Perine? Perine has rushed for 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.
At 5’11”, 243 pounds, he is an absolute load for defenders to tackle, but he also possesses speed. He set the FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas on Nov. 22, one week after Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon set the record at 408 yards.
Clemson has an excellent run defense, but the Tigers will need to wrap up against Perine and his "rolling ball of butcher knives" style.
Baylor QB Bryce Petty
22 of 25
Bryce Petty and Baylor have reason to be disappointed. The Bears finished 11-1, with their only loss to West Virginia, and narrowly missed out on the inaugural CFP. They’ll have to be satisfied with a Cotton Bowl matchup against Michigan State.
It’ll be one final opportunity for senior quarterback Bryce Petty to shine in a Baylor uniform. Petty has thrown for 3,305 yards with 26 touchdowns against six interceptions this season, leading an offense that averages 48.8 yards per game, No. 1 nationally.
Petty has been at his best when his team needed him most, throwing for 510 yards against TCU, 412 against Kansas State and 387 against Oklahoma.
He’ll be motivated for a big game in what will be a quasi-home atmosphere at AT&T Stadium, and frankly, we wouldn’t expect anything less.
Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong
23 of 25
If you were one of those people who turned off the TV set before college football’s Saturday late-night games, chances are you missed out on Arizona State and junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong. And that’s truly too bad. Strong played out of the national spotlight—for the most part—but those who saw him play were impressed.
Strong caught 75 passes for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing a game due to injury. He had four 100-yard receiving games and a 202-yard game in a 38-34 win over Southern California. He has excellent leaping ability and speed, and his 6’3”, 212-pound frame is made for big plays.
In the Sun Bowl against Duke, Strong will get a national spotlight with CBS’ traditional No. 1 team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson, and he deserves it.
West Virginia WR Kevin White
24 of 25
One of the biggest breakouts of the 2014 season belonged to West Virginia senior receiver Kevin White. White had just 507 yards as a junior but thrived in the Mountaineers’ wide-open offense, piling up 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns on 102 catches.
The 6’3”, 210-pounder finished sixth nationally in receiving yardage and fifth in receptions, forming a potent combination with quarterback Clint Trickett.
He’ll get a juicy matchup against Texas A&M’s pass defense. The Aggies rank No. 62 nationally in pass defense, allowing 225.5 yards per game. Pass offenses across the SEC found it easy to throw on A&M, and White should find the Aggies equally hospitable for a big final day in a West Virginia uniform.
Arizona LB Scooby Wright
25 of 25
When linebacker Scooby Wright came out of high school two years ago, Arizona was his only FBS offer. Boy, does the rest of the FBS look foolish.
Wright played all over the field and enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, winning the Bednarik Award as well as the Lombardi and Nagurski awards (all given to college football’s top defensive player). Entering the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State, he has 89 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
Wright is quiet off the field but says he isn't worthy of being counted among Arizona's all-time defensive greats yet, per Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star.
"There are a lot of great defensive players that went to the University of Arizona, so I'm not going to compare myself to those players yet," Wright said. "I still have a lot of things I want to get better at."
Wright plays with reckless abandon, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to make plays against a potent Bronco offense. The Broncos will have to account for him on every play, and he’ll still make his share—without question.
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