Which Players Can Use Their Bowl Performance as a Springboard for 2016?
The 2015-16 college football bowl season is down to just one game left as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers prepare to face off for the national title next week in Glendale, Arizona.
With a record 40 bowls already in the books and many teams already turning toward the 2016 season, it seems only appropriate that we do the same by sorting out who could use their big postseason performance as a springboard into this upcoming call.
Taking out seniors, transfers and underclassmen who have already declared for the 2016 NFL draft, here are a few players who could turn a great effort on the field into even bigger things for their teams going forward.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
One of the few blemishes on the SEC’s bowl record this season came largely at the hands of Jackson, a dual-threat quarterback in the truest sense after rushing for 226 yards and passing for 227 yards against Texas A&M.
Given that he was just a freshman, the future is bright at Louisville, and he can expect to take a big jump with a full offseason under head coach Bobby Petrino. Given who else returns to campus in addition to Jackson, 2016 could be a big year for the Cardinals.
QB Jake Browning, Washington
Is Washington head coach Chris Petersen on the verge of building a monster? Given who's coming back to Montlake next year, the answer could be yes. The big key to that is Browning, who teamed up with fellow frosh Myles Gaskin to deliver a memorable performance that could be foreshadowing big things for the Huskies.
Browning was not only accurate against a solid Southern Miss defense, but his ability to scramble was also pretty sharp for such a young player. Big things could indeed be in store for somebody most college football fans don’t know much about.
RB De’Veon Smith, Michigan
Smith’s yardage in the month of November (73, 58, 39 and 23 yards) trended downward as he seemed to get kicked up at the end of the season. That seemed somewhat characteristic of the up-and-down year the tailback had in his first go of things under Jim Harbaugh.
Against a good Florida front seven, however, Smith busted out for 109 yards and helped open up the passing game. The Wolverines do have to figure things out at quarterback in 2016, but the pressure is eased somewhat if Smith can keep the momentum going next year.
RB Alex Collins, Arkansas
Often overlooked among the great SEC running backs, Collins made sure nobody would forget him next year after running for 185 yards and three scores against Kansas State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
It’s worth mentioning that Ridley is a little older than your typical freshman at 21 years old, but if he keeps up what he was doing in the postseason—highlighted by a ridiculous performance against Michigan State’s No Fly Zone (138 yards, two touchdowns)—the sky is the limit for the next great wideout in Tuscaloosa. Beware, Clemson.
WR Travis Rudolph, Florida State
There were not a ton of bright spots for the FSU offense against an attacking Houston defense during the Peach Bowl, but Rudolph was one of them after a 201-yard effort. His ability to get open or bust out a big play when the time called for it is one reason why he’s primed to have a huge season in 2016.
TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
Often in the shadow of fellow tight end Hunter Henry, Sprinkle should easily slide into the No. 1 tight end role for Arkansas next season after posting four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against Kansas State.
Considering the team will be breaking in a new quarterback this spring and into the fall, expect whoever lines up under center to develop a good connection with Sprinkle despite a host of receiving options returning for the Razorbacks.
OL Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
Look at what the Tigers offense did without him in the lineup early in the game and then what happened after he returned. A key part of keeping DeShaun Watson upright and paving the way for 312 rushing yards, Hyatt proved he’s ready for Alabama in a big way (and likely more than that).
OL Geron Christian, Louisville
Another young player along the offensive line, Christian seemed to put everything together against Texas A&M in helping the team rush for 307 yards. More than that, he was also athletic enough to slow down the Aggies pass rush and is a big reason why Louisville has a bright future going into next season.
OL Nick Gates, Nebraska
Gates capped off a good debut campaign in 2015 by helping the Cornhuskers run all over a talented UCLA front seven to seize some much-needed momentum. Nebraska will be hoping that effort carries over into the spring and the fall given how many new faces along the offensive line there will be.
OL Casey Tucker, Stanford
Sure it helps to have somebody like Christian McCaffrey running behind you, but a key part of his record all-purpose effort in the Rose Bowl was because of the offensive line performance by the Cardinal "Tunnel Workers' Union." As the only player from the starting unit returning next season, Tucker has to hope his good day against Hawkeyes defensive end Nate Meier carries over, as he’ll be expected to anchor the group in 2016.
LB Kendell Beckwith, DE Arden Key, DT Davon Godchaux, LSU
Beckwith, who has not yet announced he’ll be back for sure for his senior season, seemed to live in the backfield during the Texas Bowl against Texas Tech. He recorded 2.5 sacks, eight tackles and four tackles for loss but seemed to be flying around even more than that. Up front, Godchaux and Key showed off plenty of potential as young players on a big stage by pressuring Patrick Mahomes on nearly every snap.
DL Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, Utah
Overshadowed some by Lowell Lotulelei, Kylie Fitts and others along Utah’s defensive line, Tu’ikolovatu was active and disruptive in the postseason version of the Holy War. He recovered a fumble against BYU and was equally good against the run as he was the pass. If he can build off that, a big 2016 could be in store given how much attention others draw from opposing offenses.
DL Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Joey Bosa got ejected early, and Adolphus Washington was already suspended, and it was the freshman who stepped up in a big way for the Buckeyes during the Fiesta Bowl. He’s shown flashes as part of the rotation already, and given what the team is losing talent-wise on defense, Urban Meyer no doubt is hoping he can carry a big showing in the bowl over to next season.
LB Jack Cichy, Wisconsin
OK, Cichy may have nowhere to go but down after recording three sacks in a row against USC on one series. But still, his takeover in the Holiday Bowl has to encourage whoever takes over as the Badgers’ new defensive coordinator.
LB Ty Summers, TCU
One of the revelations for Gary Patterson on an injury-plagued Horned Frogs defense, Summers has quite the stat line in his final two games of the year with 33 tackles and one sack. It’s quickly become apparent that TCU has a nice building block for the future and especially so if Summers can carry over what he did in shutting down Oregon during the second half into next year.
LB Aiavion Edwards, Baylor
Shawn Oakman and Andrew Billings get most of the attention, but Edwards had a monster game for the Bears in helping to slow down North Carolina’s potent offense. His big hit that forced a fumble was key in helping make sure there was little doubt in the outcome of the bowl result. That’s not even getting to the career-high 17 tackles he racked up.
CB Aaron Davis, Georgia
The redshirt sophomore showed why he’ll be considered a leader in the secondary under new head coach Kirby Smart with an impressive effort against Penn State. He not only racked up eight tackles but also helped limit the Nittany Lions downfield attack quite a bit.
CB Carlton Davis, Auburn
New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele knows the cupboard isn’t empty thanks to bowl performances like the one Davis had against a potential NFL first-round quarterback in Paxton Lynch. He had 11 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup to highlight the defensive effort from the Tigers against the Tigers.
S Evan Berry, Tennessee
The Vols bandwagon is filling up fast after their beatdown of Northwestern, and the talented Berry probably helped put the cherry on top of the win with his 100-yard pick-six. Already one of the best returners in the game, Berry showed he’s much more of a complete player opposing offenses will have to account for next season.
S Derwin James, Florida State
The freshman was all over the field for the Seminoles against Houston and racked up 14 tackles and a sack. Those in the ACC are already squirming at the thought of James for two more seasons, and you could see why in the Peach Bowl.
Bryan Fischer is a national college football columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
