All 2015-16 College Football Bowl Season Team
And now, the offseason has begun.
There will be time to feel sad about this later. For now, catch up on everything that happened during the 2015-16 postseason with Bleacher Report's All-Bowl Season Team. From backup quarterbacks playing hero in comeback wins to gutsy defenders coming up with big plays, we tracked down the best performances from the past few weeks into one nifty group.
Selections were based on statistics from bowl games, but context around the game matters as well. In other words, a quarterback didn't have to pass for the most yards to be selected. A receiver didn't have to score the most touchdowns.
With that said, it's time to reveal our All-Bowl team. Agree with the selections? Disagree? Let your voice be heard in the comment section below.
TCU Quarterback Bram Kohlhausen
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Bram Kohlhausen didn't throw for the most yards of any quarterback in a bowl game. He didn't score the most touchdowns. He never started an FBS game in his college career before the Alamo Bowl against Oregon. Yet the fifth-year senior was part of arguably the greatest bowl comeback of all time, a 47-41 triple-overtime victory over the Ducks.
The context here is more important than anything. Two days before kickoff, starting quarterback Trevone Boykin was suspended for his involvement in a bar altercation in San Antonio. That left TCU, already without star receiver Josh Doctson, even more short-handed.
At first, it looked like Oregon was going to cruise to an easy victory thanks to a 31-0 halftime lead. However, TCU responded by answering each of those 31 points before winning in overtime. Kohlhausen had 351 yards passing, 45 yards rushing and four total touchdowns—while playing with an injury.
The stats are but a footnote in the grand story, however. With Boykin out and the team trailing seemingly insurmountably, the Horned Frogs needed a hero. They got one with Kohlhausen. No matter what, he'll always have that game.
Baylor Running Back Johnny Jefferson
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What Baylor did to North Carolina in a 49-38 win in the Russell Athletic Bowl was both mind-blowing and illegal in 31 states. The Bears rushed 84 times—for reference, the Bears ran 84.8 plays per game in 2015, most in the FBS—for 7.7 yards per carry and seven touchdowns.
Leading the way was backup running back Johnny Jefferson, who carried 23 times for a whopping 299 yards and three touchdowns. Not that he needed to, but he also completed a 24-yard pass.
Jefferson had a big game as well in the season-ending loss to Texas when Shock Linwood was out, but nobody could have guessed Jefferson would tally nearly three bills on one of the most improved defenses from 2014.
It just goes to show you head coach Art Briles is a genius. Give him a month to prepare, and he'll MacGyver a veer offense with a third-string offensive lineman, a place-kicker and a roll of duct tape.
And he'll still win.
Florida State Wide Receiver Travis Rudolph
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Florida State didn't win the Peach Bowl against Houston, but Seminoles receiver Travis Rudolph had himself a game. The sophomore hauled in seven receptions for 201 yards, 65 of which came on a big score in the fourth quarter.
The knock on Florida State's offense all year revolved around the passing offense. A combination of bad pass protection, a revolving door at quarterback and receivers struggling to make contested catches made it nearly impossible to achieve any sort of balance. In the big picture, the Seminoles weren't great against Houston in the 38-24 loss, but they did have moments when quarterback Sean Maguire connected with Rudolph downfield despite pressure and stiff defense.
Rudolph was a stud as a freshman in 2014, and even though he led the team in receptions this year, he never quite took that giant step forward. However, if the Peach Bowl was any indication, his junior year should be more productive and exciting.
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Virginia Tech Wide Receiver Isaiah Ford
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Frank Beamer's last game as the head coach at Virginia Tech was a shootout thriller. Go figure, right?
The Hokies' 55-52 win over Tulsa in the Independence Bowl was fueled by the spectacular play of receiver Isaiah Ford. The sophomore, who led the team in every receiving category in 2015, had 12 catches for 227 yards to go along with a touchdown.
That 75-yard score was little more than a quick pass to Ford, who did all the work himself after the catch. Though Ford didn't score the rest of the game, he was a pivotal part of the Hokies' passing attack. The better news is he still has at least one more season in Blacksburg. New head coach Justin Fuente has to be happy about that.
Texas Tech Wide Receiver Jakeem Grant
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Jakeem Grant (5'7", 168 lbs) may be tiny, but he's big on playmaking ability. Putting him on the All-Bowl team was a no-brainer.
And why shouldn't he get a spot? It wasn't his fault Texas Tech couldn't stop LSU in the Texas Bowl. Grant led all receivers in the game with 10 catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, he had three kick returns for 61 yards, helping the Red Raiders on special teams as well.
Grant was overshadowed by the deepest group of wide receivers in the country. The Big 12 produced Corey Coleman (Baylor), Josh Doctson (TCU) and Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma). Make no mistake, though: Grant is as productive and versatile as they come.
Alabama Tight End O.J. Howard
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As it turns out, O.J. Howard's underwhelming career leading up to the national title game was a big ploy to utilize him at just the right time. Or at least that's what everybody seems to think.
Howard has always been a matchup nightmare on paper, but that usage finally came to fruition against Clemson. Howard had five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. For reference, the two touchdowns matched his career total to that point, and his 208 yards accounted for 35 percent of his season total.
"[Howard], quite honestly, should have been more involved all year long," head coach Nick Saban said (via Ben Jones of the Tuscaloosa News). "I would say it's bad coaching on my part."
Better late than never, though. Howard, a 5-star recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports, finally lived up to the expectations at the right time.
Baylor's Offensive Line
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Baylor's dominating ground game was touched on briefly alongside Bears running back Johnny Jefferson. Still, you have to give the big uglies up front credit for dismantling North Carolina's defense like they did. Nothing Baylor did was complicated or flashy; it just lined up and ran the ball down the Tar Heels' throat.
In a way, that should get more people to realize Baylor is not an Air Raid, throw-it-around team. The Bears are known as the next-gen "Wide Receiver U" because of guys like Corey Coleman, but this has been a run-first offense for the past five or six years.
2015 saw Baylor's best group up front in memory. All-American Spencer Drango, Blake Muir and Kyle Fuller have been staples in the trenches. Despite the popular narrative, Baylor is not afraid to push people around up front. In fact, ask any Bears offensive lineman, and he'll tell you it's his favorite thing.
UCLA Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark
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Kenny Clark is one of those immovable objects along the defensive line who makes running lanes narrow and blocking a chore. His job is to be a disruption to the offensive line. Mercy, did he ever do that against Nebraska in the Foster Farms Bowl.
The Bruins may have lost, but Clark had 11 tackles, two of which went for a loss and one that counted as a sack. Clark was obviously productive, but it's his athleticism as a big man that made his game so impressive.
"It is hard to find 6'3", 310-pound defensive tackles with nimble feet and explosive agility, but Clark is a rare find as a nose tackle," Bucky Brooks of NFL Media wrote about Clark in December. "He plays with outstanding balance and body control at the point of attack, exhibiting an uncanny feel for staying on his feet while working through traffic."
Clark embodied that reputation and then some against the Cornhuskers.
Michigan State Defensive Tackle Malik McDowell
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This is a surprising selection, seeing as Michigan State gave up 38 points to Alabama (while scoring none) in its Cotton Bowl loss.
However, consider the following about Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell: First, the sophomore had two tackles, one of which went for a loss, and two quarterback hurries against the Tide. That's excellent for someone whose job is to stuff up the middle of the line.
Additionally, for all of Michigan State's problems, it held Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry to 75 yards on 20 carries (though Henry did have two touchdowns). Rather, it was quarterback Jake Coker who had the better game.
McDowell did his part in the loss. "I don't have any problem with being a leader for my team, and I look forward to it, actually," he said following the semifinal defeat, via Mike Griffith of MLive.com. "I'm ready when we get back to East Lansing."
Alabama Defensive End D.J. Pettway
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How deep is Alabama's defensive front seven? Second- and third-string guys (by technicality) are coming up with huge stops. Senior defensive end D.J. Pettway was one of those backups who came up big in the national championship win over Clemson.
Pettway didn't exactly light up the stat sheet against the Tigers, but he had a tackle for loss and two pass breakups. That's disruptive in its own way, especially with Clemson moving the pocket and asking quarterback Deshaun Watson to scramble around. You're not going to get 10 tackles and three sacks against that.
Pettway hasn't received the same amount of recognition as, say, defensive end A'Shawn Robinson or linebacker Reggie Ragland, but he was every bit as valuable against the Tigers.
Clemson Defensive End Kevin Dodd
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With star pass-rusher Shaq Lawson nursing an MCL injury heading into the national championship game, Clemson needed to find production from fellow defensive end Kevin Dodd. And boy, did the Tigers get it.
Dodd had three tackles for loss and two sacks in the first half and finished the game with seven tackles—five of which went for loss—and three sacks. Talk about playing hero ball.
Dodd was an unknown coming into this year with only eight tackles in 2014. However, he had at least one sack in each of the last five games, including the national championship, plus three quarterback hurries against North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. Dodd is still on the fence about turning pro but helped his stock tremendously, according to Rob Rang of CBS Sports.
Boise State Linebacker Kamalei Correa
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Boise State's 55-7 Poinsettia Bowl win over Northern Illinois was the most lopsided of the bowl season. The Broncos held the Huskies to a measly 33 yards of offense. Leading the way was linebacker Kamalei Correa, who had four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
For his efforts, Correa was named defensive MVP of the game. Not long after the contest, Correa declared early for the NFL draft, per Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman.
Correa was everywhere, and Northern Illinois didn't have an answer for his presence in the backfield. Then again, NIU didn't have an answer for anything Boise State threw at it.
Louisville Linebacker Devonte Fields
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It's been a long road to Louisville for linebacker/pass-rushing specialist Devonte Fields. The former Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year at TCU finished fourth on the team in 2015 in tackles.
Against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl, Fields had eight tackles (seven solo takedowns), three tackles for loss, three sacks and two passes broken up. With the Aggies attempting to take the lead late in the game, Fields came up huge with some major hits and individual plays.
Fields has had his off-field issues. He was dismissed by TCU after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend and had eligibility issues at Stephen F. Austin, but he had a huge day in the Cardinals' 27-21 bowl win.
Arizona Linebacker Scooby Wright III
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What an emotional season it's been for Scooby Wright III. This time last year, Wright was a unanimous All-American and winner of multiple postseason awards. However, in the first game of the 2015 season, Wright suffered a knee injury. Banged up all year, he only played in three games.
One of them was a 45-37 New Mexico Bowl win over New Mexico. The junior recorded 15 tackles, 11 of which were solo takedowns. It was a familiar glimpse into what Wright can do when he's healthy. It's a shame he was deprived of that for most of the season.
Following the win, Wright declared for the NFL draft. It was the right move for him. He's proved all he could at the college level. It had to be bittersweet knowing his last year in college was injury-plagued, but at least he was able to go out on top.
Navy Cornerback Brendon Clements
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Navy's success in 2015 was closely tied to record-setting quarterback Keenan Reynolds, as it should be. In a 44-28 Military Bowl win over Pittsburgh, Reynolds finished his career as the FBS leader in touchdowns.
However, he wasn't the only Midshipman with a notable performance.
Cornerback Brendon Clements recorded two interceptions for 16 return yards against the Panthers. Additionally, he had another pass broken up and recorded two tackles. For the game, Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman threw for just 137 yards and had three interceptions.
Georgia Southern Cornerback Caleb Williams
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Bowling Green had one of the top passing attacks in college football this year, but Georgia Southern's defense rose to the occasion in a 58-27 win over the Falcons in the GoDaddy Bowl. Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson passed for 246 yards, but that was 107 yards fewer than his average on the season.
A big reason for that was the play of cornerback Caleb Williams. The senior (and former quarterback recruit) had five pass breakups and three tackles in the GoDaddy Bowl. For the season, Williams finished first on the team with 11 passes broken up.
At 5'10", 185 pounds, Williams doesn't have great size for a corner, but he's been one of the better defenders on Georgia Southern's defense this year.
Wisconsin Safety Michael Caputo
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Wisconsin's 23-21 Holiday Bowl win over Southern California included another signature performance by the Badgers defense, which has been consistently one of the best in college football under defensive coordinator Dave Aranda (now with LSU).
One of the highlight players of that win was safety Michael Caputo. Against the Trojans, Caputo had seven tackles, five of which he made by himself, as well as two pass deflections. Cornerback Sojourn Shelton got Wisconsin's lone turnover, but Caputo made a ton of plays on the ball throughout the night.
USC had one of the better passing offenses in college football in 2015, but Wisconsin held quarterback Cody Kessler to 221 yards through the air—73.3 yards below his season average—and less than seven yards per pass attempt.
Utah Safety Tevin Carter
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When you have two interceptions—and return one for a touchdown—against your most hated rival in a bowl game, you're going to get noticed. Utah may have played in the first bowl game of the season, a 35-28 win over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, but Utes safety Tevin Carter surely hasn't been forgotten.
The senior returned his first of two picks for a 28-yard score on the Cougars' second offensive possession. Then on the ensuing BYU possession, Carter picked off BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum again, returning that interception 33 yards all the way to the 1-yard line. Utah would score a play later.
Literally within a matter of feet, Carter nearly had two pick-sixes. In part because of Carter's takeaways, Utah was able to build up a 35-0 lead, which proved to be insurmountable for BYU.
Special Teams/All-Purpose
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Stanford Running Back Christian McCaffrey: McCaffrey let his presence be known on the first offensive snap of the game with a 75-yard touchdown catch. However, he also had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown and 172 yards rushing.
Utah Punter Tom Hackett: The Ray Guy Award winner for best punter averaged just a click under 50 yards per punt in the Las Vegas Bowl. Two of those were pinned down inside the 5-yard line. Also, he pulled off a successful fake for a first down.
Duke Kicker Ross Martin: Martin went 3-of-3 on field goals—one of which was a 52-yarder—and hit the go-ahead kick in overtime to help give Duke a 44-41 win over Indiana in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of ESPN.com and cfbstats.com.
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