College Football Players Guaranteed to Light Up the Stat Sheet This Bowl Season
Bowl season often brings out the best in college football players, who have one final opportunity to shine before the campaign ends.
We're expecting huge performances from 10 athletes in particular. Even if their team loses, they'll still put up big numbers.
Granted—for quarterbacks especially—this is barring an uncontrollable external force like weather. Given their current health status and cooperative weather, though, they'll destroy the box score.
Think someone else is due for a massive stat line? Head to the comments section and add your thoughts.
Riley Ferguson, QB, Memphis
1 of 10
When: Boca Raton Bowl, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. ET
Western Kentucky struggled to stop efficient, pass-happy offenses. Good luck containing Riley Ferguson, Hilltoppers.
The Tennessee transfer replaced first-round NFL draft pick Paxton Lynch, throwing for 3,326 yards and 28 touchdowns while tossing just nine interceptions. Ferguson completed 63.8 percent of his passes, which ranked 22nd nationally.
Anthony Miller will lead the receiving corps against WKU's No. 110 pass defense. The unit surrendered 300-plus yards five times, including a pair of 400-plus outbursts by Louisiana Tech.
Ferguson set a career-high mark with 409 yards in the regular-season finale, and he should approach the total again.
Mike White, QB, Western Kentucky
2 of 10
When: Boca Raton Bowl, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. ET
But the question is whether or not Ferguson's effort will be enough, since Western Kentucky's offense is even more productive.
Led by USF transfer Mike White, the Hilltoppers finished the regular season as the nation's No. 2 scoring attack. They tallied 45.1 points per game, only two-tenths behind Louisville at the top.
White amassed 4,027 yards—fifth-highest in the Football Bowl Subdivision—with 34 touchdowns and a mere six interceptions.
Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris will be the primary targets for White in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
3 of 10
When: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. ET
Michael Gallup ended the campaign on a tear. Most people just didn't hear about it because he plays for Colorado State. The junior recorded four straight 100-plus-yard showings in November, highlighted by a 213-yard outburst against Air Force.
It's Idaho's turn to try and stop Gallup.
However, the Vandals were the 104th-rated pass defense in efficiency and 112th in yards allowed per game. Just 16 teams surrendered more passing touchdowns than Idaho.
Gallup also caught a touchdown in each of the last seven games. Colorado State will be looking for him early and often.
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I'Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee
4 of 10
When: Hawai'i Bowl, Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET
Here's the full list of college football players who gathered 1,500 rushing and 500 receiving yards in 2016: I'Tavius Mathers.
The senior—who transferred from Ole Miss last year—played a central role on the country's No. 9 offense. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground eight times and accounted for 19 touchdowns.
And Hawaii might not provide much resistance. The defense surrendered 6.3 yards per play, which ranked 106th nationally.
Injuries at quarterback could complicate Middle Tennessee's offensive plan, but Mathers and Richie James will pile up the stats no matter who is taking snaps—even if it's them again.
Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi State
5 of 10
When: St. Petersburg Bowl, Dec. 26, 11 a.m. ET
Nick Fitzgerald handles such a large volume of Mississippi State's offense that he's bound to destroy the stat sheet.
The sophomore quarterback registered 100-plus rushing yards in seven games, including five of the last six. Fitzgerald reached 180-plus yards three times with a high of 258.
Miami (Ohio) sports the country's 26th-ranked total defense, but the unit's bottom three performances came against power-conference opponent Iowa and a pair of spread-based attacks in Western Kentucky and Bowling Green.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks, Mississippi State is a combination of both. Fitzgerald should approach 400 total yards of offense.
Austin Carr, WR, Northwestern
6 of 10
When: New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. ET
Northwestern isn't in the national spotlight unless it's contending for the Big Ten. That didn't happen in 2016, so Austin Carr's breakout season was practically a secret.
But he should garner some headlines after facing Pitt and the country's second-worst pass defense. Seven opposing quarterbacks threw for at least 330 yards, and three others reached 240-plus yards.
Long story short: There are yards to be had, and Carr will take them.
Carr, who reached the 100-yard plateau six times during the regular season, reeled in 84 receptions for 1,196 yards and 12 scores. Those numbers are set to rise.
Tegray Scales, MLB, Indiana
7 of 10
When: Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m. ET
Utah relies on the running game, but it'll need to deal with Indiana middle linebacker Tegray Scales.
The 6'0", 230-pounder accumulated 116 tackles—the 17th-most nationally—including 20.5 behind the line of scrimmage. He added five sacks, one forced fumble and a pick-six.
Scales will be chasing around Joe Williams, who posted 1,110 rushing yards over the final six games of the season.
Although both players are going to win a few individual battles, Scales will keep collecting tackles in the process.
Quinton Flowers, QB, South Florida
8 of 10
When: Birmingham Bowl, Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET
Quinton Flowers might not torch the South Carolina secondary, but he'll be a burden to contain on the ground.
Still, the junior is a quality passer. He threw for 2,551 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air while leading FBS quarterbacks with 1,425 rushing yards and adding 15 more scores.
The AAC Offensive Player of the Year will stress a defense that gave up 622 yards to Clemson and had trouble limiting mobile quarterbacks in Nick Fitzgerald, Trevor Knight and Tyrie Adams.
Flowers could join Fitzgerald as one of few quarterbacks to record 200 passing and 150 rushing yards this bowl season.
Jerod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech
9 of 10
When: Belk Bowl, Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET
Arkansas ended the regular season with the No. 75 defense. That's not great, but it gets worse. Only three units allowed more yards per snap (6.91) than the Razorbacks.
Virginia Tech wasn't an enormous big-play threat, but Jerod Evans and Co. would feast on 10- and 20-yard gains. The Hokies ranked 18th and 28th in those categories, respectively.
Evans did considerable damage with his legs, scampering for 759 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also registered a 63.5 completion percentage, 27 passing scores and only seven interceptions.
And now, Arkansas—a defense that gave up 500-plus yards six times and was among the worst defenses at stopping explosive plays—has to figure out a way to stifle Evans. Probably not happening.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
10 of 10
When: Hyundai Sun Bowl, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. ET
The good news? North Carolina's run defense improved from 2015 to 2016. Bad news? It couldn't have been much worse last year.
During the last five games, the Tar Heels watched four running backs eclipse the 100-yard mark. Christian McCaffrey, considering his high-volume role, is practically a lock for triple digits.
McCaffrey collected at least 135 yards in five straight contests to end the season while scoring 10 touchdowns. The versatile back also tallied 17 catches for 130 yards and two scores in addition to his scattered responsibilities as a returner.
Stanford always finds touches for McCaffrey, and UNC will likely struggle to limit his impact.
All recruiting information via Scout. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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