NFL Draft 2012: Hidden Gems Who Make Bowl Games Must-See TV

This year's bowl games are highlighted by teams with players that will make you flock to your televisions to watch their games. 

We know that Trent Richardson versus the LSU defense is must-see TV. However, there are a number of unknown players that will make you have to watch these bowl games. These athletes will make their games "instant classics" and will have you talking about what they did during that game for quite sometime. 

Here are the hidden gems who will make their bowl games something that you have to watch from beginning to end. 

WR Marvin McNutt Iowa Hawkeyes

Marvin McNutt led the Big Ten this year in receiving yards with 1,269. His 12 touchdowns tied him for the lead in the conference with Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham, while his 78 receptions placed him second behind Illinois' A.J. Jenkins.

McNutt should have a huge game against an Oklahoma Sooners defense that was prone to allowing receivers to have huge days against them. McNutt will be a big part of the Iowa offensive game plan against the Sooners. 

With McNutt's stellar play, it will vault him up a lot of NFL team's draft boards. 

WR A.J. Jenkins Illinois Fighting Illini

Before Illinois went into a tailspin to end their season, A.J. Jenkins was having a breakout year. During Illinois' six-game winning streak, Jenkins had two games of 10 or more receptions, while catching seven touchdown passes with 815 receiving yards. 

However, since then Jenkins has been held without a touchdown reception with no double-digit reception games. 

Against UCLA, Jenkins should have a game like he did during that six-game winning streak. UCLA gave up 27 touchdown receptions to opposing passing offenses this year. 

If Jenkins wants to go in the top two or three rounds, he will have to have a monster game against the Bruins in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. 

QB Ryan Tannehill Texas A&M Aggies

If Texas A&M didn't give up four halftime leads, the Aggies would have been 10-2, and Ryan Tannehill would have been a lock for the first round in the NFL draft. However, A&M could not hold onto those four leads and did not win in overtime against Kansas State and wound up a measly 6-6 for the year. 

Tannehill finished the year in the Top 5 of every major passing category of the Big 12. He had a phenomenal year with 3,415 passing yards, 28 touchdowns with a 132.6 passer rating. 

Against Northwestern, Tannehill will feast on a defense that gave up 222 yards per game this year. 

RB Vick Ballard Mississippi State Bulldogs

You may have missed Vick Ballard's great season this year since he was buried in the SEC.

Ballard's monster game against in-state rival Ole Miss is why this Bulldogs team made it into a bowl game. He carried his team with 23 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown playing in his final home game as a Bulldog. 

Against Wake Forest, Ballard will see his draft stock improve against a defense that gave up 163 yards per game to opposing running backs this year. 

RB Terrance Ganaway Baylor Bears

Terrance Ganaway was lost behind a great season from quarterback Robert Griffin III. However, without Ganaway, who knows if RG3 would have had a season that led him to the Heisman Trophy? 

Ganaway led the Big 12 in rushing yards with 1,347, while finishing in the Top 3 in touchdowns with 16. Ganaway's biggest game came against Texas Tech when Griffin was knocked out of the game. 

Ganaway put the Bears on his back carrying Baylor with 42 carries, 246 rushing yards and two touchdowns. 

Against Washington, Ganaway will have a huge day against a defense that gave up 24 rushing touchdowns this year. 

RB Perry Jones Virginia Cavaliers

Perry Jones helped carry this Virginia team to a great 8-5 record this year. He finished the year in the Top 10 in rushing yards in the ACC with two games of 139 yards or more.

Where Jones is his most dangerous is when UVA uses him as a pass catcher. This year, Jones had four games where he caught five or more passes.

Jones will have a bowl game against an Auburn Tigers defense that ranked in the bottom or second to last in passing and rushing defense in the SEC. 

QB Dan Persa Northwestern Wildcats

Dan Persa began this year with a lot of hype surrounding his senior year. However, injuries to begin his season derailed anything that he hopped to accomplish awards-wise. 

Persa still finished with a great season with 2,163 yards, 17 touchdown passes and a QB rating of 160.3. He had two games where he threw four touchdown passes and two games where he had over 330 passing yards. 

Persa will see his draft stock skyrocket, as he faces a Texas A&M passing defense that ranked dead last in the Big 12 in passing yards. The Aggies allowed 3,366 total yards to quarterbacks, which breaks down to 280 yards per game.

RB Bobby Rainey Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

You probably have no idea who Bobby Rainey is, since he plays for Western Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference. 

However, Rainey finished this year with more rushing yards (1,695) than everyone in college football except Wisconsin's Montee Ball. Rainey finished first in the NCAA in rushing attempts with 369. And Rainey had 10 games of at least 100 rushing yards, with three of those seeing Rainey gain 200 or more yards. 

Against Purdue, Rainey will jump up a lot of draft boards. The Boilermakers come into their bowl game against Western Kentucky giving up 186 yards per game to opposing running backs. 

WR Nick Toon Wisconsin Badgers

Nick Toon didn't have the best statistical season, compared to other receivers in the NCAA. However, he did lead the Badgers in every receiving category with 55 receptions, 822 yards and nine touchdowns. 

On one of the biggest stages in college football, the Rose Bowl, Toon will have a monster game against an Oregon Ducks passing defense that gave up 243 yards per game this year.

With Oregon focusing on taking away running back Montee Ball, it should leave Toon with a lot of chances to get open. 

WR Kendall Wright Baylor Bears

Kendall Wright was Robert Griffin III's favorite target to throw to during his Heisman Trophy season. Wright's big season led him to finish second in receiving yards with 1,572 in the NCAA.

However, in the Big 12, Wright was second only to Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon in yards, receptions (101) and touchdowns (13). 

Against a Washington Huskies team that gave up 284 yards per game to opposing teams, he will have a huge game. Wright should see a final stat line of eight to 10 catches, 125-140 yards and two touchdowns as he finishes his career and heads off to the NFL.

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