Editor’s note: This article will be updated throughout the bowl season, prior to daily games.
It’s bowl season!
To supplement all your football watching over the next month, we’ll highlight one of the key NFL prospects to keep an eye on for all 80 non-playoff teams.
Note: All times are Eastern.
Tuesday 19 December
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN): UTSA vs. Marshall
Last season, UTSA had one of the best wide receiver trios in the country. They lost Decorian Clark (severe injury) and Zachary Franklin (transfer) from that group, but Joshua Cephus (6-foot-2, 187 pounds) returns and recorded 82 catches for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. A good-sized athlete who catches just about everything (one touchdown on 111 targets in 2023), Cephus is a late-round prospect.
Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (5-11, 203) has put his name on the NFL map heading into the 2021 season. After missing most of last season with a knee injury, he topped 1,000 yards again this year and is expected to be a draft pick For the third day. Ali has amazing speed to move and get out of his cuts and pick up big chunks of ground as a rusher and receiver.
Go deeper
2024 NFL Draft Big Board Consensus: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. this year’s top prospect?
Monday 18 December
Famous Roaster Bowl (2:30 p.m., ESPN): Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion
In every draft cycle, there is at least one wide receiver named “the next Deebo Samuel,” and this year the distinction belongs to Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley (5-foot-11, 211 pounds). Unlike most years, the 2024 version of that comparison seems justified, in terms of playing style and skill set. Corley has wide receiver speed but looks like a dynamic running back after the catch, breaking tackles with physicality and speed (averaging 9.4 yards after the catch per reception over the last two seasons).
Old Dominion’s top prospect, LB Jason Henderson, is out for this game with an injury, so my eyes will turn to LB Wayne Matthews III (6-2, 225). Matthews, a redshirt sophomore, is unlikely to declare early for this year’s draft — but he did collect 121 tackles in the regular season and appeared on tape as a player to watch for the future.
Saturday 16 December
Myrtle Beach Bowl (11 a.m., ESPN): Georgia Southern vs. Ohio
Former Columbus receiver Sam Wigloch (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) found himself buried on Ohio State’s depth chart and went on the road to Ohio State, where he led the Bobcats in receiving in each of the past two seasons. The senior operates exclusively out of the slot, is a quick possession target and will undergo tryouts with NFL teams.
Considered a potential NFL draft pick by area scouts over the summer, Georgia Southern running back Jalen White (6-0, 209) is well-designed with a lateral rush to evade tacklers and keep plays alive. With his ball skills, scouts are optimistic he can find a role as a pass rusher. Ohio State’s defense ranks first in the MAC and eighth in the FBS.
Cricket Celebration Bowl (noon, ABC): Howard vs. Florida A&M
Originally from Ghana, Anim Danquah (6-8, 375) learned soccer while growing up in Ontario before moving to the United States to play college soccer. With its size and length (its arms are 35 5/8 inches), it can block the sun’s rays, but it’s not a slug. NFL scouts are excited to see him in this game and then in the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he could secure draftable status.
In stark contrast to Dankwah in terms of size, Florida A&M wide receiver Marcus Riley (5-10, 170) isn’t the most intimidating player on the pads, but he can fly. The Bethune-Cookman transfer can fall behind the secondary, and he also provides value as a return man (see: his 96-yard punt return in the season opener).
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (2:15 p.m., ESPN): Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana
Louisiana has built an offensive pipeline that includes three draft picks over the last four years (Robert Hunt, Kevin Dotson and Max Mitchell). Left tackle Nathan Thomas (6-5, 333) has a chance to be next. The senior carries his weight well with big hands (10 5/8 inches) and long arms (33 5/8 inches), and has earned Day 3 draft grades from several teams.
Jacksonville State hasn’t had a draft pick in more than a decade, but senior safety Colby Fuqua (6-1, 215) is receiving attention from NFL scouts as a potential free agent. A former Auburn wide receiver, he plays a hybrid nickel position for the Gamecocks and does his best in the box, where he can pile up tackles (see: his Coastal Carolina tape).
Mexico Avocado Treat Bowl (3:30 p.m., ABC): Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State
Michigan State transfer defensive back Michael Doyle (6-0, 219) was a productive defensive leader in his two seasons with Miami (Ohio). Playing a hybrid nickel role, Doyle earned the coaches’ trust to play in the box, sideline high, or cover the slot. With his special teams background and versatility, Doyle has a chance to attract attention at NFL camp.
Appalachian State’s top prospect, Nate Noel, recently entered the portal, so my eyes will be on offensive lineman and right guard Bucky Williams (6-2, 298). Although Williams won’t wow with his size or measurements, he has made solid plays at tape over the past two seasons after transferring from Austin Peay. Williams is a physical forward with the football IQ and toughness that will speak to NFL coaches.
Go deeper
2024 NFL Draft: Rankings of the top prospects on each College Football Playoff team
Isleta New Mexico Bowl (5:45 p.m., ESPN): New Mexico State vs. Fresno State
Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia (6-0, 200) has been a joy to watch this season. He has dual-threat skills, and coach Jerry Kill calls him the “toughest” player he has ever coached. Pavia, a fourth-year senior, has not yet announced his intentions for the 2024 season.
Fresno State’s Carlton Johnson (5-11, 160) was considered a priority free agent over the summer, but his three-interception performance against Arizona State did not go unnoticed by NFL scouts. He was a 10.7-second 100-meter runner in high school, and he had the awareness to make a play on the ball.
Los Angeles Bowl (7:30 p.m., ABC): UCLA vs. Boise State
Everyone knows about UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who is a projected top-15 pick in April. But twin brothers Gabriel and Grayson Murphy are still underrated despite their breakout production this season. The Murphys lack ideal length and measurables, but they have timing and explosiveness to shoot gaps and disrupt back-end timing. It won’t be a surprise when they outperform their recruiting spots.
Although George Holaney (5-10, 210) moved back to running back this season in favor of Ashton Genty, who is a future draft pick, he still has fans in the NFL scouting community because he is a good running back. He is not a turbulent athlete but runs with a balance of contact, vision and physicality. Dependability is also a factor as Al-Hawani does not falter and can be trusted with passes. Al-Hulani will likely be the late player.
Go deeper
Transfer Portal QB Rankings: Who are the best options on the move this season?
Independence Bowl (9:15 p.m., ESPN): Cal vs. Texas Tech
After putting his name on the NFL radar at San Diego State, safety Patrick McMorris (6-0, 208) transferred to Cal for his final season in 2023 and quickly made his mark. He probably won’t run the 40-yard dash, but he moves with quick feet and a competitive urge that will lead him to football. McMorris, whose only interception this season came from Oregon’s Bo Nix, is in the mix for the final round.
Texas Tech produced one of the most physical players in last year’s draft (Terry Wilson) and will do so again this year with defensive lineman Myles Cole (6-6, 280), who is perhaps the tallest player in this class (36 7/8 inches, and its wingspan is 87 inches). Cole, a native of Shreveport, La., will enjoy coming home in this game. He is still raw but offers versatility and attributes that could see him drafted.
(Photo by Malachi Corley: Dylan Boyle/Getty Images)
“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time, is on sale now. Order it here.
The NFL Draft is always filled with excitement and anticipation, and with the 2024 draft on the horizon, there are plenty of college football players eager to showcase their skills and make an impression on NFL scouts. Every college football team has at least one player who has the potential to make waves in the draft, and we’ve compiled a list of standout prospects to keep an eye on as they continue to make their mark on the collegiate gridiron. From dynamic quarterbacks to dominant defensive players, these athletes are sure to generate buzz as potential future stars in the NFL.