Top 10 Prospects to Watch During Bowl Season

by Harris Oates 

Bowl season is undoubtedly one of the best times of the year. Whoever decided that the holidays should be matched up with nonstop football action deserves a goldmedal. Besides just being an all-around entertaining time of the year, bowl games also showcase some of the top prospects in the draft. This week I teamed up with our good friend Dan from the popular Instagram page @TheDraftScout to determine 10 can’t miss prospects to watch over the holidays.

My Top Players to Watch 

1. Qadree Ollison      

School: Pittsburgh Position: RB Game: Sun Bowl vs. Stanford

Ollison is one of the best kept secrets in this draft, but there are still a few question marks surrounding him. This bowl game will be a major test to determine whether Ollison could solidify his stock as a first round prospect. I love Ollison’s size and he has very favorable size for a big guy. He came out of nowhere to finish the season with 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the Panthers to their first ever ACC Championship appearance. If Ollison can go off against Stanford I think he will be thrown into the conversation for potentially being the top drafted running back.

2. Hakeem Butler 

School: Iowa State Position:WR Game: Alamo Bowl vs. Washington State

Similar to Ollison, Hakeem Butler was a rather unknown prospect until the season started. Butler finished the season with 1,126 yards and 9 touchdowns after only tallying 831 career yards coming into the season.He has proven himself as an elite red zone threat with size comparable to Megatron. Although he has great size and production, there are still many concerns that must be addressed before Butler will be a sure fire firstrounder. He will have a chance against a solid secondary from Washington State to prove that he is not just another one-year wonder.  

3. Shea Patterson 

School: Michigan  Position: QB Game: Peach Bowl vs. Florida 

Patterson, although Michigan’s success, has had an iffy season as an NFL prospect in his first year in Harbough’s offense. I have Patterson ranked in the late rounds right now, but a big performance against a solid SEC secondary he could boost him potential into the top 3 rounds.

4. Benny Snell Jr.

School: Kentucky  Position: RB Game: Fiesta Bowl vs. Penn State 

It’s no mystery that Benny Snell Jr. is one of my favorite players in college football. In September I was so high on Snell that I even thought he could take the Wildcats to the College Football Playoffs. He’s definitely played up to that level, but now it’s time to start looking more in depth at his draft stock. In my initial running back rankings, I had Snell listed as my number one…a big game vs. Penn State could keep him in that spot come draft day.

5. Trayveon Williams

School:  Texas A&M Position: RB Game: Gator Bowl vs. NC State

Williams is a guy who I have seen major improvement throughout the season. Initially I thought he would be too small to be a high round pick, but when I first saw him play in person, he runs like he is Le’veon Bell. Williams is in my top 5 running backs and I think could bump into the early second round and is easily the best dual threat RB.   

Dan’s Top Players to Watch

1. Daniel Jones

School: Duke   Position: QB Game: Independence Bowl vs. Temple 

DS: Jones will look to establish himself as a unanimous top 2 QB in the class.

FPF: Jones is a guy I’ve stuck by the very beginning, and I have him sitting at number one in the draft class. If he can have a solid outing, I think he will stay as a first round grade heading into the combine

2. Bryce Hall

School: Virginia  Position: CB Game: Belk Bowl vs. South Carolina 

DS:  Bryan Edwards will be a tough matchup, Hall could play his way into R1 in this game.

FPF: I love watching Hall dominate the ACC and I can’t wait to see him go against an underrated SEC pass offense. One of my only concerns is his size, as he weighs in just around 200 lbs, which means a 6’3” 220 WR will be a great NFL test.

3. Blace Brown

School:  Troy Position: CB Game: Dollar General Bowl vs. Buffalo

DS: Anthony Johnson and KJ Osborn are a talented pair of receivers. Brown is an under the radar stud and stopping the Buffalo passing attack would really help his stock.

FPF: Being in the state of Alabama I have been lucky enough to watch a good bit of Troy football. Brown is the type of prospect who starts gaining hype around bowl season and gets drafted by someone in the second round. NFL Comparison? James Bradberry.

4. Gerald Willis 

School: Miami Position: DL Game:Pinstripe Bowl vs. Wisconsin 

DS: Willis had a breakout season. He will face the best Offensive Line he’s seen all year.

FPF: I’m usually hesitant on one-year wonders, but at 6’4” 285 Willis offers too much size to pass on. Willis is already in a very talented DL class, but he might be the guy everyone has been sleeping on. Don’t be surprised if Willis sits out the bowl game.

5. Jordan Scarlett

School: Florida  Position: RB Game: Peach Bowl vs. Michigan 

DS: Michigan has a stout run defense and Scarlett has had a solid year, but he needs a résumé game to spark his draft stock. (Scarlett only has 717 yards and 4 TDs this season)

FPF: Scarlett has had a rollercoaster of a career at UF.Although his stats aren’t amazing, I think he’s got a lot to gain the combine.He reminds me a lot of Alvin Kamara, who absolutely worked out in the NFL. A big game vs. Michigan’s defense would certainly elevate his draft stock to the early rounds.

Harris is a recent graduate of Birmingham-Southern College. He now works in Birmingham as well as coaches lacrosse for Mountain Brook High School. He loves following SEC football, covering fantasy football, the NFL Draft, and is also a lifelong Carolina Panthers fan.