Bowl Games: Players to watch thread.

[Big Dakota]

Taken from Great Blue North


NEW MEXICO BOWL; Fresno State versus Wyoming; 4:30 PM ET; Saturday, December 19, ESPN…
Just about every college football fan in the country has at least heard of star RBs Toby Gerhart of Stanford, Clemson’s C.J. Spiller and Alabama Heisman Trophy winning sophomore Mark Ingram. However, while he hasn’t gotten the same national attention, a case can be made, though, that Fresno State junior RB Ryan Mathews (#21, 5-10, 210) just may have been the most productive back in the country. Indeed, Mathews ran for almost 1,700 yards this fall, along the way averaging 6.8 yards per carry and scoring 17 TDs. Meanwhile, pro scouts will also be checking out a number of other Bulldogs including RB Lonyae Miller (#1, 5-10, 220), WRs Seyi Ajirotutu (#2, 6-3, 210), Chastin West (#6, 6-1, 215) and Marlon Moore (#5, 6-0, 185), CB A.J. Jefferson (#28, 5-11, 190) and SS Moses Harris (#3, 511, 205). And speaking of playing in relative anonymity, Wyoming DE John Fletcher (#91, 6-5 275) is a rarity in college football in that he’s a full-sized DE with the size to slide inside to DT on passing downs. Fletcher, who had 7 sacks this season along with 5.5 other tackles for loss while knocking down 5 passes, could also get some long looks as a 3-4 DE at the next level. Fletcher pairs with fellow senior DE Mitch Unrein (#98, 6-3, 270) to give the Cowboys a solid set of bookend DEs, although Unrein has never had a lot of sacks.
St>Petersburg Bowl; Rutgers versus Central Florida; 8 PM ET; Saturday, December 19, ESPN …
Rutgers had a breakthrough draft in 2009 when WR Kenny Britt was chosen 30th overall by Tennessee, the first former Scarlet Knight ever taken in the opening round. Rutgers may not have to wait long to have its second opening round pick as junior LT Anthony Davis (#75, 6-5, 325) has as much upside as any prospect at the position in the country. Davis is a prototype ‘dancing bear’ type with the size, strength and intensity to be a dominating run blocker, while also possessing the long arms and quick feet to be a shut-down pass protector. Davis, though, is the Scarlet Knights only legitimate early round prospect, at least for the 2009 draft, although Rutgers does have a solid core of veteran players who should get some later round or free agent interest including MLB Ryan D’Imperio (#44, 6-2, 240), CB Devin McCourt (#21, 5-10, 185), WR Tim Brown (#2, 5-8, 165), C Ryan Blaszczyk (#61, 6-3, 295) and RT Kevin Haslam (#78, 6-6, 295), who combines with Anthony Davis to give the Scarlet Knights an outstanding pair of bookend OTs. It is entirely appropriate that in a draft year loaded at DE UCF will help kick off the bowl season with an outstanding pass-rushing duo of its own in junior Bruce Miller (#49, 6-2, 260) the C-USA defensive player of the year, and tweener Jarvis Geathers (#99, 6-1, 235) who combined to rack up 23 sacks this past season. UCF also has a wide-body DT worth a look as a potential late rounder or free agent in Torrell Troup (#98, 6-2, 315), while LB Cory Hogue (#59, 6-0, 225) is undersized, but can find the ball.

 

[Big Dakota]

LAS VEGAS BOWL: Oregon State (8-4) versus BYU (10-2); 8 PM ET; Tuesday, December 22nd, ESPN …
Most times bowls between top 25 teams are played on or around New Year’s Day, however, 14th ranked BYU and 18th ranked Oregon State will have to make do today. At least the two teams get to go to Las Vegas. There are probably a fair number of pro scouts hoping to get the call to head to Vegas as this game also features an inordinate number of pro prospects for a first-week bowl game.
BYU had dreams of busting into the BCS this year, especially after upsetting Oklahoma early on, but stumbled later against Florida State and unbeaten Texas Christian, which did ultimately earn a bid to the Fiesta Bowl. BYU is led by the dynamic passing duo of QB Max Hall (#15, 6-1, 205) to All-America TE Dennis Pitta (#32, 6-5, 250). Pitta, who led all collegiate TEs this year in total receptions and receiving yards, in particular, should get a look early at the 2010 draft. Meanwhile, DE Jan Jorgensen (#84, 6-3, 260) and junior RB Harvey Unga (#45, 5-11, 240) have some mid-round potential, while other Cougars pro scouts will be watching closely include LBs Mat Bauman (#35, 6-2, 235), Coleby Clawson (#41, 6-2, 235), and Shawn Doman (#42, 6-1, 235); DE Brett Denney (#92, 6-3, 255), FS Scott Johnson (#21, 5-10, 190), TE Andrew George (#88, 6-4, 250) and C R.J. Willing (#64, 6-4, 310). And for future reference check out sophomore OT Matt Reynolds (#70, 6-5, 320) and WR/KR O‘Neill Chambers (#11, 6-1, 210). For its part, Oregon State came within a game of earning a trip to the Rose Bowl but dropped down to the Vegas game after a bitter loss in their annual Civil War against Oregon. Like, BYU, though, Oregon State is plenty of fun to watch with an explosive offense built around sophomore RB Jacquizz Rodgers (#1, 5-7, 195) who ran for almost 1,400 yards and 20 TDs this fall. Meanwhile older brother James Rodgers (#8, 5-7, 185), a junior WR led the team with 77 receptions this fall, while veteran WR Damola Adeniji (#80, 6-2, 215) is an emerging big-play target. The Beavers also have a rising prospect at QB in veteran Sean Canfield (#5, 6-3, 220), an underrated pocket passer with a strong arm who completed 70% of his pass attempts for 3,100 yards and 21 scores this fall while being picked off just 6 times. Meanwhile, active OLB Keaton Kristick (#32, 6-2, 230) heads a young defense.