Developing Assets – Bowl Week Two, Part Two

Ryan McDowell

The college bowls and some of the individual performances we’ve witnessed just keep getting better and with another full day of college football action, this won’t be a typical dull Monday. Enjoy the action!

December 30th Bowls

jace_amaroArmed Forces Bowl (11:45 am, ESPN)
Middle Tennessee vs. Navy 

Hopefully you didn’t wake up early for this one. This matchup features two teams with few, if any, offensive skill position prospects. Both quarterbacks have had great years, but are unlikely to draw any attention from NFL scouts. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds set an FBS record this year with twenty-nine rushing touchdowns, the most ever for a quarterback. Senior quarterback Logan Kilgore of Middle Tennessee has also had a very impressive year and has led the team to a five game winning streak to get the Blue Raiders bowl eligible.

Music City Bowl (3:15, ESPN)
Ole Miss vs. Georgia Tech

This is more like it! After likely skipping the day’s opening bowl, you won’t want to miss this one, especially if you have an upcoming devy draft this off-season. These teams have starkly different offensive schemes that will present fans with a very interesting game to watch. As you probably know, Georgia Tech runs a option offense that has resulted in over 300 rushing yards per game, while finishing among the bottom of the FBS in passing yards. Meanwhile, the Rebels of Ole Miss features two of the most talented wide receivers in college football and will throw the ball plenty.

The two wideouts should have your attention throughout the game. Junior wide receiver Donte Moncrief could declare for the NFL draft following this game. He led the team in receiving for the third consecutive season, yet his statistics were down thanks to the arrival of the top freshman wide receiver in football. Laquon Treadwell was highly touted entering college and he didn’t disappoint, catching sixty-seven passes to lead the team on his way to being named Freshman of the Year in the SEC. Unless you’re in a deep devy league with multiple college players rostered per team, Treadwell is likely available and should be near the top of your list this off-season. One NFL scout called him the best wide receiver in college after just a few games. 

Alamo Bowl (6:45, ESPN)
Oregon vs. Texas 

Neither of these teams wanted to play in this bowl. Both teams had BCS aspirations and possibilities, but injuries have affected both powerhouse teams this year and they will look to end their season on a high note. Texas should come out strong in the final game for head coach Mack Brown after sixteen seasons in Austin. Before we get to the players that will be on the field in this game, let’s remind ourselves of a pair of players that we won’t be seeing. Oregon is missing tight end Colt Lyerla, who through a bizarre set of circumstances left the team in order to prepare for the NFL draft. Since that decision, he’s spent time in a drug rehabilitation program and has been arrested on drug possession charges. No one questions Lyerla’s talent, but his character and off-field concerns will likely be enough to ensure he goes undrafted in May. If he does get drafted late or signed as an undrafted free agent, he will be a player to take a chance on very late, just as Da’Rick Rogers was this season.

Texas will be without the player that was voted as their offensive most valuable player, sophomore running back Johnathan Gray, who suffered an Achilles injury and has missed the past three games. Gray is just one of the talented sophomore backs to suffer season ending injuries, including Keith Marshall, Duke Johnson and Matt Jones. Even with the injury, Gray should be a player you consider in your devy drafts.

Now, on to the players who will be in action today. Oregon is well known for their prolific offense and we all know quarterback Marcus Mariota, who surprisingly has opted to stay in school for another season. If he keeps this up, Mariota will battle Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston for the honor of being the top overall pick in the 2015 draft. Oregon also has three running backs that have the attention of pro scouts, and should have yours too. Most fans and dynasty owners already are well aware of diminutive play-maker DeAnthony Thomas, who has over 800 total yards from scrimmage this season despite missing a month of game action in mid-season. At only 5’9” and 175 pounds, Thomas will have to land in the perfect NFL offense to be successful.

In my opinion, the other two backs on the Ducks depth chart are better NFL prospects and prime devy draft options. The team’s leading rusher is sophomore back Byron Marshall, who will likely break the 1,000 yard mark early in the game. Marshall also leads the team with fourteen touchdowns on the season. Freshman Thomas Tyner’s role was cloudy as the season began, considering the past success of the other runners on the team. Instead, Tyner, a true freshman, was the team’s second leading rusher with nearly 700 yards. He has the ideal size for an every down NFL back and with Marshall hanging around as the probable starter in 2014, Tyner won’t be overloaded with carries. Both of these players should be devy draft targets, but Tyner will be near the top of my list.

The Longhorns have a trio of upperclassmen who are not highly touted, but have had very good careers and will get a shot to play in the league. Wide receivers Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley should be late draft picks, while running back Malcolm Brown has been a solid contributor for each of his three seasons with the team. He has played well in place of Gray in the past month and this could be a showcase game for the big back.

Holiday Bowl (10:15, ESPN)
Arizona State vs. Texas Tech

Jace, Jace, Jace, Jace, Jace, Jace, Jace! If you have not had the opportunity to watch Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, the Holiday Bowl is must see TV for you. Amaro leads the team with ninety-eight receptions and over 1,200 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. Many rank Amaro as the top draft eligible tight end, though the junior has yet to declare for May’s draft. Texas Tech does have their work cut out for them though. Their starting quarterback for much of the season, Baker Mayfield, recently announced his decision to transfer and has left the team. Regardless of how this game goes for Amaro and the Red Raiders, he is a likely first round pick in both the NFL draft and dynasty rookie drafts.

The Arizona State Sun Devils will likely be without one of their key players as well in starting running back Marion Grice. Grice led the team in rushing and barring a surprise appearance, will finish just four yards short of 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Grice is known for his receiving ability out of the backfield as he totaled fifty receptions for over 400 yards. The senior back scored twenty total touchdowns on the season, but has missed the past two games with a leg injury and is unlikely to play against the Red Raiders. The good news for dynasty and devy owners is Grice’s replacement, sophomore DJ Foster, is an even better prospect. Foster has just seventy-three carries on the season, but has been heavily involved in the passing game and is second on the team in both receptions and receiving yardage. Foster has 999 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns on the year. With Grice gone following the season, Foster should be the every down back in 2014 and expect even more of what we’ve seen this season.

One of the most underrated wide outs in the country is redshirt sophomore Jaelen Strong, who leads the team in all receiving categories. I’ve heard no indication that Strong intends to declare for this year’s draft, but there is that possibility since he will be three years removed from high school graduation. Strong is a big target, but lacks elite speed needed to gain extra yardage after the catch.

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ryan mcdowell