Bowl Watch Day 8: 12-30

[MichaelWeston]

GBN Report

 

Tuesday, December 30

NOTRE DAME (7-5) vs LSU (8-4); MUSIC CITY BOWL Nashville; 3PM ET; ESPN … Let’s hope the Fighting Irish have found a way to rejuvenate themselves after folding at the end of their schedule this fall, with 4 straight losses to end their season. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago that Irish QB EVERETT GOLSON (35, 6’/200) was getting Heisman mention back in September, but he had turned into a turnover machine by mid-October and won’t even start against LSU. That job will go to freshman QB MALIK ZAIRE (#8, 6’0, 210), although expect GOLSON to still get some snaps. And with another year in South Bend expect GOLSON to become BRIAN KELLY’s top reclamation project next fall. Otherwise, the Irish are loaded with young, emerging talent but the upper classes are thin. Indeed, Notre Dame’s best prospect for the upcoming draft is junior OT Ronnie Stanley (#78, 6-5, 320) who is sarting to attract some top 20 consideration for 2015 if he were to opt to turn pro this year, while seniors to watch feature TE BEN KOYACK (#18, 6’5/260), who is more pro ready than 2014 second rounder TROY NIKLAS last year, and CB CODY RIGGS (#9, 5’9/185).

LSU had one of the youngest depth charts in the country this season, but still managed 8 wins in the tough SEC West. And like Notre Dame, LSU’s is an offensive lineman with top 20 ability in LT LA’EL COLLINS (#70, 6’5/315), who has accepted an invite to play in Mobile and may be the most pro ready OT in the land. Meanwhile, CB JALEN COLLINS (#32, 6’2/195/) has declared his intentions to turn pro after this game and also figures to get some Top 100 consideration, as will rangy junior DE Danielle Hunter (#94, 6-5, 245), if as expected he enters this year’s draft. Other LSU Tigers on the NFL radar include RBs KENNY HILLIARD (#27, 6’0/233) and TERRENCE MAGEE (#14, 5’9/215); junior OG VIDAL ALEXANDER (#74, 6’6/340); DE JERMAURIA RASCO (#59, 6’3/265) and SS RONALD MARTIN (#26, 6’1/215). In the end, expect a lower scoring contest unless GOLSON has recaptured his early season magic. I think the Mad Hatter wins another close one, when his D turns GOLSON over a couple of times.

LOUISVILLE (9-3) vs GEORGIA (9-3); BELK BOWL, Charlotte; 5:30PM ET; ESPN … There is so much NFL Draft talent in this game it’s amazing. And the Cardinals from the ACC may have even a bit more to offer than the SEC’s UGA as Louisville reaps the benefits of some strong recruiting from the CHARLIE STRONG regime. Their top NFL prospect is WR DEVONTE PARKER (#9, 6’3/210), who bounced back nicely from an injury in the second half of the season and should get plenty of first-round interest if he checks out medically at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, DE/OLB LORENZO MAULDIN (#94, 6’4/245) is a more athletic carbon copy of last year’s 1st rounder MARCUS SMITH, while other Louisville guys to watch as prospects include: junior FS GEROD HOLLIMAN (#8, 6’0/205), who led the nation in INTs and already has declared his intention to enter the 2015 draft; RB DOMINIQUE BROWN (#10, 6’2/230); TE GERALD CHRISTIAN (#18, 6’2/245); OT Jamon Brown (#79, 6-5, 350); OG JAKE SMITH (#53, 6’3/310); and junior CB CHARLES GAINES (#3, 5’11/175). On the other hand, enigmatic RB MICHAEL DYER has been declared ineligible and will not play.

Georgia also would have had a top 10 prospect of its own, but star junior RB Todd Gurley, who many scouts rated as the best player in the country period prior to tearing an ACL earlier this year, is still rehabbing and won’t play. However, the Bulldogs still have a pretty good back in true freshma Nck Chubb (#27, 5-9, 230), although he’s still no Gurley. The Bulldogs also have an experienced HUTSON MASON (#14, 6’3/205), who develop nicely as a starter after waiting 3 years behind AARON MURRAY. He’s not elite, but has the size and arm strength to be a solid NFL back-up; he’s committed to play in the Shrine Game. In fact, UGA doesn’t have much in the way of elite prospects, but they do have a lot of guys who should be taken in Rounds 4-7 like MLB RAMIK WILSON (#51, 6’2/231); CB DAMIAN SWANN (#35, 5’11/180); C DAVID ANDREWS (#61, 6’2/295); ILB AMARLO HERRERA (#52, 6’2/244); WR  MICHAEL BENNETT (#82, 6’3/205); DE RAY DREW (#47, 6’5/280); and WR CHRIS CONLEY (#31, 6’2/205. UGA will have to control the ball to win this game with their CHUBB-led running game. If they cannot, look for Louisville to wear them out with their constant attack offense.

MARYLAND (7-5) vs STANFORD (7-5); SAN FRANCISCO BOWL, Santa Clara; 10 PM ET; ESPN … STANFORD looks to be perhaps the best 7-5 team in the nation. They got beaten up with a brutal PAC-12 schedule, but they knocked off UCLA to end the regular season on the road. For starters, junior QB KEVIN HOGAN (#8, 6’4/228) appeared to pick up the pace over the latter part of the year after an erratic start to the season and remains a decent NFL prospect if he declares, although he looks more likely to be back at school. Unfortunately, though, Hogan will be without his top target, WR TY MONTGOMERY (#7, 6’2/215), a highly productive, though, not a particularly explosive receiver and return man with an all-around game that reminds one of former NFL hall-of-Famer TIM BROWN, who is out because of a shoulder injury. However, Hogan will have his LT Andrus Peat (#70, 6-7, 31), who has top ten physical skills, but like the rest of the Cardinal offense has been inconsistent this fall. Meanwhile, other Stanford players to watch include SS JORDAN RICHARDS (#8, 5’11/208); OLB JAMES VAUGHTERS (#9, 6’2’254); ILB A.J. TARPLEY (#17, 6’2/238); 5T DE HENRY ANDERSON (#91, 6’6/295); DT David Parry (#58, 6-2, 305); along with junior CB Alex Carter (#25, 5-11, 200).

For its part, Maryland has a roster full of experienced upperclassmen who play smart and hard, but their best player is junior WR STEFON DIGGS (#1, 6’0/195) who unfortunately is nursing a bad knee and is not projected to play. That leaves senior WR DEON LONG (#6, 6’0/195), a Shrine Game commit, as their top receiving weapon. Other productive, though, not particularly flashy Terp prospects include DT DARIUS KILGO (#97, 6’2/310); ILB COLE FARRAND (#47, 6’3/245); and CB JEREMIAH JOHNSON (#14, 5/11/195, who had an excellent senior season. If Stanford HC DAVID SHAW unleashes the hounds on Offense this could be a one-sided affair.

 

[Jason]

I know he won't be eligible for a couple of years, but Leonard Fournette will be a top 10 pick if he stays healthy.

[Jason]

Waller from GT could be an interesting late round pick at WR. He's 6'5" and has played well tonight.