25 players to watch during bowl season

Boone had a sensational season, rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns and becoming one of the nation's top breakout players. After gaining just 701 yards on the ground in three seasons with Maryland and Toledo, the junior from Detroit doubled that total in just this season even after a slow start. Boone had just 15 carries in the Rockets' first two games, but he caught some attention when he scored three touchdowns in Week 2 against Texas Southern. His workload instantly increased and he rewarded the coaches' trust with eight 100+ yard games -- including 211 yards in a win over Western Michigan. His momentum was slowed in the MAC title game loss to Miami-OH (just 41 yards and no scores) so he's itching for a big showing against Wyoming and their stout defense in the Arizona Bowl. 

In a College Football Playoff where quarterback play will be what leads the headlines, it may be a running back who could determine who the national champion will be. Blake Corum rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 TDs last season, but suffered a knee injury late in the season and missed the Big Ten championship and the Wolverines' playoff game. He came back to school for the purpose of getting Michigan back to the playoffs and winning a national championship. While Corum didn't run for as many yards this season (1,028) he did score 24 touchdowns. He's scored a TD in every game this season and has found the endzone at least twice in the Wolverines' last five games.

Where would Arizona's season be without discovering Noah Fifita? The redshirt freshman quarterback finally got his chance as a starter in late September. His first start was against eventual Pac-12 champ Washington, where the freshman threw for 232 yards and 3 TDs in a 7-point loss to the Huskies. The following week he threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns in an overtime loss to USC. Arizona hasn't lost since and is looking for a great showing in the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma to keep momentum going as the Wildcats move to the Big 12 next season.  

While quarterback Drake Maye has been the star of the Tar Heels' offense, running back Omarion Hampton has been a major part of Carolina's success this season. Hampton rushed for 1,442 yards and 15 touchdowns this season and has had some monster games this year. He rushed for 234 yards and 3 TDs against Appalachian State and a few weeks ago gained 178 yards on just 19 rushes and two touchdowns in a loss to Clemson. With Maye likely opting out of playing in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, look for a healthy dose of Hampton against West Virginia. 

For those out there who complain about the transfer portal and guys not staying in one spot for very long, go and watch the Liberty Bowl on December 29th and meet Seth Henigan. Henigan is a three-year starter for Memphis who has already announced he will come back for his final year of eligibility next season. Henigan led the new-look AAC in passing yards and tossed 28 TDs and rushed for four more. He's also thrown for at least 300 yards in four of his last five games. Henigan's decision to stay at a Group of 5 school instead of taking an opportunity to show what he can do in a power conference is an honorable one ... and more and more rare. Memphis takes on Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl. 

Ashton Jeanty, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, has already announced he is coming back to Boise next season, proclaiming he is a Bronco for life. Jeanty leads the nation in scrimmage yards per game and is sixth in rushing yards per game. He ran for 153 yards and a touchdown in Boise State's win over UNLV in the MW championship game, but his best game of the season was likely in a loss to Colorado State -- 212 rush yards and 3 TDs. The Broncos head down to the LA Bowl to face a very good UCLA defense. 

Laiatu Latu is one of the best stories out there. After beginning his career at Washington, a neck injury forced him to retire from football in 2021. But he persevered, transferred to UCLA  where he's had a stellar career, capped off by a sensational 2023 season. He is 4th in the nation in sacks (13), led the country in tackles for loss per game, won the Lombardi and Hendricks awards and was named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year. Latu and the Bruins get to stay near home at the LA Bowl against Boise State. 

Devin Leary gets another crack at Clemson. The Kentucky quarterback spent four seasons at NC State before transferring to Lexington after last season. He dealt with injuries with the Wolfpack -- breaking his leg in 2020 and suffering a pectoral injury that ended his 2022 season early. He led the Wildcats to a 5-0 record before losing five of the next six (well, that can happen when you play Georgia and Alabama). But his three touchdowns in an upset win at Louisville to close the season put a nice bow on the regular season and may have very well played an indirect part into why Florida State didn't get a College Football Playoff spot. Leary is 24-10 in his last 34 starts, which includes a win over Clemson in 2021 when he threw for 238 yards and 4 TDs, and losses to the Tigers in 2020 and 2022. He gets them again in Jacksonville at the Gator Bowl. 

It's hard not to root for Milroe. He isn't the typical can't-miss prospect who walked on the field of an elite program and just looked like a Heisman hopeful. Remember that Milroe was up and down in 2022 when he had to play during Bryce Young's injury. He didn't really come into the season as the clear starter and he was benched after the Crimson Tide's Week 2 loss to Texas. After Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson had a lackluster showing against South Florida, Nick Saban made Milroe the man. He's rewarded Saban's trust by massively improving as the season progresses. He led the Tide to an undefeated conference season, an SEC championship, and plenty of Heisman-esque run over the last couple months of the season. He now gets to show what he's become in the Rose Bowl against Michigan, one of the nation's better defenses, in the College Football Playoff. 

To bring back an old Steve Spurrier joke, "you can't spell Citrus Bowl without UT". This year's Citrus Bowl features one of the most interesting contrasts in styles all season. Tennessee is all about their offense while Iowa is built ... pretty much solely ... on defense. So Vols quarterback Joe Milton III will be key to watch in this one. He's had a solid season -- throwing for over 2,800 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just five interceptions (he also rushed in seven scores) -- but the last time he went up against a top-tier defense, he laid an egg (17-30, 147 yards, 0 TDs against Georgia in mid-November). He followed that up with 383 yards and 4 TDs in a blowout win over Vanderbilt in the season finale. He must be able to make plays if Tennessee wants to get out of Orlando with a big win. 

If you are an NFL fan (and especially if you play fantasy football), I'm sure you know about a couple of former LSU wide receivers who are among the top young talents in the league. Current Tigers receiver Malik Nabers is setting records at LSU. He has already broken the career receptions mark and is a mere 22 yards from breaking the receiving yards record. His desire to break that record -- as well as line up with his teammates one last time -- has made him already announce that he will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin. Fantasy fans, take note.

Odunze has caught 81 passes for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping make the Washington Huskies one of the best offenses in the nation and Michael Penix Jr. a Heisman finalist. He's 26 yards away from setting the school's single-season receiving yards record. He's had five games this season with multiple touchdowns and he's come up huge in the biggest games -- namely both wins over Oregon. The Huskies are up for another big game in the College Football Playoff, a showdown against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. 

Jack Plummer knows USC. The former Cal quarterback will take his Louisville Cardinals into the Holiday Bowl to face a Trojans team that isn't known for its defense. Last season at Cal, Plummer completed 35 of 49 passes for 406 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-25 loss at USC. Of course, most people know Plummer for how much he struggled against Florida State's defense in the Cardinals' ACC Championship game loss. He won't be facing anything close to that in San Diego. 

Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been a major part of Virginia Tech's transformation into a disruptive defense this season. The Florida transfer was a force this year, recording 9.5 sacks and 22 solo tackles and helping the Hokies become the ACC leader (and 7th in all of FBS) in sacks. Powell-Ryland has already announced he is coming back to Virginia Tech in 2024 so there is a lot of buzz for the future of the Hokies program. Virginia Tech takes on Tulane in the Military Bowl.

It wasn't just fans in Athens and Tallahassee who felt their school got hosed by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee as the SMU Mustangs also has a huge chip on their shoulder. Many feel SMU is the top Group of Five conference champion yet the Mustangs ended up finishing one spot behind Liberty (who is 13-0 against one of the easiest schedules in the nation) in the rankings. So instead of going to the Fiesta Bowl to play Oregon, SMU gets sent up to the Fenway Bowl to face Boston College (who will be their conference rival next season) in a virtual home game for the Eagles. SMU will have a chip on their shoulder and will want to flex its defense on the Eagles. Edge rusher Elijah Roberts has recorded at least one sack in five of the Mustangs last seven games and 9.5 on the season (he only had a half-sack in his three years at the University of Miami before transferring to SMU).  The Mustangs have only allowed more than 16 points in a game three times all season and the team is 11-0 when Roberts plays ... and 0-2 when he doesnt. 

Let's be honest: Florida State quarterback Tate Rodemaker could make the conversation about the Seminoles' exclusion from the College Football Playoff a moot point or rekindle the national debate of the Selection Committee's decision. After playing mop-up duty in three games this season, Rodemaker was thrown into the fire after starter Jordan Travis broke his leg against North Alabama late in the season. He finished that game, going 13 of 23 for 217 yards and two TDs, then struggled a bit against Florida the following week (12 of 25, 148 yards) while taking a hit to the head which caused him to miss the ACC championship game. Sure, the Orange Bowl matchup against Georgia would've been must-see television a decade ago, but with opt-outs and the transfer portal there likely won't be the amount of firepower either team has been used to playing. But Rodemaker will be there and he has a chance to show everyone that the committee was right or wrong about how good he could've been in a playoff setting. Either way, this will be a "told you so" moment.

The Miami Redhawks have one of the most devastating defenses in the country, and it's led by linebacker Matt Salopek. Salopek, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, had 134 tackles, three sacks and even picked off a pass this season. He flies all over the field making plays and taking up the offense's attention which allows his teammates to make plays (three Redhawks recorded at least 7 sacks this season). Miami takes on Appalachian State in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl. 

Who is Liberty? Who are these guys who went 13-0 and find themselves in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. Well, they are the nation's top rushing team, boasting two 1,000-yard rushers. Quinton Cooley led the Flames in rushing but quarterback Kaidon Salter is one of the best dual-threat QBs in the nation. He threw for 2,750 yards, 31 TDs and just five interceptions while rushing for 1,064 yards and 16 scores. For Liberty to pull off the upset like Tulane did to USC last season, Salter will need to move the ball and keep Bo Nix and the Ducks' offense off the field. 

The SEC's rushing leader won the Burlsworth Trophy, recognizing the top former walk-on in the nation. What he's done over the Tigers' last five games has been unreal -- 841 yards rushing and six touchdowns. He's also been their rock, averaging nearly 27 carries per game during that span. The last time we saw him, he put up 217 yards and a TD against Arkansas. Against Tennessee, he rushed for 205 yards and had 116 yards receiving. 

The Sugar Bowl could come down to if the Texas Longhorns are able to put pressure on Michael Penix Jr. and disrupt Washington's offense. T’Vondre Sweat  will be key to that, as his ability to get penetration up the middle makes opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Sweat recorded two sacks, but his ability to eat up blockers have allowed his edge rushers and linebackers to make plays. The Longhorns want to pull the Huskies down into a brawl, and giving Penix fits will accomplish that. Sweat even got a big man touchdown in the Big 12 title game.

We all know about former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, but his younger brother Taulia has carved out quite a career out for himself at Maryland. Tagovailoa has become the Big Ten career passing yards leader and now currently holds many of the Terrapins career passing categories. He also led the Big Ten in passing yards, touchdowns and completions this season. His matchup against a solid Auburn defense in the Music City Bowl make it one of the better mid-tier bowls to watch. 

The last time we saw Kimani Vidal, he rushed for 233 yards and five touchdowns in the Sun Belt championship game against Appalachian State. Vidal rushed for almost 1,600 yards this season and pounded in 14 touchdowns, had three games of over 200 yards rushing and seven games of 100 yards. Troy takes on a Duke team without its head coach (Mike Elko left for Texas A&M) and quarterback (Riley Leonard entered the transfer portal). 

Xavier Watts led the nation in interceptions with seven picks, earning him the Bronco Nagurski Award for the nation's top defender. That is quite a feat by Watts, who initially came to Notre Dame as a receiver before switching to become a defensive back. Obviously, he didn't forget how to catch the football, picking off most of those seven passes in a five-game span in the middle of the season (he had two interceptions in back-to-back games). The Fighting Irish will face Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, who will be starting third-string quarterback Ben Gulbranson after the top two guys on the depth chart entered the transfer portal. Can Watts pick off another one?

Levi Williams is one of the most interesting players this bowl season. The last team we saw him play, he threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 153 yards and 3 TDs in a win over New Mexico. By the way, that was his first start of the season. The senior quarterback will forgo his final season of eligibility so he can train to be a Navy Seal. Williams, who comes from a military family, felt now is the time to pivot from football and begin what he hopes will become his career. He will play one last time in Utah State's bowl game against Georgia State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 

If you've watched NC State at all this year, you have likely seen Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson everywhere on defense. Wilson flies around the field and seems to always be around the play and making things happen. He was rewarded for his season by winning the Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker and the Chuck Bednarik Award for the best defensive player in the country. NC State is on a five-game winning streak that has seen the defense hold Wake Forest and Miami to just six points apiece and held North Carolina's high-octane offense to just 20 in a blowout win over their rivals. On to the Pop-Tarts Bowl versus Kansas State.