25 players to watch in the pre-Christmas bowls

At the end of the 2017 NFL Draft, Allen's name was thrown out as a possible No. 1 overall selection in 2018. His season with the Cowboys hasn't matched that hype at all. Still, scouts have a lot of interest in him, and there will be a lot of eyes on how he performs. Allen missed the final two games of the season with a throwing shoulder injury but is expected to play against Central Michigan. This could be a big boom-or-bust game for his draft status. Wyoming plays Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 22.

The Bulldogs are a good defensive team, and linebacker Jeffrey Allison is one of their leaders. He led the team in tackles (113) with 70 of them being solo. In an era with these offenses running up and down the field, it will be nice to see a couple of stout defensive players dominating — Houston's Ed Oliver would be the other — a bowl game.  Fresno State plays Houston in the Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24. 

Just look at Bradshaw's passing stats for the season: 13-for-40 for 279 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. So why is Bradshaw on a list to watch? How he runs both the Black Knights' offense as well as the football. He ran for 1,566 yards and 12 TDs on the season as Army led the nation in rushing yards. In the last four weeks, Bradshaw ran for 265 yards against Air Force and 244 yards against North Texas. Army plays San Diego State in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23.

Brown has burst on to the scene just as UAB's program resurrected from the dead. He was named Conference USA's Freshman of the Year for his 1,292 yards rushing yards and 10 TDs. He broke Jordan Howard's school freshman rushing record in just eight games and is less than 100 yards from breaking the league's mark. UAB plays Ohio in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22.

Coutee is a guy who can turn a small play into a big one in a hurry. He caught 82 passes this season for over 1,200 yards and nine TDs. He has had three humongous games this season in which he caught at least 11 passes for 161 yards. He had two horrid games late in the season (four total receptions, 48 total yards) before exploding for 168 yards against Texas. When this kid is on, he is on. Texas Tech plays South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23. 

Mason Fine set all kinds of passing records during his high school career in Oklahoma, and he's having a sensational sophomore season for the Mean Green. Not only has he thrown for over 3,700 yards, but he's one of the best in the nation in big plays off of deep passes. That will bring an interesting challenge as North Texas takes on a Troy defense that is pretty darn good. North Texas plays Troy in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 16.

While some feel that Flowers didn't have the season they thought he'd have, he pretty much stayed steady with last year's production. He threw for 2,600 yards (212 less than 2016) and 21 touchdowns (three less). The difference lies in his rushing production (1,530 yards last year, 972 this season with eight less TDs) and completion percentage. He may be best known to fans for his recent lewd celebration, but he's still a good, dangerous athlete and could go out with a bang in his final college game. USF plays Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23. 

Freeman is closing in on the end of a great college career. He has rushed for over 5,600 yards and 60 touchdowns during his Ducks career and put up a great senior season. Over the last six games, Freeman has rushed for at least 122 yards, including a 135-yard effort against Arizona when he scored four TDs. He owns most of the school's career rushing records and is the Pac-12 leader for touchdown runs. Oregon plays Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16.

Gallup was a Biletnikoff finalist and named to the First-Team All-American squad after a spectacular season that saw him catch 94 passes and seven TDs. When asked if he would continue the trend of high draft picks skipping bowl games, he simply said, "I just want to win the game." Look for him to have a great showing. Colorado State plays Marshall in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 16. 

The Ducks were one of the feel-good stories of the season, rushing out to a 5-1 mark before Herbert broke his collarbone. Oregon lost four of the five games he missed but finished strong, winning the final two games of the season with Herbert back. Now with the rust knocked off a bit, he will take Oregon down to Vegas to knock heads with Boise State as the third-highest rated QB in the nation. Oregon will play Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16.

Hicks simply slings it, and he may have just helped save SMU football. Hicks, who had offers from blue blood schools, chose SMU just as school legend Eric Dickerson said the Mustangs may as well shut the program down after a couple of horrible seasons. An upset win over Houston put the freshman QB on the map. During his sophomore season, he has thrown for 32 TDs and just nine picks and now has SMU in a bowl for the first time since 2012. SMU plays Louisiana Tech in the DXL Frisco Bowl on Dec. 20.

Lamb has been a four-year starter who owns or trails Mountaineers legend Armanti Edwards in pretty much every passing mark in Appalachian State history. The son of a football coach, Lamb had a stellar high school career but was passed over by the SEC and ACC but has started more college games than any current FBS quarterback. His showdown against Logan Woodside in the Dollar General Bowl will be one of the better matchups to watch in the early bowl games. Appalachian State plays Toledo in the Dollar General Bowl on Dec. 23. 

Nutile didn't take over the starting job until halfway through the season, but he has been solid in the role. Aside from a dismal outing against undefeated UCF, he's looked great, throwing for 1,266 yards and 11 TDs in those five games down the stretch. He also led the Owls to three wins in the final four games to get them to the Gasparilla Bowl. A good showing here should launch him to a breakout senior season. Temple plays FIU in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 21.

The Cougars may not have the luster they owned last season when they got off to a remarkable start to the season, but they still have Ed Oliver. One of the most disruptive defensive players in the nation has been an All-American in both his college seasons. The Outland Award winner has 37.5 tackles for loss in just 24 career games played. Houston plays Fresno State in the Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24.

Penny finally got out of Donnel Pumphrey's shadow, and all he did was lead the nation in rushing yards. His 2,027 yards trails Pumphrey's school single-season mark set last season by just 106 yards, which he could get against Army. Penny finished fifth in the Heisman voting, the best finish from a Group of Five school in 17 years and best in school history since Marshall Faulk finished fourth in 1993. San Diego State plays Army in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23.

SMU is making its first bowl appearance since 2012, and Quinn is a huge part of it. He led the nation with 106 receptions, and only five players caught more than his 12 TD passes. Not bad for a guy who caught only 22 passes in his two seasons at LSU. His transfer has been the best thing for Quinn — and for SMU. During a three-game stretch in the middle of the season, he had games of 15, 17 and 17 receptions. SMU plays Louisiana Tech in the DXL Frisco Bowl on Dec. 20. 

It's not often when a defensive player is named the conference's Player of the Year, but Arkansas State's Rolland-Jones (No. 11, pictured) has done it twice now. He led the Sun Belt in sacks and tackles for loss and is half a sack away from being the NCAA's all-time leader. He is so disruptive and a force that opposing offenses struggle to manage. You've probably never watched him play during his four years in Jonesboro, but you will see him play next year on Sundays. Arkansas State plays Middle Tennessee in the Camellia Bowl on Dec. 16.

You look at Rourke's passing numbers, and they don't wow you. There are games when his rushing numbers look average — or worse. But then there are games where he just shines. The sophomore quarterback has five 100-yard rushing games this season, topped by his 165-yard, two-touchdown effort against Akron last month. He has thrown for 15 TDs and run in another 21 scores. Yes, 21, which puts him second in FBS in rushing touchdowns. Ohio plays UAB in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22.

Scott is a guy you root for. He's just 5-6 and had no scholarship offers as a high school player. In 2015, he was diagnosed with cramp-fasciculation syndrome, a rare disorder that causes his muscles to twitch. Despite that, he's still a dangerous weapon for the Bulldogs in that Darren Sproles kind of way. The guy can juke and spin his way to a big play. He's the epitome of the plucky guy at a small school who plays with his heart out when given the opportunity. Louisiana Tech plays SMU in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 20.

Singletary, the Conference USA Player of the Year, is fourth in the nation in rushing, and his 29 rushing touchdowns are eight more than anyone else. After getting off to a slow start, Singletary hasn't been stopped. He's rushed for at least 100 yards in the last 11 games, and in six of those games he ran for at least 150. He's the first player in FAU history to be named to an All-American team. He's 204 yards away from becoming the 30th player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. FAU plays Akron in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 19.

You will hear "Stevens to Gallup" a lot during the New Mexico Bowl this year. Gallup is certainly one of the best receivers in the country, but Stevens is no slouch himself. He's had a steady senior season and can hold his out in a shootout, which he could find himself in against Marshall. He's thrown for nearly 3,500 yards and 27 TDs this season. Colorado State will play Marshall in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 16. 

A shoulder injury took Stockstill out of the lineup for six weeks, but since he's been back, the Blue Raiders' offense has been cooking. Over the last four games of the season, he's thrown for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, which led to a 3-1 record during that run. Middle Tennessee plays Arkansas State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl on Dec. 16. 

Vander Esch made a splash this season and was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He had six games where he recorded at least 10 tackles, had three sacks and two interceptions. Not bad for his first season starting at linebacker. Going up against Oregon and the Ducks' offense will be quite a challenge for Vander Esch. Boise State plays Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16. 

White led Conference USA in passing, throwing for over 3,800 yards and 24 touchdowns. He took a bit of a step back from last season but still had a solid year. He's thrown at least 43 passes in a game seven times and thrown 49 passes in four of the Hilltoppers' last five games. The problem is that the Hilltoppers allowed him to be sacked 38 times. Western Kentucky plays Georgia State in the AutoNation Cure Bowl on Dec. 16.

Woodside, the MAC Player of the Year, has thrown 28 touchdown passes to just five interceptions this season (last season he led the FBS in TD passes). He's been a fringe Heisman candidate and yet another in a long line of solid quarterback prospects from the MAC. He's an accurate passer who is an outstanding leader and has the Rockets back in a bowl game. Toledo plays Appalachian State in the Dollar General Bowl on Dec. 23.