Thanks again Andrew for your help this season!
Happy New Year, Steelers Nation, and welcome to another great day of college football action! Bowl season isn’t over yet, as we have another four games on tap today. The action begins at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, as NC State takes on Kentucky. Also in action today are Ole Miss and Indiana, who play in the early window in the Outback Bowl on ABC.
Oregon and Iowa State should make for an interesting game in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, but the most intriguing game of the day has to be Texas A&M going up against North Carolina in the Capital One Orange Bowl. It should be a great day of football, so join in on the conversation and give your thoughts on these prospects!
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
NC State vs. Kentucky — Noon on ESPN
Keep an eye on Alim McNeil for NC State. I am hopeful that the Steelers can re-sign Tyson Alualu, but defensive line is a potential need, and McNeil brings an intriguing blend of size and strength. The Wolfpack also have a receiver in Emeka Emezie, who has the knack for making the acrobatic catch. For Kentucky, offensive linemen Drake Jackson and Landon Young have been consistent pieces for, what has been in recent years, one of the best offensive lines in the SEC.
Wolfpack Notable Prospects
Emeka Emezie WR #86
Alim McNeill IDL #29
Cary Angeline TE #6
Wildcats Notable Prospects
Drake Jackson C #52
Landon Young OT #67
Max Duffy P #93
Outback Bowl
Ole Miss vs. Indiana — 12:30 on ABC
Ole Miss receiver Elijah Moore and tight end Kenny Yeboah both opted out of the remainder of the season to prepare for the draft. For Indiana, receiver Ty Fryfogle was one of the most productive receivers in the country and will probably be taken at some point on day three. He has terrific hands and good body control.
Hoosiers Notable Prospects
Ty Fryfogle WR #3
Stevie Scott III RB #8
Rebels Notable Prospects
Ben Brown IOL #55
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
Oregon vs. Iowa State — 4:00 on ESPN
Deommodore Lenoir isn’t the biggest corner, but he is versatile and gets good position against bigger receivers. Running back CJ Verdell is a mid-round option who has good vision and burst through the hole. For the Cyclones, Brock Purdy and Charlie Kolar connected for over 500 yards and six touchdowns this season. Teams will love Kolar’s versatility. Tarique Milton is one of the most explosive receivers in the country, showing dangerous deep speed and the ability to take any ball to the house.
Ducks Notable Prospects
Deommodore Lenoir CB #0
CJ Verdell RB #7
Cyclones Notable Prospects
Brock Purdy QB #15
Tarique Milton WR #1
Charlie Kolar TE #88
Capital One Orange Bowl
Texas A&M vs. North Carolina — 8:00 on ESPN
Incredible offensive line play and a solid running game has led to success on offense for the Aggies. Kellen Mond has been very inconsistent, but he has made strides as a passer this season. Linebacker Anthony Hines is maybe their best draft prospect, displaying great leadership and ability as a run defender throughout the season. For the Tar Heels, Javonte Williams and Chazz Surratt are potential top 50 picks but opted out to prepare for the draft. Receiver Dyami Brown also opted out, which give us the opportunity to get a look at Dazz Newsome, who has good hands, gets in and out of cuts quickly, and isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field. He could climb into the mid-round discussion with a strong showing today.
Aggies Notable Prospects
Bobby Brown III DT #5
Kellen Mond QB #11
Tar Heels Notable Prospects
Michael Carter RB #8
Dazz Newsome WR #5
Which games are you going to be watching on this first Saturday of 2020? Are there any prospects in action today that you would like to see in black and gold? Let the BTSC community know what you think in the comment section below. Go Steelers!