We're in the final stretch of 2022 college football bowl games, one last opportunity to see top 2023 NFL draft talent in play. Yes, we've see plenty of players projected to be high picks opt out of their teams' final games and start preparing for pre-draft events. But there will still be no shortage of NFL talent on the field over these remaining bowl games (along with the national title game on Jan. 9).
To get you ready for each day of bowls, we asked NFL draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller a series of questions about top draft prospects in play. These bowls offer many players one last opportunity to put up good tape for scouts and evaluators before all-star events and the combine, and some will face their toughest tests of the season. Who will stand out, and who can improve their draft stock with a huge day? We also asked draft analyst Steve Muench to pick out an under-the-radar prospect to watch for each day of games, and then closed with early national title predictions from all three of our experts.
Let's close out bowl season with Monday's four-game slate. (Questions from bowl games on Dec. 29-31 are at the bottom.)
MONDAY, JAN. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: USC vs. Tulane
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential: Utah vs. Penn State
With BJ Ojulari opting out of the Citrus Bowl, which LSU defensive prospect is now the must-watch guy here?
Reid: I'll be watching defensive back Jay Ward. He played primarily the nickelback (171 snaps) and safety (187 snaps) spots this season, but he's expected to be on the outside against Purdue because of the team's lack of depth there after a handful of opt-outs. Some scouts believe he's best as a safety at the next level, while others think he has the potential to be an early contributor at nickel, but this will be an interesting test for him.
At 6-2 and 188 pounds, Ward is a physical presence -- a solid wrap-up tackler who isn't afraid to get in the mix as a run defender. He has 51 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception and four run stops this season. And his experience at multiple spots makes him an appealing target in the late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 range of the draft.
Does Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes or Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown need the better game to up their stock?
Miller: I'm going to take Forbes here, despite a really good season. Forbes, unlike Brown, isn't all-star game eligible and needs this late-season boost to his stock, even though he grabbed six interceptions on the year to tie for second-best in the nation. The 6-foot, 180-pound junior doesn't have great size, but his ball skills and instincts have him ranked as an early-Round 2 player.
Brown, on the other hand, is one of the best all-around defensive players in the nation, compiling 60 tackles, three interceptions and three sacks this season. The 5-11, 208-pound senior has some Jalen Pitre to his game and is a second- or third-round talent. Brown has committed to both the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl, giving him opportunities to improve his stock, but this is it for Forbes -- assuming he plays after declaring for the draft -- until the scouting combine.
What is USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu's standout trait?
Reid: The two biggest areas that standout for Tuipulotu are his versatility and consistency generating pressure. His 12.5 sacks lead the FBS, and he managed 21.5 tackles for loss (tied for third) and 37 pressures (tied for 15th). Tuipulotu has strong hands and can also disengage and finish as a run defender.
But scouts will be especially intrigued by his game because of all the hats he can wear. This season, Tuipulotu played 328 snaps at defensive end, 145 at defensive tackle, 128 at outside linebacker and even 49 at inside linebacker. He projects best on the interior at the next level, but he's an interesting projection because of his 6-4, 290-pound size. I see him as a top-50 pick and a 3-technique in a four-man front in the NFL, which would allow him to surge and penetrate the first level.
Under-the-radar prospect playing Monday
Muench: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane. He has rushed for more than 120 yards in seven consecutive games, including 199 in the AAC championship game. He's a patient runner with the footspeed to bounce between seams and good burst through the hole. And at 5-10 and 195 pounds, he displays solid contact balance to break tackles and makes defenders miss with his ability to change directions and speeds when he gets into space. A Day 3 prospect, Spears is not a polished receiver or reliable pass blocker, but he shows the ability to pluck the ball out of the air and can be a threat after the catch.
Previously played
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Minnesota
Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Florida State
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Washington
Is Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse firmly in the first-round conversation?
Miller: Without a doubt. Even in a loaded pass-rusher class, Verse's quickness off the snap and open-field agility are perfect traits for NFL defenses, regardless of whether they run a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme. He gives me Montez Sweat vibes and could be a similar type of edge rusher early in his pro career, despite being a little smaller at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds.
My No. 28 overall prospect is expected to test very well in his pre-draft process, something that could only push him higher up the board. But first, I'm excited to see Verse -- who has 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss this season -- get after Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the Cheez-It Bowl.
What is Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim's pro ceiling?
Reid: We won't see Texas' Bijan Robinson or Syracuse's Sean Tucker on Thursday, but Ibrahim will be on the field for the Golden Gophers. He overcame a midseason ankle injury bug to pile up 1,594 rushing yards (fourth in the country) and 19 scores on the ground (tied for second). His sturdiness and contact balance at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds are the best traits of his game, helping him force 68 missed tackles (fifth) this year.
While Ibrahim still has question marks around his work in the passing game, he's a sledgehammer who will be welcome addition to an NFL committee backfield. He is likely a fifth-rounder in April, and scouts will keep an eye on what he does against Syracuse's solid run defense (3.8 yards allowed per rush, 42nd best in the country) in the Pinstripe Bowl.
What do you still need to see from Texas defensive tackle Keondre Coburn?
Miller: Coburn is the anchor of a talented Longhorns defensive line at 6-2 and 343 pounds. He's an agile mover, which allows him to get great upfield push on the interior (seven tackles for loss in 2022). Coburn improved his all-around game headed into his final season and became more of a pass-rushing presence, but I'd like to see better closing moves on the quarterback in pursuit. He is getting pressure, but he needs to find more ways to get sacks (2.5 this season, 6.0 total over 50 career games). Coburn should come off the board late in the second round in April.
Take a look at the highlights from Florida State's Jared Verse and Jammie Robinson as they announce their intentions to play in the Seminoles' bowl game.
Under-the-radar prospect playing Thursday
Muench: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State. A former South Carolina transfer who has led the Seminoles in tackles in back-to-back years, Robinson can line up over the slot, deep or in the box. He's a tough run defender, he's quick to diagnose routes in underneath zone and he flashes good ball skills (five interceptions over the past two years). The 5-11, 203-pound junior grades out as a No. 3 safety and core special teams contributor in the NFL, and I expect him to be a midround pick.
FRIDAY, DEC. 30
Duke's Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. NC State
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming
Capital One Orange Bowl: Tennessee vs. Clemson
How does Clemson's front seven stack up historically?
Miller: Injuries hit the Tigers' unit a bit this season, but there is no doubt this is a very talented and deep group. Five players from that front seven are expected to be drafted. Defensive end Myles Murphy won't play, but he's a top-10 prospect (12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks). But we will see Bryan Bresee, a first-rounder who was limited to nine games this year but still managed 18 pressures on 180 pass-rush snaps from the interior. Then there is linebacker Trenton Simpson (opt out), defensive end K.J. Henry, defensive end Xavier Thomas (foot injury) and defensive tackle Tyler Davis.
I'd still take Georgia's 2022 class over this year's Clemson group, though. The Bulldogs had four first-round front-seven defenders in April, and two more were picked before the end of Day 2. Oh, and that Georgia unit also had defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who is projected to be a top-five pick in 2023. The 2023 Clemson group is second on the list, but there's no beating that 2022 Bulldogs class.
What is UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson's ceiling as a pro?
Reid: He is one of my favorite developmental QB prospects of this class, and I currently have him ranked as QB6. Thompson-Robinson showed significant improvement during his final season at UCLA, seeing his completion percentage jump from 62.2% in 2021 to 69.8% in 2022. His 81.7 Total QBR this season was the best of his five-year, 47-start Bruins career.
He's a 6-1, 205-pound dual-threat passer who can win both inside and outside of the pocket and has the mobility to pick up yards on designed runs. DTR has a quick and compact release, and when playing in rhythm, he can throw with consistency to all three levels of the field. He's probably a third- or fourth-round pick, and best-case scenario, I think he can turn into a Jacoby Brissett-type of player who can be a solid spot starter in certain spots.
Which Tennessee prospect has more to prove on Friday, offensive tackle Darnell Wright or edge rusher Byron Young?
Miller: Even though he won't face Clemson's Murphy (opt out), Wright will have the bigger test on Friday. He made himself money and improved his draft stock by switching back to right tackle after spending the 2021 season on the left side. At 6-6 and 335 pounds, Wright allowed just one sack and five pressures all season, and he didn't blow a single run-blocking snap. He's my RT1 (and OT5) and can solidify that status against Henry and the rest of the Tigers' defensive line in the Orange Bowl. Right now, Wright looks like a late-Day 1 or early-Day 2 pick.
At 6-3 and 245 pounds, Young is a lean, undersized but mobile pass-rusher with really good first-step quicks. He's a Day 3 player for me at this point.
What is Maryland offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan's standout trait -- and is he still a top-50 prospect?
Reid: I saw Duncan up close earlier this season, and I currently have a third-round grade on him. His 2022 campaign was a bit of a roller coaster. He had great games against lower-tier opponents, but his worst outings came against the Big Ten's best teams, with him allowing pressure on 10.6% of pass-block snaps and six sacks against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Despite being 6-6 and 320 pounds, Duncan struggles to anchor and maintain initial contact. Scouts will be watching him closely against NC State, which has the nation's 18th-best pressure rate (33.3%).
His game revolves around his plus mobility. Duncan is an easy mover with springy pass sets and the ability to get to the second level, and he has few issues keeping his shoulders square and mirroring the initial movements of pass-rushers. NFL teams that run zone-oriented blocking schemes would be good fits, allowing Duncan to use his foot quickness more often.
Under-the-radar prospect playing Friday
Muench: Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA. The 6-4, 265-pound Latu transferred from Washington after missing the previous two seasons with a neck injury, and he now leads the Bruins in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (12). His 17.1% pressure rate is tops in the nation, too. Latu's burst, bend and ability to swipe hands off his frame and redirect inside make him a dangerous edge rusher. Medical checks will obviously impact if and when he gets drafted, but his ability to get after the quarterback and potential to develop into an every-down NFL player could make him a Day 2 pick.
SATURDAY, DEC. 31
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Michigan vs. TCU
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Ohio State
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State
Which quarterback in play on Saturday has the most to prove?
Miller: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State. The 6-3, 218-pound junior passer is headed toward a top-10 pick, but scouts will be questioning his ability to play off-schedule until he shows he can ad-lib and create on the fly. Stroud has fallen behind at least Alabama's Bryce Young this season, and maybe even behind Kentucky's Will Levis, despite throwing for 3,340 yards and 37 touchdown passes this season. This is a great opportunity against an incredibly talented Bulldogs defense to prove his pro-level ability and maybe make a few plays off-schedule to quiet critics' concerns.
Reid: Max Duggan, TCU. He has a tough matchup against a Michigan defense that's playing great right now and is stingy against explosive plays. The TCU offense is known to attack vertically -- Duggan's 9.0 yards per attempt ranks ninth in the FBS -- so I'm curious if the Horned Frogs can break a few big ones. But at 6-2 and 210 pounds, he can also hurt defenses with his rushing ability, gaining 404 yards and six TDs on the ground this season. Duggan is going to have to do a little bit of everything to pull off a win. I have him in the Day 3 range right now for April's draft.
Stack these mid-tier edge rushers by draft stock: Michigan's Mike Morris, Iowa's Lukas Van Ness, Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Ohio State's Zach Harrison?
Reid: I'll go Van Ness, Harrison, Anudike-Uzomah and then Morris. I expect Van Ness (6-5, 269 pounds) to be a huge riser in the coming months despite not currently being a starter for the Hawkeyes' defense. His hands are as strong as they come. The redshirt sophomore has 27 pressures on just 236 pass-rush snaps this season.
Harrison will be one of the biggest winners of the pre-draft process because of his measurables. He's 6-6 and 270 pounds with a ton of length, and I think he ends up an early-Day 2 pick. Anudike-Uzomah is a flexible edge rusher who has unique ability to bend, corner and win at the quarterback. At 6-4 and 255 pounds, a lot of his weight is in his upper body, which hurts him as a run defender. And Morris (6-6, 291 pounds) is a hybrid lineman who can play as a 4-technique in a 3-4 scheme or 3-technique in a four-man front at the next level.
Which Peach Bowl team has more draftable talent for the 2023 class in the trenches, Georgia or Ohio State?
Miller: It's actually Ohio State by a hair, with seven players ranked in my top 200 versus six for Georgia. The Buckeyes are anchored by an offensive line with four draftable players, including three -- left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., center Luke Wypler and right tackle Dawand Jones -- who could be top-50 picks. That trio combined for just one sack allowed all season. Right guard Josh Fryar is also draft-eligible and NFL-caliber, but he's not expected to enter the 2023 draft and could be the top guard for the 2024 class.
Georgia's talented left tackle Broderick Jones is a first-round talent and anchors a line that also includes Sedrick Van Pran (my No. 2 ranked center and a top-50 prospect). It's unlikely that right guard Xavier Truss or right tackle Warren McClendon will enter this year's draft, but both are on the 2024 radar as top-100 prospects.
On the defensive side, we'll also obviously see Georgia's Jalen Carter and Ohio State's Harrison -- two projected early picks.
Predict TCU receiver Quentin Johnston's stat line in the Fiesta Bowl.
Reid: Five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Johnston is a well-developed route runner and will get plenty of downfield targets on vertical throws, and his 6-4, 215-pound frame helps him tack on yards after the catch. I see some similarities to the Bengals' Tee Higgins, especially in the way he can tower over defenders at the catch point. He has battled an ankle injury this year, but the extra rest before the Horned Frogs' CFP game should benefit him. Johnston is a first-round prospect, and scouts will be watching him against a lot of other NFL-level talent in the Wolverines' defense.
What is your best comp for Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs?
Miller: A lot of people compare him to Saints running back Alvin Kamara (also out of Alabama), but I don't see that kind of power to his game. Instead, I see Cowboys running back Tony Pollard when watching Gibbs' ability in the passing game (42 catches this season), open-field speed and balance in space. They have similar builds, too: Gibbs is 5-11 and 200 pounds, while Pollard stands 6-foot and 209 pounds. And like Pollard has with Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, Gibbs might be best-suited to pair with a power back in a duet situation early in his pro career.
The biggest difference between these two players? Gibbs has a late-Round 1 grade whereas Pollard went in Round 4 (2019).
Which prospect is most in need of a huge performance in the College Football Playoff?
Miller: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU. The Horned Frogs' leading rusher will be put to the test against Michigan's defense, which allowed 2.9 yards per carry (fifth-best in the country) and 85.2 rushing yards per game (third) this season. The 6-foot, 220-pound Miller found the end zone 17 times, though, and can run over or around defenders. He piled up 1,342 yards on the ground and forced 71 missed tackles (tied for third). Thanks to a solid all-around game, Miller carries a Day 2 grade. We could be looking at this class' Dameon Pierce.
Reid: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State. He will be a unique evaluation because of his 6-8, 360-pound size, and his frame and skill set reminds me of Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown. I've seen growth with his patience as a pass protector -- the right tackle didn't allow a single sack this year -- and he has the powerful hands and outstanding strength at the point of attack to routinely overwhelm defenders. Georgia's roster is loaded with the kind of pass-rushers that give him problems, and scouts will be watching the leverage battle here. Jones has a high pad level at that height, so flexible speed rushers test his hips. Right now, Jones looks like a top-75 pick.
Under-the-radar prospect playing Saturday
Muench: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU. He has the foot speed, balance and burst to blanket receivers underneath, along with the speed to turn and run. He tracks the ball well and flashes good ball skills (12 pass breakups and three interceptions in 2022). Listed at 5-9 and 180 pounds, Hodges-Tomlinson is at a disadvantage against bigger receivers and gets stuck on blocks, but dismissing him because of his frame is a mistake. He shows the necessary toughness and strength to compete on the outside, and he displays good stopping power as a tackler. I like him as a Day 2 pick.
BONUS: Early College Football Playoff national championship (Jan. 9) picks
Miller: Georgia over Michigan. The Bulldogs will repeat as national champs with a defense that's just too good and an offense that doesn't make mistakes.
Reid: Georgia over Michigan. The Bulldogs' physicality in the trenches on both sides of the ball will once again prevail, as they go on to win their second consecutive national title.
Muench: Georgia over Michigan. Beating the top two Big Ten teams and becoming the first repeat champion of the College Football Playoff era won't be easy, but I don't see the Bulldogs losing to an Ohio State team that got rolled by Michigan, and the Wolverines' run-reliant offense is going to have a tough time consistently moving the ball.