Bowl season is upon us. We’ll be updating this article with new prospects to watch each day of bowl season.
The 2018-19 bowl season is officially upon us! The next 3+ weeks brings 40 college football matchups, culminating with the 2019 College Football Playoff national title game at Levi’s Stadium.
In the past, we have created a different draft prospect watch thread for each day of bowl game action. This year, we’re trying something different. We’ll use one thread and for each day of bowl games, we’ll add prospects at the top of the page. For days with three or more bowl games, Josh, Alex, and Greg will each discuss a pair of notable prospects for the games. For days with one or two bowl games, they will rotate discussing notable prospects.
We will likely have a separate thread for the national title game, and if this thread otherwise fills up with comments, we’ll create a new one. In the meantime, enjoy bowl season!
Saturday, December 15th schedule
Tulane (6-6) vs. Louisiana (7-6), Autonation Cure Bowl — 10:30 a.m. — CBSSN — Orlando, FL
New Mexico Bowl: Utah State (10-2) vs. North Texas (9-3) — 11:00 a.m. — ESPN — Albuquerque, NM
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State (7-5) vs. #21 Fresno State — 12:30 p.m. — ABC — Las Vegas, NV
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern (9-3) vs. Eastern Michigan — 2:30 p.m. — Montgomery, AL
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Middle Tennessee (8-5) vs. Appalachian State (10-2) — 6:00 p.m. — ESPN — New Orleans, LA
Josh Eccles
Clifton Duck, CB, No. 4 - Appalachian State
Height: 5’10” | Weight: 177 | 40 Time: 4.56
2018 Stats: 48 total tackles, 5 passes broken up, and 1 interception.
Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State | 6:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | ESPN
An All American during his redshirt freshman season and a standout during his sophomore campaign, Clifton Duck will look to continue turning heads if he decides to take a shot at turning pro by entering the draft. He’s had a bit of a letdown of a season this year compared to previous ones - he had amassed a total of 11 interceptions combined between 2016 and 2017 and a total 14 passes broken up - but that hasn’t slowed down Appalachian State’s run at a bowl bid. Duck is small and quick and provides excellent coverage at the nickel corner position. His instincts and intellect provide him with the perfect combination of athleticism and IQ to be able to make a difference on each and every play. He play bigger than he actually is, too, which should make teams feel better about his slight frame. If he can add some muscle to his body and continue to work on his game then he has the potential of being a value pick for any team looking to pick him up in rounds 6 or 7.
Donnie Lewis, CB, No. 4 - Tulane
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 195 | 40 Time: 4.49
2018 Stats: 53 total tackles, 15 passes broken up, and 3 interceptions.
Tulane vs. Louisiana | 10:30 a.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | CBS
Lewis can play at the next level. He has 25 pass breakups and five interceptions over the last two seasons, and in 2016 he even broke up eight passes to go along with two picks. Lewis was often asked to cover an island in man, and he excelled there. That tells you what his coaches thought of him. He has the ideal body type to run downfield with speedsters and mirror quick wideouts in the short-to-intermediate ranges of the field. Lewis is a “stays in the hip pocket of the receiver” type corner; his interception and pass-breakup figures indicate that. He has the ability, if given the chance, to excel at the next level and - just like the aforementioned Clifton Duck - could provide really high value as a low risk investment in the latter rounds of the draft. The Niners have young talent in the secondary already but with Ahkello Witherspoon, Richard Sherman, and K’Waun Williams the only really solidified players at corner there’s always room for more talent to come in and grow.
Alex Eisen
E.J. Ejiya, LB, No. 22 - North Texas
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 233 | 40 Time: 4.65
2018 Stats: 113 total tackles, 9 Sacks, and 1 Forced Fumble.
Utah State vs. North Texas | 11:00 a.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | ESPN
A high-volume tackler who wraps his opponents quickly to the ground. Has good size for his position, and the measurables that scouts and evaluators seek at the pro level. Has demonstrated his abilities to defend against the run, and has the range to defend in pass coverage. Plays with the speed and aggressive style of a linebacker/safety hybrid. These types of prospects are being sought more and more by scouts and evaluators in the pass-happy NFL. Against a Power 5 and SEC opponent in Arkansas, Ejiya led all tacklers (12) and was the highest graded linebacker in the nation in Week 3 (85.5 – Pro Football Focus). His primary position at North Texas has been at the WILL linebacker in their 3-3-5 system. His sideline to sideline speed are amongst his best traits, and his ability to make plays over the top of the line of scrimmage offer him numerous opportunities to make a positive impact. Described as being very coachable with the will to learn more. Ejiya’s arrow is pointing up as he looks to end a long drought for North Texas and be the first player drafted from the school in fourteen years.
Blake Banham, WR, No. 2 - Eastern Michigan
Height: 5’9” | Weight: 195 | 40 Time: 4.54
2018 Stats: 54 Receptions, 714 Yards, 13.2 Yards Average, 5 Touchdowns. 7 Carries, 27 Yards, 1 Touchdown.
Georgia Southern vs Eastern Michigan | 2:30 p.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | ESPN
The former walk-on at Eastern Michigan has put together a successful collegiate campaign. The converted running back, now receiver offers multi-threat capabilities as a pass catcher, ball handler, and punt return specialist. Captain of the offense who leads by example, Banham is another great story of a walk-on who earned his scholarship position on the team. On tape, Banham finds open space, and fights for yards after the reception. I am concerned about his measurables, and is undersized for the position. Does not offer a large catch radius. However, that didn’t stop him from racking up three, 100 plus yard games against division one opponents. Plays with grit, effort, and determination. Good, but not great speed, and produces his best on shorter routes. Trusts his feet, and runs fluidly through his hips. Doesn’t have the longest strides, but makes up for it with his ability to shift and cut on point. Banham could have break-out, home run moments as seen in the brief video above. You can’t help but to salute his character, leadership, and relentless effort. Banham is a fringe seventh round-UDFA prospect who will most likely have to fight for a role on special teams at the next level.
Greg Valerio
KeeSean Johnson, WR, No. 3 - Fresno State
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 202 | 40 time: 4.57
2018 Stats: 93 receptions, 1307 yards, 14.1 average yards per catch, and 8 touchdowns
Arizona State vs. No. 21 Fresno State | 12:30 p.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | ABC
KeeSean Johnson is not a freakishly athletic wide receiver with explosive game breaking speed. He is, however, a good-sized dependable chain-moving receiver with consistent high production and a strong work ethic showcasing his capacity to improve each year. Johnson is a fluid route runner with a smoothness and sound technique to his game. He showcases great explosion off the line and displays nice bend on breaks coming out quickly with great suddenness and decent burst. He flashes strong reliable hands and is a natural pass catcher with excellent ball skills. Johnson wins in intermediate routes and although he does not possess elite speed, he does win deep match-ups with technique, length, body control, superb ball skills, and high pointing the catch with great athleticism. Johnson is the type of prospect one can find deep in the draft adding tremendous value at the next level.
Ron’Quavion Tarver, WR, No. 1 - Utah State
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 215 | 40 time: 4.64
2018 Stats: 62 receptions, 676 yards, 10.9 average yards per catch, and 7 touchdowns
Utah State vs. North Texas | 11:00 a.m. (PT) Saturday, December 15 | ESPN
Ron’Quavion Tarver is a size receiver showcasing great length, physicality, and catching radius with solid ball skills and reliable hands. Tarver extends his arms to make the catch high-pointing balls with nice body control, sound awareness, and baseball mitts for hands to make acrobatic catches. The former high school basketball athlete displays a good combination of suddenness and footwork with the ability to break in and out of his cuts separating from defenders, but also has excellent body control to post up like a forward winning contested catches. Tarver Lacks desired explosion and speed is questionable at the next level, but with the size and toughness he is a legit red zone threat with above the rim hops. Moreover, Tarver displays his toughness, physicality, and aggressive play in the run game finishing defenders all the way through the whistle (guard mentality with a nastiness in his game).
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