Today’s slate of bowl games includes:
Belk Bowl, Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (7-5), 1 p.m.
Sun Bowl, N.C. State (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5), 3 p.m.
Music City Bowl, Kentucky (7-5) vs. Northwestern (9-3), 4:30 p.m.
Arizona Bowl, New Mexico State (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6), 5:30 p.m.
Cotton Bowl, USC (10-2) vs. Ohio State (11-2), 8:30 p.m.
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Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky, 6-5, 230 (junior)
Terrific edge rusher in college, but he’ll need to improve size, technique.
Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State, 6-2, 227
Size is deceiving as he’s more of a quick-footed back than a bruiser.
Jerome Baker, ILB, Ohio State, 6-1, 225
The defensive coordinator who lands Baker will have lots of choices on how to use him.
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Dante Booker, OLB, Ohio State, 6-3, 233
He’s never played a full season for the Buckeyes but could be a second-day pick.
Deontay Burnett, WR, USC, 6-0, 170 (junior)
Locked behind JuJu Smith-Schuster and Adoree Jackson earlier in this career, Burnett has emerged as a star in 2017.
Bradley Chubb, OLB, N.C. State, 6-3, 273
Likely to be a Top 10 pick and immediate starter in the NFL.
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Sam Darnold, QB, USC, 6-4, 225 (sophomore)
Could be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft … if he elects to come out.
Duke Ejiofor, DL, Wake Forest, 6-4, 270
Might be a better fit at linebacker due to his lack of size.
Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State, 6-4, 205 (junior)
He doesn’t get the attention of some of the other quarterbacks available, but there is a lot to like about the 23-year-old.
Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State, 6-5, 266
Could the Bengals take him on the second day and keep the Cincinnati native (Moeller) in Ohio?
Godwin Igwebulke, S, Northwestern, 6-0, 200
A solid tackler but still needs work in the pass game and could slide to Day 3.
Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State, 6-3, 295 (sophomore)
A bit unsung on the impressive OSU defensive line, but Jones has a lot of upside.
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Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State, 6-5, 310
With impressive athleticism for his size, Jones could slide into the first round with a solid Combine performance.
Ronald Jones, RB, USC, 6-1, 195 (junior)
Tough and quick, Jones projects as a mid-first rounder, which probably doesn’t make him a fit for the Bengals.
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M, 5-11, 201 (junior)
Elite speed should make him a first-round pick, along with his dynamic ability as a returner.
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Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State, 6-3, 260
A little stiff for an end, Lewis still collected 6.5 sacks in his rotation with Hubbard and Nick Bosa.
Uchenna Nwosu, OLB, USC, 6-3, 235
He can rush off the edge (7.5 sacks) or drop into coverage (one interception, 13 passes defended).
Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State, 6-3, 315
Unclear if he’ll play center or guard, but he should go in the first round and be ready to start right away.
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Will Richardson, OT, N.C. State, 6-6, 332 (junior)
He’s a top-20 tackle but could be a top-20 pick in 2019 if he stays for his senior year.
Jaylen Samuels, TE, N.C., State, 5-11, 236
A more athletic version of another H-back/tight end from Stanford, the Bengals’ Ryan Hewitt.
Jaleel Scott, WR, New Mexico State, 6-6, 215
An under-the-radar prospect who can really boost his stock with strong performances in his bowl game and the Senior Bowl.
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Cameron Smith, ILB, USC, 6-2, 246 (junior)
Gifted with instincts, intelligence and athleticism, he should go somewhere in the middle of the first round.
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State, 5-11, 184
Another in the long-list of first-round corners for the Buckeyes, and the Bengals.
Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M, 5-11, 2000
A ball hawk who makes up for a lack of speed with great instincts.
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