BOWL THURSDAY

A couple of teams that figured they deserved a better bowl fate highlight a busy Friday schedule in college bowl action. In fact, both California and Rutgers, each of which thinks it should be playing on New Year’s Day are loaded with top prospects for the upcoming draft and should give pro scouts plenty to chew on later this evening.


Thursday, December 28

Independence Bowl, Shreveport; 4:30 PM ET; ESPN

Alabama (6-6) vs Oklahoma State (6-6)
They might want to call this one the ‘were not really sure we want to be here’ bowl as the coach-less 6-6 Alabama Crimson Tide take on the equally 6-6 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Independence Bowl. However, since both teams apparently are showing up something will have to give as Oklahoma State can put points on the board, but can’t stop anyone, while Alabama struggles to move the ball, but plays stout defense. And while neither Alabama nor State features any likely opening-round prospects for the 2007 draft, each team has at least one first-day candidate. The Alabama defense, for example, is led by OLB Juwan Simpson (#42, 6-3, 222) who overcame some preseason off-field woes to post 73 tackles, including 5 for loss and an interception. The Tide defense in fact is a veteran unit which also includes several second-round prospects in DT Jeremy Clark (#99, 6-2, 305), FS Jeffrey Dukes (#6-0, 195) and CB Ramzee Robinson (#1, 5-9, 190). Meanwhile, Alabama thought they had a potential first-rounder on offense prior to the season but RB Kenneth Darby (#34, 5-10, 205) had a very disappointing senior campaign. Darby will work out of the backfield with a pair of decent FB prospects in Le’ron McCLain (#33, 6-1, 255) and versatile Tim Castille (#19, 5-11, 235). Whether the Alabama offense can put up enough points to defeat Oklahoma State though may depend on sophomore QB John Parker Wilson (#14, 6-2, 205) getting the ball to junior WRs DJ Hall (#22, 6-2, 190) and Keith Brown (#6-2, 195).

A junior WR is also Oklahoma State’s key player. Indeed, junior WR Adarius Bowman (#12, 6-4, 215) is keeping his 2007 draft options open after hauling in 57 passes for over 1,100 yards this past fall. Bowman pairs with veteran WR D’Juan Woods (#84, 6-1, 210), a solid possession-receiver, to give sophomore QB Bobby Reid (#14, 6-3, 225) a pair of dangerous targets. And if Bowman should decide to stay in school for his senior season, the Cowboys may still get a first-day call this coming April as OT Corey Hilliard (#75, 310) who can play RT or OG, is one of the more versatile offensive linemen in this year’s draft field. The Cowboys are very young on defense, but do have some speed on the outside in DEs Victor DeGrate (#91, 6-3, 250) and junior Nathan Peterson (#13, 6-3, 250), while DT Ryan McBean (#6-5, 290) may get some looks at the next level as a 3-4 DE.

Holiday Bowl, San Diego; 8 PM ET; ESPN

California (9-3) vs Texas A&M (9-3)
With Southern California in something of a rebuilding mode this fall, the Bears had hopes that this might be their year. And while Cal technically shared the Pac-10 title with the Trojans, the Bears 9-3 finish resulting in an invite to the Holiday Bowl was not what they were expecting. California, though, may get some consolation at the 2007 draft where they should have a deep draft class than the Trojans. Junior RB Marshawn Lynch (10, 5-10, 225), for example, is a potential top 10-15 prospect after rushing for over 1,200 yards this fall, although overall Lynch’s season was considered a bit of a slump by his standards. And while Lynch was winning Pac-10 offensive player of the year honors this fall, CB Daymeion Hughes (#13, 6-1, 190) was taking defensive player of the year laurels. Hughes in fact has been one of the most productive defensive players in the country this fall but his lack of pure speed may cost him a first-round slot on draft day. Meanwhile, DT Brandon Mebane (#52, 6-1, 300) and MLB Desmond Bishop (#10, 6-2, 245) are also solid first-day prospects. The Bears also feature some excellent young talent including a track team of a receiver corps headed by sophomore WE DeSean Jackson (#1, 5-11, 160). and DT Brandon Mebane (#52, 6-1, 300)

Like California, Texas A&M finished 9-3 this fall, but while the Bears will be contenders at the 2007 draft, the Aggies will be mostly pretenders. A&M does have a couple of quality defensive prospects in MLB Justin Warren (#10, 6-3, 245) and safety Melvin Bullitt (#33, 6-1, 205). The Aggies could also have a sleeper at RB in RB Courtney Lewis (#25, 6-0, 205), a slasher with 4.45 speed who certainly has the tools to play at the next level but has been hampered by injuries. Indeed, Lewis doesn’t figure to get many carries against Cal with monster sophomore back Jovorskie Lane (#11, 5-11, 275) getting most of the touches. Indeed, the future is now for the Aggies who also depend on athletic sophomore QB Stephen McGee (#7, 6-3, 210) to run the show.

Texas Bowl, Houston; 8 PM ET; NFL Network

Rutgers (10-2) vs Kansas State (7-5)
Rutgers, of course, has fashioned one of the great stories in college football the past couple of years, rising from years of bottom feeding to national prominence. So figure the Scarlet Knights to be in a bit of a surly mood to be playing on December 28th after having missed out on a BCS bid by a whisker. Rutgers has fashioned its comeback the old fashioned way, that is with good players including at least a couple of top prospects for the 2007 draft in star FB Brian Leonard (#23, 6-0, 230), a Mike Alstott type who is a terrific receiver coming out of the backfield, and TE Clark Harris (#81, 6-6, 255) who isn’t quite as heralded as Leonard but might be the better overall prospect. Other veteran Scarlet Knights to watch with decent late round or free agent potential for the upcoming draft include speedy KR Willie Foster (#84, 5-10, 170), C Darnell Stapleton (#53, 6-3, 305), DT Ramel Meekins (#60, 6-0, 285), LB Devraun Thompson (#55, 5-11, 220) and CBs Derrick Roberson (#11, 5-10, 175) and Joe Porter (#24, 6-0, 200). The team’s best players, though, may actually be star sophomores RB Ray Rice (#27, 5-9, 200) and FS Courtney Greene (#36, 6-0, 185), while sophomore DE Jamaal Westerman (#90, 6-3, 255) is an emerging pass-rush threat.

They turned the page at Kansas State where Ron Prince replaced long-time Wildcats’ head coach Bill Snyder after a successful 17-year run which saw the Wildcats approach elite level-status. That didn’t always show up on draft day and it certainly won’t this coming April when the Wildcats aren’t expected to be major players at the 2007 draft. Indeed, the Wildcats don’t have any players likely to be taken on the opening day, but do have several second-day prospects including OLB Brandon Archer (#46, 6-2, 230), MLB Zach Diles (#52, 6-2, 230), DB Kyle Williams (#9, 6-1, 200), NT Quinton Echols (#56, 6-2, 305), and WR/KRs Yamon Figurs (#16, 6-0, 180) and Jermaine Moreira (#10, 5-11, 190), while TB Thomas Clayton (#5, 5-11, 220) could be something of a sleeper after slasher with reported 4.4 speed missed much of the year with an injury. In fact, the Wildcats best prospects are sophomore DE Ian Campbell (#98, 6-4, 240), a disruptive, tween-er edge rusher who had 11.5 sacks this fall, and freshman QB Josh Freeman (#1, 6-6, 240).....

UNLV has confirmed that junior CB Eric Wright will be entering the 2007 draft.....

Ohio State junior OT Kirk Barton reportedly will return to the Buckeyes for his senior season in 2007, passing up a chance to enter the NFL. Barton is one of four Buckeyes’ offensive starters who requested an evaluation from the NFL’s special draft advisory committee. Fellow juniors RB Antonio Pittman and WRs Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez have also requested evaluations of their respective draft potential.....


South Carolina red-shirt sophomore WR Sidney Rice reportedly plans to petition the NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee for an evaluation of his draft status, but mainly to determine the appropriate insurance policy to take out as protection against a career-ending injury at USC. Rice says, though, that he would consider leaving school early if he is projected as a top-10 pick in the April draft. In fact, the 6-3, 200-pound Rice was considered to be an early first-round selection prior to the season, but didn’t have a great season.....

According to media reports in both cities, Denver will receive Washington's 3rd round pick at the 2007 draft to complete the three-way trade last summer that also included Atlanta. Depending on this weekend’s results, the Broncos could still also get a fourth-round pick from the Redskins in 2008. The original language of the deal was rather vague and had left open the possibility that the Redskins and Broncos could end up swapping their first-round picks. Denver had wanted a high third-rounder when they parted with WR Ashley Lelie as part of the deal. And with the 5-10 Redskins guaranteed a top 10 pick this coming April, the Broncos will get their high 3rd rounder. Denver sent Lelie, who was holding out, to Atlanta in the three-way trade, while the Redskins got running back T.J. Duckett from Atlanta. The extra third-round pick will give the Broncos ammunition if they want to trade up. It was a high third-round pick that Denver packaged to improve its draft position and select quarterback Jay Cutler in April.....


Tampa Bay has confirmed that QB Chris Simms will remain with the Buccaneers. Simms, sidelined since the third week of the season after having his spleen removed, signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday and looks forward to trying to regain his starting job in 2007......