WEEK 18

The college football bowl schedule features a triple-header of games later today with South Florida taking on East Carolina in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, New Mexico hosting San Jose State in the New Mexico Bowl and Tulsa battling Utah in the Armed Forces Bowl. If there is a position of choice in today’s games it will be in the secondary where there are a number of decent prospects for the 2007 draft as well as some intriguing good young players.

Saturday, December 23

PapaJohns.com, Birmingham; 1 PM ET; ESPN2

South Florida (8-4) vs East Carolina (7-5)
Saturday’s first game between South Florida and East Carolina won’t quite go down as must-see TV for college football fans, but pro scouts will be watching a number of decent prospects for the 2007 draft. USF LB Stephen Nicholas (#51, 6-2, 225) is one of the more underrated backers in the country, while ECU features speedy WR Aundrae (#2, 6-0, 185) is a rising star in the upcoming draft class. Allison, for example, had 142 receptions the past couple of years, while Nicholas had 96 tackles this fall including 12 for loss and 2 picks. ECU also has something of a sleeper at OT in Eric Graham (#78, 6-6, 320) who has prototype RT size, but missed some time late in the season with a strained knee. Meanwhile, other ECU players to watch in this game include QB James Pinkney (#7, 6-3, 210), one of those good athletes playing QB, along with DBs James Flourney (6-0, 205) and Pierre Parker (#1, 6-0, 2150, while USF players to watch include LB Pat St. Louis (#54, 6-1, 230), along with athletic OT Thed Watson (#55, 6-5, 295). The Bulls also have some intriguing young players including junior CB Trae Williams (#21, 5-9, 185) who picked off 7 passes this fall, as well as freshman QB Matt Grothe who passed for 2,500 yards and ran for another 600 in an exciting rookie campaign.

New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque; 4:30 PM ET; ESPN

New Mexico (6-6) vs San Jose State (8-4)
It is probably no surprise that hometown New Mexico will be playing in this year’s New Mexico Bowl after the Lobos were passed over by other bowls the previous couple of years; plus, it should keep the Lobos travel expenses to a minimum. It is probably something of a surprise that San Jose State is in this bowl. In fact, it’s probably a surprise that the long-downtrodden Spartans, who last made a bowl appearance in 1990 are in any bowl at all, but after going 8-4 this fall are one of college football’s most improved teams. The Spartans may not be rewarded on draft this coming April but do have an emerging star in junior CB Dwight Lowery (#25, 6-0, 185) who intercepted a remarkable 9 passes this past season; that after he picked off 13 in a 15-game JC career. And while NFL scouts check out Lowery for future reference, they will also look in on several San Jose State seniors including LT Matt Cantu (#76. 6-3, 290), OG Marcel Burrough (#62, 6-5, 325), WR James Jones (#3, 6-0, 195), SS Chris Vedder (#8, 6-0, 205) and DT Freddy McCutcheon (#92, 6-2, 295), although none probably rates more than a free agent prospect for the upcoming draft. Meanwhile, New Mexico isn’t likely going to have a huge impact at the 2007 draft either but does have a couple of decent late round prospects in underrated OLB Quincy Black (#11, 6-2, 235), who had 113 tackles and 3 picks this fall, and OG Robert Turner (#59, 6-3, 325), while PK Kenny Byrd (#80, 6-0, 166) who hit on 31 of 37 FG attempts over the course of the past two seasons.

Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth; 8 PM ET; ESPN

Utah (7-5) vs Tulsa (8-4)

style="margin-left: 40px;" class="MsoNormal">The 2006 campaign was something of a disappointment for 7-5 Utah but don’t blame DB Eric Weddle (#32, 6-0, 200), who was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Weddle, who played corner this fall, but probably projects to FS at the next level which he has also played, had 6 interceptions this fall, two of which he returned for TDs; for good measure, Weddle also returned a fumble for a score. The Utes’ defense also features a pair of massive interior DTs in Kelly Talavou (#98, 6-2, 310) and Paul Soliai (#90, 6-3, 320), while SS Casey Evans (#31, 6-0, 205) does a nice job helping out Weddle in the secondary. Meanwhile, QB Brett Ratliff (#15, 6-4, 225) is something of a sleeper at QB while OT Tavo Tupola (#78, 6-3, 300) is an experienced, strong LT who projects to OG at the pro level.

Tulsa has quietly put together a very solid program in the shadow of the Sooner; indeed, the Hurricanes won 17 games over the course of the past couple of seasons including 8 this fall. That success likely won’t translate into any first-day picks at the 2007 draft, however, Tulsa has a number of seniors who will get some late round consideration including Canadian RT Jeff Perrett (#78, 6-6, 330) who anchors a huge offensive line which also includes OG John Hameister-Reis (#67, 6-5, 310), yet another Canadian, and C Aaron Danenhauer (#56, 6-2, 305). The star of the Tulsa offense, though, is junior QB Paul Smith (#12, 6-2, 195) who could be a factor at the 2008 draft. Smith, who completed over 65% of his pass attempts this season, has a couple of decent targets in WRs Idris Moss (#80, 5-9, 180), a former Syracuse speedster, and Ryan Bugg (#83, 6-0, 195). The Hurricanes’ defense is led by Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bunting (#41, 6-1, 230), a disruptive strongside LB. Tulsa also features a deep secondary including CB Nick Graham (#22, 5-10, 190) and safeties Kedrick Alexander (#2, 6-1, 210) and Bobby Blackshire (#4, 6-2, 205)......

MORE NEWS AND NOTES

Add UCLA junior OG Shannon Tevaga to the list of underclassmen seriously considering entering the 2007 draft. Tevaga has said he won’t make a decision about his future after the Bruins play Florida State in the Emerald Bowl on December 27th. Tevaga also has reportedly not yet filed paperwork with the NFL advisory committee to look at his draft stock, but the athletic 6-2, 313-pounder’s stock is reportedly moving up draft charts across the NFL.

The first big – or at least not small – post-season all-star game goes later today with the Magnolia Gridiron Classic in Jackson, Mississippi. The Magnolia game will feature a matchup between a team made up largely of D1A players whose teams are not in the regular bowls versus a team of players from lower levels. The game kicks off at 11 AM ET. Players that pro scouts will be keeping a close eye on in this game include Coastal Carolina QB Tyler Thigpen, UConn RB Terry Caulley, Eastern Michigan WR Eric Deslauriers and DE Kevin Howe, OTs Jason Capizzi of Indiana (Pa) and Brent Pousson of McNeese State, and DEs Marques Murrell of Appalachian State and Alton Pettway of Grambling. Here are the full rosters for the game.

http://www.magnoliagridironclassic.com/


While the colleges have the numbers, the NFL will also get in on the action later tonight when Oakland hosts Kansas City. While the Chiefs still have some longshot hopes of squeaking into the playoffs, the big story could be the Raiders who in the running to have the #1 pick at the 2007 draft. Indeed, the Raiders, who would have the second pick overall if the draft were held today, will clinch at least one of the top two picks this year with a loss tonight.....

Saturday

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-7) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-12) 8:05 PM EST

CHIEFS

The team held their day before the game walk-through on Friday.

#2 RB Michael Bennett (ankle) is out. #3 RB Dee Brown will fill in for him.

#3 WR/KR/PR Dante' Hall (illness) was removed from the injury report Friday and will play.

Starting ORT Kyle Turley (shoulder) remains out. Backup OL John Welbourn (ankle-probable) is expected to start for him.

Backup DT Jimmy Wilkerson (hamstring) remains out.

RAIDERS

Starting QB Aaron Brooks (neck-probable) is expected to start although he was limited late in the week. If he gets off to a slow start again, backup QB Andrew Walter could get some playing time again as he did last week.

Starting RB LaMont Jordan (knee) remains out with backup RB Justin Fargas starting for him again.

Starting FB Zack Crockett (heel-questionable) is expected to start.

Backup WR Johnnie Morant starts for WR Alvis Whitted (dislocated wrist/IR). Starting WR Randy Moss (ankle-questionable) didn't participate in Friday's walk-through and isn't expected to play with backup WR Ronald Curry starting again for him. Backup WR Jerry Porter (hip-doubtful) won't play.

Starting OLT Robert Gallery (elbow-questionable) is expected to start.

Starting G Kevin Boothe (elbow-probable) and is expected to start. Backup OL Corey Hulsey (knee-questionable) is expected to play.

Starting CB Fabian Washington (shoulder-questionable) is expected to start.