As bowl season comes around, I wanted to shine some light on some players that stood out for every team this season. I also wanted to look at some players that could be breakout stars during the bowls. Liam had a similar idea, so we combined forces to make a two-part series where we look at one player for each team. This is the second part of that series. For all of Liam’s analysis, I urge you to check out his video. There’s some fantastic thoughts in there from a really smart guy.

Bahamas Bowl — Miami (OH) QB Aveon Smith

Aveon Smith has been in and out of the starting lineup for the RedHawks as Brett Gabbert has battled injuries, but he’s performed very well when he’s been back there. He is Miami’s leading passer and rusher this year, while only playing in a little over half of the games. Smith represents the future in Miami and will be looking to cap off a very good freshman season in the Bahamas Bowl. He leans more toward the scrambling side of the spectrum but is capable of making big plays with his arm as well.

Cure Bowl — Troy EDGE T.J. Jackson

I’m cheating a little bit here using T.J. Jackson, as I used him for my player to watch in our Troy vs. South Alabama Game of the Week preview earlier this season. He rewarded me in that game by getting a sack however, so I’m going back to the same well and hope he shows out again in this game. Jackson has had a great season, racking up eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. The Trojans will need him to be disruptive again to have any chance of slowing down the high-flying UTSA offense.

Fenway Bowl — Louisville LB Yasir Abdullah

Yasir Abdullah was the silent leader of a surprisingly good Cardinals defense. He is a hard-nosed lead by example sort of guy, and he set a great example this year, putting up eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Louisville needed its defense to carry it some this year as Malik Cunningham battled injury, and Abdullah was a big reason the Cardinals were able to do so.

Celebration Bowl — Jackson State RB Sy’veon Wilkerson

Sy’veon Wilkerson was an absolute stud this year. He is built like a truck at 5-foot-9 and 204 pounds and runs just like one. He was nearly impossible to bring down with arm tackles, as he rushed for 1,115 yards and nine touchdowns. The Delaware State transfer will be looking to help Jackson State complete the perfect season at 13-0.

Las Vegas Bowl — Oregon State CB Alex Austin

I really could’ve picked anyone from this Oregon State secondary, as they all balled out this year. I ended up deciding on Alex Austin as he most recently made a big play for them. He knocked down a pass in the end zone on a massive fourth down for Oregon in the Beavers’ upset over the Ducks in the final week of the regular season. On the season, Austin had two picks, nine pass breakups, 53 tackles and a sack. The Beavers made it difficult for opponents to pass all year, and I expect them to do it again against Jack Miller III and the Florida passing offense.

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl — Fresno State QB Jake Haener

This is the Jake Haener legacy game. It could have been last week, but he is out to do it again in one of the best bowl games of the year. Cameron Ward vs. Haener is one of the better quarterback matchups of the season, and I’m looking for Jake to put on a show in his final game. The Bulldogs’ success has almost completely depended on Haener’s availability — if he’s there they’ve been great, but without him, they are lost.

LendingTree Bowl — Rice RB Juma Otoviano

It was a little difficult to pick just one player to focus on for the Owls, as they kind of do everything by committee. No one player is outright dominating any stat, and everyone contributes to the game. In the end, I decided to go with Juma Otoviano, as he has been the hot hand in the backfield down the backstretch of the season. He had a few games where he combined for more than 100 all-purpose yards and will be looking to do it again here. In addition to being a baller on the field, Otoviano also does great work in his community as an activist, and I’d like to spotlight that as well.

New Mexico Bowl — BYU LB Max Tooley

Max Tooley put a ton of good tape out there to make the claim that he was the best coverage linebacker in the country. It’s hard to say that’s not true when he had three picks on the year, taking two to the house. Beyond actually causing turnovers, he seems to always be around the ball on passing plays, clogging lanes and making things difficult for opposing QBs. His battle with Tanner Mordecai will be one of the biggest matchups of the day.

Frisco Bowl — North Texas LB KD Davis

KD Davis has been one of the leading tacklers the last two years. In fact, over the last two years, he is second in total tackles trailing only Jack Campbell after he racked up 132 this year, good for fifth in the country. He will likely rack up tackles again against a run-heavy Boise State team.

Myrtle Beach Bowl — Uonn CB Tre Wortham

Tre Wortham has had two fantastic years since transferring to UConn. After putting up two picks and four pass breakups last year, he upped that to four interceptions and five pass breakups this year. Beyond that, he has also greatly improved his tackling this year and has become one of the better tackling corners in the country. His matchup against Corey Gammage will go a long way in helping keep the Huskies in this game.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl — Eastern Michigan RB Samson Evans

Eastern Michigan changed its identity this year. After being an extremely pass-heavy team the last few years, the Eagles flipped to pounding the rock with Samson Evans. He has rewarded them greatly for making that decision and more than doubled his yards from his previous two seasons combined. He’s a big back, and he is extremely difficult to bring down. On top of that, he has a phenomenal RB name, which only adds to his cool factor.

Boca Raton Bowl — Liberty EDGE Durrell Johnson

Durrell Johnson is the undisputed leader of this Liberty defense. To go along with his eight sacks, he also led the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5. There was a lot of talk about whether he would opt out of this game to prepare for the draft, but he decided he wanted to play with his team one last time. The biggest reason for this? He said he wants to keep Liberty’s undefeated record in bowls alive.

New Orleans Bowl — South Alabama S Yam Banks

I am going to cheat again and use a player from the Troy vs. South Alabama game. Yam Banks was my other player focus from that game, and like T.J. Jackson, he backed me up with a big performance with a pick and a tackle for loss. Banks has a massive role in the Jaguars defense as he operates in what they call their “Husky” role. This essentially means he will often be the only player manned up on the opposition’s best player.

Armed Forces Bowl — Air Force RB Brad Roberts

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Brad Roberts put up the best season by a service academy skill position player of all time. I’d be willing to argue for the best offensive season ever, but there’s an argument to be had for Keenan Reynolds and Malcolm Perry. Either way, 1,612 yards and 15 TDs is a huge season, and he is the focal point of this Air Force offense. He and John Lee Eldridge III will look to get loose on a Baylor defense that has allowed 137.6 yards a game on the ground.

Independence Bowl — Louisiana S Bralen Trahan

If it wasn’t for Emmanuel Forbes at Mississippi State, Bralen Trahan would be the active FBS leader for interceptions. He is currently only one off the lead with 13, so if he has a huge game, he could retake the active lead in his last game. Louisiana’s defense will be leaned upon heavily in this one, as the offense will struggle to move the ball without star WR Michael Jefferson. Look for Trahan to try to make a big play to get some momentum on his team’s side.

Gasparilla Bowl — Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry

A.T. Perry is a large individual. At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, he is an extremely skilled jump ball receiver. Combined with quarterback Sam Hartman, he makes for an extremely potent deep threat. He is also surprisingly agile for a receiver of his stature and breaks off routes with agility. This is likely his last game before he enters the draft, so expect him to try to go out with a bang with his buddy Sam.

HawaiI Bowl — San Diego State DT Jonah Tavai

Jonah Tavai is a shockingly agile 290-pound DT with elite pass-rushing skills. He had nine sacks this year after having 8.5 last year. He’s gotten better every year at San Diego State and will now be trying to build some draft hype for himself. The first step to doing that is a big performance in the Hawaii Bowl.

Quick Lane Bowl — New Mexico State LB Chris Ojoh

The New Mexico State Aggies won five of their last six to get into the Quick Lane Bowl, and they are here to make some noise. They made it here on the strength of the 31st-ranked defense, led by LB “Mojo” Chris Ojoh. Their leader racked up 101 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, and is their quarterback on the field from the middle of the defense.

Camellia Bowl — Buffalo LB Shaun Dolac

Shaun Dolac is Buffalo’s do-it-all LB in the middle of the field. In addition to being third in the country in tackles with 134, he also added 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and contributed in coverage with seven pass breakups. He is one of the true defensive stars in the MAC and will be looking to put on a big performance against Georgia Southern.

First Responder Bowl — Utah State RB Calvin Tyler Jr.

Calvin Tyler Jr’s season was one of peaks and valleys, but when he pops, he pops big. Tyler had six games of over 100 rushing yards, ending up with over 1,000 rushing yards on the season with eight total touchdowns. He will likely need another big game here if Utah State has any chance of keeping up with Seth Henigan and the high-flying Memphis offense.

Birmingham Bowl — Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall

I am surprised Grayson McCall is playing in this game, but I absolutely will not complain about it. McCall entered the transfer portal recently and instantly became one of the best players in the portal. He is a stud quarterback who has the capability to change an offense. He has shown by running Coastal’s extremely complex option that he has a high level of football IQ, while also possessing good athleticism and arm talent. I’m expecting him to make a statement in this game to showcase his talents.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl — Wisconsin S John Torchio

With Nick Herbig opting out, John Torchio becomes the most important defensive player for Wisconsin. He is the Badgers’ best secondary player with five interceptions on the year, one of them returned for a 100-yard touchdown. He also won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, so he plays a good clean game and will be looking to end his career year with a bang.

Military Bowl — UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee

John Rhys Plumlee is the lifeblood of this UCF offense, and nearly everything flows through him. He is the architect of the passing game, and the run game becomes much easier as he is equally a threat with the ball. The Ole Miss transfer threw for 2,404 yards, ran for 841 more, and combined for 25 TDs. The AAC runners-up will likely come out hot after their loss in the title game, so it could be a JRP show.

Liberty Bowl — Arkansas RB Raheim Sanders

“Rocket” Raheim Sanders is one of the best backs in the country and a personal favorite of mine in the 2024 draft class. He is a jack-of-all-trades in the backfield, with a little bit of everything you want in a running back. He has good speed, can run through arm tackles, is shifty in space, has a cool nickname and is a receiving threat as well. I know it’s early, but he’s one of my favorites to win the Doak Walker Award next year. He’s that good.

Holiday Bowl — Oregon S Bennett Williams

Similarly to their neighbors in Corvallis, the Ducks had several standout defensive backs to choose from. Christian Gonzalez made my decision a little easier, as I finally decided on Bennett Williams. Williams hadn’t played a full season since 2017 due to injury, but he finally got a shot in 2022 and did not waste it. The 6-foot senior was a playmaker; with two interceptions and six pass breakups on the year, he was a key cog in the Ducks defense.

Texas Bowl — Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins

I tried to choose some unsung players in this exercise, but sometimes the player to watch is just too obvious. Quinshon Judkins, the freshman out of Pike Road, Ala., probably has Crimson Tide fans kicking themselves wondering how they didn’t get him. You could argue that as a freshman he got snubbed out of being a finalist for the Doak Walker Award after he put up 1,476 rushing yards to go along with 16 TDs. He also added another 116 yards and a touchdown as a receiver, just to give the defense more to worry about.

Pinstripe Bowl — Syracuse LB Marlowe Wax

Marlowe Wax is a rarity in modern day football. He led his team in tackles from an outside linebacking position. To go along with his team-leading 86 tackles, he also had 4.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. The sophomore linebacker took a big leap this year and will look to cap it off in a duel with one of the better rushing teams in the country.

Cheez-It Bowl — Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims

Marvin Mims is my guilty pleasure among college WRs. Last year, it was Miami’s Charleston Rambo (who should be playing NFL snaps), and Mims has taken his place this year. I’m not sure what it is with him, but I just love watching him play ball. I think it might be because I see such a clear comp for him, because every highlight I see of him it screams Tyler Lockett at Kansas State.

Alamo Bowl — Texas LB Jaylan Ford

Jaylan Ford was one of the best players on a Texas defense that was underrated all year. He got absolutely snubbed of being a finalist for the Butkus Award, as he had a monster season. His stats are undeniable, with 109 tackles, two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. He was anywhere the ball was all year. I’ll be very interested to see if he enters the draft, as this was his first year as a starter, but he raised his stock in a big way in 2022.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl — NC State CB Aydan White

NC State didn’t quite live up to the high expectations many had for it coming into the year, but that was no fault of the defense. The Wolfpack defense was one of the best in the country, and lockdown corner Aydan White was a big reason for that. The sophomore CB took a huge leap forward this year and nearly quadrupled most of his career highs from the previous two years. He was stout in run support with 41 tackles, and also had four interceptions and eight pass breakups in coverage.

Sun Bowl — Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda

There’s no official word yet on whether Israel Abanikanda is playing in this game, but my goodness does this game need him. Multiple opt-outs are expected from both sides here, as there is a plethora of draft-ready talent in this game. If one doesn’t, I hope it’s Abanikanda, who is my sleeper for the best RB in this class. Obviously it’s tough to beat out Bijan Robinson, but that’s how highly I think of Izzy. The word coming into the year was that Pitt would be running a RB by committee, but Izzy pretty much shattered all notions of that and became the workhorse very early. He did not disappoint either, rushing for over 1400 yards and leading the FBS in total TDs with 21.

Gator Bowl — South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler

All signs point to Spencer Rattler playing in this game, and as recently as two months ago, I would have said that’s not a big deal. Rattler seemed to find something though in the last couple weeks of the season, and a big performance against Notre Dame might boost his draft stock enough that he considers leaving this fall. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I could see a team taking a shot on him with a day two pick and hoping he pans out. So his performance here could have big effects on the Gamecocks’ trajectory next year.

Arizona Bowl — Wyoming EDGE DeVonne Harris

In his first year as a starter, DeVonne Harris performed in a big way and got himself on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list. He tallied up eight sacks to go along with 13 tackles for loss and was one of the leaders from a defense who swarmed the pass rusher. He was the leading sack man for a Cowboys defense that ended up in the top 25 in the country for sacks while also providing quality run stuffing.

Orange Bowl — Tennessee WR Bru McCoy

Cedric Tillman and Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt have already opted out of this game. I don’t think Tennessee will change its offensive approach for this game however, so even without Hendon Hooker and those guys, it will still be fast-paced and high-flying. So where do those yards come from? My money is on the 6-foot-3 USC transfer Bru McCoy. He quietly has had a good season for the Vols, racking up 619 yards and three TDs behind Tillman and Hyatt. This will be a good look at how the potential WR1 for the Vols next year handles the pressure of being THE guy on the field.

Sugar Bowl — Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn

I was very excited when I saw that one of the best RBs in the country didn’t opt out and instead wants to compete against one of the best defenses in the country. Good on good only breeds better, and that is what I’m expecting will happen for Deuce Vaughn in the Sugar Bowl. Vaughn didn’t quite have the touchdown production he had last year, but he was just as electric and is one of the best breakers of tackles in the country.

Music City Bowl — Kentucky S Jordan Lovett

If you want to look for players to look out for, look for the punters on both teams, as they will be out there plenty. In actuality, it only makes sense that I go with a defensive player here as this game will be extremely low-scoring. I ended up going with redshirt freshman safety Jordan Lovett, who made multiple big plays down the backstretch of the season. He iced the game with a pick against Louisville to seal Kentucky’s fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup, and he struck a little fear in Georgia’s hearts with an early pick against the Bulldogs.

Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal) — Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

This game is all on J.J. McCarthy in my opinion. We know TCU can run up the score and likely will put a decent chunk of points on the board. Let’s put a number out there and say 31. Can J.J. McCarthy get the Wolverines 31 points in a game against a good team where they don’t dominate the ball? That’s the question that is going to be answered come New Year’s Eve. It also will go a long way in saying who the quarterback will be in Ann Arbor next year.

Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal) — Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

In my opinion, Ohio State should be considered extremely lucky to be in the College Football Playoff after its dreadful performance against Michigan. Nevertheless, here the Buckeyes are, and they will look to rely on probably the best wide receiver in the country to get them over the finish line here. Georgia’s defense is legit, and without Jaxon Smith-Njigba to help the Buckeyes out, the Bulldogs will be focused and locked in on Marvin Harrison Jr. They need their star to have a big game if they want to beat Georgia.

ReliaQuest Bowl — Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon

Devon Witherspoon was a couple hundred hours on the JUGS machine away from winning the Jim Thorpe Award this year. If he turned just a couple of those 14 pass breakups into picks, he could have had a nice piece of hardware for the mantle. He did pick off three passes for the best passing defense in the country and will look to get another against Mississippi State’s air raid.

Cotton Bowl — USC WR Tahj Washington

I’m assuming here that Jordan Addison opts out to prepare for being a first-round pick this spring. If he does, Tahj Washington instantly becomes the guy on offense for the Trojans. Most people expected Mario Williams to be the WR2 for USC this year, but Washington came on strong and had a very good year. He will look to build on that against a Tulane defense that allowed fewer than 200 passing yards a game.

Citrus Bowl — Purdue RB Devin Mockobee

With Aidan O’Connell, Payne Durham and Charlie Jones all opting out of the game, this Boilermakers offense is going to look very different. The one remaining big piece is leading rusher Devin Mockobee. He rushed for 920 yards this year but was helped by the threat of a potent passing offense behind him. Without that, will LSU be able to load the box against him? The Tigers were fairly susceptible to the run this year, so that could be Purdue’s path into this game.

Rose Bowl — Penn State CB Kalen King

With Joey Porter Jr. opting out, Kalen King becomes the Nittany Lions’ CB1 in name for the Granddaddy of Them All. In terms of talent, he may have already been there. King was third in the country in pass breakups with 15 and added on two interceptions for fun. If he hits the JUGS machine this offseason, he is going to be an early favorite to take home the Jim Thorpe Award next year. Utah will be missing some key players in the Rose Bowl, so look for King to punish the talent discrepancy and try to take a ball to the house.