The bowl season means a lot of things, but after both Leonard Fournette of LSU and Christian McCaffrey of Stanford decided not to play in bowl games in order to prepare for the NFL Draft, the urgency of a bowl game for a player’s draft prospects has become harder to determine for every player. Which players really need a good performance in a bowl game to make an important statement about their draft stock? Here are four examples:
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State Buckeyes
Quarterback
The main worry about Barrett is that he is a running quarterback who doesn’t regularly sit in the pocket and make throws. Consider a previous Urban Meyer quarterback who was very creative when making read-based plays but did not cut it as an NFL pocket passer: Tim Tebow. Barrett has to eclipse Tebow, and a first indication of his ability to do that will come in the Fiesta Bowl and the College Football Playofff semifinals against Clemson. The Tigers have a defense with some hard-hitting and physical players such as Ben Boulware. If Barrett can not only beat Clemson’s defense but do so by throwing from the pocket, he’ll definitely help himself on draft day and make himself some extra contractual money.
Jake Butt, Michigan Wolverines
Tight End
There is an awareness that Butt is good at what he does, but he vanished in the second half of Michigan’s November 26 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Florida State, with a month to prepare, has athletic defenders who will be physically fresh and ready to deal out punishment to Butt while also covering him on all the routes he runs. It’s true that Florida State’s defense has endured its share of bad moments this season, but if Butt puts together a great game against athletes from the state of Florida, he’ll certainly gain leverage and positioning in the upcoming draft.
Dalvin Cook, Florida State Seminoles
Running Back
When Cook and Florida State lost to both Louisville and Clemson – two of the Seminoles’ biggest and most disappointing games of the season – Cook did not get that many touches, including and especially handoffs as a running back. Now, against Michigan – one of the most fearsome defenses in the country – Cook gets the kind of bowl test competitors dream of. If Florida State tramples Michigan and does so because of Cook, you’ll see the Seminole star get picked at some point in the first round of the draft. It will be hard for others to overlook any of the attributes he has.
James Quick, Louisville Cardinals
Wide Receiver
This is the receiver who ran out of bounds at the very end of the Clemson game, failing to get Louisville and Lamar Jackson into the College Football Playoff. Quick is an exasperating player, but part of being exasperating can mean heaving the ability to do great things. Quick can be so potent and productive. He has the skills of a top player. In the Citrus Bowl against LSU, Quick can’t make a single misstep. He’ll be fully vetted, so he has to let his good side show. If he does, he could enjoy a great draft day.
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina Tar Heels
Wide Receiver
There will be a lot of scouts eyeing the Sun Bowl for NFL talent – even if Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey decided to skip the game. North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky is one of the hottest names on the board these days and he could get some consideration for the No. 1 overall pick (rumor has it that the New York Jets are very interested in him).
Switzer has been a very reliable, productive receiver at North Carolina that some scouts might view as a Wes Welker-type. While he’s small in stature – he’s 5’10 and 185 pounds – he will be viewed as a quality slot guy. He is coming off a year where he had 91 catches for 1027 yards. These types of small-ish, productive, reliable receivers are en vogue in the NFL. See: Taylor Gabriel and Tyreek Hill (although those guys have more speed). A good game in this spot could elevate his stock, which some scouts suggest is currently right around the fourth round.
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