With the football season winding down at both the college and NFL level, the focus is close to shifting to the future at both levels with an eye on the top prospects that have the potential to shine at the professional level. Bowl season will have NFL scouts busy as they search for the next superstar that can help take their team to the next level and there is no doubt that there are plenty of intriguing options with the potential to thrive on the offensive side of the football. Here is a look at the top five offensive prospects that participated in this year’s Bowl games.
Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Quarterback
The former Florida Gator revived his football career and his NFL stock with a strong performance at Louisiana Tech this season as he threw for 4,033 yards and 27 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions. Driskel put an exclamation mark on a stellar season with 458 yards and three touchdowns without a pick in the Bulldogs’ 47-28 win over Arkansas State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Driskel has a solid frame with a big arm and the potential to make all of the throws and it will be interesting to see how much his strong bowl performance will impact his draft stock as a top 10 quarterback prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Quarterback
Western Kentucky’s senior quarterback owns several school records and leads the FBS in completion percentage and touchdowns this season so all eyes were on him in this year’s Miami Beach Bowl when he threw for 461 yards and three touchdowns. Doughty certainly wasn’t flawless as he missed a couple of open receivers and also threw a pair of interceptions but he still impressed NFL scouts and he is currently projected to be one of the top five quarterbacks off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Running Back
The Bulldogs’ senior running back is coming off a productive season in which he ran for 1,070 yards and 19 touchdowns and he went out on a high note with over 200 total yards and four touchdowns in Louisiana Tech’s win over Arkansas State. Dixon showed off his all-around ability with 102 rushing yards and two scores on the ground as well as six catches for 159 yards and two touchdown catches. Dixon has the speed, power, size and hands to become an elite running back at the next level and he projects as one of the top running backs off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Corey Davis, Western Michigan Broncos
Wide Receiver
Davis put up an impressive 90 catches for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns at Western Michigan this season and he closed out his junior year with an impressive finale as he had eight catches for 183 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 45-31 win over Middle Tennessee. Davis still needs to work on his hands in order to improve his stock at the next level but he has been one of the most productive receivers in the country at the college level and it will be interesting to see where he ends up being selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Kareem Hunt, Toledo Rockets
Running Back
The Rockets’ star running back struggled this season because of injuries and suspension but he looked good in Toledo’s final game as he averaged 5.3 yards per carry while rushing for 79 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-17 win over Temple in the Boca Raton Bowl. Hunt is an explosive athlete that has ridiculous stop-star ability and a powerful motor that never stops. He might not go in the first three rounds but look for an NFL team to take a shot on Hunt’s high upside and potential in the later rounds. It seems as though running backs have become a very cheap commodity in the NFL and many teams will be looking to invest in a guy like Hunt in the later rounds rather than spending a first-round pick early on.
