The day before the holiday season really kicks off, the Hawai’i Bowl (8 PM on ESPN) is the only bowl on for the next two days. Unsurprisingly the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors are one of the featured teams in a match up against the MTSU Blue Raiders in what figures to be a high scoring affair. Both teams have prolific offenses and MTSU especially has some exciting players on both sides of the ball. Though they may not go early, here are some names to keep an eye on who might pop up in a few months on draft day.
- Marcus Kemp, WR, Hawai’i: The Rainbow Warrior’s biggest threat on offense is their senior, six foot three receiver. Kemp does not have great speed, but he does a good job using his body with the ball in the air and has dependable hands, making him a viable threat in the red zone. Kemp may not be a multidimensional threat, but his dependability and ball skills should get him looks in the NFL draft.
- Jeremy Cutrer, CB, MTSU: The leader of the Blue Raider defense is undoubtedly their senior cornerback. The six foot two, 170 pounder has been an impact player for the last two years he has started. Though he is not a great athlete, his length and ball skills help him in coverage. His knack for finding the ball has resulted in 29 passes defended in the last two years, including six interceptions. Cutrer is not just a cover guy, either. He also has an excellent ability to come u and stop the run. Today should be a fun match up between him and Marcus Kemp and he will get to show off his well rounded defending skills.
- I’Tavius Mathers, RB, MTSU: The best draft eligible player in the game and one of two of MTSU’s dynamic skill players (the other, Richie James, is an underclassmen, although a stud) is I’Tavius Mathers. Mathers may not have prototypical running back size at five foot ten and 195 pounds, but he has incredibly dynamic athletic ability and versatility that make him impossible to defend. The senior running back has already racked up over 2000 scrimmage yards and 19 total touchdowns this season, with an incredible 589 receiving yards and averaging almost seven yards per carry. Mathers’ dynamic ability should supersede his size in the course of evaluating him because he absolutely has a place in the NFL.