Top Prospects Competing in Thursday Bowl Games

Independence Bowl: 1:30 on ESPN

• Delvon Randall, Safety, Temple: Temple’s senior defender is not only a team leader, but their top playmaker. Randall is a hard hitting safety with good size and ball skills. Against a Duke passing game with a talented quarterback, Randall has a chance to play spoiler.
• Daniel Jones, Quarterback, Duke: In a weak quarterback class, with some top prospects set to return to school, Daniel Jones has already started getting draft hype. Jones’ size and arm strength will intrigue a lot of quarterback-needy teams; but consistency and polish hold him back from being a true top prospect. Against an opportunistic Temple defense, Jones having a big game will be a gem on his resume to finish his career.

Pinstripe Bowl: 5:15 on ESPN

• Wisconsin’s entire offensive line: Beau Benzschawel, Michael Dieter and David Edwards are all Top 60 type NFL prospects on Wisconsin’s offensive line. Each is a nasty steamroller and will deserve attention against Miami’s athletic offensive line.
• Michael Jackson, Cornerback, Miami: The Canes’ senior cornerback didn’t log any interceptions this season; but that’s largely because teams refused to target him. Jackson has contributed heavily in the run game for a cornerback and his physicality will be tested against a hard running Wisconsin team.

Texas Bowl: 9 PM on ESPN

• Jalen Hurd, Wide Receiver, Baylor: Jalen Hurd has had a strange college career. A few years ago, Hurd was one of the most promising running backs in the country at the University of Tennessee. Hurd had over 1,900 rushing in his first two years before a guy named Alvin Kamara cut into his playing time and Hurd’s phase out of the Vol’s offense. After 2016, Hurd transferred to Baylor where he sat for a year. During that time, the Bears moved the 6’4”, 220 pounder to wide receiver where he’s thrived this year. Hurd’s skill set is extremely unique as a big guy who can pick up yards after the catch with sneaky elusiveness and hard running. He will be viewed as a Swiss Army Knife during the draft process but seeing his last game against an SEC defense will be intriguing.
• Joejuan Williams, Cornerback, Vanderbilt: Being a large, productive SEC cornerback usually leads to a lot of national hype. However that exposure usually eludes Vanderbilt players. Joejuan Williams is a 6’3” cornerback with four picks and 10 passes broken up. He’s been a star for the Commodores this season and he’ll have a big test against Baylor’s passing game. No word yet on if the junior would enter the draft this year, but he’ll have a lot of interest from the NFL.