Normally, there wouldn’t be much to recommend a bowl game between Central Michigan and Tulsa, but this year’s contest in the Miami Beach Bowl between the two is something of an exception. Neither team is anywhere near close to being ranked, but both the Chippewas and Golden Hurricane can put points on the board. CMU, for example, has one of the more underrated passers in the 2017 draft in QB Cooper Rush (#10, 6-3, 230), a mid-round prospect who threw for over 3,300 yards and 23 TDs this fall without a whole lot of talent around him. Indeed, Rush is the Chippewas only legit prospect for the upcoming draft, although FS Tony Annese (#18, 6-1, 215) could get some free agent interest. CMU, though, have some intriguing younger players including juniors like WR Corey Willis (#8, 5-9, 175), DE Joe Ostman (#45, 6-3, 255) and CB Amari Coleman (#7, 5-10, 190) and redshirt sophomore MLB Malik Fountain (#8, 6-2, 230).
For its part, Tulsa is led by its own version the triplets in QB Dane Evans (#9, 6-1, 210), RB James Flanders (#20, 5-9, 205) and WR Keevan Lucas (#2, 5-10, 195), although Lucas is the only one the three who rates as more than a fringe draft prospect. This year, for example, Lucas had 74 receptions for over 1,100 yards and 12 scores. Meanwhile, G/T Blake Belcher (#78, 6-5, 305) could get some free-agent consideration.
