MEMPHIS (8-5) vs WAKE FOREST (6-6); Birmingham Bowl; Noon ET; ESPN … From a ‘who ya gonna watch’ for the draft perspective, the Birmingham Bowl match-up between Memphis and Wake Forest should have been #1 on everybody’s list for today. Indeed, the guy that just about every NFL scout wants to see today is Memphis junior RB Darrell Henderson (#8, 5-9, 200), one of the fastest rising players on the 2019 board, who exploded on the national scene this fall when he ran for just over 1,900 yards and 22 TDs. Along the way, Henderson averaged a remarkable 8.9 yards per carry while he added another 300 yards on 19 receptions. In fact, Henderson led all FBS players with over 2,100 yards of total offense. Henderson lacks an elite package of size and breakaway speed, but he has excellent vision and instincts, along with special acceleration and agility. Unfortunately, though, Henderson has opted to skip the bowl and begin his draft prep. Same story for Wake Forest, which has its own rising star in redshirt sophomore WR Greg Dortch (#3, 5-9, 170), who ranked in the top ten nationally with 89 receptions this fall and also made several All-America teams as a kick returner, but he won’t play this weekend because of a finger injury.
Meanwhile, both teams also have several veterans who could get some free agent interest including OG Phil Haynes (#74, 6-3, 310), C Ryan Anderson (#70, 6-5, 305), DT Willie Yarberry (#48, 6-2, 285) and FS Cameron Glenn (#2, 6-0, 205) from Wake Forest, along with G/T Trevon Tate (#72, 6-3, 295), C Drew Keyser (#54, 6-4, 295) and LB Curtis Akins (#7, 6-2, 235) from Memphis. Pro scouts will also be peeking in on UM junior OLB Bryce Huff (#55, 6-2, 245) who had 9.5 sacks this past season.
HOUSTON (8-4) vs ARMY (10-2); Armed Forces Bowl; Fort Worth; 3:30 PM ET; ESPN … This game could have been a must-see bowl stop for NFL scouts with Houston junior DT Ed Oliver considered to be a consensus top 5 prospect for the 2019 draft. Oliver, though, won’t play because of a lingering injury that limited him the last month of the season. The Cougars will also be without emerging dual-threat QB D’Eriq King who is out with a knee injury. The Cougars, though, will have at least one very good prospect for the upcoming draft in rangy CB Isaiah Johnson (#14, 6-3, 205) who has already been invited to the Senior Bowl. Johnson, though, likely won’t be tested here as Army seldom throws the ball. Indeed, Cougars’ defenders with a chance to shine against Army could be veteran LBs Austin Robinson (#22, 6-3, 240) and Roman Brown (#20, 6-1, 230) both of whom had over 100 tackles this season.
The resurgence of Army football has been one of the pleasant stories in a sport that needs more pleasant stories as the program won ten games this fall after posting 8 last year. In contrast, Army had just one winning season in the previous two decades. Included in that 10-3 record was an overtime loss AT Oklahoma, although the Black Knights also didn’t win a game against Power-5 competition this fall. And Army, which has only had two players drafted in the past 50 years aren’t likely to change that trend this coming April, although FB Darnell Woolfolk (#35-9, 235) will play in the East-West Shrine game.
BUFFALO (10-3) vs TROY (10-3); Dollar General Bowl; Mobile; 7 PM ET … If Memphis – and rising RB Darrell Henderson – isn’t THE team to see this weekend, then it would be Buffalo which plays Troy in the Dollar General Bowl in a match-up of two pretty good ten win teams. Buffalo, in particular, has at least one player who could conceivably sneak into the latter part of the opening round in senior WR Anthony Johnson (#83, 6-1, 210), a physical receiver with big-play ability who averaged over 18 yards per catch this fall, although his overall numbers were down somewhat this fall. At the same time, it’s hard for scouts to miss junior QB Tyree Jackson (#3, 6-7, 245), arguably the most imposing quarterback in this year’s class who has drawn some comps to Cam Newton. Jackson also has the arm strength to throw the ball through a brick wall; however, his mechanics and touch are still very much works in progress. On the other side of the ball, the Bulls are led by veteran MLB Khalil Hodge (#4, 6-0, 235), a tackling machine who had 130 stops this fall, twice the number as any other UB defender.
Troy won’t have anyone selected as early as Buffalo, but features a veteran roster with a number of late round or free agent candidates. Perhaps Troy’s best prospect is CB Blace Brown (#18, 5-11, 190), a nephew of Herschal Walker with nice length who may be something of a sleeper this coming spring if a knee checks out after he tore an ACL in the Sun Belt conference championship late last year after he picked off 12 passes through the 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, other Trojans to watch include WR Damion Willis (#15, 6-3, 200), NT Trevon Sanders (#90, 6-2, 320), OLB Hunter Reese (#47, 6-1, 225) and FS Cedarius Rookard (#24, 6-0, 205).
LOUISIANA TECH (7-5) vs HAWAI’I (8-5); Hawai’I Bowl; 10:30 PM ET; ESPN … It’s not quite saving the best for last, but pro scouts are looking forward to seeing if Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson (#45, 6-5, 260) who leads all of college football with 15 sacks this fall. Pro scouts still want to get an accurate sprint time for Ferguson, but it appears he may have moved into the early third round territory. Ferguson is probably the only Bulldog with a draftable grade, while veteran G/T O’Shea Dugas (#74, 6-5, 330) could get some free agent interest. There is a similar story for Hawai’I which has a very young lineup, but sophomore QB Cole McDonald (#13, 6-3, 205) and junior WR John Ursua (#5, 5-9, 165), who had 89 receptions for over 1,300 yards and 16 TDs, make up one of the most dynamic passing combos in the country.
