It’s the holiday season. That means it’s college football bowl season. This means that we all get an opportunity to watch 6-6 teams go to battle on the gridiron, which is the greatest gift any of you will receive this holiday season.
We’ll get unique matchups like Florida vs. Oregon State this holiday season. It also means it’s one more opportunity to get a look at draft-eligible prospects that haven’t opted out.
Throughout this bowl season, I’ll be giving Green Bay Packers fans what prospects I’ll be watching for each bowl game.
Let’s get started with the Bahamas Bowl, that’s not in Hawaii (explain that), and the Cure Bowl. Both games will be played Friday, Dec. 16.
Bahamas Bowl (11:30 a.m., ESPN)
UAB vs. Miami of Ohio
DeWayne McBride, the UAB running back, is the nation’s leading rusher and is a potential target for the Packers in the upcoming draft. Unfortunately, all reports are that he won’t play in the bowl game.
The prospect to watch (if he plays) is UAB cornerback Starling Thomas V. A standout track athlete in high school, Thomas was a state champion in the 100 meters in high school. That speed is his greatest strength on the gridiron.
Thomas enters the bowl game with 13 pass deflections and one tackle for loss. For his career, Thomas has two interceptions and 28 pass deflections.
Thomas has experience returning punts and kicks. He can play on the boundary or in the slot. With his world-class speed, Gutekunst could look to add cornerback depth on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Cure Bowl (3 p.m., ESPN)
UTSA vs. Troy
The Duluth Trading Cure Bowl is one more opportunity to watch Zakhari Franklin make jaw-dropping catches. The UTSA wide receiver is a walking highlight reel.
What can't Zakhari Franklin do?!?! My goodness. One ups himself every week pic.twitter.com/d2XTZDpMkI
— Chase Shannon (@chase_shannon) November 20, 2021
The Roadrunner wide receiver finished this season with 86 receptions for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Franklin has an easy accelerator off the line of scrimmage and is able to win vertically. He has strong, reliable hands and tracks the ball well. He’s a good route runner that’s made a killing on turning slants into big plays with his YAC ability.
𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄
Zakhari Franklin with his third TD of the game, setting the C-USA championship game record for most TD receptions.#210TriangleOfToughness#LetsGo210 #BirdsUp 🤙 pic.twitter.com/cEcnGtwmVJ
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) December 3, 2022
Franklin, if he plays, enters the game with 36 career receiving touchdowns. At 6-1, 189 pounds, Franklin could be a potential target for Gutekunst as he looks to continue to add young talent to the wide receiver room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Two other names to watch for the two bowl games are Ryan McWood, a sixth-year linebacker for Miami (Ohio). McWood has recorded 121 tackles, six tackles for loss, and one interception this season.
The other name is Austin Stidham, the starting left tackle for Troy. Stidham, a three-time Academic All-American, has 40-plus career starts at left tackle under his belt.
