2017 College Football Bowl Previews: Utah, West Virginia, Duke and UCLA Prospects to know

While everyone shakes off the cobwebs from a (hopefully) happy holiday celebration, and is (maybe) enjoying some extra time off from work or school, here’s a look at the 2018 NFL Draft prospects suiting up on the day after Christmas in this year’s bowl games…

Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl - Tuesday 1:30 PM ET Utah vs West Virginia

#9 Darren Carrington II WR Utah 6’3” 205 Season Stats: 66 REC 918 YDS 13.9 AVG 6 TD

Carrington transferred from Oregon prior to the season after an offseason arrest for driving under the influence of intoxicants. That wasn’t the first time the senior receiver found trouble. Way back in January 2015, as a redshirt freshman, he was suspended for the national championship game after failing an NCAA drug test. Still, Carrington has always been fairly productive, averaging nearly 16 yards per catch on 178 career receptions. He saved his best season for last, setting career highs in yards, catches and touchdowns, and despite some suggestions that he should sit out this bowl game, Carrington has said he will play Tuesday.

#11 Kylie Fitts DE Utah 6’4” 260 Season Stats: 22 TKL (13 solo) 3 TFL 3 SCK 1 FF 1 PBU

Fitts racked up seven sacks, four forced fumbles and 10 pass breakups in 2015, his first season with the Utes after transferring from UCLA. But since then, the senior pass rusher has been dogged by injuries. He missed most fo 2016 with a foot injury, and has lost several games this season to various ailments. Fitts expects to play in the bowl game, and will rep Utah at the Senior Bowl, alongside his teammate Carrington.

#93 Lowell Lotulelei DT Utah 6’2” 320 Season Stats: 12 TKL (3 solo) 1 TFL 1 PBU 1 kick BLK

Lotulelei’s brother Star was a mid-fist round pick several years ago, and for a while it seemed Lowell would follow in those footsteps. But the younger Lotulelei’s role in the Utes defense doesn’t lend itself to flashy statistics, and Lowell seems more likely to fall into the mid-to-late rounds.

#8 Kyzir White S WVU 6’2” 216 Season Stats: 81 TKL (59 solo) 6 TFL 2 FF 3 INT 4 PBU

Like Lotulelei, White’s older brother Kevin was also an early first round draft pick a few years ago. With quarterback Will Grier and receiver David Sills V returning to school next season, Kyzir White is probably the Mountaineers’ top draft prospect in the 2018 class. In his two seasons since arriving from the Juco ranks, White has 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions in 24 games.

#2 Ka’Raun White WR WVU 6’1” 199 Season Stats: 58 REC 978 YDS 16.9 AVG 11 TD

White took the same route as his brothers Kevin and Kyzir, starting his college experience at Lackawanna College before transferring to West Virginia. Ka’raun had a solid 2016 season cut short by a leg injury, but returned healthy this year to post career highs in every statistical category.

#25 Justin Crawford RB WVU 6’ 200 Season Stats: 1060 YDS 5.5 AVG 7 TD rushing, 8 REC 38 YDS receiving

Crawford is yet another Juco product who transferred into West Virginia and immediately took on a prominent role. He has rushed for over 1000 yards in back-to-back seasons, and in 2016, he ran for 331 yards in a single game against Oklahoma. Crawford is projected as a late round draft pick.

Quick Lane Bowl - Tuesday 5:15 PM ET Duke vs Northern Illinois

#99 Mike Ramsay DT Duke 6’2” 290 Season Stats: 42 TKL (22 solo) 9.5 TFL 5.5 SCK 2 kick BLK

Ramsay was lightly-recruited out of high school, but became a starter for the Blue Devils in 2016, and had a career year as a fifth-year senior this season. He logged 5.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss through Duke’s first five games this year, but his production has dipped since then.

#19 Shawun Lurry CB NIU 5’8” 170 Season Stats: 21 TKL (13 solo) 4.5 TFL 6 PBU 2 INT 1 TD

Lurry announced his presence with a two-interception game at Ohio State early in 2015, and finished that season with nine picks and 15 pass breakups. The diminutive corner has 14 interceptions and 33 pass breakups in 49 career games.

Cactus Bowl - Tuesday 9:00 PM ET Kansas State vs UCLA

#60 Will Geary DT KSU 6’ 306 Season Stats: 43 TKL (27 solo) 9 TFL 4.5 SCK 1 FF 1 PBU

Kansas State’s Geary gained notoriety when he was named to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list as a 20-year old redshirt sophomore in 2015. The former high school wrestling champ is a physical powerhouse, but his stocky stature will probably relegate him to late round or undrafted free agency status.

#3 Josh Rosen QB UCLA 6’4” 218S eason Stats: 282/451 (62.5%) 3717 YDS 8.2 YPA 26 TD 10 INT 2 rush TD

By most accounts, Rosen will be held out of this game for precautionary reasons, after suffering a concussion earlier in the season. Regardless of whether he plays or not, he is the early favorite to be drafted first overall this coming spring. Despite some uneven statistical performances, Rosen is a polished passer who shows flashes of brilliance each time he takes the field. He also exudes confidence on and off the field. Rosen entered the season facing questions about his personality, but appears to have eased concerns about maturity and his relationships with coaches and teammates, and he won’t even turn 21 until February.

#52 Scott Quessenberry C UCLA 6’3” 310

Quessenberry is a three-year starter for the Bruins, and the younger brother of Houston Texans offensive lineman, David Quessenberry. Scott is expected to test pretty well from an athletic standpoint, and could be a bit of a riser as the draft process gets into full swing.