2017 Bowl Game prospects to know: Stanford vs TCU and Washington St vs Michigan St

Two fantastic matchups going on at the same time with a ton of big name prospects to know.

Stanford and Washington State both boast strong offensive lines that could afford Arizona Cardinals fans should know for day two and three of the draft.

This is a primetime viewing opportunity, so get ready to sit back and wear out your clicker to flip back and forth.

Alamo Bowl - Thursday 9:00 PM ET on ESPN
Stanford vs TCU

#20 Bryce Love RB Stanford 5’10” 196
Season Stats: 1973 YDS 8.3 AVG 17 TD rushing, 6 REC 33 YDS 5.5 AVG receiving

The Heisman runner-up is within spitting distance of a 2000-yard season, and a monster game (276 yards) could inch Love in front of Rashard Penny for the FBS rushing lead. The Stanford junior set a new record for 50+ yard runs in a season, and seems likely to declare for the draft a year early.

#8 Justin Reid S Stanford 6’1” 204
Season Stats: 97 TKL (51 solo) 5.5 TFL 1 SCK 5 INT 4 PBU

Reid is the younger brother of former LSU star and current San Fransisco 49er Eric Reid.

#24 Quenton Meeks CB Stanford 6’2” 197
Season Stats: 63 TKL (36 solo) 2 INT 7 PBU

Meeks has modest career numbers (seven interceptions and 17 pass breakups in 37 games), but he he’s sure to get a boost for size when it comes to his NFL Draft evaluation.

#66 Harrison Phillips DT Stanford 6’4” 295
Season Stats: 99 TKL (35 solo) 16.5 TFL 7 SCK 2 FF 1 kick BLK

Nobody on Stanford’s defense stood out more this season than Phillips, who, incredibly, led the team in tackles from his spot on the defensive line. The fourth-year junior has a year of eligibility remaining (he missed 2015 with a knee injury) but is expected to turn pro after this game.

#11 Ranthony Texada CB TCU 5’10” 170
Season Stats: 27 TKL (24 solo) 2 TFL 2 SCK 1 FF 1 INT 13 PBU

I’ve seen Texada go up against much larger receivers twice this season. He more than held his own against SMU and Courtland Sutton, and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard went for hard-earned 106 yards. Texada is small but fearless, and should get a look as a priority free agent.

#68 Joseph Noteboom OT TCU 6’5” 306

Noteboom is a three-year starter and will represent the Horned Frogs at the Shrine Game next month.

Holiday Bowl - Thursday 9:00 PM ET on FS1
Washington State vs Michigan State

#4 Luke Falk QB WSU 6’4” 223
Season Stats: 357/534 (66.9%) 3593 YDS 6.7 YPA 30 TD 13 INT

Falk has had a star-crossed senior season, featuring an in-game benching against Boise State, a five-interception performance against Cal, and various bumps and bruises. In the lead-up to this game, he’s been spotted wearing a cast on his left (non-throwing) hand. Falk is still expected to play, and needs just 187 passing yards to move into sixth place all-time among FBS players.

#76 Cody O’Connell G WSU 6’9” 368

O’Connell is a massive, lumbering guard, who head coach Mike Leach has nicknamed “The Continent.”

#61 Cole Madison OT WSU 6’5” 314

I watched Madison against Cal this year and came away thinking he can play tackle at the next level. O’Connell is the guy with the college accolades, but for my money, Madison is the better pro prospect of the two.

#50 Hercules Mata’afa DL WSU 6’2” 252
Season Stats: 43 TKL (30 solo) 21.5 TFL 9.5 SCK 2 FF

The redshirt junior led the Pac 12 in tackles for loss and sacks from his spot on the defensive line, but he’ll have to prove he can rush off the edge as a pro. Mata’afa will miss the first half of this game after being ejected for targeting in the Cougs’ season finale.

#3 L.J. Scott RB MSU 6’1” 229
Season Stats: 788 YDS 4.3 AVG 6 TD rushing, 18 REC 120 YDS 6.7 AVG 1 TD receiving

Entering the season, it seemed a forgone conclusion that Scott would enter the draft after his junior year, but the Spartan running back is aware his stock has taken a hit after a frustrating 2017. All signs point to Scott playing this game and attempting to right the ship before he makes a decision about his future.