Bowl Game Week Three saw me watch 11 games full of 2023 NFL Draft prospects. Today, I look at the top prospects in five of those 11.
Each week, I will look back at the top prospect performances from the games I watched the previous week.
BOWL GAME WEEK THREE PROSPECT REWIND
CAMELLIA BOWL: BUFFALO VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Buffalo 6th-year WR Justin Marshall had a tremendous effort against GSU in the Bulls’ Camellia Bowl win. Marshall has a great size (6’3” 210). He finished the bowl with 11 catches for 127 yards and a score (on 19 targets).
Georgia Southern 6th-year passer Kyle Vantrease transferred from Buffalo. I don’t see him being anything more than a camp arm for an NFL team. In the week three bowl game, Vantrease completed 28/45 passes for 352 yards with two touchdowns. He also threw an interception.
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WISCONSIN
Oklahoma State safety Jason Taylor II has a chance to be a late-day three selection. Taylor has been a productive and rangy tackler. He could be a benefit for an NFL special teams unit. Taylor recorded 12 tackles (8 solos) against Wisconsin in the bowl loss.
Badgers’ punter Andy Vujnovich isn’t likely to be selected but should be brought in as competition in camp. He averaged 46.7 yards on seven punts, dropping four inside the 20.
MILITARY BOWL: DUKE VS. UCF
The top 2023 prospect for Duke, LB Shaka Heyward, opted out of this game. However, I just want to note that everyone should have their eyes on the 2024 QB prospect, Riley Leonard.
I continue to be impressed by the interior DL from UCF Ricky Barber. Barber has been disruptive in every UCF game I have watched this season. Barber finished the game with five tackles and 1.5 TFL.
HOLIDAY BOWL: NORTH CAROLINA VS. OREGON
This game, for both teams, was almost a look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft. UNC QB Drake Maye is going to be one of the top-rated passers for the ’24 class. The best prospect that played for the Tar Heels in this game was WR Antoine Green. Green caught three passes for 26 yards and a score.
The best prospect in 2023 for Oregon that played in the week three bowl game was center Alex Forsyth. The 6th-year pivot has a chance to be a Top 100 selection. Forsyth will play at the Senior Bowl in a few weeks.
PINSTRIPE BOWL: MINNESOTA VS. SYRACUSE
Gophers RB Mohamed Ibrahim finished off a stellar career with 71 yards and a touchdown against Syracuse. Ibrahim should be selected on day three and likely will outplay his draft spot.
Check back on Saturday for part two of the Week Three prospect rewind.