The 2015-2016 college football bowl season continues to roll on Saturday with six more games. And while there is no reason not to watch all six, other than two of them being on at the same time, we're going to use this opportunity to focus on three.
The two games we won't be looking at are:
St. Petersburg Bowl -- Marshall vs. Connecticut (11 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Heart of Dallas Bowl -- Washington vs. Southern Mississippi (2:20 p.m., ESPN)
And now for the games we will be taking a look at:
Sun Bowl -- Miami (Fl.) vs. Washington State (2 p.m., CBS)
The last game before Mark Richt takes control of Miami, the Sun Bowl could be a fun one. Miami QB Brad Kaaya is a promising prospect for the 2017 (or beyond) drafts, but the sophomore won't be eligible for the 2016 draft. He is, however, talented and a true "Pro Style" quarterback. Miami's top prospect might just be Deon Bush. Bush is a rangy, athletic, and instinctive free safety with a penchant for delivering big hits. He gets uses all over the Miami defense and is aggressive no matter where he is on the field. That aggression gets him into trouble at times, and he will need to clean up his technique as a tackler and in man coverage.
Pinstripe Bowl -- Indiana vs. Duke (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Even though it feels more like baseball weather, they'll be playing a football game in Yankee Stadium on Saturday. The showdown between Duke and Indiana should be a pretty good one. David Cutcliff, former coach of both Peyton and Eli Manning, is quietly building the Duke football program into something formidable, and the Blue Devils have a defensive back who could be on the Giants' radar.
Jeremy Cash is listed as a strong safety, but the 6-foot-1, 210-pound DB is often used as a slot corner. He has the instincts and versatility to hang in coverage, but isn't afraid to lower his pads and deliver a hit in the run game. Unfortunately, a late wrist surgery has ended his senior campaign.
On the Indiana side, offensive tackle Jason Spriggs is likely the top prospect who will be playing in the game. Spriggs has NFL size at 6-6, 305, but also shows good athleticism as a former tight end. Spriggs has the reputation of being solid in both run and pass blocking, but having played in Indiana's spread offense could hurt his development as a Pro player.
Independence Bowl -- Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech (5:45 p.m., ESPN)
This is Frank Beamer's last game as a head coach. He retires with the sixth-most wins in CFB history, and as one of college's longest tenured coaches. On the field, this game features cornerback Kendall Fuller, who might be the most talented of the Fuller brothers to enter the NFL. Also worth a watch is pass rusher Dadi Nicholas. Though he plays along the defensive line for VT, Nicholas will be a linebacker at the next level. At 6-3, 235 he is just too small to hold up at the NFL level. He has a great first step and quickness as a pass rusher and a team willing to be patient and develop him could get a steal.
Foster Farms Bowl -- UCLA vs. Nebraska (9:45 p.m., ESPN)
The last game of today's lineup is worth staying up for.
Even without top prospect linebacker Myles Jack -- who is recovering from surgery on a torn meniscus -- UCLA has a number of prospects worth keeping an eye on. The first is defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Clark is almost purpose built to be a 3-technique in the NFL, with a low center of gravity, power, and quickness. He has a good first step and combines that with his natural power to burst into the backfield or stuff the run at the line of scrimmage. Clark has also played defensive end and nose tackle for the Bruins, and could likely find a home in any defensive front.
Next is running back Paul Perkins. Perkins is a compact running back who relies on patience and quickness to find his way through the holes his offensive line opens up. He also shows good vision, balance, and hands as a receiver out of the backfield.
On the other sideline, Nebraska's offensive line is always worth watching. Left tackle Alex Lewis is likely a later round pick, but he has the tools to develop into at least a viable back-up at the next level. At 6-6, 297, he is a bit lean for the NFL and will likely need to take a year (or two) to add mass and strength, but if he can keep his athleticism as he does so, he could be a gem.