Welcome to The Broto “Devy Dives” series, where once a week we take a look at some of the biggest names and breakouts in College Football. Throughout this series, we will take an in-depth look at five players who either shone bright or failed to make an impact in the weekly slate of games. With the Devy and Dynasty Fantasy Football communities becoming more and more popular, this short read is your one-stop-shop for weekly updates on some players you need to keep your eye on!
Bahamas Bowl (December 16th @ 11:30 AM): Miami (Ohio) vs. UAB
Player To Watch: DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB (Junior)
UABsports.com
McBride is not a newcomer to this list, as he made an appearance in a recent edition when he torched Louisiana Tech in Week 12 for 272 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries. Paired with fellow running back Jermaine Brown, McBride is the hammer on one of the most dominant backfield duos in college football and he will look to crack the century mark in rushing yards for the 11th time in 12 appearances this season while taking on Miami (Ohio) in the Bahamas to open Bowl season.
Cure Bowl (December 16th @ 3:00 PM): Troy (#23) vs. UTSA (#22)
Player To Watch: Zakhari Franklin, WR, UTSA (Senior)
Franklin has become the heart and soul of the Roadrunners passing game, catching 80+ passes for over 1000 yards and 12+ touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. His 86 receptions, 1100 yards, and 14 receiving scores each led the team handily, and his consistency is hard to match, with 6+ receptions in 10 of his 13 appearances on the season. Piling up 270 yards and four touchdowns on 17 targets in his previous two games, Franklin is hot at the right time and will look to turn the heads of NFL scouts at the Cure Bowl.
Fenway Bowl (December 17th @ 11:00 AM): Cincinnati vs. Louisville
Player To Watch: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati (Junior)
Had he not declared, forgoing his Bowl eligibility in the process, Louisville receiver Tyler Hudson likely would have gotten the nod in this slot, with his 1034 receiving yards making him the only player on either team to breach 1000 scrimmage yards on the season. Instead, we pivot to Cincinnati receiver Tyler Scott, who has had a solid year himself with 899 yards and nine touchdowns on 54 receptions, leading the team in each category. Both teams field top-25 defenses, however, so nobody should be expecting a shootout in this game.
Celebration Bowl (December 17th @ 12:00 PM): Jackson State vs. N.C. Central
Player To Watch: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Jackson State (Sophomore)
The son of Hall of Fame cornerback and newly appointed Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is no stranger to the Devy Dives series, having made the list earlier this season. In a contest between two of the biggest powerhouses in the HBCU ranks, Sanders will look to win one final game to keep Jackson State flawless on the season before following his father to Boulder. With 3,383 yards and 36 touchdowns against just six interceptions on the season, Sanders looks well on his way to the NFL, albeit on the opposite side of the field as his legendary father once played.
Las Vegas Bowl (December 17th @ 2:30 PM): Oregon State (#17) vs. Florida
Player To Watch: Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon State (Freshman)
The only True Freshman to make the first list of the 2022 Bowl Season preview, Damien Martinez is yet another player who has previously seen his name in the Devy Dives series. Following a slow start in which Martinez was held to 50 yards or fewer in five of his first six appearances, the Freshman stepped up in a major way for the 17th ranked team in the nation, breaking the century mark in every game in the second half of the season while scoring multiple touchdowns twice. He is certainly a name to monitor moving forward, and that begins in Vegas over this weekend.
LA Bowl (December 17th @ 3:30 PM): Washington State vs. Fresno State
Player To Watch: Jordan Mims, RB, Fresno State (RS-Senior)
Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State running back Jordan Mims might not be the most explosive or efficient back in college football, but he sure has a nose for the end zone. While his 4.8 yards per carry on 243 rushing attempts are nothing to write home about, his 17 total touchdowns on the season place him in the top-10 across the collegiate landscape. While his age and status might not be enough for an NFL team to be interested, a big game from the fifth-year player might draw some interest as an UDFA for a team looking for a goal line back.
LendingTree Bowl (December 17th @ 5:45 PM): Rice vs. Southern Mississippi
Player To Watch: Luke McCaffrey, WR/RB, Rice (Senior/Sophomore)
This slot could have gone to two different players, with the son of former NFL star Frank Gore, Frank Gore Jr., handling a massive workload and leading Southern Mississippi throughout the 2022 season. What makes the contest even more interesting is the fact that another NFL star running back has ties to the game, as Rice gadget receiver Luke McCaffrey is the younger brother of 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey. Despite 2022 being his first season not playing quarterback, McCaffrey’s 793 total yards and seven total touchdowns were good for second and third on the team, respectively, and his dynamic skillset could help him find his way into the NFL this offseason.
New Mexico Bowl (December 17th @ 7:30 PM): SMU vs. BYU
Player To Watch: Tanner Mordecai, QB, SMU (RS-Junior)
This one hurts. I really wanted to talk about SMU receiver Rashee Rice one final time this season, with his 96 receptions and 1355 receiving yards placing fourth and second in the nation in 2022. However, following his declaration to enter the 2023 NFL draft, Rice decided to forgo his Bowl eligibility and prepare, leaving me to pivot instead to the man who helmed the sixth-best passing offense in the nation. Mordecai might not be seen as highly as Rice in the eyes of draft scouts, but his 3,306 passing yards and 31 touchdowns are impressive enough to draw interest in the latter rounds of the draft, should he declare.
Frisco Bowl (December 17th @ 9:15 PM): Boise State vs. North Texas
Player To Watch: Jyaire Shorter, WR/TE, North Texas (Graduate)
By far the toughest game to pick a player from, Boise State and North Texas both are quite shallow in the skill-position department. With no single player standing out, I instead pivoted toward a Grad student who has an intriguing stat line. Jyaire Shorter is listed at tight end for the Mean Green football team, but his 6’2, 215 lbs frame more closely resembles the size of an NFL receiver. Despite being undersized as a tight end, Shorter was a difference maker this season, taking 10 of his 22 receptions into the end zone. Between his 2019 and 2022 seasons, Shorter found paydirt on 19 of 46 passes. The efficiency is at the very least something to watch with the Graduate student.
Myrtle Beach Bowl (December 19th @ 2:30 PM): Marshall vs. UConn
Player To Watch: Khalan Laborn, RB, Marshall (Senior)
Khalan Laborn IS the Marshall offense. His 1,530 yards from scrimmage are over double that of second place Corey Gammage (724), and his 16 touchdowns are more than triple Gammage’s (5). Laborn’s age may hold him back from making it into the NFL, but his importance to the Thundering Herd offense simply cannot be overlooked. In Myrtle Beach on Monday, Laborn will look to make a final push onto the draft radar, with a good chance to impress against an underwhelming UConn run defense.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (December 20th @ 3:30 PM): Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
Player To Watch: Samson Evans, RB, Eastern Michigan (Senior)
Coming in at over 220 lbs, Samson Evans is a freight train in the backfield, and his ability to bulldoze his way into the end zone supports that notion. With 10 touchdowns in his past six games, Evans has propelled Eastern Michigan into Bowl season. Now taking on San Jose State in the most fun named of all of the bowl games on Tuesday, Evans will look to propel his own name into the NFL draft. Oh, and watch for some trickery, Evans also has a passing touchdown on the season. What fun!
Boca Raton Bowl (December 20th @ 7:30 PM): Liberty vs. Toledo
Player To Watch: Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty (Junior)
In another Bowl game in which no one player stands out from the crowd, diminutive Liberty receiver Demario Davis takes the final spot of the opening round of the Devy Dives preview of Bowl season. Standing 5’8 and coming in below 170 lbs, Douglas sees a mismatch in size almost every single time he lines up. That didn’t stop him from being the Flames leading receiver this season, as he used his finesse and speed to tally totals of 1082 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on his 78 touches. Douglas might be overlooked by NFL scouts due to his size, but his shiftiness and intelligence could push him into the league soon.
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By Trenton Roberts
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.