The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. The bowl season schedule allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Prospects
*Offensive tackle Donnell Greene has signed with an agent and will skip this bowl game. His projected draft range is sixth round to undrafted free agent.
*Running back Rodney Smith is out for the season with a leg injury. If he gets cleared medically, his projected draft range is fifth round-seventh round.
Carter Coughlin, OLB
Coughlin was the most effective pass rusher in the Big Ten this season, although he didn’t get a lot of publicity. In his career, he has totaled 107 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and five forced fumbles. This season he tallied 46 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
He has decent size at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds. Coughlin is still a junior and could return to school to improve his stock.
Projected draft range: Fifth round-seventh round
Jared Weyler, C
Weyler has been logging a lot of snaps at center since 2016. He has missed some time with injury, but the whole line seems to play better when he is in the lineup. Although he was not named to any of the All-Big Ten, he is one of the best linemen in the conference.
At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds he is a good size for a center.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Emmit Carpenter, K
Carpenter is one of the few kickers who could hear their name called in the NFL Draft. He has only missed one of 114 extra points and has a field goal percentage of 79.7%. His leg is strong, as he has made a few 50-yard field goals in his career.
Projected draft range: Undrafted free agent
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Prospects
* Running back KirVonte Benson only played two games this season after injuring his knee. He is just a junior and may return to school. His projected draft range is fourth round to sixth round, assuming his health is cleared.
TaQuon Marshall, QB/RB
Georgia Tech runs the triple option offense and Marshall has been operating it for the last three seasons. He has 2,115 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in his career. As a triple option quarterback, his best shot at the NFL is playing running back. He has experience running the ball and making quick decisions which will help his transition.
He is slight at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, but has good speed.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Brant Mitchell, OLB
Mitchell is an experienced linebacker who will get a shot with an NFL team. He has 217 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions in his career. This season he had 59 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Mitchell has ok size for a linebacker.
Projected draft range: Undrafted free agent
Make sure to check out our college football page for more updates and rankings.
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!