The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl.
Brevin Jordan, TE
The Hurricanes have had a matchup nightmare at tight end over the last few seasons in Brevin Jordan. In his career, he has 97 catches for 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns. For the 2020 season, Jordan has 30 receptions for 480 yards and five touchdowns.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he won’t have the prototypical size of an NFL tight end. Jordan does have good athleticism and speed, which makes him tough to guard. He will likely be selected on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Jaelan Phillips, Edge
Jaelan Phillips (photo via 247sports.com)
Miami was looking for a new impact player when Gregory Rousseau opted out of the season. Phillips was that player. He has 23.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his career. For the 2020 season, Phillips amassed 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Phillips has great size for an NFL defensive end. He played well this season and now has good tape for the NFL teams to evaluate. The predraft process could push him further up draft boards, but he is currently a projected day two pick.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Bubba Bolden, S
Bubba Bolden has had an interesting college career, as he started playing for the USC Trojans before transferring and playing the last two seasons with Miami. He has 84 total tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions in his career. In 2020, Bolden has tallied 65 total tackles, one interception and three passes defended.
He has great height for a safety at 6-foot-3, but will need to add some muscle to his 200-pound frame. This season, Bolden has made an impact for the Hurricanes, which has shot him up draft boards. At the rate he is playing, he should be a mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Other Draft Prospects
*Defensive end Gregory Rousseau opted out of this season and will not play in this game. He is a projected top 15 pick.
* Defensive end Quincy Roche has opted out of this game. He is a projected first or second round pick.
DE Jaelen Phillips (3rd-5th), OLB Zach McCloud (4th-6th), K Jose Borregales (6th-UFA), CB Al Blades Jr. (6th-UFA), D’Eriq King (6th-UFA)
Tylan Wallace, WR
Tylan Wallace (Photo via profootballnetwork.com)
Wallace could’ve decided to go pro after last season, but he was coming off of a torn ACL. He has had a solid career at Oklahoma State with 199 receptions for 3,384 yards and 26 touchdowns. This season, Wallace has 53 receptions for 872 yards and six touchdowns.
At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Wallace has ok height and will need to add some play strength. He is questionable for the Cheez-It Bowl with a knee injury, but already has a lot of great work on film. Wallace is a projected day two pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
Teven Jenkins, OT
Jenkins is one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the class after getting playing time over the last four seasons. He redshirted in 2016, which was his first season on campus. In his reshirt freshman season he played in all of Oklahoma State’s games. The next year, he got a starting spot and didn’t give it up for the rest of his time on campus.
He is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, which is good enough to be an NFL offensive tackle. Over his career, he has plenty of experience in both run blocking and pass blocking. While he likely won’t be drafted in round one, due to a deep tackle class, Jenkins won’t have to wait long to hear his name called.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
Other Draft prospects
RB Chuba Hubbard (3rd-5th), CB Rodarius Williams (3rd-5th), S Kolby Harvell-Peel (5th-7th), WR Braylon Johnson (6th-UFA), DE Amen Ogbongemiga (6th-UFA), QB Spencer Sanders (UFA), CB Christian Holmes (UFA), RB L.D. Brown (UFA)
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