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 2024 Fiesta Bowl.
Kaidon Salter, QB
Salter joined Liberty in 2021 and started contributing in 2021 for the Flames. In his career, he has passed for 3,877 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 60 percent completion. This season, he has passed for 2,750 yards, 31 touchdowns and five interceptions on 60.9 percent completion. He has also rushed for over 1,400 yards in his career.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Salter is a little undersized for an NFL quarterback. Salter has good athletic ability and can make plays out of structure. He has eligibility remaining and will likely return to school in order to improve his draft stock.
Projected Draft Range: Undrafted Free Agent
Quinton Cooley, RB
Cooley spent three seasons at Wake Forest, but transferred to Liberty before the 2023 season to create more of an impact. In his FBS career, he has 1,724 rushing yards, 75 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. This season, he has registered 1,322 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
He stands 5-foot-9 and 213 pounds, which makes him shorter, but he has a good build. Cooley has one year of great production. He likely will want to return to school to improve his versatility, as he may not be a good candidate to play third downs at the NFL level.
Projected Draft Range: Undrafted Free Agent
Other Draft Prospects: WR C.J. Daniels (UFA)
Bo Nix, QB
Nix started his college career at Auburn before transferring to Oregon for the 2022 season. In his career, he has passed for 14,989 yards, 108 touchdowns and 26 interceptions on 66.2 percent completion. This season, he has passed for 4,145 yards, 40 touchdowns and three interceptions on 77.2 percent completion.
He is 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, which is a decent size for an NFL quarterback. Nix has plenty of experience, but a lot of his passes in college are at or behind the line of scrimmage. He has good physical tools and could develop with some time.
Projected Draft Range: 1st Round Pick-2nd Round Pick
Troy Franklin, WR
Franklin joined Oregon in 2021 and improved his stock every season he spent as a Ducks. For his career, he has 160 receptions for 2,483 yards and 25 touchdowns. This season, Franklin has had his best year yet with 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns.
At 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds, Franklin has good size for an NFL receiver, but will need to add strength to fill out his frame. He has a size advantage over defensive backs and uses it to win jump balls downfield. Franklin has eligibility remaining, but likely is going into the draft, as he is a projected early-round pick.
Projected Draft Range: 1st Round Pick-2nd Round Pick
*IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson has opted out of this bowl game. He is a projected mid-round pick.
*RB Bucky Irving has opted out of this bowl game. He is a projected mid-round pick.
*CB Khyree Jackson has opted out of this bowl game. He is a projected mid-round pick.
Other Draft Prospects: DL Brandon Dorlus (3rd-5th), DL Jordan Burch (4th-6th), OT Ajani Cornelius (5th-7th), S Evan Williams (5th-7th), WR Tez Johnson (5th-7th), WR Traeshon Holden (6th-UFA), LB Jestin Jacobs (6th-UFA)
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