The college football bowl season is well underway. Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Utah Utes take on the Northwestern Wildcats on ESPN.
The 2024 NFL Draft is coming into focus as the bowl games begin. We’re looking at the top NFL prospects in the Las Vegas Bowl. Will we see anyone drafted from this contest?
Top NFL Draft Prospects in Las Vegas Bowl
The Las Vegas Bowl has a few prospects to watch, but the transfer portal has diminished Utah’s depth more than its list of NFL prospects. According to College Football Network’s bowl game opt-out tracker, 18 players are slated to miss this game.
Northwestern Wildcats Prospects
Bryce Gallagher, LB
Well-built at 6’2″ and 223 pounds, Bryce Gallagher has NFL size and a history of terrific production. The fifth-year senior has three straight years of at least 90 tackles. He’s also registered 3.5 sacks, two picks, and three forced fumbles.
Gallagher isn’t nearly as fluid as his weight might suggest, and he’s not the downhill hammer you’d hope for, considering his coverage limitations. However, he does get into position effectively and has great finishing ability. Just don’t expect many impact plays that require standout burst or range.
Gallagher will likely go undrafted.
Aidan Hubbard, DL
Only a junior and seeing his first substantial amount of playing time in 2023, the 6’4″, 235-pound Aidan Hubbard was hard to miss as the season progressed. He tallied five of his six sacks in the season’s final five games, showing better quickness, pad level, and ball awareness as he gained experience. That’s the time of development that could lead to an explosion in 2024.
Hubbard’s lack of time on the field and thin frame for his height means another season can do his stock wonders. He’ll likely need to add 20 or more pounds to help fill out, and his run defense will hopefully improve with more functional strength. But Hubbard is deserving of a watchlist mention for next year.
Utah Utes Prospects
Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB
Thickly built at 6’2″ and 230 pounds, Ja’Quinden Jackson is more than a handful for defenders to deal with one on one. This season, he took over the starting role with mediocre and inconsistent QB play, causing his numbers to take a major efficiency dip. As the schedule progressed, Jackson had some standout performances that reaffirmed the belief he was a prospect.
Jackson’s not a burner, but his physicality and work in tight spaces allow him to chug along for extra yards. His vision and surprisingly solid footwork help him overcome those speed limitations. He’s not a pass-catching threat, but teams looking for a big body to punish light fronts and win on short-yardage threats should view Jackson as a Day 3 value.
Sione Vaki, RB/S
Not many playmakers were as fun to watch in 2023 as Sione Vaki. That being said, it was shocking to see him declare for the draft as a third-year sophomore. Vaki was a rotational safety until Cole Bishop suffered an injury, and he suddenly became Utah’s saving grace as the change-of-pace and trick-play running back.
The 6’0″, 208-pounder projects best as an offensive weapon. He totaled 520 yards and five touchdowns on only 53 touches. His straight-line speed and acceleration make him a must-watch threat for defenses to track.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
But Vaki isn’t experienced on either side of the ball. He’s a good enough tackler and can occasionally be used as a blitzer. His route running, vision as a ball carrier, and play strength are all untested on a bigger scale.
Vaki is incredibly interesting, but it’s hard to imagine a team would take him higher than Day 3 as a flier pick. There’s too much risk and projection otherwise.
Devaughn Vele, WR
Another surprising and possibly ill-advised early entrant from Utah is fourth-year junior wide receiver Devaughn Vele. The 6’4″, 205-pounder brings size to a wide receiver class lacking it, but he was largely unknown until his final two games of the 2023 season. He totaled 14 catches for 256 yards and one score against Arizona and Washington.
Vele’s size is great, and he plays how one would expect for his length. His speed is a concern, though, and he’s much more of a possession threat than a big-play star. He enters the offseason with a late-round grade.
Cole Bishop, S
The leader of the Utes is safety Cole Bishop. The 6’2″, 205-pounder does a bit of everything for Utah, and he’s loaded up the stat sheet over the last three years. Bishop fits best into a two-high look or as a slot safety where he can keep his eyes on the quarterback, but he’s far from a major weakness in man coverage or as the deep man.
Bishop is similar to Jordan Poyer of the Bills with 197 tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, three picks, and 12 pass breakups in his career. His ability to play at a high level should solidify his stock as a Day 2 prospect.
Zemaiah Vaughn, CB
Standing 6’2″, 175 pounds, fourth-year junior Zemaiah Vaughn challenges receivers with what you’d expect: length. Vaughn has good straight-line speed and fits best into zone looks where he can race to the catch point. His wingspan helps compensate for his lack of strength, burst, and agility, but those limitations remain.
Vaughn is another Day 3 value who will be dependent on his situation. He’s active in run support but struggles to hold up against tight ends, as expected.
Jonah Elliss, EDGE
There might not be a player drafted higher in this game than Jonah Elliss. The 6’3″, 232-pound EDGE defender is physically gifted and put up huge numbers. It’s hard not to be impressed watching him, but his 12-sack season was a little misleading with respect to his readiness for the NFL.
Elliss isn’t overly twitchy or fast, and he’s underweight to be a down lineman in the NFL. His best fit is as a 3-4 end, which buys him space and keeps a tackle away from his body off the snap. However, Elliss would benefit more from another year to get a deeper move set and more functional strength.