The college football bowl season is nearing its end already. On Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, the Maryland Terrapins take on the Auburn Tigers on ESPN.
The TransPerfect Music City Bowl will showcase a few key 2024 NFL Draft prospects. Which players in the bowl game will be drafted this year?
Top NFL Draft Prospects in Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl will be without the most recognizable star on either team, Taulia Tagovailoa. According to College Football Network’s bowl game opt-out tracker, 22 players are slated to miss this game.
Maryland Terrapins Prospects
Roman Hemby, RB
The top offensive prospect in this matchup is Maryland rusher Roman Hemby. The 6’0″, 200-pounder doesn’t have the best efficiency numbers, but he’s a capable rusher between the tackles and adds value as a pass catcher. He’s totaled 2,310 yards and 20 touchdowns over the last 2+ seasons.
Hemby will benefit from playing in a more balanced, well-blocked NFL offense. Only a junior, Hemby might not come out after seeing less work this season. However, he’d earn Day 3 consideration in a running back class that’s really lacking depth.
His vision, short-area burst, and low pad level should earn him a shot to win a third-down role somewhere in the next two years.
Delmar Glaze, OT
One of the best pass blockers in the nation, we’ll see Delmar Glaze throughout the all-star circuit this offseason since he’s accepted a spot in the 2024 Senior Bowl. This game will be a nice test for Glaze, who will face some quick and strong pass rushers on Auburn’s defense.
The 6’5″, 311-pounder is nimble but not overly strong, so his technique will be under the microscope in this matchup.
Beau Brade, S
The best overall prospect in this game is also on Maryland’s side. Safety Beau Brade checks a ton of boxes, from his 6’1″, 201-pound frame to his experience helping in run support and his impact level in the passing game. Brade is all-around solid.
We have a Day 2 grade on Brade and project him to be a plus starter in virtually every scheme. He’s as reliable as players come at the position, and his athleticism will allow him to compete in man coverage when needed.
Jaquan Sheppard, CB
We hoped to see Jaquan Sheppard have a breakout season in his lone year with Maryland after coming over as a one-year starter at Cincinnati. His numbers and effectiveness are down across the board, so the transition to higher competition wasn’t smooth.
Still, Sheppard really only has two years of experience despite being a fifth-year senior, and a team should gamble on his 6’2″, 197-pound frame on Day 3.
Auburn Tigers Prospects
DJ James, CB
DJ James entered the season with potential first-round aspirations, but he didn’t have the consistent campaign we had hoped to see.
The 6’0″, 185-pounder is quicker than fast and projects especially well to the slot, but his footwork, anticipation, and route recognition aren’t quite where we’d hoped for a third-year starter. He has a Day 3 grade entering the offseason.
Nehemiah Pritchett, DB
Another Auburn DB who hasn’t built on his best moments is Nehemiah Pritchett, but that’s mostly due to injuries keeping him off the field for several games.
Pritchett has good size at 6’1″ and 180 pounds, and he can play as a slot safety or an outside corner. He moves relatively well, but his ball skills leave a ton of room for improvement.
Marcus Harris, DL
At 6’2″and 280 pounds, Marcus Harris is well-built for the infusion of hybrid defenses that have flooded the NFL. He doesn’t have the elite length of 4-3 edge defenders, but he has the bulk to be a 3-4 end or 4-3 under tackle. He’s quick and strong, and his play recognition and hand usage were leaps and bounds better in 2023.
With 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks this season, Harris should be drafted on Day 3. His athletic testing could shoot him up even higher.
Jaylin Simpson, DB
The best player on Auburn’s defense this season was Jaylin Simpson. Able to play safety and corner, Simpson blossomed into a more well-rounded, reliable, and playmaking presence as a fifth-year senior. He racked up only 36 tackles due to the scheme’s style, but he added four picks.
He’s another taller and slimmer defender at 6’1″ and 175, so his frame limits his draft range. However, he should start getting looks on late Day 2.