The 8-4 Jacksonville State Gamecocks will play the 6-6 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in the New Orleans Bowl. How many NFL Draft sleepers are in this contest, and what impact can they make?
New Orleans Bowl Prospect Preview
Jacksonville State’s first season at the FBS level was a successful one. The Gamecocks went 8-4 and 6-2 in conference play under veteran head coach Rich Rodriguez, and they’ll now look to cap off their season with a bowl game victory against Louisiana.
The Ragin’ Cajuns rose to prominence under Billy Napier and remained a respectable Group of Five program. But injuries may make this matchup difficult for Michael Desormeaux, who won the 2021 New Orleans Bowl in relief of Napier.
Louisiana NFL Draft Prospects
Nathan Thomas, OT
Nathan Thomas is the highest-graded 2024 NFL Draft prospect on Louisiana’s roster on my board — but he won’t be playing in the bowl game due to a recent knee procedure.
Were he to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas would have a chance to be selected as a tackle-guard hybrid with his athleticism, power, and leverage at around 6’4″, 330 pounds.
Jacob Kibodi, RB
Losing Thomas on the offensive line will hurt, but the Ragin’ Cajuns still have a hard-charging running back in Jacob Kibodi.
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The 6’1″, 225-pound Kibodi began his career at Texas A&M in 2017 and rumbled for 729 yards and seven touchdowns in his seventh season this year.
K.C. Ossai, LB
K.C. Ossai is only a third-year player, so it’s likely that he’ll be a 2025 NFL Draft prospect at the earliest. But the 6’2″, 240-pound linebacker does have intriguing tools.
He’s the brother of Bengals EDGE Joseph Ossai and used his explosiveness and finishing ability to accumulate 77 tackles this year.
Jacksonville State NFL Draft Prospects
Malik Jackson, RB
Malik Jackson began his collegiate career as a WR at UL Monroe. The 5’9″, 185-pound playmaker is a first-team All-CUSA running back who put up 860 yards and seven scores in 11 games.
Jackson’s versatile background should catch the eye of evaluators, and he has a surprising contact balance for his size.
Perry Carter, WR
Perry Carter, whose father played in the NFL and CFL, played his first four seasons at UL Monroe before transferring to JSU in 2022. He was finally fully healthy this year and put up 34 catches for 603 yards, using his speed and quickness at 5’9″, 175 pounds to generate big plays.
Jeremiah Harris, S
Jeremiah Harris caught my eye when he jumped a fourth-quarter pass for an interception against UTEP earlier in the year. He’ll be an older prospect and is just 5’10”, 195 pounds, but Harris is a smart, disciplined, and fluid cover man who’s proven he can process route concepts and drive on throws.