The college football bowl season is well underway. On Thursday at 9:15 p.m. ET, the Arizona Wildcats take on the Oklahoma Sooners on ESPN.
The Alamo Bowl will showcase top prospects for the 2024 and 2025 NFL Draft. Which players in the bowl game will be drafted this year?
Top NFL Draft Prospects in Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl will be without some familiar faces, including former Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon. According to College Football Network’s bowl game opt-out tracker, 24 players are slated to miss this game.
Oklahoma Sooners Prospects
Danny Stutsman, LB
Oklahoma’s top eligible prospect is coming back to the program for 2024. Linebacker Danny Stutsman saw a dip in his raw tackle numbers, but he was a more impactful, well-rounded playmaker in 2023. It’s legitimately surprising he decided to go back because he had a Day 2 grade from our evaluators.
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At 6’3″ and 230 pounds, Stutsman is ideally built for a middle or strong-side linebacker role. He’s agile for his height and is competent in coverage. His power improved, and he can stack and shed blockers.
There’s always room to improve technique and coverage ability, which is likely what drove Stutsman back, but he’s a stud who could become a first-rounder in 2025.
Billy Bowman Jr., S
Another underclassman who surprisingly opted to go back for another season is safety Billy Bowman Jr.; the playmaking defensive back is coming off an awesome season with six interceptions, 61 tackles, and three defensive scores. He was impossible to miss in 2023.
Bowman’s projection has room for improvement despite his statistical jump. He’s only 5’10” and 188 pounds and is prone to being too aggressive in zone coverage. However, his agility, range, and instincts project well as a slot safety or as a two-high defender.
We had Bowman in the early Day 3 range.
Rondell Bothroyd, DL
After producing incredible pressure-rate numbers at Wake Forest, Rondell Bothroyd was supposed to be one of the best transfer additions of last offseason. The 6’4″, 258-pounder had 31 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in four seasons but broke out in 2021 with a monstrous campaign.
Instead, Bothroyd looked heavy-footed and lacked a real move set in 2023. Whether it was due to a scheme change, improved competition, or possibly adding too much muscle, Bothroyd was invisible most of the year. He had only 3.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks.
Still, evaluators don’t forget the flashes they’ve seen in the past. A strong draft process could earn him a late-round distinction.
Arizona Wildcats Prospects
Jacob Cowing, WR
One of the best senior receivers in the country, we’ll see Jacob Cowing at the 2024 Senior Bowl in a few weeks. Cowing fits today’s NFL as an electric route-runner at 5’11” and 170 pounds. He gets open quickly and can create after the catch, making him a perfect slot addition to any offense.
The former UTEP playmaker had a down statistical campaign in 2023 as the offense shifted to feeding his teammate, Tetairoa McMillan, but Cowing has been a star since Day 1, averaging 14 yards per reception and totaling 4,325 yards and 31 scores on 309 receptions. His size and role will limit his upside, but he should be taken by early Day 3.
Tanner McLachlan, TE
At 6’5″ and 245 pounds, senior tight end Tanner McLachlan has a lot of fans among NFL evaluators. The athletic pass catcher has come into his own over the last two seasons. He can win on short and intermediate routes or stretch the seam with his speed.
What’s best is McLachlan is a legitimate blocking threat. He has the power and agility to take on bigger defenders or landmark linebackers in space. While McLachlan is a better receiver than a blocker, he’s a well-rounded option for Day 3.
Jordan Morgan, OT
The best 2024 prospect in this game is left tackle Jordan Morgan. The 6’6″, 320-pounder has fantastic athleticism in pass protection, giving him at least Pro Bowl upside at the next level. Any left tackle with the ability that Morgan has will earn first-round consideration.
There are some technical areas Morgan can improve, including his balance during his kickback in pass pro. He’s also not the most functionally strong player in the run game. However, that’s not enough to warrant fussing over when Morgan was dominant for much of the season.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR
McMillan is a 2025 prospect and might be the WR1 in next year’s class. As a true sophomore, the massive 6’5″ threat is coming off an incredible breakout season. He caught 80 passes for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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McMillan lives up to expectations by using his size to box out defenders and overwhelm them with length at the catch point. He also appears to be a legit 4.4-speed guy, and his footwork and coordination are terrific for his mass. He’s not Mike Evans, but he’s also not far from being that level of playmaker.
Ephesians Prysock, CB
Big cornerbacks are back in style, and Arizona has two for the 2025 NFL Draft class in Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis. Prysock is massive, standing 6’4″ and able to play as a boundary and nickel corner. He had only one interception and six pass breakups in 2023, but he smothered receivers and tight ends well enough to deter targets.
The big question with any big corner like Prysock is whether he can hold up against faster playmakers like Cowing. That remains to be seen, but the early results are promising. With more experience in man coverage, Prysock could elevate himself to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 class.