The 2024 Hula Bowl is the first all-star game of NFL Draft season, with talent from across college football gathering for the event.
Traditionally held in Hawaii, the 2024 game takes place on Saturday, Jan. 13, in Orlando, Florida. The game will have eyes from all 32 teams in attendance, and some of the key prospects to watch are at the quarterback position.
Hula Bowl QB Rankings
There are seven quarterbacks at the 2024 Hula Bowl, all with very different skill sets. The group are all vying to prove to NFL scouts that they are worthy of being drafted, and meetings have already taken place between prospects at the Hula Bowl and teams. Which prospects stand the best chance of getting drafted?
1) John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
After starting his career at Ole Miss, John Rhys Plumlee transferred to UCF in 2022 to get more playing time. While with the Knights, Plumlee has shown his ability to produce through both the ground and air. In 2023, he had 2,271 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Meanwhile, he had 505 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
With Hula Bowl player measurements putting him at 6’0” and 199 pounds, Plumlee is undersized. However, his production as a dual-threat playmaker may intrigue NFL teams.
Jimmy Williams, the Assistant Director of Scouting at the Hula Bowl, told PFN that Plumlee has met with around half the league, so he could be a name to watch towards the end of the draft or as a UDFA.
2) Jason Bean, Kansas
Bean has spent six years in college, three with North Texas and three with Kansas, and is one of the best athletes at the 2024 Hula Bowl. It even led to speculation that he could be converted from QB to WR.
Speaking to KUSports, Bean said, “Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to try to work my best at it, try to perfect it as much as I can.”
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As a QB in 2023, Bean threw for 2,130 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 280 yards and three TDs.
Speaking to PFN, Williams shared that Bean has been getting the most attention from NFL scouts and has already met with every NFL team while at the Hula Bowl.
Entering the week, Bean could be considered a receiver and was listed as an “athlete” rather than by position. However, he hasn’t taken a snap at receiver, and teams view him as a potential scout team quarterback.
3) Spencer Sanders, Ole Miss
Choosing to enter the transfer portal for his senior season has been a huge error for Sanders. After four productive seasons with Oklahoma State, he opted to transfer to Ole Miss, where he only had 19 completions all year.
Sanders tallied 9,553 yards with Oklahoma State, 67 passing touchdowns, and 40 interceptions. Slotted behind Jaxon Dart on the Rebels roster, Sanders hasn’t had an opportunity to replicate his success.
It has been a disaster for his draft stock. However, the Hula Bowl is an opportunity to put himself back on the radar of NFL teams. Williams told PFN that Sanders is among the best traditional QBs at the Hula Bowl.
Profiling as a rushing threat and boasting a good enough arm, there is enough there for NFL teams to at least consider Sanders.
4) Ben Bryant, Northwestern
After six years in college, Bryant has finally run out of eligibility. Following a career that included stops at Cincinnati (twice), Eastern Michigan, and finally, Northwestern, it has been quite the journey for the Wildcats quarterback.
In his career, Bryant has totaled 8,212 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. During the 2023 college football campaign, Bryant played nine games and threw for 1,807 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Despite missing four games during the season, Bryant put the Wildcats back on track after a terrible season in 2022. Williams told PFN that Bryant is among the top traditional QBs at the Hula Bowl and has had the opportunity to hone his craft over the course of his career.
5) Davius Richard, NC Central
Richard is the least known of the group, but he has a real opportunity at the Hula Bowl to put himself in front of NFL scouts.
Over his career, Richard has 8,991 passing yards, 73 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. The NC Central quarterback totaled 2,177 passing yards, 21 TDs, and four INTs during his final college football campaign.
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However, what stands out about Richard as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect is what he can do with his legs as a true dual threat. In 2023 alone, he had 630 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. During his four years as a starter, he produced 2,026 rushing yards and 44 rushing TDs.
That level and variety of production is alluring, but Richard will have to show it against higher-level opposition — which he will get at the 2024 Hula Bowl. The NC Central prospect is intriguing; he now needs to make scouts take notice in Orlando.
6) Jack Plummer, Louisville
Plummer is fresh off the best season of his career, where he led the Louisville Cardinals to an 11-4 record and No. 15 ranking. Louisville was his third college team, as he spent three seasons at Purdue and one at Cal before heading to the Cardinals.
In 2023, Plummer threw for 3,204 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, showcasing his ability to manage games.
As a prospect, Plummer doesn’t make many mistakes. However, he lacks the NFL arm talent that teams will be searching for. He can command the field but has no elite trait that a team would look to hang their hat on in later rounds.
7) Carter Bradley, South Alabama
Despite not being the most naturally talented QB on the Hula Bowl roster, Bradley will get some looks from the NFL. The South Alabama passer is the son of Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, and NFL lineage has led to opportunities in the league on multiple occasions.
After spending four years at Toledo, Bradley transferred to South Alabama after losing his starting job to Dequan Finn. He has seen out the rest of his eligibility with South Alabama, and 2023 saw Bradley throw for 2,660 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 games.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!