Tis the season! The College Football Bowl games are here! Multiple teams get the opportunity to play in one last showdown. The first seven games will be played on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Of the seven there are only 2 games I want to talk about. These games had players this season with Devy potential. Some players have already announced that they will enter the transfer portal. This means we may not see them play in their bowl games. Nonetheless, we saw them this season and you will want them on your radar moving forward. Let’s get into Bowl Games to Watch (December 16th Edition).
Starco Brands LA Bowl – 7:30 PM EST
UCLA vs Boise State
UCLA Bruins – Players to Watch
QB – Dante Moore
Moore entered the transfer portal once the season was over. There have been multiple schools linked to him. One was his original commit out of high school, in Oregon. Moore is not expected to play in this game. He will be a quarterback to monitor. For many, he was the QB1 for the freshman class at the start of the season. So, expect to see junior Ethan Garbers at the helm of the Bruins offense. During the season Garbers threw for 984 yards with a 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio. Garbers could have a stellar performance. But, I still expect the Bruins to bring in a quarterback from the transfer portal.
RB – Carson Steele
Steele has been missing practice all week. His status for Saturday’s game is uncertain. Steele did not impress much after transferring from Ball State. In 2022 while at Ball State Steele ran for over 1,500 yards. In 2023, his first year at UCLA, he ran for less than 850 yards. T.J. Harden, his running mate, averaged .2 more yards per carry than him. As a result, If Steele is unable to go then we will likely see more Harden. At times Harden was the better runner of the two.
Here is a glimpse of his game versus USC.
He ran for 722 yards averaging 5.3 yards per carry. The sophomore running back is the future for the Bruins. So, watch for him to make an impact in this game if the backfield is all his.
WR – J.Michael Sturdivant
The sophomore receiver showed some impressive abilities this season. His freshman season was better than his sophomore. However, this had nothing to do with his talent. It has everything to do with the team’s inefficiency at quarterback. Sturdivant is a value to the team. A piece they cannot afford to lose. Get this man a quarterback and watch the fireworks happen. Watch him this weekend. He may be one of the few bright spots for UCLA next season.
DL – Laiatu Latu
Latu plans to sit out this game as he has an NFL draft to start preparing for. His presence will be missed. He led the team in sacks with 13. This becomes a big loss for the Bruins. Because of his absence look for defensive lineman Gabriel Murphy and Carl Jones Jr. to step up. Linebacker Kain Medrano will look to improve his draft stock. Medrano has been with UCLA for 4 seasons. His senior year has been his best with 52 total tackles and 2 sacks.
Boise State Broncos – Players to Watch
RB – Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty announced that he will be coming back to Boise in 2024. In week 13 he clocked in at 21.5 mph. Jeanty has the versatility to make guys miss from all angles. He brings great vision with the footwork to get between the tackles. As a result, he is an explosive back who can be a difference-maker in a game. Look for him to lead the Broncos this weekend.
WR – Eric McAlister
McAlister entered the transfer portal. This is a big loss for Boise State. The 6’4 sophomore led the team in receptions (47) and yards (873). He more than doubled the next closest wide receiver in yards. McAlister is a name to watch in the portal. In his absence, senior Billy Bowens should get some extra looks. Freshman receiver, Prince Strachan, might also get more opportunities. Strachan is a 6’5 stretch-the-field type of wide receiver. A receiver that could slide right into that McAlister role. Keep him on your radars this weekend, and moving forward.
DL – Ahmed Hassanein
The player who could be the difference maker on the defensive side of the ball is Hassanein. He led the team with 12.5 sacks. It would have been nice to see him and Latu go against each other in this matchup. The weakest link for the Bruins is their quarterback. Watch for Hassanein to disrupt the pocket causing pressure. If he gets his open shots it will be a long day for the Bruins.
LB – Andrew Simpson
Simpson is another young player to keep an eye on. Simpson doubled his total tackles and sacks from his freshman season. Due to him improving his ball-tracking skills. Thus, his impact could be the reason Steele or Harden found no open field space. As a result, Simpson and Hassanein could cause the Bruins to struggle in the run game this weekend. Look for Simpson to make an impact this weekend and move forward for the Broncos.
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – 9:15 PM EST
California vs Texas Tech
California Golden Bears – Players to Watch
RB – Jayden Ott
Ott recently announced his intentions to come back for another year. It makes sense. Ott had a great season. The sophomore running back improved from his freshman season. He was the workhorse back for his team. Ott saw more than 150 more touches than the next running back. The Golden Bear averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 1,260 yards running. He now plays the same Texas Tech defence that just allowed the Texas Longhorns to run for over 300 yards. Watch out for Ott this weekend. He may be a buy during this off-season in any devy league.
DB – Craig Woodson
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr is entering the transfer portal. This will be a big loss for the Golden Bears. The veteran leader Woodson will need to step up for his defence. He led the team in solo tackles with 52. Woodson is a dynamic defensive back who is aggressive at the point of contact. The defensive leader can make a big play or two that could change the tide in this game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders – Players to Watch
RB – Tahj Brooks
Brooks dominated this season. In his first 3 seasons, he did not have over 700 rushing yards in any of them. The senior ran for 1,443 yards this season. Through 2023 he averaged 5.4 yards per carry with 9 touchdowns. Plus, he even had over 20 receptions. He already announced he plans to come back for one more season. Brooks has the speed to get to the outside and the strength to run up the middle. He is the perfect combination you want in a running back. If Texas Tech wants a shot at winning this bowl game they need to make sure he is involved.
LB – Ben Roberts
The freshman will have a test this week with Jayden Ott on the other side. Roberts led the team in total tackles (100) and solo tackles (53). He is a pure tackler. His ability to read the plays and wrap up effectively will groom him into a top linebacker in the 2026 class. Look for him to continue to lead this Red Raider defence.
DB – Dorian Taylor-Demerson
This was not the senior defensive backs’ best season. He did lead the team with 4 interceptions. The Golden Bears will likely lean on their running game. Taylor-Demerson has the speed to break on the ball quickly. If the Bears throw his way then he may make a big play forcing a turnover. He has been a leader for the team all season. Look for him to make an impact in what could be his final game.
This weekend is packed with great games. These two specifically are the ones I will have my eyes on. For more college football content follow me on X @ThePPRShow
Thank you for reading.
SC Romero
Hello, I'm SC Romero, a fantasy football enthusiast for more than a decade. I personally enjoy the IDP format and the devy world! You can find me on X @ThePPRShow sharing all my knowledge to help you win your leagues! I hope to bring new insight to you through League Winners expanding your knowledge on the devy community! Have a question? Just ask, I'm here for you.