NFL draft prospects to watch in this year’s Cotton Bowl between Memphis, Penn State
Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos has already made the decision for his future, declaring for the NFL draft before Saturday’s Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium.
It’s understandable, as Gross-Matos is projected as a first-round talent, but he’s not ready to call his college career over quite yet. Gross-Matos will play in the bowl game against Memphis, giving himself another opportunity to showcase his skills on film for NFL scouts.
“Every time I step out on the field is a chance for me to put my best foot forward,” Gross-Matos said. “But I’m really just looking forward to winning. I want to do everything I can to help my team win. That’s where I’m at.”
Along with Gross-Matos, there are several other NFL-caliber players to watch in this year’s Cotton Bowl. Here’s a look at three on each team:
Penn State
DE Gross-Matos: As stated, he wreaks havoc in opposing backfields, piling up 34 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons. He described himself as “strong, physical, lanky and effective.”
WR KJ Hamler: He could declare for the draft after his stellar redshirt sophomore season, but he hasn’t made a decision yet. Hamler is viewed as a possible first-round pick, a speedy 5-foot-9 receiver who is a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
P Blake Gillikin: Multiple punters have been selected in the past two NFL drafts, and Penn State has one of the top punters in the country. Gillikin has 53 career punts of 50-plus yards and has placed 98 punts inside the 20 in his standout career.
Memphis
RB Patrick Taylor Jr.: He had a 1,000-yard season in 2018 but battled a foot injury this season. Still, he’s a player who could hear his name called during the draft.
WR Antonio Gibson: He flashed with a couple of 100-yard games this season, but he could really boost his profile and stock with a good game against a blue blood like Penn State. As Gibson said: “It would definitely help out if I was to have a good game against Penn State, but that’s not my focus. I’m just going to do what I can to help the team.”
QB Brady White: He has impressive passing numbers, throwing for 3,560 yards with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. He’s not a highly touted prospect, though. Still, an NFL team might give him a look.
This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
