With the bowl games starting Saturday, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick peek at last year and which players had the best individual performances (in a winning effort):
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Teddy Bridgewater — Louisville
Stat Line: 35/45, 447 yards passing, 3 TD, 0 INT, 1 rushing TD
Final Score: Louisville 36, Miami 9 (Russell Athletic Bowl)
This game actually started with Bridgewater getting sacked for a safety, but then Louisville scored seven straight times to take a 36-2 lead. Welcome to the ACC, Louisville!
Where are they now?
Starting QB for the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings.
Johnny Manziel — Texas A&M
Stat Line: 30/38, 382 yards passing, 4 TD, 0 INT, 73 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD
Final Score: Texas A&M 52, Duke 48 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
What a game this was: Duke raced out to a 38-17 halftime lead and the Aggies had to rally furiously in the second half to win the game.
Where are they now?
If you turn on ESPN, a few yakkers will probably be talking about Manziel. He’s currently busy trying to be the Cleveland Browns’ QB.
Jeremy Hill — LSU
Stat Line: 28 carries, 216 rushing yards, 2 TD
Final Score: LSU 21, Iowa 14 (Outback Bowl)
LSU managed just 82 yards passing in this game, but that’s okay — Hill was a workhorse. This was the most yards an Iowa defense had allowed to a running back since 2000.
Where are they now?
As a rookie, Hill has 877 yards rushing and 8 TD for the 9-4-1 Cincinnati Bengals.
Trevor Knight — Oklahoma Sooners
Stat Line: 32/44 for 348 yards passing, 4 TD, 1 INT
Final Score: Oklahoma 45, Alabama 31 (Sugar Bowl)
Against one of the best defenses in the country, Knight — a redshirt freshman — led the Sooners to a surprising win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Where are they now?
Knight battled injuries in his sophomore campaign, throwing for over 2,000 yards with 14 TD against 9 INT. He is probable for a comeback against Clemson in this year’s Russell Athletic Bowl.
Sammy Watkins — Clemson Tigers
Stat Line: 16 receptions, 227 yards, 2 receiving TD
Final Score: Clemson 40, Ohio State 35 (Orange Bowl)
Watkins had a huge game in his swan song for the Tigers and helped his team upset the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Where are they now?
Has 59 receptions and 5 TD for the 8-6 Bills.
James Connor (RB) and Tyler Boyd (WR) — Pittsburgh
Stat Lines: Connor ran for 229 yards and a TD.
Boyd caught 8 passes for 173 yards and had a punt return for a TD.
Final Score: Pitt 30, Bowling Green 27 (Little Caesars Bowl)
Both of these players had career days in Pitt’s win over BGSU in the Pizza Pizza bowl.
Where are they now?
Connor and Boyd led Pitt in rushing and receiving this year and are still with the Panthers as they prepare for Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl.
