Las Vegas Bowl, Boise State vs. Washington, 3:30 p.m. EST, Dec. 22, ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl 2013 NFL Draft watch notes
Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE
After a lull in the bowl season action with the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg on Friday night, Saturday’s matchup between Boise State and Washington should keep viewers interested.
Boise State comes in ranked in the top 25, but Washington has battled a much tougher schedule throughout the season. The Broncos have had more talented teams in the past, but the success has continued for Boise State.
Washington, meanwhile, is a young team that started to put things together towards the end of the season. In terms of the NFL Draft, there are a handful of players to look out for.
When Washington has the football
The Huskies are a very young team on offense. Most of the players you watch on Saturday won't be drafted until the 2014 NFL Draft. However, it's still worth keeping an eye on quarterback Keith Price and this passing attack. He hasn't had the season many expected, but Price has shown flashes within this offense. He has two young targets. Sophomore tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins will be the most talented player on the field Saturday and could be drafted in the top half of the first round next year. Sophomore wide receiver Kasen Williams also presents a solid threat on the outside, while sophomore running back Bishop Sankey has had a productive season as well.
Boise State will counter with a pair of talented cornerbacks Jerrell Gavins and Jamar Taylor, who wear No. 4 and No. 5 respectively. It will be interesting to see what the Broncos defense does to counter Seferian-Jenkins.
When Boise State has the football
Boise State has a couple of explosive weapons on offense as well. Senior running back D.J. Harper has had a resurgent year after spending much of his career injured and stuck behind Doug Martin. Broncos wide receiver Matt Miller, who is just a redshirt sophomore, will be the team's biggest threat in the passing game.
The Huskies' defense is led by senior cornerback Desmond Trufant, whose draft stock is still very much in the air.
Matchup of the game: Matt Miller vs. Desmond Trufant
Desmond Trufant has been beat a ton this year due to his aggressive style of play. His name will only get him so far. This matchup could be a big statement for him heading into the pre-draft process.
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