2014 NFL Draft watch notes for Tuesday bowl games

Two of the nation’s leading rushers and talented but unrefined passers headline the bowl games on Tuesday.

Dec 31, 2013, 5:27 PM UTC

Ed Wolfstein-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, two running backs with over 3,800 combined rushing yards will square off in the Advocare V100 Bowl. Boston College running back Andre Williams and Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey will be two of the flashiest players taking the field on New Year's Eve, but plenty of other NFL prospects will be on display Tuesday as well.

With four bowl games on Tuesday, here are the prospects to keep an eye on.

Advocare V100 Bowl - Boston College vs. Arizona (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The two guys drawing the most attention will be running backs Ka'Deem Carey and Andre Williams. Beyond those two, this could be an uneventful game from an NFL Draft perspective. Each team has a linebacker who could end up getting drafted. Boston College's Kevin Pierre-Louis and Arizona's and Marquis Flowers are the two defensive prospects to watch.

Sun Bowl- Virginia Tech vs. UCLA (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)

If incredibly talented but inconsistent quarterbacks are your thing, the Sun Bowl is for you. UCLA’s Brett Hundley would likely be a top 10 pick if he decides to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft. He’s big and mobile with a strong arm to test defenses vertically. He’s struggled a bit to string together consistent performances, but the talent is there. Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas is similarly talented but not as refined and even more inconsistent than Hundley. Thomas’ strong arm and big frame don’t do much to ease concerns over his spells of inaccuracy and questionable decision making.

UCLA has two other prospects who should both be drafted in the first two days. Pass rusher Anthony Barr has the look of a top 15 pick given his length and first-step quickness. Guard Xavier Su’a-filo has played all over the line for the Bruins and will have an NFL future whenever he decides to go pro.

One of the more interesting match-ups of the day will feature Virginia Tech’s cornerbacks against UCLA wide receiver Shaq Evans. If Kyle Fuller is able to play, he and Evans will be two guys to focus on.

Liberty Bowl - Rice vs. Mississippi State (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Those tuning in to watch Rice and Mississippi State should focus their attention on the trenches. Mississippi State guard Gabe Jackson could be the first guard off the board in the 2014 draft. He will be matched up against a rising underclassmen Christian Covington at defensive tackle. Covington is just a redshirt sophomore, but he's put himself on the NFL radar in 2013. Other prospects to watch are Mississippi State running back LaDarius Perkins, Rice kicker Chris Boswell and Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines.

Chick-fil-A Bowl - Duke vs. Texas A&M (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)

As the clock ticks away on 2013, Johnny Manziel may be playing his final college game. The Texas A&M quarterback has had a prolific two-year run with the Aggies and will decide soon whether or not to enter his name in the 2014 NFL Draft. His top receiver, Mike Evans, will have a similar decision to make. Both would be likely first-round picks, but neither is the best prospect on A&M's roster. That honor belongs to A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews, who is one of the top three players in the entire draft and a near lock to be picked in the top five. Playing opposite Matthews on the Aggies' line is Cedric Ogbuehi. Just a junior, Ogbuehi has flashed first-round ability. He's not a lock to declare but would add even more depth to an already impressive offensive tackle class.

For Duke, the prospect to watch is cornerback Ross Cockrell. He’s one of the only Blue Devil seniors that has a realistic shot at getting drafted in May.