Fansided

College Football Bowls 2016: 10 potential breakout players

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 22, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) runs as Mississippi Rebels defensive back Myles Hartsfield (15) pursues during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) runs as Mississippi Rebels defensive back Myles Hartsfield (15) pursues during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 10
Next

With the college football bowls set to get underway in the coming weeks, keep an eye on these 10 breakout candidates.

The regular season has come to an end and college football bowls are set to begin in the coming weeks. While everyone will likely have their sights set on the College Football Playoff, there are plenty of other exciting teams and enticing players taking the field before then.

College football has produced some exciting breakout players in the 2016 regular season and the bowl season is another chance for guys who haven’t gotten enough attention to make names for themselves.

Not all the teams get the recognition that Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington have gotten this year so I didn’t pick anyone from those playoff teams.

Here are 10 players who are relatively well-known, but should get a major boost in publicity following bowl season with breakout performances. Some of these guys are seniors and can help their draft stock in the final month as well.

Jamaal Williams missed a couple of games near the end of the season, but he still happens to be one of the best running backs that no one talks about.

As a sophomore in 2013, Williams rushed for over 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry, and the expectations were high on him before the 2014 campaign. He played in just seven games and missed the rest of the year with an injury, also missing the 2015 season.

Many wondered how he would return from injury in 2016 after having over a year off from live action, but he looked even better through the first month. Heck, he even gashed Toledo for 286 yards, West Virginia the week before for 169 and Michigan State two weeks later for 163 yards.

However, he’s played in just three games since the Michigan State breakout contest and rushed for over 100 just once — in the Cougars’ final game.

Wyoming is the next opponent on the schedule and Williams is expected to play. The Cowboys rank just 88th in college football in rushing yards allowed with over 200 per game and that’s good news for the senior back.

Home/College Football