College Football Bowls 2016: 10 NFL Draft prospects who can help their stock

By John Buhler | Dec 14, 2016

Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Wayne Gallman (9) runs with the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 26, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Demarcus Walker (44) chases down Florida Gators quarterback Austin Appleby (12) during the second half of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

What makes a player’s NFL Draft stock rise in a bowl game? A huge performance, yes, but what else helps a guy’s case for climbing up draft boards? Well, playing in a meaningful bowl game at a premium position at a blue-blood program would certainly do the trick.

The Florida State Seminoles are playing the Michigan Wolverines in the Capital One Orange Bowl, and all eyes have to be on Seminoles senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker. Walker is the No. 7 defensive end prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft in CBS‘ mind. Just ahead of him is Taco Charlton on the Michigan sideline.

One of those two premier pass rushing talents is going to get a huge boost from his performance in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Both have that first-to-second-round grade, but really only one of them is going in the first round.

What favors Walker is two-fold: 1.) Michigan doesn’t have mobile quarterbacks, meaning Walker will have an easier time creating pressure in the Wolverines backfield. 2.) Tallahassee is in the same state as Miami. Ann Arbor is not.

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Walker has shown that he can play on the big stage from his great game in Week 1 against the Ole Miss Rebels at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Look for him to wreak havoc in the Michigan backfield and push to be first-round draft pick by a 2016 NFL Playoff team.

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