<
>

Caleb Williams, other NFL draft prospects who opted out of bowl games

play
Finebaum praises Caleb Williams for sitting out Holiday Bowl (0:52)

Paul Finebaum reacts to Caleb Williams not participating in the Holiday Bowl for USC. (0:52)

Much like marching bands and mayonnaise dumps, players opting out of bowl games has become a tradition this time of year in college football.

Here is a list of notable players who have decided to skip their team's postseason bowl game in favor of preparing for the NFL draft, as well as where they fit in ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper's prospect rankings and other key information.

More on the NFL draft:
Mel Kiper's Big Board | Projected draft order


All times Eastern

Starco Brands LA Bowl

UCLA vs. Boise State
Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+

UCLA DL Laiatu Latu: The No. 10 overall player on Kiper's Big Board and his top-ranked outside linebacker, Latu won the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best defensive lineman, and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
More on Latu


SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Utah vs. Northwestern
Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+

Utah S Cole Bishop: Bishop had 60 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions last season. He is Kiper's No. 7 saftety.


Duke's Mayo Bowl

North Carolina vs. West Virginia
Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

North Carolina QB Drake Maye: Maye, a redshirt sophomore who was Kiper's No. 3 overall prospect and No. 2 quarterback, started all 26 games of his career at UNC.
More on Maye

North Carolina WR Tez Walker: Walker played eight games at UNC after transferring from Kent State.


DirecTV Holiday Bowl

Louisville vs. USC
Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox

USC QB Caleb Williams: Williams is Kiper's top-ranked overall draft prospect. He threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns during USC's disappointing 7-5 season.
More on Williams

USC WR Brenden Rice: The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Brenden Rice had 791 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns this season and averaged 17.6 yards per catch.
More on Rice

USC RB MarShawn Loyd: Lloyd rushed for 820 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He is Kiper's No. 5 running back.

Louisville RB Jawhar Jordan: Jordan rushed for 1,128 yards and added 246 receiving yards on 21 catches for the Cardinals this season.


TaxAct Texas Bowl

Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 27, 9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper: The top-ranked off-ball linebacker on Kiper's Big Board, Cooper was a first-team AP All-American this season. He led the SEC with 17 tackles for loss.
More on Cooper


Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers vs. Miami
Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

Miami S Kam Kinchens: Kinchens had 40 tackles and five interceptions this season. He is listed as Kiper's No. 1 safety.

Miami DT Leonard Taylor III: He is listed as Kiper's No. 3 defensive tackle.

Miami S James Williams: He is listed as Kiper's No. 5 safety.


Pop-Tarts Bowl

NC State vs. Kansas State
Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott: Listed as Kiper's No. 2 fullback/H-back prospect, Sinnott earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this season with 49 catches.
More on Sinnott


Valero Alamo Bowl

Arizona vs. Oklahoma
Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

Oklahoma OL Tyler Guyton: Guyton is Kiper's No. 7 offensive tackle.

Oklahoma OL Andrew Raym: Raym started 12 games this season for the Sooners.

Arizona OL Jordan Morgan: Morgan is Kiper's No. 6 offensive tackle.


TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Clemson vs. Kentucky
Dec. 29, noon, ESPN, ESPN+

Clemson CB Nate Wiggins: Wiggins, who is Kiper's No. 24 overall prospect and No. 4 cornerback, had two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season.
More on Wiggins

Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter: In 12 games this season, Trotter had 88 tackles -- 15 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception. He is Kiper's No. 2 off-ball linebacker.
More on Trotter


Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Oregon State vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 29, 2 p.m., CBS

Oregon State OL Taliese Fuaga: Fuaga is Kiper's No. 17 overall prospect and his No. 3 offensive tackle.

Notre Dame OL Joe Alt: Alt is Kiper's No. 15 overall prospect and his No. 2 offensive tackle.
More on Alt

Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman: Hartman had 2,689 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his lone season at Notre Dame after transferring from Wake Forest.
More on Hartman

Notre Dame RB Audric Estime: Estime rushed for 1,341 yards, averaging a whopping 6.4 yards per carry. He scored 18 rushing touchdowns for the Irish.
More on Estime


TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Auburn vs. Maryland
Dec. 30, 2 p.m., ABC/ESPN+

Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa: The brother of Miami Dolphins star Tua, Taulia is the Big Ten's all-time passing leader.
More on Tagovailoa


Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Ole Miss vs. Penn State
Dec. 30, noon, ESPN/ESPN+

Penn State DL Chop Robinson: A first-team All-Big Ten selection this season, Robinson is Kiper's No. 4 outside linebacker.
More on Robinson

Penn State TE Theo Johnson: Johnson caught 32 passes for 325 yards and six touchdowns this season. He is Kiper's No. 5 tight end.


Capital One Orange Bowl

Georgia vs. Florida State
Dec. 30, 4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

Florida State WR Johnny Wilson: The 6-foot-7 Wilson had 1,757 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches and averaged 17.1 yards per catch over four college seasons -- two at FSU and two at Arizona State.
More on Wilson

Florida State RB Trey Benson: Benson rushed for 905 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He is Kiper's No. 2 ranked running back.
More on Benson

Florida State RB Jaheim Bell: Bell is Kiper's No. 3 fullback/halfback.

Florida State edge Jared Verse: Kiper's No. 3 edge rusher, Verse excelled at FSU after transferring from FCS Albany.


ReliaQuest Bowl

Wisconsin vs. LSU
Jan. 1, noon, ESPN2/ESPN+

LSU QB Jayden Daniels: The Heisman Trophy winner is projected as a top-5 prospect by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
More on Daniels

Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen: Allen finished his Wisconsin career with 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on 597 attempts. He is Kiper's No. 7 running back.
More on Allen