Who are the top 2013 NFL Draft prospects to watch in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl between the Toledo Rockets and Utah State Aggies?
Though the second game of the 2012-2013 college football bowl season may not feature a pair of premier programs or several star prospects like LSU, Texas A&M and Alabama, each of these teams had successful seasons and possess prospects that could have plenty of success in the NFL.
Without further adieu, here are the top prospects to watch.
Utah State Cornerback Will Davis (Sr.)
On Saturday, Will Davis will lead the Aggies’ D against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
When he steps onto the field in Boise, he will do so not only as the best defensive back in the Western Athletic Conference, but also as one of the best emerging prospects at the position in the nation.
Actually an AFC college scouting director pointed out that Davis “needs to get more instinctive.” While others like Sports Illustrated’s Tony Pauline passes along word that the senior corner is receiving first-round grades from “several” scouts.
In the beginning of the season, Davis was graded as an undrafted prospect, but everything has changed in his first year as a full-time starter. Davis had a clutch interception in the last contest that stopped a first half drive and in his match-up against Louisiana Tech.
Davis has “got good size, speed, competitiveness, and he’s a pretty good press corner… he’s a good athlete.” Another NFC executive agreed, adding “he needs to play with more discipline.”
He’s prospected as a late rounder but don’t be surprised if his name gets called on the second day of the draft.
[RELATED: Toledo vs. Utah State: Why Aggies Will Defeat Rockets]
Utah State Running Back Kerwynn Williams (Sr.)
Kerwynn Williams was a star in his final game of the regular season, rushing for 110 yards and a score on 17 carries against the Idaho Vandals. Williams also hauled in another touchdown on four receptions for 39 yards.
Williams carried the ball 81 times in each of his first two seasons, chalking up a combined 993 yards and seven scores with an additional 19 receptions for 173 yards through the air. However, this season — his third year carrying the rock — he’s amassed 1,277 yards with 12 touchdowns on the ground on 200 attempts with 43 catches for 683 yards and five scores.
If he gets picked up in the 2013 NFL draft, he will be the third running back chosen from the Aggies in just two years.
At this time, the versatile 5-8, 189-pound back is seen by scouts as a third-down back at the next level, but he has the potential to get taken in the Top 100 picks come late April.
Recently Scouts Inc.’s Kevin Weidl tweeted that the Utah State senior running back was a “pleasant surprise” on tape.
[RELATED: Toledo vs. Utah State: What To Watch in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl]
Toledo Rockets Inside Linebacker Dan Molls (Sr.)
As for the Rockets, there aren’t very many hot prospects in this draft class, but there is at least one name to watch in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and that’s Dan Molls.
Leading the nation this season with 166 tackles (and at least 13 tackles in 10 games in 2012), Molls has erupted in his senior year and might be a sleeper in this draft class at the insider linebacker position.
Molls has been selected to the first team Mid American Conference for the 2012 college football season. He also was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes the top scholar-athlete in the nation.
Expect Molls, an exciting player and leader on the field who finished his college career with seven interceptions and 7.5 sacks to move up the draft boards, as the late-round prospect surprises some scouts with a great impression on Dec. 15.
[RELATED: Toledo vs. Utah State: How Rockets Can Beat Aggies in 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl]
Oren Shiri is the Creative Director and an analyst at GridironGrit and Founder of NFL Draft Insiders. Follow @NFLorentime and @GridironGrit on Twitter!
