Bowl Preview Series: Champs Sports Bowl
by Matt Miller
By Matt Brown
While Boston College and Michigan State started the season off hot, both disappointed down the stretch. Now, only one will finish the season on a high note.
Champs Sports Bowl
Boston College vs. Michigan State
Dec. 28, 2007 Orlando, FL (Citrus Bowl)
5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Summary: Boston College’s surprise season did not end as fans may have hoped it would, but Jeff Jagodzinski had a fantastic debut as head coach of the Eagles. This will be Matt Ryan’s last chance to impress as a college quarterback as he tries to emerge as the top quarterback prospect. In Mark Dantonio’s first year as head coach at Michigan State, the Spartans were unsure if they would make a bowl game until they came back from a 24-7 second half deficit to beat Penn State and improve to 7-5.
Draft-worthy Senior Prospects
Boston College
RB Andre Callender 5-11 204 pounds – After splitting carries with L.V. Whitworth for three seasons, Callender has received the majority of the carries this season. With 956 yards on 206 carries, he has a chance to reach 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. On top of that, he has caught 72 passes for 705 yards. Callender is not particularly big and does not have breakaway speed, but he is a solid runner with exceptional receiving skills out of the backfield.
OT Gosder Cherilus 6-7 320 pounds – Cherilus is a four-year starter for the Eagles, starting at right tackle for three years before moving to the left side this season to replace James Marten. He has prototypical size for an NFL tackle and has decent mobility. He needs to become a more powerful blocker and develop more of a mean streak.
ILB Jolonn Dunbar 6-0 233 pounds – Dunbar led the Eagles with 92 tackles in 2006, and while he slipped to third on the team this season, he has still made 83 stops. He lacks ideal size and speed for the position, but he has proven to be an instinctive player with good tackling skills.
DE Nick Larkin 6-4 252 pounds – Larkin has recorded six sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season but missed three games early in the season because of arthroscopic knee surgery. He is a solid pass rusher and is dependable against the run, but he lacks ideal bulk and athleticism to be anything more than a late round pick.
QB Matt Ryan 6-5 221 pounds – Ryan improved his draft stock as much as anyone in the country this season, as he may now be the first quarterback selected. He is a natural leader who always plays hard and has tremendous poise. He has great size and underrated mobility in the pocket. The biggest key for Ryan is to limit interceptions, as he has thrown 18 this season.
S Jamie Silva 5-11 205 pounds – A finalist for the 2007 Thorpe Award, Silva has had a career year, leading the team in interceptions with six and tackles with 115. He does not have great speed or athleticism, but he is a hard-hitter and a technically sound tackler who will at least make an impact on special teams in the NFL.
CB DeJuan Tribble 5-9 189 pounds – Tribble missed the last three games of the regular season because of a knee injury but is expected to be back for the bowl. His size puts him at a disadvantage, but he has great athleticism and excellent cover skills. He possesses good ball skills and has 15 career interceptions. He also has experience as a return man.
RB L.V. Whitworth 6-0 222 pounds – Whitworth was the team’s leading rusher in each of the past two seasons, but he has received less than half the carries that Andre Callender received this season. He has good size and is a solid receiver out of the backfield, but Callender has surpassed him as the top running back on the squad.
Michigan State
OLB SirDarean Adams 6-0 230 pounds – Adams played the hybrid bandit position in John L. Smith’s 4-2-5 scheme but switched to weak-side linebacker in the 4-3 this season. He is a bit undersized as a linebacker, but he has good range and is solid when dropping back into coverage. He may be able to make an impact as a special teams player in the NFL. Adams will not play in this game because of a violation of unspecified team rules.
RB Jehuu Caulcrick 6-0 255 pounds – Caulcrick is a big, powerful running back who is enjoying the best season of his career with 813 yards and 21 touchdowns. As a power back, he is a perfect complement to speedy junior Javon Ringer. Because of his lack of speed and elusiveness, he may not be more than a goal line and short yardage back in the NFL.
TE Kellen Davis 6-6 254 pounds – Davis had an inconsistent career until this season, including a four-game suspension in 2006. But has had a breakout 2007 campaign with 475 yards and five touchdowns and an average of nearly 17 yards per catch. He is a tall target with good awareness and hands. He could be a star if he can become more polished as a route runner.
DE Jonal Saint-Dic 6-1 250 pounds – A former junior college transfer, Saint-Dic became a star as a senior with 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He lacks the size to be an every-down defensive end in the NFL, but he has the athleticism and pass rushing ability to make a transition to 3-4 outside linebacker. Saint-Dic will not be playing in this game though, as he has been ruled academically ineligible.
ILB Kaleb Thornhill 6-1 240 pounds – While never a star, Thornhill has always been a steady force in the middle for the Spartans. He has great size for the middle linebacker position and has a lot of toughness. He lacks elite athleticism and is not a big-time playmaker, but he is a consistent run stuffer.
Draft Eligible Underclassmen to Watch
Boston College
TE Ryan Purvis 6-4 261 pounds, Jr. – Purvis overtook senior Ryan Thompson as the starter and was named first team All-ACC this season. He caught 52 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns. He does not have great speed, but he is a reliable target and also a strong run blocker.
Michigan State
RB Javon Ringer 5-9 202 pounds, Jr. – While Jehuu Caulcrick provides the power running attack for the Spartans, Ringer is a speedy threat on the outside. He has surpassed the 1000-yard mark for the first time in his career 1,346 yards and six touchdowns. He is undersized and may not be able to carry the full load in the NFL, but he has excellent speed and is a consistent big play threat.
WR Devin Thomas 6-2 214 pounds, Jr. – A junior college transfer, Thomas only caught six passes for 90 yards in his first season. This year, Thomas has emerged as one of the top receivers in the nation with 75 catches for 1,226 yards and eight touchdowns. He is also second in the Big Ten with an average of 28.15 yards per kick return. He has good size, and while not a burner, he has enough speed to make plays downfield.
S Otis Wiley 6-2 210 pounds, Jr. – Wiley is a big safety who improved as a playmaker in coverage this season with a team-leading four interceptions. He led the team in tackles in 2006 with 94 but has seen his production drop this year with only 47 tackles.