One Patriots Target To Watch During Every College Football Bowl Game

The Patriots will have a keen eye on the 2025 NFL Draft.

New England has just four games left on the schedule, which means time is running out to do anything about its draft status — which currently has the brain trust of Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo picking at No. 3.

Mayo’s team is playing out the string but does have a goal of figuring out how much of their last draft is still salvageable. Wolf has shifted his attention toward rebuilding the putrid roster he helped put together, which includes ramping up scouting efforts as we approach a true make-or-break weekend in April.

We plan on spending the next few months talking prospects, which includes taking a look at one from every single bowl game currently on the schedule.

Yes, that means all 40.

DB John Huggins (#10), Jackson State

Celebration Bowl: vs. Western Kentucky
TV: ABC
(Dec. 14, 12 p.m. ET)

Huggins is among the most desirable prospects in the HBCU ranks, if not only for the fact that he’s shown great resilience over the last six seasons. Florida, Robert Morris, Garden City Community College, New Mexico State and Jackson State have all given him chances to make a name for himself, with the latter finally putting him in a position where he looks like a legitimate pro prospect.

The Celebration Bowl could be his last chance, so it’s worth seeing how he performs.

DB Bilhal Kone (#1), Western Michigan

Salute To Veterans Bowl: vs. South Alabama
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 14, 9 p.m. ET)

Kone is considered to be a top cornerback prospect in the non-power conferences and will have one last opportunity to show that against South Alabama. The Patriots will want to see more of him at the Senior Bowl, but you can never beat true game action.

OT Wyatt Milum (#74), West Virginia

Frisco Bowl: vs. Memphis
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 17, 9 p.m. ET)

Milum is among my favorite prospects in the entire draft, partly because he’s about to play in a meaningless postseason game after multiple teammates and his coach all departed after the final game of the season.

New England’s need for a tackle is the other reason, and if you aren’t the biggest fan of the class’ top options, this guy might be the very best of a deep middle tier.

LB Jacob Dobbs (#27), James Madison

Boca Raton Bowl: vs. Western Kentucky
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. ET)

Dobbs is a local product, having followed head coach Bob Chesney to James Madison from Holy Cross. It’s unlikely he gets selected, but this is the kind of guy who comes in as an undrafted free agent and makes some noise — which we’ve seen once or twice in New England.

RB Jadyn Ott (#1), Cal

LA Bowl: vs. UNLV
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 18, 9 p.m. ET)

Ott is the first of many running backs that we’ll see on this list because that sneakily became a need this season. The Patriots could use some depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, with Ott being the perfect option as he has the tools to become a successful backup despite being viewed as a mid-to-late-round pick.

Do you like explosive plays? Good, then you like Ott.

RB Jalen White (#25), Georgia Southern

New Orleans Bowl: vs. Sam Houston State
TV: ESPN 2
(Dec. 19, 7 p.m. ET)

We have limited options with some of these games, and this is a great example of that. White is good, but probably not good enough to pay too much attention to the New Orleans Bowl.

We said 40. We give 40.

OL Clay Webb (#74), Jacksonville State

Cure Bowl: vs. Ohio
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 20, 12 p.m. ET)

I’m doubling down; what’s it to ya?

Webb was an entry last week, but he’s a versatile offensive lineman with a great pedigree. Jacksonville State landed him following a couple of seasons at Georgia, where he originally arrived as a five-star recruit.

IOL Jake Slaughter (#66), Florida

Gasparilla Bowl: vs. Tulane
TV: ESPN 2
(Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Slaughter is an absolutely enormous (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) interior offensive lineman with the flexibility to play all three spots on the interior. New England’s decision-makers have been infatuated with those types, so what does adding one more mauler hurt?

EDGE Mikail Kamara (#6), Indiana

College Football Playoff: vs. Notre Dame
TV: ABC
(Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET)

Kamara is one of many players who made the trek from James Madison to Indiana, following head coach Curt Cignetti in his tremendous rise to prominence. Kamara probably could have found his way to any school in the country, however.

The Hoosiers don’t have many top-level draft prospects, but they’ve got someone who reminds me a lot of Melvin Ingram — a former three-time Pro Bowl talent. Who wouldn’t be interested in that kind of player, specifically one that could be obtained on Day 2?

EDGE Abdul Carter (#11), Penn State

College Football Playoff: vs. SMU
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 12 p.m. ET

Carter is among the very best prospects in this class, so selecting him would mean using the best draft pick in the franchise’s history over the last three decades. New England also has much bigger needs than a pass-rusher, so it’s tough seeing him being the pick.

We just can’t help ourselves.

Carter can change an entire defense, and might just be the piece Mayo is looking for to make his vision come true. The Patriots could use a multi-level linebacker, similar to the mold of another former Nittany Lion who wore No. 11 — Micah Parsons. Can they afford to use a top-three pick on him, though?

TE Gunnar Helm (#85), Texas

College Football Playoff: vs. Clemson
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET)

Texas has plenty of prospects worth keeping an eye on, but Helm might be the best fit for New England.

The Patriots need to start preparing for the future at the tight end position, and selecting a player like Helm very well could fill the timeline at One Patriot Place. Hunter Henry looks like he can continue to produce, but possibly replacing Austin Hooper this offseason won’t be easy. Helm is the type of player who could do that, while also being a long-term replacement for Henry.

EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau (#44), Ohio State

College Football Playoff: vs. Tennessee
TV: ABC
(Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET)

Tuimoloau is one of many draftable prospects that will take the field between Ohio State and Tennessee, but he might have the most to gain.

Tuimoloau’s decision to return to school didn’t help his draft stock, as a lack of production getting to the quarterback saw him fall on the list of top defensive linemen. How can he improve upon it? The Volunteers are going to run the ball a ton, and anchoring a stout run defense before having a resurgent game against the high-powered Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl would do the trick.

WR De’Corian Clark (#1), UTSA

Myrtle Beach Bowl: vs. Coastal Carolina
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 23, 11 a.m. ET)

Clark is big, fast and physical.

It’s UTSA vs. Coastal Carolina, so a few decent traits were enough to get him on this list.

EDGE Korey Foreman (#0), Fresno State

Idaho Potato Bowl: vs. Northern Illinois
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m. ET)

Foreman is a former No. 1 overall recruit with all the traits in the world to find success in the NFL, but has he done enough across four relatively disappointing seasons in college to be considered in April? Foreman’s former coach sure thinks he has, once comparing him to Lawrence Taylor.

P Andrew Stokes (#36), USF

Hawai’i Bowl: vs. San Jose State
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET)

You didn’t think I had punters in my bag, did you?

The Patriots aren’t going to draft a 30-year-old punter to replace a guy they just spent a pick on, so this is just an opportunity for me to flex my knowledge of the punt game. Is that something worth flexing?

TE Gavin Bartholomew (#86), Pittsburgh

Sports Bowl: vs. Toledo
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 26, 2 p.m. ET)

Bartholomew hasn’t been confirmed for this game, but Pitt and Toledo aren’t exactly overflowing with prospects. It’s actually pretty tough figuring out who is in the portal, who entered the draft, who is playing in bowl games and who isn’t, so give us a break if any of these guys end up sitting out.

Bartholomew’s athleticism should be enough for teams to give him a look in the later rounds, so he’s the pick here.

RB Kyle Monangai (#5), Rutgers

Rate Bowl: vs. Kansas State
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m. ET)

Monangai is one of the better running back prospects in this class, having put together back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons in the ground. Do the Patriots feel comfortable taking a rather diminutive option? We’ll see, but he’s a good player.

TE Harold Fannin Jr. (#0), Bowling Green

68 Ventures Bowl: vs. Arkansas State
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 26, 9 p.m. ET)

“Bowling Green? He must have just picked a name out of a hat!”

Nope! Fannin is one of the best football players in this entire draft and should be an immediate starter once he steps onto the field in the NFL. New England should pay very close attention to him because he’s a legitimate weapon.

LB Danny Stutsman (#28), Oklahoma

Armed Forces Bowl: vs. Navy
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 27, 11 a.m. ET)

Stutsman will be among the first few off-ball linebackers to be taken off the board, but given where that position has ended up in recent years, that could mean he slips all the way to Day 3. New England would be wise to add some depth at the second level this offseason and will get a great look at one of the better prospects as he prepares for the triple-option offense of Navy.

TE Eli Stowers (#9), Vanderbilt

Birmingham Bowl: vs. Georgia Tech
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Stowers is another decent tight end, which this class just happens to be full of. I’ll be spouting about the tight ends and running back depth leading up to April, and this man and the next two are perfect examples of that.

RB Tahj Brooks (#28), Texas Tech

Liberty Bowl: vs. Arkansas
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 27, 7 p.m. ET)

Brooks is a great depth option, especially for a team that will be looking for some size (5-foot-10, 230 pounds) at the position.

TE Oronde Gadsden II (#19), Syracuse

Holiday Bowl: vs. Washington State
TV: FOX
(Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ET

Gadsen looks more like a wide receiver than a tight end, but he reminds me of a more athletic version of former Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki. Does New England want a second shot at that sort of player?

DL Shemar Stewart (#4), Texas A&M

Las Vegas Bowl: vs. USC
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET)

Stewart is a second- or third-round option along the defensive interior, which is the sweet spot for teams looking to add quality depth.

TE Bryson Nesbit (#18), UNC

Fenway Bowl: vs. UConn
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 28, 11 a.m. ET)

Nesbit caught 76 passes for 1,092 yards across two seasons catching passes from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but saw his numbers drop across the board this season without him. New England should do the guy a favor and reunite him with his favorite quarterback.

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (#6), Boston College

Pinstripe Bowl: vs. Nebraska
TV: ABC
(Dec. 28, 12 p.m. ET)

Ezeiruaku is a local favorite, serving as the best defensive prospect we’ve seen come out of Boston College since Justin Simmons. It’ll be interesting to see how he does in the pre-draft process, but at the very least we know that he’ll put together something good on film — as he always does.

WR Jack Bech (#18), TCU

New Mexico Bowl: vs. Louisiana
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m. ET)

It’s been a while since the Patriots had one of these guys at the wide receiver position.

WR Xavier Restrepo (#7), Miami

Pop-Tarts Bowl: vs. Iowa State
TV: ABC
(Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The Patriots aren’t exactly in the market for a slot receiver, but it doesn’t get better than Restrepo — the leading receiver in the history of Miami Hurricanes football. Yes, that means he’s outpaced the likes of Michael Irvin, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss. New England can’t exactly afford to be picky when it comes to acquiring weapons, so maybe they keep an eye on Restrepo.

WR Tory Horton (#14), Colorado State

Arizona Bowl: vs. Miami (Ohio)
TV: The CW
(Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Horton is a decent story, as he turned down big-time offers to remain at Colorado State.

Horton is also the exact opposite of Restrepo, so watching both of these games should give you a decent look at the variety this class provides.

DL Davin Vann (#1), NC State

Military Bowl: vs. East Carolina
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m. ET)

Vann was our best option.

ATH Travis Hunter (#12), Colorado

Alamo Bowl: vs. BYU
TV: ABC
(Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Hunter is going to be the subject of much discussion over the next few months. You will only have one more chance to see why.

EDGE Mike Green (#15), Marshall

Independence Bowl: vs. Army
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m. ET)

Green is another carryover from our last edition of this limited series, but there weren’t many options to pick from between the Black Knights and Thundering Herd.

TE Luke Lachey (#85), Iowa

Music City Bowl: vs. Missouri
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m. ET)

Lachey is another tight end who finds his way onto our list, mostly because we’re wondering what’s up with the guy.

Lachey had plenty of fans leading into the season, but his draft stock has taken a hit for some odd reason. It’s a deep class, but not enough for this guy to be viewed as a late-round option.

LB Jihaad Campbell (#11), Alabama

ReliaQuest Bowl: vs. Michigan
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 31, 12 p.m. ET)

Campbell is in a similar boat to Stutsman, with both being much better players than their draft stock would indicate. Alabama hasn’t lived up to expectations as of late, but Campbell certainly has and would be the perfect player to improve an uninspiring linebacking corps.

The Patriots have had plenty of success with similar players.

DL Thor Griffith (#50), Louisville

Sun Bowl: vs. Washington
TV: CBS
(Dec. 31, 2 p.m. ET)

Griffith is used to this area, having spent three seasons at Harvard from 2021-2023.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman placed him on his “Freaks List” prior to this season, and for good reason. Griffith has bench pressed 225 pounds 45 times and ran a 4.95 40 with a 10-yard split of 1.65 seconds. Nice.

EDGE Kyle Kennard (#5), South Carolina

Citrus Bowl: vs. Illinois
TV: ABC
(Dec. 31, 3 p.m. ET)

Kennard is my favorite player in this draft, so you’re damn right I’ll be watching him one last time. You should, too.

EDGE Bradyn Swinson (#4), LSU

Texas Bowl: vs. Baylor
TV: ESPN
(Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET)

LSU didn’t do us any favors, with offensive linemen Will Campbell and Emery Jones, wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor already declaring for the draft. Swinson it is!

DT Walter Nolen (#2), Ole Miss

Gator Bowl: vs. Duke
TV: ESPN
(Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Nolen is a massive option (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) along the interior, becoming one of the most disruptive forces in all of college football during his lone season at Ole Miss. Who wouldn’t want a former Texas A&M and Ole Miss defensive lineman?

EDGE Steven Parker (#0), Texas State

First Responder Bowl: vs. North Texas
TV: ESPN
(Jan. 3, 4 p.m. ET)

I’m running out of steam.

DT Aeneas Peebles (#16), Virginia Tech

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: vs. Minnesota
TV: ESPN
(Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Peebles is another transfer option along the interior, though his stock might have fallen at Virginia Tech. Can he raise it back up with one final shot?

IOL Jordan White (#53), Liberty

Bahamas Bowl: vs. Buffalo
TV: ESPN 2
(Jan. 4, 11 a.m. ET)

I don’t have anything for this one. You can finally click away now.