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2017 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Dec. 30-31 Bowls

By Shawn Spencer

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) gets the crowd into the game during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) gets the crowd into the game during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NFL Draft Mitch Trubisky
Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Sun Bowl: Mitch Trubisky (QB – North Carolina)

The Sun Bowl has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this bowl season. First, Stanford’s star running back Christian McCaffrey announced he would begin preparing for the 2017 NFL Draft rather than play in this game. Then, North Carolina’s running back Elijah Hood stated he would return to school next season, but would also sit out the Sun Bowl. While the two ball carriers have already made their future plans known, the NFL is anxiously awaiting a decision from North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

While the best one-on-one matchup in this game will be North Carolina right tackle Jon Heck versus Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, all eyes will be on Trubisky. The junior signal caller has only started 12 games in his career, but has already received early first-round hype. What makes him so valuable is his accuracy and production in critical situations such as third downs and in the red zone. What he needs to improve is how streaky he gets at times. While he has been on point for extended periods of time, he’s also gone through long stretches of marginal play.

Trubisky could use another year of seasoning in college, however there are plenty of reasons to declare for the 2017 NFL Draft. Not only is he projected to be a first-round pick, but his top receivers (Ryan Switzer, Bug Howard and Mack Hollins) are all seniors. If this is indeed his last collegiate game, it won’t be an easy one. Opponents are completing just 54.3 percent of their passes against the Cardinal defense.

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