Michael Gallup, Ryan Yurachek prospects to watch
2018 NFL Draft: The Gildan New Mexico Bowl is going to feature a lot of green, and Michael Gallup of CSU and Ryan Yurachek of Marshall are top players…
The college football bowl season is a bit underwhelming from an entertainment perspective, but you can almost always find worthy NFL Draft prospects to watch in these games.
In the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, there are a couple of players you should be keeping an eye on that could soon be on your favorite NFL team’s roster. These players might not be day one picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, but they are a couple of really productive players.
This particular bowl game pits the Colorado State Rams against the Marshall Thundering Herd, and the players you need to be keeping the closest eye on are on the offensive side of the football, starting with the top player in this game…
Michael Gallup, Wide Receiver, Colorado State
Colorado State WR Michael Gallup is #good. Catch him in action tomorrow in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.https://t.co/YjlbFNKkq3 pic.twitter.com/cDEdnqeFqs
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 15, 2017
We know that Michael Gallup is bound for the 2018 Senior Bowl, and as a matter of fact, was listed on our initial top 10 players to look for in that event.
As the PFF graphic states, Gallup is one of the best in the country at forcing missed tackles after the catch.
In just two seasons, this is a guy that has 21 touchdown catches and he’s proven in a short time at the FBS level that he’s a major difference maker.
Prior to the SEC championship game featuring Auburn and Alabama, Gallup had the most yards against the Crimson Tide secondary in a game this season. He’s proven over and over again that he can be a playmaker at the next level, and he’ll get a chance to have one more big game at the collegiate level in front of an audience of fans and scouts hungry to see him do well.
This is a guy who can make tough, contested catches, and one who can win against tight coverage.
His game this season against Nevada where he caught 13 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns is one of the best performances by a wide receiver in all of college football all year.
Ryan Yurachek, Tight End, Marshall
Marshall TE Ryan Yurachek (#85) with the touchdown catch against UConn. pic.twitter.com/cHKE7F508F
— PFDZ (@PFDZ44) December 3, 2017
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This game could end up being huge for Yurachek, who has nine touchdown catches this season (two games with three touchdowns included) and 25 receiving touchdowns over the course of his collegiate career.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Yurachek is going to have to prove himself athletically in the pre-draft process to get consideration as a ‘move’ tight end prospect at the next level.
He has good hands but doesn’t look like an overwhelming athlete in the game reels I’ve watched, but he’s certainly been productive.
He has the opportunity in this game against Colorado State to set a career mark for touchdowns in a season, and add to his already career-high in receptions or yards.
An all-conference performer both on the field and academically, Yurachek could endear himself to an NFL coaching staff and as a projected late-round, UDFA type of player, he could find a way to make an impact a couple of years down the road.