Bowl Game Players To Watch. The Stars You Need To Know In Every Game – Page 29

TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Thursday, December 30
ESPN, 3:00 pm
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Purdue vs Tennessee

QB Aidan O’Connell, Purdue: His favorite target – David Bell – might be leaving for the NFL, but the passing game should still keep on rolling. O’Connell was brilliant over the last seven games, hitting 74% or more of his passes in each one and threw 16 touchdown passes and no picks over the last five games.

DT Branson Deen, Purdue: No, he’s not as dangerous as future NFL first round draft pick George Karlaftis – who’s leaving for the NFL Draft – but the 6-2, 275-pound tackle is a quick interior presence who can get behind the line. He’s not a space-eater, but he came up with 4.5 sacks with ten tackles for loss.

QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee: No, he’s not a Heisman winner, and no, he’s not going to be in the mix for the top quarterback taken in the NFL Draft like Matt Corral, but Hooker has a case to be at least discussed among the top SEC quarterbacks – or maybe for No. 2 behind Bryce Young. The former Virginia Tech transfer

LB Jeremy Banks, Tennessee: He’s not all that big, but the 224-pound former running back can get around in a hurry and do big things when he gets there. He led the team with 108 tackles with 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, a he got a pick, but his thing is tackling with 12 or more in five of his last six games.

NEXT SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs Arizona State

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