BY DAVID CHOUGH

Player Profile

Grant Kraemer, QB, Drake

While the game between Iowa State and Drake wasn’t a game played for a conference championship or bowl eligibility, it had something perhaps even greater at stake: pride. Iowa State wanted to play 12 games this season, and with the previous two commitments falling through, the Cyclones and Drake were able to reach an agreement to play this game just a few weeks prior. The Bulldogs were already eliminated from playoff contention, but they still had intentions of pulling of the upset — and that all started with their quarterback, Grant Kraemer.

Although Drake’s first drive started on its own 7-yard line, Kraemer wasted no time in capitalizing as he rifled a touchdown pass that put the underdogs up, 7-0. Even after the Cyclones managed to wrest away momentum with a pair of touchdowns and an interception, Kraemer looked unphased. No matter what the defense or the inclement weather, threw at the quarterback, he calmly continued to lead the offense. A methodical, 10-play, 83-yard drive eventually finished with a touchdown pass from Kramer with defenders in his face.

After halftime, Drake’s defense forced a fumble, leading to a field goal that cut Iowa State’s lead to 3. Another forced turnover put Drake in position to take the lead and Kraemer seized the opportunity. He found a wide receiver for 23 yards on third down to keep the drive alive, and in the red zone, Kraemer sat in the pocket and let the play develop. Maybe it was trust in his receiver, maybe it was sheer confidence that allowed him to sling a pass into the heart of the secondary for a touchdown. Suddenly, the Bulldogs were up 24-20 in what would be the most unlikely of upsets in recent memory.

Though the offense would not be able to score after that and the Cyclones ultimately pulled away, Grant Kraemer’s performance, completing 20 of his 29 attempts for 221 yards and three touchdowns in awful field conditions, was a worthy one to end his collegiate career. Drake might have entered into the Iowa State stadium as the home team’s third-choice, but Kraemer and the Bulldogs left as valiant opponents.

Breakout Players

Reggie Gallaspy II, RB, North Carolina State

One week after carrying the ball a season-high 27 times for 129 yards against in-state rival UNC,  Reggie Gallaspy II once again made the most of his many opportunities. This time, he carried it 24 times against East Carolina for a season-high 220 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his total to over 1,000 yards on the season, the first time he has ever hit that mark in his career.

Bobby Okereke, ILB, Stanford

In his final rivalry matchup against California, Bobby Okereke put his stamp on things with 13 total stops, including 7 solo tackles, 0.5 sack and a forced fumble. As a result, the Golden Bears were never able to get into a rhythm, and Stanford cruised to a 23-13 victory.

Wesley Bush, DB, Middle Tennessee

Familiarity breeds contempt, and after two straight weeks of playing against Middle Tennessee, it wouldn’t be a surprise if UAB was sick of seeing Wesley Bush. The senior defensive back has terrorized the Dragons for two weeks straight, the latest effort yielding 10 tackles and a pick for the second game in a row. Though UAB came out victorious, Bush proved he has the range and hitting ability to compete at the next level.

FULL COACHING STAFF ANNOUNCED FOR 2019 NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL

Highlighted by Pro Football Hall of Famers and NFL legends, the complete staffs for 2019 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl head coaches Chuck Pagano and Mike Tice were finalized Tuesday.

Featured as the American Team’s defensive coordinator is former All-Pro defensive back Ed Reed, who had great success playing under Pagano at the University of Miami and with the Baltimore Ravens. Leading the American Team offense will be Ted Tollner, who served as an NFL assistant for 15 seasons and worked with NFL quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft.

Former NFL star wideout Andre Johnson, who also played under Pagano in college and the NFL, will coach the wide receivers with Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress. And Hall of Famer Jackie Slater returns to lead the offensive line for the American team.

The National Team staff, led by Tice, includes former Pro Bowl QB Gus Frerotte as the offensive coordinator and former All-Pro linebacker Bryan Cox as the defensive coordinator. Darrell Green, who has previously served as a head and assistant coach at the Collegiate Bowl, will pour his Hall of Fame wisdom into the role of defensive backs coach for the National Team.

The eighth annual postseason all-star game will be played on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium, once again bringing together the top draft-eligible players from colleges and conferences across the country.

For the latest news and updates on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, stay tuned to our website and follow @NFLPABowl on Twitter.

Here are the full coaching staffs for the American and National teams:

NATIONAL TEAM
Head Coach: Mike Tice
Specialist/Assistant: Tim Holt
Offensive Coordinator: Gus Frerotte
Defensive Coordinator: Bryan Cox
Quarterbacks Coach: Richard Bartel
Running Backs Coach: Clinton Portis
Wide Receivers Coach: Matthew Hatchette
Wide Receivers Coach: Nate Washington
Tight Ends Coach: Alge Crumpler
Offensive Line Coach: Chris Naeole
Offensive Line Coach: Jonathan Scott
Defensive Line Coach: Bertrand Berry
Linebackers Coach: Chris Claiborne
Defensive Backs Coach: Darrell Green
Defensive Backs Coach: Cory Hall
Special Teams Coach: Josh Cribbs
Offensive Coaching Intern: Moe Williams
Defensive Coaching Intern: Dante Marsh
AMERICAN TEAM
Head Coach: Chuck Pagano
Offensive Coordinator: Ted Tollner
Defensive Coordinator: Ed Reed
Quarterbacks Coach: Jeff Blake
Running Backs Coach: Brandon Jackson
Wide Receivers Coach: Andre Johnson
Wide Receivers Coach: Plaxico Burress
Tight Ends Coach: John Allred
Offensive Line Coach: Jackie Slater
Defensive Line Coach: Cory Redding
Defensive Line Coach: Aubrayo Franklin
Linebackers Coach: D’Qwell Jackson
Defensive Backs Coach: Kevin Ross
Defensive Backs Coach: Ricky Manning Jr.
Special Teams Coach: Russ Purnell
Offensive Coaching Intern: Jaimie Thomas
Defensive Coaching Intern: Darryl Tapp

BY DAVID CHOUGH

Player Profile

Kyle Shurmur, QB, Vanderbilt

With Rivalry Week upon us, the Vanderbilt seniors hoped to snag a three-peat over their in-state rivals at Tennessee. At the helm was Kyle Shurmur, playing in his fourth iteration of this matchup, and after the previous two had gone so well, the senior quarterback was surely looking to put the cherry on top, knowing that only the winner of the matchup would go on to be bowl eligible.

After going three and out on the first drive, Shurmur wanted to make sure that the Commodores quickly established control of the game the next time they came out.  He completed his next 14 pass attempts, including all of his throws on the next drive that spanned 84 yards. It didn’t matter what looks the defense gave him — Shurmur still calmly threw it to the open man underneath and kept the chains moving. By the time he threw a beautiful pass up the right sideline to his receiver, the Commodore offense had possessed the ball for nearly half the first quarter and converted two third downs. The next drive was much the same, with Shurmur controlling the tempo of the offense with quick strikes to his receivers, keeping the clock running, and engineering yet another touchdown drive.

But after a scoreless third quarter, it looked like the Volunteers might have the chance to come back into this game. Shurmur made sure to quickly put those doubts to rest, as he threw a gorgeous pair of passes to start the final period. The first completion was a teardrop on the left sideline, even as the receiver was being interfered with. Next, Shurmur attacked the right sideline and rainbowed a pass right into his teammate’s arms for a 26-yard score.

Two drives later, Shurmur came out firing on all cylinders, including a quarterback sneak on fourth down to move the chains. He then capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown to push the score to 38-13, firmly solidifying Vanderbilt’s chances of a second bowl bid in the past three seasons.

Shurmur finished the day a brilliant 31 of 35 for 367 yards to go with three touchdowns. And while fans of the Commodores were most certainly happy to see their senior signal caller do so well, the Volunteers might be as equally happy knowing that they will no longer have to worry about Shurmur as he makes his move to the next level.

Breakout Players

Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State

The game didn’t live up to the competitive stakes that everyone wishes for, and Parris Campbell was part of the reason why. The Michigan Wolverines simply could not cover him, as the senior wideout had six catches for 192 yards and two scores, including a 78 -yard dash to the end zone.

Alonzo Smith, RB, Miami (OH)

It was the senior tailback’s final home game, and Alonzo Smith made sure it was a memorable one. After cracking the century mark just once this season, Smith ran for 207 yards on just 18 carries, and recorded three touchdowns. The first score was the most important, as it came on fourth and one with Ball State leading 21-7 late in the second. The team went for it, and Smith repaid its faith in him by taking it 56 yards to the house. His combination of size and speed wore down the Cardinals, and the Redhawks would eventually win, 42-21.

Otaro Alaka, LB, Texas A&M

It might seem counterintuitive to spotlight a defensive player from a team that just gave up 72 points in victory, but that just makes it all the more impressive for what Otaro Alaka accomplished. In the thriller between LSU and Texas A&M that saw a record-tying seven overtimes, Alaka never once stopped running, and his constant motor paid off in the first overtime period. His sack on the LSU quarterback forced a long field goal, and even though it was converted, it gave his offense a peace of mind, knowing they could kick a field goal in kind to extend the game. In all, Alaka was a menace, notching 11 tackles, including two sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss in a game that will be remembered for years to come.

BY DAVID CHOUGH

Player Profile

John Lovett, QB, Princeton

It’s hard enough leading a top-10 team in the country, let alone leading it to a perfect record. But that is exactly what John Lovett has accomplished this season for Princeton. The Tigers are ranked 10th in the FCS coaches poll and finished the year with a resounding victory over their Ivy League rivals, Penn. Of course, striving for perfection and achieving it are two very different things, but Lovett made it look easy in his last game as a college football star.

Though Princeton was firing on all cylinders coming into the game, the very beginnings of its game against Penn looked like there might be some room for error. The Tigers missed a field goal on their opening drive, and even though Penn was not able to capitalize, the Quakers were able to pin Princeton back on its own 20-yard line. But Lovett wasn’t fazed. He immediately led the team down on a seven-play drive that resulted in a gorgeous 42-yard touchdown throw. That Lovett was able to stand in a collapsing pocket was impressive enough, but the fact that he managed to put that much power and touch behind the ball to his receiver made the play even better.

While he created the first touchdown with his arm and set up the second with it, too, the third time Princeton found the end zone was set up by Lovett’s ability to run the ball. He broke free for runs of 7 and 14 yards to keep the drive alive. Then, once the Tigers were in a goal-to-go situation, Lovett ran it to the 3-yard line before throwing a dart to his receiver to put Princeton up 21-0 and the game out of reach for Penn.

Entering the game, Lovett had scored a rushing touchdown in 19 consecutive games and needed just one more to set the Ivy League record. Early in the fourth quarter, Lovett found himself just a few yards away from paydirt on first and goal, so he did what he has done so many times before in his career: he faked the handoff, kept the ball himself, and got an angle past the defenders into the end zone for the historic rushing touchdown.

Lovett finished the game with 255 yards and three touchdowns through the air along with 123 yards on the ground and his one record-breaking score.

Breakout Players

Andy Isabella, WR, University of Massachusetts

At this point, Isabella is having such a breakout season that this section should be dedicated to his performances. Just two weeks removed from going off for 303 yards receiving, Isabella once again showed that he can hang with anybody in the country. The senior wideout was nearly unstoppable, hauling in 15 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns, including a brilliant 75-yarder on the last play of the third quarter. While the Minutemen have now wrapped up their schedule, there is no doubt that this will be far from the last time that the standout wideout dominates on the gridiron.

Sam Mustipher, C, Notre Dame

Notre Dame have been absolutely demolishing the competition that comes its way, and against No. 12 Syracuse, the Fighting Irish dominated the trenches. Led by senior center Sam Mustipher, the offensive line prevented the Orange defense from getting any real traction, as the Irish methodically kept drives alive and created space for their playmakers to work. Mustipher in particular was key, making the right protection adjustments and getting to the second level to allow whoever was running the ball to go four or even more yards without being touched. When the dust settled, the Irish had decisively beaten the Orange, 36-3.

Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion

The Monarchs have had a roller coaster of a season, with highs like taking down then-ranked Virginia Tech, but their one constant has been the steady pressure by Oshane Ximines. For the third time this season, Ximines registered a pair of quarterback takedowns, and even tacked on two more forced fumbles to put his total at four for the season. His height and power allows him to bully offensive linemen, and he made the most of those opportunities in a 77-14 victory over Virginia Military Institute.

Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State

Though the column has already mentioned a quarterback above, we would be remiss without mentioning Gardner Minshew’s logic-defying performance against Arizona this past weekend. He threw for a season-high 473 yards and set a school-record for most touchdown passes in a game with seven — all the more impressive considering that Mike Leach has had some perfect quarterbacks for his system the past few years. Minshew absolutely dominated through the air, and it led to a 69-28 win over the Wildcats as the Cougars continue to make a claim to be included in the College Football Playoff.

BY DAVID CHOUGH

Player Profile

Darrin Hall, RB, Pittsburgh

Darrin Hall has always shown flashes of potential to be a workhorse, game-changing running back. In 2017, he burst onto the scene with a 200-yard effort against Duke, and then followed that up with a few more games going over the century mark.

Entering this weekend, however, Hall had yet to get on track this year.  Yes, he had over 100 yards rushing against Syracuse, but that was only the first time he had double-digit carries all season. But with all eyes watching a much-hyped ACC clash with No. 25 Virginia, Hall made sure to make the most of his opportunity.

On his first carry of the game, Hall followed his blockers down the left sideline and raced past everyone for a 41-yard touchdown. He ripped off runs of 13 and 10 yards a few drives later, but it wasn’t until the second half when Hall would get going.

At one point in the third quarter, Hall ran the ball five times in seven plays. And even though he wasn’t ripping the Cavaliers defense for big chunks of yardage, he was moving the chains by following his blockers and lowering his shoulders. By the time the Panthers were knocking at the goal line, the Virginia defense was gassed, allowing Hall to walk into the end zone for a 2-yard score.

Though Virginia answered back with a field goal to pull within one point early in the fourth quarter, Hall wanted to prove just how a workhorse back can break down a defense. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Hall ran up the gut, saw nothing but green grass, and accelerated past the defense to go 75 yards for the score. The next time Pitt had the ball, the senior capped his night and iced the game with a 20-yard dash for first down

Hall finished with 229 yards on 19 carries for an absurd average of 12.1 yards per rush, and his three touchdowns nearly equaled his total on the year entering Friday’s contest. There aren’t many games left in the schedule, but as the weather turns cold and the run game becomes more important, the senior tailback sent a message: give Hall the rock and good things will follow.

Breakout Players

Andy Isabella, WR, University of Massachusetts

It’s hard to be considered a breakout player when you’re the leading receiver in the nation, but Isabella somehow managed to do just that in a thrilling triple-overtime matchup against Liberty. Isabella notched nine catches for a school-record 303 yards, including two scores — one of which was an 89-yarder that broke open the floodgates.

Leon McQuaker, LB, New Mexico State

With opponent Alcorn State putting up incredible offensive stats, New Mexico needed an equally Herculean effort from their senior linebacker, and he delivered with a season-high 22 total tackles, 13 of which were solo, in victory.

Brandon Watson, CB, Michigan

Though Watson was not credited with a pass defended, that partially arose from the fact that the ball rarely came his way. And when it did, Watson took advantage, take an interception 62 yards to the house.