With approximately 250 alumni across the league on any given Sunday, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl has established itself as a mainstay on the all-star circuit and is a critical part of the NFL Draft process. The 11^thAnnual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, featuring the next generation of NFL prospects, will be held in January of 2023. Below are some of the notable players who performed well during week two of the NFL season.

Russell Gage
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into their week two matchup against the New Orleans Saints minus wide receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones due to injury. So when fellow wideout Mike Evans was ejected during the game, it was time for Russell Gage to step up. The five-year veteran came through in the clutch and kept the chains moving as Tom Brady found him on five occasions for 28 yards during the Bucs victory.

Kendall Hinton
One of the more fascinating player development stories in the NFL has been Denver Broncos wide receiver, Kendall Hinton. The former Wake Forest quarterback demonstrated his ability to switch positions during the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practice week. Hinton made huge strides last season, collecting 15 catches in 16 games for 175 receiving yards and also returned kicks. Suddenly, he is now one of the big play threats for Russell Wilson on the Broncos’ offense, which he showcased on Sunday, making a big 20-yard grab. Keep a lookout for this connection!

Sam Williams
Dallas Cowboys rookie Sam Williams (chosen 56^th overall in the second round) is the highest-ever drafted NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni and he has already begun to flash his pass-rush prowess. While his stats may not reflect his impact, the explosive Cowboys linebacker applied pressure in the backfield on several occasions, while making a key tackle for loss during their win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Arthur Maulet
After a stellar week one performance, which included a forced fumble, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Maulet played a contributing factor once again in week two. The six-year veteran racked up a pair of tackles against the New England Patriots, bringing his season total to five—he recorded a career-high 45 tackles in 2021 and has been a dependable backup for the Steelers.

Jordan Kunaszyk
The journey of linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk has been one of perseverance. Coming out of California, Kunaszyk went undrafted in 2017, largely in part due to an injury he endured during his senior season. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns after a training camp tryout but was eventually released. However, the Browns would re-sign him to the practice squad and elevate him to the active roster for the second consecutive week. Kunaszyk has now appeared in 28 games, across four seasons with three various teams (Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders).

Samuel Womack
A Detroit native, San Francisco 49ers fifth-round draft pick Samuel Womack has made his presence felt in ‘The Bay.’ The rookie cornerback flashed a propensity for turnovers during the preseason and has since gone on to become a key member of the 49ers defense, registering three tackles during their win over the Seattle Seahawks. Look for Womack to play an increased role for one of the top defenses in the league!

For the latest news and updates surrounding the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl be sure to follow @NFLPABowl

UCLA vs South Alabama
In the iconic Rose Bowl stadium on Saturday, another battle of unbeatens played out as the UCLA Bruins played host to Sun Belt opponent South Alabama Jaguars. In a wildly contested game that went back-and-forth in the second half, UCLA drove 61-yards to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired, giving the Bruins a 32-31 win.

There were numerous notable seniors on the field in this matchup, highlighted by the following:

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (the 5th -year senior and 5th -year starting quarterback for UCLA) put on a show for fans and NFL talent evaluators alike, completing 20-of-30 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns through the air while also adding 27 yards on seven carries. Most importantly, DTR never turned the ball over while displaying mastery of Coach Chip Kelly’s offense and orchestrating four scoring drives in the 2nd half of the game, including the game-winning field goal drive late in the fourth quarter. On his third touchdown pass of the game, Thompson-Robinson showed great poise as he hung in the pocket working through his progression prior to throwing a dart to his receiver on a slant route for an eight-yard touchdown. With a conference road game up next, performances like Saturday’s are confidence-builders that bode well for undefeated UCLA.

Coming off an 1100-yard season, Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet is widely considered one of the top senior rushers in the country. Although former Michigan Wolverine standout’s numbers haven’t been as jaw-dropping as perhaps expected through three weeks (he did not play Week 1), Charbonnet’s talent and self-less demeanor routinely showed on Saturday, including converting a key 3rd-down on the game’s final drive to set up the game-winning field goal. For the day, Charbonnet finished with a very healthy 6.0 yards/rush average to lead UCLA with 78 yards on the ground and then finished second on the team in receiving yards with 51 – versatility that NFL scouts seek amongst the running back position.

For the Jaguars, few players are physically as impressive as wide receiver Jalen Wayne. Standing at 6-2, 205 pounds while possessing long arms (32.5”) and big hands (9 3/8”), the 6th-year senior presents imposing size that is difficult for opponents to matchup against. Coupled with his athleticism and consistent ball skills and it’s no wonder that Wayne is firmly on the NFL’s radar. Saturday against his only Power Five opponent for the season, the Spanish Fort, Alabama native showed great route running and adjustability while leading South Alabama with seven receptions for 76 yards. After catching 86 balls the past two seasons, Wayne is currently on pace through three games to record nearly as many this season alone while doubling his career touchdown reception mark.

Kansas State vs Tulane
NFLPA Bowl scouts were back in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday to see a battle of unbeatens between the Kansas State Wildcats and the Tulane Green Wave. In a defensive struggle between two very well-coached teams, the Green Wave took the lead in the 4th quarter with a 4-yard touchdown pass and then played stout defense to secure a 17-10 road victory.

Several seniors stood out to evaluators, including:

K-State Linebacker Daniel Green is known for being an instinctive and highly productive run defender, but his 2nd Quarter interception showcased his ability to factor versus the pass while dropping into zone and reading the quarterback’s eyes prior to making a play on the ball. In back-to-back weeks now, Green has recorded an interception – the first two in his collegiate career – and returned this interception 49 yards to set up a go-ahead field goal to end the half. With Oklahoma next on the schedule, Green has another great opportunity to display his athleticism and versatility for NFL scouts.

It was a big weekend for Hall of Famer Kurt Warner as his young son, Elijah, started his first career game for the Temple Owls as a true freshman, and for the performance of his eldest son, Kade Warner, who scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown of the day while hauling in four receptions for 46 yards. On his impressive 21-yard touchdown reception, Kade showed great concentration and toughness after faking a screen block and running down the right sideline prior to elevating up for the catch. The middle-field Safety made a good break to the ball and hammered Kade as it arrived, but the elder Warner son held onto the rock while coming down in bounds to make the impressive play.

For the Green Wave, WILL Linebacker Dorian Williams’ presence was felt all throughout the day as Tulane hindered a very potent K-State rushing attack. The 2.5-year starter – who led the American Athletic Conference in tackles in 2020 – tied for tops on the team with six total tackles on the day and added a pass breakup as well. Dorian displayed numerous times great ability to read/react to quickly dissect the play, and then the athleticism, speed, and length to make the play. Look for Williams to continue to impress as Tulane gets into conference play with quality competition on the schedule.

We saw 65 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni from the 10^th annual game (2022) make NFL 53-man rosters (25), get signed to the practice squad (33), or placed on the injured reserve (seven) to kick off the 103^rd NFL season. There were a handful of NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni who made an impact during week one. Below is our first installment of the ‘NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight.’ Be sure to check back each week for top performances!

Marquez Valdes-Scantling
One familiar face making a name for himself in a new place would be five-year veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is line for a big year, moving from Green Bay to the Kansas City Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes new slot weapon. The speedy ‘MVS’ did not disappoint, snatching four passes for 44 yards in their week one matchup. Click here to view.

Ashton Dulin
Entering his fourth season, Indianapolis Colts veteran wide receiver Ashton Dulin made his presence known amongst new quarterback Matt Ryan, collecting three catches for 46 receiving yards during their 20-20 tie with the Houston Texans. Dulin could have a larger role than anticipated in the Colts offense in ’22. Click here to view.

Quincy Williams
A four year veteran and second season as starter for the New York Jets, linebacker Quincy Williams recorded six tackles, including one sack in the Jets week one loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Williams set a career-high with 110 tackles a year ago and has emerged as one of the team leaders on defense. Click here to view.

Malcom Rodriguez
Hard Knocks rising rookie star Malcolm Rodriguez is the Detroit Lions new man in the middle. After a stellar training camp, the sixth round pick was flying around the field during his debut, making six tackles in a valiant effort against the Philadelphia Eagles. His gritty play is the exact DNA that Lions head coach Dan Campbell seeks and you should expect to hear ‘Rodrigo’ have his name called often throughout the season. Click here to view.

L’Jarius Sneed
Entering his third season as a starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, the lengthy L’Jarius Sneed picked up right where he left off, making several big plays during their win over the Arizona Cardinals, including one sack and a pass deflection, while finishing with eight tackles. The former fourth round pick could be in line for a Pro Bowl-caliber type year. Click here to view.

In total, 248 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni were actively on 53-man rosters, practice squads, or injured reserve during opening kickoff. Be on the lookout for more standout performers throughout the season right here, as we bring you the ‘NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight!’ Click here to view the Opening Day roster.

*For more coverage of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, including campus visits, behind the scenes videos and pictures from the scouting trails, plus potential future NFLPA Collegiate Bowl invitees follow us @NFLPABowl 

Each week, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl’s scouting department will provide insight into some of the top prospect performances from around the nation. Be sure to follow along here and @NFLPABowl on Twitter and Instagram to learn the names you’ll need to know for the 2023 NFL Draft!

In a matchup of two Power-5, non-conference opponents on Saturday, the #14 ranked
Wisconsin Badgers played host to the Washington State Cougars in a back-and-forth game that
saw all 31 points scored in the middle two quarters. On this beautiful fall day, both teams had
the bizarre misfortune of intercepting the opposing team only to fumble the ball right back to
the offense on the same play. While many expected Wisconsin to run wild over Wazzu, it was
the play of a former Badger running back turned Cougar that led to the 17-14 Washington State
upset, and he happens to be one of the seniors who stood out to NFLPA Bowl scouts.

As anyone who’s ever watched Wisconsin football knows, everything starts up front in the
trenches. This year’s Badger team fields two of the top interior senior prospects in Offensive
Guard Tyler Beach and Defensive Tackle Keeanu Benton. Standing over 6’5” and 315 pounds
with 33” arms, it’s no surprise that Tyler Beach has started games at both offensive tackle
positions each of the past three seasons. Now as a “Super Senior”, he’s moved to what NFL
scouts would consider his more natural position of LG where his size, toughs, and athleticism
allow him to execute a host of different blocks, including pulling out front to lead the way on
perimeter runs. Saturday against the Cougars, Beach, and company helped pave the way for 174
yards on the ground while limiting a potent pass rush to only one sack on 32 passing plays.

On the other side of the ball for Wisconsin, imposing DT Keeanu Benton may have recorded
officially only one tackle in the game, but his presence and ability to clog interior rushing lanes
made him much more productive than the box score may imply. At 6-4, 312 pounds and with
over an 82.5” wingspan, it’s easy to imagine why Benton is such a force against the run. But the
true-senior and team-leader displayed dominance versus Washington State linemen, numerous
times locking out opponents with his great length and strength prior to shedding their blocks
and forcing the running back to alter his path. The former state qualifier in wrestling helped
hold the Cougars to a mere 2.4 yard/rush average on the day.

For Washington State, senior running back Nakia Watson did his part in raining on his former
team’s parade. Watson, a redshirt-senior who spent his first three seasons at Wisconsin as a
backup, showcased his speed and versatility on Saturday, racing down the sideline for a 31-yard
touchdown on what appeared to be a routine short completion. With 64 combined yards
rushing and receiving and two touchdowns, Watson led all Cougar players in total yards and
touchdowns, helping his team pull off the upset while firmly establishing himself on NFL scouts’
radars.

Over the years, the Collegiate Bowl has showcased some amazing talent. We are extremely proud to announce that a total of 248 Collegiate Bowl alums are currently playing in the NFL.

Each week, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl’s scouting department will provide insight into some of the top prospect performances from around the nation. Be sure to follow along here and @NFLPABowl on Twitter and Instagram to learn the names you’ll need to know for the 2023 NFL Draft!

While most college football teams kick off their season on September 6, there were several games played this past Saturday that fielded hopeful NFL prospects, including Illinois playing host to Wyoming. In a game that was very competitive at halftime, several seniors stood out to NFLPA Bowl scouts during the 38-6 Illini victory.

Tommy Devito, QB, Illinois
Fifth-year quarterback made his Illini debut, completing an impressive 73% of his passing attempts for 194 yards and two touchdowns prior to giving way to the backup. The former Syracuse Orangeman – who passed for over 2,300 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2019 – played an efficient game against Wyoming, spreading the ball out to a dozen different receivers, protecting the ball while avoiding turnovers and utilizing his legs to extend plays.

Alex Palczewski, OT, Illinois
Sixth-year player made his program record 53rd career start to break a tie with former teammate Vederian Lowe. Palczewski – who was recently named team captain– returned to right offensive tackle after playing the majority of 2021 at right guard. The savvy veteran (listed at 6-7, 318 pounds) provided steady play to go alongside his imposing size. If Week 0 is any indication, Devito is going to have plenty of time to complete passes this season as Palczewski and Co. allowed zero sacks versus the Cowboys.

Cole Godbout, DT, Wyoming
While Illinois has a long list of senior players in 2022, Wyoming is on the other end of the spectrum, fielding a team with only four seniors listed. Fifth-year defensive tackle Cole Godbout stood out on Saturday with his consistency by regularly making plays in the run game to the tune of seven tackles – good for second on the team, which is rare for a DT. Godbout had a breakout season in 2021, outpacing all Wyoming D-linemen with 70 tackles, five sacks and five passes defended.