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What’s Florida coach Jim McElwain going to do to move the ball against Michigan?
Play Antonio Callaway at quarterback in the shotgun? Tuck the ball in the back of a lineman’s jersey? Statue of Liberty? Fumblerooski?
If you love college football, the bowl season is the most wonderful time of the year. And every team has had several weeks to prepare. There should be plenty of tricks, gimmicks and surprises.
Sticking with the SEC, here’s a list of five SEC players or coaches who should be fun to watch in their bowl games:
1. LSU RB Leonard Fournette: The Tigers sophomore star could have a record-breaking performance in perhaps the ultimate mismatch of the bowl season. Samaje Perine’s single-game rushing record could be in jeopardy. The Oklahoma star holds the NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards last season against Kansas. Fournette might rush for 500 yards against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. The nation’s leading rusher (yardage per game), Fournette averages 6.42 yards per carry. Texas Tech ranks No. 126 (behind Kansas) out of 128 FBS teams against the run, giving up 271 yards per game and almost six yards per carry.
2. Alabama RB Derrick Henry: The Heisman Trophy winner faces a much tougher challenge against Michigan State, one of the nation’s toughest defenses, in the Cotton Bowl. The Spartans rank No. 8 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 3.55 yards per carry and only 113 rushing yards per game. Henry averages almost 153 yards per game by himself. It’s a classic matchup of strengths. How many times will Alabama’s workhorse back get the ball in an expected low-scoring battle?
3. Florida coach Jim McElwain: The first-year coach will have four weeks to prepare Treon Harris for perhaps his final game as the Gators starting quarterback. What can the former offensive coordinator do to help the Gators put points on the scoreboard — something they couldn’t do down the stretch in embarrassing offensive showings against Vanderbilt, Florida Atlantic, Florida State and Alabama — against a stingy Michigan defense in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville? Will there be flea flickers, fake punts, across-the-field laterals on kick returns? How about a “fumblerooski” with an offensive lineman carrying the ball while defenders chase a running back? McElwain has to take desperate measures.
4. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell: The junior game-breaker rarely fails to supply a spectacular play. And there’s no better place than the Sugar Bowl for him to go out with a bang in what’s likely to be his final college game. With five weeks to prepare, the Rebels should have plenty of ammunition ready for a surprisingly good Oklahoma State pass defense. Expect Hugh Freeze to find creative ways to get Treadwell the ball in the open field.
5. Arkansas QB Brandon Allen: Flying under the radar (outside the SEC), Allen put together an outstanding senior season. He’ll get a chance to finish his career in style in the Liberty Bowl against a suspect Kansas State pass defense that ranked No. 120 in the nation, giving up 283 yards passing per game. Granted, the Wildcats played in the pass-happy Big 12. But with Alex Collins forcing Kansas State to respect the Razorbacks’ running game, Allen should have time to find receivers. What will Kansas State coach Bill Snyder do in an attempt to stop the Hogs’ offense? Expect the Wildcats to be ready.
