Top 10 players in the Sugar Bowl for Ole Miss and Oklahoma State
Expect a shootout when the Rebels take on the Cowboys.
Neither Ole Miss nor Oklahoma State has had trouble scoring in 2015.
The Rebels, with playmakers Chad Kelly and Laquon Treadwell operating behind an offensive line including Laremy Tunsil, average 40.3 points per game. The Cowboys, with QB Mason Rudolph and WR James Washington average 41.2.
Here’s a list of the top 10 players in the Sugar Bowl:
10. DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss: He didn’t have a big year statistically with 29 tackles, seven for loss with three sacks, but the projected early first-round NFL Draft pick causes matchup problems. After suffering nagging injuries this season, he’s questionable for the bowl game following his fall from an Atlanta hotel window.
9. TE Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State: A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Jarwin supplied outstanding blocking and made 14 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
8. Safety Trae Elston, Ole Miss: A playmaker in the secondary, the senior made four interceptions, returning two for TDs.
7. WR James Washington, Oklahoma State: Averaging more than 20 yards per catch, the Cowboys’ top receiver grabbed 52 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 TDs.
6. OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss: Protecting the blind side for QB Chad Kelly, Tunsil, also projected as an early first-round pick, anchored an offensive line that allowed only 17 sacks while helping rack up almost 6,200 yards total offense.
5. QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State: Taking over for senior J.W. Walsh, the sophomore threw for 3,591 yards with 21 TDs and nine interceptions directing the Cowboys’ prolific passing attack.
4. QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss: The nephew of Jim Kelly, the former Clemson backup, threw for 3,740 yards and 27 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and rushed for 427 yards and 10 TDs in his first season with the Rebels.
3. DB Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State: The Cowboys’ shutdown corner kept TCU’s Josh Doctson and Baylor’s Corey Coleman, two of the three Biletnikoff finalists out of the end zone and made first team All-Big 12.
2. DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State: The 6-foot-4, 272-pound, All-Big 12 star made 13 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hurries and broke up three passes. Quick and powerful, he’s expected to be a first-round draft pick.
1. WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss: The spectacular playmaker, another projected first-round pick, had 76 receptions for 1,082 yards and eight TDs despite getting most of the attention from opposing secondaries.