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Who are the top NFL Draft prospects playing in the New Mexico Bowl between SMU and BYU? Here are the top offensive and defensive players that fantasy football fans should keep an eye on in this college football bowl game.
It's bowl season! If you haven't watched much college football this year, this is your last chance to see all these teams. And if you're an NFL fan, it's a chance to watch some players who could end up playing on Sunday, either next year or in the future.
Today we're looking at the New Mexico Bowl, which pits SMU against BYU.
Below you'll find the top NFL prospects playing in the New Mexico Bowl, which will be played on 12/17/2022 at 7:30 p.m. ET. And remember: in a landscape where top players sit out bowls more than ever, there's always a chance that a player mentioned doesn't play.
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Blake Freeland - OT - BYU
Looks like BYU quarterback Jaren Hall will miss this one with an injury, but you can still watch the Cougars offense to see the line play.
Blake Freeland is BYU's left tackle and will be playing in this one as he looks to improve his draft stock. Freeland did a good job protecting Hall during the season, and now we get to see him pass-blocking for a backup QB, where his ability to occupy pass rushers becomes even more valuable since BYU will need that extra time with someone other than Hall under center.
Issac Slade-Matautia - LB - SMU
Slade-Matautia is finishing up his second season at SMU. He had a career-high 63 tackles this season, with 3.5 of those being for a loss. He had three sacks and one interception.
Slade-Matautia began his college career at Oregon, where he played three seasons. His best year was in 2019, when he had 62 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Ducks.
While he might not have impressed enough to up his draft stock a ton this year, he's still a solid G5 linebacker prospect.
Tanner Mordecai - QB - SMU
Mordecai played three years at Oklahoma, but could never really carve out a role, as he constantly played behind elite QBs. Then he transferred to SMU.
In 2021, Mordecai completed 67.8% of his passes for 3,628 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12 picks. This year, he completed 64.3% of his passes for 3,306 yards, 31 touchdowns and nine picks.
While Mordecai hasn't improved his numbers this year, he continues to be an impressive passer. He has an arm that can make most throws and should be viewed as a potential Day 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
