BOWL GAME OPT OUT LIST
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Louisville
Toledo Transfer Portal
- Starting DE Malachi Davis (442 snaps; led team in sacks)
- Starting S Braden Awls (602 snaps)
- Starting LB Chris D'Appolonia (638 snaps)
- Starting LT Stephen Gales
None are expected to play.
Toledo Potential Opt-Outs
- S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (headed to Senior Bowl)
- CB Avery Smith
- CB Andre Fuller
- S Nasir Bowers
- RB Chip Trayanum
- WR Junior Vandeross III
All are practicing, so it looks promising for their availability. However, McNeil-Warren is also nursing a bit of an injury. The All-American is a projected early round draft pick, so I could see him sitting.
Toledo Injuries
- QB Tucker Gleason (doubtful)
- Starting LG Carter Fouty (639 snaps)
Expect Kalieb Osborne to start under center. The freshman signal caller went 15-24 for 260 yards in mainly mop up duty outside of the regular season finale where he looked good vs. Central Michigan after taking over for Gleason at the very end of the 1H. He finished 5-7 for 108 yards (1 TD) and added 68 rushing yards on 10 attempts (sans two sacks) with the Rockets out-scoring the Chips 21-0 after halftime.
Toledo Coaching Changes
Jason Candle took the UConn opening, so co-offensive coordinator and QB coach Robert Weiner will serve as interim. Some other coaches have departed as well, including:
- Defensive coordinator/LB coach Vince Kehres (Syracuse)
- Co-defensive coordinator/S coach Ross Watson (Iowa State)
- Special teams coordinator Stanton Weber (Kansas State)
Offensive line coach Mike Hallett will call the offense, while CB coach Perry Eliano will call the defense. A number of graduate assistants will step up into bigger roles as well, per Weiner.
Louisville Opt-Outs
- Starting DT Rene Konga (532 snaps)
- Starting DE Wesley Bailey (520 snaps)
Louisville Potential Opt-Outs
- QB Miller Moss (will play)
- WR Chris Bell (out with injury)
- DE Clev Lubin (should play)
Louisville Injuries
- WR Chris Bell (OUT)
- RB Isaac Brown
- RB Keyjuan Brown
- RB Duke Watson
- S Antonio Watts
- LB Stanquan Clark
Brohm is still unsure about the status of the running backs. He said he hopes at least one plays.
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
Western Kentucky Transfer Portal
- CB Dylan Flowers (358 snaps)
- RB La'Vell Wright (207 snaps)
Tyson Helton usually lets players in the portal suit up for the bowl game.
Western Kentucky Injuries
None worth noting.
Southern Miss Transfer Portal
- S Corey Myrick (660 snaps)
Southern Miss Potential Opt-Outs
- CB Josh Moten (841 snaps)
Based on his comments, it sounds like he's leaning toward playing.
Southern Miss Injuries
- LT Blake Bustard (missed finale; 490 snaps)
Southern Miss Coaching Changes
Charles Huff took the Memphis job, which does increase the chance of opt-outs (stay tuned for updates). Offensive coordinator Blake Anderson will serve as the interim coach and also take over as the head coach next season.
Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio
UNLV Injuries
- TE Var’Keyes Gumms (last played in Week 12)
Ohio Injuries
- LB Michael Molnar (last played in Week 9)
Ohio Coaching Changes
Head coach Brian Smith has been fired.
"The termination follows an administrative review of allegations that Smith violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University," the school said in a release.
Defensive coordinator John Hauser will take over as the interim head coach.
Hawaii Bowl: Cal vs. Hawaii
Cal Potential Opt-Outs
- CB Hezekiah Masses
- LB Cade Uluave
It appears QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is staying at Cal next season, so I'd expect him to play.
Cal Injuries
- RG Sioape Vatikani
- TE Mason Mini
- WR Jordan King
- WR Mark Hamper
- S Isaiah Crosby (hasn’t played since in Week 4)
- OLB Ryan McCulloch (hasn’t played since in Week 4)
- DB Cam Sidney
Cal Coaching Changes
Head coach Justin Wilcox was fired at the end of the season. OC Nick Rolovich took over and will continue to serve as the interim for the bowl in his return to the island. Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi will take over as head coach next season.
Hawaii Transfer Portal
- WR Jackson Harris (49 catches for 963 yards and 12 TDs)
Hawaii Injuries
- LB Jamih Otis
- CB Virdel Edwards II
- WR Nick Cenacle
Other Notes: This will be a home game for Hawaii.