Washington Huskies QB Jake Locker is the first name that comes to mind when you hear the words Holiday Bowl NFL Draft prospects, as you do from time to time, but it should probably be Nebraska Cornhuskers CB Prince Amukamara.
Locker entered the season as the prospective No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, but a disappointing season (featuring no more disappointing moment than his 20 percent completion rate against Nebraska in round one) could drop him all the way to the second round. Then again, a good showing against Nebraska’s burly defense, coupled with a strong round of workouts, may make scouts fall in love all over again.
Amukamara is a top-10 hopeful after being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist. Locker could slip behind another Husker, DT Jared Crick, if things continue trending as they have in the past few months. Crick’s a junior, but Mocking The Draft envisions him possibly declaring next week and winding up a second-rounder.
Other mid-round names to watch: Nebraska junior CB Alfonzo Dennard, junior OLB Lavonte David, senior kicker Alex Henry, senior RB Roy Helu Jr., senior WR Niles Paul, and senior safety Eric Hagg; and Washington senior OLB Mason Foster.
Stay tuned to this StoryStream right up through game time, as we review key unit matchups, odds, bowl history and more, and connect with Nebraska fans at SB Nation’s Corn Nation and with Washington fans at UW Dawg Pound and SB Nation Seattle. For a complete list of bowl games, browse our 2010 college football postseason schedule.