Boca Raton Bowl Preview/Prospect Profile: Alabama-Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois

(Photo Credit: Scott Walstrom/Northern Illinois Athletics)

Later this evening the still early stage of the 2018 Bowl Season will resume with a matchup that deserves more attention than its received up to this point. The Boca Raton Bowl will hold serve to a couple of conference champions from the "Group of 5" in Mid-American Conference (MAC) winner, Northern Illinois and Conference USA champion, University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). 

Having had their football program shut down for two seasons before picking up play again just last year, 2017, the Blazers from UAB are a remarkable story. Powered by a top ten scoring defense in the country (holding opponents to 17.3 points per game) they come into the game at 10-3. Having dropped it's previous two games ahead of their conference championship appearance, to Texas A&M and in-conference foe Middle Tennessee State, they redeemed themselves against the latter opponent 27-25 to earn the Conference USA (C-USA) title. 

Outside of three, early, out-of-conference losses to Power 5 opponents from the ACC, Big Ten, PAC-12, Northern Illinois had been unblemished the rest of the way while in conference play until late in the season, themselves. Alike UAB they, too, dropped their final two games ahead of the conference championship game. Suffering back-to-back one possession losses to MAC opponents Miami (OH) and Western Michigan, the Huskies reversed their fortune in the MAC Championship Game against Buffalo, winning 30-29. They also are powered by a strong defensive effort, holding teams to 2.7 yards a carry on average. A large reason for that is due to having the nation's sacks leader factoring in on the equation.

Below the break we'll examine that particular prospect and a few other names to keep an eye on with the potential to see on NFL field next season.

Prospects to Watch 

Without question Sutton Smith is one of the best players in college football, having shown consistency at a clip unlike any other in the NCAA. With 15 sacks on the season the standout 6'1, 241 defensive end currently leads the country in the category, having done so in 2017 as well with 14. 

While, he may not win every rep, the back-to-back MAC Defensive Player of the Year is rarely beaten with his amount of effort on every snap. That plays to his advantage on most plays, as does his unique size for the position and former background as a running back as he is naturally able to slip and dip past blocks with quickness and an ability to get the angle on blocks aimed his way. Smith is able to shoot into the backfield untouched at times due to his regularity of getting the first step by lineman and them being unable to reach his compact frame for an edge rusher. 

A consensus All-American, including being a Matt's Draft Journal Upperclassmen All-American first-team selection, the redshirt junior's sack totals don't paint his entire picture as a pass rusher, adding another 11 hits on the quarterback, plus another 37 hurries according to Pro Football Focus. Having also forced four fumbles, with three fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown, Smith is also a threat to the offense possessing the potential to ruturnovers into points and is a factor on special teams where he has blocked a punt and returned another for a score. Add in the amount of times he's been able to plunge across the opponent's line and drag down ball carriers in the backfield — 25 tackles for loss (2nd in the country/FBS) and you have a prospect, that despite some that have doubts of him, who shows prowess in plenty of areas as a player for an NFL team to pick with the possibility of a promising role apart of their thought process. 

Joined on the opposite end by 6'3, 251 pound senior Josh Corcoran provides the Huskies with a pair of quality edge rusher, as he contrasts Smith's lightning quickness with a play of more thundering power to his way of 12.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Taking a step forward in his progression as a player and overall production, Corcoran was selected second-team All-MAC for the 2018 season after being voted third-team in 2017. Watch out for him in addition to Smith. 

While Smith and Corcoran provides the pressure upfront for the defense, behind them is a capable cornerback prospect who began his college career at Iowa in Jalen Embry. At 5'11, 197 a product of the talented MLK program in Detroit, his physical play at the position allows him to provide support as a run defender and come up to make plays on short pass attempts. His propensity to be physical also is publicized when contesting pass attempts, known to disrupt receivers, as Embry has allowed the third lowest catch percentage amongst all cornerbacks in the MAC. Though he has yet to pick off a pass this, the senior has shown his sufficient skills to make plays on the ball with 11 pass deflections in his two seasons at Northern Illinois, including eight in 2018. 

Quite possibly the most promising prospect of all the players in the game resides on the Northern Illinois offensive line in left tackle Max Scharping. Quietly, one of the most consistent offensive lineman in the country over the last few years, the 6'6, 320 pound Scharping was selected first-team All-MAC for the third consecutive time for his play during the regular season.

Moving uninhibited, unlike many lineman, the agile offensive tackle does his best work in pass protection where he blocks with an equal amount of balance in his upper and lower body. Often keeping himself in between the quarterback and the opposing rusher, this season Scharping allowed just eight total pressures on 469 pass-blocking plays, to a grade of 92.2. While excellent, it was an  actual dip from his 99.0 pass-blocking efficiency last season.

Signifying the standard Scharping set for himself.  

In an upcoming draft class that is still in search of some names to creep towards the top of the all important tackle position, Max Scharping is one who figures to be mentioned in contention amongst those with the potential to be be one of the first few pass protectors picked. 

At the forefront of a formidable UAB defense, 6'5, 350 pound down lineman Anthony Rush is a difference maker in the trenches that powers the entire unit. A powerful player at the point of attack Rush often occupies at least a couple blockers each play from his nose tackle spot in the base 3-4 scheme the Blazers run. 

Opponents often pay when allowing him to take on a single blocker as he can force his way into the backfield with ease in controlling the position and dictating the action with his natural his natural strong push. Not just a run-stuffer, where he registered 9.5 tackles for loss, Rush moves well on his feet for a man his size, applying 16 quarterback pressures on the season. Selected second-team All-Conference USA, his presence positively effects many players lined up on the defense. One of the players includes Jamell Garcia-Williams. 

The "jack" hybrid defensive end/linebacker lines alongside Rush upfront on the UAB defense and also joined him as a second-team All-Confernce USA selection. A raw, yet intriguing prospect with palpable physical attributes the 6'8, 255 pound senior emerged this season ranking third in C-USA with 9.5 sacks (42 tackles, 15.5 for loss, four pass deflections) after having made one tackle in 2017 while primarily contributing on special teams and as a reserve on defense. 

While his technique could continue to use refinement to unlock the potential he fully possess, the rangy edge rusher is utilizes his length well to move past potential blockers and make plays in the backfield. And though he does benefit from Rush's powerful play upfront, Garcia-Williams is a prospect who is deserving of his own attention and credit — making a matchup against Scharping a promising one to point to. 

Although the UAB is a run-heavy offensive attack (44.9 attempts, 208.9 yards per game) they do feature a couple of capable playmaking receivers in redshirt seniors Xavier Ubosi and Andre Wilson.

Ubosi stands 6'3, 215 pounds and is a physically imposing receiver who plays complimentary of his listed height and weight. With explosive releases at the line of scrimmage he is able to sustain and pick up speed as the strong, sure handed receiver is a threat to seep past the secondary for big gains — evident in his 21.9 yards per reception which ranks first in C-USA and third in the country. 

As Ubosi provides the primary threat lining up on the perimeter, Wilson is appropriately suited for the slot at 5'10, 180 pounds. Combining solid short-area quickness and skillful footwork in space bodes Wilson well in being able to create space from defensive backs on routes and also serves him well in the return game. For the season Wilson has 30 receptions for 486 yards and five touchdowns, with one coming on a 40-yard catch in the conference championship game and counting another two scores in the contest against Texas A&M where he had his best game during the 2018 campaign (7 catches, 89 yards, 2 TD). 

Steadying the scene along the line of scrimmage for UAB is senior offensive lineman Justice Powers. Equipped with swift feet and lively lower body movement for a 6'3, 300 pound player, Powers is quick out of his stance at the snap, making him a suitable pass-protector against edge rushers. Chosen first team C-USA, the right tackle was a factor in the strong running game for the Blazers all-season, using his quickness to gain leverage against the defense and sense the ball carrier's path to create consistent creases to gain positive yardage. 

Though he was deservedly recognized amongst his competitors in C-USA, Powers is still an underrated prospect whose name many people are yet to be familiar with, providing him an excellent opportunity to boost his stock going up against a prospect with some buzz surround his name in Sutton Smith and Josh Corcoran.