Texas Bowl
Syracuse vs. Minnesota (6 p.m., ESPN)
Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota, No. 99
The Golden Gophers haven't had an impact player enter the NFL since Eric Decker in 2010, but that should change with the emergence of Ra'Shede Hageman. He's hard to miss at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, and makes big plays on a sparsely-talented team. Hageman is an extraordinary physical talent, and is scheme-versatile -- able to play inside in a 4-3 or outside as a 3-4 DE. His long arms and powerful punch make him a nightmare to block. The first-team All-Big 10 selection would be a bit of luxury pick for the Eagles at this point, but if he's the best talent available when the Birds pick in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised to see him come off the board.
See Ra'Shede Hageman's highlights from the 2012 season.
Jay Bromley, DT, Syracuse, No. 96
While not nearly the prospect Hageman is, Jay Bromley has had a big impact on the Syracuse defense this season. The team captain, Bromley recorded a very impressive nine sacks as a senior, and flashed the ability to be a disruptive force against the run. He's a bit undersized for a DT (6-4/295) but has quick feet, good strength and a nose for the ball. Bromley didn't produce much in the past two seasons, but his senior campaign has been quite an eye-opener. I can see Bromley's stock rising as NFL teams interview him and find out the struggles he's overcome to get where he is today (both parents were out of his life by the age of five).