Throughout the 2021-2022 college football bowl season, we’ll be highlighting each game and the key 2022 NFL Draft prospects Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans should be keeping an eye on.
Texas Bowl Kansas State vs. LSU – 8:00 PM CST ESPN
The Wildcats square off against the Tigers to round out the college bowl season in Houston Tuesday night. While there is some pessimism regarding whether this game will be played due to COVID-19 implications, as of this writing, both teams intend to play. For Kansas State, the only draft-eligible name to keep an eye on is QB #7 Skylar Thompson. The 6’2″, 223 lb. senior hasn’t played since November due to an injury, but appears cleared for action in this game. He has passed for 6,865 yards, 39 touchdowns and 16 interceptions on a 62 percent completion percentage in his five-year career in Manhattan. Thompson is a likely undrafted free agent.
The Tigers will be without several of their draft prospects in this one, as CB #7 Derek Stingley Jr. has been out since September with a foot injury. Stingley took college football by storm as a true freshman in 2019, helping leading the LSU Tigers to a National Title behind 15 PBUs and six INTs. He is the favorite to be CB1 in this draft class and a top-10 lock if he can show his injury woes the last two years are a thing of the past.
The Tigers will also be without LB #18 Damone Clark and DL #92 Neil Farrell Jr., who have opted out. Right now, it appears the OG #70 Ed Ingram will be playing in this game. The 6’3″, 315 lb. senior is an aggressive run blocker that plays with a mean streak, looking to put defenders on their backs when asked to move or generate a push up front on the LOS. He has moments where he can be more consistent in pass protection, but his style of play is eerily like that of former Tiger and current Steeler Trai Turner coming out. Turner was selected in the third round in his draft class, and Ingram looks to be grading out as a potential Day 2 pick himself.
Other names to keep an eye out for LSU include EDGE #11 Ali Gaye and OL #76 Austin Deculus. Deculus is a long-time starter at RT and the lone starter from that 2019 National Championship Team still on the offensive line. While not a phenomenal athlete, Deculus can come in to compete to be solid depth at the next level due to his experience and steadiness in pass protection.
Which of the names listed above will you be specifically watching this weekend? Do you think any of the prospects would be a good fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below and thanks again for reading!
