We’ve gotten familiar with players sitting out of bowl games to avoid injuries and protect their draft stock. This isn’t anything new. The transfer portal, on the other hand, is something college football is getting used to.
Either way, both circumstances are having impacts on bowl games and which players will be competing. Injuries, too, play a part. There are some notable names through the Group of Five landscape who will be among those not playing.
Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed was originally going to be on this list after he planned to enter the transfer portal. However, it was announced Tuesday that he would be staying with Hilltoppers:
Situations can quickly change, but for now, here are some key Group of Five players that will not be playing in a bowl game this winter.
Ryan O’Keefe, UCF
It was announced late Wednesday night that O’Keefe will be transferring to Boston College. In four seasons with the Golden Knights, he amassed 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns while hauling in 184 receptions. Last season, he paced the Golden Knights with 73 receptions and was second on the roster with 725 yards and five touchdowns.
His former quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee, is also on the ropes after suffering a hamstring injury during the AAC championship in a loss to Tulane. If Plumlee can’t go, the Golden Knights will be left with their third-string QB in Thomas Castellanos after No. 2 QB Mikey Keene has also entered the portal.
Regardless, with O’Keefe gone, UCF will miss some big play ability in its Military Bowl matchup against Duke:
Rashee Rice, SMU
The top receiver on the Mustangs and arguably the top receiver in the AAC, Rice has declared for the NFL Draft and won’t play in the New Mexico Bowl against BYU on Saturday. Rice finished the season with 96 receptions, 1,355 yards, and 10 touchdowns. His yards ranked first in the league while his receptions and touchdowns were second.
He has already accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl in February, where he’ll look to improve his draft stock in a class that’s full of talent at the WR position.
Titus Swen, Wyoming
Swen somewhat threw everyone for a loop when he announced he would be entering the transfer portal a few weeks ago, but on Monday said he would test the draft waters. This all came after he was dismissed from the program shortly after Wyoming was whooped by Fresno State in its final regular season game.
The Cowboys will play Ohio in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30. Swen was one of the premier backs in the MW this season, rushing for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns, and will certainly be missed for a Cowboys offense that leaned on Swen and the run game all season.
Also noted in this contest who will be missing the game is Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke. Rourke was the Offensive Player of the Year in the MAC and missed the final two games of the season — including the MAC championship — after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus.
JQ Hardaway, Cincinnati
Defensive guys make a difference, too. Hardaway’s announcement to enter the transfer portal came the same day that the news broke about former Cincy coach Luke Fickell’s hiring at Wisconsin. The freshman won’t be suiting up against Louisville on Saturday in the Fenway Bowl.
Hardaway is currently the No. 9 prospect in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings, and the second-ranked former G5 guy on that list.
Something to watch:
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
The No. 1 QB in 247Sports’ transfer rankings and perhaps the most sought-after player in the portal, McCall has a handful of Power 5 programs reaching out:
He has committed to playing in the Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina on Dec. 27, but there have been a couple of guys in this breakdown that prove how fast things might change and that nothing is certain. Especially in today’s world of college football.
