’14 Texans Draft Prospects: Saturday Bowl Games

Russell Athletic Bowl

Dec 5, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

This bowl game could be the most important for Texans fans because it features potential No. 1 overall pick Teddy Bridgewater.

The Russell Athletic Bowl will take place at 6:45 p.m. EDT where Louisville (11-1, 7-1 American Conference) will face Miami (Florida) (9-3, 5-3 ACC) in Orlando, Fla. on ESPN.

Louisville has nine players listed on the CBS Board, including five who could be drafted from the first overall pick to the seventh round.

Of course we need to talk about Bridgewater, but before that other players for the Cardinals to look out for are wide receiver DeVante Parker, defensive end Marcus Smith, strong safety Hakeem Smith and inside linebacker Preston Brown.

As for Bridgewater, we’ve already spoken about the potential next QB of the Texans in great detail on the Toro Times and will continue to do so as the offseason is about to begin.

Bridgewater has been timed with a 4.65 40-yard dash as he stands at 6-3, 205 pounds.

It says on his CBS Draft page:

"“Bridgewater, who earned second-team honors, finished conference play, completing 189 of his 272 attempts – a conference-best 69.5 percentage – for 14 touchdowns and 2,309 yards.”"

My thought is he’s the safest pick for the Texans in this draft with the No. 1 overall pick as of December.

Nov 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive linesman Seantrel Henderson (77) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Miami won 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Bridgewater will officially announce if he’s entering the draft a few days following this bowl game.

The Hurricane have 15 players listed on the CBS Board, none being projected to be drafted until the third round or later.

Miami players projected to be drafted are: inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, offensive guard Brandon Linder, quarterback Stephen Morris and punter Pat O’Donnell.

Let’s spotlight Henderson, because every team can use a good tackle on their offensive line.

Henderson is 6-7, 345 pounds, and if the Texans are going to invest in a new starting quarterback, maybe later in the draft they might want to revamp their pass protection that has failed for most of the season.

In Henderson’s overview, it says:

"“He must become much more football-focused before NFL scouts will consider him to be a first-round player. That cause wasn’t helped when he was suspended yet again for a violation of team rules, missing the Georgia Tech game on Oct. 5.”"

He might be a mountain of a man, but I’m guessing if the Texans were to look at him, he will have to convince them he’s ready to play at the NFL level not physically, but mentally.