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2020 NFL Draft: 12 Standouts from college football bowl season

By Michael Johnson

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys comes up just short of the end zone against linebacker Da'Quan Patton #5 of the Kansas State Cowboys in the first quarter on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys comes up just short of the end zone against linebacker Da'Quan Patton #5 of the Kansas State Cowboys in the first quarter on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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2020 NFL Draft prospect Van Jefferson (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
2020 NFL Draft prospect Van Jefferson (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Bowl season has now concluded for college football but these 2020 NFL Draft prospects used the big stage to shine the brightest.

College football bowl season was the last stand for 2020 NFL Draft prospects whose teams were lucky enough to make it. Some prospects decided to sit out to prepare for the draft while others opted to lay it on the line one last time to help their team and improve their draft stock.

Whether their team won or lost, there were a number of prospects who balled and deserve the recognition for their performances. These aren’t the big-name quarterbacks (hey, Joe Burrow) or top-10 locks for the draft but rather players that turned some heads in terms of their draft stock with their bowl season performances.

You may seem some familiar names of first-round prospects being slept on, but that’s okay. We’re here to talk about what they did in their final opportunity to prove themselves. With that in mind, here are the 12 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class who dominated in their last stand for supremacy.

12. Van Jefferson, WR, Florida

One of the more polished senior receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft is Florida Gators wideout Van Jefferson. He capped off his senior season with a bang. In the Orange Bowl win against Virginia, he dominated with six catches for 129 yards, averaging  21.5 yards per reception.

Jefferson transferred from Ole Miss to the Gators in 2017 and continued to improve every season, finishing the 2019 season with 657 yards. He’s the son of long-time NFL veteran Shawn Jefferson, who played and coached wide receivers — and it shows.

Jefferson is a nuanced route runner with a good stick and quickness at the top of routes. He creates space and understands coverage with some solid speed on deep routes. He also lined up both inside and out. He’s 6-2, 195 pounds with a thin frame who could play the slot at the next level. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com praised him days before his great performance.

If draftniks weren’t already aware of another Jefferson out of the SEC, the Florida product should be on their radars in a big way now.

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