Scouting the Las Vegas Bowl: Watch for these potential pros when Arizona State takes on Wisconsin

College football’s bowl season has become as much, if not more, about scouting players for the NFL Draft as rewarding teams for their strong seasons.

The Las Vegas Bowl has seen a lot of future pros come through during its 29-year history, including reigning NFL Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert just four years ago. But that aspect will soon be amplified, beginning when Wisconsin and Arizona State meet December 30 at 7:30 p.m.

The 2021 Las Vegas Bowl—the first played at Allegiant Stadium—will debut the game’s new Big Ten conference tie-in, by way of the Badgers. The SEC and Big Ten, the two best conferences in college football over the past decade, will alternate sending a team for at least the next five years to take on a traditional Pac-12 representative.

That means a whole lot of talent will be coming through on an annual basis, including lots of players making their final collegiate starts before being drafted four months later. Here are six players—three from each team—playing in this year’s game who are likely to hear their names called April 28-30, when the 2022 NFL Draft takes place on the Las Vegas Strip.

• Wisconsin tackle Logan Bruss: If anyone playing in the Las Vegas Bowl goes in the first round next April, it’s likely to be this senior. Bruss is the latest in a long line of standout Badger offensive linemen—from soon-to-be Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, who retired from the Browns in 2017, to current Saints All-Pro guard Ryan Ramczyk. Bruss was a big reason Wisconsin successfully maintained its rush-first philosophy this season, when the Badgers ranked seventh in the nation in running on 63.4% of their plays.

• Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels: This big-armed, dual-threat signal caller reached No. 4 in the nation in famed draft analyst Mel Kiper’s quarterback prospect rankings this season. The junior currently looks like a midround pick if he decides to leave but could elevate his stock with a big game in Vegas. Many have compared Daniels to Trey Lance, who went No. 3 overall this year to the San Francisco 49ers.

• Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson: Some were surprised Ferguson decided to return for his senior year after leading the Badgers with 305 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2020. He could have been one of the top tight ends taken but stayed to graduate and enjoy a final year in Madison. The grandson of former Wisconsin coach/athletic director Barry Alvarez, Ferguson has put together another productive year to keep his draft stock intact.

• Arizona State defensive end Tyler Johnson: Johnson went from retired from football in late 2019 to arguably the Sun Devils’ best player at his new position the past two years, after he switched from linebacker to defensive end upon his return to the field. He has nine sacks over the past two seasons and more than enough size for the NFL at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds. Some questions on his commitment to the game remain, but his ability is evident.

• Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal: This All-American is the heart of a Badgers defense allowing a national-best 2.2 yards per rushing attempt. Only a junior, Chenal could follow Ferguson’s path from a year ago and return to Wisconsin for another season, but he has said he won’t decide until after the Las Vegas Bowl. Although he’s one of the best run-stuffers in the nation, scouting profiles indicate Chenal’s pass coverage skills—which will be more important in the pros—could use another year of seasoning.

• Arizona State linebacker Darien Butler: The Sun Devils’ counterpart to Chenal, Butler could also come back for another year, but The Athletic has reported that he will likely declare for the draft following the Las Vegas Bowl. Butler reportedly was considering returning but was advised that his draft stock might never be higher after a strong season in which he registered 68 total tackles, three interceptions, three passes defensed and two sacks.

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.