A to Z: College football guide to the 2018-19 bowl season

You name it: Unique competitors are all over bowl map

What’s in a name?

When it comes to college football, a ton.

From Amani to Zaccheaus, Bunchy to Deebo, Ledbetter to Van Ginkle, this bowl season will be decided by some of the most magnificent monikers in the land. Who can top Greedy Williams, the most aptly named cornerback in the country whose absence will loom large for LSU?

Here is a special edition of Bowl Season A-to-Z:

A is for Amani

Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye has been a shutdown defender for the Nittany Lions, save for one rough performance against Michigan State. Oruwariye is likely to be the first PSU prospect drafted and he has one more chance to impress against surprising Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl showdown.

B is for Bunchy

Kentucky offensive lineman Bunchy Stallings was one of the premier interior linemen in the country, and his versatility has been a virtue for the Wildcats and will be valuable to him at the next level. He’ll be particularly key in the Citrus Bowl against the Nittany Lions.

C is for Coney

Notre Dame linebacker Te’Von Coney has shined for the Fighting Irish, racking up double-figure tackles five times and at least seven tackles five other times this year. He’s added 3.5 sacks, an interception and four passes defended on the year.

D is for Deebo

South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel emerged late in the season for the Gamecocks, torching Florida, Chattanooga and Clemson in November for 19 receptions, 442 yards and four touchdowns. He’s known as a key possession receiver for the Gamecocks but after coming into the season with five career touchdowns, he has 11 this year.

E is for Eno

Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin has a chance to break the Sun Devils’ single-season record in the Las Vegas Bowl, one of three bowls that open the bowl season on Saturday. Benjamin has rushed for 100 yards eight times this year, with 15 touchdowns.

F is for Fuller

Washington wide receiver Aaron Fuller was a modest contributor his first two years for the Huskies but blossomed into Jake Browning’s favorite target this year. That’s not saying all that much — Fuller did finish with just 51 catches for 794 yards and four touchdowns — but he’s still the biggest downfield threat the Huskies have.

G is for Greedy

Or is it not? Greedy Williams, LSU’s stud cornerback, is sitting out the Fiesta Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft and keep himself healthy. Of all the major players not participating in bowl games this season — a list which includes potential top-five pick Ed Oliver of Houston and West Virginia quarterback Will Grier — this is the biggest absence, and his loss is a huge blow to the Tigers.

H is for Heupel

UCF coach Josh Heupel may be the brightest young coaching mind in the game, and he’ll give the aforementioned LSU Tigers all they can handle in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. It won’t be long before Heupel is at a top-10 program.

I is for Ivey

Florida offensive lineman Martez Ivey hasn’t had the career many expected when the lauded recruit landed on the Gators’ campus, but he has been an all-conference performer and will be a big factor against a tough Michigan defense.

J is for Jelks

Oregon defensive lineman Jalen Jelks was one of just two all-conference first-team selections for the Ducks, and one of the best defenders in the Pac-12. He led all conference linemen with 54 tackles but now has a tough task with the underrated Michigan State Spartans in the Redbox Bowl.

K is for Kyler

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray followed up one Heisman campaign (Baker Mayfield’s) with another, passing for 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns with seven interceptions while leading the Sooners to 12-1 record. Murray had 14 touchdowns in a three-game stretch against Baylor, Texas and TCU and he had three touchdowns in seven other starts.

L is for Ledbetter

Georgia DL Jonathan Ledbetter has been a steady force for the Bulldogs and will be a matchup nightmare for a so-so Texas offensive line in the Sugar Bowl. He has risen to the occasion for Georgia, including a 10-tackle game against LSU.

M is for Minshew

Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 433 of 613 passes for 4,477 yards and 36 touchdowns, mastering Mike Leach’s offense by completing over 70 percent of his passes. The Pac-12 offensive player of the year is fighting to be an NFL Draft pick and will look to light it up against Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl.

N is for Nwangwu

Iowa State kick returner Kene Nwangwu has been a field position shifter for the Hawkeyes, averaging 27 yards per return. In a brutal matchup with the Washington State Cougars in the Alamo Bowl, you’ve got to expect he’ll have plenty of opportunities.

O is for Omenihu

Texas defensive end Charles Omenihu is the Longhorns’ second straight Big 12 defensive lineman of the year (Poona Ford, 2017) and a load to handle for opposing offensive linemen, who’ve allowed 9.5 sacks to the 6-5 star this year.

P is for Paddy

Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher had 34 tackles in the last four games of the season, helping the Wildcats to a 3-1 record down the stretch. Fisher has drawn comparisons to his own coach, Pat Fitzgerald, which is high praise.

Q is for Quinnen

Alabama DL Quinnen Williams is a force in the middle for the Crimson Tide and arguably the breakout player in the country. Williams, the Outland Trophy winner, was a backup as a redshirt freshman last year but burst onto the scene, almost quite literally, this year, with 66 tackles and eight sacks. He is a projected top-three pick in the NFL Draft and his presence could present problems for Kyler Murray.

R is for Rondale

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore was a smashing success in his freshman season, catching more than 100 balls and 1,164 yards and two touchdowns. He has become one of the most electrifying offensive players in the country and a consensus All-American as a freshman.

S is for Sweat

Mississippi State's Montez Sweat, a transfer from the Michigan State Spartans, had 10.5 sacks last year after arriving and eight more sacks this year to earn all-conference honors. The Bulldogs have a tough test with Iowa in the Outback Bowl, but Sweat is a star in the making.

T is for Tua

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a bolt of lightning last year, taking over for the Alabama Crimson Tide in last year’s championship game and leading the team to a come-from-behind win over Georgia. He followed that up with a 3,350-yard, 37-touchdown season and added five rushing touchdowns.

U is for Urban

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is “retiring” following the Rose Bowl, but he’s pulled that trick before. The Buckeyes could get a bit of an emotional boost against Washington, though, and they could send Meyer “out” on top.

V is for Van Ginkle

Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel bounced around to three different schools but stabilized his career with the Badgers and picked up 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last year and he added another 4.5 sacks this year. He has a matchup with Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, aka the Disappointment Bowl.

W is for Winovich

Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, who boasts perhaps the best set of locks this side of Rapunzel, also has 14.5 tackles for loss for the Wolverines, which was good enough to get him on multiple All-America teams. He currently ranks 10th all-time in the category for Michigan with 41.5 for his career.

X is for Xavier

Clemson DE Xavier Thomas came to the Tigers with huge expectations as a consensus top-five prospect but he’s been even better than advertised with 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and 38 tackles, earning first-team freshman All-America honors. Like former Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley, he could end up a top-10 pick someday.

Y is for Yodny

West Virginia offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste joined Grier on the sidelines for the Mountaineers, and now they are at a huge disadvantage against Syracuse in the Camping World Bowl.

Z is for Zaccheaus

Virginia wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has been a steady producer for three years for the Cavaliers, but he’s really been the team’s go-to-guy this year, when he’ll have the chance to top 1,000 yards for the first time. He’s had 100 yards four times this year, with a season-high 247 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio.