College Bowl Preview: International Bowl

International Bowl

January 2, Toronto

South Florida (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5)

ESPN2, 11 a.m. CST

SOUTH FLORIDA

#90 DE Jason Pierre-Paul, 6-5, 263 pounds – A first-team all-Big East selection in his initial season in the conference in 2009. He played the ‘07 season at College of the Canyons Juco where he racked up 14 sacks. Then in ‘08 he transferred to Fort Scott C.C. in the Jayhawk Conference and had 10.5 sacks and was first-team All-JUCO. Landed at South Florida in ‘09 and contributed 33 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one interception in 10 games. He’s a junior and has applied to the NFL advisory board for an idea of where he might be selected. After the bowl game, he’ll make a decision on 2010.

Evaluation – Physically, he’s designed to be a pass rusher. He’s tall, lanky, with better than average speed. Pierre-Paul has a very good first step and he has natural bend on the pass rush, where he uses his long arms and hands to fight with blockers. He has a variety of pass rush moves and is advanced in that area. Some scouts view him as an end in the 3-4 scheme. If he shows teams at the Combine and in workouts what he’s done so far, he’ll be a bottom half of the first-round selection. Should there be any stumbles, he’ll fall into the second round.

#5 S Nate Allen, 6-1, 206 pounds – A quadriceps injury cost him four games back in 2006. After that he did not miss a single game. He played in 47 games, with nine interceptions and one returned for a touchdown. He also scored twice on recovered fumbles. Overall, he had 228 total tackles. Allen caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. In the ‘09 season he had four interceptions to lead the Bulls and was second on the team with 79 total tackles. Allen has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl.

Evaluation – Good physical skills and speed, combined with intelligence make Allen a prospect at free safety in the NFL. Some scouts think he could also play strong safety. He’s pegged as a third-round talent going into the draft season.

395 DE George Selvie, 6-3, 239 pounds – In 2007, Selvie was a first-team All-America and was named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He missed most of three games in the ‘08 season because of an ankle injury. As a junior he was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection. In 51 games at USF, he had 204 total tackles with 69 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks. He forced eight fumbles and returned one nine yards for a touchdown. He also blocked a kick. After 14 sacks as a sophomore, Selvie had just 8.5 sacks last season. He will be playing in the Senior Bowl.

Evaluation – Talented and dedicated, he’s not the type of size teams are looking for as a 4-3 defensive end. Selvie has not shown the ability to drop in coverage and that makes a transition to OLB in the3-4 far-fetched at this point. A top-notch pass rusher with good body bend and a quick first step, he’s got a motor that seldom stops. Expect him to go in the second round.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

No players considered draftable.