Chicago Bears: 3 must-watch prospects in Boca Raton Bowl

There are a handful of must-watch 2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Tuesday’s Boca Raton Bowl, and Chicago Bears fans should pay attention.

As the Chicago Bears attempt to inch closer to the postseason and hope for some help elsewhere down the stretch, the college football season has come to its greatest time of year. It’s Bowl season.

Tuesday, the Boca Raton Bowl features a couple of potent offenses in BYU vs. UCF.

If you’re a Bears fan who loves draft season, it begins now. Three players in particular could jump off the screen Tuesday night, and you’ll want to keep an eye on them.

1. Wide Receiver Marlon Williams, UCF

The Bears’ wide receiving core may be a little different next year depending on the status of Allen Robinson. If they are in need of another wideout, the Knights’ top option would be an intriguing mid-round selection.

Marlon Williams has decent size at 6-foot, 222 pounds. He has several traits that make him out to have a potentially lengthy career in the NFL. Watching him play, you’ll sometimes think you’re watching a tight end because of his thicker, stronger frame. He plays like a tight end in some respects, because he’s so strong and so good after the catch.

His strength allows him to shed tacklers with ease, and Williams does that on the regular. He’s comfortable gaining yards after the catch, but he’s not the quickest guy on the field. You won’t find breakaway speed here, but Williams’ intangibles are a lot to like.

Williams’ hands are soft. The majority of his receptions look so easy that you just start to expect every pass to be caught — even the difficult grabs. He goes up and plucks the ball out of the air while making it look routine.

This past season, Williams caught 71 passes for 1,039 yards and 10 scores. If he lights it up during his final Bowl appearance, Williams could find himself in the conversation right away on Day 3, if not sneaking into the third round as draft day gets closer.