Detroit Lions

Lions fans should watch these draft prospects in upcoming bowl games

Published Dec. 18, 2015 11:27 a.m. ET

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The Detroit Lions aren't making the playoffs, so it's time to start looking forward to next year.

Bowl season is about to begin for college football, and plenty of draft prospects will soon be on display. Lions fans have a good reason to watch some of these games, as the team's future stars could be playing their final game before turning pro.

Here are three players all Lions fans should check out in upcoming bowl games.

New Mexico Bowl: Scooby Wright, linebacker, Arizona

Scooby Wright is one of the best defensive players in the nation. He was the 2014 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a top-10 vote-getter for the Heisman Trophy, but this season has been marred by injuries. He's only a junior and hasn't officially declared for the draft yet, but he's definitely the biggest reason to tune into the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, when his Arizona Wildcats take on the New Mexico Lobos.

The Lions could use another productive linebacker to pair with standout weak-side 'backer DeAndre Levy, who missed virtually the entire 2015 season with a hip injury. Wright is versatile enough to play multiple positions, so the Lions could try him out as their middle linebacker then move him outside if it doesn't work out.

Boca Raton Bowl: Matt Ioannidis, defensive tackle, Temple

Matt Ioannidis was a first-team All-AAC selection after racking up 10.5 tackles for losses in 2015. He's a 6-foot-3, 292-pound defensive tackle with a great motor. Although he has lined up at multiple positions in college, his best fit in the NFL is at 4-3 defensive tackle. He's certainly one to watch in next Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl, which features his Temple Owls and the Toledo Rockets.

The Lions could use another playmaker along their defensive line. Ezekiel Ansah is a monster at defensive end, but the rest of the cast is average at best. Detroit could draft Ioannidis this spring in hopes that he develops into a decent interior pass-rusher as a pro.

Hawai'i Bowl: Shaq Washington, wide receiver, Cincinnati

Shaq Washington will finish his collegiate career as Cincinnati's all-time leading pass-catcher. He was a second-team All-AAC selection in 2015 with 88 catches for 971 yards and six touchdowns. This 5-foot-9, 179-pound playmaker may be small, but he'll be hard to miss when his Cincinnati Bearcats take on the San Diego State Aztecs in the Hawai'i Bowl next Friday.

Washington definitely isn't the next Calvin Johnson, but he may still be a valuable addition for the Lions to consider. Quarterback Matthew Stafford likes to hit his shiftier targets, such as receiver Golden Tate and running back Theo Riddick, on short routes and let them go to work after the catch. Washington would thrive in that type of role at the NFL level.