Thor Nystrom tracks players opting out of upcoming bowl games as well as the coaching changes around the college football landscape. Thor will update the article through the remainder of the season to keep you updated on bowl games, college prospects, and the 2023 NFL Draft.
And below we’ll take a closer look at the upcoming bowl game: Birmingham Bowl.
Check out Thor’s projections for all college football bowl games
Birmingham Bowl: College Football News, Player Opt-Out Tracker & Game Preview (Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina)
- Tuesday, December 27 | 5:45 PM
- East Carolina (-8.5) vs. Coastal Carolina | Total: 62.5
- ATL: ECU -5.8 | ATT: 63
Coastal Carolina
- QB Bryce Carpenter (Suspension)
- C Willie Lampkin (Transfer portal)
- DE Josaiah Stewart (Transfer portal)
- CB Manny Stokes (Transfer portal)
- CB Zxaequan Reeves (Transfer portal)
- S Dre Pinckney (Injury)
QB Grayson McCall is in the transfer portal – but in a surprising twist, McCall announced he would play in the bowl game before transferring. McCall returned from a foot injury to start in the Sun Belt title game but clearly wasn’t 100% in that game. If he’s indeed playing in the bowl, the extra three-and-a-half weeks to heal will likely do the foot some good. McCall has been named the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year in three-straight seasons. The drop-off between McCall and QB3 Jarrett Guest is the largest in the nation from a point-spread perspective. QB2 Carpenter is suspended due to an off-field incident.
McCall playing in the bowl is the good news for Coastal. The bad news is that the Chants won’t be at full-strength regardless.
OC Lampkin was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection who figures to be looking to move up to the P5. Coastal’s backup center took only 18 snaps. Lampkin was easily the team’s best offensive linemen. Without Lampkin, Coastal Carolina will start an offensive line where none of the five starters had a PFF grade of even 65.0. Lampkin transferred to UNC.
DE Stewart and CB Stokes were both contributors on defense. Stewart will particularly be missed after he logged 10 TFL during the regular season – he was the team’s best pass rusher. Stewart has signed with Michigan.
East Carolina
- RB Rahjai Harris (Injury)
- TE Ryan Jones (Opt-out)
- C Avery Jones (Transfer portal)
- EDGE Elijah Robinson (Transfer portal)
- S Shawn Dourseau (Transfer portal)
TE Jones’ pass-catching ability will be missed against a rancid Coastal Carolina pass defense. He had a disappointing season, but there’s a qualitative drop-off to his backup nonetheless.
OC Jones was another starter. ECU’s backup center only was on the field for nine snaps this season. S Dourseau was a part-timer who logged 227 snaps.
Platoon RB Harris was knocked out for the season in October. EDGE Robinson was a little-used backup.
Coaching News
Coastal Carolina HC Jamey Chadwell accepted the same position at Liberty and will not coach in this game. The Chants hired NC State OC Tim Beck to replace Chadwell, but he will not coach in this game. Coastal named DC Chad Staggs interim coach for the bowl.
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