Michigan Football: 3 players to watch in the Outback Bowl

Bowls games are always a good chance for new players to stand out and here are three guys for Michigan football who could take that next step with a big Outback Bowl.

There are a lot of reasons to want to play in bowl games. Recruiting is one, getting rewarded for a good season is another. But for Michigan football and its young, talented roster, the best thing might be the extra practices.

It might seem silly to have 78 teams playing in the college football postseason, but those teams have a distinct edge over the other 51 teams that don’t. For the third straight season, Michigan football is part of that group and for the Wolverines, hopefully it pays off again.

In the two previous seasons, Michigan has played well in its bowl game. The Wolverines dominated Florida in the Citrus Bowl two years ago. Last year, they lost to Florida State in the final seconds of the Orange Bowl.

This year, Michigan football will be playing in a New Year’s Day bowl for the third straight season, against a solid South Carolina team. Both teams are looking to punctuate 8-4 seasons with a win and possibly a top-25 season.

However, bowl games, especially the lower-tier games, are about a lot more than winning. They are also about developing players, which is critical for the Wolverines, who are looking to catch up to Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh knows how to get his team ready to play and also how to make good use of this time. With that in mind, here are three guys to watch during the bowl season for Michigan football.