Frisco Bowl: Recap
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
#25 Memphis vs West Virginia
42-37
I have been to many high-profile college football games, where one or both teams are premier programs and loaded with talent. I’ve seen TCU take down Texas in the Tom Herman days, Notre Dame kick off a season against New Mexico in South Bend, and Texas A&M upset Alabama in Kyle Field. I’ve watched NFL players like Bryce Young, Malik Nabers and Bijan Robinson put on a show, and I have had the blessing of watching future stars such as Harold Fannin Jr., Will Campbell, and Nick Emmanwori take the field in front of me.
Memphis and West Virginia may not immediately make you think of premier NFL talent. But after standing (and crouching) on the sidelines, I got to witness some great play from a handful of players who are bound for the big league. Here are some of my notes on some of the top NFL prospects from the Frisco Bowl.
The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl in Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron
Memphis
Seth Henigan - QB
The American Athletic Conference’s all-time leading passer capped off an illustrious career with a win and had a great game. The box score is not misleading for Henigan—he played a clean game with great decision making and really showed off his mobility. He made some big-time throws Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee, and really impressed me with his placement of the ball on a deep out-breaking route to Taylor.
I think Henigan could be a late-round guy who develops into an intriguing backup with some upside as a potential starter. I will need to watch some more tape on him but from what I have seen so far I like his game. Just yesterday Henigan committed to play in the Hula Bowl, so we will get to see him against other prospects again before the draft.
Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan (9) goes through his cadence before a play against West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron.
Mario Anderson Jr. - RB
The South Carolina transfer made an excellent decision in the portal that worked out well for both sides—South Carolina had a successful season with Raheim Sanders in the backfield and Anderson set career highs at a school that has sent multiple running backs to the league in recent years. Anderson’s name will be added to that list of backs. I’ve seen Anderson in-person twice now (the other instance being in Kyle Field) and had similar performances in both games.
He is a bruising back, with a knack for breaking tackles. I like some things that I saw from him but there weren’t too many big plays from him, though he did find the endzone and celebrated accordingly. I will need to watch more film to get a better feel for his playmaking ability, but I left Toyota Stadium feeling a little let down by his performance. He deserves another look in the coming months.
Memphis running back Mario Anderson Jr. (2) dances after scoring a touchdown against West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron
Roc Taylor - WR
Taylor made some big plays and was super reliable in Frisco. He was used primarily as a deep threat and brought in a couple contested catches, and was able to make some excellent adjustments to his routes to bring in passes from Seth Henigan. It was clear that Taylor and Henigan have top-tier chemistry together.
One thing I noticed was Taylor did not have as much of an impact after the catch as his teammate Demeer Blankumsee, but I will have to rewatch the game to see if that was more play design than lack of ability from Taylor. I am excited to see what Taylor can do in the offseason, he has already declared for the draft and will also be participating in the Hula Bowl in Orlando.
Memphis wide receiver Roc Taylor looks towards the ball before the snap against West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron.
West Virginia
Garrett Greene - QB
Both quarterbacks in this matchup played very well, and while Greene couldn’t will his way to a victory, he played admirably and absolutely kept his team in this game, mounting a comeback late in the second half. I mentioned Seth Henigan’s mobility but Greene was even more dynamic on the ground, weaving his way through the Memphis defense for a long touchdown that provided the Mountaineers with some much needed points and momentum.
That mobility is going to be Greene’s selling point as a prospect—because he announced on social media that he would enter the draft as a wide receiver, not a quarterback. It makes sense given his stature—he is listed as 5-foot-11—but also because of how much of a threat he is with the ball in his hands. Greene is quick and can make guys miss. He has rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career and has even tallied a few receiving touchdowns in his time in Morgantown.
Greene is an interesting prospect due to the position change, and currently he is not committed to any all-star game, so the next we will see of him will be at West Virginia’s pro day or even the NFL combine.
West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene finishes warming up before the Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron.
Sean Martin - DL
Martin was all over the place and was able to make his mark in the running game as West Virginia was able to hold Mario Anderson Jr. to nearly 4 YPC. Martin drew a tough matchup in that department but was able to make the make an impact.
Martin was uncharacteristically quiet in terms of rushing the passer, however, but that may be more to Seth Henigan’s credit as he got the ball out of his hands quickly or was able to take off and make plays with his legs. Martin will be back in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in January for the East-West Shrine Bowl where he will have a chance to show his quality against some of the best prospects in the country.
Wyatt Milum - OT
I had the opportunity of asking Garrett Greene about his relationship with Milum and what he meant to him, and Greene said they are best friends and that Milum is the top offensive tackle in the class. Milum did not play in the Frisco Bowl and is preparing for the draft process, so I did not get to see him play.
Milum will be at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, so I will get a chance to watch him play when that comes around in late-January. In a class with tackles like LSU’s Will Campbell and Texas’s Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams, Milum has an excellent opportunity to make his argument for being the top tackle in a strong class.