SENATOBIA – The success of Northwest Mississippi Community College football continues to show at the four-year level, as 10 former Rangers will be making appearances in FBS bowl games this December in addition to Ben Hoffman and West Florida in the NCAA Division II Championship Game.
Northwest will have players suiting up for Florida State, South Carolina, Arkansas State, West Virginia, Army, Middle Tennessee State and Memphis over the next two weeks on national television.
Linebacker
Ben Hoffman and UWF, in just their second year having a football program, will face Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in Kansas City for the NCAA Division II Championship on ESPN2.
Defensive back
Wesley Bush and linebacker
Malik Hawkins of Middle Tennessee (6-6) will face off against former Ranger offensive lineman
Chase Johnson and Arkansas State (7-4). Kickoff is set for Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN in the Raycom Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. Bush has played in all 12 games and has 21 tackles and a breakup, while Hawkins has seen action in 11 games.
A week later, offensive lineman
Josh Rea and Army (9-3), coming off their second-straight win over rival Navy, will face San Diego State (10-2) in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 23 on ESPN.
On Tuesday, Dec. 26, West Virginia (7-5) faces Utah (6-6) in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Former Ranger linebacker
Quondarius Qualls, defensive lineman
Jalen Harvey and running back
Justin Crawford will be on the sidelines for the Mountaineers. Crawford, the third-leading rusher in the Big 12 this year, will skip the game to focus on preparing for the 2018 NFL draft. He's projected to go in the first two rounds this upcoming April.
Second team All-MACJC linebacker
Adonis Thomas and Florida State (6-6) have the nation's longest bowl streak at 36 consecutive seasons and will entertain Southern Mississippi (8-4) on Wednesday, Dec. 27 in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Thomas has seen action in five games this season and has eight tackles and a TFL. Kickoff is 12:30 on ESPN.
Former two-time all-conference cornerback
Tito Windham and Memphis (10-2) face Iowa State (7-5) in the Autozone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30 in the Tigers' home stadium in Memphis. Windham has 35 tackles, 10 breakups, three forced fumbles and an interception in 11 games.
Kaleb Chalmers wraps up the list of Rangers in this year's bowl games as his South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4) will face Michigan (8-4) in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla. It kicks at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
