See college football players from Manatee high schools in these playoff, bowl games

College football’s bowl season kicked off Saturday, with the CFP national championship game concluding the season on Monday, Jan. 20.

Athletes that were known for playing under the Friday night lights at Manatee County high schools now dot rosters throughout more than 20 bowl games.

Here’s a look at who is on rosters for the 2024-25 bowl season, starting with local players on the 12 teams that made the newly expanded College Football Playoff.

College Football Playoff

Friday, Dec. 20

First round

Notre Dame: Freshman WR Xavier Southall (IMG Academy)

Saturday, Dec. 21

First round

SMU: Redshirt junior TE Davis Hawkins (IMG Academy)

Penn State: Junior RB Kaytron Allen (IMG Academy)

First round

Texas: Freshman RB Jerrick Gibson (IMG Academy); freshman DB Jordon Johnson-Rubell (IMG Academy)

First round

Ohio State: Sophomore WR Carnell Tate (IMG Academy)

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Quarterfinal

Arizona State: Senior WR Malik McClain (IMG Academy); redshirt sophomore DB Kamari Wilson (IMG Academy)

Georgia: Freshman DB Ellis Robinson IV (IMG Academy); junior DB Daylen Everette (IMG Academy); sophomore OLB Sam M’Pemba (IMG Academy); sophomore OLB Gabe Harris Jr. (IMG Academy); redshirt sophomore ILB Terrell Foster (IMG Academy); senior DL Warren Brinson (IMG Academy)

Other bowl games with Bradenton-area talent

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl

West Virginia: Freshman RB Clay Ash (IMG Academy)

Thursday, Dec. 19

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Sam Houston: Freshman OL Carter Buchheit (IMG Academy)

Friday, Dec. 20

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

Florida: Freshman WR Tank Hawkins (IMG Academy); sophomore OL Knijeah Harris (IMG Academy)

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Hawai’i Bowl

USF: Freshman DB Daron Jean (Manatee); junior TE Evan Dangler (Braden River); sophomore CB Jarvis Lee (IMG Academy); freshman TE Jonathan Echols (IMG Academy)

Thursday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl

Pittsburgh: Redshirt sophomore DL Nick James (IMG Academy); redshirt junior LS Nilay Upadhyayula (IMG Academy); redshirt junior TE Jake Renda (IMG Academy)

68 Ventures Bowl

Arkansas State: Sophomore LB Jamil Williams (Palmetto); freshman LB TJ Hill (IMG Academy)

Friday, Dec. 27

DirectTV Holiday Bowl

Washington State: Redshirt sophomore DB Joe Taylor (IMG Academy)

Birmingham Bowl

Georgia Tech: Freshman OL Tana Alo-Tupuola (IMG Academy)

Vanderbilt: Graduate CB Mark Davis (Braden River)

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Oklahoma: Freshman DL David Stone (IMG Academy)

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Arkansas: Redshirt junior LB Xavian Sorey Jr. (IMG Academy); redshirt senior DL Eric Gregory (IMG Academy); redshirt junior OL Tommy Varhall (IMG Academy)

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Texas A&M: Freshman DB Dezz Ricks (IMG Academy)

USC: Junior DT Bear Alexander (IMG Academy)

Saturday, Dec. 28

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

UNC: Freshman QB DJ Mazzone (IMG Academy)

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Boston College: Redshirt sophomore LB Juan Zabal (IMG Academy)

Nebraska: Sophomore DL Cameron Lenhardt (IMG Academy)

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

TCU: Senior RB Trey Sanders (IMG Academy); sophomore TE Jax Porter (IMG Academy)

Pop-Tarts Bowl

Miami: Junior QB Joao Arede (IMG Academy); sophomore OL Francis Mauigoa (IMG Academy); redshirt freshman OL Antonio Tripp Jr. (IMG Academy); sophomore TE Riley Williams (IMG Academy)

Valero Alamo Bowl

Colorado: Senior WR LaJohntay Wester (Palmetto); junior ILB Jaylen Wester (Palmetto); freshman OG Cash Cleveland (IMG Academy); freshman OT Jordan Seaton (IMG Academy); sophomore SN Gabe Landers (IMG Academy); freshman TE Charlie Williams (IMG Academy)

Tuesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl

Alabama: Redshirt sophomore DB Keon Sabb (IMG Academy); junior LB Jihaad Campbell (IMG Academy); junior OL Tyler Booker (IMG Academy)

Michigan: Freshman RB Donovan Johnson (IMG Academy); freshman LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (IMG Academy); freshman OL Kaden Strayhorn (IMG Academy)

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Louisville: Redshirt senior WR Ja’Corey Brooks (IMG Academy)

Washington: Sophomore EDGE Jayden Wayne (IMG Academy)

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

South Carolina: Redshirt freshman TE Lukas Vozeh (IMG Academy)

Illinois: Senior TE Carson Goda (Braden River); sophomore WR Weston Adams (IMG Academy)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Virginia Tech: Redshirt junior S Tyler Childress (IMG Academy)

Bahamas Bowl

Buffalo: Freshman LB Drake Saltarelli (IMG Academy)

Liberty: Freshman QB Jayden Bradford (IMG Academy)