Bowl Mania: Hawaii Bowl
2023 Hawaii Bowl
When: Saturday, December 23rd @ 10:30 PM ET
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
Who: Coastal Carolina (7-5) vs. San Jose State (7-5)
Spread & Total: San Jose State -9.5; O/U 48.5
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Tale of the Take: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
The 2023 season began with a hazy start for the Chanticleers. At the time, three year starter Grayson McCall had entered the transfer portal, but by the spring semester, had yet to find a home. This led to him withdrawing from the transfer portal and returning to Coastal. In a daunting Sun Belt Conference, Coastal thrived through a tough schedule. After a rough 0-2 start in conference play that put the Chanticleers at 2-3 on the season, they rattled off five-straight victories over bowl eligible teams. But injuries to McCall and backup quarterback Jarrett Guest hindered the Chanticleers down the stretch, as they lost their last two games of the regular season. Coastal Carolina went 6-4 against bowl eligible teams and 3-1 in one possession games
Offensively, the Chanticleers were a more run-oriented team, but relied on a running back by committee approach. Braydon Bennett led the charge with just 86 carries; five other Chanticleers had at least 40 rush attempts. With Beasley in the transfer portal, expect more of the same with this group effort by the Chanticleers. The Chanticleer quarterbacks averaged just 31.3 pass attempts per game, completing 67.1% of their attempts (17th nationally) for 8.5 YPA (22nd nationally). They were sacked just 16 times this season, one of the better marks in FBS.
Defensively, Coastal did a solid job at slowing down opposing offenses. They allowed a 57.3% completion rate and averaged 7.0 YPA allowed. The Chanticleers sacked the quarterback just 20 times this season, the 7th fewest among bowl eligible teams. The ground game was a different story, as Coastal saw 36.4 rush attempts per game and allowed 4.6 YPC. Over the last three games, Coastal’s opponents saw 64% of their offensive production come from the run game, the 3rd most in FBS.
Opt Outs: N/A
Injuries:
QB Grayson McCall
Starting quarterback the last four years for the Chanticleers. Has not played since October 21st at Arkansas State. Completed 69.9% of his attempts for over 10,000 yards, averaging 9.8 YPA. Threw for 88 touchdowns (8.7% touchdown rate) and just 14 interceptions (1.4% interception rate). Added 18 touchdowns on the ground and 1,429 rushing yards. Also in the transfer portal
QB Jarrett Guest
Backup to McCall; started two games in his absence: Marshall on October 28th and at Army on November 18th. Completed 72.1% of his attempts and averaged 11.4 YPA. Seven touchdowns to two interceptions. Entered the transfer portal
Transfer Portal Departures:
RB CJ Beasley
2nd among Chanticleer running backs with 68 carries, 262 rushing yards, and two touchdowns
WR Jared Brown
2023 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention. 2nd on the team with 58 receptions, 740 receiving yards, and four touchdowns
EDGE Braylon Ryan
Led the team with two forced fumbles
LB JT Killen
Tied for 2nd on the team with 65 total tackles (22 solo). Two pass breakups; one interception that was returned for a touchdown
QB Grayson McCall
QB Jarrett Guest
WR Chris Rhone
WR Tyson Mobley
OT Mason Bowers
OT Donnell Wilson
OL Bryson Summers
LB Tre Pinkney
LB Bailey Carraway
CB Laurence Sullivan
CB Jacob Proche
DB Tavyn Jackson
DB Eli Hillman
S Jahmar Brown
S Aaron Diggs
DB Kaleb Hutchinson
P Evan Crenshaw
Players to Know:
#16 QB Ethan Vasko
3rd-string quarterback behind McCall and Guest. Started three games for the Chanticleers. Completed 62.9% of his attempts for 580 yards (6.5 YPA), four touchdowns and an interception. Added 37 carries for 236 yards and two touchdowns in his three starts
#15 WR Sam Pinckney
2023 All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense. Led the team with 64 receptions, 904 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns
#22 S Clayton Isbell
2023 All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense. Led the team with 86 tackles (47 solo) and three interceptions. Recorded five pass breakups and one sack
Preview: Bowl Mania: Las Vegas Bowl
Tale of the Tape: San Jose State Spartans
The 2023 season was a rocky start for the Spartans. After suffering two losses to open the year against the Pac 12, San Jose State picked up their first win against FCS Cal Poly. But three losses that followed against bowl eligible teams put the Spartans at 1-5 with bowl eligibility slipping away. The Spartans got back on track, winning their next six to close the season on a hot streak. San Jose State went 3-5 against bowl eligible teams in 2023, and 1-2 in one possession games.
Offensively, the first six games of the season were slower for the Spartans. They scored 168 points thru six games (28 PPG). When the Spartans got hot on their six-game winning streak, they scored 232 points (38.7 PPG). San Jose State has a consistent quarterback in Chevan Cordeiro, who has started for the team the last two years after transferring from Hawaii. San Jose State has a two-headed monster at running back: Kairee Robinson (7.1 YPC on 158 touches) and Quali Conley (6.4 YPC on 127 touches). Both have seen double-digit carries in each of the last six games; expect more of the same in the 2023 Hawaii Bowl.
Defensively, it was a tale of two halves for the Spartans this season. In their first six games, they went 1-5 against five bowl eligible teams. The Spartans allowed 202 points in that span (33.7 PPG). Going 6-0 in the last six games against three bowl eligible teams, the Spartans allowed just 107 points (17.8 PPG).
Opt Outs: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Transfer Portal Departures:
TE Dominick Mazotti
Team’s 2nd leading receiver with 23 receptions, 322 receiving yards, and two touchdowns
IOL Fernando Carmona
2023 All-Mountain West Honorable Mention
WR Branden Alvarez
Player to Know:
#2 QB Chevan Cordeiro
2023 All-Mountain West Football First Team Offense. Two year starter for the Spartans. Has completed 61.4% of his passes for 5,808 yards (7.7 YPA); thrown for 42 touchdowns (5.5% touchdown rate) and just 10 interceptions (1.3% interception rate).
#32 RB Kairee Robinson
2023 All-Mountain West Football First Team Offense. Leads the team with 158 carries for 1,127 yards (7.1 YPC). 18 rushing touchdowns is tied for the 3rd most in the country, trailing Blake Corum of Michigan, Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State, and tied with Audric Estime of Notre Dame.
#3 DL Tre Smith
2023 All-Mountain West Football First Team Defense. Led the team with 5.5 sacks after missing the 2022 season.
Bowl Game Trends:
- Brett Brennan: 0-2 in bowl games at San Jose State
- Since 2017 when Brennan became the head coach, San Jose State is 26-7 SU when they are favored (78.8%)
- Coastal Carolina: 1-2 all-time in bowl games
Game Synopsis:
The Chanticleers have 21 players currently in the transfer portal, one of the higher marks among bowl eligible teams. They will rely on Vasko as a third-stringer, although he has experience this season unlike other third-stringers we have seen this bowl season. With San Jose State’s weakness in the defense being on the ground, expect the Chanticleers to rely heavily on their running back committee.
San Jose State, on the other hand, will be without two key pieces on offense in IOL Carmona and TE Mazotti. The absence of Carmona would loom larger, since he has been a key contributor to blocking for a run game that is red hot over the last six games. That is the area to focus on with the Chanticleers defense, as 64% of opponents’ yards gained have come on the ground, albeit a game against Army skews the numbers.
This is a homecoming game for a lot of San Jose State players, including quarterback Cordeiro. With his play, along with Robinson and Conley in the backfield, I think San Jose State makes it seven in a row to close the season and take the 2023 Hawaii Bowl.
Bowl Mania Pick To Win: San Jose State
Bowl Mania Confidence: 34/43
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