The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl brings together the 8-4 Georgia Southern Eagles of the Sun Belt and a 9-3 Sam Houston Bearkats outfit that has been one of the fairytale stories of the 2024 college football season.
Between injuries, transfer portal entrants, and NFL Draft declarations, there will be several Georgia Southern and Sam Houston players not playing in the New Orleans Bowl.
Top Georgia Southern Players Not Playing in New Orleans Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Eagles won’t be in action in the New Orleans Bowl.
- Isaac Walker, DL, Georgia Southern (transfer portal)
- DeAndre Buchannon, WR, Georgia Southern (transfer portal)
- Deontre Morris, S, Georgia Southern (transfer portal)
- Dexter Williams II, QB, Georgia Southern (transfer portal)
In a sign that this game means something to these two teams, there are very few key contributors missing from the Georgia Southern lineup that takes to the field in the New Orleans Bowl tonight. Leading passer JC French, leading receiver Derwin Burgess Jr., leading rusher Jalen White, and leading tackler Marques Watson-Trent are all expected to play on Thursday.
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Georgia Southern players not playing in the New Orleans Bowl are headlined by starting safety Morris, who tallied 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception in the 2024 college football season. He’s in the transfer portal alongside WR Buchannon and QB Williams, who attempted just 30 passes in five appearances with three touchdowns for the Eagles in 2024.
Top Sam Houston Players Not Playing in New Orleans Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Bearkats won’t be in action in the New Orleans Bowl.
- Kendrick DuJour, DE, Sam Houston (transfer portal)
- Zach Hrbacek, RB, Sam Houston (transfer portal)
- John Gentry, RB, Sam Houston (transfer portal)
- Jase Bauer, QB, Sam Houston (transfer portal)
There are more than 10 Sam Houston players in the transfer portal right now, but according to coaches and media covering the program daily, most are committed to playing in the New Orleans Bowl. Those players are hoping to lead the Bearkats to a 10-win season and first-ever FBS bowl win, despite the departure of long-tenured head coach K.C. Keeler.
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Sam Houston players not playing in the New Orleans Bowl include backup quarterback Bauer, who contributed 605 total yards and two touchdowns for the Bearkats in injury relief of starting quarterback Hunter Watson. DuJour is confirmed to be absent, while Hrbacek and Gentry are in the portal and don’t appear on the Bearkats’ two-deep depth chart.
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