The Boca Raton Bowl brings together two teams who had conference title aspirations but came up just short in 2024. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers arrive in Florida after finishing runners-up in Conference USA, with the Sun Belt’s James Madison Dukes finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record.
Between injuries, transfer portal entrants, and NFL Draft declarations, there will be several Western Kentucky and James Madison players not playing in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Top Western Kentucky Players Not Playing in Boca Raton Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Hilltoppers won’t be in action in the Boca Raton Bowl.
- Ely George, LB, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Jaymar Mundy, CB, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Jalil Rivera-Harvey, DL, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Jarvis Hayes, WR, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- LT Sanders, RB, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Jaylen Hampton, WR, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- TJ Finley, QB, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Darius Thomas, S, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Darrell Johnson Jr., OT, Western Kentucky (transfer portal)
What might seem like a daunting list of Western Kentucky players not playing in the Boca Raton Bowl is actually just a microcosm of the true number of departures from the program this offseason.
There are over 20 Hilltoppers currently in the transfer portal. However, head coach Tyson Helton stated in the opening press conference that a good chunk of players set to leave will actually play in the Boca Raton Bowl, including starting quarterback Caden Veltkamp.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
Accordingly, the list of players not playing in the Boca Raton Bowl is a cross-section of those Hilltoppers who are currently in the transfer portal but not listed on the team-issued depth chart for their matchup with James Madison, including backup QB TJ Finley, who committed to the Tulane Green Wave earlier this week.
Top James Madison Players Not Playing in Boca Raton Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Dukes won’t be in action in the Boca Raton Bowl.
- Alonza Barnett III, QB, James Madison (injury)
- Ayo Adeyi, RB, James Madison (redshirt)
- Jordan Funk, TE, James Madison (injury)
- Tyler Purdy, RB, James Madison (injury)
- Chris Lofton, WR, James Madison (transfer portal)
- Jesse Ramil, OT, James Madison (transfer portal)
- Erick Harris, WR, James Madison (transfer portal)
- Darold DeNgohe, DL, James Madison (transfer portal)
The headliner of players not playing in the Boca Raton Bowl is James Madison quarterback Barnett. The Dukes QB1 injured his knee in the season-finale defeat to the Marshall Thundering Herd and has been seen on crutches in the days leading up to the game.
Barnett threw for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns this fall, completing 60% of his pass attempts. Billy Atkins will get the start for the Dukes, but the expectation is that true freshman JC Evans will also see some action. Evans threw for over 6,100 yards and 53 touchdowns in his high school career.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.