The Voyager Media area has been know through the years for having talented football players and some of the top programs in the state of Illinois.
When those players graduate, they head to college and play for some of the top college programs in the country and several of those players will be competing in the 40 NCAA bowl games which begin Dec. 16.
If you are watching the games and want to keep an eye on some Voyager Media area players — keep this guide handy.
Former Downers Grove North quarterback David Edwards is now a starting offensive lineman for the University of Wisconsin.(Photo by David Stluka)
Cure Bowl – Orlando, Fla.
Western Kentucky
vs. Georgia State
Dec. 16 1:30 p.m., CBSSN
WKU
JCA grad Tyler Witt is a redshirt freshman offensive lineman. The 6-foot, 310-pounder played in all 12 games this season starting at right guard. He wears No. 74.
Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Tx.
San Diego State
vs. Army
Dec. 23 2:30 p.m., ESPN
ARMY
Army is led by head coach and Joliet native Jeff Monken where he has been since taking the job on Christmas Eve of 2013.
Army is coming off a 14-13 win over Navy – winning for the second season in a row.
Last year was a breakout season for the Black Knights under Monken. He led them to their first win over Navy since 2001 and won a bowl game for the first time in six seasons. The last time the Black Knights accomplished both feats in the same season was in 1984.
Army was second in the nation in rushing offense and ran for an Army single-season 46 touchdowns, which eclipsed the 1945 national championship team. On the defense side, Army was consistently in the top 10 in total defense and finished the year fourth in the nation.
Monken and his wife Beth reside at West Point with their three daughters, Isabelle, Amelia and Evangeline.
• Sean McNulty is a freshman kicker for Army. The Maine South graduate did not attempt a field goal this season. He wears No. 95.
Dollar General Bowl – Mobile, AL.
Appalachian State vs. Toledo
DEC. 23 7 p.m., ESPN
TOLEDO
Devonte’ Dunn is a freshman defensive lineman for the Rockets and has not played this season. He is a native of Plainfield and played at Nazareth Academy. He wears No. 53.
Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit, MI.
Northern Illinois
vs. duke
Dec. 26 4:15 p.m., ESPN
NIU
Jaquis Covington is a redshirt sophomore cornerback from Plainfield North. He wears No. 38 and saw action in one game this season.
• Ryan Gibbons is a redshirt freshman receiver from Maine South that saw action in two games this season. He wears No. 85.
• Bolingbrook graduate Jaden Huff is a senior linebacker for the Huskies. He played the last two seasons as a running back for St. Cloud State. He wears No. 16.
• Vinny Labus is a freshman long snapper and saw no action this season. He wears No. 50.
• Freshman Jordan Nettles is a freshman tailback for NIU. He made his college debut against San Diego State. He wears No. 28.
Pinstripe Bowl – New York, NY.
Boston College
vs. Iowa
DEC. 27 4:15 p.m., ESPN
IOWA
Plainfield native Ivory Kelly-Martin is a freshman running back for the Hawkeyes. He attended Oswego East junior and senior seasons after attending Nazareth Academy his first two seasons. This season, he gained 184 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. He wears No. 21.
Foster Farms Bowl – Santa Clara, Ca.
Arizona vs. Purdue
DEC. 27 7:30 p.m., FOX
PURDUE
Joliet Catholic graduate Brian Bravo is a junior kicker for the Bolilermakers. He wears No. 42 and has yet to attempt a collegiate kick.
Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tn.
Kentucky vs. (No. 21) Northwestern
DEC. 29 3:30 p.m., ESPN
NORTHWESTERN
Romeoville Native and Plainfield East graduate Tyler Lancaster is a senior defensive lineman for the Wildcats. T
his season, he has posted 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
He has three quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. He wears No. 1.
• Plainfield native and JCA graduate J.B. Butler is the starting left guard for Northwestern. He has helped the Wildcats rush for 2,225 yards on the season. He wears No. 59.
• Maine South grad Matt Alviti is a senior quarterback for Northwestern. This season, he completed 7 of 11 passes for 105 yards and a TD, while rushing four times for 88 yards and a TD in four games. He wears No. 7.
• Parrker Westphal is a junior defensive back and wears No. 11.
Cotton Bowl Classic – Arlington, TX.
(No. 8) USC vs. (No. 5) Ohio State
DEC. 29 7:30 p.m., ESPN
OHIO STATE
Bolingbrook graduate Tuf Borland has played in all 12 games and started the last seven for the Buckeyes. He has posted 45 tackles on the season, good for fifth overall on the team.
The Redshirt freshman and 2015 Voyager Media Defensive Player of the Year has 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. He wears No. 32.
Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, FL.
(No. 10) Miami vs. (No. 6) Wisconsin
Dec. 30 7 p.m., ESPN
WISCONSIN
Former Downers Grove North quarterback David Edwards is now the 6-foot-7, 315 pound starting right tackle for the Badgers. Edwards helped Wisconsin rush for 2,979 yards on the season. He wears No. 79 for the Badgers.
• Notre Dame graduate Chris James is a junior running back for the Badgers, as he transferred from Pittsburgh.
On the season, he has 44 carries for 223 yards and one touchdown. He has five catches on the season for 36 more yards. He wears No. 5.
• Bolingbrook grad Izayah Green-May is a freshman defensive lineman and did not see action this season. He wears No. 50.
Outback Bowl – Tampa, FL.
Michigan
vs. South Carolina
JAN. 1 11 am, ESPN2
MICHIGAN
Fifth-year senior Ty Isaac, Shorewood native and Joliet Catholic graduate, posted 548 yards on 88 carries and a pair of touchdowns this season for the Wolverines. He wears No. 32 for Michigan.
Citrus Bowl – Orlando, FL.
(No. 14) Notre Dame vs. (No. 17) LSU
Jan. 1 Noon, ABC
NOTRE DAME
Bolingbrook graduate Micah Dew-Treadway is a junior defensive lineman for the Fighting Irish.
He played in eight games this season and wears No. 97.