The MAC will have a large contingent heading to Orlando to kick off the offseason’s first college all-star game.
The Hula Bowl once again sets its base in Orlando, Florida, as players from all over the country seek to make their name in the first of the major collegiate all-star games.
As always, there will be MAC representation, with 11 players partaking this season. The number is much higher than last season, which featured only four former MAC prospects. Athletes will be split into two teams, named “Aina” and “Kai”, the traditional Hawaiian words for land and water, respectively.
At least two former MAC players will be participating in the Hula Bowl as well, with BYU receiver Darius Lassiter (Eastern Michigan) and South Carolina receiver Gage Larvadain (Miami) expected to compete.
Players will have the chance to interact directly with scouts from the NFL, UFC and CFL expected to be in attendance, with CBS Sports Network expected to carry the television broadcast.
As of publication, players have yet to be assigned to teams, so we will be listing them independent of roster lineups. Major thanks to All-Access Football and Draft Countdown for compiling invitations for every participant. Here are individual profiles of MAC players listed in team alphabetical order:
- Jordan Oladokun, CB, Bowling Green
Oladokun, who transferred to BGSU as a relatively unknown prospect from FCS Samford in Alabama, leaves the Falcons as one of their most-decorated defensive players. Over a three-year career, Oladokun appeared in 37 games (29 starts) and accumulated 83 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and nine interceptions (including two pick-sixes), with a career-best season in 2024 (35 tackles, five interceptions, 13 pass break-ups). Oladokun was on both the Thorpe and Wuerffell Award watch lists to start the season, and finished the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the all-MAC list, earning second-team and first-team honors, respectively.
- Connor Bazelak, QB, Bowling Green
Bazelak was a Big Ten transfer who found success at the lower levels, transferring in from Indiana in 2023 after three seasons at Missouri (2019-22). Bazelak racked up 24 starts and 26 appearances for BGSU, initially sharing in a QB rotation with Camden Orth before taking over duties full-time. 2024 was Bazelak’s career-best performance, earning third-team all-MAC honors after finishing with 3,044 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions on the season on a 62 percent pass completion rate.
- Brayden Swartout, OT, Central Michigan
Swartout was the successor to the dual legacies of Bernhard Raimann and Luke Goedeke and availed himself well over four seasons at both tackle positions. After picking up his first start as a true freshman in the 2021 Sun Bowl, Swartout would play and start in 29-straight contests (with 36 starts and 40 games overall) and pick up two-straight second-team all-MAC appearances in his junior and season seasons.
- Donte Kent, DB, Central Michigan
Kent has been a career-long contributor at Central from his true freshman campaign onwards, playing at outside corner, inside corner and even free safety over his five seasons. Kent picked up a starting job in his last game of the 2020 season and never ceded it, earning FWAA freshman All-American honors in 2021, then logging three-straight all-MAC selections in 2022 (first-team), 2023 and 2024 (both second-team). Kent had 234 tackles (171 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, 47 pass breakups, 49 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick over five seasons and also picked up return duties in his senior season, logging one return touchdown.
- Luke Floriea, WR, Kent State
A five-year contributor under two different coaches at Kent State, Floriea was a lifelong Flash who was key to their receiving attack. A reliable depth option, Floriea finished with 100 receptions for 1,302 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. 2024 was his best campaign, finishing with third-team all-MAC honors after hauling in 44 receptions for 688 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Flash offense.
- Reid Holskey, OL, Miami
Holskey started 54 contests and played in 56 for the Miami RedHawks in his five seasons in Oxford, contributing from his true freshman year onwards. After the 2020 COVID campaign, Holskey would hold down the right tackle spot, contributing to a MAC championship and another MAC title game appearance in the process. Holskey made an all-MAC team twice in his career, with second-team honors in 2023 and first-team honors in 2024.
- Cade McDonald, WR, Miami
McDonald, a former Michigan State Spartan, earned a key role with the RedHawks right away during Miami’s title run in 2023, finishing that season with 28 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns— but was a real threat as a kick returner, earning second-team all-MAC honors after averaging 12.7 yards per punt return. 2024 saw him develop into Miami’s tertiary receiving threat after a number of departures in the offseason, doubling up on receptions (52) while gaining 631 yards and catching three scoring receptions.
- JJ Lippe, OL, Northern Illinois
Lippe was a utilitarian in his tenure at NIU, playing several positions along the line before settling at left guard. Over six seasons, Lippe started 46 games in 51 appearances after redshirting in 2019 and playing three games as a reserve special teamer in 2020. Lippe earned first-team all-MAC honors this past season for his efforts.
- Devonte O’Malley, DE, Northern Illinois
The hero of NIU’s historic upset over current Playoff contender Notre Dame, Devonte O’Malley completes a five-year tenure with the Huskies after picking up 127 tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss and 22 sacks, an interception, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. O’Malley’s game vs. the Irish was a career contest, as he was responsible for three TFLs, two sacks and a forced fumble. 2024 was his career-best year, with 37 tackles, 11.5 TFLs and eight sacks en route to a first-team all-MAC nod. O’Malley was also tabbed second-team all-MAC in 2022.
- Anthony Torres, TE, Toledo
Torres came on strong at the tail end of his career, spending three seasons with Toledo after four seasons at Western Michigan (12 catches, 137 yards). Torres moved for more playing time and by 2023, was a lead contributor to the MAC champion Rockets, hauling a touchdown and a two-point conversion to help win the contest. He was a second-team tight end that season, and followed it up with a career-best 2024 campaign (32 rec., 404 yards, nine touchdowns).
- Jerjuan Newton, WR, Toledo
Newton, the younger brother of current Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer’Zhaun “Johnny” Newton, was a stand-out of his own at Toledo as a leading receiver. Over his six-year career, Newton collected 206 receptions for 2,927 yards and 32 TDs, with 2024 serving as his career-best season (72 rec., 1,033 yards, 11 TDs.) Newton was named first-team all-MAC in both 2023 and 2024, with second-team honors in 2022.
- Addison West, IOL, Western Michigan
West has been considered one of the key cogs to the Broncos offensive line over the last three seasons, occupying the right guard spot in that time. West is known as a road-grater, plowing the way for several 1,000+ yard rushers, including Sean Tyler and Jaden Nixon. He has 37 games of starting experience and 45 overall games for WMU, and was tabbed to the first-team all-MAC offensive line for his performance in 2024. West was also recognized as a Walter Camp All-American, the first Bronco to be named to the list in program history.
- Jacob Gideon, IOL, Western Michigan
Gideon came into the 2024 season the star of the Broncos offensive line, named to the Rimington Award watch list in two consecutive seasons (2023, 2024) despite picking up a season-ending injury the campaign prior. Gideon lived up to his lofty expectations, finishing as a first-team all-MAC offensive lineman for a second year in a row. Over his six-year career, Gideon logged 48 games— all starts— between guard and center after two years of sitting to start his tenure.
The 2025 Hula Bowl is expected to kick off on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 12 noon Eastern time from FBC Mortgage Stadium (colloquially known as The Bounce House) on the campus of UCF in Orlando, Florida.
CBS Sports Network will air the broadcast, with Paramount+ supplying the stream. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.