Daytona Beach will play host to the 10th anniversary edition of the Tropical Bowl, which is expected to have 13 MAC participants.
The 10th edition of the Tropical Bowl is set to take place on Saturday, January 19 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time. The game, which normally takes place in Orlando, Florida, is set to take place at Bethune-Cookman’s Larry Kelly Field at Daytona Stadium, and will be available for outside viewers on pay-per-view via QwikCut.
This year, 13 former MAC players accepted invites to the second collegiate all-star game in this cycle. Last year, 15 players earned invites.
The former MAC players will get the opportunity to work out and impress scouts fromthe various North American pro leagues.
We break down all 13 players below in alphabetical order by program:
National Team (black jerseys)
- OL Josh Blanchard, Akron
Josh Blanchard was a feel-good story in a grim Akron season. After missing parts of the last three seasons due to injury at South Florida, Blanchard anchored an Akron line with 10 starts.
- DB Darius McClendon, Bowling Green
The well-traveled McClendon ended his career on a high note, helping Bowling Green reach a third-straight bowl appearance. After stops at Middle Tennessee, New Mexico Military Institute, and Florida Atlantic, McClendon totaled 31 tackles and two tackles for loss for the Falcons. McClendon helped Bowling Green allow an impressive 21 points per game on defense.
- SAF Marcus Fuqua, Buffalo
Marcus Fuqua ended his career as one of the Bulls’ greatest defenders ever. In 2022, Fuqua tied for the FBS lead in interceptions with seven on the way to AP Third Team All-American and First Team All-MAC honors. Fuqua had 54 tackles this year to bring his career total to 244, while intercepting the ninth pass of his career.
- LB Justin Whiteside, Central Michigan
Justin Whiteside had a productive career in Mount Pleasant that included Preseason All-MAC honors from multiple publications in 2023 and 2024. Whiteside accumulated 58 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2024 to end his career with 214 stops and 23.5 TFLs.
- QB Cole Snyder, Eastern Michigan
Cole Snyder finished his career as a rare prolific quarterback for two MAC schools. After beginning his career at Minnesota, Snyder spent 2022 and 2023 at Buffalo. Snyder’s 5,139 yards and 35 passing touchdowns are both seventh in program history.
Snyder moved on to Eastern Michigan this year and continued to perform at a high level. Snyder threw for 2684 yards and 15 touchdowns. Snyder also added 326 yards and four scores on the ground.
- LB Matthew Harmon, Kent State
After struggling with injuries the past couple years, Harmon had a breakout season for the Golden Flashes in 2024. Harmon totaled 56 of his 105 tackles this year, with 6.5 of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage.
- OL Jack Sherwin, Western Michigan
Jack Sherwin started all 13 games for the Salute To Service Bowl-bound Broncos. These starts added to the 14 starts he made in 2022 and 2023.
- OL Ted Kushi, Western Michigan
Ted Kushi continued performing at a high level after transferring from FCS Long Island. Kushi started 23 games the past two seasons, including all 13 in 2024. Kushi and his teammate Jack Sherwin show the sheer embarrassment of riches on the Broncos’ offensive line. While All-Americans Addison West and Jack Gideon got most of the attention, Kushi and Sherwin added experience and reliability to the unit.
American Team (white jerseys)
- DB Paul Lewis III, Akron
Paul Lewis III made a significant leap when transferring from Cornell this season, but proved the jump from the Ivy League to the MAC was not too much for him. In his lone season as a Zip, Lewis III made 77 tackles and had five tackles for loss at the cornerback position.
After earning second-team and first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2022 and 2023, Lewis III earned third-team All-MAC honors in 2024.
- TE Jake Orlando, Buffalo
Jake Orlando had the best year of his career in 2024 with 11 receptions for 101 yards. Orlando caught two touchdowns for the Bulls, a career high. Orlando caught 21 passes for 183 yards across a career spent at Buffalo and UMass.
- DB JaVaughn Byrd, Northern Illinois
JaVaughn Byrd was a mainstay on the Northern Illinois defense the past three years. Byrd earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2023 with three interceptions and eight pass breakups. He had another solid year for the Huskies in 2024 with 37 tackles, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble, earning third-team All-MAC honors.
- LB/SAF Nate Valcarcel, Northern Illinois
Nate Valcarcel ends a first-team All-MAC season with an appearance in the Tropical Bowl. Valcarcel disrupted opposing teams’ pass and run games with 52 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups. His 2024 output followed a 2023 campaign which saw him make 46 tackles and intercept three passes to earn second-team All-MAC honors.