10 players who shined in the CFB Playoff National Title Game

The college football season has come and gone, but not before we were treated to one of the most thrilling National Championship games in recent memory.

Alabama just barely held on to beat Clemson Monday night, 45-40, giving head coach Nick Saban his fourth title as Alabama’s coach in the past seven years and fifth overall in his career. The game was truly college athletics at its best, so with that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 players who shined in Monday night's thriller.

1) Derrick Henry

There has been a recent trend in college football of Heisman Trophy winners flopping in the National Title Game. For Alabama running back Derrick Henry, this couldn’t be further from the case. Henry ran for 158 yards on 36 carries and scored three touchdowns, putting the nail in the Clemson’s coffin with his final score late in the fourth quarter. Henry has nothing left to prove at the collegiate level, so expect the junior to declare for the NFL Draft this spring.

2) Deshaun Watson

Although it came in a losing effort, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has every reason in the world to hold his head up high. He put on the finest performance from the quarterback position since Vince Young’s heroics against USC in the 2006 National Title Game.

Watson threw for 405 yards, four touchdowns and ran for another 73 yards on the ground. He did all of this against an Alabama defense that held Michigan State scoreless in its previous game. It was a remarkable performance from a true sophomore. Watson will undoubtedly be the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy next season.

3) O.J. Howard

Coming in to Monday night’s game, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard had not caught a touchdown pass since 2013. Boy, does 2013 ever seem like a long time ago.

Howard caught two huge touchdown passes, in addition to making a key third-down grab late in the fourth quarter that set up 'Bama for the Derrick Henry touchdown that made it a two-possession game. In total, Howard caught five passes for 208 yards, including those two touchdowns.

4) Hunter Renfrow

Also an outfieldier for the Clemson Tigers baseball team, wide receiver Hunter Renfrow became a household name in the first half of the title game. Renfrow caught two touchdown passes in the first half and finished the night with seven catches for 88 yards. All of this is made even more impressive by the fact that Renfrow was originally a walk-on player to the Clemson football program.

5) Jake Coker

Although Deshaun Watson was clearly the star quarterback Monday night, Alabama quarterback Jake Coker had game that can’t be ignored. He actually finished with a higher QBR than Watson (77.7 to 70.9) and made several clutch throws in the second half that helped the Crimson Tide pull away.

A transfer from the Florida State, Coker also ran for a key third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter. Again, Watson came out of Monday night a national star, but Coker quietly played the game of his life.

6) Kevin Dodd

Tigers defensive lineman Kevin Dodd caused fits for the 'Bama offensive line all night. Dodd recorded seven tackles, including five for loss, and three sacks. Not too shabby for a player who served primarily as a reserve for his first three seasons at Clemson. Fortunately for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, Dodd still has one year of eligibility left.

7) Rashaan Evans

Another player who is primarily a backup, Crimson Tide linebacker Rashaan Evans seemed to be the only Alabama player capable of getting his hands on Deshaun Watson. Evans sacked Watson twice and garnered three tackles on the night.

On a defense that features the talents of Reggie Ragland, A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Jarran Reed and Reuben Foster, it was the true sophomore Evans who shined brightest.

8) Wayne Gallman

Although he didn’t put up the most impressive stat line in the world, the importance of Tigers running back Wayne Gallman to his team’s effort cannot be understated. Despite being held to just 45 rushing yards, Gallman converted several key third downs for the Tigers via the catch and run.

When it looked like all hope was lost for Clemson, it was Gallman the Tigers turned to, and he came through when his team needed it most. Although the Tigers ended up falling short, without Gallman’s effort in the second half, 'Bama would have won by double digits.

9) Kenyan Drake

In 2014, running back Kenyan Drake suffered a leg injury that nearly ended his football career entirely. On Monday night, the Alabama senior made one of the plays of the game with his 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The return was emphasized by a dramatic dive from Drake into the end zone that broke the camera on the pylon.

Drake’s touchdown return quickly put Clemson back on its heels and was instrumental in helping the Crimson Tide pull of the victory.

10) Adam Griffith

It was the gutsiest call of the game, and it was executed to perfection. With 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the game tied at 24 apiece, Alabama place kicker Adam Griffith pooched an onside kick that landed perfectly into the arms Marlon Humphrey. Catalyzed by the success of the onside kick, 'Bama would score the go-ahead touchdown just a few plays later and never look back.

It was a high-risk, high-reward decision, but Adam Griffith made it look like a routine play. Griffith’s onside kick was the play of the game, and without it, we might be talking about a different National Title Game winner today.