There is so much talent in college football that it is spread all over the country. Sure, schools like Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and USC still get a bunch of great players to reload their programs but there are top level guys in places you wouldn't expect.
Here are 25 players you need to know heading into the 2017 college football season. You will find a defending Heisman winner, a Heisman finalist, two guys who lit up the Rose Bowl earlier this year and a guy who got his name dropped at the end of the NFL Draft. Here are the names to know:
A true double-threat quarterback, Flowers rushed for over 1,500 yards and passed for another 2,800 yards for the Bulls last season. More is expected from him and USF. The Bulls are seen as a team that could contend for a New Year's Six bowl, and Flowers could be be the Heisman candidate who gets them there.
As Barkley went last year, the Nittany Lions followed. A powerful back that can break contact, Barkley had four games in 2016 where he gained at least 200 yards of total offense. The last time we saw him, he was running all over USC in the Rose Bowl (193 yards, 3 TDs). Even with teams keying in on him, it should be another big year for the junior running back.
Barrett has had quite the career in Columbus, from surprise starter as a redshirt freshman to Heisman contender to injury to quarterback controversy to a bad showing in last year's Fiesta Bowl. This is Barrett's final year with the Buckeyes and Ohio State has a team that can win a national championship. How he performs this season will go a long way to determining if the Buckeyes can add another title at the end of the season.
Ever since Allen's name was dropped after forgoing the 2017 NFL Draft, people have been taking notice. The junior may not turn into the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, but he is poised to break out in a big way with the high-octane Cowboys and improve on his 28 TDs and 3,200 passing yards.
While everyone held their breath to see what crazy thing Leonard Fournette was going to do next last season, LSU running back Derrius Guice was tearing up the nation. Guice led the Tigers with 1,387 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. Now the sole feature back, expect the junior to destroy linebackers, and improve his draft stock.
How often does a defending Heisman Trophy winner come back to school and it looks like he's still underrated? That's Jackson, who rode a strong start to 2016 to win the Heisman but this year there is so much more competition at the QB spot. Jackson does have the advantage of facing both Clemson and Florida State this season and if he performs in those games like he did last season, he could join Archie Griffin as the only two-time Heisman winner.
James joins Tarvarus McFadden in one of the best secondaries in the country. He is a monster safety who is built like a linebacker and has the speed of a corner. Not only is he lethal in defending passes, but he's tough to deal with on safety blitzes. If the Seminoles win the national championship, James will be a major reason why.
Darnold took over as the Trojans' starting QB after a 1-2 start last season and lead USC to a 9-1 the rest of the way. His performance in the Rose Bowl (453 yards passing, 5 TDs) has put him among the Heisman frontrunners and the scorching finish to 2016 has put high expectations on Southern Cal this year. Darnold is also considered to have a shot at being the No. 1 pick next spring in the NFL draft. There have been plenty of legendary quarterbacks at USC, but Darnold might be the best of them all.
Key is built like Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and nearly has the same drive. He's tall, but can get to the quarterback as well as anyone in the country. He bursts off the line and uses his length to keep blockers from crowding him up. A shoulder injury has clouded his status for the beginning of the season, but when he gets healthy, he will be a menace for the Tigers' defensive line.
Kirk is only 100 receptions away from becoming the SEC's all-time leader in that category. Oh, he's also entering just his junior season in College Station. Kirk is a slot receiver with blazing speed and is high on NFL scouts' lists. He has also returned five punt returns in his career as well – that's just two off the SEC record.
Boston College may have fallen on tough times, but Landry is a legit defensive playmaker. He recorded a nation-high 17 sacks last season and he forced an astounding six fumbles. He is an explosive pass rusher who just disrupts offenses with his speed and his uncanny ability to close on the ball carrier. If you can ever catch an Eagles game, stop and watch the next great pass rusher in action.
Clemson's entire defensive line is filled with names you need to know, but Lawrence is the biggest of the monsters. The true sophomore disrupts everything, nabbing seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss – at the defensive tackle spot! He is a lean 340 pounds and NFL scouts are already salivating for when/if he declares for the draft in 2019.
Moore started 2016 as a backup but won the starting job quickly and the running back ended up as the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Year. Moore, a junior, rushed for 1,402 yards and 10 TDs last season and voted the Sun Belt's pre-season Player of the Year. Many eyes will be on Moore on September 2 when the Mountaineers open their season at Georgia.
As a true freshman last season, Oliver recorded 22.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and three lost fumbles. He was a force when Houston upset the Louisville Cardinals and caused Lamar Jackson to have his worst game of the season. He is a man among boys and has two more years left at Houston, so get used to him swatting passes and wrecking havoc in the AAC.
Stidham will be playing for his third team in three years. As a freshman at Baylor, he took over the Bears late in the season and played well before a rash of injuries ended his season. He transferred to McLennan Community College for his sophomore season due to Baylor's sexual assault scandal, but didn't play. This year, he emerges at Auburn and is one of the most mysterious players in the FBS. He is talented enough to have a huge year and lead the Tigers to a major bowl.
Washington is the preseason favorite to win all the receiving awards. He has seven receptions of 70 yards or more and is one of the main cogs in a staggering Oklahoma State offense that looks to win the Big 12. Amazing to think he caught 71 passes in '16 and still averaged 19 yards per reception.
White was fifth in FBS last season with 4,383 yards passing and tossed 37 TDs. The Hilltoppers are the favorite to win their third straight Conference USA title. White's most impressive outing was in last year's C-USA championship game against Louisiana Tech where he completed 21-of-31 passes for 421 yards and three scores, a win that avenged an earlier defeat to La Tech where he threw for five touchdowns.
You will hear Woodside's name more and more as 2017 turns into 2018. Last season, Woodside led the nation with 45 TD passes and helmed an offense that racked up over 500 yards per game. The senior is looking for a bigger season and hopes to take the favored Toledo Rockets to a MAC title and a New Year's Six bowl. With Kareem Hunt now in the NFL, more of the offense will be on Woodside's shoulders.
Handing the ball off to Barkley is Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley. Standing at 6’0, the diminutive quarterback had no trouble lighting up opponents throwing for 3,614 yards and 29 touchdowns. Heading into his junior year, he may lead the Nittany Lions to a CFB Playoff appearance.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a cornerback that can keep up with Calvin Ridley. The big-play wide receiver had a down year in 2016, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t getting open. Ridley is one of the most explosive receivers in the country, and that will be on full display in a year where he can potentially jump to the NFL.
Many incredible performances were lost in all the Lamar Jackson hoopla last season, but Baker Mayfield may have been the most overlooked. Apparently, there is such as thing as a quiet 3,965-yard, 40-touchdown season. The senior quarterback has nothing to prove statistically, but he will be on his A-game to deliver a national title to Norman, Oklahoma.
Washington may have lost speedster John Ross, but Jake Browning is back for the Huskies, and he’s ready to go. Jake Browning got over the freshman hump, and had a great sophomore season where he threw for 3,430 yards and 43 touchdowns. Washington is in a great position to return to the CFB Playoff, and Jake Browning is the man to lead them there.
Injuries derailed what could have been a successful sophomore season for the UCLA quarterback, but Rosen back and healthy. He has a long way to go in showing that he was the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2015, but he certainly doesn’t lack the talent or confidence. With something to prove, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Rosen light up the Pac-12 and beyond.
As talented as the freaky 6’2, 235-pound running back is, he hasn’t been able to translate that raw power on the field consistently. Scarbrough only got 125 rushing attempts in 13 games last year, but he made the most of it, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. With Lane Kiffin gone, Nick Saban might return to a more run heavy attack, which give Scarbrough more opportunities to show how unstoppable he is.
With Adoree Jackson gone to the NFL, the defensive backfield is Iman Marshall’s to lead. While Jackson grabbed headlines with his electrifying punt returns, Marshall was quietly established himself as the Trojans best pure cornerback prospect. When receivers see No. 8 lined up across from them, they shouldn’t expect to catch the ball.
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