Preseason College Football Rankings: Post-Spring Practice Top 25
And just like that, spring ball is over. Well, almost.
The only big remaining spring game is at Oregon, which will wrap up practices next Saturday. However, considering Eastern Washington transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. isn't even participating, we'll go ahead and guess not much will change with the Ducks. Barring a major injury, of course.
Other than that, the summer offseason is just about in full swing. The only thing left to keep us occupied now is to recap what we saw. That's where the Bleacher Report Preseason top 25—post-spring edition—comes in.
What does said top 25 look like exiting spring practices? We take our best guess on what it should look like based on key position battles, injuries and spring game performances.
No. 25 Boise State
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Boise State exited spring with a major quarterback question. Thanks to a legal run-in, that question may not be answered any time soon.
Ryan Finley, Tommy Stuart, Alex Ogle and Brett Rypien were vying for the starting QB job. However, according to Dave Southorn of the Idaho Statesman, Finely, a sophomore, was arrested this month on charges of a minor consumption or in possession of an alcoholic beverage and resisting or obstructing officers. Both charges are misdemeanors.
What this means for Finley's chances of getting the No. 1 job remains to be seen. It was generally believed that Finley was the front-runner.
No. 24 Georgia Tech
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Georgia Tech ended the 2014 season on fire, winning six of its last seven games. The only loss came by two points to Florida State in the ACC title game.
If the Yellow Jackets are going to continue that momentum, they need to keep building chemistry on offense. Quarterback Justin Thomas, an underrated star, returns. However, nearly the entire starting lineup at running back and wide receiver has to be replaced.
Making matters worse, C.J. Leggett, a projected starter at B-Back, suffered a likely season-ending knee injury in the week leading up to the spring game. That leaves Tech searching for answers in the backfield, as Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes:
"In desperation, the Jackets turned to Marcus Allen, a redshirt junior now on his third collegiate position, to play B-back Friday, and he did well enough, gaining 77 yards. But that was on a rainy night in April. After quarterback, B-back is the most important position in Johnson’s offense, and the pounding of Laskey/Days was what ultimately undid Georgia in Athens and Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.
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So much of Georgia Tech's offense is based on chemistry and reads. Thomas is a stud, but will the supporting cast be able to complement him?
No. 23 Nebraska
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The Mike Riley era at Nebraska is drawing a little bit closer, one day at a time. Can Nebraska do what it couldn't under former head coach Bo Pelini—get over the 9-4/10-4 hump and win a Big Ten championship—in Year 1?
Those goals might be a touch lofty, but the Huskers could still compete for a Big Ten West title. The losses of defensive end Randy Gregory and running back Ameer Abdullah are huge, but the cupboard is not completely bare. As Mitch Sherman of ESPN.com writes, "defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine consistently penetrated the backup offensive line on Saturday. On the edge, Greg McMullen and Jack Gangwish form a solid duo."
Tommy Armstrong Jr. still looks to be the guy at quarterback, and wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El's electrifying spring game performance should have Huskers fans salivating at the possibilities. Whether it's as a wide receiver, special teams player or specialized running back, Pierson-El can do it all.
No. 22 LSU
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LSU is a tough team to read. There's so much potential yet one major question.
The Tigers have no shortage of talent, especially in the running game and on defense. Sophomore running back Leonard Fournette is a star in the making.
But the quarterback play is the No. 1 thing holding this team back. That was the case last year, when neither Anthony Jennings nor Brandon Harris played with any sort of consistency. It's one thing to be an unbalanced offense—run heavy or pass heavy, for example—but there was no pass efficiency of which to speak.
Jennings and Harris looked better in the spring game, but were they good enough to alleviate any concerns about moving the offense? Probably not.
No. 21 Oklahoma State
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Oklahoma State had one of the least experienced teams in the country heading into Week 1 last year. Now that a young team has weathered the storm, the Pokes could be an intriguing dark horse in the Big 12.
The Cowboys are set at quarterback. Sophomore Mason Rudolph lacks experience, but he played well in three starts to end last season. J.W. Walsh, a veteran in the program, will be a good change of pace under (behind?) center as a running threat.
That could be huge since Oklahoma State has concerns at running back. Rennie Childs is the clubhouse leader to start in the backfield, but this could be a running-back-by-committee group.
With standout defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah returning and defensive tackle Vincent Taylor making waves, the Cowboys should be excellent up front on the other side of the ball. Now, it's just a matter of forcing turnovers. Last season, the Pokes finished tied for last in the Big 12 with just 14 takeaways.
No. 20 Arizona
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The surprise Pac-12 South champions from a year ago are out to prove 2014 wasn't a fluke. To do that, Arizona needs better play from its quarterback, Anu Solomon, and defense, which was of the bend-don't-break variety last season.
The biggest storyline has been Solomon's development. Though he threw for nearly 3,800 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2014, Solomon still experienced growing pains in the decision-making department. That, in part, led to Arizona giving up 2.86 sacks per game last year.
Solomon looked more comfortable in the Wildcats' spring game. He finished 19-of-25 passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, quarterbacks get it easy by comparison in spring. How Solomon looks once the season begins will show just how much he's grown.
No. 19 Texas A&M
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Texas A&M didn't hold a spring game, but that doesn't mean the Aggies didn't show areas of growth.
The biggest help for A&M is that sophomore quarterback Kyle Allen has been working with the first team. According to head coach Kevin Sumlin, Allen is acting more like a senior.
"It seems like the guy has been here forever," Sumlin said via Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle. "And he's started only, what, five games? I'm as hard on him as anybody, but he's a really young guy. I have to hold myself back, because I'm talking to him like he's been here three years and should understand this and that."
There's plenty of skill talent around Allen, but the key question is on defense. Former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis joined Sumlin's staff and has a talented group to work with, including defensive end Myles Garrett, linebackers Otaro Alaka and A.J. Hilliard and safety Armani Watts.
No. 18 Arkansas
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Can Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema take the late-season momentum from a year ago and turn it into something more sustainable in 2015? That's what the Razorbacks tried to show in their spring game.
We know the Hogs can run the ball at will with Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins. However, third-string back/fullback Kody Walker proved he can be a powerful option in the ground game as well with 174 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game.
The question is whether the defense can duplicate the success it had late last season as well. The defensive front seven has lost several key players from a year ago, the biggest of which is defensive end Trey Flowers.
JaMichael Winston, Taiwan Johnson and Bijhon Jackson will anchor the new defensive line.
No. 17 Oklahoma
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It feels like a lot of people are sleeping on Oklahoma a bit. Not that there isn't reason to. The Sooners are coming off of a disappointing 8-5 season, and the top of the Big 12—Baylor and TCU—has legitimate playoff potential.
The pieces are there, though, for Oklahoma to be a trendy Big 12 sleeper. The receiver unit looks much improved from a year ago, since Sterling Shepard is no longer the only option. Dede Westbrook, Jeffery Mead and tight end Mark Andrews are now all viable pass-catching options.
Not to mention Oklahoma has one of the deepest, most talented running back depth charts in college football. Samaje Perine is a stud after rushing for more than 1,700 yards as a freshman and is complemented by Alex Ross, Joe Mixon and early enrollee Rodney Anderson. Now, the question is who becomes the starting quarterback: Trevor Knight, Baker Mayfield or Cody Thomas?
Defensively, there's been a lot of shuffling among the coaching staff. The biggest area of concern is the secondary, which is still relatively young and thin.
No. 16 Florida State
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Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has been an ace recruiter during his time with the Seminoles. But even 2015 will test how well newer faces can do right away. Players gone from last year's team include quarterback Jameis Winston, receiver Rashad Greene, tight end Nick O'Leary, defensive lineman Eddie Goldman and cornerback P.J. Williams.
That's not even the whole list either.
Sean Maguire looks like the favorite to start at quarterback, but he had an up-and-down spring game. The physical tools are all there, but the consistency wasn't. Elsewhere, several early enrollees looked like they'll contribute in some capacity next season: Safety Derwin James, receiver George Campbell and running back Jacques Patrick all had their moments.
There's young talent in this Seminoles team. The question is how quickly does it contribute and come together. If Maguire is the quarterback, can he move the offense efficiently while contributing to big plays down the field?
No. 15 Tennessee
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Injuries took their toll on Tennessee this spring. While that means we won't get a great look at the Vols at full strength until preseason camp, it does mean young players earned more practice reps. Down the line, that could pay off.
That will mostly help out on the defensive line, where only five scholarship players were healthy enough to participate in spring drills. But defensive end Derek Barnett and linebacker Curt Maggitt are two excellent defenders in the front seven. When they return, that group is going to be stacked.
Furthermore, quarterback Joshua Dobbs has grown as a passer and looks like a legitimate dual threat who can beat defenses in a variety of ways. Coupled with a talented backfield and a deep wide receiver unit, there's no reason why this offense can't be potent.
Tennessee is quickly becoming the darling SEC East pick and a personal favorite of B/R colleague and SEC beat writer Barrett Sallee. Can the Vols finally overcome the youth/inexperience issue that's held them back for so long?
There's a growing list of people who believe the answer is yes.
No. 14 Arizona State
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Arizona State didn't lose many players from its 2014 team, but the ones it did lose leave huge holes to fill. Specifically, the production of wide receiver Jaelen Strong must be replaced, likely by committee.
But offense may not be the strength of Arizona State in 2015. A once-inexperienced defense has now morphed into a more veteran, improved group.
Replacing nine starters on defense a year ago took its toll on Arizona State at times. In the Sun Devils' spring game, though, the defense was definitely the highlight of the team.
"What you can't do when you have nine returning starters instead of nine starters gone, is we work with the same sense of urgency with a chip on our shoulder every day," head coach Todd Graham said, via Fabian Ardaya of The State Press. "By the end of (2014) our defense was our strength, so we've got to work with the same sense of urgency just like we're replacing nine starters."
No. 13 Georgia
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Georgia has arguably the most valuable player in the SEC, running back Nick Chubb, on its sideline. That gives the Bulldogs a boost in the SEC East championship race. However, the offense is still looking to replace its top two receivers.
Brice Ramsey should be the front-runner at quarterback because of his experience, but Faton Bauta and Jacob Park both looked like they could steal the starting job as well in the spring game. Mainly, however, their job will be to feed the ball to Chubb and Georgia's stable of running backs.
Defensively, there are more questions, namely on the defensive line. The secondary is still developing, but it could be one of the most improved units from a year ago. Safety Dominick Sanders started every game last season, while three other members—strong safety Quincy Mauger and cornerbacks Aaron Davis and Devin Bowman—combined to start 25 games, according to Marc Weiszer of The Augusta Chronicle.
No. 12 Clemson
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Even with the departure of offensive coordinator Chad Morris, scoring points shouldn't be an issue for Clemson in 2015. The Tigers have an embarrassing amount of depth and talent—in a good way—at wide receiver. Additionally, once he's fully healthy, quarterback Deshaun Watson is on his way to being one of the ACC's best.
In the meantime, backup Nick Schuessler showed he can manage the offense as well in the Tigers' spring game, throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
However, the defense remains the question mark. Nearly the entire defensive front seven, including the whole defensive line, is gone. Ben Boulware projects to start at the weak-side linebacker spot and could develop into a major player for this defense quickly. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables has done an excellent job since coming over from Oklahoma, but 2015 will be his biggest test to date.
No. 11 Ole MIss
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Injuries were an issue for Ole Miss toward the end of last season, and they remained a problem in certain areas this spring. Namely, the offensive line was beat up and won't look like its full self until fall rolls around.
There's also the unresolved quarterback battle between Chad Kelly, Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade, though head coach Hugh Freeze did say that Buchanan is the leader of the race (by a very small margin, mind you).
However, Ole Miss' defense looks ready to pick up where it left off last season. Particularly, the Rebels are loaded up front along the D-line.
Freeze wants to increase the tempo of the offense next season, but we won't get a great look at that group full strength for another few months. When everyone is healthy, Ole Miss has the talent to compete for an SEC West title.
No. 10 UCLA
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UCLA returns so many starters from a year ago that there aren't a lot of questions to answer. One of the few questions the Bruins have, though, is a big one: Who's going to start at quarterback?
First things' first: We won't know until Week 1, as head coach Jim Mora has refused to divulge that information.
What we do know is that early enrollee Josh Rosen is thoroughly entrenched in a battle with Asiantii Woulard, Jerry Neuheisel and Mike Fafaul for the starting job. Rosen went 13-of-17 with two touchdowns and one interception in the spring game, but he faced little pressure from the defense.
USC is getting the hype as perhaps the Pac-12's best team—more on the Trojans later—but UCLA is an interesting squad with a lot of experience. Now, can it get a No. 1 quarterback and take the next step?
No. 9 Auburn
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You didn't really think Auburn would have a problem replacing its starting quarterback, leading rusher and top receiver, did you?
Jeremy Johnson was formally named the new starter under center shortly after the Tigers' spring game—the worst-kept secret in college football. Roc Thomas will lead another solid running back group, and Duke Williams was already a bona fide star at wide receiver.
Questions still remain for the defense. Former Florida head coach and new Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp showed he could get pressure on the offense during the spring game. The Tigers don't have to field a shutdown unit if the offense is as potent as it has been in years past; it just has to be good enough.
With the return of defensive end Carl Lawson, that shouldn't be a problem.
No. 8 Oregon
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The post-spring top 25 has certainly seen its fair share of movement among teams, but since Oregon hasn't played its game yet, we'll leave the Ducks at No. 8 (their initial spring practice spot).
We still haven't seen Vernon Adams, but he'll be part of a contested quarterback battle with Jeff Lockie. Royce Freeman, one of the outstanding freshman running backs in the country in 2014, is back as well.
Stay tuned on Oregon, but the program has been built to compete for divisional and conference championships year after year.
No. 7 Notre Dame
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The major question for Notre Dame heading into spring was the quarterback battle between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire. As expected, that question didn't come close to being answered yet. Golson and Zaire both saw the field and had up-and-down moments.
Barring a surprise, this battle will continue into the fall.
But the Irish appear to have two quarterbacks they can win with, and the supporting cast is promising. William Fuller and Corey Robinson make up a potent receiving group, and the offensive line looks to be a strength.
"I think for me, it was pretty clear that we've got a very good offensive line," head coach Brian Kelly told Kevin Trahan of USA Today. "They're going to be able to control the line of scrimmage in most instances, and we'll continue to go to our strength, which we believe is up front."
Defensively, the Irish had issues last year, but the good news is that most of that group is returning and will be more experienced. As usual, the potential for Notre Dame is supremely high. It's about cutting down on the self-inflicted wounds that plagued this team in 2014.
No. 6 USC
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It's tough not to be excited about what USC can do offensively in 2015. Quarterback Cody Kessler is the early front-runner to be the best passer in the Pac-12. Even without Nelson Agholor, the Trojans are stacked at wide receiver. JuJu Smith, Steven Mitchell and even Isaac Whitney, who came on strong toward the end of spring, should be an impressive group.
And now that the offensive line is more experienced, protecting Kessler should be an easier task.
However, injuries took a toll on the defensive line, which is already trying to replace Leonard Williams. The jury will be out on that defensive front until it proves otherwise. However, the secondary should be a strength with sophomore Adoree' Jackson coming back.
The offensive firepower is there, but in spring, we didn't get a great look at what this Trojans team could be as a whole.
No. 5 Alabama
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Officially, there's no separation at quarterback yet. Head coach Nick Saban hasn't named a starter, but that's about par for the course. Unofficially, Florida State transfer Jake Coker looks like the front-runner, with redshirt freshman David Cornwell making a case as the dark-horse contender.
In that same arena, Alabama's offense is undergoing some retooling. ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster had great moments in the spring game at receiver, and the one-two punch of Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake will hold down the running game.
Defense is a different, and better, story. This D-line is talented, deep and ready to be the most disruptive force in the SEC. If the secondary can improve—former blue-chip corner Marlon Humphrey looks like he's finally making strides—then this will be as complete a defense as you'll see anywhere.
No. 4 TCU
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TCU's spring game was about as low key as it comes—just the way head coach Gary Patterson likes it. There weren't a ton of surprises either. The primary goal for TCU is to get healthy and begin plugging holes on defense.
Quarterback Trevone Boykin was sidelined while recovering from offseason wrist surgery, giving the Frogs backups a chance to get more reps.
"We needed to grow up the young quarterbacks anyway," Patterson told reporters on a Big 12 teleconference. "We just took him out the last two or three days of spring and let them run the show, because they needed it."
If there's one name to keep an eye on, it's freshman linebacker Mike Freeze. The early enrollee is listed as the starting middle linebacker exiting spring. There's no denying what TCU can do on offense—the Frogs return everyone there—but it'll be interesting to see how newer players like Freeze contribute to the defense.
No. 3 Michigan State
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A 9-3 spring game score might not introduce a lot of excitement, but always take spring game scores and stats for what they're worth—which is to say, not a lot.
Michigan State looks every bit like the team that will challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten East division crown. Quarterback Connor Cook showed he can still throw a beautiful ball while protecting the ball as well. But the real story was the offensive line's play and the defensive front seven.
"Michigan State's depth of talent in the defensive front seven could be blamed for gumming up the offense, as several blitzes were turned loose to the tune of six quarterback sacks and a total of 19 first downs in the game—only five by the Tyler O'Connor-led Green team," wrote Mike Griffith of MLive.com.
Sparty still needs answers at receiver, but Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett had a big spring game with five receptions for 51 yards.
No. 2 Baylor
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Despite losing quarterback Bryce Petty and veteran linebacker Bryce Hager, there aren't a lot of questions Baylor needed to answer this spring.
Seth Russell looks like he'll be the successor to Petty, unless Chris Johnson or early enrollee Jarrett Stidham can make some type of run in the summer and during preseason camp. Either way, the QB will have a ton of help, since there's so much talent on the Bears offense at the skill positions.
But Baylor is also impressive in the trenches, with easily the best, most experienced O-line/D-line combo in the Big 12. For all the attention this program gets for its wide receivers and running backs, it's excellent in the trenches too.
As long as the Bears can get decent play out of their back seven on defense, this will be an excellent football team. Plus, we're partial to 400-pound converted offensive lineman LaQuan McGowan taking snaps at tight end.
No. 1 Ohio State
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Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said quarterback Cardale Jones didn't have his best day during the Buckeyes' spring game earlier this month.
"That wasn’t a Cardale day. He played behind a makeshift offensive line. I can give you a bunch of excuses, but he’s got to be much sharper than that,” Meyer said, per James Grega Jr of The Lantern.
Overall, however, Jones has improved since winning the national championship. "For the spring, I’d give him a very good spring, though," Meyer added. "You didn’t necessarily see it today."
As such, the Buckeyes remain at the No. 1 spot for our offseason top 25. J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller will join the quarterback competition later this summer after they recover from their injuries, provided neither of them transfers.
Ohio State returns one of the more experienced teams in the country, and it's only getting healthier exiting spring.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
