Ranking Top 25 College Football Players After Week 3
It might be hard to believe, but we’re already nearing the quarter pole of the 2016 college football regular season. With three weeks down, we’re just over 20 percent of the way through the season, counting Dec. 3’s conference championship weekend.
That’s enough time to get a representative sample of the best players in college football with those who are emerging, those who are living up to their reputations and those who need a little work.
Here’s a look at the top 25 players in college football through Week 3. This ranking takes 2016 performances into account but isn’t solely based on them, also factoring in past efforts and established skills. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.
25. Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage
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After a disappointing 6-7 record in 2015, Arizona State is off to a strong 3-0 start this fall. We’ll know a lot more about the Sun Devils after they face off against Cal, Southern California and UCLA the next three weeks, but we do know this: Tailback Kalen Ballage is a scoring machine.
Through three games, Ballage is tied for first in the FBS with 10 total touchdowns, nine on the ground. He also has 255 yards rushing (averaging 6.9 yards per carry) and nine receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Ballage feasted on Texas Tech’s defense, tying an FBS single-game record with eight touchdowns in a 68-55 win.
He’s unlikely to keep up this torrid pace, but it’s clear Ballage knows his way to the end zone for a potent ASU offense.
24. Iowa CB Desmond King
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Saturday was a day to forget for Iowa’s program. Five-time FCS national champion North Dakota State came into Kinnick Stadium and stunned the Hawkeyes, winning 23-21 on a final-play field goal. It was Iowa’s first loss to an FCS program, which sent the Hawks tumbling from No. 13 to out of the Top 25 entirely.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that Iowa’s defense boasts one of the nation’s top defensive players in senior cornerback Desmond King. He pleased his teammates by returning for his senior season after winning the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.
King tied for the national lead in interceptions with eight last fall, and while he doesn’t have one yet through three games, he’s still making an impact so far. He has 15 tackles and has also returned six kicks for a 27.5-yard average and four punts for an 8.8-yard average.
Iowa can still contend for the Big Ten West title, and King’s standout play will be a huge part of those plans.
23. Florida State RB Dalvin Cook
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Following a “down” 10-win 2015 season, more was expected of Florida State in 2016. The Seminoles returned 10 offensive starters, and the most important player was junior tailback Dalvin Cook. He rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of his first two seasons at FSU, including a 1,691-yard, 19-touchdown effort in 2015.
Last fall, Cook managed those impressive numbers while battling through ankle and hamstring injuries. So assuming he was fully healthy, 2016 would be even better, right? Not yet. Through three games, Cook has 228 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry (down significantly from his 7.4-yard average in 2015).
He is a home run hitter of a tailback capable of scoring every time he touches the ball. Thus far, however, his long run is a 37-yard jaunt against Charleston Southern.
Florida State has been disappointing, including an ugly 63-20 loss at Louisville Saturday. But the Seminoles can still rally for an ACC title and College Football Playoff berth. They’ll just need Cook to look a lot more like his old self, something he is fully capable of.
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22. Oklahoma State WR James Washington
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Oklahoma State made a nice rebound from a controversial loss to Central Michigan Saturday, holding off Pitt 45-38. It was yet another display of a strong passing offense helmed by junior quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has 1,017 passing yards and six touchdowns against one interception in three games.
Rudolph’s best target is receiver James Washington, who is establishing himself as one of the best deep threats in the college game. He has 19 receptions for 399 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 21 yards per reception. That includes an impressive 91-yard touchdown, the highlight of a nine-catch, 296-yard, two-touchdown day against the Panthers.
The Cowboys have designs on a Big 12 championship, and Washington gives them a major boost.
21. Houston LB Steven Taylor
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Houston rose to college football prominence last fall with Tom Herman’s fast-paced spread offense. But to reach the goals the Cougars have set for themselves in 2016—a College Football Playoff berth—they’ll need more than a splashy front.
They’ll also need a strong defense. With players like senior linebacker Steven Taylor, though, they’re well on their way. Last fall, the active ‘backer had 92 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks (leading the American Athletic Conference). He’s on a torrid pace this fall, too. Through three games, he has 5.5 sacks, which leads the FBS.
If Taylor can keep making impact plays and harassing opposing quarterbacks, a huge piece of Houston’s playoff hopes will fall into place.
20. FSU DE DeMarcus Walker
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Florida State’s defense had a day to forget Saturday against Louisville, yielding a program single-game high 63 points in an ugly rout that put the Seminoles behind the eight-ball in the ACC Atlantic Division race.
It was an uncharacteristic defensive effort for the Seminoles, though. And it shouldn’t detract from the early season that defensive end DeMarcus Walker has put together. He looks like one of the nation’s top defensive ends thus far, with 15 tackles and 4.5 sacks. His power and speed will have a huge impact on FSU’s chase for another ACC title and a College Football Playoff berth.
19. Cal WR Chad Hansen
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Chad Hansen’s story is a reminder that sometimes perseverance pays off. He began his career at FCS Idaho State, but after his freshman season, he decided his skills were better suited at a higher level. He landed at Cal and has blossomed in Sonny Dykes’ Air Raid offense. Per Connor Letourneau of SFGate.com, Cal was the only FBS program to offer him a roster spot.
“That just fueled the drive in me because I knew that I was good enough,” Hansen said. "I wasn’t going to let some coach that I’ve never met tell me that I wasn’t.”
After catching 19 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown last fall, Hansen has become college football’s most prolific receiver. Through three games, he has 40 catches for 546 yards and five touchdowns. He leads the FBS in receptions and receiving yardage and is tied for the national lead in touchdown receptions.
He has at least 12 catches and 160 yards in all three games for 2-1 Cal and is Davis Webb’s favorite target. With nine games left, the sky is the limit for Hansen's numbers.
18. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes
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Texas Tech likes to throw. You know this. The Red Raiders throw, throw, throw and then throw some more. Kliff Kingsbury is an Air Raid offense aficionado, and Patrick Mahomes is the latest quarterback to excel in the system.
Last fall, Mahomes showed major promise, passing for 4,653 yards with 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Three games into 2016, it’s more of the same. He has thrown for 1,493 yards (averaging 497.6 yards per game) with 14 touchdowns against two interceptions while completing 71.2 percent of his passes.
The Raiders defense is, shall we say, not good, allowing 43.3 points per game, No. 120 nationally. So Mahomes and the offense will throw, throw, throw and keep piling up eye-popping numbers all season long. They don’t have much choice.
17. Alabama DE Jonathan Allen
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Alabama’s defense took a big hit when monstrous defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, as expected, declared for the NFL draft following 2015’s national title season. But the Crimson Tide defensive line has barely missed a step, thanks to a talented depth chart. And it helps to have Jonathan Allen leading the way.
The senior defensive end is a major force at 6’3”, 291 pounds and returned for his final season of eligibility despite a 12-sack junior year that earned him first-team All-SEC honors. Thus far, that looks like a smart move. Through three games, he has 11 tackles and three sacks. His 75-yard interception return for a touchdown helped seal Alabama’s 48-43 win at Ole Miss on Saturday.
Allen is a dangerous force who will torment SEC offensive lines all season long and likely earn himself a lucrative selection in next spring’s NFL draft.
16. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly
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After blowing big leads to both Florida State and Alabama, Ole Miss is 1-2 and in a tough spot to begin the 2016 season. However, the Rebels remain in the Associated Press Top 25, which is a credit to their competitiveness against the Seminoles and Crimson Tide.
Without Chad Kelly, they’d be in real trouble. He is a potent weapon in Hugh Freeze’s offense. Through three games, he has 953 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against four interceptions, completing 62.6 percent of his passes. He is a talented dual threat who can make things happen with his legs or arm and is the best quarterback in the SEC.
If the Rebels have any hopes of matching 2015’s heights, they’ll do so with Kelly under center and roaming in the offense.
15. Miami QB Brad Kaaya
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So far, so good for Mark Richt’s reclamation project in Miami. Three games in, the Hurricanes are 3-0 and ranked No. 15 nationally after Saturday’s 45-10 rout of Appalachian State. ACC matchups with Georgia Tech, Florida State and North Carolina are next, but it’s easy to feel good about the ‘Canes under Richt’s watch.
Richt was fortunate to inherit Brad Kaaya as his starting quarterback. He is one of the nation’s top pocket passers and has lived up to his reputation under Richt’s watch. He has 694 yards passing with seven touchdowns and three interceptions and has been a solid leader for the Hurricanes offense.
Miami will chase an ACC Coastal Division title this season, and Kaaya will lead the charge. NFL decision-makers will highly prize him as well.
14. LSU DE Arden Key
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Under new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, LSU’s defense again looks like one of the nation’s best. The aggressive scheme is picking up an offense that has struggled to score points at times, allowing 16.3 points per game (No. 23 nationally). One of the centerpieces is emerging sophomore defensive end Arden Key, who is poised to be the Tigers’ next great defensive line star.
The 6’6”, 238-pounder flashed as a freshman, making five sacks while starting nine games. He’s gotten even better as a sophomore. Through three games, Key has 14 tackles and five sacks (second-best nationally). He is primed to make life miserable for opposing offensive tackles, excelling with a blend of speed and athletic ability.
13. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
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Three games into 2016, the heat surrounding Kevin Sumlin’s seat at Texas A&M has cooled considerably...at least for now. The Aggies are 3-0 and are once again in the Top 10 entering Saturday’s AT&T Stadium showdown with No. 17 Arkansas. A huge factor? An aggressive defense that is yielding 13.3 points per game, No. 15 nationally.
Junior defensive end Myles Garrett is a key cog in that impressive unit. He has established himself as one of the nation’s top pass-rushers with a blend of speed, athleticism and power. He has done nothing to lose that status in the first three weeks.
Garrett has four tackles for loss, three sacks and five quarterback pressures. He’ll keep the pressure on SEC quarterbacks all season long in what could be his final season of college football.
12. Oregon RB Royce Freeman
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2016 isn’t exactly unfolding the way Oregon and coach Mark Helfrich had hoped. The Ducks took a step back in 2015, slipping to a 9-4 record after losing Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota to the NFL draft, and they don’t appear to be an elite team this fall following a 35-32 defeat at Nebraska that knocked them out of the Top 25.
However, they do have junior tailback Royce Freeman, which is a major plus. He rushed for 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore and looks ready to build on those numbers this fall. He left the Nebraska game early with a leg injury but has 325 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, averaging an eye-popping 8.8 yards per carry.
If his injury isn’t serious, Freeman has the skills to carry the Ducks’ fast-paced offense (which relies on the run game) on his back.
11. Washington QB Jake Browning
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Washington was considered a national sleeper team this fall, and thus far, the Huskies are living up to the billing in coach Chris Petersen’s third season. They’re fulfilling the expectations that many had for them, cracking the Top 10 in the Associated Press poll.
One big reason? Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning.
Browning has been nothing short of excellent early on, throwing for 744 yards with 12 touchdowns against one interception. He is completing 71.6 percent of his passes, and Washington is averaging 49.3 points per game, No. 8 nationally.
The competition gets much tougher now, with trips to Arizona and Oregon sandwiched around a key Pac-12 North visit from league heavy Stanford, but Browning looks poised to make the Huskies conference contenders and perhaps much more.
10. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
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Oklahoma’s 2016 season hasn’t unfolded like Sooners fans had hoped. Following a stellar 11-2 2015 season that led to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth, Bob Stoops’ crew is essentially out of the playoff hunt before Big 12 play even begins after losses to Houston and Ohio State.
Is it Baker Mayfield’s fault? Not exactly. He has done a solid job of following up 2015’s 3,700-yard, 36-touchdown effort. Through three games, he has 793 yards with seven touchdowns against two interceptions. Saturday, he threw his first two interceptions of the season against the Buckeyes, but he’s still completing 64.7 percent of his passes.
Mayfield and the Sooners need help from a beleaguered defense, but he and the offense are, for the most part, holding up their end of the bargain so far.
9. LSU RB Leonard Fournette
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If you polled college linebackers on their least favorite running backs to face, chances are Leonard Fournette would rank high, if not at the top, of the list. LSU’s junior tailback stands 6’1”, 235 pounds and runs with power, fury and speed. A year ago, he rushed for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in just 12 games.
This could be his final season of college football if he chooses to forgo his final year of eligibility for the NFL draft, so it would be smart to watch him while you can. Through two games, he has been impressive and has yet to hit his stride.
Fournette missed a win over Jacksonville State with an ankle injury suffered in a 16-14 loss to Wisconsin but still has 285 yards and two touchdowns in two games, including a 147-yard, two-touchdown effort in a 23-20 win over Mississippi State. If LSU makes a run at an SEC title and College Football Playoff berth, the Tigers will rely on his powerful running style.
8. Houston QB Greg Ward Jr.
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Through three weeks, Houston has lived up to expectations and then some following 2015’s 13-1 record. The Cougars established themselves as a legit College Football Playoff candidate with an opening-week win over Oklahoma and will begin this week No. 6 nationally and in the heart of the playoff discussion.
To stay there, they’ll need continued strong play from senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. He enjoyed a breakout junior season, passing for 2,828 yards with 17 touchdowns against six interceptions and rushing for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He missed a game against FCS foe Lamar with a shoulder injury but still has 647 passing yards with three touchdowns against two interceptions and 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ward is the key to Houston’s spread offense, and to keep the Cougars in the playoff hunt, he’ll have to play at a high level.
7. Clemson QB Deshaun Watson
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Deshaun Watson had a sophomore season to remember in 2015. In his first full season as Clemson’s starting quarterback, he broke out as a star. He became the first player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season, led Clemson to a national runner-up finish and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
So 2016 would be even better with the core of Clemson’s offense (plus 1,000-yard receiver Mike Williams, who redshirted 2015 with a neck injury), right?
Yes and no. The Tigers are 3-0 and No. 5 nationally following a 59-0 rout of FCS foe South Carolina State, but they’ve been underwhelming at times, defeating Auburn and Troy by a total of 12 points.
Watson hasn’t been quite as sharp yet, either. He has 692 passing yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 56.9 percent of his passes. And he has just 84 yards rushing and no touchdowns on the ground, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
It’s a long season, and it’s worth noting that Watson was sluggish at times early last season before enjoying a standout second half of the year and carrying Clemson to a College Football Playoff berth. If the Tigers hope to repeat that feat and win a national title, they’ll need better offensive line blocking and the 2015 Watson to show up for the ACC schedule.
6. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett
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Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer began 2016 with a different kind of challenge. The Buckeyes had a talented roster but plenty of questions. Ohio State returned only six starters from 2015’s 12-1 team after losing 12 players (including nine underclassmen) to the NFL draft, which meant they would lean on freshmen and inexperienced players.
Thanks to the presence of veterans such as junior quarterback J.T. Barrett, that strategy has worked just fine. Ohio State is 3-0 and No. 2 nationally following Saturday’s 45-24 rout of Oklahoma. And Barrett is clearly established as the starter and thriving.
Barrett is an excellent dual-threat passer and has thrown for 650 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a great leader who makes everyone around him (like H-back Curtis Samuel and receiver Noah Brown) better. Barrett will be a key to Ohio State’s drive for another College Football Playoff berth.
5. Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers
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Can a defensive player win the Heisman Trophy? Only one player has done so—Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997. He did it by mixing stellar defensive play with making an impact on offense and special teams. That’s the recipe to get Heisman voters’ attention. Nineteen years later, another Wolverine could be making his case for the stiff-arm trophy.
Sophomore Jabrill Peppers has moved from cornerback to strong-side linebacker under new defensive coordinator Don Brown’s watch and has excelled in a number of ways. In Saturday’s 45-28 win over Colorado, Peppers had nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 208 all-purpose yards. That included a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown.
If Peppers can continue to make statements all over the field, he’ll fuel Michigan’s push for a College Football Playoff berth and get plenty of attention for himself in the process.
4. Georgia RB Nick Chubb
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Welcome back, Nick Chubb. The Georgia tailback burst onto the scene with a strong freshman season, rolling up 1,547 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. But after going for 747 yards and seven touchdowns in five games last year, he suffered a serious, season-ending knee injury on the first play against Tennessee, raising questions about whether he’d be able to return at a similar level.
Consider those questions answered. The powerful junior rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against North Carolina. And while he has yet to reach 100 yards again, Chubb has 365 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Chubb is a powerful, nasty backfield force who will team with Sony Michel to help talented freshman quarterback Jacob Eason make a smooth transition into SEC life. Look out, SEC defenses: Chubb is back, and he’s running angry.
3. San Diego State RB Donnel Pumphrey
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It’s easy to forget about San Diego State. The Aztecs play in the Mountain West Conference, rarely appear on ESPN and often kick off after the East Coast has gone to bed. However, Donnel Pumphrey is a major reason why you should make an effort to seek out SDSU.
The 5’9”, 180-pound senior is one of the best players you probably haven’t heard about. He rushed for 1,867 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore and followed that with a 1,653-yard, 17-touchdown effort as a junior.
Through three games, Pumphrey leads the FBS with 599 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He gashed Cal for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries and backed it up with a 220-yard, three-score effort against Northern Illinois.
The Aztecs have cracked the Associated Press Top 25 and are the Mountain West favorites. Make sure to take the time to check out Pumphrey. You’ll see him next year in the NFL.
2. Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey
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A year ago, Christian McCaffrey took the Pac-12 and college football by storm. The Stanford tailback broke out as perhaps the game’s most exciting, versatile player. He rushed for 2,019 yards and eight touchdowns and also led the Cardinal with 45 receptions for 645 yards and five touchdowns, setting an NCAA single-season record for all-purpose yards and finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.
Now, McCaffrey is poised to take the next step and win the Heisman while leading Stanford to a College Football Playoff berth. Through two games, he has 291 rushing yards and three touchdowns while adding 11 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown through the air.
He's also returning kicks and punts, averaging 25 yards per kick return, and he had a 96-yard punt return touchdown against Kansas State called back for a penalty. In short, McCaffrey is his usual elusive, thrilling self and will again be a strong contender to win the Heisman.
1. Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
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As 2015 ended, Lamar Jackson gave college football fans a glimpse of what he could be. In the Music City Bowl, the Louisville quarterback lit up Texas A&M’s defense for 453 total yards and six touchdowns, cementing his status as one of 2016’s potential breakout stars.
As we reach mid-September, Jackson has fulfilled that potential and then some. He has fueled the Cardinals’ rise to national prominence, punctuated with a 63-20 rout of then-No. 2 Florida State that propelled Louisville to No. 3 in this week’s AP Top 25. Jackson has 913 passing yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions and is also the second-leading rusher in FBS with 464 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde said Jackson's emergence is making Bobby Petrino's return to Louisville look smart.
Jackson has rushed for at least 119 yards and two touchdowns in all three games while drawing comparisons to Michael Vick with his athleticism and big-play skills. Jackson has cemented himself as a leading Heisman Trophy contender, and if he keeps this up, the Cards will be a leading College Football Playoff threat, too.
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