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When I started looking at the most versatile and exciting playmakers in college football in 2008, this list became much harder to compile than I first anticipated...

Deadly Weapons: The Best Offensive Players in College Football

by Justin Hokanson (Senior Writer)

23

5462 reads

Opinion

June 04, 2008


When I started looking at the most versatile and exciting playmakers in college football in 2008, this list became much harder to compile than I first anticipated. There are many good players to choose from, and it's even harder when trying to pick and rank the top 20 in the country. 

With new offenses being implemented all over the country, wide receivers are now getting carries out of the backfield, running backs are expected to catch out of the backfield and carry the ball, and quarterbacks are running and throwing at an incredible rate.

So here's the list I came up with highlighting the top 20 weapons on offense in 2008.

 

 

20. Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State

This pick might be going out on a limb, but I think Robinson will really improve this season and be a legit playmaker. Robinson beat out Bobby Reid last year and solidified himself as the starter and one of the top QBs in the Big 12. Robinson passed for 2,824 yards, rushed for another 847 yards, and accounted for 32 touchdowns (23 passing, nine rushing).

 

 

19. Jarrett Dillard, WR, Rice

While Dillard might not be the biggest receiver you will find, he runs great routes and has great quickness. He's been compared to Jerry Rice in the fact that he's not the most physically imposing receiver you might face, but he has great hands and gets the job done. Dillard had 1,057 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns last year.

 

 

18. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

The Sooners had a loaded backfield last year, but Murray still produced across the board. Murray did it all, racking up 764 yards rushing and a 30-yard kick return average on special teams. He also was responsible for 15 touchdowns last year, including a five-touchdown performance against North Texas.

 

 

17. Matt Grothe, QB, South Florida

Grothe enters his junior season with high hopes and he's looking to continue his success as one of the best two-dimensional quarterbacks in the nation. He had 2,670 yards passing, 872 yards rushing, and accounted 24 touchdowns last year (14 passing, 10 rushing).

 

 

16. Kellen Lewis, QB, Indiana

The Hoosiers finally made a bowl game last year, mostly due to Lewis doing everything on offense. Departed receiver James Hardy was the headliner, but Lewis made the offense go. He accounted for 3,043 yards passing, 736 yards rushing, and accounted 37 touchdowns as well (28 passing, nine rushing).

 

 

15. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin

This was a tough call on whether or not a tight end should fit into this list with the limited touches they can get. However, Beckum is the best tight end in the nation and he provides the Badgers with a playmaker at a position that can really cause some problems. Beckum led the way for tight ends last year with 982 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

 

 

14. Dan Lefevour, QB, Central Michigan

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23 comments Last one added 3 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Luke A about 1 year ago

    Hey Man great article lots of good info. Where was John Parker Wilson? Must have just missed the list. By the way I thought Noel Devine would be a good honorable mention due to him being a deadly weapon. It will be interesting to see how that list changes over this season. I am sure you are hoping that Kody Burns makes the list at the end of the season. Great Article!

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  2. Trey Robinson about 1 year ago

    C.J. Spiller sucks...... James Davis is better..... but there offensive line will be young this year so look for numbers from the backs to go down.

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    • Justin Hokanson about 1 year ago

      Ok Trey, I hate you. Kidding, well I like them both, Davis is a better runner, but Spiller is dangerous with that speed. He's definetly a weapon running or catching. Can't deny that.

      I'm writing up something else and giving props to one of your boys. Keep a look at for it.

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  3. Faimon Roberts about 1 year ago

    Excellent article, and I can't really argue with any of the selections. Kinda makes me shudder to think that UF has two of the top three on the list.

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  4. Quenton Mosley about 1 year ago

    HI dude nice article, I will be watching these players this year. You left out a name Kodi Burns Auburn QB.

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    • Justin Hokanson about 1 year ago

      Thanks. Ha, well I know that name being an Auburn fan. But Kodi has a long way to go to be a top playmaker in the country, a long way.

      Maybe next year he can be considered in this category, but not yet. He is only a sophomore, give him time.

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  5. Mark Rupert about 1 year ago

    Knowshon Marino will be fun to watch. Best GA back since MR Walker. Go DAWGS

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  6. Vickie Weimar about 1 year ago

    Chase Daniel was not very "fierce" in either game against Oklahoma last year. Bottom line was, he could not walk the talk.

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  7. Phil Robins about 1 year ago

    20. Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State

    This pick might be going out on a limb, but I think Robinson will really improve this season and be a legit playmaker. Robinson beat out Bobby Reid last year and solidified himself as the starter and one of the top QBs in the Big 12. Robinson passed for 2,824 yards, rushed for another 847 yards, and accounted for 32 touchdowns (23 passing, nine rushing).

    There was only one player who threw for more than 2,800 yards and ran for more than 800 yards, and he won the Hypesman.

    1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

    When you are the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, you make this choice an easy one. Tebow is unlike any quarterback we've ever seen with his toughness and stature as a quarterback that rivals a linebacker. Tebow was unreal last season, throwing for 3,286 yards, rushing for another 895 yards, and scoring an amazing 55 touchdowns (32 passing, 23 rushing). He was also the first quarterback to ever throw 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in one season.

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  8. David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

    It's a pretty good list, I'd say. I could nitpick the order, but I'd rather just point out that LeFevour is one of only two players to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a season. The other was Vince Young. Quite a tandem they are.

    One to watch out for would be QB Justin Willis of SMU who threw for 2,944 yards and 25 TDs and netted 699 yards rushing (925 positive before sacks) last year as a sophomore. This year he gets to run June Jones's powerful offense, assuming he can keep himself out of trouble.

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    • Justin Hokanson about 1 year ago

      Yep, I did see Willis' numbers and I thought the same thing. If that guy gets better, he could really put up some numbers in the June Jones offense.

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  9. dave jenkins about 1 year ago

    This may sound a bit bias coming from an LSU fan, but watch out for Demetrius Byrd, WR. Also if Perilloux had not been such a bone-head he would've had to make your list right?

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  10. Jay Levine about 1 year ago

    Chase Daniel would be backup to Sam Bradford.

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  11. Thomas Brown about 1 year ago

    Machlin should be higher.

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  12. Hoss Cartwright about 1 year ago

    Don't forget Brandon Gibson at Washington State. A game breaker who catches everything in sight. Was third-team All-American last season and a pre-season first-time choice by Phil Steele.

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  13. Peter Bukowski about 1 year ago

    No way Chase Daniel deserves to be ahead of Michael Crabtree or his very own QB. Crabtree is by far the best receiver in college football and is essentially not coverable by college corners.

    Also if Joe McKnight is on this list, there is no way you can keep Devine off the list when he was considerably more consistent last season and even took touches away from All Big East starter Steve Slaton. He and Pat White make West Virginia the team to beat in the Big East and he will have a bigger year in a weaker conference.

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  14. Peter Bukowski about 1 year ago

    Sorry I meant that Crabtree didn't belong behind his own QB because he has a lot to do with making Harrell look so good

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  15. Josh Cox about 1 year ago

    I'm not sure about Pat White at #2. I think, without Rich Rodriguez there running that offense, and without Steve Slaton behind him, that White will struggle this season.

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  1. Sue M. about 1 year ago

    I'm glad to see Chris "Beanie" Wells on the list. Great article by the way!

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  2. Kyle Jermalowicz 11 months ago

    Dont forget about Lefevors other stat being left out. One receiving touchdown. Pretty sure hes the only QB to ever have over 3000 passing, over 1000 rushing and a receiving TD.

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  3. Jay 3 months ago

    How about darren evens man he was a red shirt freshman last year and he had over a thousand yards you have to consider him as somebody to watch out for!!! Get on youtube and check out that hit he did to that maryland player that was mad crazy!!!

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