Ranking the Top 10 Sophomores Heading into the 2018 College Football Season
Every college football class has its fair share of breakout stars, with a few standing out as special. As we struggle to look for superior seniors in 2018, we can all look to underclassmen to provide hope of great things in the future.
The college game is in good hands: The class of 2021 is full of stars and potential superstars.
When Alabama's Najee Harris, Georgia's Andrew Thomas, Virginia Tech's Josh Jackson, Texas' Sam Ehlinger, Oklahoma's Trey Sermon and UCLA's Jaelan Phillips are not included on a list of top surging sophomores, you know the class is stout.
Sophomores will be coming to a stadium near you this fall, and there are plenty of popcorn-worthy prospects to watch. From a quintet of elite running backs to a quarterback who nearly won a national title in his first year at Georgia to another one who did at Alabama, this class is stacked.
Yes, this list is loaded, and it's inevitable that a star in the making like Harris or Phillips will emerge enough to be on the "best juniors" list in a year.
Before these guys populate NFL rosters, they'll be vying for All-America teams. Using potential and production (but going heavy on their possibilities), let's rank the top sophomores in the country.
10. D'Andre Swift, Georgia, Running Back
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It's hard to stand out in an offensive backfield that included stars like Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, but Georgia's D'Andre Swift found a way in 2017.
Swift still managed 618 rushing yards and 153 receiving yards to go along with four touchdowns for the national runners-up last year. Swift is fleet of foot, and he also can do damage between the tackles.
He's the primary reason the Bulldogs believe they'll be just fine with Chubb and Michel heading to the NFL. It doesn't hurt that Swift will be able to stay fresh, considering Elijah Holyfield and incoming freshmen Zamir White and James Cook can take some of the carries.
The way coach Kirby Smart has recruited, there will be enough backs so there isn't a ton of wear and tear on the runners' bodies when they head to the NFL.
Swift has a lot of yards to churn out before he turns pro, and the 5'9", 215-pound Philadelphia native has a lot to prove since many think UGA will take a dip in production without the two stalwarts helping out quarterback Jake Fromm.
During his second year in Athens, Swift should improve, and he has just as high a ceiling as his predecessors. He could have a big year and a big career in the SEC.
9. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, Quarterback
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It may be a bit premature to put 6'3", 218-pound signal-caller Dwayne Haskins on this list before he's ever even started a game for Ohio State.
That's how strong the Maryland resident can be. He belongs here, and he'll prove that to everybody in 2018. He may even need to be higher on the list.
Haskins won't be perfect, but he's the ideal system fit for coach Urban Meyer and coordinator Kevin Wilson. For those who think the Buckeyes will miss J.T. Barrett, Haskins has the ability to magnify the former starter's inconsistencies.
While Haskins can frustrate teams with his feet, he is more of a dropback passer who can get the ball to the weapons around him. That has to be an exciting proposition for an Ohio State team that has lacked a consistent vertical game recently.
Right now, Haskins is battling Joe Burrow and Tate Martell for the starting gig, but it would be stunning if he didn't get it. In limited action a year ago, he completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 565 yards and four touchdowns. Over the course of a season, that translates well.
Still, it doesn't seem like lip service for Meyer to talk about his quarterbacks being in a close battle this spring.
"You'd wish one would take it," Meyer told The Lantern's Colin Hass-Hill. "But then again, you like having the day-to-day competition, which is what I'm seeing."
Haskins will prove too talented to keep off the field.
8. Jake Fromm, Georgia, Quarterback
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A year ago, Jake Fromm was an afterthought. Sure, he was a former 4-star quarterback prospect heading to Athens, but Georgia already had its quarterback in gunslinging rising sophomore Jacob Eason heading into a 2017 season they expected to take a giant leap forward.
Then Eason went down with an injury during the season opener against Appalachian State.
All of a sudden, everything was in limbo. Then, Fromm stepped in, led the Dawgs to a difficult road win at Notre Dame and then took them all the way to the national championship game, where they fell just short in a 26-23 loss to Alabama.
Fromm struggled against the Crimson Tide, but the Bulldogs also wouldn't have been there without him. He was excellent in the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Oklahoma. He was also terrific in the SEC Championship Game win over Auburn after struggling the first go-around in a loss to the Tigers.
There were freshman moments, as you'd expect, but there were also times when Fromm looked like a potential star.
Kirby Smart's terrific recruiting classes ensure Fromm will have a group of elite players around him, even if they're young. It also guarantees Fromm will have to stay on top of his game to keep his job. Much like the Eason situation a year ago, 5-star prospect Justin Fields is now on campus and ready to push him.
Eason is gone to Washington, but Fromm doesn't want to be the next incumbent to get usurped. Being the competitor he is, expect him to respond. The only question is whether it'll be enough to hold off an elite talent like Fields.
7. AJ Dillon, Boston College, Running Back
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It's hard to miss AJ Dillon. Not only is he a 240-pound wrecking ball, but he also elevates his game in big moments and helped turn Boston College into a tough out in the ACC a year ago.
Along the way, the Eagles knocked off Florida State to prove they are good enough to win big games. It makes you wonder if coach Steve Addazio would have pulled the trigger on playing him more early a season ago if Boston College could have enjoyed an even better year.
Throughout those first few games, Dillon had 20, 43, 58 and 57 yards in a 1-3 start that saw Boston College beat Northern Illinois and lose to Notre Dame, Clemson and Wake Forest.
Once Dillon got going, so did the Eagles. They went 6-3 over the past nine games, and Dillon had four games where he had 190 or more yards. He wound up with 1,589 yards and 14 scores in his first season.
"He's humble and he's smart, and he knows he has a ways to go," Addazio told ESPN.com's David M. Hale. "He's pretty damn good, but that speaks to where he can be. If he's healthy, he's a unique player. AJ's going to be a beast.
If he continues to grow, he and quarterback Anthony Brown have a chance to do big things at Boston College. Dillon is the kind of player who can rack up the awards before his career is over.
6. Trey Smith, Tennessee, Offensive Guard
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Tennessee had a forgettable season in 2017, losing eight games for the first time in program history in a year that saw Butch Jones fired. One of the few positives was Trey Smith, who emerged not only as the Vols' top player but also one of the best offensive linemen in the SEC.
He's a 6'6", 320-pound lineman who has the versatility to play offensive guard or tackle, and he's going to excel no matter where you put him. As UT moves into the Jeremy Pruitt era, Smith is a cornerstone around which to build the offense.
There's only one problem: Smith is limited in spring practice and dealing with an undisclosed medical issue. He's been doing some drill work on the side, but according to SEC Country's Mike Griffith, he's "out indefinitely."
That would be a massive loss for Tennessee if Smith can't go, and it would also rob the country of watching one of the dominant young linemen in the sport. He has the size, strength and athleticism to be an elite road-grader, and he's strong in pass-blocking and run-blocking.
He earned second-team All-SEC honors as a true freshman after being ranked as the nation's No. 1 overall player by ESPN.com following his senior year at University School of Jackson.
UT's offensive line is shallow and devoid of difference-makers. As Pruitt and new coordinator Tyson Helton try to rebuild the team and rebrand the offense as a pro-style scheme, it's vital the offensive line grows into a dependable unit. That's why the Vols need Smith back in a hurry.
If he's healthy, he'll be one of the most dominant linemen in the country, regardless of class.
5. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State, Running Back
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A season ago, Ohio State had an established runner in Mike Weber, but a freshman from Texas came in and stole the spotlight.
Weber still had an important role in the offense and will again in 2018. But J.K. Dobbins is the superstar. The La Grange, Texas, native finished with 1,403 rushing yards and averaged more than seven yards per carry. He also finished with eight total touchdowns.
At 5'10", 212 pounds, Dobbins is big enough to be an every-down back who can run through the tackles. And once he gets to the second level, few players can catch him. He's a four-down back and a game-breaker, and Dobbins is only going to improve.
Whether he can compete for hardware like the Heisman Trophy depends on the development of OSU's offensive line.
"He has the skill to get to New York but will have to contend with some new faces on the offensive line with departures of Billy Price and Jamarco Jones," Buckeye Wire's Mark Russell wrote. "But hey, the O-line is no different from the rest of the team and has loads of talent to plug in. Dobbins will have no problem picking up where he left off."
If he builds off an impressive 2017 season, Dobbins will be one of the most dynamic players in the country.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, Quarterback
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If it seems that every story you read this offseason has Tua Tagovailoa's name in, it's because the majority of them do.
The left-handed Hawaiian signal-caller is one of the hottest names in college football following his performance in the second half and overtime of the national championship game win over Georgia. That's what happens when you come off the bench and lead Alabama to another title.
Yes, it helped that his receiver beat UGA's defensive back by two steps, but Tagovailoa delivered the perfect walk-off pass for the victory.
Now, he entered spring in a neck-and-neck battle with Jalen Hurts to try to win the Crimson Tide's starting gig. Though he perhaps took a step back in the race when he broke his finger, Tagovailoa is far too talented to write off.
UA head coach Nick Saban is going to play the quarterback he believes gives the Tide the best chance to repeat as national champions, and if Hurts' past is any indication, he'll continue to be inconsistent. Tagovailoa could be brilliant if he continues to develop.
He has a strong arm, can deliver touch passes with accuracy and can beat teams with his feet when plays break down. Tagovailoa has it all, and it's exciting to think of his ceiling, especially playing for a team that's going to surround him with the type of talent Saban will in Tuscaloosa.
Could he win the Heisman Trophy in 2018? He's talented enough, for sure.
3. Andraez Williams, LSU, Cornerback
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LSU cornerback Andraez Williams has the perfect nickname for a guy who looks like he has to have every pass that is thrown near him. They call him "Greedy," and he lived up to that nickname as a redshirt freshman.
The 6'2", 185-pound defensive back finished with six interceptions and 11 passes defended, leading the SEC in both categories. He looks like the next great cornerback to carry on the tradition of "DB U" in Baton Rouge.
Expectations are soaring for Williams in his encore season. Like SEC Country's Nick Suss wrote, "Like Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne and Tre'Davious White before him, Williams carries the burden of being the unquestioned face of DB U."
Athlon believes Williams is the nation's top returning cornerback and the top player in the SEC at any position. CBSSports.com also lists Williams as the nation's best defensive back. That's high praise for any player, and Williams looks like a blossoming star.
A player with his length, speed and instincts can do huge things, and NFL teams are just waiting on him to be eligible for the draft. After redshirting in his first year, he is technically able to turn pro after this season, so if he has a big year, this may be his final season in Baton Rouge.
Williams has terrific defensive-minded coaches around him in head coach Ed Orgeron and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who know how to milk the most out of his ability. It's going to be fun to watch him develop.
2. Cam Akers, Florida State, Running Back
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If you didn't know Cam Akers wound up having more than 1,000 yards in his debut season in Tallahassee, that's OK. Florida State's final season under Jimbo Fisher was forgettable, anyway.
But in the midst of Deondre Francois' season-ending injury in the opening game, the Seminoles' battle to stay above .500 and get bowl-eligible, and the drama surrounding Fisher's final days when he ultimately bolted for Texas A&M, Akers was a glimmer of hope for the present and future.
Now, 'Noles fans everywhere can be excited about the career trajectory of the rising sophomore from Clinton, Mississippi, who looks like the perfect, moldable product for new coach Willie Taggart. His talent, size, speed, vision and balance are all elite.
"He's different," Taggart told the Orlando Sentinel's Safid Deen. "He's a really sharp kid. He's all about business, getting things done, and he's a pretty good football player, too."
He broke the FSU freshman rushing record that Dalvin Cook had set. Akers is a 5'11", 213-pound dynamo who looks like a prototypical running back and is just waiting to become one of college football's biggest stars.
With Francois back and a ton of talent around him, this could be a year where everybody knows his name by the end of the year. Akers is a star, and everybody knew it when he was one of the most coveted prospects in the nation in the 2017 class.
He didn't disappoint in his first season in Tallahassee.
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin, Running Back
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While the rest of the country's powerhouses went after elite running back prospects in the 2017 class like Akers, Dobbins and Harris, Wisconsin last season was powered by a 3-star runner from New Jersey.
All Jonathan Taylor wound up doing was setting the national freshman rushing record by breaking the previous mark by Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. He finished with 1,977 yards on 299 carries and 13 touchdowns on a 6.6 average.
As the carries indicate, Taylor was a workhorse for a powerhouse program that went undefeated all the way to a close loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. He could also break free for chunk yardage. It's impressive that Taylor averaged nearly seven yards per carry on that many touches.
He should only get better, too.
While the Big Ten West Division is getting better with Scott Frost coming to Nebraska and Jeff Brohm's second season getting ready to crank up at Purdue, it's still not strong from top to bottom. Taylor has some games on the schedule that are conducive to huge outputs.
He also plays teams like Michigan that can give him some showcase opportunities. So, he could wind up having another strong season. If he does, he will be a Heisman Trophy contender.
You may want to overlook him for some of the sexier names on the list—guys who play at flashy programs who had a lot of stars by their names in recruiting. But Taylor, much like the Badgers, will continue to impress and make national pundits remember his name.
Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Sports Reference and CFBStats.com, and recruiting data is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.
Brad Shepard covers college football for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter at @Brad_Shepard.
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