25 College Football Players You Don't Know About... But Will

The 2012 college football season will kick off in just six months.

That's a relatively short time to get to know someone, and there will be plenty of new faces taking the field this fall.

But mixed among the hundreds of anonymous faces will be several who will become household names in the college football world, even though we couldn't pick them out of a lineup today.

So who are the stars of tomorrow, poised to break out onto the national scene, making a name for themselves beyond the confines of campus?

Here are 25 college football players you don't know about, but will once the season gets underway.

Ronald Powell, LB, Florida

It seems like 2010 was forever ago, but if you remember back to the spring of that year, you might recall a player by the name of Ronald Powell.

Powell was the highly-touted linebacker who was the top high school prospect of the 2010 class. He's now ready to make his appearance for the Florida Gators.

This 6'4", 248-pound linebacker will be torching o-linemen this season, and more than a few running backs and quarterback will meet the turf in the backfield thanks to Powell.

Kain Colter, QB, Northwestern

Last season was riddled with problems for Northwestern, and the Wildcats failed to make much noise in the Big Ten with standout quarterback Dan Persa in and out of the lineup.

But the silver lining to that particular cloud was the experience gained by now-starting quarterback Kain Colter.

Rather than stepping into the starting job cold turkey against some of the best defenses in the nation, Colter will have some invaluable experience to rely upon.

Far be it for us to predict that Colter will be the next Dan Persa, but with Northwestern's increasing stature in the conference, anything is possible. And Colter will completes two of every three passes he throws, with a six-to-one TD to interception ratio.

That kind of accuracy combined with a full-time starting gig, and Colter could soon own a title no Wildcats quarterback has carried in over half a century: bowl game winner.

Daniel Dyer, RB, Virginia Tech

If there's one thing Virginia Tech needs, it's a running game that can consistently produce yardage, particular in third-and-short situations.

In 2012, the Hokies may have just what the doctor ordered in former walk-on Daniel Dyer.

While Dyer barely saw the field during his freshman year in 2011, early reports on this 5'9", 200-pound running back show him to have quality speed with some impressive strength for a running back.

Dyer will take over as the starting tailback for the Hokies, and he'll quickly become an important part of taking pressure off of Virginia Tech's passing game, again led by Logan Thomas.

As Dyer improved through his sophomore season, he'll begin to see more and more carries as the season wears on, particularly against ACC defenses that have been particularly vulnerable to ground attacks.

While Dyer won't singlehandedly bring Virginia Tech back to the ACC title game, he'll need to be an important ingredient if Frank Beamer is to come up with a winning recipe.

John Hubert, RB, Kansas State

Kansas State certainly had a blockbuster season last year, earning a well-deserved Cotton Bowl Classic berth.

But even as the status of Kansas State rose nationally, the individual players still remained fairly anonymous. Last year's success will likely lead to a preseason ranking in 2012, and the national media will be paying closer attention to the Wildcats.

Last season, Hubert rushed for 970 yards, yet still remains a relative unknown. As KSU looks to make another jump into the BCS conversation this season, expect Hubert to turn it up a notch.

He'll easily eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 2012 and will be seriously considered for some All-Big 12 honors—and maybe more—if the Wildcats can stay near the top of the conference standings.

Andrew Maxwell, QB, Michigan State

Over the past couple of seasons, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins has quietly (nationally, at least) led the Spartans to two back-to-back 11-win seasons—a first for the program.

Cousins is gone now, and MSU's hopes at competing for another Legends Division title will soon rest on the shoulders of a little-known quarterback that will be thrust into the Big Ten spotlight in 2012.

Maxwell decided to stay close to home for college, as the four-star recruit from Midland traveled barely an hour to East Lansing in 2009.

After a redshirt season, and two seasons as Cousin's backup, Maxwell is ready to take the reins for Sparty.

His limited playing time so far has shown him to be fairly accurate (18-of-26 for 171 yards, one TD in 2011), and he should be well-versed in the offensive scheme at MSU.

He'll finally have the opportunity to put that 4-star talent to work on the field as a starter, and he'll be making headlines in no time.

Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish certainly have no shortage of talent on the defensive line, but now we can add one more name to the list of quarterback-killing, running back-eating strongmen: Stephon Tuitt.

Brian Kelly is placing a lot of faith in Tuitt, as he rotated in and out during his freshman season last year, a clear sign that Kelly wants this highly-regarded recruit to succeed early for Notre Dame.

Tuitt may not earn a starting position by the time Week 1 rolls around, but his solid play from last season will progress again this season into a sophomore with every chance of finding his name atop the depth chart by season's end.

By the time Tuitt's a junior in 2013, not only will every offensive coordinator in the nation know his name, but so will everyone who ever watches a Notre Dame football game.

Nick Jones, WR, South Carolina

When it comes to South Carolina wide receivers, it has started and ended with Alshon Jeffery lately. Especially after the injury to stud running back Marcus Lattimore (who will be back for 2012), South Carolina leaned on Jeffrey and the passing game probably a bit more than was expected when the 2011 season began.

But Jeffery is gone now, and there's no way to replace a player like that without losing a little something.

Or is there?

Even though Jones was just a freshman in 2011, he found himself utilized more and more as the season progressed. Jones's name was called just 12 times in 2011, but his talent is easily enough to soften the blow of Jeffery's departure. Rather than a loud thud, Jones will be a big part of softening the transition as one of three returning wide outs in 2012.

Jones may even quickly develop into a favored target of quarterback Connor Shaw, who should be settled into his role as starter (especially after last season's drama at quarterback for the Gamecocks).

Martin Lane Jr., RB, Tennessee

Will the long nightmare for Tennessee ever end?

Just in case Alabama or LSU fans believe their program is indestructible, the Volunteers should serve as a cautionary tale. There was a time not so long ago when Tennessee was the toast of the SEC—not to mention BCS national champions—yet slipped to nearly dead last in the SEC in recent years.

In fact, last season, the Vols ranked last in rushing offense and ninth in total offense.

Hopefully, Martin Lane, Jr. will be part of a renaissance of sorts for Tennessee.

Lane's numbers were unremarkable in his 2011 season as the backup back for the Vols, but with a bigger, stronger and more experienced offensive line in front for 2012, Lane will emerge not only as Tennessee's leading rusher, but also as the player responsible for bringing the Vols rushing attack out of the SEC cellar.

It won't be a one-season turnaround for Tennessee, but 2012 could be the first, most important step on a long road back to competitiveness in the SEC.

James Washington, RB, North Carolina State

With 17 wins over the past two seasons, NC State is hoping that 2012 becomes the breakout season for the Wolfpack.

One thing NC State has lacked over its recent run is a marquee running back, but this season may turn out a little differently in that department.

If you want to know how the Wolfpack's season is going to shape up, keep an early eye on James Washington.

Last season, Washington averaged 3.97 yards per carry and found the end zone just seven times. What's so great about that? Remember the state of the Wolfpack's offensive line in 2011, and Washington's numbers suddenly don't look so bad.

It's hard for us to point to an o-lineman as the next player we'll all be talking about, because when do we ever talk about these unsung heroes? But as the line improves, so will Washington's numbers—and NC State's standing in the ACC in 2012.

Joe Southwick, QB, Boise State

It's a very difficult thing to ask anyone to step in to a role just vacated by the winningest quarterback ever to play FBS football.

Kellen Moore has graduated, and Boise State will need to find a way to keep their BCS-busting momentum going. But the Broncos may find themselves starting the season without a Top 20 ranking for the first time in quite a while with so much uncertainty surrounding the future of the program.

Joe Southwick, a junior who spend most of his time as Moore's steady backup, will be the most likely person to step into the starting roll this fall. Southwick isn't Moore, and it's silly to expect him to produce as accurately as Moore did, but that doesn't mean Broncos fans should despair.

Southwick received quite a bit of experience backing up Moore, as Boise State frequently jumped out to huge leads that gave the twos a change to hone their skills.

Last season, Southwick was 23-for-30 for 198 yards, which shows he has the accuracy to at least carry the torch forward for the Broncos.

While BSU may not be chasing that elusive BCS title game berth in 2012, there's no reason it can't win a Mountain West title this season.

Southwick is almost identical in size to Moore, but he seems to add one thing Moore never really did: an ability to scramble for positive yards.

If he's half as good as Moore throwing the ball, and can add a few ground yards on top of that, Boise State could be sitting pretty in the MWC come November.

Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas

Jaxon Shipley had a decent season for a freshman, as he hauled in 44 receptions for 607 yards and three touchdowns.

As Texas matures, Shipley is expected to mature right along with it, and the Longhorns will be utilizing this talented receiver a whole lot more during his sophomore campaign.

Last season, the Longhorns ranked eighth in the ten-team Big 12 in passing offense. If Mack Brown wants to take the next step towards returning some of the Longhorns' football pride in 2012, that number will need to improve drastically.

In order for Texas to improve the passing attack, Shipley will need to occupy a more important position on quarterback David Ash's target list.

Shipley isn't the only talented player on the Texas offense, and he's not even the only receiver worth mentioning. He is, however, a probable linchpin for Texas between an “okay” passing game and a “good-to-great” passing attack in 2012.

Mack Brown knows this. David Ash knows this. Soon, everybody else will know it, too.

Brandon Carter, WR, Texas Christian

The pass-happy Big 12 will add another pass-happy team this fall in Texas Christian.

There's still the outstanding question as to whether or not TCU will be able to compete in the Big 12 right from day one, but the Horned Frogs have beaten the nation's top teams before. There's no reason to think they can't do it again in 2012.

Part of the typical TCU attack is the passing game, and now that the Frogs have moved to a BCS automatic qualifying conference, they'll likely get the increased press exposure that goes along with it.

Originally a commit to Oklahoma, Carter switched his commitment to TCU, just 25 miles from his hometown of Euless, Texas.

Carter made the switch on the heels of TCU's 2011 Rose Bowl championship and instantly became one of the top recruits (4-star) ever to sign with the program.

Carter is fast and will be able to compete against the best DBs in the Big 12. He was a big part of TCU's win at Boise State last season, and he'll be a big part of the Frogs' success if there is any in 2012.

Desmond Morgan, LB, Michigan

Michigan's offense was all about Denard Robinson last season, just like it was in 2010.

The difference in 2011 was the Wolverines' defense.

If the Wolverines hope to have a shot against Alabama, and in the Big Ten for that matter, Brady Hoke will need to see another linebacker rise to the occasion in 2012, joining standout Kenny Demens. That linebacker we'll all be talking about four or five weeks into the season will be Desmond Morgan.

The Big Ten produces some great linebackers, and Morgan looks to possess all of the size, strength and speed necessary to be considered the next great linebacker to come out of the conference.

With Morgan stepping up with some big time, big game plays, you can put Michigan right at the top of your list for the Big Ten Legends Division title race in 2012.

Joe Brennan, QB, Wisconsin

How do you replace a quarterback like Russell Wilson?

Simply put, you don't. A player like Wilson comes along maybe once in a decade for most teams, and Wisconsin was lucky to get him for his lone season in Madison.

Wisconsin has not traditionally made its hay based on dynamite play from its quarterback, although the 2011 season was certainly an exception.

While spring football in Madison will likely see a quarterback competition, and plenty of players will be vying for the spot, there's not a whole lot of names on the current list that seem to instill any confidence—other than Brennan, that is.

Brennan has been solid when called upon, and 2012 could really prove to be his breakout year. While not as strong as Wilson, or as agile, Brennan fits in well with Wisconsin's prototypical Big Ten offense: big, powerful, pounding run game with enough of a passing game to keep defenses honest.

If Brennan can find a way to add an ability to find a few yards with his feet, we could be looking at a third-straight run towards a Big Ten title.

Kenny Hilliard, RB, Louisiana State

If there's one thing LSU has been missing, it's been a truly elite, Heisman-caliber running back.

That's not going to change in 2012.

But the Tigers will probably have the greatest collection of talent, top to bottom on the depth chart at running back—more so than any program in the nation.

While many LSU watchers, fans and pundits will focus on Michael Ford and Spencer Ware, there's a third back that has every reason to worry SEC defensive coordinators.

Kenny Hilliard had fewer than 70 carries last season but still had better than 350 yards. That's pretty impressive talent for someone who never really got warmed up.

Expect the number of carries for Hilliard to shoot up dramatically during his sophomore season, and it won't be long before we're all talking about him as the next big thing in the SEC backfields.

Nickell Robey, CB, Southern California

Southern California is likely to begin the 2012 as one of the very top teams in the nation, thanks in large part to the Trojans' stellar performance in the NCAA-sanctioned 2011 season.

That performance, combined with the return of so many talented players for 2012, will likely see USC as a clear Top Five team to being the new season.

But over the past couple of seasons, USC's main weakness has been its vulnerability in the defensive secondary.

Again, with so many future NFL stars returning for the Trojans, especially on defense, you can expect far fewer passes over the top to benefit the opposing offense in 2012.

While there will be plenty of big names the media will focus on in early September, by the time the season is a few weeks old, Trojan fans will be intimately familiar with the name Nickell Robey.

In a 2011 season that saw far fewer nationally televised USC games than we're normally accustomed to, Robey had just two picks. But he is the quintessential ball-hawking corner, and he broke up an additional nine passes.

Take our word for it: Robey's junior season in 2012 will be his breakout year.

With plenty of support deep down field, USC's defense will force the opposition into short and intermediate passing plays, and that's where Robey will really shine. He's not the biggest guy on the field, at only 5'8" and 170 pounds, but his nose for the ball is unmatched in the Pac-12, and he'll be an All-Conference player by the time the dust settles out west.

Doug Rigg, LB, West Virginia

As the 2012 Orange Bowl Champions move from the Big East to the Big 12 for 2012, the biggest note of concern will be on defense.

The linebacker corps for the Mountaineers in 2012 will be flush with fresh faces, but junior Doug Rigg should quickly allay any fears West Virginia fans have about the status of the Mountaineer defense in short order.

The Big 12 offers some better offensive competition that the Big East, but Rigg has the potential to compete with any team in the nation, and his year of playing experience as a sophomore will be invaluable as Dana Holgorsen makes a return to the Big 12.

The Mountaineers probably aren't going to be considered a Big 12 favorite by many people west of Mississippi River, but that doesn't mean Rigg and company won't throw a wrench or two into the seasons of other Big 12 title hopefuls this season.

Bryan Bennett, QB, Oregon

Last season, we got a small glimpse of the future of the the Oregon Ducks every time then-backup Bryan Bennett took the field in relief.

While the starters got the lion's share of snaps last season, even down the stretch, Bennett was solid during his few chances. He threw for six touchdowns on the season, with no interceptions, and completed just under 60 percent of his passes.

He may not have fans excited for 2012 the way Darron Thomas had Ducks fans whipped into a lather for 2011, but that doesn't mean Bennett won't raise a few eyebrows during the season.

If there's one thing we can tell about Chip Kelly and his Oregon program, it's that there aren't likely to be any slouches putting on the yellow and green (or whatever color Oregon happens to be wearing). While Bennett hasn't wowed anyone yet, he hasn't really been given the opportunity to do so, either.

Once Bennett steps out on the field at Autzen as the starting quarterback this fall, you can rest assured that passes will be slung downfield, touchdowns will begin to pile up, and Oregon will be right back in the mix for yet another Pac-12 title this season.

Jarred Salubi, RB, Baylor

Jarred Salubi didn't have to go far to find his college home. This Waco resident decided on Baylor for his college career, and it may turn out to be a boon for him.

Texas high school football is amongst the most competitive in the nation, and Salubi was known throughout the state for torching defenses on the football field and leaving his competition in the dust while running track.

While Salubi came out of high school relatively unheralded by national recruiting pundits, he's shown a great ability to continue his slashing style against Big 12 defenses, averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 58 rushes in 2011.

While his contributions to Baylor's success were understandably overshadowed by some guy named Robert Griffin III, Salubi's importance will be made apparent as the Bears move forward without their Heisman-winning quarterback.

DeAndrew White, WR, Alabama

There were a number of people who though DeAndrew White would be the next big thing at Alabama last season.

That didn't quite pan out, as White accounted for just 151 yards in his freshman season. But after a solid year's worth of experience, expect this talented young receiver to develop into a go-to type of wide out for the Crimson Tide.

It sounded as if Nick Saban was sold on White even as early as last fall, saying “It's a real good indicator when his name keeps coming up that he's progressing very well.”

That was at fall camp.

This year, when his name comes up, it will be on Saturdays, with big numbers next to it.

If Alabama has a hope of actually winning a conference title this season rather than finding a back door into the BCS, then White will need to become a major game-day factor for the Tide.

Clint Chelf, QB, Oklahoma State

There are more than a few people who honestly believe that Oklahoma State's day has come and gone, and the Cowboys missed their one great chance at a BCS title.

Those same people might be feeling a little silly after watching Clint Chelf, the new starting quarterback for the Cowboys for a few weeks.

Chelf hasn't seen a great deal of playing time as a backup for Brandon Weeden, but the snaps he has taken have typically resulted in successful plays.

The junior will start the 2012 season with a career 69.4 completion percentage, and has thrown just one interception over two seasons as a backup.

Chelf has also shown the accuracy and arm power to take over the high-flying Oklahoma State offense without losing too much, at least at the quarterback position.

Chelf has also matured greatly under Weeden, and is intimately familiar with the system he is now responsible for executing. If there are any weak spots for Oklahoma State this fall, it won't be at quarterback.

Zach Mettenberger, QB, Louisiana State

LSU's Zach Mettenberger has had quite a journey thus far.

Originally competing for the starting quarterback job at Georgia, Mettenberger was dismissed from the team for violation of team rules.

After playing a season of junior college ball, Mettenberger was contacted by Les Miles about coming down to Baton Rouge to play for the Tigers.

Mettenberger accepted, and Tigers fans can look forward to a season where the quarterback controversy isn't nearly as pronounced as it was in 2011.

In his one season at Butler Community College in Kansas, Mettenberger threw for 24 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. Granted, that was against JUCO defenses, but that kind of efficiency will go a long way at a program like LSU.

The Tigers could certainly use some good news in the quarterback department, and perhaps for the first time in his FBS career, Mettenberger will be providing that good news.

Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford

Andrew Luck is gone, and right away one might think that Stanford's day in the sun might be coming to an end.

But as one star departs, there's every indication that a new star is about to rise in the west.

Ty Montgomery looks to be ready to step into the role of the next major star to come out of Stanford, and while his 24 receptions during his freshman season in 2011 looks pretty weak, his 14.6 yards per catch certainly doesn't.

Montgomery also showed some impressive speed and agility as a kick returner last season, averaging better than 25 yards per kickoff return (including one for a touchdown).

While Montgomery may turn into a new star for the Cardinal, there's still a great deal of concern for the team at large.

Montgomery, with his 350 receiving yards, is the team's leading returning receiver. Ouch.

We're not saying Montgomery will have to carry the team on his shoulders, but when you lose a player like Luck, you're going to lose something. Montgomery's rise just means that loss will be mitigated a bit.

If Montgomery had come along a few years earlier, or Andrew Luck a few years later, we might have been discussing a Stanford run to a BCS title game...

Jameill Showers, QB, Texas A&M

The Aggies have nine offensive starters returning for 2012, just in time for their inaugural SEC season.

Unfortunately, a quarterback isn't one of those nine.

After securing the backup job last season as a freshman behind Ryan Tannehill, Showers looks more than ready to take over the reins for A&M this season.

Showers easily has the raw talent to be the starting quarterback for A&M, but the biggest positive former coach Mike Sherman noticed about Showers was his ability to make something out of nothing with his feet when plays broke down.

New head coach Kevin Sumlin hasn't seen fit to detract from the assumption that Showers will be the starter come fall, and his familiarity with the A&M offensive personnel and the experience of that personnel should be more than enough to smooth over any inexperienced rough spots from Showers.

Showers will be able to ease into his new role as starter, too. The Aggies begin 2012 with a nice scrimmage against FCS McNeese State on September 1.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

With the departure of Trent Richardson, there are likely more than a few people that think Alabama's running attack will take a step back in productivity in 2012.

Those people don't know Eddie Lacy, but they soon will.

Lacy, the 6'1", 220-pound back was briefly previewed in the BCS National Championship Game in relief of Richardson, but SEC defenses are about to see a whole lot more of him.

Lacy is good enough to start on any team in the nation, and with the skilled, experienced o-line throwing blocks for him in 2012, there's little question that we'll see Lacy closing in on perhaps 1,500 yards late next season.