The Most Clutch Performer for Every College Football Team in 2012

In college football, just like in any other sport, the best player on every team is not always the most clutch player.

Take LeBron James, for instance. He is clearly the best player on the Miami Heat and in the entire NBA, but when it comes to crunch time, he tends to give way to Dwayne Wade.

Even though James is the most talented, he doesn't always have what it takes in clutch situations.

While some players are the best, most important and biggest clutch performer on the team, others are just clutch.

Here is the most clutch performer on every college football team for 2012.

Air Force: Mike DeWitt, Running Back

The Air Force Falcons lost a lot, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, from last year's seven-win team.

One guy returning is fullback Mike DeWitt.

He is the leading returning rusher, having finished second on the team last season with 567 yards and 12 touchdowns. And he had his best effort in the season's biggest game.

Last season, DeWitt only had 17 carries, but in the biggest regular-season game of the year against Boise State, he carried 18 times for 108 yards, helping Air Force to hang in there with the talented Broncos.

Akron: Devonte Morgan, Safety

Akron only won one game last season and certainly did not have much to write home about.

One positive that came out of last season was the play of true freshman safety Davonte Morgan. He burst onto the scene and finished the year with 69 tackles.

He came on strong at the end of the season and proved he can get it done in the open field, which will be pivotal if Akron can ever turn it around.

Alabama: Nico Johnson, Linebacker

Alabama lost a lot of talent on defense, but does return linebacker Nico Johnson. Johnson is poised to have a big season in Tuscaloosa and showed signs of being dominant in 2011.

He will be entering his senior campaign and proved he comes to play in big games by having his best game last year the first time Alabama and LSU squared off.

Even though the Crimson Tide lost that battle, he finished the game with a season-high 11 tackles and helped the Alabama defense shut down LSU.

Arizona: Ka'Deem Carey, Running Back

Ka'Deem Carey was only a freshman last season and only had 91 carries, but he saved his best for the biggest game.

He finished the season with 425 yards and six touchdowns, capping it off with a season-high 92 yards on 13 carries against in-state rival Arizona State.

He also caught four passes in that game for 47 yards and a touchdown.

With last year's starter Keola Antolin now having moved on, look for Carey to get the bulk of the carries in 2012.

Arizona State: Will Sutton, Defensive Tackle

Will Sutton was solid up front for the Sun Devils defense in 2011 and will counted on even more heavily entering 2012.

At 6'2" and 270 pounds, he is slightly undersized for a defensive tackle, but that gives him the speed to get to the quarterback. 

He also has the ability to move to the outside if necessary. Sutton will certainly come up with some key stops and sacks when called upon in 2012.

Arkansas: Tyler Wilson, Quarterback

Tyler Wilson was a model of consistency last season and also kept his composure even in the biggest games of the season.

With Knile Davis back in 2012 and a lot of other talent around him, look out for Wilson and the Razorbacks.

There isn't a pass he can't make and he always comes through in the clutch.

In the Cotton Bowl against Kansas State, he passed for 216 yards, completing 20-of-31 attempts with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Arkansas State: Taylor Stockemer, Wide Receiver

While quarterback Ryan Aplin may be the most valuable and best player on the team, few can argue that anybody comes up bigger in the clutch than Tony Stockemer.

Last season as a junior, he caught 48 passes for 756 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging more than 15 yards a reception.

He came up huge in the biggest game of the year, catching 11 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Look for more clutch play like that from Stockemer in 2012.

Army: Raymond Maples, Running Back

Army running back Raymond Maples led the team last season with 1,066 yards and four touchdowns on only 146 carries.

He also saved his best for the biggest games of the season, making him the most clutch player on Army for 2012.

Against rival Navy in the final game of the season, he rushed for 82 yards, but did it on only 13 carries. That was good for an average of 6.3 a carry. He also had 132 yards on only 17 carries against rival Air Force.

Maples certainly came through in the clutch last season for Army.

Auburn: Onterio McCalebb, Running Back

With the departure of Michael Dyer, Onterio McCalebb will be counted on much more heavily in 2012.

Last season, McCalebb saved his best game for the bowl contest against Virginia.

In that game, McCalebb carried the ball 10 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 53 yards and another touchdown.

He has game-changing speed that will be on full display next season.

Ball State: Jahwan Edwards, Running Back

As a freshman last season, Jahwan Edwards came up huge for Ball State in two close victories. He also led the team with 786 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on the season.

The only two times he gained more than 100 yards were in two close victories when the team desperately needed him. He came through big-time in the clutch in both of those games.

In a 28-25 victory over Buffalo, he carried 22 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up a few weeks later with a 25-carry, 123-yard, one-touchdown performance in a 23-20 victory at Ohio.

Baylor: Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver

When it comes to big-play threats, few in the Big 12 can equal Terrance Williams.

With a lot of the Baylor offense now gone, Williams will be the go-to guy, and he is not afraid to step up in the clutch.

He had more than 100 receiving yards four times last season and constantly came up with big catches, including seven receptions for 100 yards and two big touchdowns in a 42-39 victory over Missouri.

Look for big numbers and clutch catches from Williams next season.

Boise State: Matt Miller, Wide Receiver

Boise State has a lot to replace on offense, but the Broncos do get back their second-leading receiver from a season ago in Matt Miller.

Miller caught 62 passes for 679 yards and nine touchdowns.

Even though Boise State lost 36-35 against TCU, Miller had his best outing in that game, catching a season-high nine passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. That was big-time clutch play for a freshman.

Boston College: Kevin Pierre-Louis, Linebacker

Kevin Pierre-Louis has finished second on the team in tackles each of the past two seasons, trailing only future first-round draft pick Luke Kuechly.

Despite missing three games last season, he still finished with 75 tackles after totaling 92 during his freshman season.

Look for Pierre-Louis to make huge strides next season and possibly become one of the best linebackers in the ACC.

Bowling Green: Anthon Samuel, Running Back

Anthon Samuel missed three games last season, but the freshman still led the team with 844 yards and five touchdowns on only 144 carries.

Next season, expect those numbers to go up drastically.

He consistently came through in big games, including a 16-carry 121-yard performance and a touchdown against in-state rival Miami of Ohio. That game also featured a 96-yard scamper to the house by the 5'11", 183-pound Samuel.

Buffalo Bulls: Khalil Mack, Linebacker

Khalil Mack burst onto the scene as a freshman last year for a Buffalo team that struggled to a three-win season.

He came up huge when it really matter and finished with an amazing 20.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. 

Those are impressive numbers, particularly the tackles-for-loss totals for a linebacker. When the Bulls need a big tackle, they know exactly who to call on.

BYU: Cody Hoffman, Wide Receiver

Cody Hoffman had a breakout sophomore season for the BYU Cougars. Expect even bigger things in 2012.

He caught 61 passes for 943 yards and 10 touchdowns, proving he has a knack for getting to the end zone. He had five 100-yard games, but none were bigger than the bowl victory against Tulsa. 

In that contest, Hoffman caught eight passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns, saving his best game of the season for the biggest stage.

Look out for this kid next season.

California: Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver

When it comes to the best and most clutch player on a team, Keenan Allen fits both those categories for the Bears.

A year ago, he caught 98 passes for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns.

He will certainly need to improve on those touchdown numbers, but against the best competition, he shined.

Allen caught 13 passes for 160 yards against USC and had nine catches for 170 yards and a touchdown the week before against Oregon.

He also had a 10-catch, 197-yard, one-touchdown performance at Washington the week before that. That was certainly one of the best three-week stretches for any receiver last season.

Central Florida: Kemal Ishmael, Safety

Not many teams return a guy who has been its leading tackler each of the past two seasons.

Central Florida does in safety Kemal Ishmael, who has totaled 174 tackles over the past two seasons. 

When the Knights need a stop or a big play on the defensive side of the ball, they know just who to turn to.

This do-it-all safety will be counted on once again in 2012.

Central Michigan: Jahleel Addae, Safety

Jahleel Addae is one of the best secondary players in the MAC.

He was a first-team All-MAC performer last season and led the Chippewas with 103 tackles, ranking him in the top 10 in the conference.

He best game came in an upset victory over Northern Illinois. He recorded a season-high 18 tackles and had two interceptions.

He is also great against the pass, finishing with four interceptions.

After being named the defensive MVP of his team, Addae will be expected to do even more next season.

Cincinnati: Ralph David Abernathy IV, Running Back

Ralph David Abernathy IV hardly saw the field on offense last season for Cincinnati, but his kickoff returns helped to lead Cincinnati to a victory or two.

With the Bearcats trailing in the fourth quarter against Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl, Abernathy took a kickoff to the house to put Cincinnati ahead for good.

As a true freshman last season, he was one of the best in the conference at returning kicks.

Expect him to be even better in 2012 and see even more time on offense with Isaiah Pead moving on to the NFL.

Clemson: Andre Ellington, Running Back

Even though Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are more talented on the offensive side of the ball than Ellington, he is certainly the most clutch player on the team.

Last season in the biggest game of the year against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship, he rushed for 125 yards on only 20 carries and scored a touchdown.

When the rest of the Clemson team failed to show up for the bowl game, he ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries in the 70-33 loss to West Virginia.

He came up with two of his best games on the biggest stage for the Tigers.

Colorado: Ray Polk, Safety

This free safety was one of the few bright spots on a Colorado defense that struggled mightily last season.

He is not necessarily a big-play guy, but is an excellent open-field tackler and finished in the top 10 in the Pac-12 last season with 52 solo tackles.

When the Buffaloes need a big stop, this is the guy they will turn to.

Colorad State: Nordly Capi, Defensive End

Nordly is an excellent pass-rusher who has no problem getting to the quarterback.

That was evidenced by his 9.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season. He will be a junior next season and could see his numbers rise significantly.

He was nothing but clutch in a 14-10 victory over New Mexico when he forced an NCAA-record four fumbles.

That was one of the three games that the Rams won all season.

Connecticut: Lyle McCombs, Running Back

As a freshman last year, Lyle McCombs was the go-to guy on offense for the Huskies. He finished with 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the biggest non-conference game of the season, he rushed for 118 yards on 27 carries.

He tailed off at the end of last year, but will likely be much improved next season and counted on even more.

McCombs will easily be the most clutch player next season for Connecticut.

Duke: Desmond Scott, Running Back

Desmond Scott may not have gotten the carries fellow running back Juwan Thompson did, but what he did with those carries, particularly in the big games, was clutch for the Blue Devils.

Last season, Scott rushed for 367 yards and two touchdowns, but only carried the ball 72 times. He also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Against the best teams, he had his biggest games in 2011.

Scott ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against Virginia Tech and 66 yards on only 10 carries against Florida State.

East Carolina: Justin Hardy, Wide Receiver

Freshman Justin Hardy was a big playmaker last season in his first year at East Carolina and could have a breakout year in 2012.

Last season, he caught 64 passes for 658 yards and six touchdowns.

He had some big games and some huge catches. Look for more of the same next year from Hardy. He  has all the talent necessary to dominate in Conference USA.

Eastern Michigan: Justin Cudworth, Linebacker

When Eastern Michigan needs a big play on defense, it know just who to call on. That is senior Justin Cudworth.

He is one of the best linebackers in the MAC and had 83 stops last season. Look for him to go over 100 tackles in 2012.

When the Eagles need a big play on defense, this is the guy they turn to.

Florida: Andre Debose, Wide Receiver

Florida loses a lot from a seven-win team last season, but there is one clutch performer the Gators return. That is wide receiver Andre Debose.

Debose only totaled 432 yards on 16 receptions. But he demonstrated his big-play potential, turning four of those catches into touchdowns.

In the two biggest games of the regular season, Debose scored on a 65-yard reception against Alabama and followed that up a week later with a 65-yard touchdown grab against LSU.

He showed what he can do against top-notch competition, and the junior will only get better next season.

Florida Atlantic: David Hinds, Linebacker

Florida Atlantic only won one game last season and that was due in large part to struggles on both sides of the ball.

With most of its talent coming back on defense, the Owls may be a little better. Leading the way is linebacker David Hinds.

Hinds led the team in tackles last year with 101 and is far and away the team's most talented and clutch player.

Florida International: Tourek Williams, Defensive End

Florida International will be talented on the defensive side of the ball next season. Perhaps the most NFL-ready player is defensive end Tourek Williams.

Williams had 4.5 sacks last year, but had his best two games in key contests.

He had two sacks in a 24-17 victory against Louisville and two sacks in a 23-20 overtime victory against Troy.

Williams is likely to be even better next season.

Florida State: Brandon Jenkins, Defensive End

The Florida State defense is about as talented as any team in the country. Perhaps the most talented player in the group is Brandon Jenkins.

After a strong 2010, Jenkins faded a bit in 2011, but has all the talent to come on strong in 2012.

He does have a knack for coming through in the big games. The eight sacks he had last season will likely go up next year.

Fresno State: Phillip Thomas, Safety

Phillip Thomas missed all of last season with a leg injury. Fresno State will be glad to have him back in 2012.

He is an extremely clutch player who made some big plays in 2010. He had three interceptions and nine passes defensed. 

For Fresno State to have a bounce-back season, the Bulldogs will need Thomas to come up big.

Georgia: Aaron Murray, Quarterback

Aaron Murray is the biggest weapon on offense for Georgia and also a player that has a chance to take the Bulldogs to the next level.

He passed for 3,149 yards and 35 touchdowns last season.

Murray is not afraid of the big-game situation. He has the talent to lead Georgia to the national championship.

Georgia Tech: Tevin Washington, Quarterback

Not many players have the ball in their hands as much as Tevin Washington.

Last year, he rushed for 987 yards and threw for 1,652, accounting for 25 touchdowns. He is not afraid of the big-game situation. Entering his senior season, he will be counted on more than ever. 

Washington was excellent in the bowl game against Utah and proved himself in a few other big games, especially with his feet.

Hawaii: Art Laurel, Linebacker

When it comes to versatility and the ability to play multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball, few have the talent of Art Laurel.

Laurel moved to defensive end a few times last season and was a monster, no matter what position he played.

He led the team with nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

With his ability to play multiple positions, Laurel is a big-time contributor for Hawaii.

Houston: Derrick Matthews, Linebacker

Houston was known to have an explosive offense last season. But the Cougars also had a solid freshman on defense in Derrick Matthews.

Matthews had some big games, including 16 tackles in a one-point victory against Louisiana Tech and 12 tackles in a game against Rice.

He had nine tackles in the bowl victory against Penn State.

Idaho: Mike Scott, Wide Receiver

Idaho did not have a lot to brag about last season, but one of the positives was Mike Scott.

Scott had some big catches and had his best games in Vandals victories.

He finished with 691 yards and two touchdowns on 55 receptions.

If they have anything to look forward to next season, it is the progression of Scott.

Illinois: Jonathan Brown, Linebacker

Illinois always has talent on both sides of the ball, but often fails to put it all together.

Next year one of the anchors on the defense will be Jonathan Brown.

Brown had six sacks and 108 tackles last season. One thing is certain, the Illinois defense will be one of the best in the Big Ten in 2012.

Indiana: Stephen Houston, Running Back

Indiana was downright awful last season. The only team the Hoosiers beat was South Carolina State.

Indiana finished 1-11. But one bright spot on offense was Stephen Houston. He rushed for 802 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 carries.

He did have some big games for Indiana. If he had more talent around him, he would have a chance to be even better.

Iowa: James Vandenberg, Quarterback

Iowa had some success last season, due in part to the play of quarterback James Vandenberg. He passed for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

He had his biggest game in a come-from-behind victory against Pittsburgh, leading a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback and finishing with 399 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Iowa State: Jake Knott, Linebacker

Jake Knott is a beast on defense for Iowa State and helps form one-half of perhaps the best linebacker tandems in the Big 12.

He had six games with double-digit tackles last season and also had two interceptions.

When Iowa State needs a stop, there is no other player in the country the Cyclones would want than Knott.

Kansas: Toben Opurum, Linebacker

Kansas has transfer quarterback Dayne Crist on offense, but on defensive the key playmaker is linebacker Toben Opurum.

Opurum moved from running back to defense last season. He had four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss while rushing the passer from the defensive end and linebacker positions.

Kansas State: Collin Klein, Quarterback

Collin Klein does everything for Kansas State and is quite possibly more important to his team than anybody else in the country. 

He comes through in all situations. Last year he was solid in the bowl game and also had a big game against Oklahoma State, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and another through the air en route to 375 total yards. He kept the Wildcats in the game against the more-talented Cowboys.

Next year, expect much of the same from Klein.

Kent State: Roosevelt Nix, Defensive End

Roosevelt Nix may be the best pass-rusher in the MAC. He is entering his junior year with expectations higher than ever.

After he was a freshman All-American in 2010, he put on quite a show last year, finishing with 17.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

He has the size of a linebacker, which makes him great at getting to the passer.

Kentucky: La'Rod King, Wide Receiver

Kentucky struggled once again in the SEC, finishing 5-7.

One bright spot on offense was La'Rod King. He made big plays last year in the games Kentucky won and must improve for Kentucky to return to a bowl game. 

Next season, he has a chance to exceed 1,000 receiving yards and become one of the best receivers in the SEC.

Louisiana-Lafayette: Jemarlous Moten, Cornerback

Louisiana-Lafayette had a solid year in 2011. That was due in part to the defensive presence of cornerback Jemarlous Moten.

Moten had 80 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.

Next year he will be one of the best defensive backs in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana-Monroe: Kentarius Caldwell, Defensive Line

Louisiana-Monroe went 4-8 last season and struggled on offense.

But the Warhawks did show some encouraging sign on defense, led by a strong front line. Returning there is Kentarius Caldwell.

He finished last season with 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

He should be even better next season.

Louisiana Tech: Chad Boyd, Safety

Chad Boyd has a knack for big plays. He helped anchor a secondary that led Louisiana Tech to an eight-win season.

He had 76 tackles and three interceptions, and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

He will be the best player on the Louisiana Tech defense next season. He has a knack for coming up with big plays.

Louisville: Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater stepped into the starting role during the third game of his freshman season and showed glimpses of how good he could be over the next three years. He threw for 2,129 yards, with 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

Bridgewater had some big games at the end of the season and will be one of the best clutch players in the Big East.

LSU: Tyrann Mathieu, Cornerback

Tyrann Mathieu came up with as many clutch plays last season as anybody in the nation.

He is always a threat to break a long touchdown on a punt return. When he has the ball in his hands, there are not many players in America more dangerous than him.

Mathieu is a game-changer on defense and quite possibly one of the most explosive players in the country.

Marshall: Aaron Dobson, Wide Receiver

Aaron Dobson is a big-play threat for Marshall. He scored 12 touchdowns on only 49 receptions last season and accounted for 668 receiving yards.

He had his biggest games against the best competition, including a 103-yard, five-catch, one-touchdown performance against Virginia Tech.

Dobson also had four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the season finale against East Carolina.

Maryland: Kevin Dorsey, Wide Receiver

Maryland struggled mightily last year on both sides of the ball. One bright spot on offense was wide receiver Kevin Dorsey. He led the team with 45 receptions for 573 yards and three touchdowns.

He is a bonafide deep threat who could help Maryland win more than two games next season.

Massachusetts: Perry McIntyre, Linebacker

Massachusetts will be entering its first season in the MAC. While some of its players may not be ready to step up to a higher level of competition, linebacker Perry McIntyre is. He led the team with 116 tackles, 6.5 for loss.

McIntyre, a senior, is the one player Massachusetts can count on to get a stop.

Memphis: Johnnie Farms, Defensive Tackle

Johnnie Farms is a large man who can eat up space along the interior of the defensive line.

He played second fiddle last season to fellow defensive tackle Dontari Poe. But with Poe now gone, Farms is the guy the Tigers will rely on to help improve on the two wins they had a year ago.

Farms was second on the team with 2.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

Miami: Allen Hurns, Miami

Wide receiver Allen Hurns is one of the few players coming back on offense for Miami who played a significant role last season.

Hurns totaled 31 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns.

He was huge in a home victory over Ohio State at the beginning of the season, catching six balls for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami (Ohio): Zac Dysert, Quarterback

Zac Dysert is far and away the best player for Miami.

He has been a starter for three seasons and is the team leader. Dysert can move around to buy time in the pocket and also throw the ball as good as anybody in the MAC.

Last season, he threw for 3,513 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only 11 interceptions.

He will be guy Miami looks to in clutch situations in 2012.

Michigan: Denard Robinson, Quarterback

In the biggest game of 2012, Denard Robinson had quite possibly the best game of his life.

Against bitter rival Ohio State in the regular-season finale, he was 14-of-17 passing for 167 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 26 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Robinson has a knack for making the big play. Michigan will count on him to lead them to a Big Ten championship.

Michigan State: Wiliam Gholston, Defensive End

William Gholston had a few issues last season, but that didn't stop him from recording five sacks and dominating a few games.

In the bowl victory over Georgia, Gholston had seven tackles and two sacks in the overtime victory.

He also had 15 tackles and a sack against Nebraska, and 14 tackles the next week against Minnesota.

Michigan State has a lot of talent on defense, but no one is more clutch than Gholston.

Middle Tennessee: Leighton Gasque, Linebacker

Although he is undersized at 6'2" and 200 pounds, Leighton Gasque is a sure-tackling linebacker who  had an impressive freshman season.

He led the team with six sacks and came through with some big plays.

With a season under his belt, he likely will be much improved in 2012.

Minnesota: Marqueis Gray, Quarterback

Minnesota was not good last season, finishing with three wins. But quarterback Marqueis Gray put up Denard Robinson-like stats.

He is a dual-threat who can do it with his legs and arm.

With Minnesota not having as many playmakers on offense as other teams, it will be all up to Gray and his athleticism in 2012.

Mississippi: Jeff Scott, Running Back

There were not many positives to take from a two-win season in 2011 for Ole Miss.

The Rebels were winless in the SEC and only had one conference game in which the margin of defeat was less than two touchdowns.

One positive was tiny running back Jeff Scott. The 5'7", 175-pound back scored six touchdowns, including a big game in a victory over Fresno State.

Mississippi State: Jonthan Banks, Cornerback

There are not many cornerbacks in the SEC that are more well-rounded than Banks.

The senior had five interceptions last season. At 6'2", he is larger than most cornerbacks.

He returned for his final season and will be relied on heavily by the Mississippi State defense.

Missouri: James Franklin, Quarterback

James Franklin is an all-around stud for the Missouri Tigers.

Last season, he did a little bit of everything, passing for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns, while running for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns.

With the status of star running back Henry Josey still up in the air, Franklin will be asked to do even more next season. Odds are, he will answer the call.

Navy: Matt Warrick, Linebacker

Navy had a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season and only won five games a year ago. But the Midshipmen did have a stud on defense.

In his first year as a starter, linebacker Matt Warrick had 103 tackles.

Next year will likely be even better for Warrick and Navy.

Nebraska: Rex Burkhead, Running Back

When quarterback Taylor Martinez faded in some big games, running back Rex Burkhead almost always came to play.

He had 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns on 284 carries last season.

Burkhead was a workhorse for the Cornhuskers. He was the player who could do the most in clutch situations when he got his hands on the ball.

Nevada: Cody Fajardo, Quarterback

While Cody Fajardo struggled in the passing game last season, he was able to move around enough with his feet to be dangerous.

As a freshman, he passed for 1,707 yards, with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 694 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Nevada lost a lot on offense from last season. Fajardo will be counted on heavily in 2012.

New Mexico: Deon Long, Wide Receiver

New Mexico may have been the worst team in college football last season. Perhaps the lone bright spot was freshman wide receiver Deon Long. He led the team with 47 receptions for 809 yards and four touchdowns.

He has big-play ability, averaging 17.2 yards per catch, and can stretch the defense.

New Mexico State: Austin Franklin, Wide Receiver

New Mexico State won four games last year and returns a talented sophomore receiver in Austin Franklin.

He caught 34 passes for 524 yards and three touchdowns. He will step into a bigger role next season and has the ability to go long at any time.

Look for big things next year from Franklin.

North Carolina: Giovani Bernard, Running Back

North Carolina has a lot of talent on defense. Picking out one clutch player is tough to do.

On offense, however, running back Giovani Bernard is the clear choice. As a freshman last year, he ran for 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He came through consistently in big games. Next year he figures to be even better for the Tar Heels.

North Carolina State: Mike Glennon, Quarterback

Mike Glennon was impressive last season after replacing Russell Wilson.

He got better as the season went on and was impressive in the bowl game, going 21-of-33 for 264 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.

With a year under his belt, he will be even better in 2012 and ready to make all the big plays for the Wolfpack.

North Texas: Zach Orr, Linebacker

North Texas only won five games last year and will be looking to improve on that in 2012.

The defense will be led by linebacker Zach Orr. He only had 74 tackles last season, which led the team, but he is a difference-maker on that side of the ball.

He should improve drastically next season and help the Mean Green find their winning ways once again.

Northern Illinois: Sean Progar, Defensive End

In football, the name of the game is getting to the quarterback. Sean Progar does just that for the Huskies.

Last year, he finished with 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He has the ability to get to the quarterback better than anybody on the team and helped lead the Huskies to an 11-win season.

He is back next season to once again anchor a defense that should be much improved.

Northwestern: Kain Colter, Quarterback

Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter filled in for Dan Persa at times last season and could not only throw the ball, but also led the team in rushing.

Now with Persa gone, he will be asked to do much more. When he played the majority of the first two games of the season, the Wildcats were dominant.

The junior may make them even better next season if he can develop his passing game a little bit.

Notre Dame: Tyler Eifert, Tight End

Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert decided to come back for his senior season and will have an expanded role next season.

Last season, he caught 63 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns.

He came to play during the big games, including six receptions for 90 yards in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Ohio: Tyler Tetteleton, Quarterback

Tyler Tettleton was the best player on a 10-win Ohio team. Even though he is undersized for a quarterback, he puts up some huge passing numbers.

Last year, he threw for 3,306 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 10 picks.

Expect more of the same from the clutch Ohio quarterback in 2012.

Ohio State: Braxton Miller, Quarterback

Braxton Miler may not have been the most clutch player on Ohio State early in the season, but by the end he was as clutch as anybody.

In the final game of the regular season against Michigan, Miller completed 14-of-25 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. He also ran 16 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.

He was impressive in the bowl game as well. He will be much better next season.

Oklahoma: Kenny Stills, Wide Receiver

With Ryan Broyles now departed, Kenny Stills will be the No. 1 target for quarterback Landry Jones.

Stills has the ability to score from anywhere on the field. Last season, he had 61 receptions for 849 yards and eight touchdowns.

Stills will be one of the biggest playmakers in the Big 12 next season.

Oklahoma State: Justin Gilbert, Cornerback

The Oklahoma State defense loved to force turnovers last season, led by cornerback Justin Gilbert. He  picked off five passes and also had 10 passes defensed to go with 59 tackles. Along with nine tackles, he had an interception in the regular-season finale against Oklahoma.

In the Fiesta Bowl, he had four tackles and a huge interception to help lead the Cowboys to victory.

He will be only a junior and will be even better in 2012.

Oregon: De'Anthony Thomas, Running Back

De'Anthony Thomas may be the most explosive player in college football, and he is only going to get better entering his sophomore season.

He shined on the brightest stage last season in the Rose Bowl.

Thomas carried the ball twice for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 34 yards in Oregon's victory over Wisconsin.

Look for Thomas to put up some huge numbers for the Ducks in 2012.

Oregon State: Jordan Poyer, Cornerback

While Jordan Poyer is one of the best cornerbacks in the Pac 12, he is also an excellent punt returner.

He took a punt back for a touchdown last season and also returned an interception for another score. He made four interceptions and was solid tackling in the secondary.

Poyer will have a lot of talented receivers to cover next season in the Pac-12, but he will certainly be up for the challenge.

Penn State: Gerald Hodges, Linebacker

Penn State always seems to have a good defense. The player who helped anchor that defense in 2011 will be back in 2012.

That is linebacker Gerald Hodges. He led the team with 104 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

The Nittany Lions lose a little bit of talent up front, but will be strong at the linebacker position once again, relying heavily on Hodges.

Pittsburgh: Ray Graham, Running Back

Ray Graham does it all for Pittsburgh. Before his injury last season, he was one of the best running backs in the country.

No matter how big the game or the situation, Graham will carry the Panthers on his back. More often than not, he won't disappoint.

The best offensive player in the Big East will likely be Graham in 2012.

Purdue: Kawann Short, Defensive Tackle

Kawann Short may be the best defensive tackle in the Big Ten, and many people probably have never heard of him.

He had 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season for a Purdue team that went to the Little Caesars Bowl.

Short had his biggest game in an overtime victory against Ohio State. He had six tackles and three sacks.

Rice: Cameron Nwosu, Linebacker

Rice struggled to a 4-8 record in 2012, but had one bright spot on defense in sophomore Cameron Nwosu.

Last season, he led the team with 108 tackles, including nine or more tackles in the first eight games. He had a 16-tackle performance against Marshall.

Entering his junior season, he will be one of the best defensive players in Conference USA.

Rutgers: Khaseem Greene, Linebacker

Khaseem Greene was one of the most surprising players in the Big East last season. He moved from safety to linebacker and led the conference with 140 tackles.

Not many players in the country made that many tackles.

A bad leg injury ended his season in the bowl game, but he will be counted on heavily next season.

San Diego State: Colin Lockett, Wide Receiver

Colin Lockett is a big-play receiver for the Aztecs. As a sophomore last season, he had 970 receiving yards and scored eight touchdowns.

He is a deep threat, having averaged 16.7 yards per catch last season.

Lockett had his most productive game in the bowl. He caught six passes for 85 yards and three touchdowns.

San Jose State: Ryan Otten, Tight End

Ryan Otten had one of the most productive seasons for a tight end in the country, finishing with 52 receptions for 739 yards and five touchdowns.

At 6'5" and 235 pounds, Otten is a huge target and is likely to lead San Jose State in receiving this coming season.

Not many tight ends mean as much to their team as Otten does to the Spartans.

SMU: Zach Line, Running Back

Zach Line missed the final three games of last season due to injury. He is the best player on an SMU team that won eight games last season.

He rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of the 10 games he played in last season.

When SMU needs a clutch yard, the Mustangs will give the ball to Line next season.

South Alabama: Jake Johnson, Linebacker

South Alabama is another of the teams that will officially be joining FBS this year.

Linebacker Jake Johnson led the team with 83 tackles last season, and his sure-handed tackling will help South Alabama as it enters the Sun Belt Conference.

South Carolina: Marcus Lattimore, Running Back

If Marcus Lattimore can come back healthy next season, there are few teams in the country with as much talent as the Gamecocks.

Last year, Lattimore may have been the best running back in the country until a severe knee injury ended his season.

Lattimore is a player who is not afraid to carry the ball whenever called upon. Next season the Gamecocks will be calling his name a lot if he is healthy.

South Florida: B.J. Daniels, Quarterback

South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels finally turned the corner last season and cut down on his turnovers.

He finished with 2,604 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

Daniels was solid for most of the season and only threw as many as two interceptions in one game.

If he can get some help, the Bulls will be solid in 2012.

Southern Mississippi: Tracy Lampley, Wide Receiver

Southern Miss had quite a season, winning 12 games and the Conference USA title.

One of the biggest playmakers on offense was Tracy Lampley. He caught 47 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed 91 times for 463 yards and three touchdowns.

Lampley is a big-play athlete who can do a lot when he has the ball in his hands.

Stanford: Stepfan Taylor, Running Back

Stepfan Taylor has improved steadily in each of his three seasons at Stanford and will likely get even more touches next season as a senior.

With Andrew Luck and many others having moved on, Taylor will be the go-to guy on offense. He comes up big in key situations. None was bigger than the Fiesta Bowl last season, when he rushed 35 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

He is certain to carry a heavy workload next season.

Syracuse: Marquis Spruill, Linebacker

With some talent on defense having moved on, linebacker Marquis Spruill will be the leader for the Orange.

He had 62 tackles and three sacks last season. Next year, he figures to be even better for the Orange, who only won five games last season.

Spruill will be a junior, so he has room to grow and could develop into one of the best linebackers in the Big East.

TCU: Brandon Carter, Wide Receiver

Brandon Carter picked TCU over Oklahoma a few years ago, showing just how talented this kid is.

Last year as a freshman, he caught 23 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. He did, however, save his best games for the big stage.

In the upset win over Boise State, Carter caught four passes for 120 yards and two huge touchdowns.

Next season, he will be expected to do even more in clutch situations for the Horned Frogs.

Temple: Matt Brown, Running Back

Losing star running back Bernard Pierce early to the NFL draft will hurt, but the emergence last season of Matt Brown will help soften the blow for the Temple Owls.

Now entering the Big East, the competition will get a little stronger, but Temple will have a solid running back to go into battle with.

Brown ran for 916 yards last year and came on strong toward the end of the season, scoring four touchdowns in his final three games.

He will be a force in 2012 for the Owls.

Tennessee: Tyler Bray, Quarterback

Tyler Bray missed a lot of action last season due to injury. But when he was on the field, Tennessee was a much better team.

Tennessee was 4-3 with him and 1-3 without him. In 2012, if he can come back healthy, he will likely be able to lead the Vols back to a bowl game.

Without question, he is the most clutch player on the Tennessee roster.  To be successful in the SEC, the Vols need him.

Texas: Alex Okafor, Defensive End

With Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat, the Texas defensive line is set for next season.

Okafor has the talent to be one of the best defensive ends in the country. He has the size—at 6'4" and 260 pounds—to get to the quarterback and also stop the run.

He had seven sacks last season and is certainly not afraid of the big-game situation. Look out for the Texas defense in 2012.

Texas A&M: Sean Porter, Linebacker

Replacing a guy like Von Miller is never fun, but linebacker Sean Porter made the transition a little easier for the Aggies last season.

He was a beast, finishing with 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. 

In 2012, Porter will be a senior and the biggest stud on defense for the Aggies. Look for him to improve on the 79 tackles he made a year ago.

Texas-San Antonio: Brandon Reeves, Linebacker

UTSA is another of the teams that will be entering the FBS. The Roadrunners will arrive in the WAC with at least one stud linebacker to help with the transition. 

Last season, despite only starting nine games, Brandon Reeves led the team with 69 tackles. He also had six sacks and a fumble recovery.

Next year, he will play an even more vital role.

Texas State: Xavier Daniels, Safety

Another team moving up a level of play will be the Texas State Bobcats, who will be joining the WAC.

Safety Xavier Daniels will be the Bobcats' anchor on defense.

Last year, he had 77 tackles and three interceptions, and was a key contributor in the defensive secondary.

Texas Tech: Cody Davis, Safety

Cody Davis was huge last season for a defense that struggled mightily. In the Big 12, passing and points come first, which spelled disaster last year for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech gave up a lot of points in 2011 and will try to improve on that next season with safety Cody Davis. Last year, he finished with 93 tackles, including four straight double-digit games to end the season.

He is the anchor of a defense that could use some help.

Toledo: Bernard Reedy, Wide Receiver

With so little coming back on offense at the skill positions, Bernard Reedy will be counted on heavily next season at wide receiver.

Last year, he was a huge big-play threat, finishing with 40 catches for 758 yards and nine touchdowns.

He was strong at the end of the year, scoring five of his nine touchdowns in the final three games, including three touchdowns on four catches for 126 yards in the bowl-game victory over Air Force.

Troy: Eric Thomas, Wide Receiver

Eric Thomas was the go-to receiver last season for Troy. Next year, as a junior, he will be asked to do even more.

Last year, he caught 67 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns.

Thomas had two touchdown receptions against Arkansas and one against Clemson. He is not afraid of making big plays in the biggest games.

Tulane: Orleans Darkwa, Running Back

Tulane only won two games last year and struggled in every facet of the game.

Running back Orleans Darkwa was one of the bright spots for the Green Wave. He will be asked to do even more as a junior next season.

Darkwa rushed for 924 yards and 13 touchdowns on 210 carries and is really the only player Tulane can count on in clutch situations.

Tulsa: Shawn Jackson, Linebacker

Shawn Jackson was the anchor on a Tulsa team that won seven consecutive games in the middle of the season and finished 8-5 in 2011.

He was second on the team with 101 tackles and also recorded 4.5 sacks.

The Golden Hurricanes have quite a stud in this local product. They will be relying on him heavily over the next two seasons.

UAB: Jackie Williams, Wide Receiver

As a sophomore in 2011, Jackie Williams led UAB in receiving with 607 yards on 58 receptions. He did, however, fail to reach the end zone through the air. All three of his scores came on rushes. 

He can do a little bit of everything and is a model of consistency on a team that struggled last season.

Next year he will likely find the end zone more often and be the biggest offensive threat for UAB.

UCLA: Patrick Larimore, Linebacker

UCLA linebacker Patrick Larimore was the leader on that side of the ball for the Bruins in 2011 and returns for his senior season in 2012.

He led the team with 81 tackles and also had a sack and an interception that he took back for a touchdown in the Pac-12 championship game against Oregon.

Look for more improvement from Larimore and the Bruins defense in 2012.

UNLV: Dionza Bradford, Running Back

Running back Dionza Bradford was very impressive last season as a freshman and will be even better in 2012.

He rushed for 615 yards and three touchdowns on only 133 carries and had a few breakout performances for a UNLV team that lost 10 games.

If he can grow and mature, he will be a stud for the Rebels over the next three seasons.

USC: Robert Woods, Wide Receiver

There are a few players on USC who could easily be considered the most clutch, bur receiver Robert Woods stands out.

Last year, in the three biggest games of the season, he had 12 receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame, nine receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown against Stanford, and, in perhaps the biggest win of the year, seven receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon.

That is clutch right there.

Utah: John White, Running Back

As a junior in 2011, John White had to do everything for an offense playing without its starting quarterback.

He did just that, carrying the ball 316 times for 1,519 yards and 15 touchdowns, including 115 yards and a touchdown in a bowl game victory.

Next year, expect similar numbers and more wins from the Utes because of the clutch play of White.

Utah State: Chuckie Keeton, Quarterback

Utah State was not bad last season, and that was due in large part to the success of freshman quarterback Chuckie Keeton, even though he did struggle and eventually lose his starting job. 

He will be in an open battle with senior Adam Kennedy for the starting job this fall.

Keeton has everything it takes to be a clutch player over the next three years for the Aggies.

UTEP: DeShawn Grayson, Safety

DeShawn Grayson, a senior, will be the biggest playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for Miners.

Last year, he finished with 67 tackles after compiling 68 the season before.

He is one of the players that UTEP will be counting on, if the Miners are going to get back to their winning ways.

Vanderbilt: Zac Stacy, Running Back

Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy carried the offense last season and will be one of the top-five running backs in the country next season.

He rushed for 1,193 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, coming up clutch in some huge SEC games.

Next year, he could propel Vanderbilt to a winning record, something they certainly are not accustomed to in Nashville.

Virginia: Steve Greer, Linebacker

This clutch linebacker was one of the reasons Virginia won eight games last season.

He led the team with 103 tackles and had a stretch during the middle of the season of five straight games with nine or more tackles.

Virginia will have a solid linebacker group in 2012, anchored by the clutch play of Greer.

Virginia Tech: Bruce Taylor, Linebacker

Bruce Taylor missed the final six games of last season due to injury. The Hokies were 4-2 without him after going 7-1 when he was in the lineup.

He was still an All-ACC honorable-mention selection after finishing with 53 tackles.

He had five sacks in eight games. Next fall, he will be a senior and leader of the Hokies defense.

Wake Forest: Merrill Noel, Cornerback

Not many freshmen had as big of an impact on defense as Merrill Noel did for Wake Forest.

The first-year player had 66 tackles and two interceptions. But perhaps most impressively, he had 19 pass breakups.

He could easily be one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC next season and will be counted on heavily to help Wake Forest return to a bowl game again in 2012.

Washington: Keith Price, Quarterback

Keith Price put Washington on his back last season and led them to seven wins and one of the most exciting bowl games of all time.

In the 67-56, Alamo Bowl loss to Baylor, Price threw completed 23-of-37 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 39 yards and three touchdowns.

Next year, expect him to be just as good, if not better, entering his junior season.

Washington State: Marquess Wilson, Wide Receiver

Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson is one of the most unheralded players in the nation. Next year, he could be one of the top-10 players in the country.

Last year, he caught 82 passes for 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Wilson has accounted for more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. The Cougars would struggle to win a game without him.

West Virginia: Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver

When it comes to big games, few do it like Tavon Austin, making him one of the most clutch players in the country.

Last year, in a 70-33 thrashing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl, he caught 12 passes for 123 yards and four touchdowns. On those catches, he did all of the work, proving that he is as tough to bring down as almost anybody.

In the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh, he caught 10 passes for 102 yards. He also had 11 catches for 187 yards against LSU, and 11 catches for 122 yards against Maryland.

Western Kenucky: Andrew Jackson, Linebacker

Western Kentucky did not qualify for a bowl game last season, but did win seven games. The Hilltoppers were led by a solid defense.

Anchoring that defense was linebacker Andrew Jackson. He finished with 3.5 sacks and a team-leading 109 tackles. He also had an interception and a forced fumble.

Jackson will only be a junior, so he still has time to grow and improve.

Western Michigan: Johnnie Simon, Safety

Western Michigan won seven games last year, but struggled to stop anybody on defense.

That group gave up more than 28 points a game, but it could have been much worse had it not been for safety Johnnie Simon.

Simon led the team with 114 tackles, including seven games of 10 or more. A junior next season, Simon should improve along with the Broncos defense.

Wisconsin: Montee Ball, Running Back

There is not much that Montee Ball does not do for the Badgers, making him their most clutch player.

Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis also came up clutch in some big games, but this honor goes to maybe the best player in all of college football.

Ball has a chance to score more than 30 touchdowns next season for Wisconsin. He will be relied on as much as anybody in the nation.

Wyoming: Luke Ruff, Safety

Offensively, Brett Smith is the man. But on defense, safety Luke Ruff is the most critical and clutch player on the team.

Last year, he led the team with 102 tackles, including 10 or more tackles against the likes of Boise State, TCU and Air Force, the best competition the Broncos faced all season.

He will be a senior and team leader next season.