College Football's Top 60 Sophomores for the 2012 Season

In the world of college football, it’s usually proven upperclassman players who garner the most attention and publicity. However, every now and then, there are a few special sophomores who come along and stand out from the crowd.

In 2007, we watched as Florida QB Tim Tebow took the SEC by storm as he became the first-ever sophomore to bring home the Heisman Trophy.

Tebow’s victory seemed to start a trend, as the next two Heisman winners after him—Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram—were sophomores as well.

2010 may have been the best year for sophomore players in recent memory.

Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, began his rise to fame as a redshirt sophomore at Stanford in 2010, opening up eyes and showing onlookers that he truly had the makings of a special quarterback prospect.

That same year, an unheralded redshirt sophomore wide receiver at Oklahoma State by the name of Justin Blackmon dominated the Big 12, and he cemented his status as college football’s most dangerous playmaking receiver.

Let’s not forget about what LaMichael James was able to do as a redshirt sophomore in 2010. James led the country in rushing, piling up 1,731 yards on the ground.

Last season was no different, as we saw sophomores like Washington QB Keith Price, Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas, Oklahoma State RB Joseph Randle, USC WR Robert Woods, LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu and N.C. State CB David Amerson make a name for themselves with breakthrough performances.

Judging from what we’ve seen over the last few years, it now seems that in today’s day and age, college football players no longer have to wait their turn and spend the first few years of their career in anonymity.

There are surely going to be plenty of sophomores that will emerge this season and become some of this year’s biggest breakout stars. Here’s a look at the top 60 sophomores to watch in 2012.

1. RB De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

Oregon may have lost one of the most explosive and productive players in school history in RB LaMichael James. However, the Ducks should still have one of the most dangerous offenses in the country in 2012, and one of the main reasons why is the return of RB De'Anthony Thomas. 

Last year, Thomas arrived in Eugene as one of the most talked about players of the 2011 recruiting class, and he had no trouble immediately living up to sky-high expectations. 

The speedy Duck turned out to be one of the most valuable and versatile all-purpose weapons in the country as he racked up 595 rushing yards, caught 46 passes for 605 yards, averaged 27.3 yards on kickoff returns and scored 18 total touchdowns in 2011. 

Thomas saved his biggest performance of the year for one of college football's biggest stages. He tore through Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, rushing for 155 yards on two long touchdown runs, catching four passes for 34 yards and adding 125 yards on five kickoff returns for a total of 314 total yards in the game. 

The 5'9", 173-pound sophomore will team back up with fellow running back Kenjon Barner to try to help ease the loss of James, who was taken in the second round of this year's NFL draft. 

Thomas has shown that he's a big-play threat that can hit home run plays with great regularity.

If he and Barner can step up to the challenge and keep the Oregon offense moving the way it's been moving for the first three years of the Chip Kelly era, Thomas should be a legitimate candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and the Ducks should be a viable foe for top-ranked USC in the Pac-12 this season.

2. WR Marqise Lee, USC

The scary part about USC's offense is that not only do the Trojans have the best wide receiver in the country, junior Robert Woods, but they also have the second-best wide receiver in the country, Marqise Lee.

Oh yeah, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have QB Matt Barkley, the consensus preseason Heisman favorite and the trendy preseason pick to be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NFL draft, throwing to both Woods and Lee again in 2012.

Barkley and Woods will get all of the the publicity over the summer as preseason All-Americans, and they will enter the season as the faces of the USC offense.

If the Trojans truly want to make a run at a BCS championship in 2012, though, they're going to need Lee to play just as big of a role.

Last year, Lee had a fantastic freshman campaign, catching 73 passes for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he showed the type of rare physical ability that you only see in truly special young receivers.

The 6'1", 190-pound sophomore has the type of size, strength, natural explosiveness, route-running instincts and ball-tracking skills to be a future top-10 NFL draft pick.

Lee may have to take a backseat to Woods going into the season, but don't be surprised if he comes out and has just as big of a campaign, if not bigger, as his junior counterpart in 2012.

3. DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

Last year, Jadeveon Clowney arrived at South Carolina as one of the most publicized and talked-about high school football recruits of all time.

When you've already been proclaimed to be a future No. 1 overall NFL draft pick before you've even taken a snap at the college level, you've obviously got a lot to live up to. But Clowney didn't seem to let the pressure affect him last season.

The "once-in-a-decade" recruit came to Columbia and turned out to be one of the most dominant defensive ends in the SEC in 2011, as he racked up eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss and forced five fumbles in his debut performance.

The 6'6", 256-pound sophomore possesses rare athleticism and explosiveness for a player of his size, and he has the type of burst off the edge to develop into a nightmare pass-rusher over the next two years.

I'd personally set the over-under for Clowney's 2012 sack total at 12, and I'd seriously think about taking the over if I were a gambling man.

With Clowney and fellow edge-rusher Devin Taylor both returning, South Carolina will have one of the most dangerous defensive end duos in the country in 2012.

4. WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Clemson WR Sammy Watkins may be a bit tainted in the eyes of some after his recent arrest for drug possession, but the one minor offense shouldn't overshadow all that he accomplished as a freshman last season.

Watkins was one of the biggest stars of the 2011 season, as he stepped into the starting lineup for the Tigers and became an instant sensation.

The former 5-star recruit was the most productive freshman receiver in the country last year, catching 82 passes for 1,219 yards, rushing for 231 yards on 32 carries, averaging 25 yards per kickoff return and scoring 13 total touchdowns.

Watkins showed off his breathtaking explosiveness in so many different ways last season, and he routinely burned secondaries to a crisp in 2011, as he had 20 catches of over 20 yards.

The 6'1", 200-pound sophomore is truly a rare talent, and if he can overcome his offseason struggles and not let the hype get to his head, he should be one of college football's top offensive playmakers once again in 2012.

5. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

Miami native Teddy Bridgewater always seemed like he was destined to be a Hurricane, but after coach Randy Shannon was fired, Bridgewater switched his commitment from his hometown team and pledged his services to coach Charlie Strong and Louisville.

The Cardinals couldn't have been happier to have him, and after the flashes Bridgewater showed during his freshman season last year, it seems like he's destined to become one of the biggest stars in the Big East over the next few years.

Last year, Bridgewater took over the starting job and helped lead Louisville to a share of the Big East championship, and he earned himself Big East Rookie of the Year honors for his play. The 6'3", 208-pound sophomore completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,129 yards and hit 14 touchdown passes in 2011.

The coaching staff kept the offense simple during his first year, but now that Bridgewater has shown he can handle himself, they should let him off the leash in 2012.

With running back Dominique Brown and receivers DeVante Parker, Michaelee Harris and Eli Rogers surrounding him, Bridgewater will have the type of surrounding cast he needs to guide Louisville to a Big East championship and a BCS bowl berth in 2012.

6. RB Giovani Bernard, North Carolina

After missing his entire first season with an ACL injury in 2010, North Carolina RB Giovani Bernard came out and didn't miss a beat in 2011, as he looked exactly like the highly rated recruit that Tar Heel fans were so excited to see before the injury.

This past year, Bernard totaled 1,615 yards of offense, scored 14 touchdowns and put constant stress on opposing defenses all season long.

The 5'10", 205-pound sophomore has the vision, elusiveness and running instincts to create a big play any time he gets the ball in his hands.

Bernard is the type of dangerous and versatile weapon that has to be accounted for on every snap, and he will be the main key to North Carolina's offensive success in 2012.

7. LB Hayes Pullard, USC

This season, USC's defense will feature one of the best linebacker duos in the country: Hayes Pullard and Dion Bailey.

Pullard and Bailey are only redshirt sophomores, but they've already established themselves as two of the premier defensive playmakers in the Pac-12.

The two linebackers tied for the team lead with 81 tackles apiece in 2011, and they'll likely be neck-and-neck trying to win that battle again this season.

Both players will be playing on Sundays someday soon, but the real player that NFL scouts could have their eye on in 2012 is Pullard.

The 6'1", 230-pound California native is one of the most physically skilled defenders in the country, and he has the type of natural ability it takes to become USC's next big star linebacker.

8. CB Merrill Noel, Wake Forest

N.C. State's David Amerson isn't the only cornerback in the state of North Carolina that NFL scouts will be paying close attention to this season. Wake Forest's Merrill Noel may only be a redshirt sophomore, but he's already shown that he's got the type of skills to be a future high draft pick.

Last year, Noel was the biggest impact player on the Demon Deacons defense, racking up 54 solo tackles, picking off two passes and leading the ACC with 19 pass breakups.

The 5'10", 180-pound corner has the size, athleticism, toughness and ball skills to emerge as one of the premier defensive players in the country this season, and if he has the campaign he's capable of in 2012, Noel might even have to think about making the early jump to the NFL.

9. RB Isaiah Crowell, Georgia

The departures of Georgia's top two running backs—Washaun Ealey and Caleb King—last offseason forced highly touted freshman Isaiah Crowell into a starting role basically by default in 2011. Last year, Crowell was forced to immediately prove that he was worth his high school hype, and he did just that, finishing sixth in the SEC with 850 rushing yards.

Crowell showed the flashes that Georgia fans wanted to see, but that doesn't mean that he didn't experience a few bumps in the road along the way.

The 5'11", 215-pound sophomore had bouts of immaturity last season, and he found himself in Mark Richt's doghouse on more than one occasion in 2011.

Still, Crowell seems to have matured and learned from the experience, and he now appears primed to have a huge sophomore campaign in 2012.

The key for Crowell this season will be versatility. Last year, he was downright awful as a pass-blocker, and he often had a deer-in-the-headlights look any time he was asked to pick up a blitz. He also didn't offer much in the passing game as a receiver, only catching eight passes for 59 yards.

If Crowell can continue to improve as a pass-blocker and show that he can be a threat out of the backfield as a receiver in 2012, he should be one of the most dangerous backs in the country this season.

10. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Ohio State may not be eligible for postseason play this year, but the Buckeyes will still be one of the most fascinating teams to watch, as everyone's going to be interested to see how new coach Urban Meyer fares in his first year back on the sidelines.

Meyer takes over a team that was woefully disappointing last year, going just 6-7 under the watch of interim coach Luke Fickell. But the good news is the two-time national championship-winning head coach will have plenty of top-tier talent to work with in 2012.

The most intriguing storyline to follow in Columbus will be the development of QB Braxton Miller, a formerly highly touted 5-star recruit who was thrown into the fire early on last season after Joe Bauserman struggled mightily in a blowout loss to Miami.

After stepping in as the starter in Week 4, Miller went just 4-6 down the stretch, but he did show signs of his tremendous rushing ability, as he ran for 715 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

The athletic 6'3", 210-pound sophomore is one of the most gifted dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, and he seems to be an ideal fit for Meyer's spread offense.

With Meyer guiding him, Miller has the chance to become a star at Ohio State, but he's still got to get much better as a passer and improve as a decision-maker if he ever wants to reach his full potential.

11. CB Quandre Diggs, Texas

Texas should have one of the best secondaries in the country this season, as cornerbacks Quandre Diggs and Carrington Byndom and potential All-American safety Kenny Vaccaro are all returning to Austin.

While Vaccaro will be the unquestioned leader of the group, Diggs could turn out to be the biggest star in the defensive backfield in 2012.

Last year, Diggs stepped into the starting lineup as a true freshman and had no trouble handling himself, as he racked up 49 tackles, picked off four passes and broke up another 15 throws.

For his efforts, the 5'10", 200-pound corner was honored with Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors, and he landed on numerous different Freshman All-American teams.

Texas has produced plenty of notable defensive backs over the last decade, and it looks like Diggs is on his way to becoming the next big-name corner that the Longhorns will be able to exploit.

12. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

As one of the highest-rated tight end prospects of the 2011 recruiting class, Austin Seferian-Jenkins could have gone to basically any major program in the country, but he chose to stay in his home state of Washington and play for the Huskies.

Given how much success he had in his first season, it seems like the perfect spot for him.

Last year, Seferian-Jenkins was one of QB Keith Price's most trusted targets, as he caught 41 passes for 538 yards and six touchdowns.

The big, athletic 6'6", 258-pound sophomore is a mismatch waiting to happen, and now that he has Price's trust, there's no telling what type of encore performance he could be capable of putting together in 2012.

13. WR Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

LSU's lack of a consistent downfield passing attack was one of the only noticeable weaknesses the Tigers had during their run to an SEC championship last season.

Now that strong-armed signal-caller Zach Mettenberger is taking over, though, that should change in 2012.

Yes, it's true, the Tigers will miss last year's top receiver Rueben Randle, who left school a year early and was taken in the second round of this year's NFL draft. However, the team does have a talented young sophomore—Odell Beckham Jr.—who should emerge as a top playmaker this season.

Last year, Beckham displayed some solid pass-catching skills, as he hauled in 41 passes for 475 yards.

The 5'11", 183-pound sophomore should be Mettenberger's favorite target in 2012, and Beckham's got the chance to have the same kind of breakout campaign that Randle had last season.

14. DE Marcus Rush, Michigan State

Michigan State has one of the best defensive ends in the country, William Gholston, returning to lead the Spartans defensive front this season.

However, opposing offensive lines won't be able to focus all of their attention on keeping Gholston contained, as fellow end Marcus Rush will be lining up on the other side of the line, waiting to burst into the backfield as well.

Last year, Rush was one of the most disruptive freshman defenders in the Big Ten, as he notched 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and five knocked-down passes in 2011.

The 6'2", 250-pound sophomore may not be as big or as physically intimidating as his counterpart Gholston, but that doesn't mean he's any easier to handle.

With Gholston and Rush both back to man the edges of Michigan State's defensive line this season, and with playmakers like LB Denicos Allen and CB Johnny Adams scattered throughout the rest of the unit, the Spartans should have one of the strongest defenses in the country in 2012.

15. LB A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

Back when he was a 4-star recruit at Georgia's Gainesville High School, A.J. Johnson held scholarship offers from nearly every major SEC school, including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and Florida. However, something ultimately drew the talented and highly coveted linebacker to Tennessee.

While the Vols may have struggled through a 5-7 season during Johnson's freshman year in 2011, that didn't stop him from immediately making a name for himself in the SEC.

Last year, Johnson led all freshmen in the conference with 80 tackles, and he earned numerous Freshman All-American honors for his performance.

Tennessee's defense ranked 27th in the nation in total defense and 36th in scoring defense last season, and with players like A.J. Johnson and fellow linebacker Curt Maggitt returning, the Vols should once again have a stout defensive unit in 2012.

16. RB Malcolm Brown, Texas

Malcolm Brown arrived in Austin last year as a heralded 5-star recruit out of Texas' Steele High School, and he managed to step in and instantly show why he received the type of high school hype that was bestowed upon him.

Brown became Texas' featured back almost as soon as he stepped onto campus, and he quickly showed some of the flashes of his tremendous potential. Although he only played in 10 games in 2011, the strong 6'0", 213-pound sophomore still managed to rush for 742 yards and score five touchdowns.

Texas does not only have a dangerous three-headed rushing attack comprised of Brown, Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray; the Longhorns also have one of the most talented offensive lines in the country.

That would lead you to believe that Texas should feature one of the most potent and powerful rushing attacks in college football in 2012.

17. CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State

In recent years, Ohio State has produced plenty of notable top-flight cornerbacks, like Malcolm Jenkins, Ashton Youboty, Chris Gamble and Nate Clements, and it looks like Bradley Roby will now be the next corner to join that esteemed group.

Roby enjoyed a terrific season last year, as he notched 47 tackles, picked off three passes and broke up another six.

The 5'11", 185-pound redshirt sophomore possesses the size, athleticism, toughness and ball skills to man up with any receiver in the country.

With Roby, fellow corner Travis Howard and safety Orhian Johnson all returning to the defensive backfield this season, Ohio State should have one of the most stable secondaries in college football in 2012.

18. LB Dion Bailey, USC

At 6'0", 200 lbs, Dion Bailey definitely isn't the biggest linebacker you're going to find in college football. But Bailey's lack of size didn't prevent him from making plenty of crucial stops for USC's defense last season.

Bailey moved from safety to strongside linebacker last offseason, and he turned out to be a perfect fit for the role, as he flourished at the position, finishing tied for the team lead with 81 tackles in 2011.

The former 4-star recruit has the type of speed, instincts and tracking ability to hunt down ball-carriers from sideline to sideline.

With Bailey and teammate Hayes Pullard both returning, USC will have one of the top linebacker tandems in the country this season.

19. C Reese Dismukes, Auburn

Reese Dismukes was one of the prizes of Auburn’s decorated 2011 recruiting class, and he turned out to be a player who paid immediate dividends for the Tigers.

Last year, Dismukes emerged as one of the dependable leaders of a very inexperienced offensive line that lost four starters from the 2010 national championship team.

The 6'3", 300-pound sophomore is a strong, physical and intelligent center who has the potential to grow into a coveted NFL prospect.

Dismukes is one of the most talented offensive linemen in the SEC, and he’ll be counted on to make sure that the rest of the offensive linemen know their assignments in new coordinator Scot Loeffler’s scheme in 2012.

20. WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

It'll probably be at least another decade before Georgia has another receiver that could compare to former standout star A.J. Green. However, this year the Bulldogs do have two receivers, Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell, that are definitely capable of producing plenty of huge plays.

Last year, King and Mitchell had nearly identical stats, as King caught 47 passes for 705 yards while Mitchell had 45 grabs for 665 yards.

The 6'1", 184-pound Mitchell only played in 11 games as a freshman due to injury, but when he was out on the field, he always seemed to be a factor in the passing game.

QB Aaron Murray is surely going to target the talented sophomore frequently throughout the 2012 season, and Mitchell should have plenty of opportunities to show that he's one of the SEC's most talented wideouts.

21. LB Jake Ryan, Michigan

After redshirting his first year in Ann Arbor, Jake Ryan stepped onto the field last season and made an immediate impact for the Wolverines defense. Ryan turned out to be a valuable and dependable contributor in his first season of action, racking up 37 tackles and three sacks.

The 6'3", 230-pound sophomore is a perfect fit for the strongside linebacker spot in Michigan's defense, and he's got the potential to continue to develop into a true star over the next few years.

While teammate Kenny Demens may be the biggest name among Michigan's linebackers going into next season, don't be surprised if Ryan steals his thunder and emerges as a huge impact player for the Wolverines defense in 2012.

22. CB Marcus Roberson, Florida

Florida was forced to deal with the sudden and unexpected departure of star cornerback Janoris Jenkins last spring. However, luckily for the Gators, they had some talented young corners that were capable of stepping up in his absence, and the one who really stood out the most in 2011 was Marcus Roberson.

Roberson stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman and looked like a seasoned veteran as he showed the type of confidence and fearlessness that it takes to go toe-to-toe with some of the SEC's most skilled receivers.

The 6'0", 180-pound sophomore has the same type of size, speed and swagger that we saw from former Florida great Joe Haden, and he looks like he could be the school's next star cornerback.

23. OT Cameron Fleming, Stanford

Stanford lost two of the top offensive linemen in the country in OG David DeCastro and OT Jonathan Martin, who both left school a year early to play in the NFL. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the Cardinal won't have a solid offensive line again in 2012.

Besides the fact that Stanford signed seven of the country's top offensive line prospects for its 2012 recruiting class, the team will also benefit from the return of talented young linemen such as OT Cameron Fleming.

Last year, Fleming started opposite Martin at right tackle, and he displayed the type of skills that would seem to indicate that he's got the chance to be one of Stanford's next big NFL prospects.

The 6'6", 308-pound redshirt sophomore may still be young and largely unrefined, but he should develop into the leader and the linchpin of Stanford's offensive line in 2012.

24. LB Jeremy Grove, East Carolina

Most BCS schools shied away from Jeremy Grove when he was a 2-star prospect at Maryland's Thomas Johnson High School. However, after Grove's outstanding performance as a redshirt freshman last season, it's safe to say that all the big schools that didn't think he was worth a scholarship are now regretting their mistake.

Grove turned out to be an instant star for the Pirates defense in 2011, and he ended up finishing fourth in Conference USA with 122 total tackles.

The 6'1", 230-pound sophomore has the strength, instincts and tackling ability that you look for in a top-notch inside linebacker, and Grove will now be counted on to be the centerpiece of East Carolina's defense in 2012.

25. P Brad Wing, LSU

I have to admit, I was very puzzled about why LSU punter Brad Wing wasn't even a finalist for the Ray Guy Award last year. Sure, he was a freshman, and maybe those awards involve a little favoritism for seniority, but it was still clear that Wing was one of the best punters in the country last season.

The Australian native made his first year in Baton Rouge a memorable one, as he averaged 44.3 yards a punt and frequently boomed plenty of big kicks, like his crucial field-shifting 73-yard bomb in the "Game of the Century" against Alabama.

Wing may not have won the Ray Guy Award, but at least he did become infamous for being the first ever player to have a touchdown called back for taunting when he was penalized for raising his arms for .25 seconds on his way to the end zone on a fake punt run against Florida.

26. WR Jaxon Shipley, Texas

After the type of senior season that his brother Jordan put together at Texas back in 2009, Jaxon Shipley knew that he was going to have a lot of work to do in order to get out of his brother's shadow once he got to Austin.

The early returns on the younger Shipley are certainly encouraging though, and he seems to be in store for the same type of highly productive college career that his brother had.

Last year, the 6'1", 183-pound sophomore had to deal with some major inconsistencies at the quarterback position, but he still managed to catch 44 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns.

Shipley will team back up with fellow receiver Mike Davis to give QB David Ash the type of one-two punch he needs to have success in 2012.

27. LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

CB Bradley Roby isn't the only sophomore that will be a major contributor for the Ohio State defense this season. LB Ryan Shazier will also play an integral part in the unit's success.

This year, Ohio State's linebacker corps may lack a true star All-American like James Laurinaitis or A.J. Hawk, but Shazier has the chance to really develop into a top defensive standout in 2012.

The athletic 6'1", 226-pound sophomore finished sixth on the team with 56 tackles, and he also notched three sacks last season.

Shazier will join fellow linebackers Etienne Sabino and Storm Klein to form a linebacker unit that could be one of the strongest groups in the Big Ten this season.

28. RB Kevin Parks, Virginia

Senior RB Perry Jones will be the main man in the Virginia backfield this season, but he'll once again have to defer a good deal of carries to Kevin Parks, who came in and made an instant impact as a freshman last season.

Parks only touched the ball 163 times last year, but he totaled 791 yards of offense and scored 10 touchdowns. He still didn't receive much recognition outside of Charlottesville, however.

The 5'8", 195-pound sophomore may have to play second fiddle to Jones for another year, but he should definitely be able to carve out a name for himself in the ACC in 2012.

29. DT Anthony Johnson, LSU

Anthony Johnson earned the nickname "The Freak" during his time as a coveted high school recruit at O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans. After getting a glimpse of the former blue-chip 5-star prospect in an LSU uniform this past season, it's easy to see how he got that nickname.

Johnson immediately came in and earned himself a spot in LSU's deep defensive line rotation during his first year in Baton Rouge, and when he was out on the field, he showed everyone why he was rated as the top defensive tackle prospect of the 2011 recruiting class.

The 6'3", 310-pound sophomore possesses a rare combination of size, strength, power and quickness that you only see in truly upper-echelon defensive tackles.

With Michael Brockers now in the NFL, there's room for Johnson to step in next season and make his presence felt in a rotation with fellow talented tackles Bennie Logan and Josh Downs.

Johnson should be one of the key players for what is shaping up to be college football's most disruptive defensive line of 2012.

30. WR Deon Long, New Mexico

After leaving West Virginia after one year, Deon Long's college career was at a crossroads.

Long ultimately ended up at New Mexico, and that's where he was able to finally display his terrific physical ability in 2011.

Long came out and had a sensational performance in his first season on the field for the Lobos in 2011. The athletic 6'0", 190-pound sophomore led the team with 47 catches for 809 yards and four touchdowns, and he proved to be one of the most dangerous receivers in the Mountain West.

Now that Long has gotten settled in in Albuquerque, it should be fun to watch him develop, and it'll be interesting to see if he can help New Mexico climb out of the basement of college football.

31. DE Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

Say what you will about Notre Dame's mediocre performances during coach Brian Kelly's first two seasons in South Bend, but at the very least give him credit for the success that he's had on the recruiting trail during his time at the school.

Kelly has brought in some very highly touted prospects, and one of the biggest recruits he was able to land was DE Stephon Tuitt, a blue-chip 5-star talent out of Monroe, Ga.

Tuitt became an instant factor in Notre Dame's defensive end rotation last season, and he finished his first year with a respectable 30 total tackles, five quarterback hurries and two sacks.

Now that fellow DE Aaron Lynch has reportedly decided to transfer to South Florida, Tuitt will likely take over the starting end spot opposite senior Kapron Lewis-Moore in 2012.

While the Irish will undoubtedly miss Lynch, who led the team in sacks last season, it may not take long for Tuitt to help them get over the loss.

32. S Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern

Northwestern's defense wasn't exactly stellar last season, as the Wildcats ranked 10th in the Big Ten in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. However, there was one standout defender who made a name for himself in Evanston last year, and it turned out to be safety Ibraheim Campbell.

After redshirting in 2010, Campbell stepped out onto the field last season and shined as he led the Wildcats with 100 tackles, broke up six passes and picked off another two.

The 5'11", 205-pound redshirt sophomore displayed the type of range, instincts, intelligence and physicality that you love to see in a young safety, and Campbell now looks ready to solidify his status as one of the Big Ten's top playmaking defensive backs in 2012.

33. CB Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas

We may not have to look far to find the cornerback that's going to steal Tyrann Mathieu's thunder in 2012, as he could be sitting right in the same division as the Honey Badger.

Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel had an eye-opening freshman campaign in 2011, and he'll be looking to build on his strong first year with an even bigger effort next season. The 6'0", 180-pound freshman has already lived up to his high school hype after arriving in Fayetteville as a 4-star recruit, and now he'll be looking to become one of the Razorbacks' top defensive playmakers in 2012.

Mitchel has the size, speed, coverage skills and tackling ability to develop into one of the top cornerbacks in the SEC this season.

While Arkansas' explosive offensive attack is sure to get most of the attention, it's defenders like Mitchel who are going to have to step up and become stars this season if the Razorbacks want to seriously contend for an SEC championship in 2012.

34. WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

Louisville has three receivers—Eli Rogers, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker—who all have the potential to be showcase players in the Big East this season.

Rogers and Harris were the two most productive receivers for the Cardinals in terms of catches last season, but it was Parker who made some true "wow" catches, as he led the team with six touchdown receptions.

QB Teddy Bridgewater will likely look for the 6'3", 205-pound Parker much more often in 2012, and he should play a key part in Louisville's run at a conference championship this season.

35. LB Serderius Bryant, Ole Miss

Mississippi's defense was the worst unit in the SEC last season, ranking last in the conference in both total defense and scoring defense in 2011. However, the Rebels did have two talented linebackers—Serderius Bryant and Mike Marry.

Marry was the team leader with 81 tackles, but Bryant was also one of the team's top performers, notching 61 tackles in his first season on the field, which was the third-highest total among SEC freshmen last year.

The 5'10", 223-pound sophomore has the physical makeup to be a standout weakside linebacker, and Bryant and Marry will once again form one of the best linebacker tandems in the SEC in 2012.

36. RB Devonta Freeman, Florida State

Last season, Florida State's rushing attack was one of the weakest in college football, as the Seminoles ranked 104th in the country in rushing offense.

The team is obviously going to need a better ground game this season to win an ACC championship, and it looks as if the key player that will help with that improvement is RB Devonta Freeman.

Freeman only carried the ball 120 times in 2011, but he led the team with 579 rushing yards and found the end zone eight times.

The 5'8", 200-pound sophomore has a compact, yet powerful frame, which resembles former Seminole back Antone Smith, and he possesses the strength, speed and vision that a featured back needs to have.

Smith will team with Chris Thompson, James Wilder Jr. and freshman Mario Pender to give Florida State one of the deepest backfields in the country this season. With all that talent, it would be surprising if the Seminoles don't fare much better running the ball in 2012.

37. LB Denzel Perryman, Miami (FL)

Miami lost its defensive leader—LB Sean Spence—who was a third-round pick in this year's NFL draft, which means that the Hurricanes are going to need LB Denzel Perryman to step up in a big way in 2012.

Last year, Perryman finished second on the team behind Spence with 69 total tackles.

The 6'0", 225-pound sophomore has what it takes to be Miami's next great linebacker, and he's going to be counted on to be the leader of the Hurricanes defense in 2012.

38. WR Matt Miller, Boise State

Boise State's offense is going to have a rough time without QB Kellen Moore and RB Doug Martin leading the way, but the Broncos do have some key returning offensive playmakers, mainly WR Matt Miller.

Last year, Miller hauled in 62 passes for 679 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

The 6'3", 215-pound sophomore is the type of receiving force that simply swept though the Mountain West last season, and Miller will now be asked to once again rip off big plays on a regular basis in 2012.

It should be interesting to see how the big, physical receiver fares with new QB Joe Southwick at the helm.

39. DT Dominic Appiah, Boston College

The Boston College defense is obviously going to miss LB Luke Kuechly, the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft. Kuechly was the undisputed leader and the true heart and soul of the unit for the past three years.

While the Golden Eagles defense may not be the same without Kuechly in the middle of the field, the team does have a big, physical presence in defensive tackle Dominic Appiah, who should at least be able to keep opposing running games in check this season.

The 6'5", 286-pound sophomore has the size, strength and agility to cause plenty of havoc in the interior.

Appiah has the natural talent and skill set to ultimately develop into a dominant defensive middle-man if he continues to work on his overall technique and fundamentals.

40. DE Josh Shirley, Washington

Washington's defense was statistically one of the worst units in the country last season, ranking 106th in the nation in total defense, which was surprising because the Huskies actually did have some decent talent on that side of the ball.

One of the most talented players turned out to be a freshman: DE Josh Shirley.

In his first season out on the field, Shirley had more than a few moments of pure dominance, as he tallied nine sacks, 13 tackles for losses and two forced fumbles in 2011.

The 6'3", 235-pound redshirt sophomore may be undersized, but he makes up for his lack of bulk with his tremendous explosiveness, surprising strength and speed off the edge.

If the Huskies want to have a better defensive performance in 2012, Shirley will have to be one of the key pieces of the overall reformation this season.

41. WR Rashad Greene, Florida State

Florida State has one of the most talented receiver foursomes in the country, and the leader of that group is Rashad Greene.

Last year, Greene led the Seminoles with 38 catches for 596 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, even though he only played in nine games.

When healthy, the 6'1", 175-pound sophomore proved to be one of the most dangerous receiving threats in the ACC, and even when he wasn't making big plays in the passing game, he was still constantly putting stress on opposing secondaries.

With Greene and fellow receivers Rodney Smith, Christian Green and Kenny Shaw all returning, QB E.J. Manuel will have plenty of offensive firepower to work with this season.

42. RB Dustin Garrison, West Virginia

West Virginia may have been known primarily for its potent passing attack last season, but one of the pleasant surprises on the Mountaineers offense actually turned out to be RB Dustin Garrison.

Rated as just a 2-star recruit coming out of Texas' Pearland High School, Garrison was one of the least decorated and least talked-about recruits of West Virginia's 2011 class, which is why it was so surprising to see him step in and have the type of immediate success he had last season.

Garrison's breakout performance came against Bowling Green, when he set a West Virginia freshman single-game rushing record with 291 rushing yards.

The 5'8", 165-pound sophomore went on to rush for 742 yards and score six touchdowns on just 136 total carries in 2011 before tearing his ACL during a practice before the Orange Bowl.

It will be interesting to see how Garrison recovers this offseason. Hopefully, he will be healthy enough to get back out onto the field and build on his eye-opening freshman campaign in 2012.

43. CB Terrance Mitchell, Oregon

Cliff Harris was supposed to be Oregon's star cornerback last season, but his multiple run-ins with the law and eventual dismissal from the team opened the door for Terrance Mitchell to step in and prove his worth in 2011.

Mitchell may not have offered the same type of dynamic return ability that Harris did, but he proved to be a solid and dependable starting cornerback as a freshman, as he notched 45 tackles, picked off two passes and led the team with 10 pass breakups.

The 6'0", 185-pound sophomore has great size, speed and instincts for the position, and he's only going to get better over time.

The Pac-12 really doesn't have a true bona fide star cornerback going into the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Mitchell emerge as one of the conference's premier players at the position in 2012.

44. TE Randall Telfer, USC

Not only does USC have two of the best receivers in the country in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, the Trojans also have two of the most talented tight ends in college football in Randall Telfer and Xavier Grimble.

Both Telfer and Grimble were highly touted 4-star recruits when they arrived in Los Angeles in 2010, but after both of them redshirted their first season, it was Telfer who turned out to be the bigger factor last year.

The athletic 6'4", 245-pound sophomore was a perfect complement to Woods and Lee in the passing game, as he caught 26 passes for 273 yards and hauled in five touchdown passes.

Telfer is a dangerous threat to have in the red zone, and with defenses likely to focus so much of their attention on shutting down Woods and Lee this season, he should have plenty of opportunities to make plays in 2012.

45. RB Kenny Hilliard, LSU

Kenny Hilliard is the third thoroughbred in LSU's four-horse running back stable.

Hilliard may not be as talked about as fellow backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford just yet, but he may actually be the most physically gifted member of the Tigers' ultra-talented backfield, and he could be in store for a breakout campaign in 2012 if he gets enough carries.

The 5'11", 240-pound sophomore only touched the ball 60 times last year, but he still managed to total 333 yards and score nine touchdowns.

Now it's time to see if Hilliard is ready for a bigger offensive role this season.

While it remains to be seen just how the LSU coaching staff will split up the carries between all of their backs, you would have to figure that given Hilliard's strong performance in the latter part of last season, he's going to be a key figure in the run game in 2012.

The big, powerful runner is capable of being more than just a short-yardage back, and it will be interesting to see how the Tigers choose to utilize Hilliard this season.

46. QB Blake Bell, Oklahoma

It may be too early to start calling Blake Bell the next Tim Tebow, but nevertheless, it was certainly impressive to watch Bell work out of the "Belldozer" short-yardage formation during the second half of last season.

The 6'6", 245-pound sophomore only toted the rock a total of 44 times in 2011, but he still had 13 rushing touchdowns, as defenses just didn't seem to have an answer for him even though they pretty much knew what was coming.

Bell may have to wait another year behind Landry Jones before he can get a shot at the starting quarterback job, but that certainly doesn't mean that he can't be a valuable offensive weapon during the Sooners' quest for a Big 12 title.

It should be very interesting to see how the Oklahoma coaching staff chooses to use the big, powerhouse quarterback in 2012.

47. S Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama

The Alabama secondary lost three out of its four starters from last season, including the captain of the unit, safety Mark Barron, who was the No. 7 overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

The good news is coach Nick Saban has stocked up on plenty of highly touted recruits over the last few years, and there are plenty of talented young defensive backs in Tuscaloosa who are just waiting for their time to shine.

Sophomore safety Vinnie Sunseri is likely going to end up being Barron's successor this season.

Last year, the 6'0", 215-pound Sunseri made a name for himself as one of Alabama's special teams aces, but he also showed that he's got the coverage skills to be a factor in the secondary as well.

When Sunseri was on the field, he was a ball-hawk, as he racked up 31 tackles in 2011.

You can tell that the former high school linebacker is still getting used to all the nuances of pass coverage, but given how he handled himself in his first season, it appears that Sunseri should have no trouble becoming a dominant defender at the back end of the Tide defense.

48. WR Chris Boyd, Vanderbilt

Not only does Vanderbilt bring back one of the top running backs in the SEC—Zac Stacy—the Commodores also welcome back two of the conference's most talented receivers, Chris Boyd and Jordan Matthews.

Last year, Boyd was one of QB Jordan Rodgers' top targets, as he hauled in 31 passes for 473 yards, which was the fifth-highest reception total by a freshman in school history.

The big 6'4", 203-pound sophomore proved to be a valuable red-zone weapon, as he was on the receiving end of eight of the team's 15 passing touchdowns in 2011.

With Boyd and Matthews both back in the fold this season, Rodgers should be able to put up some very impressive passing numbers in 2012.

49. RB Joe Bergeron, Texas

Malcolm Brown isn't the only sophomore running back on Texas that Big 12 defenses will have to worry about in 2012; Joe Bergeron will also give opponents plenty of trouble this season.

Bergeron only carried the ball 72 times last season, but he rushed for 463 yards, averaged 6.4 yards per touch and scored five touchdowns. Like his counterpart Brown, the 6'1", 230-pound Bergeron is a big, strong and physical back that should be capable of wearing down opposing defenses if he gets more carries in 2012.

With Brown, Bergeron and incoming 5-star recruit Johnathan Gray leading the way, Texas will have one of the deepest and most talented backfields in college football this season.

50. Louis Nix III, Notre Dame

Notre Dame fans are certainly glad that LB Manti Te'o is returning for his senior year, as he is adept at shutting down the middle of the field and keeping opposing running backs in check.

The intimidating veteran linebacker is great at tracking down ball-carriers, but he'll be the first to admit that it definitely helps to have a big, strong nose tackle like Louis Nix III eating up blockers in front of him.

The 6'3", 326-pound Nix knows his job is to occupy blockers so other defenders like Te'o are free to roam around and make plays, and it's a job the powerful sophomore excels at.

Last year, Nix also showed that he can shed blocks and make plays, as he notched 45 total tackles in 2011, including 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

51. TE Nick O’Leary, Florida State

During his senior year at Florida's Dwyer High School, Nick O'Leary was the top-rated tight end prospect of the 2011 recruiting class.

While O'Leary failed to make a huge impact as a freshman last season—he only caught 12 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown—his future does look promising, and he should play a much bigger role in Florida State's offense in 2012.

The 6'4", 240-pound sophomore is the grandson of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, and you can tell that he's got some great athletic genes in his DNA.

O'Leary has the potential to be a valuable receiving weapon for QB E.J. Manuel this season, and it should be interesting to see how the Seminoles choose to utilize his pass-catching talents in 2012.

52. CB Blake Countess, Michigan

Michigan's pass defense was markedly improved last season after a dismal performance in 2010, and one of the players who helped solidify the secondary was CB Blake Countess.

Countess arrived in Ann Arbor last season as a highly touted 4-star recruit out of Maryland, and he paid immediate dividends for the Wolverines as a true freshman. Last year, he racked up 44 tackles and broke up six passes, and he proved to be a consistent and reliable starter in the second half of the season.

The 5'10", 176-pound sophomore is one of the most athletic and instinctive cornerbacks in the Big Ten, and after what he showed last season, it looks like he has the opportunity to develop into Michigan's next great cornerback.

53. OG Marcus Martin, USC

USC's offensive line may be losing its leader, left tackle Matt Kalil, the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, but the Trojans will still have plenty of talent up front in 2012.

One of the key returning linemen is OG Marcus Martin.

The 6'3", 325-pound Martin stepped into the starting lineup at left guard early last season, and he turned out to be a consistent cog between Kalil and center Khaled Holmes.

The Los Angeles native has the size and strength to excel as a run-blocker, and he's also agile and fundamentally sound enough to hold his own against bull-rushers when pass-blocking.

With Martin, Holmes and right guard John Martinez all returning, USC should have the strongest interior offensive line in the country in 2012.

54. LB Yawin Smallwood, Connecticut

Veteran senior Sio Moore may be the unquestioned leader of Connecticut's linebacker unit, but this season, Moore is going to be forced to share the spotlight with standout sophomore outside linebacker Yawin Smallwood.

After redshirting in 2010, Smallwood stepped into the lineup last season and turned in a supremely impressive performance, as he racked up 94 tackles in his first year of action.

The 6'3", 235-pound sophomore appears to have a bright future ahead of him, and with him, Moore and fellow linebacker Jory Johnson all returning this season, Connecticut will have one of the best linebacker units in the country in 2012.

55. WR Kasen Williams, Washington

Washington is bringing back one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country, Keith Price, but the problem is the Huskies lost many of their key offensive skill-position players from last year—most notably running back Chris Polk and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.

That means that players like WR Kasen Williams are going to have to step up in a big way and help out Price in 2012.

From a physical ability standpoint, Williams is one of the most talented offensive players in the Pac-12, and the former 4-star recruit out of Washington's Skyline High School could be in store for a breakout season this year.

Last season, the speedy 6'2", 216-pound sophomore caught 36 passes for 427 yards and six touchdowns, and he seemed to build a solid rapport with Price.

Williams has the talent to be a standout go-to receiving target for Washington's offense. Now he just has to prove that he can step up and handle the role in 2012.

56. K Andre Heidari, USC

Usually, if you have to rely on a freshman kicker, your fingernails are probably going to be pretty short by the time the season ends, but as it turns out, USC fans didn't have to worry at all about Andre Heidari last year.

Heidari knocked through 15 of his 17 field-goal attempts, with four of those kicks coming from over 40 yards, and he was a perfect 50-of-50 on extra-point attempts.

Heidari is definitely going to be a valuable special teams weapon for the Trojans for the next few seasons, and don't be surprised if he's ultimately the deciding factor in a few of USC's toughest games in 2012.

57. DE Anthony Chickillo, Miami (FL)

Miami's defensive line lost a lot of key pieces this offseason, including defensive tackles Marcus Forston and Micanor Regis and defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Marcus Robinson. However, luckily for the Hurricanes, they'll have one of the most talented young defensive ends in the country, Anthony Chickillo, back to lead the way up front in 2012.

Last year, Chickillo finished third in the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after tallying 35 tackles and five sacks during his first season.

The 6'4", 258-pound sophomore is a former 4-star recruit out of Tampa's Alonso High School who has already made good on his high school hype.

Chickillo has a motor that never stops, and he has the kind of size, strength, athleticism and "never quit" type of attitude to develop into one of the most feared edge-rushers in the country in 2012.

58. QB Brett Smith, Wyoming

Last summer, most preseason preview magazines picked Wyoming to finish near the bottom of the Mountain West, but instead the Cowboys came out and won eight regular-season games in 2011.

The steady play of first-year quarterback Brett Smith had a lot to do with the team's surprising success.

Smith completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and 20 touchdown passes last season, and he helped guide the Cowboys to just their third bowl game since 1993.

The 6'3", 195-pound sophomore is the leading returning passer in the conference, and it will be interesting to see what he can do in his second year as a starter in 2012.

59. RB Lyle McCombs, Connecticut

Connecticut has had dominant running backs such as Donald Brown and Jordan Todman in its backfield over the past few years, and it now has another talented featured rusher that it can exploit in Lyle McCombs.

McCombs was an unproven freshman going into last season, but after shoulder problems forced expected starter D.J. Shoemate to sit out the season, the door opened for the young back to step in and show what he had to offer.

Last year, McCombs was one of the most impressive freshman backs in the country, finishing second in the Big East with 1,151 rushing yards.

The 5'8", 166-pound sophomore was one of the lone bright spots on a Connecticut offense that ranked 108th in the country in total offense.

If the rest of the Huskies' skill-position players can step up this season, it will prevent opposing defenses from focusing so much of their attention on McCombs in 2012.

60. LB Derrick Matthews, Houston

QB Case Keenum and the Houston offense were the main focus during the Cougars' amazing 13-1 season last year. However, the team also had some standout performers on the defensive side of the ball, and one of the key playmakers was LB Derrick Matthews.

In his first year, the athletic outside linebacker tallied 106 total tackles, including 55 solo stops and 10 tackles for losses. He also picked off three passes and forced two fumbles.

The 6'0", 200-pound sophomore showed that he's got a tremendous radar for finding the football, and he proved that he's one of the top young defenders in Conference USA.

Houston's defense may have lost key leaders like linebackers Marcus McGraw and Sammy Brown, but Matthews seems like he's ready to step up and become the focal point of the Cougars defense in 2012.

Other Sophomore Quarterbacks to Watch

Brett Nottingham, Stanford

Chuckie Keeton, Utah State

Cody Fajardo, Nevada

David Ash, Texas

Jeff Driskel, Florida

Rakeem Cato, Marshall

Sean Mannion, Oregon State

Other Sophomore Running Backs to Watch

Anthon Samuel, Bowling Green

Brandon Wilds, South Carolina

Donovonn Young, Illinois

Harvey Langi, Utah

James Wilder Jr., Florida State

Jawan Chisholm, Akron

Jawan Jamison, Rutgers

Joey Iosefa, Hawaii

Marlin Lane Jr., Tennessee

Mike Bellamy, Clemson

Savon Huggins, Rutgers

Tre Mason, Auburn

Other Sophomore Wide Receivers to Watch

Alex Chisum, Cincinnati

Brandon Carter, TCU

Brandon Coleman, Rutgers

Christian Green, Florida State

David Porter III, TCU

DeAndrew White, Alabama

DeAnthony Arnett, Michigan State

Devon Blackmon, Oregon

Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss

Eli Rogers, Louisville

George Farmer, USC

Jarvis Landry, LSU

Justin Hardy, East Carolina 

Kenny Bell, Nebraska

Kevonte Martin-Manley, Iowa

Marquel Wade, Arkansas

Michael Bennett, Georgia

Michaelee Harris, Louisville

Quinton Dunbar, Florida 

T.J. Thorpe, North Carolina

Titus Davis, Central Michigan

Ty Montgomery, Stanford

Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

Verlon Reed, Ohio State

Other Sophomore Tight Ends to Watch

Ben Koyack, Notre Dame

Clive Walford, Miami

Colt Lyerla, Oregon

Eric Ebron, North Carolina

Jon Davis, Illinois

Xavier Grimble, USC

Other Sophomore Offensive Linemen to Watch

A.J. Cann, South Carolina

Bobby Vardaro, Boston College

Brett Boyko, UNLV

Chad Slade, Auburn

Chaz Green, Florida 

Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

Daryl Williams, Oklahoma

David Yankey, Stanford

Greg Mancz, Toledo

Hroniss Grasu, Oregon

Josh Cochran, Texas

Kaleb Johnson, Rutgers

Malcolm Bunche, Miami

Marcus Jackson, Tennessee

Quinterrius Eatmon, South Florida

Rowdy Harper, Houston

Travis Jackson, Michigan State

Other Sophomore Defensive Tackles to Watch

Andre Monroe, Maryland

Elkino Watson, South Florida

Gabe Wright, Auburn

Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina

Kerry Hyder, Texas Tech

Tim Jernigan, Florida State

Wade Keliikipi, Oregon

Other Sophomore Defensive Ends to Watch

Art Norman, North Carolina State

Corey Crawford, Clemson

Dylan Wynn, Oregon State

Jermauria Rasco, LSU

Keith Bowers, Maryland

Scott Crichton, Oregon State

Tyler Horn, Boise State

Other Sophomore Linebackers to Watch

A.J. Tarpley, Stanford

Adrian Hubbard, Alabama

Curt Maggitt, Tennessee

Desmond Morgan, Michigan

Dyshawn Davis, Syracuse

Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Lee Skinner, Buffalo

Stephone Anthony, Clemson

Trey Depriest, Alabama

Other Sophomore Cornerbacks to Watch

Bashaud Breeland, Clemson

Blair Burns, Wyoming

Bryce Callahan, Rice

Byron Jones, Connecticut

Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia

Floyd Raven, Texas A&M

Greg Henderson, Colorado

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Josh Atkinson, Notre Dame

Louchiez Purifoy, Florida 

Tim Scott, North Carolina

Other Sophomore Safeties to Watch

Avery Sebastian, California

Brian Randolph, Tennessee

Corey Moore, Georgia

Eric Rowe, Utah

Erique Florence, Auburn

Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Nathan Carpenter, Ohio

Tevin McDonald, UCLA

Tra'mayne Bondurant, Arizona