College Football's Most Underrated Players

We're in the ninth week of the college football season.  As hard as it is to believe, teams have already begun to become bowl eligible.  

Teams including Duke.  

The Blue Devils are bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.  Quarterback Sean Renfree and receiver Conner Vernon are having impressive seasons, but they don't make the cut for most underrated.

Also bowl eligible are undefeated Big East teams Louisville and Rutgers, who are both 7-0.  Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is underrated, as are running backs Senorise Perry and Jeremy Wright, but they don't crack the list either.  Neither does Scarlet Knights' running back Jawan Jamison, despite his 779 rushing yards this season.

And how about the Mississippi State Bulldogs?  

Mississippi State is 7-0 and running back LaDarius Perkins is having a nice year, but he doesn't crack the list either.

So, we're well into the season, and plenty of names need to start getting some attention by the national media.  

Here you go boys—finally some respect. 

AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama

It's hard to believe that the quarterback for the top ranked team in the nation is underrated.

McCarron leads the nation in quarterback rating at 183.6.  He has thrown 16 touchdowns but not a single interception.  These are incredibly impressive numbers and a huge reason why the Crimson Tide are undefeated and the top ranked team in the BCS.  

McCarron's passing yards are a big reason why he is so underrated.  He has thrown for 1,476 yards, ranking 61st in the nation, but he has completed 68.8 percent of his passes, ranking 15th among quarterbacks who qualify.  

It's time to start giving some love to the quarterback on the best team in the country.

Colby Cameron, QB, Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech surprised the college football world when it appeared in the T0op 25 poll a few weeks ago before losing a shootout to Texas A&M.  

The Bulldogs are led by quarterback Colby Cameron, who ranks sixth in the nation in passing yards with 2,306.  Cameron has also thrown 20 touchdowns and zero interceptions while getting sacked only seven times.

Cameron is underrated for his personal stats and his team's success.  The Bulldogs have beaten Illinois and Virginia on the road, and their only loss was to Texas A&M in a thrilling 59-57 showdown.

Cameron may very well be the best non-BCS conference quarterback in the country.

Rakeem Cato, QB, Marshall

Rakeem Cato leads the nation in passing yards with 2,651, yet nobody knows his name regardless of how cool it is.  

Cato has also thrown 21 touchdowns, which ranks fifth in the nation.  The downside to Cato is his seven interceptions in Marshall's seven games and the Thundering Herd's 3-4 record.  

Nonetheless, Cato's numbers deserve some recognition.

Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois

If you just look at these numbers, you'll think this is an All-American caliber running back that I'm talking about:

1,049 rushing yards (second in the nation)

13 rushing touchdowns (seventh in the nation)

7.0 yards per carry 

These are the stats of Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, who has also thrown for 1,710 yards and 13 touchdowns against only three interceptions.

Lynch also leads one of the best non-BCS conferences teams.  The Huskies are 7-1 and 4-0 in MAC play.  

Stefphon Jefferson, RB, Nevada

The 6-2 Nevada Wolf Pack use a heavy rushing attack which ranks sixth in the nation in yards on the ground.  Leading that rushing attack is running back Stefphon Jefferson, who leads the nation in rushing yards with 1,248.

Jefferson is also second in the nation in rushing touchdowns with 15.

A big reason why Jefferson leads the nation in rushing yards is that he also leads the nation in carries with 251.  The next most by a single player is 226 from Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell.

So the Nevada back's numbers reflect his touches, but he is a very underrated rusher.

Venric Mark, RB, Northwestern

The Northwestern Wildcats have a very good team and are 6-2.

Running back Venric Mark has helped lead the Wildcats to the 18th ranked rushing offense in the country.

Mark has rushed for 910 yards, which ranks 10th in the nation.  He has also rushed for nine touchdowns and averages a strong 6.1 yards per carry.

The Wildcats will be bowling this year, and Venric Mark is a big reason why.

Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona

Arizona got off to a hot start before losing three straight games, and the Wildcats now sit at 4-3.  

Despite the recent hiccups, running back Ka'Deem Carey has stayed consistent and has put up solid numbers.  Carey has rushed for 11 touchdowns, which ranks 10th in the nation. Carey has also rushed for 842 yards and has 222 receiving yards and a touchdown.  

Arizona's schedule gets slightly easier—so expect more big numbers from Carey.

Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

If Terrance Williams had put up these numbers when Robert Griffin III was at Baylor, he would be a Heisman candidate.

Instead, Williams is on a Baylor team that is 3-3 and winless in the Big 12.  

Williams leads the nation with 1,013 receiving yards and has also caught nine touchdowns, which ranks third in the nation.  

Williams is an ideal big-play threat, averaging 21.6 yards per catch.

This may not be RGIII's Baylor Bears—but they still have a superstar.

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

In Louisiana Tech's biggest game of the year, a home matchup with Texas A&M, Quinton Patton had the game of his life.

Patton caught 21 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns.  He did his part, but the Bulldogs still lost the game.

Patton is second in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 10 and is fifth in the nation in receiving yards with 806.

As mentioned with Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech is a very talented team, and it is in large part due to these two stars.

Taylor Heinicke, QB, Old Dominion

How about some love for the FCS?

Taylor Heinicke has thrown for 2,784 yards, more than any FBS quarterback, and he has also tossed 24 touchdown passes, which would be the third most in the FBS.

Old Dominion just got its football program back in 2009, and thanks to Heinicke, the Monarchs are 6-1 and 3-1 in the tough Colonial Athletic Association.

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