2013 College Football Players Whose Starting Job Is on the Line in Fall Camp

No job is safe.

As fall camps continue to unfold across the college football landscape, everybody is fighting for their starting spot. Whether you are a freshman kicker looking to earn respect or a veteran defensive lineman, each player must bring it during each practice to show the coaching staff he's ready to go come game day.

Some players are in serious danger of losing that starting position. This could be due to a younger and more talented player stepping on campus or the fact that the more experienced player isn't as effective as he once was.

A Michigan 1,000-yard running back and an Alabama offensive lineman are just a couple of the players fighting for jobs during fall camp.

Andrew Maxwell, QB, Michigan State

Last season, Michigan State couldn't get anything going offensively as a top rated defense led the way to a 7-6 record. Quarterback Andrew Maxwell didn't help matters by completing only 52.5 percent of his passes and throwing 13 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

Even with those struggles, Maxwell remains the favorite to retain the starting position due to his experience. However, redshirt sophomore Connor Cook is making a push, as well as redshirt freshman Tyler O’Connor and freshman Damion Terry.

Cook threw 17 passes last season, including a touchdown pass in the 17-16 victory against TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. He enters camp with a lot of confidence and hopes the coaching staff sees his progress. From an article by Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press, Cook had this to say:

"

Everyone wants to be the guy, everyone wants to be the starting quarterback, QB No. 1. That’s my ultimate goal, I want coach Dantonio to trust me enough to put me in as the starting quarterback.

"

When an offense finishes the year ranked 110th in scoring, every option at quarterback will be examined closely.

Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas

Arkansas lost a ton of offensive talent and is desperately looking for answers from anyone who can help. Running back Jonathan Williams showed potential last season by averaging 5.1 yards per carry on 45 touches. His size at 6'0", 220 pounds fits the system that new head coach Bret Bielema would like to run.

While he should get plenty of touches regardless, don't think for a second 2013 recruit Alex Collins isn't going to make a name for himself within the next few weeks. The 5-star recruit also has great size at 5'11", 204 pounds and a solid combination of speed and acceleration. He is the home run threat the Razorbacks need.

Bielema is going to use many running backs this season due to his love for physical football, but Collins could be the front-runner for the most carries if he lives up to his expectations in fall camp.

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Michigan

Fitzgerald Toussaint guaranteed that he will be the starting running back this season, according to Chantel Jennings of ESPN.

Toussaint was quoted as saying, “The starting running back August 31? I’m going to be the starting running back August 31.”

Not so fast.

Toussaint is still recovering from a nasty leg injury he suffered late in the year, and he has plenty of depth around him that will push him for playing time. Justice Hayes averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 18 touches, while Thomas Rawls scored four touchdowns on 57 carries. Another name to pay attention to is Derrick Green, who could easily start day one as a true-freshman.

Toussaint is the most experienced running back and did top 1,000 rushing yards in 2011, but he wasn't himself last season even before the injury. Even with 1,642 yards in his career, he will have to earn that starting job.

Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama

Alabama is in the best position a team can be in this close to the season. The only real bump in the road is at right tackle where Austin Shepherd and Leon Brown will battle it out for the starting spot.

Shepard has played in 17 games the last two seasons, but Brown is a JUCO transfer who has drawn a lot of attention during the offseason. Brown has massive size at 6'6", 315 pounds and is long and lengthy. He plays with good balance and is effective against both the run and the pass.

With camp already underway in Tuscaloosa, Marq Burnett of the Anniston Star revealed the early starting offensive line:

"Cyrus and Arie Kouandjio, Anthony Steen, Ryan Kelly and Leon Brown worked as the first-team offensive line today."

Brown is sure to get reps with the first-team and it wouldn't be surprising to see him beat out the more experienced Shepard.

Paul Millard, QB, West Virginia

Who is going to replace Geno Smith?

It looked like it was going to be last year's backup Paul Millard—who threw 19 passes, two of which were touchdowns. But that was before Clint Trickett transferred from Florida State and became eligible to play immediately.

Trickett saw inconsistent playing time in Tallahassee, as he threw for 947 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons. However, he learned under two NFL quarterbacks:Christian Ponder and E.J. Manuel all while showing flashes of potential.

The former Florida State starter told Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail that head coach Dana Holgorsen isn't handing him the starting job just yet:

"All Dana said was he's not promising me anything and that I'm going to get my chances. That's all I can ask for."

Trickett is the most experienced collegiate quarterback and has the most upside. Coaches usually pick the guy who gives the team the best chance to win, and this early it seems to be Trickett.

George Atkinson III, RB, Notre Dame

George Atkinson III has quietly played in the background of the Notre Dame backfield the last two seasons. While others were the lead runners, Atkinson was the versatile player who ran and caught the ball while also contributing on special teams.

With Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood no longer on the roster, this is the perfect opportunity for Atkinson to take on a starting role. The problem is that there is a logjam at running back and just about anybody could be named the lead runner.

Cam McDaniel and Will Mahone will fight for more playing time while Amir Carlisle is the dark horse if he can ever manage to stay healthy. There are also two talented running backs looking to burst onto the scene in true-freshmen Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston. Bryant has the skill set to win the starting job if he can quickly impress the coaching staff.

Running back is up in the air and unless Atkinson can blow away his competition, there's a chance he will continue to see limited playing time.

Matt Jones, RB, Florida

Florida is yet another team looking to find a lead running back with last year's workhorse Mike Gillislee now in a Miami Dolphins uniform. There are three young runners jockeying for position in Matt Jones, Mack Brown and Kelvin Taylor.

Jones was the favorite early on after scoring three touchdowns last season on 52 carries, but he recently battled a viral infection that resulted in the loss of roughly 10 pounds according to the Orlando Sentinel. He hopes to participate in physical activates next week, but this could end up being a major setback that gives the other runners a leg up on the competition.

Brown is an experienced runner who has averaged 4.1 yards a carry in his career, while Taylor is a true-freshman who has the tools to be special like his father, former Florida great Fred Taylor.

Unless Jones can overcome the illness and get back in shape, his potential starting job is in serious jeopardy.

Max Wittek, QB, USC

It's been a while since quarterback was an issue for USC. Well, here we are. The starting quarterback will be a key position battle between Max Wittek, Cody Kessler and Max Browne.

Wittek replaced Matt Barkley at the end of last season due to injury, and he threw for 388 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. While some cringe at the fact three of those turnovers came in the 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech in the Hyundai Sun Bowl, it's important to know he was a young quarterback being thrown into the fire for the first time.

Kessler has thrown two passes in his career, both of which came in mop-up duty in the 50-6 victory over Colorado. The dark horse in the race is true-freshman Browne, who enrolled early in the spring in hopes to make an impression. He has tremendous upside and was a 5-star recruit for a reason, but will USC really roll the dice with a first-year player?

This is an area where the coaching staff will be very careful, as head coach Lane Kiffin even offered the possibility of playing two quarterbacks early on in the season according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times:

"We'd never say never. We haven't done that before. But we'll see."

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