Every BCS Conference Team's Breakout Player of the Year
Just as there are in the night sky, there are many different kinds of stars in college football.
You've got the knowns and the unknowns. The known stars are the ones who are talked about months before the first snap is ever taken, either because of inflated hype or due to previous years' performances. Then there are the unknowns, the ones who burst onto the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, by contributing to their teams in a way that wasn't expected.
The known stars get plenty of attention. This is about those players who made a name for themselves during the 2013 season, with one for each and every BCS conference team.
Alabama Crimson Tide
1 of 72
Kenyan Drake, So., Alabama
2013 By The Numbers: 694 rushing yards, eight touchdowns; 135 receiving yards, one TD
The Skinny: Drake was strictly a reserve back as a freshman, but this season, he became part of a two-back rotation for the Crimson Tide and responded by averaging 7.5 yards per carry. His best two-game stretch saw him rush for 100-plus yards and two touchdowns against both Kentucky and Arkansas in October.
Arizona Wildcats
2 of 72
Scooby Wright, Fr., LB
2013 By The Numbers: 78 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception
The Skinny: Wright started in the middle of Arizona's 3-3-5 lineup from the first snap of the season opener, impressing with his speed and tackling skills. He was on the receiving end of a tipped interception at the start of the Wildcats' upset win over Oregon, showing his tendency to be in the right place at the right time.
Arizona State Sun Devils
3 of 72
Jaelen Strong, So., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 71 receptions, 1,094 yards, seven touchdowns
The Skinny: Strong, a junior college transfer, quickly rose to the top of Arizona State's receiving corps, logging seven 100-yard games, including five straight form mid-September to mid-October. Injuries slowed him in the middle of the season, but he still finished more than 450 yards ahead of the Sun Devils' next-best pass-catcher, D.J. Foster.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Arkansas Razorbacks
4 of 72
Alex Collins, Fr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,026 rushing yards, four touchdowns
The Skinny: The highly recruited Alex Collins made an instant impact at the college level by rushing for 100-plus yards in his first three games. Arkansas' struggles in league play caused his touches to decrease, as the team was constantly playing from behind, but Collins still finished in the top 10 in the SEC in rushing.
Auburn Tigers
5 of 72
Nick Marshall, Jr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,759 passing yards, 12 touchdowns; 1,023 rushing yards, 11 TDs
The Skinny: The junior college transfer and former Georgia defensive back showed off his dual-threat skills throughout Auburn's magical season, throwing for as many as 339 yards in a game while also registering four 100-yard rushing performances. He was picked off only five times and averaged a stout 6.6 yards per carry on 156 rushing attempts.
Baylor Bears
6 of 72
Bryce Petty, Jr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 3,844 passing yards, 30 touchdowns; 11 rushing TDs
The Skinny: Petty had 14 career pass attempts entering the season after playing behind Robert Griffin III and Nick Florence. But once he became the starter, he instantly took off. Petty tossed just two interceptions in 356 attempts, and his ability to run when needed enabled him to rush for a TD in eight straight games at one point.
Boston College Eagles
7 of 72
Andre Williams, Sr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,102 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns
The Skinny: Williams had 1,562 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first three seasons at BC, but under first-year coach Steve Addazio, he became the top running back in the nation. His yardage tally is eighth-best in FBS history for one season, with a bowl game yet to come.
California Golden Bears
8 of 72
Kenny Lawler, Fr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 37 receptions, 347 yards, five touchdowns
The Skinny: California's pass-everywhere approach under first-year coach Sonny Dykes led to big receiving numbers throughout the lineup, but Lawler's numbers showed he'll be one to watch as he continues his collegiate career. He took off late in the season, particularly during a three-game stretch in which he had 18 catches for 207 yards and all five of his TDs.
Central Florida Knights
9 of 72
Blake Bortles, Jr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 3,280 passing yards, 22 touchdowns; five rushing TDs
The Skinny: Bortles' numbers this year are similar to the ones he put up as a sophomore (3,059 yards, 25 TDs). The difference this season was his big-play ability and his knack for leading UCF to signature victories. He threw for 288 yards and three TDs in a win at Penn State and threw for 250 yards and two TDs in the Knights' BCS-defining win at Louisville.
Cincinnati Bearcats
10 of 72
Brendon Kay, Sr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 3121 passing yards, 22 touchdowns; six rushing TDs
The Skinny: The sixth-year senior became a full-time starter for the first time after Munchie Legeaux was lost for the season in September. He responded admirably, averaging 299 yards and completing almost 69 percent of his throws over the final 10 games of the year.
Clemson Tigers
11 of 72
Bashaud Breeland, Jr., DB
2013 By The Numbers: 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions
The Skinny: Breeland was a big reason for Clemson's success on defense, playing an active role in more than just pass coverage. Coming off an injury-plagued sophomore season, his ability to take down runners enabled the Tigers to hold teams to just 21 points per game.
Colorado Buffaloes
12 of 72
Paul Richardson, Jr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 83 receptions, 1,343 yards, 10 touchdowns
The Skinny: After missing last season due to a knee injury, Richardson returned with a bang, catching 10 passes for 208 yards and two TDs in the Buffaloes' season-opening win over rival Colorado State. Richardson was the epitome of a big-play back, averaging more than 50 yards on his TD catches.
Connecticut Huskies
13 of 72
Casey Cochran, Fr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,293 yards, 11 touchdowns
The Skinny: Cochran didn't become the Huskies' starting quarterback until the final month of the season, but that coincided with Connecticut playing far better down the stretch. UConn was 3-1 with Cochran at the helm, averaging 278 yards per game with nine touchdowns, including a 461-yard, four-touchdown effort in the season-ending win over Memphis.
Duke Blue Devils
14 of 72
DeVon Edwards, Fr., CB/KR
2013 By The Numbers: Three interceptions, two touchdowns; 31.1 yards per kickoff return, two TDs
The Skinny: After redshirting his first season with Duke, Edwards showed off his ability to make big plays at key times this fall. He scored three touchdowns on returns in a comeback win over North Carolina State, one on a 100-yard kickoff return and the others on interceptions on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter.
Edwards added a kickoff-return TD in Duke's division-clinching win over North Carolina to end the regular season.
Florida Gators
15 of 72
Vernon Hargreaves III, Fr., DB
2013 By The Numbers: 39 tackles, three interceptions
The Skinny: Hargreaves had one of the best seasons in Florida history for a true freshman, tying Janoris Jenkins' school record of 11 pass breakups. He was named to the third team of the Associated Press' All-America team, and he was also a first-team all-SEC selection.
Florida State Seminoles
16 of 72
Jameis Winston, Fr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 3,820 passing yards, 38 touchdowns; four rushing TDs
The Skinny: Winston had some hype coming into the season, but no one could have predicted this kind of output. The redshirt freshman became the second first-year player to win the Heisman Trophy, setting numerous freshman FBS records. He completed nearly 68 percent of his throws and led Florida State to an unbeaten regular season and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.
Georgia Bulldogs
17 of 72
Ramik Wilson, Jr., LB
2013 By The Numbers: 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks
The Skinny: After registering just 10 tackles in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, Wilson blew up as a junior, with a team-best 72 tackles, earning All-SEC first-team honors along the way.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
18 of 72
Vad Lee, So., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,414 passing yards, 10 touchdowns; 489 rushing yards, eight TDs
The Skinny: In his first season as the full-time starter, Lee showed off both his running ability in the team's option offense and a strong arm that could hit the deep pass. Though he only completed 47 percent of his throws, he averaged 18.4 yards per completion.
Houston Cougars
19 of 72
Deontay Greenberry, So., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 76 receptions, 1,106 yards, 10 touchdowns
The Skinny: Deontay Greenberry nearly doubled his production from a strong freshman season to become the go-to receiver in Houston's pass-heavy attack. He had five 100-yard receiving games and averaged more than 14 yards per catch.
Illinois Fighting Illini
20 of 72
Josh Ferguson, So., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 779 rushing yards, seven touchdowns; 535 receiving yards, four TDs
The Skinny: Ferguson not only averaged 5.5 yards per carry as Illinois' featured back, he was equally involved in the passing game with 50 receptions—the second-most on the team. He had three 100-yard rushing games and a 100-yard receiving effort as well.
Indiana Hoosiers
21 of 72
Tevin Coleman, So., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 958 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns
The Skinny: Coleman had a breakout year in 2013 after gaining just 225 yards as a freshman. And his numbers likely would have been much higher had an ankle injury not sidelined him for the final three games of the season. He had four 100-yard games and three games with two rushing TDs, including a 215-yard, two-TD performance in his final game, a win over Illinois.
Iowa Hawkeyes
22 of 72
Jake Rudock, So., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,281 passing yards, 18 touchdowns; five rushing TDs
The Skinny: Rudock didn't see any game action in his first two years with the Iowa Hawkeyes, but after being named the starter out of training camp, he put up solid numbers, including a 60 percent completion percentage. He also managed to get sacked just 11 times all season.
Iowa State Cyclones
23 of 72
Quenton Bundrage, So., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 48 receptions, 676 receiving yards, nine touchdowns
The Skinny: Bundrage more than doubled his catches and tripled his yardage from 2012, and he also upped his scores from two to nine to become Iowa State's top receiving threat. He had three multi-touchdown games, including in the Cyclones' season-ending overtime win over West Virginia.
Kansas Jayhawks
24 of 72
Trevor Pardula, Jr., P
2013 By The Numbers: averaged 43.7 yards on 84 punts this season, including a long of 78 yards
The Skinny: On a team that didn't have much going for it offensively or defensively, Pardula's ability to flip the field with his punting was critical. The junior college transfer had 25 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, and his average ranked 19th nationally.
Kansas State Wildcats
25 of 72
Ryan Mueller, Jr., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 61 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles
The Skinny: The Big 12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year is tied for the Kansas State record for sacks in a season heading into Saturday's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Michigan. A former walk-on, Mueller started to gain attention after he stripped Baylor QB Bryce Petty in a highlight-reel play in October.
Kentucky Wildcats
26 of 72
Javess Blue, Jr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 43 receptions, 586 yards, four touchdowns
The Skinny: Kentucky didn't have much go well in Mark Stoops' first season, but the future looks bright thanks to standouts like Javess Blue, who was solid in his first year with the Wildcats after being a junior college All-American the year before. He caught more than 20 percent of the team's completed passes, providing a strong target for both of Kentucky's quarterbacks.
Louisville Cardinals
27 of 72
Marcus Smith, Sr., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 40 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 13 sacks
The Skinny: Smith was a standout quarterback in high school, but over his time at Louisville, he blossomed into a pretty good linebacker and, eventually, one of the best defensive linemen in the country. His 13 sacks were the second-most in the FBS.
LSU Tigers
28 of 72
Jarvis Landry, Jr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 75 receptions, 1,172 yards, 10 touchdowns
The Skinny: Landry more than doubled his yardage total from the season before, despite having only 19 more receptions, and he also doubled his TD catches. He had five 100-yard receiving games, giving the Tigers one of the nation's most potent 1-2 pass-catching tandems alongside Odell Beckham.
Maryland Terrapins
29 of 72
C.J. Brown, Sr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,045 passing yards, 11 touchdowns; 538 rushing yards, 12 TDs
The Skinny: Brown was a huge part of Maryland's 4-0 start this season, and he was a big reason the team struggled after injuries started to mount on him midway through the year. He averaged more than 260 passing yards during the first four games and had four 100-yard rushing performances over the course of the season.
Memphis Tigers
30 of 72
Paxton Lynch, Fr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,056 passing yards, nine touchdowns; two rushing TDs
The Skinny: Lynch didn't have the greatest numbers, but they were solid for a Memphis team that struggled offensively all season. He beat out senior Jacob Karam for the starting job and averaged more than 10 yards per completion.
Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes
31 of 72
Allen Hurns, Sr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 60 receptions, 1,138 yards, six touchdowns
The Skinny: Hurns improved leaps and bounds from his junior season, tallying more catches than he had previously in three years with the Hurricanes. He had six 100-yard receiving games, including in each of Miami's final four contests, capping off the season with nine receptions and 173 yards in a win at Pittsburgh.
Michigan Wolverines
32 of 72
Blake Countess, So., CB
2013 By The Numbers: 42 tackles, six interceptions
The Skinny: Countess had a solid freshman season, but he missed last year after blowing out his knee in the season opener against Alabama. He rebounded big time this season, recording the sixth-most interceptions in the FBS, returning one for a touchdown in a 42-13 win over Minnesota that put the Wolverines at 5-0.
Michigan State Spartans
33 of 72
Jeremy Langford, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,338 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns
The Skinny: Langford played only on special teams as a freshman, and then he had just nine carries in mop-up duty last season. Once he got the starting gig this year, though, he made all that a distant memory, especially when he ended the year with eight straight 100-yard rushing games.
That stretch also saw him score 13 touchdowns, including the game-sealing TD run to beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
34 of 72
David Cobb, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,111 rushing yards, seven touchdowns
The Skinny: David Cobb had just 65 yards in his first two seasons, an output he surpassed in Minnesota's first game this year. He finished with six 100-yard rushing games and averaged more than five yards per carry.
Mississippi Rebels
35 of 72
Jaylen Walton, So., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 470 rushing yards, six touchdowns; 319 receiving yards, two TDs
The Skinny: Walton became much more involved in the offense in the second half of the year, especially after Jeff Scott was lost to injury. He was a key part of the Rebels' upset win over LSU, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns. And for the season, he was a viable receiving option, with 27 catches out of the backfield.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
36 of 72
Dak Prescott, So., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,657 passing yards, seven touchdowns; 751 rushing yards, 11 TDs
The Skinny: Prescott was a dangerous threat both as a passer and a rusher, throwing for 200-plus yards four times and rushing for more than 100 yards in four games. He also achieved folk hero status with his performance in the Egg Bowl win over Ole Miss, returning from injury to spark the late comeback and overtime triumph.
Missouri Tigers
37 of 72
Michael Sam, Sr., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 45 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks
The Skinny: Michael Sam went from being a solid defender to one of the most well-regarded pass-rushers in the nation, tallying more sacks and tackles for loss as a senior than he did in his first three seasons with Missouri. He was named to various All-American first teams and is rising up draft boards.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
38 of 72
Randy Gregory, So., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 61 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks
The Skinny: Gregory was supposed to be at Purdue, but he didn't qualify academically. The Boilermakers' loss was Nebraska's gain, as after one season in junior college, he burst onto the FBS scene. He had nine of his sacks in Big Ten play, more than anyone else in the conference, providing some stability on a defense that gave up too many big plays.
North Carolina Tar Heels
39 of 72
Ryan Switzer, Fr., WR/PR
2013 By The Numbers: 29 receptions, 319 yards, three touchdowns; 20.0 yards per punt return, four return TDs
The Skinny: Switzer had a catch in all but one of North Carolina's games this season, but his biggest impact was in the return game. He led the nation in punt return TDs, and his return average was the second-best in the FBS.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
40 of 72
Robert Caldwell, Sr., LB
2013 By The Numbers: 105 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception
The Skinny: Caldwell was one of the few bright spots on a Wolfpack defense that allowed 30 points per game. He led the team in tackles and tackles for loss after moving into the starting middle linebacker slot in the second game of the season.
Northwestern Wildcats
41 of 72
Treyvon Green, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 736 rushing yards, eight touchdowns
The Skinny: Treyvon Green had a breakout junior year, nearly doubling the output he had over his first two seasons. He had five touchdown runs in Northwestern's first three games, finished with three 100-yard games and had a career game when he rushed for 149 yards and three TDs in a loss to Nebraska.
Ohio State Buckeyes
42 of 72
Noah Spence, So., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks
The Skinny: While Ryan Shazier and Bradley Roby were dominant from their respective parts of the Buckeyes defense, Noah Spence held down the front line that was completely new for this year. His eight sacks led the team.
Oklahoma Sooners
43 of 72
Charles Tapper, So., DE
2013 By The Numbers: 47 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks
The Skinny: A first-team All-Big 12 choice by the coaches, Charles Tapper flourished after hardly getting on the field as a freshman. He was a key to the Sooners' 27th-rated rushing defense this season.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
44 of 72
Desmond Roland, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 745 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns; three receiving TDs
The Skinny: Desmond Roland didn't become a big part of Oklahoma State's game plan until the second half of the season, but once he got his chance, he made the most of it. Roland's breakout game was a 219-yard, four-TD effort in a win over Iowa State, followed by a three-TD game against Texas Tech. He also scored two touchdowns in the Bedlam loss to Oklahoma.
Oregon Ducks
45 of 72
Josh Huff, Sr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 57 receptions, 1,036 yards, 11 touchdowns
The Skinny: Huff filled the void left by De'Anthony Thomas' injury issues in Oregon's passing game. He averaged more than 18 yards per catch and pulled in a TD in eight different games. He capped off the year with a massive 186-yard, three-TD effort in the Civil War win over Oregon State, scoring the game-winning TD with 29 seconds left.
Oregon State Beavers
46 of 72
Brandin Cooks, Jr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 128 receptions, 1,730 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns; two rushing TDs
The Skinny: Cooks was a good receiver in his first two seasons, but he became a great one in 2013. He had no fewer than six receptions or 80 yards in every regular season game, amassing six 10-catch games and tallying at least two TDs in five of the Beavers' first six games en route to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
Penn State Nittany Lions
47 of 72
Christian Hackenberg, Fr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,955 passing yards, 20 touchdowns; four rushing TDs
The Skinny: Hackenberg burst onto the college landscape with three 300-yard passing games in Penn State's first six contests. He then finished out one of the best freshman QB seasons in FBS history by throwing for 339 yards and four TDs in an upset win at Wisconsin.
Pittsburgh Panthers
48 of 72
Tyler Boyd, Fr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 85 receptions, 1,174 yards, 11 touchdowns
The Skinny: Boyd conjured up memories of Larry Fitzgerald with his breakout freshman campaign, putting up stellar numbers even as Pittsburgh's passing game struggled at times. He finished out the year with 173 receiving yards as well as a punt return touchdown in the Panthers' Little Caesars Pizza Bowl win over Bowling Green.
Purdue Boilermakers
49 of 72
Danny Etling, Fr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,690 passing yards, 10 touchdowns
The Skinny: Danny Etling was handed the reins to Purdue's passing game midway through the year, and he provided hope for the future with his play in the final month. That included a breakout final game when he threw for 485 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to Indiana.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
50 of 72
Paul James, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 833 rushing yards, nine touchdowns
The Skinny: James has given Rutgers fans hope that the move to the Big Ten could be a favorable one thanks to his running. Despite missing four straight games with injuries midway through the season, he still tallied four 100-yard rushing games and averaged 5.7 yards per carry for the year.
SMU Mustangs
51 of 72
Jeremy Johnson, Sr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 112 receptions, 1,112 yards, six touchdowns
The Skinny: Johnson put up numbers that greatly surpassed those that he put up in his first three seasons at SMU, finishing the year third in the FBS with 9.3 receptions per game. He had six 100-yard receiving games, most notably an 18-catch, 217-yard, three-TD performance in an overtime loss to Rutgers.
South Carolina Gamecocks
52 of 72
Mike Davis, So., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,134 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns; 32 receptions, 342 yards
The Skinny: Davis quadrupled the output he had as a freshman, providing a consistent run presence to go with South Carolina's solid passing game. Injuries slowed him late in the year, but he still finished with seven 100-yard games and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
South Florida Bulls
53 of 72
Marvin Kloss, Jr., K
2013 By The Numbers: 18-of-23 on field goals, 15-of-15 on extra points
The Skinny: For a team that averaged just 13.8 points per game, Kloss was an absolute stud. After serving as the kickoff specialist for his first two years, he was quite efficient this season in his limited scoring action. He made 11 field goals of 40-plus yards, including four of more than 50 yards.
Syracuse Orange
54 of 72
Terrel Hunt, So., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,450 passing yards, 10 touchdowns; 426 rushing yards, five TDs
The Skinny: Terrel Hunt took over as the starting QB after Syracuse began the year 0-2, and he responded with seven touchdown passes in his first two games. He also rushed for 90 or more yards in a pair of games and finished with 360 yards of total offense in the season-ending win over Boston College that made the Orange bowl eligible.
Stanford Cardinal
55 of 72
Ty Montgomery, Sr., WR/KR
2013 By The Numbers: 937 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns; 31.2 yards per kickoff return, two return TDs; two rushing TDs
The Skinny: Ty Montgomery was a big-play threat no matter how he touched the ball, finishing the regular season ninth nationally in all-purpose yards at 161 per game. He had three 100-yard receiving games, two long kickoff return scores and registered five touchdowns in a win over rival California.
TCU Horned Frogs
56 of 72
Paul Dawson, Jr., LB
2013 By The Numbers: 92 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one interception
The Skinny: Dawson went from being a reserve in 2012 to one of the top linebackers in the Big 12 this past season. He had five games with 12 or more tackles in the Horned Frogs' final seven games.
Temple Owls
57 of 72
Tyler Matakevich, Fr., LB
2013 By The Numbers: 137 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception
The Skinny: Tyler Matakevich was one of the nation's most impactful freshmen, finishing second in the FBS in tackles, with a nation-leading 105 of those of the solo variety.
Tennessee Volunteers
58 of 72
Marquez North, Fr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 38 receptions, 496 yards, one touchdown
The Skinny: Tennessee's passing game was one of the worst in the nation this season, but there's hope for the future with the way Marquez North was able to catch passes. Though he only scored one time all year, his 102 receiving yards were critical to the Volunteers' upset win over South Carolina in October.
Texas Longhorns
59 of 72
Malcolm Brown, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 774 rushing yards, nine touchdowns; two receiving TDs
The Skinny: Brown became Texas' featured rush option in the second half of the year, averaging more than 100 yards per game over the final seven contests. More a workhorse than a speed back, Brown carried at least 25 times in each of the Longhorns' final four games.
Texas A&M Aggies
60 of 72
Derel Walker, Sr., WR
2013 By The Numbers: 45 receptions, 705 yards, four touchdowns
The Skinny: Derel Walker had only eight catches as a junior, but this season, he became Johnny Manziel's No. 2 option behind Mike Evans. He enters the Aggies' matchup with Duke in the Chik-Fil-A Bowl averaging nearly 16 yards per reception.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
61 of 72
Jace Amaro, Jr., TE
2013 By The Numbers: 98 receptions, 1,240 yards, seven touchdowns
The Skinny: The nation's most prolific tight end played more like a wideout, with a kind of speed not normally seen from his position. Amaro had a stretch of nine games with at least eight receptions, and he tallied more than 100 yards on five occasions.
UCLA Bruins
62 of 72
Myles Jack, Fr., RB/LB
2013 By The Numbers: 267 rushing yards, seven touchdowns; 70 tackles, five tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception
The Skinny: Jack was having a solid year as a linebacker before UCLA put him in the backfield late in the season. That's when his season took off, thanks to seven rushing TDs and a 7.2 yards-per-carry average. The two-way action enabled him to win the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year award on both offense and defense.
USC Trojans
63 of 72
Javorius Allen, So., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 785 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns; 252 receiving yards, one TD
The Skinny: Javorius Allen didn't get involved in USC's offense until after Ed Orgeron took over as interim coach midway through the season. Once he did, though, he maximized his opportunities, scoring 13 total touchdowns over the final six games of the year and rushing for more than 120 yards in four of those contests.
Utah Utes
64 of 72
Andy Phillips, Fr., K
2013 By The Numbers: 41-of-41 on extra points, 17-of-20 on field goals
The Skinny: A former skier who was part of the U.S. national team before coming to Utah, Phillips was Mr. Reliable for the Utes. He made his first 12 field goal kicks of the season and finished the year with nine field goals of 40 or more yards.
Vanderbilt Commodores
65 of 72
Austyn Carta-Samuels, Sr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 2,268 passing yards, 11 touchdowns; five rushing TDs
The Skinny: Austyn Carta-Samuels returned to the production he had in his freshman and sophomore seasons but with much more accuracy, completing 68.7 percent of his throws. He had three 300-yard games and had a 76.1 percent completion rate in the Commodores' final three regular season games.
Virginia Cavaliers
66 of 72
Kevin Parks, Jr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,031 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns; 38 receptions, 329 yards, one TD
The Skinny: Virginia's season-long struggles didn't extend to Kevin Parks, who provided offensive consistency both as a rusher and as a reliable receiver. He had six 100-yard rushing games and had eight contests with at least three receptions.
Virginia Tech Hokies
67 of 72
Kendall Fuller, Fr., DB
2013 By The Numbers: 56 tackles, six interceptions
The Skinny: Fuller made an instant impact in Virginia Tech's secondary, starting 11 games in his first season with the program. His six interceptions were tied for sixth in the nation and made him one of the toughest corners to throw toward.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
68 of 72
Nikita Whitlock, Sr., DT
2013 By The Numbers: 70 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks
The Skinny: Wake Forest wasn't very good this season, but that didn't apply to Nikita Whitlock, who swallowed up rushers trying to shoot it up the gut. Overshadowed in the ACC by Clemson's Vic Beasley and Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, Whitlock has shown the kind of versatility to where scouts are looking at him as a possible NFL fullback, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
Washington Huskies
69 of 72
Hau'Oli Kikaha, Jr., DL
2013 By The Numbers: 61 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks
The Skinny: Hau'Oli Kikaha bounced back from knee injuries that cost him most of the 2011 season and all of 2012 to provide a front-line boost for the Huskies. His efforts earned him second-team All-Pac 12 honors.
Washington State Cougars
70 of 72
Connor Halliday, Jr., QB
2013 By The Numbers: 4,597 passing yards, 34 touchdowns
The Skinny: Halliday thrived in his first year as a full-time starter, notching four games of 400-plus yards while setting numerous school passing records in Mike Leach's Air Raid offense. Though his 22 interceptions were troubling, Halliday completed nearly 63 percent of this throws and finished the year with a six-touchdown effort in the New Mexico Bowl.
West Virginia Mountaineers
71 of 72
Charles Sims, Sr., RB
2013 By The Numbers: 1,095 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns; 45 receptions, 401 yards, three TDs
The Skinny: Charles Sims was able to play right away after transferring from Houston, and his production kept West Virginia's disappointing year from being worse. He had four 100-yard rushing games and caught at least two passes in each of the Mountaineers' final nine games.
Wisconsin Badgers
72 of 72
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
2013 By The Numbers: 1,466 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns
The Skinny: Gordon showed off his speed and big-play ability throughout the year for Wisconsin, averaging an absurd 8.1 yards per carry. Though he shared touches with James White, thus never rushing more than 22 times in a game, he still had seven 100-yard games.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
