10 Best Rising Seniors for 2015 College Football Season
The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2015 NFL draft has passed, and 74 non-seniors are headed for football's premier professional league. But what about the guys who decided to stay in school for another year?
This piece will focus on 10 college football players who ultimately elected to use their final chance to showcase their skills at the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2015.
Consistency, previous performance and the opportunity to excel given a respective team's scheme are each factored into the list.
A "rising senior" is classified as an athlete who just completed his junior campaign and will be returning for his final season of eligibility, no matter if he's a fourth- or fifth-year senior. The list is organized alphabetically by program.
As always, please join the conversation in the comments. Feel free to add another rising senior you think is deserving, too.
Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
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Reggie Ragland was a special teams standout for the Crimson Tide during his first two years before becoming a full-time starter as a junior. But then, he spent the beginning of the season in senior Trey DePriest's shadow.
Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News notes Ragland overcame a slow start and evolved into a leader.
The former 4-star recruit amassed the second-most total tackles on the team with 95, recording 10.5 for loss. Ragland also defended four passes, forced three fumbles, recovered one and grabbed one interception, quietly earning first-team All-SEC.
In 2015, the 6'2", 254-pound linebacker—who is already one of the nation's more vicious hitters—will be the main attraction in the vaunted Alabama defense.
Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor
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If you think offensive linemen are the most underrated players on the football field, I won't disagree. If you think Baylor's Spencer Drango has the most elite surname of those important players, I won't disagree.
But without a doubt, Drango's best attribute is his dominance in the trenches.
A 6'5", 310-pounder, he was named co-Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-American in 2014. However, John Werner of the Waco Tribune notes the NFL Draft Advisory Board recommended the Bears' left tackle stay in school.
Consequently, the NFL's temporary loss is Baylor's immense gain since Drango has started 35 games at the school. He's already proved himself to be an elite college player, but 2015 provides Drango another opportunity to own the college ranks.
Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
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A critical part of Duke's 4-2-5 defense, Jeremy Cash does a little bit of everything for the Blue Devils.
He plays the "Strike" position, one of the most demanding roles for a defensive player due to the versatility required in run support and pass coverage.
Last season, Cash racked up 111 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Additionally, he broke up seven passes, recorded five quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles (recovering one) and nabbed two interceptions.
The two-time All-American will again be in the conversation for top honors in 2015. Quarterbacks better locate Cash before each snap, lest he destroy every opponent for another year.
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Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
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Michigan State received a significant boost when Connor Cook decided to return for his senior campaign—along with Shilique Calhoun and Jack Conklin, of course.
A handful of analysts projected Cook to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, but strictly from a fundamentals perspective, he made the correct decision to stay in East Lansing. The 6'4" quarterback has a tendency to throw off his back foot when under pressure, which has resulted in some ugly, inaccurate passes.
Regardless, Cook completed 58.1 percent of his passes last year, tallying 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
The Spartans will again be a tough opponent because of Cook's efficiency under center, and another solid season should keep him in the conversation as a Day 1 pick.
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
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After starting the season with little talk of a potential pro declaration, Ronnie Stanley emerged as a top draft-eligible tackle despite Notre Dame's disappointing 8-5 year.
The 6'5.5", 315-pound lineman rose to No. 15 on B/R Lead NFL Draft Writer Matt Miller's board, but Stanley chose to play another season with the Irish in hopes of winning a national championship, per UND.com:
"I want to play on the top stage so I've decided that I'm returning to Notre Dame for my senior year.
We've got a chance to have a special season next year. Many of my teammates are returning, and I've made strong bonds with lots of them. If all of them weren't coming back this year, it would've made it an easier decision to leave. All this, the opportunity to graduate, and much more, led to my decision to stay.
"
Notre Dame returns 19 starters—pending quarterback Everett Golson's status—yet Stanley should demand the majority of headlines.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma opened the 2014 campaign with high expectations, and Sterling Shepard was a key to any potential championship run—whether conference or national.
Though the Sooners lost two of their first seven games, Shepard did his part. The 5'10" receiver exploded for 215 yards and one touchdown in a 37-33 loss to TCU, then tallied 197 yards and one score in a 31-30 loss to Kansas State.
Ultimately, his 51 receptions matched a career high and 970 yards set a personal-best mark, but a groin injury sustained on a 46-yard catch effectively ended Shepard's season with five games remaining.
Nevertheless, he was a first-team All-Big 12 receiver despite limited availability down the stretch, so just imagine Shepard's production fully active for a 13-game slate. Yes, Shepard is definitely one to watch in 2015.
Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
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Prior to his junior season, Trevone Boykin was still searching for a position. It's safe to say he's found a home at quarterback.
In 2014, the dual-threat weapon compiled 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns with his arm, adding 707 yards and eight scores on the ground. Boykin's outstanding year earned him second-team All-America recognition.
The Horned Frogs finished 12-1 and appeared at No. 3 in the final rankings, but he's already looking past those accomplishments, according to Carlos Mendez of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"Those numbers are based off last year's team, and we're no longer last year's team," Boykin said. "We have to prove ourselves once again."
Boykin is certain to be a preseason Heisman favorite while he prepares to lead TCU's realistic charge toward the College Football Playoff.
Cody Kessler, QB, USC
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Expect 2015 to be the "Curious Case of Cody Kessler" at USC. Last season, he amassed 3,826 yards, matched a school record with 39 touchdowns and completed 69.7 percent of his passes—the third-best clip in the nation.
Since Buck Allen, Nelson Agholor and George Farmer each forewent their final season of collegiate eligibility, however, the Trojans must replace 60.2 percent of their offensive yards.
With that being said, the honorable mention All-Pac-12 gunslinger was picked off a mere five times on 452 attempts. Accuracy isn't merely a product of one superstar wideout and reliable receiving back, though the breadth of talent that once surrounded Kessler admittedly helped.
Regardless, Kessler has a chance to prove he's not just a distributor, all while being one of the most closely analyzed players in the nation. Though at USC, that pressure comes with the territory.
Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
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Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi, Mike Davis and a handful of other top running backs bolted for the NFL.
But Devontae Booker stayed. And in 2015, he can establish himself as the nation's premier senior runner.
As a junior, the first-team All-Pac-12 honoree raced to 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns, eclipsing the 140-yard mark six times. Booker also caught 43 passes—the 10th most nationally by a running back—for 306 yards and two scores.
Utah returns four starting offensive linemen and a pair of key reserves, so Booker is in fantastic position to rise toward the top of his class.
Dadi Nicolas, DE, Virginia Tech
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Though he's likely the relative unknown of this list, Dadi Nicolas is familiar to many quarterbacks who've opposed Virginia Tech.
A 6'4", 231-pound edge-rusher, he registered 71 total stops, 18 tackles for loss—the sixth most from a player returning for next season—8.5 sacks and two blocked kicks. More impressively, Nicolas racked up 26 hurries, which is borderline absurd.
The Hokies limped to a 7-6 record in 2014, but Nicolas' disruption and production helped Virginia Tech finish as the No. 14 scoring defense in the nation.
He's one of college football's most underrated linemen, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Nicolas become a household name as a senior.
Note: Stats courtesy of CFBstats.com. Recruiting information via 247Sports.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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