Projecting Every Power 5 College Football Team's Breakout Player for 2015
Before they were Heisman contenders or held FBS single-game rushing records, many of college football's best players from this past year were unheralded or almost completely unknown to most of the country. But when the 2014 season was over, they all had something in common.
They were breakout stars.
It happens every year, on every team. Guys like Ohio State's J.T. Barrett and Oklahoma's Samaje Perine entered 2014 with promise but also uncertainty, yet they ended up far exceeding expectations. Now, they're considered among the best in the game.
Who will those breakout players be in 2015? We take a stab at plucking one from the masses for every power-conference team (as well as Notre Dame), so check them out and get yourself educated for next season.
Alabama
1 of 65Calvin Ridley, Fr., WR
Alabama's receiving corps has some major production to replace with the departure of Heisman finalist Amari Cooper, but the options left from last season are limited. It's a good thing the Crimson Tide are welcoming in the top-rated pass-catcher in the 2015 recruiting class.
Ridley, a 5-star wideout from Pompano Beach, Florida, is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 11 overall prospect in the country. He has the chance to step right in and make an impact, since Alabama has no player returning who had more than 17 receptions last season.
Arizona
2 of 65
Cam Denson, So., DB
Arizona's pass defense wasn't that great last season, ranking 121st in FBS by allowing more than 281 yards per game. And now that five-man secondary has to fill several holes, though one player who should slide right into the lineup is the small but speedy Denson.
A standout receiver, cornerback and return specialist at Tucson's Salpointe Catholic High School, Denson saw action in 12 of 14 games as a freshman and finished with 21 tackles, along with two interceptions. His 31-yard interception return against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl showed off both his defensive instincts and his speed, and it set up a field goal during the Wildcats' second-half rally.
Arizona State
3 of 65
Demario Richard, So., RB
What would prompt Arizona State to move a 1,000-yard rusher (D.J. Foster) to slot receiver for next season? If you watched what Richard did toward the end of his freshman year, you'd understand.
Richard had eight total touchdowns last season, with five of those coming in the Sun Devils' last two games. He had two rushing and two receiving scores in the Sun Bowl victory over Duke, on just 12 touches.
The 5'10", 210-pound Richard fits perfectly into ASU's offensive system, which values running backs who can catch the ball. Foster was nearly as productive as a receiver as a rusher, and Richard has the chance to do the same.
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Arkansas
4 of 65
Brooks Ellis, Jr., LB
Gone from Arkansas' underrated defense is the SEC's top tackler, Martrell Spaight, but the Razorbacks have a rising local product who is waiting to take his place as the anchor of the linebacker unit.
Ellis, at 6'2" and 237 pounds, is similar in size to Spaight and as a Fayetteville native has an added motivation to see Arkansas thrive. Despite missing two games last season, Ellis was second on the team with 72 tackles along with 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Auburn
5 of 65
Jeremy Johnson, Jr., QB
We got a brief glimpse of what Johnson could do early in 2014, when he started the first half of Auburn's season opener for the suspended Nick Marshall. And we liked what we saw, as the Tigers certainly did as well.
Johnson threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-16 passing in two quarters against Arkansas but didn't get much playing time after that. He's slotted to be Auburn's starter this fall, and unlike Marshall—who showed up only a few months before taking on the starting job in 2013—Johnson has the advantage of having worked in coach Gus Malzahn's system for several years.
"Johnson isn't as dynamic as Marshall was on the ground, but he is more advanced as a passer heading into the 2015 season," Athlon Sports' Steve Lassan wrote about the 6'5", 230-pounder.
Auburn figures to still be a run-heavy team, as has been the case the past two years, but Johnson's passing acumen will be a major weapon for Tigers.
Baylor
6 of 65
Seth Russell, Jr., QB
Much like Bryce Petty had to wait his turn to get a chance to drive Baylor's high-speed offensive machine, so too has Russell needed to be patient. He's gotten a good amount of mop-up time the past two years, throwing for more than 1,200 yards with 11 touchdowns, and he even got a shot to man the wheel for a whole game in 2014 when Petty sat out because of injury.
Russell's performance in that game? Oh, just 438 yards and five touchdowns on 16-of-25 passing. Yes, it was against an FCS team, but it still showed what the 6'3", 215-pounder is capable of.
This fall it will be Russell's chance to be in charge, and with so many great skill weapons to work with, he should be the latest Baylor passer to put up big numbers.
Boston College
7 of 65
Jon Hilliman, So., RB
Since coming to Boston College, coach Steve Addazio has shown an unwavering desire to run the ball often and effectively. He had a 2,000-yard rusher in 2013 and then let quarterback Tyler Murphy loose this past season en route to an ACC record of 1,179 rushing yards for a passer.
Now comes Hilliman's turn to be the star. Though he led the Eagles in carries in 2014, with 211 and also scored 13 touchdowns along with 860 yards, he wasn't the focal point of the offense because of Murphy's touches. The quarterback position is wide open at this point, which gives the 6'0", 215-pound Hilliman a chance to build toward a big sophomore year.
California
8 of 65Derron Brown, Jr., S
No team was worse at defending the pass than California in 2014, as it allowed 367 yards per game—70 yards more than any other FBS team last season. That included two Hail Mary touchdowns, most notably one against Arizona in September.
Making matters worse, the Golden Bears' most experienced defensive back—free safety Michael Lowe—has graduated, while leading interception man Griffin Piatt missed the final six games of 2014 with a knee injury. But that just paves the way for Brown, a 3-star junior college transfer, to step in and lock down a starting spot.
Brown had 48 tackles, six tackles for loss and three interceptions last season for Mesa Community College.
Clemson
9 of 65
Wayne Gallman, So., RB
Clemson's leading rusher last season was Gallman, who due to injuries to several other ball-carriers (and an explosive young quarterback) had the ball in his hands far more than expected. He had 769 yards and four touchdowns, but his 4.78 per-carry average was below what the Tigers needed from the position.
While other rushers, as well as quarterback Deshaun Watson, continue to recover from their ailments, Gallman heads into the offseason healthy and with momentum. The 6'1", 205-pounder had three 100-yard games in Clemson's final six outings, including a 191-yard performance in the win over rival South Carolina.
Colorado
10 of 65
Shay Fields, So., WR
Nelson Spruce went from relatively unknown to one of the most prolific receivers in the country in 2014. The next candidate for such a distinction will line up on the other side of Colorado's offense this fall, with Fields capable of matching or surpassing what Spruce did.
The 5'11", 170-pound Fields had originally committed to USC, but in January 2014 he backed out of that pledge and ended up with the Buffaloes. He had a strong first season, catching 50 balls for 486 yards and four touchdowns. More of a possession receiver than a deep threat, he could find himself breaking free more often this season with opponents trying to keep Spruce (who had 106 receptions) from getting loose.
Duke
11 of 65
Johnell Barnes, Jr., WR
Duke has had a lot of success the last few years at the wide receiver position, but now that well has run dry with the graduation of Isaac Blakeney and Jamison Crowder. That duo combined for 132 receptions, 1,603 yards and 13 touchdowns just last season.
The opportunity for a new star on the outside is there for the taking from the Blue Devils' slew of younger receivers. Barnes will get a good look in the spot, and the work he did in 2014 shows he's capable of making the move up.
The 6'0", 170-pound Barnes had 23 catches for 237 yards and a TD last year, and he also returned a trio of kickoffs.
Florida
12 of 65
Kelvin Taylor, Jr., RB
One of Florida's biggest question marks heading into 2015 is who will play quarterback for new coach Jim McElwain. But considering what McElwain was able to do with his running backs at his previous job, the Gators could end up having a burgeoning superstar in the backfield.
Kelvin Taylor, the son of former Florida great Fred Taylor, has rushed for 500-plus yards in each of his first two seasons, along with 10 touchdowns. But outside of a monster performance in last year's blowout win over rival Georgia, when he ran for 197 yards and two TDs on 25 carries, the 5'10", 200-pound Taylor wasn't a regular part of the offense.
That figures to change under McElwain, who in 2014 got 1,275 yards and 16 TDs from Alabama transfer Dee Hart and the season before developed Kapri Bibbs into a 1,741-yard, 31-TD star.
Florida State
13 of 65
Ermon Lane, So., WR
Florida State's 2014 recruiting class featured a slew of stellar prospects, several of whom made their mark this past season. Lane got a few opportunities to perform but wasn't able to excel to the level that fellow receiver Travis Rudolph or running back Dalvin Cook did.
But this fall will be Lane's chance to shine. With the Seminoles graduating well-used tight end Nick O'Leary as well as leading receiver Rashad Greene, someone needs to step up. The 6'3", 206-pound Lane will be that guy.
He averaged more than 20 yards per catch last season but only had 13 receptions.
Georgia
14 of 65
Jeb Blazevich, So., TE
Whoever takes over as Georgia's starting quarterback this fall will be dealing with a relatively inexperienced receiving corps, but his best target could end up being a little-used (yet very sizable) weapon that spent most of his time blocking last season.
Blazevich's 6'5", 232-pound frame only hauled in 18 receptions in 2014, but his 269 yards were third-most for the Bulldogs. Top receivers Chris Conley and Michael Bennett have graduated, so Blazevich figures to be more involved in the passing game.
Though he only had two TDs last year, they both came against Kentucky. The second, an eight-yard score in the fourth quarter, was thrown by potential Georgia starting quarterback Brice Ramsey.
Georgia Tech
15 of 65
KeShun Freeman, So., DE
Georgia Tech's offense was so dominant, thanks to the nearly unstoppable option run game, that people paid little attention to what the Yellow Jackets did on defense in 2014. It wasn't much, in most cases, as they allowed 25.7 points and more than 400 yards per game.
Yet emerging from that lackluster effort was a stellar first season from Freeman, an undersized 6'1", 236-pound end who led the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9.5). Those numbers were far down from what Jeremiah Attaochu put up in 2012-13, but they do point to Freeman as being the future of Georgia Tech's defense.
Illinois
16 of 65
Malik Turner, So., WR
The emergence of freshman Mike Dudek as a go-to weapon in the passing game helped Illinois get back into the bowl picture after several years on the outside. If the Fighting Illini can double up on those receiving targets, they could compete for the Big Ten West title.
Turner showed flashes of being capable of producing on the level of Dudek (76 catches, 1,038 yards, six touchdowns) but didn't start getting involved until the second half of the season. He had 14 of his 25 receptions in the final five games, putting up his best performance in the bowl loss to Louisiana Tech when he had six grabs for 84 yards.
At 6'3" and 205 pounds, Turner is a sizable target who will see a lot more action in 2015.
Indiana
17 of 65
Jordan Howard, Jr., RB
Breakout players aren't always guys who come out of nowhere to have a huge season. In Indiana's case, the player who will make or break 2015 will do so after coming from somewhere else.
Howard ran for 1,587 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for UAB, but then the school shut down its football program despite reaching six wins for the first time since 2004. All players were allowed to transfer immediately, without having to sit out a year, and Howard chose to head to Bloomington in an effort to replace what the Hoosiers lost with the departure of 2,000-yard rusher Tevin Coleman.
The 6'1", 228-pound Howard had eight 100-yard games last season, and he also rushed for 89 and 90 yards in losses to Mississippi State and Arkansas, respectively.
Iowa
18 of 65
C.J. Beathard, Jr., QB
The quarterback position was a major source of disappointment and frustration for Iowa last season, with a lack of consistency and big plays keeping the Hawkeyes from putting together much of an offensive surge in most games. But after getting beat handily by Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl, coach Kirk Ferentz made a pre-emptive move and named Beathard his starter going into 2015.
That was despite Beathard only playing eight of 13 games last year, mostly as a backup to senior-to-be Jake Rudock. Beathard completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 645 yards and five touchdowns, throwing for 145 yards and two TDs in the bowl loss.
Being at the top of the depth chart heading into the spring should give him confidence for the upcoming season, when he'll give Iowa its most consistent quarterback play since Ricky Stanzi in 2010.
Iowa State
19 of 65
Kamari Cotton-Moya, So., S
Lost amid another poor season for Iowa State in 2014 was a strong debut from a redshirt freshman who led the team in tackles. Now, Cotton-Moya becomes one of the Cyclones' leaders for the upcoming season and could ignite a defensive resurrection.
Cotton-Moya had 77 tackles and broke up eight passes last year from the free safety position, though he didn't get his hands on an interception. Look for those numbers to go up in 2015 and the 6'1", 194-pound rover to improve.
Kansas
20 of 65Chase Harrell, Fr., WR
Kansas brings back almost zero experience to its receiving corps, with Nigel King turning pro after his junior season and a slew of seniors graduating. This creates a major opportunity for the players that made up David Beaty's first recruiting class to make an immediate impact, particularly top wideout prospect Chase Harrell.
The 6'4", 205-pound Harrell had originally committed to Houston, but after Tony Levine was fired in early December he opted to back out of that pledge and turn to the Jayhawks. He signed early, and will be available for spring practice.
Harrell, from Texas, had 103 receptions, 1,741 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior for Hargrave High School.
Kansas State
21 of 65
Judah Jones, So., WR
Kansas State has to move on from a four-year stretch where it was led by the most prolific wide receiver and return specialist in program history. No one person is going to replace Tyler Lockett, but Jones has a chance to pick up a good bit of the slack.
Jones saw limited action last season, appearing in eight games for the Wildcats, but he did have a diverse impact. He caught four passes for 51 yards, carried the ball twice for 24 yards and returned three kicks (two punts, one kickoff). The 5'11", 180-pound Jones could end up getting involved in all of those areas again, and if he can make a name for himself as a returner or a top target in the receiving game, his stock will soar.
Kentucky
22 of 65
Matt Elam, So., DT
One of the biggest recruits in the country last year was Elam, who came to Kentucky with nearly 400 pounds on his massive 6'7" frame. Weight issues kept the former 4-star prospect from making a bigger impact in his first season, as he managed just 10 tackles and two pass breakups in 12 games.
But a long-term plan to both slim him down and get him onto better eating habits could pay off huge in 2015 for Elam and the Wildcats, who have to replace two defensive line starters and hybrid lineman/linebacker Bud Dupree.
"He's a two-gapper from hell," assistant coach Erik Korem told Jennifer Smith of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "He can take up a lot of space, and he can move and shed real quick, and there's just not many people who can do that."
LSU
23 of 65
Jamal Adams, So., S
LSU might have lost another three juniors to the NFL draft, but it dodged a bullet by having star safety Jalen Mills come back for his senior year. His return will not only help the Tigers secondary maintain last season's third-ranked pass defense, but it will mean another year of him mentoring their next great defensive back.
Adams had 66 tackles and five tackles for loss in his first season. The 6'0", 206-pound safety saw his playing time increase down the stretch, and he finished the year with a career-best 10 tackles in LSU's loss to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.
With Ronald Martin graduating, Adams is expected to slide into the starting lineup and make a major impact.
"He will be the best safety in college ball next year," former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu said on Instagram in December.
Louisville
24 of 65
James Quick, Jr., WR
Louisville is going to be forced to skew much younger at the receiver position in 2015, as five of its top six pass-catchers were seniors. The lone returner in that group is Quick, who had a strong start to last season but then mostly faded away after DeVante Parker returned from injury.
Quick will put up solid numbers all season this fall as the primary target for whichever quarterback coach Bobby Petrino goes with. The 6'1", 182-pound Quick averaged more than 15 yards per reception, but he'll need to show he can be consistent on a weekly basis.
Maryland
25 of 65
Wes Brown, Jr., RB
When he's been able to stay on the field, Brown has shown a lot of promise for Maryland and has had the look of a player the team can build around. Assuming nothing gets in the way, he figures to be the Terrapins' top offensive threat in 2015.
Injuries knocked him out late in his freshman season in 2012, and the school suspended him for the entire 2013 season in the wake of assault and theft charges. He returned last fall and ran for 356 yards and six touchdowns and added 21 receptions, numbers similar to what the 6'0", 210-pound back did as a freshman.
With the Terps losing their top two receivers as well as mobile quarterback C.J. Brown, Wes Brown's versatility will be essential to success.
Miami (Florida)
26 of 65
Joseph Yearby, So., RB
Miami coach Al Golden had to have a good feeling that he was going to lose Duke Johnson to the NFL draft after this past season, which led to him giving Yearby frequent touches in key situations all year long. That should pay off in the long run, as the Hurricanes won't have to head into 2015 without an experienced rusher.
The 5'9", 192-pound Yearby had at least six carries in seven of Miami's 13 games, including a 22-rush, 104-yard effort against North Carolina. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry, showing that he could run with both power and speed.
Michigan
27 of 65
Jabrill Peppers, Redshirt Fr., S
All of the predictions about Jabrill Peppers being the player who would turn around Michigan's downward trajectory didn't come through last season, as injury limited the highly touted recruit to just three games. And in that time, he stuck mostly to defense, with just a single punt return thrown in.
But 2015 will be when Peppers makes his mark, and while it will start at safety, the 6'1", 202-pound athlete will end up contributing all over the field for new coach Jim Harbaugh.
"Between winter workouts and upcoming spring practices, Peppers’ role should soon become crystal-clear: He’s good to plug in just about anywhere," wrote Bleacher Report's Adam Biggers.
Look for Peppers to get touches as a receiver (and possibly a ball-carrier), return kicks and lock down the back line of Michigan's defense. By year's end, fans will forget the slow start to his Wolverines career based on how he fares in Year 2.
Michigan State
28 of 65
Darian Hicks, Jr., CB
At Michigan State, the secondary refers to itself as the "No Fly Zone" because of its tendency to shut down passing attacks and keep them from getting big plays. However, last season the Spartans allowed 15 plays of 40 or more yards through the air, one of the worst tallies in the country.
Hicks saw action in every game for MSU in 2014, though down the stretch he was surpassed by converted wide receiver Tony Lippett for a starting cornerback spot. With Lippett, safety Kurtis Drummond and early NFL entry corner Trae Waynes all gone, it's time for a new generation of defensive backs in East Lansing.
The 5'10", 180-pound Hicks got burned several times late last year and now has a chance at redemption by being one of MSU's leaders in the secondary. He had two interceptions in 2014, with both coming in victories.
Minnesota
29 of 65
K.J. Maye, Sr., WR
With impressive tight end Maxx Williams leaving for the NFL despite having two years of eligibility remaining, Minnesota's already thin passing options have become almost nonexistent. No returning player had more than 16 receptions in 2014, and departing players caught nine of the team's 12 touchdown passes.
If the Golden Gophers plan to do any throwing next season, look for Maye to be one of the most-targeted players. Despite being only 5'10" and 195 pounds, he has shown durability by playing in all 39 games of his career, and in that span he's seem time as a receiver and rusher on reverses and trick plays.
Maye averaged 18.6 yards per receptions last season, and with more touches, he can put together a big year as a senior.
Mississippi State
30 of 65
Richie Brown, Jr., LB
He's already had a breakout game, but Brown could be the Mississippi State player who stands out above all others on defense in 2015.
The 6'2", 235-pound Brown had three interceptions in the Bulldogs' win over Texas A&M last October, which was part of a three-game stretch when MSU knocked off three straight Top 10 unbeaten teams to help it rise to No. 1 in the nation. Those were the only picks that Brown had all season, though he did contribute 50 tackles.
MSU has a major hole to fill in the middle with the NFL draft departure of Benardrick McKinney, and Brown has a shot to be the guy to replace that production.
Missouri
31 of 65
Harold Brantley, Jr., DT
The school that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has labeled "D-Line U" lost three starters from this past team, including standout defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray. But as Missouri has proved over the years, it has a knack for developing the next great down lineman, and Brantley is in line to be that guy.
Last season, the 6'3", 290-pound tackle had 54 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks, which are solid numbers but seemed small compared to what Golden and Ray did. Now he'll get more involved in what the Tigers have planned defensively as they go for a third straight SEC East title.
Brantley figures to benefit from the return of defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski, who passed up a chance to be co-defensive coordinator at Illinois.
Nebraska
32 of 65
Imani Cross, Sr., RB
After three seasons of Ameer Abdullah rushing for 1,000 or more yards and handling the bulk of the carries, Nebraska heads into 2015 with a handful of options at running back that new coach Mike Riley can turn to. Cross and junior Terrell Newby could end up splitting the duties, much like Oregon State (Riley's old team) did the past few years with Terron Ward and Storm Woods.
But the 6'1", 230-pound Cross looks to be finally ready to step forward and be the man. While backing up Abdullah—and putting up decent numbers—since 2012, Cross has averaged nearly 5.4 yards per carry and scored 22 touchdowns. He's had a 100-yard game in each of his three seasons and appears ready to make the jump to No. 1 tailback.
North Carolina
33 of 65Brian Walker, Jr., CB
It was an all-or-nothing approach for North Carolina in defending the pass last season, and usually that fell toward the nothing side. The Tar Heels ranked 104th in passing defense yet also returned three of 12 interceptions for touchdowns.
Wilson had one of those scores among his three picks, bringing one back 100 yards in an early win over San Diego State. In that same game, North Carolina allowed 341 passing yards to an opponent who averaged only 178 for the season.
Walker could make a huge leap forward with the guidance of new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik.
North Carolina State
34 of 65
Josh Jones, So., S
The youngest member of an underrated secondary, Jones led North Carolina State with four interceptions last season. He also dished out some hard hits over the middle, accounting for many of his 56 tackles as a freshman.
The 6'2", 212-pound Jones was active in stopping the run and defending the pass, making his presence felt all over. Look for him to continue rising and establish himself as one of the best safeties in the ACC.
Northwestern
35 of 65
Miles Shuler, Sr., WR
It's been a long, winding road for Shuler, who mostly warmed the bench for two years at Rutgers before transferring to Northwestern last season. Then head and hand injuries knocked him out of the final four games of 2014, just as he was starting to hit his stride as a receiver and return-game threat.
Everything should finally come together in 2015 for Shuler, a 5'10", 180-pound wideout with track speed who has a major opportunity to step up with the graduation of leading receivers Tony Jones and Kyle Prater. Northwestern hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2011, but Shuler has the skills to end that drought.
Notre Dame
36 of 65
Malik Zaire, So., QB
Last spring we were looking at Zaire as a legitimate contender to grab Notre Dame's starting quarterback position, though Everett Golson won the job and had a stellar start to 2014 before fizzling out at the end. That opened the door for the 6'0", 210-pound Zaire to get his shot, and he wowed with 192 yards of total offense in the Music City Bowl win over LSU.
Regardless of whether Golson decides to leave Notre Dame, as has been rumored by Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com, Zaire looks like he's going to be the one that coach Brian Kelly goes with in 2015.
Zaire's mobility and elusiveness, as well as better decision-making skills than what Golson showed toward the end of last season, give him the edge in that department.
Ohio State
37 of 65
Nick Vannett, Sr., TE
Ohio State might have led the country in breakout stars in 2014, with quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, running back Ezekiel Elliott and linebacker Darron Lee all having huge seasons that were far greater than anyone outside of the Buckeyes' program could have expected.
The list of potential breakouts this fall is nearly as long, but the best bet looks to be Vannett, who emerged at times last season as a viable weapon over the middle but could become even more involved in the passing game in 2015.
The 6'6", 260-pounder had only 19 receptions last year, but that was more than in his previous two seasons. He also caught five touchdown passes, including one in the national title game against Oregon.
"Beyond his hands, Vannett proved to be an exceptional blocker, as anyone watching the Oregon game in particular can attest," wrote Chris Lauderback of ElevenWarriors.com. "He repeatedly sealed off lanes for Elliott to gash the Ducks."
Oklahoma
38 of 65
Baker Mayfield, So., QB
One of the most high-profile transfers of last offseason never got a chance to show his stuff in a real game, as Mayfield had to sit out a season after failing to get a waiver to play right away following his arrival from Texas Tech. He did shine in Oklahoma's spring game, at which time Bleacher Report's Sean Frye noted that he was primed to be "the next superstar quarterback at Oklahoma."
And with how poorly Trevor Knight played for the Sooners in 2014, the door is open for Mayfield to live up to that prediction.
Mayfield, a 6'0", 220-pound former walk-on, started seven games and threw for more than 2,300 yards for Texas Tech in 2013. Team him up with new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who did wonders with Shane Carden at East Carolina, and Mayfield should have a big season.
Oklahoma State
39 of 65
Mason Rudolph, So., QB
Injuries forced Mason Rudolph into action late in the 2014 season, one in which he was expected to redshirt before having to replace Daxx Garman midway through Oklahoma State's 10th game. In his two-plus contests, Rudolph threw for 853 yards and six touchdowns, winning his two starts.
Coach Mike Gundy has already deemed Rudolph his quarterback for next fall, and with how the 6'4", 217-pound passer looked in his limited audition, this seems like a smart decision.
Ole Miss
40 of 65Jaylen Walton, Sr., RB
He's appeared in all 39 games that Ole Miss has played during his career, gaining more than 1,200 yards with 12 touchdowns. But for his senior year, Walton could finally break through and give the Rebels a reliable rushing threat they haven't had the last few seasons.
The 5'8", 166-pound Walton led Ole Miss with 586 yards last season, but other than his big game in the Egg Bowl (thanks to a 91-yard touchdown run) he didn't have more than 60 yards against any power opponent. Yet now the Rebels are going through an offensive transition, with quarterback Bo Wallace gone and top receiver Laquon Treadwell coming back from a major leg injury.
Walton also has less competition to deal with, as Mark Dodson transferred to Memphis. That means more touches for the senior—and more chances to show off the moves he broke out on that huge run against Mississippi State.
Oregon
41 of 65
Canton Kaumatule, Fr., DE
Don't expect Oregon to be any less explosive on offense in 2015 even with Marcus Mariota off to achieve NFL glory. But the Ducks might be even more volatile on defense thanks to what figures to be an instant impact from their top incoming recruit.
Kaumatule, who is the nation's No. 16 overall prospect, arrived in Eugene earlier this month so he could compete for a spot on the defensive line. A standout on both sides of the line in high school, he's strong enough to play offensive tackle in college but figures to make the most waves early as an edge-rusher who could make the departure of junior end Arik Armstead much easier to deal with.
Oregon State
42 of 65
Jordan Villamin, So., WR
The search for one player who could replace what 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner Brandin Cooks produced didn't find a single potential replacement but instead several promising candidates. Of that group, the one with the most long-term upside is Villamin, who became more and more in tune with quarterback Sean Mannion as the season progressed.
The 6'4", 240-pound Villamin led the Beavers with six touchdown catches last year, averaging more than 16.5 yards on his 35 receptions. New coach Gary Andersen will love this receiver's size and hands, and he could be one of the most productive receivers in the country next season.
Penn State
43 of 65
Chris Godwin, So., WR
Penn State got mixed results from its trio of freshman wideouts in 2014. DaeSean Hamilton quickly emerged as Christian Hackenberg's top target, while Saeed Blacknall struggled to gain traction. In the middle was Godwin, a former 4-star recruit who didn't do much during the regular season before busting through with a huge performance in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Godwin's seven-catch, 140-yard, one-touchdown effort in the overtime win against Boston College should signal a turning point for the 6'2", 210-pound wide receiver. Before that, he had 19 catches for 198 yards and one score, but now he'll head into spring with a good chance to take over Geno Lewis' spot as the Nittany Lions' No. 2 receiver.
Pittsburgh
44 of 65
Rori Blair, So., DE
Blair's backstory is filled with tragedy and triumph, and after a promising freshman year, he's in line to be Pittsburgh's next great defensive lineman.
The 6'4", 230-pound Blair was close to hanging up his pads in 2012 after a stroke caused him to miss his junior season of high school. But he bounced back and ended up with the Panthers, where he led the team with five sacks among his 14 total tackles.
Defensive-minded new coach Pat Narduzzi will turn Blair into more than just a pass-rushing specialist this season. By year's end, he could be among the most feared players in the ACC.
Purdue
45 of 65
Ja'Whaun Bentley, So., LB
While Purdue's offense made progress in 2014, the defense continued to struggle, ranking 93rd nationally against the run and allowing nearly 32 points per game. One of the few returning bright spots from that unit is Bentley, who finished second on the team with 76 tackles.
The 6'2", 250-pound Bentley also had 3.5 tackles for loss and an interception early in the season. Named a freshman All-American, he's part of a young linebacker unit for the Boilermakers but one that will need to step up with two seniors graduating from the defensive line.
"Bentley is one solid piece to build around over the next few seasons," wrote Travis Miller of SBNation.
Rutgers
46 of 65
Josh Hicks, So., RB
Rutgers ran for more than 2,100 yards in 2014 despite having no player gain more than 450 yards. This was a product of injuries, inconsistency and an overabundance of depth, as evidenced by Hicks not getting into the act until the final month of the season.
The Scarlet Knights could have five players challenging for the starting job during the spring, including Paul James, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL but has been the starter for parts of the past two seasons. Hicks might have a leg up in the competition based on how he finished last year, though, capped by a 202-yard performance in Rutgers' bowl win over North Carolina.
South Carolina
47 of 65
Gerald Dixon, Jr., DE
Replacing one of the greatest edge-rushers in college football history proved to be a little too much for Dixon to handle last season, and as a result, South Carolina's play on the defensive line was way down from the year before. But now Dixon has had a year to get more comfortable and should look much better in 2015.
Last season he recorded 42 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks, tying for second in TFL and for the team lead in sacks. The Gamecocks ended up finishing 94th in total defense—a big reason why they went 7-6 after three straight 11-win seasons.
The 6'2", 274-pound Dixon should again be South Carolina's leader on that line, especially with J.T. Surratt graduating.
Stanford
48 of 65
Christian McCaffrey, So., RB
More famous for his family than his skill set when he arrived at Stanford, McCaffrey quickly showed he has the potential to be a star as his career progresses. As a freshman, the son of former Cardinal and NFL great Ed McCaffrey (whose mother, Lisa, played soccer at Stanford) saw time in the backfield, as a pass-catcher and in the return game.
The 6'0", 197-pound McCaffrey averaged 7.1 yards on 42 carries, 14.8 yards on 17 receptions (with two touchdowns) and 17.1 yards on punt returns. He wasn't the starter in any role and likely won't be in 2015 with several returners back, but he will again be a key contributor in all roles and could parlay that into becoming one of the nation's top multi-threat athletes.
"There isn't much we've put on his shoulders that he hasn't handled," Stanford coach David Shaw told John Reid of the San Jose Mercury-News. "We've done it incrementally, not trying to put it all on him. He has shown a tremendous amount of maturity and high football intellect. He's quick as a cat. The sky is the limit for what he can do."
Syracuse
49 of 65
Steve Ishmael, So., WR
Syracuse's offense fell apart after quarterback Terrel Hunt broke his leg midway through the season, which contributing heavily to a 3-9 record. Only a few bright spots shone among the ashes, with Ishmael providing several of them.
The 6'2", 184-pound Ishmael was second on the Orange in receptions (27) and yards (415), and he had as many receiving touchdowns (three) as the rest of the team. He notched two of his scores against defending national champion Florida State—a game he can build off to have a breakout sophomore year.
TCU
50 of 65
Ranthony Texada, So., CB
If there's any place where TCU might have a weakness heading into 2015, it's in the secondary. The Horned Frogs lose three starters, including shutdown corner Kevin White, in a group that tied for the FBS lead with 26 interceptions last season.
A key returner from that group has the chance to become the leader, with Texada building off a solid-if-not-spectacular redshirt freshman season in which he had 31 tackles, an interception and seven pass breakups. The 5'10", 170-pounder also showed off the potential to be a dynamic kick returner, averaging 52.5 yards on his two tries.
Tennessee
51 of 65Kahlil McKenzie, Fr., DT
The most important piece of Tennessee's stellar recruiting class, McKenzie is the No. 6 overall player in 2015 and has been on a major upward trajectory for months. The son of a former Volunteer, linebacker Reggie McKenzie, he seems the best bet of all the incoming freshmen to start right away on a defensive line that needs some work on the interior.
At 6'3" and 354 pounds, McKenzie is a behemoth. Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote that he and fellow prospect Shy Tuttle are "a pair of space-eating defensive force fields who are probably plug-and-play guys."
Combine him with 2014 breakout star Derek Barnett and Tennessee could have one of the best defensive lines in the SEC, if not the country.
Texas
52 of 65
Armanti Foreman, So., WR
After making only four catches through the first 10 games, Foreman caught six passes for 165 yards with two touchdowns in Texas' final two regular-season contests. Now he has the opportunity to be the Longhorns' breakout star in 2015, especially with top receivers John Harris and Jaxon Shipley graduating.
"It only took a few catches to prove he’s one of Texas’ most explosive playmakers," wrote Max Olson of ESPN.com, who noted that Foreman could thrive working under former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, now the Longhorns' wide receiver coach.
Texas A&M
53 of 65
Armani Watts, So., S
A strong debut in Texas A&M's shocking win at South Carolina to open last season gave us the first glimpse of what Watts will mean to the Aggies' much-maligned secondary. Additional flashes of standout play throughout the season popped up here and there, but now with the shot to be a starter in 2015, he'll be busting out to show his full potential.
Even as mostly a reserve, Watts led A&M with three interceptions in 2014, including one in the opener. He also had 59 tackles and broke up eight passes. The 5'11", 190-pounder will be fun to watch this fall.
Texas Tech
54 of 65
Devin Lauderdale, Jr., WR
The junior college transfer was Texas Tech's best deep threat this past season, averaging a team-high 19 yards per reception and going for 30-plus yards on six of his seven touchdowns. His speed and athleticism should have produced more than 31 catches, though, yet he was held to three or fewer in nine games.
The Red Raiders are deep at receiver, but they do have an opening for a top-tier wideout with Bradley Marquez's graduation. Lauderdale's ability to get free and outrace defenses will land him that job and lead to much bigger numbers in 2015.
UCLA
55 of 65Josh Rosen, Fr., QB
As the top-rated passer in the 2015 recruiting class, Rosen comes to UCLA with a lot of hype. Already enrolled in school and starting the process to try to replace three-year starter Brett Hundley, Rosen will be one of the most closely watched prospects in the country this offseason.
Expect Rosen to land that starting job with the Bruins, probably from the season opener, as the 6'4", 205-pound passer has the skills and talent that coach Jim Mora is looking for. He threw for 8,473 yards and 90 touchdowns in three high school seasons at Don Bosco Prep in Bellflower, California, and added six rushing scores last fall in an effort to fall more in line with the mobility that Hundley showcased at UCLA.
USC
56 of 65
Claude Pelon, Sr., DT
If USC is going to overcome the loss of Leonard Williams from the defensive line, Pelon will have to play a big role in that transition. He got his feet wet last season and now has the chance to step into a much more pronounced role.
The 6'4", 295-pound Pelon came to the Trojans as a junior college transfer, appearing in all 13 games and registering six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks among his 19 tackles. He might not start in 2015, with holdovers Delvon Simmons and Cody Temple coming back, but Bleacher Report's Kyle Kensing wrote that "Pelon has an opportunity to become the primary pass-rusher up front for the Trojans."
Utah
57 of 65
Kenric Young, So., WR
One of the most memorable plays of Utah's 2014 season was an embarrassing one, when standout receiver and return specialist Kaelin Clay let go of the ball on a long touchdown pass just before the goal line. Given the chance to replicate the play, his successor figures to be more careful.
Young only had one catch for minus-one yard during his freshman year, appearing in six games. He didn't get a chance to show the kind of breakaway speed that ranked him as one of the fastest players in college football, but with the Utes losing Clay and other key pass-catching targets, he'll get his shot this fall.
Vanderbilt
58 of 65
Ralph Webb, So., RB
In an otherwise forgettable season for Vanderbilt, Webb showed promise for the future by rushing for a team-high 907 yards. But much of that production came against the Commodores' non-SEC opponents, including 166 against Old Dominion and 116 against Massachusetts.
Webb averaged less than 50 yards per games in conference play, but he figures to be one of the main beneficiaries of Vandy bringing in former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig to call plays. Ludwig is coming off a season where he had 2,500-yard rusher Melvin Gordon to work with, and he'll look to find ways for the 5'10", 196-pound Webb to produce with a similar approach.
Virginia
59 of 65
Andrew Brown, So., DT
Virginia landed two major in-state recruits in 2014, with the hope that both defensive prospects would help get the Cavaliers back to prominence. Safety Quin Blanding was an instant star, but Brown only managed four tackles in six games of action as he struggled to adjust to the college game.
Look for the 6'4", 305-pound Brown to take a huge step up in performance after another offseason of workouts and development. He'll become stronger and pick up better skills, and he'll challenge starters David Dean and Donte Wilkins for a starting spot by the fall.
Virginia Tech
60 of 65
C.J. Reavis, So., S
Standout defensive players are what Virginia Tech has built its long legacy of success on, and Reavis is in line to be the next breakout star. After he spent his freshman year backing up a pair of seniors, the free safety position is his to run with in 2015.
"With outstanding size and athleticism, Reavis is a natural at free safety," Bleacher Report's Bryan Manning wrote. "He has a nose for the ball and could be an upgrade over (the graduated Detrick) Bonner because he's better in run support."
The 6'1", 207-pound Reavis was also a standout on special teams, blocking a punt in the bowl eligibility-clinching win over Virginia.
Wake Forest
61 of 65
Cam Serigne, So., TE
When your tight end is your leading receiver, you know it's been a rough year on offense. But in Wake Forest's case, it also means it has a future superstar in the making in Serigne.
As a freshman, the 6'3", 235-pound Serigne had 54 receptions for 531 yards and five touchdowns, all of which were tops for the Demon Deacons. He figures to see even more targets in 2015, as Wake's top two wide receivers have graduated.
Washington
62 of 65Jake Browning, Fr., QB
Chris Petersen's Boise State teams always had accurate, efficient and potentially explosive quarterbacks who knew how to win. He didn't have any of that on the roster in his first season with Washington, but the arrival of Browning as an early piece of the 2015 recruiting class could change that.
The 4-star pro-style passer is ranked No. 71 overall after setting national records for touchdown passes in a season (91) and career (229) in Folsom, California.
Washington's quarterbacks averaged just over 200 passing yards per game last season, struggling with accuracy on deep balls.
Washington State
63 of 65
Luke Falk, So., QB
Washington State's Mike Leach might as well be called a quarterback whisperer for the way he's able to develop passers into stars. His throw-nearly-every-down approach helps, but so does his ability to produce big arms even when he inherits players who don't necessarily fit his system.
Leach made Connor Halliday into a record-breaker, and late last season we saw what he can do with a quarterback who he recruited to Pullman. Falk came on after Halliday broke his leg in early November, and in just under four games, he threw for 1,773 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Given a full offseason with first-team reps, the 6'4", 208-pound Falk should challenge for the national passing lead in 2015.
West Virginia
64 of 65
Skyler Howard, Jr., QB
After he took over the starting job late last season following Clint Trickett's career-ending head injury, Howard showed both amazing upside and the kind of mistakes you'd expect from an untested quarterback. The positives outweighed the negatives, though, and the 6'0", 206-pound Howard is poised to have a big year for the Mountaineers this fall.
He threw for 829 yards and eight touchdowns in two-plus games, with zero interceptions. However, he only completed 51.9 percent of his 108 attempts in that stretch, including a 20-of-45 performance in the Liberty Bowl in which he threw for 346 yards and three TDs.
With the offseason to cut down on his overthrows and nerves, Howard could end up challenging for the Big 12 passing lead in 2015.
Wisconsin
65 of 65
Troy Fumagalli, So., TE
Few programs have utilized the tight end in the passing game over the years as well as Wisconsin has. And with an old offensive coordinator coming back to run the Badgers in 2015, this trend figures to continue during the Paul Chryst era.
That bodes well for Fumagalli, a 6'5", 246-pound target who had 14 receptions for 187 yards but did not score a touchdown during his freshman season. It was part of a team-wide struggle with the passing game, something Chryst figures to work on fixing.
Fumagalli makes for a great target, catching a pass in 12 of 14 games, but he can do so much more.
Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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