The 50 Biggest Position Battles in 2015 College Football Spring Camp
Spring ball concerns players more than teams. Unlike fall camp, which bothers itself with scouting reports and game plans and execution, spring is a time for individual development.
In short, it's a time for position battles.
The 50 slides that follow contain the biggest position battles of spring 2015. They were selected based on three major factors:
- Relevance (does it matter on a national scale?)
- Competitiveness (how close are the contenders?)
- Immediacy (will spring camp play a decisive role?)
Those first two points are self-explanatory. The third might require an explanation. It's also the most important of the three.
Basically, under the immediacy clause, we've excluded battles on which fall camp holds too much importance. Notably, that means we've excluded Ohio State's quarterback battle (Cardale Jones is the only healthy contender), Michigan State's running back battle (moot until freshman L.J. Scott enrolls this summer) and all others like them.
Sound off below, and let us know what you think.
Quarterback Honorable Mentions
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Arbitrary guideline: I limited myself to 15 quarterback battles. No other position had more than eight. Quarterback is the most important job in football, but granting it more than 30 percent of the list seemed excessive or, at the very least, asymmetric.
Still, there are more than 15 quarterback battles worth monitoring in spring camp. Some (namely Louisville, Michigan and Oregon) will make the cut before fall camp but don't have all their candidates (namely Will Gardner, Zach Gentry and Vernon Adams) available for the early session. Others, we just ran out of room for.
Still, they deserve at least a shoutout:
1. Boise State
- Ryan Finley vs. Brett Rypien
2. Boston College
- Troy Flutie vs. Elijah Robinson vs. Darius Wade
3. Louisville
- Kyle Bolin vs. Reggie Bonnafon vs. Tyler Ferguson
4. Michigan
- Alex Malzone vs. Shane Morris vs. Wilton Speight
5. Northwestern
- Matt Alviti vs. Clayton Thorson vs. Zack Oliver
6. Oregon
- Ty Griffin vs. Jeff Lockie vs. Morgan Mahalak
7. Texas Tech
- Patrick Mahomes vs. Davis Webb
8. Wisconsin
- D.J. Gillins vs. Bart Houston vs. Austin Kafentzis vs. Tanner McEvoy vs. Joel Stave
Alabama No. 2 Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Tony Brown (So.): Brown played sparing reps as a 5-star freshman last season. He didn't make the impact some predicted—especially not compared with the 2013 class of 5-star cornerbacks—but there were times in which his athletic gifts shone through. He is 6'0", 198 pounds and runs a world-class time (13.38) in the 110-meter hurdles.
Marlon Humphrey (RS-Fr.): Like Brown, Humphrey was a 5-star freshman last season. Unlike Brown, he didn't see the field in Year 1. But like Brown, he's a world-class track athlete with the size (6'1", 186 lbs) and pedigree to contribute. Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee said Humphrey will "set the SEC on fire" in 2015.
Eddie Jackson (Jr.): Jackson tore his ACL last April but fought his way into game shape by September. Unfortunately, even though his pluck was inspiring, he never regained the form of his freshman year. Now roughly a year after his injury, can he revert to his previous form? Or did he leave the door open for others?
Bradley Sylve (Sr.): Like Brown and Humphrey, Sylve moonlights on the Alabama track team; but for three years he has failed to convert speed into production. He will factor into the rotation and can also make an impact on special teams, but with Brown, Humphrey, Jackson and late-enrolling 5-stars Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick around him, Sylve faces an uphill battle to start.
Projected Winner: Brown
Alabama Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Blake Barnett (Fr.): Barnett was the No. 21 overall recruit in 2015, ranking higher than any quarterback of the Nick Saban era. He shot up the rankings after winning the Elite 11 MVP in July and showing well his senior season. He is 6'4.5", 200 pounds, and the only dual-threat quarterback on the roster, which will earn him consideration after how well Blake Sims played in 2014.
Cooper Bateman (RS-So.): A top-100 recruit in 2013, Bateman took a redshirt his first season and spent last year on the scout team and as the holder. He's an underrated athlete and a hard worker who cannot be discounted as he enters his third year in Tuscaloosa.
Jake Coker (RS-Sr.): Coker didn't win the starting job and lead Alabama to the promised land the way we all predicted last offseason. But the Florida State transfer still has all those tools we were drooling over—6'5", rocket arm, improving accuracy—and won the No. 2 job behind Sims despite missing spring camp in 2014. Now entering his first spring in Tuscaloosa, he's the prohibitive favorite to start.
David Cornwell (RS-Fr.): Cornwell was a top-100 recruit and had one of the best arms in the class of 2014. He took a redshirt last season but has a similar build (6'5", 240 lbs) to that of Coker. The only thing he lacks is experience, but given the way redshirt freshmen quarterbacks have performed the past three seasons (Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, J.T. Barrett et al.), that is hardly a decisive factor.
Alec Morris (RS-Jr.): Morris is the least hyped but second most experienced quarterback in Tuscaloosa. He has a real chance to win this job. Is it a good chance? No. But it's definitely a real one. Marc Torrence of Bleacher Report listed Morris as a co-starter along with Coker on his first projected depth chart of the offseason.
Projected Winner: Coker
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Alabama Outside Wide Receivers
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Primary Candidates
Robert Foster (RS-So.): Foster has been a massive disappointment, although it's too soon to call him a bust. The former 5-star recruit took a redshirt in 2013 and had just 44 receiving yards last season. He is 6'3", 191 pounds and explosive on the perimeter, but if the breakout doesn't happen now, it probably never will.
Cam Sims (So.): Sims was the No. 84 overall recruit in 2014 and opened eyes with a strong freshman season. He is 6'4", 208 pounds and physical both as a blocker and with his release on the outside. He didn't play often, but he made his opportunity count with a 15-yard reception in the fourth quarter against Arkansas, setting up what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
ArDarius Stewart (RS-So.): The most accomplished of Alabama's outside receivers, Stewart caught 12 passes for 149 yards last season. Most of that came against Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina, but he also logged a pair of receptions and drew a pass-interference flag against then-No. 1 Mississippi State. He's the shortest (6'0") of Alabama's options but still the early favorite to start.
Raheem Falkins (Jr.): One of the few 3-star recruits in Tuscaloosa, Falkins has the frame (6'4", 210 lbs) of a higher-regarded prospect. He turned heads in fall camp as a freshman but has still not parlayed strong practice reviews into playing time. When he did get on the field against Western Carolina in 2014, he dropped what should have been a 60-yard reception from Jake Coker.
Projected Winners: Stewart, Sims
Auburn Center
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Primary Candidates
Xavier Dampeer (Sr.): Dampeer studied behind Reese Dismukes after transferring from junior college last season. He appeared in just five games but made a positive impression on the coaching staff. Still, the Tigers would not have moved Austin Golson to center during bowl practice if they had that much confidence in Dampeer.
Austin Golson (RS-So.): Golson started 12 of 13 games as a true freshman at Ole Miss before transferring last summer. He played right guard in Oxford and started his Auburn career at right tackle before making a late switch to center, as previously mentioned. Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes said Golson "has the ability to be an NFL player," per Brandon Marcello of AL.com.
Alex Kozan (RS-Jr.): If neither Dampeer nor Golson takes at center, Kozan could move inside from guard. The 2013 Freshman All-American missed all of last year with a back injury but will start if he is healthy in the fall. Where he plays might depend on other pieces—i.e., how the other guards develop—but he's capable of lining up anywhere.
Projected Winner: Golson (Kozan at guard)
Auburn Running Back
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Primary Candidates
Peyton Barber (RS-So.): Barber stands almost no chance of starting, but he's a coaches' favorite who can work his way into the rotation. That "almost no chance" thing has more to do with his competition (which is stout) than anything he's done wrong (very little) the past two seasons. He has a compact build (5'11", 225 lbs) and enough speed to slide through the hole.
Jovon Robinson (Sr.): Robinson was the No. 1 overall JUCO transfer in 2015. He originally committed to Auburn in 2012 but was ruled academically ineligible and dropped down to Georgia Military College, where last year he set the single-season JUCO record for rushing yards (2,387) and scored 38 rushing touchdowns. He is built like a truck (6'1", 227 lbs) and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can find the hole, break long runs and carry an offense on his back.
Roc Thomas (So.): Thomas was the No. 23 overall recruit in 2014. The running backs who ranked directly behind him (Nick Chubb, Georgia; Royce Freeman, Oregon) gained 3,283 total yards as true freshmen. Who's to say what Thomas might have done without Cameron Artis-Payne hogging carries? He is built like a slighter Tre Mason (5'10", 193 lbs) and will not let Robinson start without a fight.
Projected Winner: Robinson
Baylor Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Chris Johnson (RS-So.): A tantalizing physical specimen, Johnson has the tools to pull an upset and win this job. The question is whether he has those tools under control. Either way, when you're 6'5", 225 pounds and mobile, you're not going to fly under the radar. Head coach Art Briles will give Johnson every chance to compete.
Seth Russell (Jr.): Russell posted huge numbers as the backup to Bryce Petty. …That's the good news. The bad news is that he posted those numbers against the likes of Northwestern State and SMU. Can he replicate his outputs against legitimate FBS competition? He's the favorite, but he won't have much slack.
Jarrett Stidham (Fr.): Stidham is the type of player who in the past would have never gone to Baylor. He was the No. 38 overall recruit in 2015 and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback. His size (6'4", 195 lbs) and style make him in essence a faster version of Petty. Enrolling early helps, but how fast can he learn the offense?
Projected Winner: Russell
Clemson Defensive Tackles
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Primary Candidates
Albert Huggins (Fr.): Huggins was the No. 92 overall recruit in 2015 and the No. 1 player from South Carolina. He's the first No. 1 in-state recruit Clemson has signed since Da'Quan Bowers (2008). Huggins might also play defensive end, but his frame (6'3", 280 lbs) suggests he can help Clemson inside, where it has fewer bodies.
Scott Pagano (RS-So.): Pagano played well as a redshirt freshman, logging 10 tackles in 54 snaps. All-ACC tackle Grady Jarrett logged 73 tackles in 530 snaps. At his pace, Pagano would have logged 98 tackles in as many snaps as Jarrett played last season. There are obvious lurking variables, but still—you get the point.
Also of note: Head coach Dabo Swinney said Pagano (6'3", 295 lbs) did 38 bench reps of 225 pounds this offseason, per Tony Crumpton of Tigernet.com. If that's true, he's a burgeoning monster.
D.J. Reader (Sr.): Reader is a physical marvel. His frame (6'2", 325 lbs) suggests a stiff, unathletic run-stuffer, but he moves like an oversized linebacker, lettered on the Tigers' baseball team (at first base, but still) and has even on occasion played fullback. He underperformed as a junior, but now, on the brink of his final year, he should finally meet expectations.
Carlos Watkins (RS-Jr.): Watkins was the No. 71 overall recruit in 2012 and played well as a true freshman. He was on his way to becoming a star until a tragic car accident that killed his childhood friend and injured him so badly he ended his sophomore year in September and took a redshirt. He didn't become a star in 2014, but he did make his triumphant return, appearing in 11 games and logging eight tackles. Can he contribute even more next season?
Projected Winners: Reader, Pagano
Clemson Right Tackle
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Primary Candidates
Jake Fruhmorgen (Fr.): Fruhmorgen was the No. 119 overall recruit and No. 8 offensive tackle in 2015. He learned the nuance of the position from his father, John, a former starting lineman at Alabama, and he's a capable athlete with a long-term future at right tackle. The only thing impeding Fruhmorgen is bulk; at 6'5", 280 pounds, he must add some muscle before starting in the ACC.
Joe Gore (RS-Sr.): Gore started last season as the first-team right tackle, but poor play led to a demotion. Part of that might have been health-related (appendicitis), but part of it was also mental. "He's got to want it just as bad as we want it for him," former offensive coordinator Chad Morris told Aaron Brenner of The Post and Courier in November. "The talent's not an issue with Joe Gore."
Mitch Hyatt (Fr.): Hyatt comes to Clemson with a higher pedigree than that of Fruhmorgen, having graded as a 5-star recruit. But he's listed at an even slighter size (6'5", 272 lbs) and must also add weight this spring and summer. If he succeeds without compromising his signature attributes (quickness and footwork in pass protection), Hyatt will push hard for a starting job.
Maverick Morris (RS-So.): Morris has the lowest ceiling of the four listed candidates. However, after playing 59 snaps last season, he provides a useful middle ground between Gore (who can't be trusted) and a pair of true freshmen (who also can't be trusted). As long as he plays steady football, he won't fall out of this race.
Projected Winner: Gore
Florida Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Will Grier (RS-Fr.): Grier was the No. 3 quarterback in the 2014 recruiting class, and the only two players who ranked higher (Kyle Allen, Texas A&M; Deshaun Watson, Clemson) both look like future Heisman Trophy candidates. Florida doesn't need Grier to reach their levels, but it does need someone to run Jim McElwain's pro-style offense. Grier checks all the boxes of a young Garrett Grayson.
Treon Harris (So.): Harris holds the edge in experience after starting five games a freshman. He won the favor of the old regime and has played in Doak Campbell Stadium, beaten Georgia on a neutral field, etc., while Grier has never stepped off the sideline.
The question is whether that, plus Harris' running ability, outweighs Grier's superior arm. Based on the template of McElwain's previous quarterbacks, the answer is probably no. But not definitely.
Projected Winner: Grier
Florida State Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
JJ Cosentino (RS-Fr.): Cosentino earned praise last year on the scout team and has the same frame (6'4", 234 lbs) as Jameis Winston (6'4", 230 lbs). He has the same taste in viral content, too. He doesn't have the same pedigree (although he did attend the same high school as Dan Marino), but if he plays well, that won't matter.
John Franklin (RS-So.): Ideally, Franklin wouldn't play quarterback. He's a track star who posted a 6.82 in the 60-meter dash and has tried his hand at wide receiver. But if (and only if) head coach Jimbo Fisher doesn't like what he sees from the "traditional" quarterbacks, his best bet might be rolling with a superior athlete.
De'Andre Johnson (Fr.): Johnson lacks ideal size (6'0", 175 lbs) but plays with poise and quiet confidence. He was the No. 398 overall recruit and No. 11 dual-threat quarterback in 2015. He enrolled for spring camp and will get a jump on his higher-regarded classmate, Deondre Francois, before the latter arrives this summer.
Sean Maguire (RS-Jr.): Maguire made the lone start of his career against Clemson in 2014, when Florida State suspended Winston for yelling on-campus profanities. Maguire's performance was uneven at best, but Clemson had the No. 1 defense in the country, per the F/+ ratings at Football Outsiders, which warrants him a clean slate. Fisher would not have started Maguire if he thought another quarterback (namely Cosentino) gave FSU a better chance to win.
Projected Winner: Maguire
Georgia No. 2 Defensive End
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Primary Candidates
Michael Barnett (Fr.): Barnett was a top-250 recruit in 2015 and arrives at Georgia with a college-ready frame (6'5", 258 lbs). His technique has never matched his physical tools—otherwise, he would have ranked well inside the top 200—but the extra month of practice should help fix that. Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, who joined the staff in January after three years with the Tennessee Titans, has an important first job ahead of him.
Josh Dawson (Sr.): Dawson appeared in all 13 games and made four starts last season. He recovered two fumbles against Tennessee, returning one for the game-winning touchdown, and finished the year with 17 tackles and four tackles for loss. The former 4-star recruit from Tucker, Georgia, has never developed into a star, but if the young kids aren't ready, he's a valuable player to have.
James DeLoach (Sr.): DeLoach has spent his entire career behind Dawson. He was a 3-star to Dawson's 4-star in high school, and he's played slightly fewer reps than Dawson in college. There is no reason to expect that will change, so really DeLoach is competing to make the rotation. But maybe competition inspires the best in him?
Jonathan Ledbetter (Fr.): Ledbetter was the No. 66 overall recruit in 2015. He played for the same high school (Tucker) as Dawson, which is awkward since primarily they're competing head-to-head for this job. He is a built like an upperclassman (6'4", 265 lbs), understands hand placement and can burst through the line with quickness.
Projected Winner: Ledbetter
Georgia Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Faton Bauta (RS-Jr.): Typecast as the "mobile" option, Bauta is the oldest and most athletic QB on the roster. New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer runs a pro-style offense, so mobility is unessential. But it still gives Bauta a sort of leg up.
Jacob Park (RS-Fr.): Park was the No. 114 overall recruit and No. 5 pro-style quarterback in 2014. He took a redshirt to preserve a year of eligibility, so it's unclear whether he would have been the backup over Bauta and Brice Ramsey, but his performance on the scout team earned strong praise from head coach Mark Richt.
Brice Ramsey (RS-So.): Ramsey has the arm of a young Matt Stafford but has heretofore lacked the spark. His performance against Louisville in the Belk Bowl, when he subbed in for an injured Hutson Mason, left much to be desired. Yes, Louisville had an exceptional defense, but Ramsey still wasted a golden opportunity.
Projected Winner: Park
Louisville Cornerbacks
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Primary Candidates
Zykiesis Cannon (So.): Cannon appeared in nine games as a true freshman, mostly on special teams but also on occasion at cornerback. He was the No. 1,350 overall recruit in 2014 but sports an impressive frame (6'0", 193 lbs) and knows how to swivel his hips. He's a candidate to start at nickelback if Jermaine Reve moves to safety.
De'Eric Culver (So.): Culver was the No. 542 overall recruit in 2014 but made a smaller impact than his classmates (Cannon and Trumaine Washington) as a freshman. He appeared in six games on special teams but registered zero tackles. He has the frame (6'0", 182 lbs) to develop into a starter, but he's a long shot heading into camp.
Trumaine Washington (So.): Washington was the No. 1,253 overall recruit in 2014 but quickly outperformed his ranking. He appeared in eight games as a true freshman (and would have appeared in more if not for an injury) and became one of the key reserves in Louisville's secondary. He is smaller (5'10", 183 lbs) than his competition, but based on last season that won't keep him off the field.
Shaq Wiggins (RS-So.): Wiggins started eight games as a true freshman at Georgia in 2013. He followed defensive coordinator Todd Grantham from Athens to Louisville and practiced with the team last season. He lacks ideal size (5'10", 166 lbs), so it's unclear whether he and Washington can play together on the outside. Other than that, however, he's a slam-dunk bet to start next season.
Projected Winners: Washington, Wiggins, Cannon (Reve at safety)
LSU No. 2 Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Edward Paris (So.): Paris was the No. 42 overall recruit and No. 3 safety in 2014. He primarily played special teams as a freshmen but has spent the offseason studying LSU great Tyrann Mathieu, whose ability to play multiple positions resembles that of his own. At 6'1", 208 pounds, Paris has more than enough size to line up on the outside; the question is whether he has the fluid hips and footwork.
Dwayne Thomas (RS-Jr.): Thomas played well at the start of 2014 but tore his ACL in September—his second season-ending injury in three years. He plans on returning for spring camp despite that, and if he comes back in decent shape, he's never had a better chance to start. Still, because he's played so well at nickelback the past two seasons, there's a chance Thomas stays in that role.
Kevin Toliver II (Fr.): Toliver signed with LSU after a record 820-day verbal commitment. He'll need a fraction of that time to earn reps. He has an ideal frame for press-man coverage (6'2", 185 lbs), and he's fast enough to recover or play the deep third in zone. The one-time No. 1 recruit in the country finished at No. 8 overall.
Projected Winner: Toliver
LSU Defensive Ends
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Primary Candidates
Tashawn Bower (Jr.): Bower has the most experience of any LSU defensive end, which is scary considering he's made fewer than 20 tackles. He was a top-200 recruit in 2013, but his upside is that of a reliable starter more than an All-Conference talent. He's the safest bet to begin next season on the first team, which is fine—he's a very good player. He's just not your standard "LSU No. 1 pass-rusher."
Deondre Clark (So.): Clark is a rare physical specimen who in high school played both defensive end and running back (he had 20 rushing touchdowns and 18 sacks his senior year). As a true freshman he played sparingly but started to earn increased reps by November. He is 6'3", 244 pounds and, of course, possessed of great feet.
Lewis Neal (Jr.): After two years serving a depth role, Neal has earned a chance for meaningful reps. The former 3-star recruit has nice speed off the line but lacks the size (6'1", 255 lbs) and reach to contribute on standard downs, so he is probably best served in a situational pass-rushing role. But who knows? Maybe he makes a leap.
Sione Teuhema (So.): Teuhema vs. Clark is the position battle within the position battle. Two spots are open: Bower is a slight favorite; Neal is a slight underdog. Teuhema came to LSU with less hype than his younger brother—Sione was a 3-star recruit in 2014; Maea, an offensive guard, was a top-40 recruit in 2015—but he's a capable rusher whom we at least know has great genes.
Projected Winners: Bower, Teuhema
LSU Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Brandon Harris (So.): Harris outplayed Anthony Jennings in last year's spring game. He outplayed him (albeit not by much) in limited live reps too. He was the No. 75 overall recruit in 2014 and should improve with a full year to learn the offense.
"Why Harris did not play more last season will forever be a mystery," wrote Carter Bryant of Bleacher Report. That's the question every Tigers fan wants answered.
Anthony Jennings (RS-Jr.): Jennings started his career on such a high note. He relieved an injured Zach Mettenberger against Arkansas in 2013 and promptly led a game-winning 99-yard touchdown drive.
Since that game, however, his career has been a steady plunge downhill. He completed seven of 19 passes against Iowa in the 2013 Outback Bowl and finished last season with a QB rating of 118.3. The only SEC quarterback who was worse? Jeff Driskel.
Projected Winner: Harris
Miami (Fla.) Tight End
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Primary Candidates
Standish Dobard (Jr.): As a sophomore Dobard backed up Clive Walford—arguably the best tight end in the country. He proved his worth as a blocker all season, and when Walford went down with an injury in the regular-season finale, he stepped up as a pass-catcher too. It's unclear whether he can maintain that production, but he doesn't lack the size (6'4", 262 lbs) to become a weapon.
Chris Herndon (So.): Herndon burned a redshirt that he probably should have kept last season. He appeared in just three games and recorded no stats. He was a 3-star recruit in 2014, has ample size (6'4", 255 lbs) for the position and the coaching staff seems to like him. For now, though, he is nothing more than a wild card.
Jerome Washington (RS-Fr.): Washington was the No. 19 overall JUCO transfer and No. 1 tight end in 2015. Miami got very little from its last 4-star JUCO tight end (Beau Sandland), but Washington has four years left to play and feels more like a signee than a transfer. He has a massive frame (6'5", 262 lbs) for the position and will push Dobard for reps if Dobard struggles in the passing game.
Projected Winner: Dobard
Michigan Running Back
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Primary Candidates
Derrick Green (Jr.): Green played better as a sophomore than he did as a freshman, but he missed the second half of the year with a broken clavicle. The former 5-star recruit has a thick frame (5'11", 240 lbs) but lacks the speed and vision to consistently burst through holes. Still, you can't teach size, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to anchor his offense around the power-running game.
Ty Isaac (RS-So.): Isaac was the No. 54 overall recruit in 2013 and spent his first year at USC before transferring last summer. He is a tall (6'3"), thick (240 lbs), versatile back from the same mold as Darren McFadden, and he performed well on the scout team last season. He had 293 yards on 44 touches as a freshman at USC.
De'Veon Smith (Jr.): Smith tallied 57 yards on seven carries against Ohio State in 2013 and had a pair of 100-yard games (against Appalachian State and Northwestern) in 2014. He, Green and Isaac hail from the same recruiting class, and while Smith ranked more than 150 spots behind them, he has thus far played just as well.
Projected Winner: Isaac
Michigan State Cornerbacks
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Primary Candidates
Arjen Colquhoun (RS-Sr.): Never more than a depth piece, Colquhoun finds himself in the perfect situation as a senior. Co-defensive coordinator Harlon Bennett said both starting cornerback spots are open, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press, and Colquhoun (6'1", 195 lbs) has the size and length to seize one if he plays well.
Vayante Copeland (RS-Fr.): Recruited as a running back, Copeland instead spent last season on defense. He didn't leave the scout team, but Mike Griffith of MLive.com said "from most all accounts [he] has been one of the most impressive young players in practices." At 6'0", 184 pounds, Copeland has adequate size to play press-man.
Demetrious Cox (Jr.): Cox has played (and played well) at safety the past two seasons, but he's more valuable at a position of weakness. To his credit, he's taken a proactive approach to the switch. "'I've already hit up Darqueze [Dennard]," Cox told Rexrode of his former teammate and the recipient of the 2013 Jim Thorpe Award. "Like, 'Look, if you've got time, we're working out this summer.'"
Darian Hicks (Jr.): Hicks started opposite Trae Waynes for most of last season but was benched for poor performance in November. Sparty called on All-Big Ten receiver Tony Lippett to play both ways and start over him; that's how desperate they were for answers. Hicks has the talent to win this job and improve on his 2014 performance, but first he must shake the mental toll of last season.
Projected Winners: Cox, Copeland
Minnesota Running Back
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Primary Candidates
Berkley Edwards (RS-So.): David Cobb impeded his workload, but Edwards made good use of his 33 touches last season (163 total yards). He doesn't fit the archetype of downhill Minnesota running back, but at 5'9", 190 pounds, he brings a much-needed speed dimension to this offense. Also of note: He's the younger brother of Michigan legend Braylon Edwards, the leading receiver in U-M history. The Wolverines did not offer Berkley a scholarship.
Jeff Jones (RS-Fr.): Jones was the No. 60 overall recruit in 2014—the biggest signee in Minnesota's modern history. But he failed to qualify academically and was disallowed from playing (or even practicing) last season. Now he's back, however, which is bad news for the rest of the Big Ten. When last we saw Jones take the field, he won offensive MVP honors at the Under Armour All-America Game.
Rodrick Williams Jr. (Sr.): Minnesota turned to Williams as its No. 1 back at the start of the 2013 season. It slowly phased him out once Cobb become the clear top option, but he still earned valuable reps and has 140 carries and 707 rushing yards to his name. Plus, he's a human bowling ball (5'11", 247 lbs), which makes him valuable next to Edwards (190 lbs) and Jones (6'0", 198 lbs).
Projected Winner: Jones
Mississippi State Offensive Tackle
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Primary Candidates
Cole Carter (RS-Jr.): Carter has been a steady backup lineman and now gets his first real chance to start. He was the second-team left tackle in 2014 and has appeared in double-digit games as a Bulldog. He has the size (6'6", 295 lbs) to hold his own on the edge.
Jocquell Johnson (RS-Jr.): Johnson was the No. 98 overall JUCO transfer in 2014 and took a redshirt his first season. He was supposed to challenge for playing time. But injuries derailed him in spring camp, and it became clear that with so much upperclassman talent on the roster he would be better served staggering eligibility. He is built more like a guard (6'4", 300 lbs) but can easily play tackle.
Martinas Rankin (So.): Rankin was the No. 9 overall JUCO transfer and No. 1 offensive tackle in 2015. He has ideal size (6'5", 300 lbs) for the position and demonstrates a natural mirroring ability. Blue-chip JUCO tackles have been hit-or-miss the past few seasons, but Rankin enters with a rare opportunity to start from Day 1 at a contender.
Damien Robinson (RS-Sr.): Robinson missed last season after tearing his ACL in August. He made 37 appearances his first three seasons and was a leading contender to start at right tackle. His frame (6'8", 325 lbs) gives him considerable upside, and his experience makes him safer than most other candidates. He is waiting to hear back from the NCAA on his medical hardship waiver, which would grant him a sixth year of eligibility; this article obviously projects he will receive it.
Rufus Warren (RS-Sr.): Recruited as a 3-star tight end, Warren has gained close to 50 pounds in four seasons and now tips the scales at 6'7", 295 pounds. He's never forced his way into the starting lineup, but he worked as the second-team right tackle in 2014 and has the experience edge on most of his competition.
Projected Winners: LT Rankin, RT Robinson
Mississippi State Running Back
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Primary Candidates
Brandon Holloway (RS-Jr.): Hollway is a former track star and one of the fastest players on the team. At a school that's favored the downhill, power-running game, his frame (5'8", 160 lbs) and speed make him a perfect change-of-pace option. He gained 294 yards on 46 carries last season highlighted by 76 yards on five carries against Texas A&M.
Ashton Shumpert (Jr.): Shumpert emerged during the second half of last season. He gained 150 yards on 28 carries against Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech, displaying both vision and power through the hole. He was a top-200 recruit in 2013, and although many thought he would play safety, his frame (6'2", 218 lbs) suits him equally to the backfield…and especially to Mississippi State's backfield.
Aeris Williams (RS-Fr.): Williams was the No. 254 overall recruit in 2014, ranking No. 2 in the Bulldogs' signing class. He took a redshirt when Josh Robinson became a workhorse, but that doesn't mean he failed to impress. In fact, he looked like he might have been the back on the roster, according to Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com.
Projected Winner: Williams
Nebraska Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Tommy Armstrong (RS-Jr.): Armstrong has been an above-average quarterback—but at Nebraska, above-average doesn't cut it. (Just ask Bo Pelini.) There was a two-week stretch last season (against Purdue and Wisconsin) in which he completed just 14 of 39 passes. New head coach Mike Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf have no previous loyalty to Armstrong, so they will wipe clean the slate and hold an open competition.
Ryker Fyfe (RS-Jr.): Fyfe joined the program as a walk-on but earned consistent praise from the previous regime. He is 6'2", 210 pounds, capable with his legs and throws a strong enough ball to lead a pro-style offense. He won the No. 2 job over Johnny Stanton last season.
Johnny Stanton (RS-So.): Stanton became a legend during his redshirt year in 2013, but his exploits have been thus far confined to the practice field. He was the No. 304 overall recruit in 2013, coming to Nebraska from Southern California despite holding offers from Oregon, Cal and Washington. Armstrong is the pre-camp favorite, but Stanton is the name most Huskers fans want to see.
Projected Winner: Stanton
North Carolina Defensive Ends
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Primary Candidates
Mikey Bart (Jr.): Bart has made 21 appearances in two seasons, winning the favor of Tar Heels fans with his hard work and blue-collar attitude. He lacks ideal size (6'3", 255 lbs) for a traditional 4-3 end, which is what he'll need to play under new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, but he's proved he should never be discounted. He had a strip-sack of Brad Kaaya against Miami (Florida) in 2014.
Jalen Dalton (Fr.): Dalton was the No. 57 overall recruit and No. 3 weak-side defensive end in 2015. He has a tall, rangy frame (6'5", 235 lbs), and 247Sports gave him a nine out of 10 for his first step and athleticism. Accordingly, he seems like a perfect fit for Chizik's defense, which wants its ends to blindly rush the passer with speed.
Dajaun Drennon (RS-So.): Drennon started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman and played well enough to keep his job. He is only on this list because of the coaching/scheme change introduced by Chizik. He was a 4-star recruit in 2014 and has the size (6'4", 250 lbs) to play either 7-technique or 9-technique, although he's better suited to the latter.
Junior Gnonkonde (RS-Jr.): Gnonkonde has been a surprise the past two seasons. Billed as a long-term project, he has developed faster than expected and already recorded 63 career tackles. His 41 tackles last season were the most among returning linemen, although it should be mentioned he has only logged one career sack.
Shakeel Rashad (Sr.): Rashad played a position ("Bandit" linebacker) that no longer exists. Fortunately, he has the size (6'2", 245 lbs) to transition to the defensive line, and the speed he showed at Bandit should endear him to his new DC. He played the final five games of the 2013 season after initially being ruled out for the year with a knee injury, which speaks well to his competitive temperament.
Projected Winners: Drennon, Dalton
Notre Dame Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Everett Golson (RS-Sr.): Golson (6'0", 200 lbs) went from Heisman contender to backup in a matter of weeks, suffering a demotion before the Music City Bowl. He has the arm and legs to start in the NFL, and he proved in 2012 that he can get Notre Dame over the hump. But none of that matters until he finds his center and relearns how to protect the football. He committed 22 turnovers in 2014.
DeShone Kizer (RS-Fr.): Kizer is a dark horse and admittedly faces giant odds to start. Notre Dame will give him sparing first-team reps, and he will have to pounce on each opportunity. Still, he belongs in the conversation after flashing a smooth arm on the scout team. He is the tallest QB in the competition (6'4.5") and a terrific athlete to boot.
Malik Zaire (RS-So.): Zaire outplayed Golson in last year's spring game but didn't win the starting job until the Music City Bowl. He and Golson rotated in the upset of LSU, each playing well in divided reps, but Zaire left the slightly more positive impression. He does not have Golson's arm but is by far the better runner on designed plays. If he takes the next step as a passer, he can win the job for good.
Projected Winner: Golson
Ohio State No. 2 Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Gareon Conley (RS-So.): Conley was the No. 146 overall recruit in 2013. He boasts sufficient measurables (6'0", 190 lbs) and ideal length for press-man coverage. He started one game in place of Eli Apple last season but didn't do enough to earn the upper hand in this position battle. In Columbus, there's a higher bar to clear.
Marshon Lattimore (RS-Fr.): Lattimore was the No. 52 overall recruit in 2014. He was the top-ranked prospect from the state of Ohio—a distinction whose recipients almost never take two years to make an impact. Hamstring issues forced him out of the lineup last season, but if he's healthy, he's a strong contender to start.
Damon Webb (So.): Webb was the No. 35 overall recruit in 2014, ranking just ahead of Lattimore despite possessing a smaller frame (5'10", 190 lbs to 6'0", 195 lbs). He made nine appearances as a true freshman, mostly on special teams and in mop-up time, but still feels he made big strides. "Tackling, playing press, all my techniques have grown since I came here," he told Doug Lesmerises of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "My confidence is very high."
Projected Winner: Webb
Ohio State Defensive End
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Primary Candidates
Jashon Cornell (Fr.): Cornell was the No. 91 overall recruit in 2015 and is the highest-ranked enrollee in Columbus. He has great size for a true freshman (6'4", 260 lbs) and is strong enough to compete against FBS linemen immediately. However, he projects better to the strong side than the weak side, which makes him an awkward fit opposite Joey Bosa. He's better served as one of Bosa's backups.
Jalyn Holmes (So.): Holmes was the No. 80 overall recruit in 2015 but hardly made an impact as a freshman. Despite that, he learned behind Bosa, Steve Miller and Rashad Frazier and has said all the right things this offseason. He has a sturdy frame (6'4", 262 lbs) and fires off the ball with speed, which makes him a suitable weak side end.
Sam Hubbard (RS-Fr.): Hubbard endeared himself to the coaching staff on the scout team, moving from linebacker to tight end to linebacker before eventually settling at defensive end. He now has the frame (6'5", 244 lbs) to compete along the line, and he obviously has the speed head coach Urban Meyer covets. It is too soon to call him a favorite, but Hubbard has a real chance to win this job.
Tyquan Lewis (RS-So.): Lewis has gained more than 30 pounds since high school and now tips the scales at a strapping 6'3", 260 pounds. He was a 4-star recruit in 2013 and earned snaps over Holmes in the College Football Playoff. The other three options are sexier, but Lewis has the edge in experience.
Projected Winner: Holmes
Oklahoma Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Dakota Austin (Jr.): Austin ranked outside the top 1,000 recruits in 2013 but has seen the field in each of his first two seasons. He hasn't played much, but he's shown enough to throw his hat into the ring of this battle. He lacks ideal size (5'11", 164 lbs) but has quick feet and is willing to throw his body around in run support.
Cortez Johnson (RS-Sr.): Johnson played his first year (2011) at Arizona before transferring to Oklahoma in 2012 and starting two games in 2013. He fell down the depth chart last season, appearing in just two games and failing to record a tackle, but his size (6'2", 206 lbs) and experience make him an interesting name to watch.
William Johnson (Jr.): Johnson was the No. 44 overall JUCO transfer in 2015. He sports a good-looking frame (6'0", 185 lbs) and can turn and run on vertical routes. The questions about his game concern run support, but he can answer those in spring camp.
Stanvon Taylor (Jr.): Taylor was the No. 132 overall recruit and No. 14 wide receiver in 2013. The Sooners moved him to cornerback, where they had much bigger needs, but have yet to reap the benefit of that move. He lacks ideal size (5'10", 179 lbs) but can match any other Sooner in terms of fluidity. He's just a little raw.
Jordan Thomas (So.): Thomas was the No. 476 overall recruit in 2014 and started four games as a true freshman. He didn't do enough to clinch this job but should still be considered the favorite. He finished the season with 32 tackles and had three pass breakups against Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl. His size (6'1", 183 lbs) pairs well across from No. 1 corner Zack Sanchez (5'11", 179 lbs).
Projected Winner: Thomas
Oklahoma State 'Star' Linebacker
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Primary Candidates
Gyasi Akem (So.): Akem was the No. 215 overall recruit in 2014—the highest-ranked high school player in Oklahoma State's signing class. He played well in limited reps as a true freshman and is slated for an even bigger role next season. His combination of size (6'1", 210 lbs) and speed (listed 40 time of 4.6 seconds) makes him an interesting fit at "Star" linebacker, where athleticism is paramount.
Jordan Burton (Jr.): Burton was the No. 111 overall JUCO transfer in 2015. He logged 108 tackles at Kilgore College last season, ranking No. 8 in the NJCAA. Listed as a safety by recruiting services, he has the size (6'3", 210 lbs) and obviously the tracking instincts to play "Star." He also has the physical maturity, having graduated high school in 2012.
Justin Phillips (So.): Phillips became a household name in Bedlam, recording 10 tackles (seven solo) in the upset over Oklahoma. He was the No. 888 overall recruit in 2014, arriving with far less hype than Akem but making a bigger impact as a true freshman. With Ryan Simmons and Seth Jacobs returning, there's only one open linebacker spot in the starting lineup. Phillips has a strong chance to claim it.
Projected Winner: Akem
Oklahoma Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Justice Hansen (RS-Fr.): Hansen was a top-150 recruit and the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in 2014. He took a redshirt last season but should not be discounted from this battle—especially after Trevor Knight won the starting job as a redshirt freshman two years ago. Hansen is even bigger (6'3", 204 lbs) and more athletic than Knight.
Trevor Knight (RS-Jr.): After shredding Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl, Knight entered last season with Heisman hype. He finished on a wholly divergent note, completing 17 of 37 passes for 103 yards (2.8 yards per attempt), zero touchdowns and three interceptions against Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
Which Knight shows up this spring? The smart money says the 2014-15 version, but Knight has played his best when the least has been expected of him. And right now…the least is expected of him.
Baker Mayfield (RS-So.): Mayfield started seven games as a true freshman at Texas Tech but transferred after the 2013 season when it appeared Davis Webb had won the job. He was perfect (12-of-12) in last year's spring game and has an established knowledge of the Air Raid offense, which new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley plans to install for next season.
Cody Thomas (RS-So.): Thomas started three games last season when Knight missed time with an injury. He didn't look especially sharp, but he at least established a rapport with the wide receivers. He is the tallest quarterback on the roster (6'4", 211 lbs) and recently quit the OU baseball team to focus on winning this job.
Projected Winner: Mayfield
Ole Miss Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Ryan Buchanan (RS-So.): Buchanan was the No. 275 overall recruit in 2013 and held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and Florida. He has above-average size (6'3", 208 lbs) but struggled badly during mop-up reps last season. DeVante Kincade supplanted him as the backup in the Peach Bowl, although the two were interchangeable all season.
Chad Kelly (RS-Jr.): Where does one even begin? Kelly was a top-200 recruit in 2012 and is the nephew of NFL legend Jim Kelly. He competed to start at Clemson last offseason, but after some sort of spring-game altercation, the Tigers dismissed him from the program. He spent last season at junior college, played well, kept his nose out of trouble and signed with Ole Miss, but he was promptly then arrested for wreaking havoc outside a nightclub in Buffalo.
After agreeing to a plea deal, Kelly is on his way to Oxford and ready to put his past mistakes behind him. On talent alone, he should win this job. But at this point, how can anybody—coaches and teammates alike—put their trust in him?
DeVante Kincade (RS-So.): Kincade was the No. 333 overall recruit in 2013 but lacks the size (6'0", 202 lbs) to run a traditional offense. He is the most athletic quarterback on the roster (although Kelly is not far behind) but must prove he can stretch the field. With Laquon Treadwell, Evan Engram, Cody Core and Washington transfer Damore'ea Stringfellow on the perimeter, this offense will function best with a strong-armed quarterback.
Projected Winner: Buchanan
Oregon No. 2 Defensive End
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Primary Candidates
T.J. Daniel (RS-Jr.): A 2-star recruit in high school, Daniel has developed into a useful little depth piece up front. He started his career at tight end but has tacked on 30 pounds in three years and now tips the scales at 6'6", 270 pounds. He didn't make a huge impact last season, but he did log five tackles and a sack in the regular-season loss to Arizona.
Canton Kaumatule (Fr.): No true freshman has more momentum than Kaumatule, who dominated all week at the Under Armour All-America Game and finished as the No. 16 overall recruit. He is 6'7", 290 pounds and plays with an edge that combats Oregon's "soft" defensive label. Basically, he's a high-motor version of Arik Armstead, the man he's competing to replace.
Henry Mondeaux (So.): Mondeaux forced his way into the lineup as a true freshman, working as hard as any UO defender and appearing in all 15 games. He lacks ideal size (6'5", 256 lbs) and has a lower ceiling than the other names on this list, but if last year was any indication that will not deter him from making an impact.
Tui Talia (Sr.): Talia earned a spot in the rotation in his first year over from JUCO, appearing in all 15 games and starting when Armstead was injured against UCLA and Cal. He has the size (6'5", 285 lbs), experience and physical maturity to start opposite DeForest Buckner—and at this point he is probably considered the favorite—but young guns such as Kaumatule will make him work for it all offseason.
Projected Winner: Kaumatule
Penn State Inside Linebacker
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Primary Candidates
Jason Cabinda (So.): Cabinda outperformed his pedigree as a true freshman, earning a spot on the two-deep despite ranking outside the top 1,250 recruits in 2015 He made eight tackles against Northwestern in his first college game, and although he logged just nine the rest of the season, he has the size (6'1", 248 lbs) and instincts to move inside and compete for even more reps as a sophomore.
Ben Kline (RS-Sr.): Kline missed last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon but is back and being counted on for leadership. He made 18 tackles in each of his first two seasons, showing pluck in 2013 when, despite a torn pectoral muscle and a shoulder injury that would soon end his season, he finished a game against Minnesota. If he's healthy (big if), he is going to make an impact.
Troy Reeder (RS-Fr.): Reeder was a top-500 recruit in 2015, and although his less heralded classmate, Cabinda, saw the field ahead of him as a freshman, he did not fail to impress on the scout team. "His work ethic is crazy," teammate Brandon Bell told Greg Pickel of PennLive.com. "He's already a big guy (6'1", 244 lbs), as strong as almost anybody so he's due for a good spring."
Gary Wooten (RS-Jr.): Wooten has backed up a pair of productive linebackers—Glenn Carson in 2013, Mike Hull in 2014—and on paper seems like a logical choice to start. He's the quote "boring" option among these four players, which is common for multiyear backups, but experience makes him a slight early favorite.
Projected Winner: Reeder
Penn State Offensive Tackle
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Primary Candidates
Sterling Jenkins (Fr.): One of two 4-star tackles in Penn State's signing class, Jenkins enrolled early to get a jump on classmate Ryan Bates and compete for a starting job. Head coach James Franklin said Jenkins has already gained 20 pounds since arriving and now tips the scales at 6'8", 327 pounds, per Dustin Hockensmith of PennLive.com. He's raw, sure, but anyone that massive deserves a close look in spring camp.
Paris Palmer (Jr.): Palmer was the No. 12 overall JUCO transfer and No. 2 offensive tackle in 2015. Like Jenkins he checks in at 6'8", but his weight has actually gone the opposite direction since enrolling; per Hockensmith, Franklin said he's down from 297 pounds to 288. Most considered (and still consider) Palmer the favorite to win this job, but write his name in pencil, not pen.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN X (RS-Fr.): Penn State signed and redshirted four 3-star tackles last season: Noah Beh, Brendan Brosnan, Chance Sorrell and Chasz Wright. Because they all worked with the scout team, it is hard to distinguish the pecking order between them, but Franklin will give all four an earnest shot to start.
Projected Winner: Palmer
South Carolina Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Connor Mitch (RS-So.): Mitch was the No. 345 overall recruit in 2013, which makes him the only even semi-decorated quarterback in spring camp. Pedigree will not hand Mitch the job (at this point it is nothing but a number), but it does hint at his advantage from a physical perspective. He is 6'3", 220 pounds, well-rounded and a medium-sized favorite to start.
Perry Orth (RS-Jr.): Orth walked on at South Carolina and last year shared co-backup duties with Mitch. No FBS school offered him a scholarship in high school, but he's endeared himself to head coach Steve Spurrier since arriving. He lacks ideal size (6'1", 204 lbs) but is a hard worker who does not take this opportunity for granted.
Michael Scarnecchia (RS-Fr.): Scarnecchia was the No. 1,660 overall recruit in 2014 and promptly took a redshirt last season. Befitting that description, he's a mostly unknown commodity (unless you count his career as a secret agent). Josh Kendall of GoGamecocks.com described Scarnecchia as "the kind of cerebral QB Spurrier likes," alluding to his interest in studying neurology. At 6'4", 204 pounds, he doesn't lack the size to become a player.
Projected Winner: Mitch
Stanford Defensive Ends
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Primary Candidates
Luke Kaumatule (Sr.): Kaumatule played sparing reps as a junior after spending his sophomore year at tight end. In hindsight, auditioning him on offense might have been a mistake, as it cost him a valuable year of development, but Kaumatule still has the size (6'7", 276 lbs) and strength to make an impact up front. He's also spending time at outside linebacker, per David Lombardi of ESPN.com.
Nate Lohn (RS-Jr.): Lohn has appeared in 12 games and recorded just one tackle since arriving three years ago. He was a top-500 recruit in 2012 and has adequate size (6'3", 265 lbs) to play 5-technique, but he's never looked like more than a depth piece. Because of how much Stanford loses up front, it will count on him to make a leap.
Harrison Phillips (So.): Phillips made a surprising debut at defensive tackle last season, appearing in six games when injuries plagued the depth chart. There's a chance he sticks at tackle, but his frame (6'4", 255 lbs) suggests he's better served at end. His fate likely depends on how the rest of Stanford's tackles perform.
Solomon Thomas (RS-Fr.): Thomas was a 5-star recruit in 2014 but took a redshirt to stagger eligibility. Or at least Stanford fans hope he took a redshirt to stagger eligibility (which only sort of makes sense), as the alternative means he wasn't ready to play. He's been banged up during the first few weeks of camp, although it doesn't sound like anything serious. This is still an important juncture.
Jordan Watkins (RS-Jr.): Watkins has barely played since arriving three years ago, but he's expected to crack the rotation in 2015. Stanford signed him as an undersized 4-star defensive tackle, but his current frame (6'5", 262 lbs) makes him a stronger fit at 5-technique.
Projected Winners: Lohn, Thomas (Kaumatule to linebacker)
TCU No. 2 Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Cameron Echols-Luper (Jr.): TCU moved Echols-Luper from wide receiver to cornerback this offseason, sensing a bigger need at the latter position. Echols-Luper won the Big 12 indoor long-jump title in February and was the team's primary punt returner in 2014. He has the size (6'0", 190 lbs) to become a starting-level cornerback, and he obviously has the athleticism; he just needs to learn technique.
Torrance Mosley (So.): Mosley appeared in five games as a true freshman, mostly playing special teams. He is undersized (5'10", 160 lbs) but athletic and possesses nice ball skills. The bad news: TCU's other starting cornerback, Ranthony Texada, also stands 5'10", so Mosley and he would not make a perfect pair.
Corry O'Meally (Sr.): O'Meally was a 2-star JUCO transfer in 2014. He hardly played last season and is one of the biggest unknowns at the position. Still, TCU has never cared lick about recruiting stars, and O'Meally (6'0", 170 lbs) has a strong frame for the position.
Nick Orr (So.): Like Mosley, Orr spent most of his true freshman season on special teams. Also like Mosley, he's 5'10" and does not make an ideal pair with Texada. That does not eliminate him from the competition, but it gives him a steep hill to climb.
Deshawn Raymond (Fr.): Raymond was the No. 280 overall recruit in 2015—the highest-ranked member of TCU's class and the highest-ranked defender it has signed since Devonte Fields in 2012. He is 6'1", 190 pounds and hails from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, Louisiana, where he played against some of the best competition in the country. He will not find the jump to the Big 12 intimidating.
Projected Winner: Echols-Luper
Texas Offensive Tackles
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Primary Candidates
Brandon Hodges (Jr.): Hodges was the No. 39 overall JUCO transfer and No. 8 offensive tackle in 2015. He has adequate size (6'5", 295 lbs) but could stand to add a little more weight provided it doesn't affect his foot speed. Still, from a pure physical standpoint, Hodges should win one of these jobs. All he needs is a little fine-tuning.
Camrhon Hughes (RS-Jr.): Hughes spent his first two years on the bench but started six games at right tackle last season. Sadly, his performance earned him the nickname NCAA: No Contact At All. And that's just what head coach Charlie Strong called him in a press conference! What Texas fans called him is unfit for print.
Marcus Hutchins (RS-Sr.): Hutchins started all 13 games last season: 12 at left tackle, one at right tackle. The converted defensive lineman lacks ideal size (6'5", 278 lbs) but has good feet and capitalized on a depleted group of blockers. Did he do enough to keep his job? That's a tough question. He definitely didn't do enough to cement it. But if he starts again in 2015, it would not be a shock.
Jake Raulerson (RS-So.): Raulerson started four games at center—the position Texas recruited him to play—and one game at right tackle last season. He is best served staying inside, but positional needs might again push him to tackle. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January but is expected to play this spring.
Connor Williams (Fr.): Williams was a 3-star recruit in 2015, but he enrolled for winter workouts and made a strong first impression. Jeff Howe of 247Sports projected he would start at left tackle, basing his projection on "glowing" reports from Austin. If he adds weight to his previously listed frame (6'5", 275 lbs), Williams has a strong chance to win this battle.
Projected Winner: LT Williams, RT Hodges
Texas Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Jerrod Heard (RS-Fr.): Heard won back-to-back state championships at Denton High School in Guyer, Texas. He's a local legend at a program where being a local legend matters.
The Longhorns' reported switch to a spread offense—a switch that cost them 4-star class of 2015 quarterback Zach Gentry—bodes well for Heard's chances of starting. The spread resembles what he ran at Guyer and caters to his skills (mobility, arm strength, questionable pocket presence) more than a pro-style scheme.
Tyrone Swoopes (Jr.): Swoopes actually played well in the middle part of last season. Unfortunately, he was so bad at the beginning and the end that it's easy to forget (and hard to reward) a few good games. His arm strength is fine. But his accuracy is hit-and-miss, and he's not a good enough runner to mask his flaws. Despite having the edge in experience, he's unlikely to keep his job.
Projected Winner: Heard
Texas A&M Inside Linebacker
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Primary Candidates
Claude George (Jr.): George was the No. 55 overall JUCO transfer in 2015. He arrives at the same time as defensive coordinator John Chavis, who feels no loyalty to last year's depth chart. He sports an impressive frame (6'2", 230 lbs) and can sift through the wash and make tackles, which will earn a look at all three linebacker spots. But A&M's most immediate need lies at Mike.
Josh Walker (So.): Walker was the No. 233 overall recruit in 2014. He started three games as a true freshman before injuring his foot against Missouri and missing the rest of the season. One week before that, he logged eight tackles in the upset win at Auburn. He has a similar frame (6'1", 233 lbs) to that of George but is slightly bigger and faster. But is he physical enough to play under Chavis?
Projected Winner: Walker
Texas A&M Offensive Tackle
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Primary Candidates
Jermaine Eluemunor (RS-Jr.): Eluemunor was the No. 7 overall JUCO transfer and No. 2 offensive tackle in 2014. He took a redshirt behind a stacked offensive line last season, but now he's a favorite to start. His future more likely than not lies at guard, but if needed he has the size (6'4", 315 lbs) to kick outside and play tackle.
Avery Gennesy (RS-Jr.): Gennesy was the No. 9 overall JUCO transfer and No. 5 offensive tackle in 2014, ranking close behind his future teammate, Eluemunor. He too took a redshirt last season, but he doesn't have the build to play guard, so tackle is his only shot. He's a little rough around the edges but has the size (6'5", 305 lbs), feet, hands and raw strength to develop into a solid starter.
Koda Martin (RS-Fr.): Martin earned offensive MVP honors on the scout team last season, outplaying the likes of Eluemunor and Gennesy despite his youth and his 3-star pedigree. Head coach Kevin Sumlin called him "the next great offensive lineman [at Texas A&M]," per Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle, which is obviously not small praise. Eager eyes will watch him during spring camp curious to see if he's for real or just another redshirt legend.
Projected Winner: Gennesy
Texas Tech Defensive Tackle
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Primary Candidates
Demetrius Alston (Sr.): Alston has served a depth role the past two seasons. He logged four tackles apiece in the first two games of 2014, but he failed to log another in the next four games combined. And then he missed the rest of the year with an injury. He is small (6'3", 273 lbs) for the position and an underdog to start in 2015.
Breiden Fehoko (Fr.): Fehoko was the No. 50 overall recruit in 2014—by far the biggest signing Texas Tech has made this millennium. He is smaller (6'3", 290 lbs) than last year's massive JUCO transfers but is already one of the strongest players in the conference. As a junior in high school, he did 37 bench reps of 225 pounds.
Rika Levi (Sr.): Levi was the No. 121 overall JUCO transfer in 2014. He tips the scales at 6'2", 339 pounds, which makes him both impossible to ignore and easy to get excited over, but he didn't wear his weight well last season. He must work on his body this offseason—turn his bad pounds into good pounds. Otherwise, he might never even flirt with his potential.
Keland McElrath (Sr.): McElrath was the No. 140 overall JUCO transfer in 2014. He started five games his first year in Lubbock, mixing strong performances with games in which he barely made an impact. He has the frame (6'4", 307 lbs), strength and quickness to become a reliable starter, but he must improve technique and conditioning.
Projected Winners: Levi, McElrath
UCLA Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Jerry Neuheisel (RS-Jr.): Neuheisel played hero in last year's 20-17 win over Texas, leading the Bruins past the Longhorns after Brett Hundley left with an elbow injury. The son of former UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel has never been a can't-miss prospect, but with so little experience around him, he might be the safest option.
Josh Rosen (Fr.): Rosen was the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 1 quarterback in 2015. He enrolled for spring camp and is considered by many the favorite to start Week 1. Even though he's new to this level, he is 6'4", athletic, possessed of a strong arm and one of the smartest, most idiosyncratic prospects we've ever seen. Seriously: How many 5-star recruits wish they could major in astrophysics?
Asiantii Woulard (RS-So.): Woulard's athletic gifts are indisputable. His quarterbacking skills are the opposite. He was the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback recruit in 2013, but he hasn't seen the field through two seasons and is likely to switch positions if he doesn't turn the corner by the fall. Still, his upside makes him hard to ignore.
Projected Winner: Rosen
USC Inside Linebacker
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Primary Candidates
Lamar Dawson (RS-Sr.): Dawson missed the second half of 2013 and all of 2014 with a knee injury. Before that, though, he was a firmly entrenched starter at middle linebacker with 137 tackles to his name. If he's healthy, which is obviously the biggest question mark, he's a strong contender to win back his job.
Michael Hutchings (Jr.): Hutchings backed up Hayes Pullard in 2014. He started and played the first half at Boston College when Pullard was suspended, but he looked overwhelmed in his starting debut and was one of the reasons USC suffered an upset. He finished the year on a high note, logging a season-high three solo tackles against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, but he still has a long way to improve.
Cameron Smith (Fr.): Smith was the No. 190 overall recruit and No. 7 inside linebacker in 2015. He is the lowest-ranked of USC's four blue-chip linebackers—the other three (Osa Masina, Porter Gustin, John Houston) all ranking inside the national Top 50—but the only one enrolled for spring camp. At 6'3", 225 pounds, he has the frame to hold his own up the middle, and he's an underrated player in space.
Olajuwon Tucker (So.): Tucker spent last season behind Anthony Sarao at weak-side linebacker, but with Sarao returning and Masina and Houston en route, his best chance to play is up the middle. As it were, USC actually recruited Tucker as an inside linebacker in 2014. He and Houston were teammates at Junipero Serra High School, where Tucker logged 117 tackles his senior year.
Projected Winner: Dawson (but Gustin wins the job in fall camp)
USC Running Back
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Primary Candidates
Justin Davis (Jr.): Davis was a top-100 recruit in 2013. He ran for 361 yards on 53 carries as a freshman. An ankle injury ended his season in October, but he rebounded with a strong sophomore year in which he backed up Javorius "Buck" Allen and rushed for 595 yards on 129 carries. He sports a tall frame (6'1", 195 lbs) with great quickness and enters his junior year with high expectations.
Tre Madden (RS-Sr.): Looking for someone to root for? Madden is your guy. He's missed two of the past three years with injuries (a torn knee ligament in 2012 and turf toe in 2014) but rushed for 703 yards on 138 carries in 2013. Recruited as a 4-star inside linebacker, Madden has a chiseled frame (6'1", 225 lbs) and is a pleasure to watch run.
Projected Winner: Madden
Utah No. 2 Cornerback
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Primary Candidates
Ahmad Christian (RS-Sr.): Christian spent three years at South Carolina before transferring and sitting out last season. He was a top-500 recruit in 2011—a rare breed at Utah unlike at South Carolina—and logged 18 tackles, two pass breakups and one forced fumble as a redshirt sophomore in 2013. He's only 5'10", but he's a smooth athlete with meaningful FBS experience.
Reggie Porter (RS-Jr.): Porter missed last season after tearing his ACL in August. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said that prior to the injury, Porter had been the best cornerback in fall camp. The unexpected emergence of Dominique Hatfield, who at the time of Porter's injury was playing wide receiver, has given the Utes a new No. 1 cornerback to build around, so they don't need Porter to regain his alpha-dog form. But they sure wouldn't mind if he did.
Justin Thomas (RS-Jr.): Thomas will take a crack at starting outside, but unless Christian and Porter both flop, he is better suited to his role in the slot. He played well at nickelback last season and is not in serious danger of losing that position, although Tavaris Williams and Boobie Hobbs are around to keep him on his toes.
Projected Winner: Porter (Thomas at nickel)
Virginia Tech 5th Offensive Lineman
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Primary Candidates
OT Austin Clark (Fr.): Clark arrives in Blacksburg with unique expectations. He was the No. 282 overall recruit in 2015, ranking higher than any Virginia Tech offensive lineman since Vinston Painter (2008). At 6'6", 297 pounds, he already has a capable frame, and he should shoot past the 300-pound mark by summer.
OT Wade Hansen (RS-Sr.): Hansen started three games at right tackle and played 349 offensive snaps last season. An unknown recruit in high school, he came to Blacksburg by way of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York), started his career on defense and has already proved well worth the investment. Virginia Tech is playing with house money; and who's to say it can't win a jackpot?
OT Parker Osterloh (RS-So.): Osterloh was the second-team left tackle in 2014, backing up Jonathan McLaughlin and Laurence Gibson. With Gibson off to the NFL, Osterloh becomes a logical contender to start. He doesn't have much experience (13 offensive snaps in 2014), but he's been blessed with a massive frame (6'8", 327 lbs) and spent two years learning behind a pair of quality tackles.
OG Alston Smith (RS-Jr.): Clark, Hansen and Osterloh are competing to start at tackle. Smith is competing to start at guard. In his case, a strong spring camp would keep Augie Conte at right tackle, where he debuted in the Military Bowl, instead of guard, where he made nine starts in 2014. Smith has not played much the past two seasons, but if Conte would rather stay at tackle or if Clark, Hansen and Osterloh underwhelm, he can sneak into the starting lineup.
Projected Winner: Osterloh (Conte at guard)
Washington Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
Jake Browning (Fr.): Browning was the No. 71 overall recruit in 2015. He is undersized (6'1", 202 lbs) but throws an accurate ball and has machine-like field awareness. He broke the national high school record with 91 touchdown passes last season and 229 for his career. Head coach Chris Petersen turned a similar prospect (Kellen Moore) into the all-time FBS wins leader at Boise State, although it should be mentioned that Moore took a redshirt before starting.
K.J. Carta-Samuels (RS-Fr.): Carta-Samuels was the No. 223 overall recruit in 2014 and took a redshirt under Petersen last season. By that token, he checks the same boxes as Moore at Boise State in 2008. He is 6'2", 228 pounds, and decommitted from Vanderbilt for the express purpose of playing under Petersen. His older brother Austyn started for two years at Wyoming and 10 games at Vanderbilt in 2013.
Cyler Miles (Jr.): Miles arrived with much hype as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback recruit in 2013, but he has thus far been a mild disappointment. He showed flashes as the full-time starter last season, especially in October and November, but didn't do enough to avoid this position battle. Still, he has great size (6'4", 225 lbs) and quick feet and proved in 2014 that he can protect the football (four interceptions on 329 attempts). That is something Petersen values.
Projected Winner: Miles
West Virginia Quarterback
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Primary Candidates
William Crest (RS-Fr.): Crest was the No. 359 overall recruit in 2014 and won the No. 2 job as a true freshman. He missed most of the season with a shoulder injury, but he showed enough in his brief spell of health to earn the confidence (and inspire the giddiness) of West Virginia fans. Best-case scenario, he's Geno Smith with legs.
Skyler Howard (Jr.): Howard assumed the backup role after Crest hurt his shoulder and played the final 2.5 games after Clint Trickett suffered a concussion. He totaled close to 1,000 yards of offense and threw eight touchdowns to zero interceptions in those games, but he didn't play nearly as well as his stats indicate. Of course, he did play well, and he's a strong contender (if not a favorite) to win this job. Just don't let the box score fool you.
Paul Millard (RS-Sr.): Millard enters spring ball as the distinct No. 3 option. Still, he's a redshirt senior with more than 200 career pass attempts, which makes him the most experienced QB on the roster. He won't start unless Crest and Howard leave the door open, but if they do, he's close enough to capitalize.
Projected Winner: Crest
Wisconsin Inside Linebackers
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Primary Candidates
Jack Cichy (RS-So.): Cichy appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2013 but took a redshirt last season. He made the most of his situation, though, earning Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year honors and setting the table for a third-year run at playing time. He has adequate size (6'2", 220 lbs) for an inside linebacker, although he'll also get a look on the outside.
D'Cota Dixon (RS-Fr.): Dixon appeared in the first three games of last season but injured his shoulder against Bowling Green and took a redshirt. Recruited as a 3-star safety, his thick build and aggressive mindset made him a proper fit at inside linebacker, even though he lacks ideal size (5'10", 206 lbs). The Badgers have a dangerous lack of depth up the middle, so Dixon will play if healthy.
T.J. Edwards (RS-Fr.): Edwards was a 2-star recruit in 2014 whose only Power Five offer came from Wisconsin. At most schools that would matter, but the Badgers have always mined starters out of unexpected places (J.J. Watt ring a bell?), and Edwards boasts an impressive frame for the position (6'1", 229 lbs).
Leon Jacobs (Jr.): Jacobs was the No. 3 inside linebacker last season, backing up seniors Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter. He finished with 28 tackles, 12 of which came in a career-game against Illinois. He is a strong favorite to claim one of these jobs, although if multiple inside linebackers play well, he can also move outside.
Projected Winners: Jacobs, Dixon
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings. Snap counts via official team bios.
Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeigh35.
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