Ranking the Top 25 Juniors Heading into the 2015 College Football Season
In the hierarchy of college football classes, the juniors stand atop the mountain.
The junior class is where we usually find the next wave of NFL stars, and as a result, the best of the best from this group end up turning pro after the season. It's somewhat like the free-agent year for college players, as a strong performance can dictate what their future holds.
The future is now, though, for college football's top juniors, and the competition to be ranked among the 25 best in that class was fierce. We factored in past results, expected performance this fall and their overall impact on the game in how we've listed them, and the resumes of those who didn't crack the top 25 were almost as impressive as the ones of those who made the cut.
Check out our top 25 juniors heading into the 2015 season, and give us your thoughts in the comment section.
25. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State
1 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'9", 170 lbs
Coming off a season in which he set a school record for rushing yards with 1,876 (to go along with 20 touchdowns), Donnell Pumphrey is within sight of San Diego State's career rushing mark held by Marshall Faulk. He needs 1,965 yards to pass Faulk, who parlayed his three seasons with the Aztecs in the early 1990s into an NFL Hall of Fame career.
Pumphrey isn't as big as Faulk, but he has the same kind of elusiveness and has used that to churn out big yards on the ground and also be an effective safety valve in SDSU's passing game. As a result, the Aztecs have won 15 games and could be in line for a big year this fall, per Bill Connelly of SB Nation.
"If SDSU is ever going to break the nine-win barrier, it will be this year," Connelly wrote.
24. Shock Linwood, Baylor
2 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'9", 195 lbs
The big passing numbers that Bryce Petty put up the past two seasons (and what either Seth Russell or Jarrett Stidham will produce this fall) have overshadowed the work that Shock Linwood has done on the ground for Baylor. But the truth is that Linwood has been one of the most effective rushers in the country.
Last season, Linwood ran for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns, topping 100 yards on four occasions while averaging a solid five yards per carry. The difference between a good game and a bad one for Linwood directly translated to how the Bears did in 2014, as his two lowest rushing outputs against FBS opponents came in losses to TCU and Michigan State.
Whether Russell or Stidham leads the offense this season, Linwood will still play a key role on that side of the ball.
23. Jared Goff, California
3 of 25
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'4", 210 lbs
With 7,481 passing yards and 53 touchdowns, Jared Goff is well on his way to becoming California's all-time leader in both categories. He's third on both lists, needing 646 yards and 12 TDs to claim both marks, which would add to the 15 single-season school records he broke last season.
Goff has the Golden Bears' two most prolific passing seasons ever, going for 3,973 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2014 as they improved from 1-11 to 5-7. With another year getting acclimated with coach Sonny Dykes' Air Raid offense, Goff should contend for the national passing lead and finish the year among the top 50 in FBS history in career passing yards and passing scores.
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22. Kareem Hunt, Toledo
4 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'11", 215 lbs
Kareem Hunt averaged more rushing yards per game last season than all but two players in FBS, both of whom played in the Big Ten and parlayed those big years into jumps to the NFL as juniors. Hunt could be in line for the same career track as Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and Indiana's Tevin Coleman with another big season, but he'll likely do it with far less fanfare because he plays in the Mid-American Conference.
"For his entire football life, Kareem Hunt has essentially been glossed over," Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer wrote. "Operating in an NFL body scouts should be drooling over and posting outlier numbers at one of the most celebrated positions in sports, Hunt should be celebrated as a star."
Despite missing three games because of injury in 2014, Hunt ran for 1,631 yards and 16 touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in all 10 appearances, and two of his last three games saw him top 260 yards, including 271 yards with five TDs against Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl.
Hunt's chances to gain national attention were limited last year, and he missed Toledo's game against Iowa State. This season, he gets a shot against Arkansas as well as some November appearances on ESPN when the MAC takes over weeknight football.
21. Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
5 of 25
Position: Kicker
Height, weight: 6'1", 204 lbs
There are few guarantees in college football, and Roberto Aguayo making his kicks is one of those.
The Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's top placekicker as a freshman, Aguayo was just as deserving of the award last year, only to be beaten out by Maryland's Brad Craddock. Last season, Aguayo made 27 field goals, second most in FBS, with just three misses after connecting on 21 of 22 as a freshman.
Aguayo has shown accuracy out to 50-plus yards on field goals and has also made all 149 point-after attempts. His dependability will again be counted on this season as Florida State operates with a new quarterback and could find itself frequently in a position where field goals are the best option.
20. Nick Vigil, Utah State
6 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'2", 230 lbs
The younger half of a brother duo that dominated on defense for Utah State last year, Nick Vigil is all that's left after Zach graduated following the 2014 season. That just leaves more room for the little brother to show off his talents, which, in addition to 123 tackles as a sophomore, also included 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks and some key contributions on offense.
Vigil ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns as a spot contributor in the backfield, scoring against BYU and Air Force in key October wins and also in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Western Michigan.
Though running the ball won't be his main use this season, expect Vigil again to be chipping in on both sides of the ball.
19. Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech
7 of 25
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 5'11", 189 lbs
There was one key element that differed between the Georgia Tech option attack that struggled in 2013 and the one that excelled last season: Justin Thomas. His handling of the complicated offense was integral in the Yellow Jackets winning the ACC's Coastal Division, nearly knocking off defending national champion Florida State in the conference title game and then rolling past Mississippi State to win the Orange Bowl.
Thomas was Tech's leading rusher with 1,086 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging more than 5.7 yards per carry. When not keeping it himself, Thomas was adept at reading defenses and determining which back to hand off to, resulting in the Yellow Jackets ranking second nationally in rushing offense at 342.1 yards per game.
He also threw 18 touchdowns in just 187 pass attempts, averaging more than nine yards per pass play.
18. Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech
8 of 25
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 6'0", 197 lbs
While his numbers may have dipped a bit from his freshman year, Kendall Fuller was no less involved in Virginia Tech's defense last season. In some ways, he was even more impactful with his two interceptions and 54 tackles in 2014 than when he picked off six passes and 58 tackles the season before.
Between the two years, Fuller broke up 26 passes, helping the Hokies rank 26th in pass defense last year and eighth in 2013.
Fuller is being pegged as a strong candidate to turn pro after this season, listed as the No. 2 cornerback in his draft class by NFLDraftScout. That could put him in line to match his brother, Corey, who was a first-round pick out of Virginia Tech after the 2013 season.
17. Kamalei Correa, Boise State
9 of 25
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'3", 244 lbs
Though he's likely to fit better as a linebacker at the pro level because of his size, in college, Kamalei Correa hasn't let his body type limit his ability to dominate as a defensive end. Last year, the Boise State standout had 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, serving as the driving force of a Broncos defense that ranked in the top 50 in 2014.
That was a huge leap from his freshman numbers, when Correa had just 12 tackles. His numbers figure to go up again this season, even with opponents looking to double him off the edge to negate his impact.
Correa hopes to become a more consistent defender this season, not one who had six games with at least two tackles for loss and six with fewer than one last year.
"I'm just trying to work on my finish. I want to finish every move and not get soft," Correa told B.J. Rains of the Idaho Press-Tribune. "I want to play physical and run to the ball a lot better than I did."
16. Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
10 of 25
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6'1", 201 lbs
A starter for two years at a variety of positions in Florida State's defense, Jalen Ramsey is in line to show off his versatility even more with a possible move to cornerback on a full-time basis. This is both to fill a hole left by the departure of 2014 starters Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams, and because Ramsey has shown he can handle whatever assignment he's given.
Last year, Ramsey started all 14 games at FSU's "Star" position, which is a hybrid spot that is part linebacker, part safety and part corner, and he had 80 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions along with 12 pass breakups. This came after splitting time as a cornerback and free safety as a freshman.
"A year playing safety means he will approach playing cornerback differently," ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson wrote. "He will be more aggressive, but he also has a better understanding of what everybody in the secondary should be doing."
Draft experts are already pegging Ramsey as a first-round pick in 2016 before his return to corner has been locked in, as WalterFootball.com has him projected as the No. 20 selection next year.
15. Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
11 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'2", 235 lbs
Jaylon Smith has been moved around more than a chess piece during his first two seasons at Notre Dame, and more of that is expected this fall. Considering the results of this shifting so far, it's no surprise the Fighting Irish will look to find the best possible use for the athletic defender.
Smith had 67 tackles as a freshman, third most in school history for a first-year player. Last season, he led Notre Dame with 111 tackles to go with nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups and seven hurries.
According to Frank Vitovich of UNHD.com, Smith's role this season could be more as a pass-rusher than someone handling run defense or dropping into pass coverage as has often been the case.
"Depending on where he lines up...will determine how much of a pass rush threat he brings," Vitovich wrote. "If the young linebackers grow up and prove they can be trusted in coverage more, perhaps [defensive coordinator Brian] VanGorder starts unleashing his best player on opposing quarterbacks with more frequency."
14. Cardale Jones, Ohio State
12 of 25
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'5", 250 lbs
Cardale Jones only has three career starts, but they came on the biggest stage possible last season when he was called on to sub in at quarterback for injured star J.T. Barrett. Despite his lack of experience, Jones played like a seasoned veteran in throwing for 742 yards and five touchdowns en route to wins over Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship and against Alabama and Oregon during the playoffs.
That brief-but-dominant stretch nearly launched Jones into the NFL, thanks to a fast-rising stock value, but the redshirt sophomore chose to return to school to work on his game despite knowing he might not be Ohio State's starter this season. Jones is currently battling Barrett for the starting job in spring ball, with senior Braxton Miller also involved in the competition.
Because Barrett and Miller are still coming back from injuries, the job is Jones' to lose. He's making the most of the opportunity during the spring, handling most of the first-team reps, yet it's still too early to declare him the starter.
"Jones is getting the the bulk of the work, and Barrett and Miller aren't to the point where the competition can be held in earnest," wrote Bill Landis of Cleveland.com. "But Jones also isn't at the point where he's pulling so far ahead that this isn't going to be a competition in the summer."
13. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
13 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 5'11", 208 lbs
There aren't any plans to use Pharoh Cooper on defense this season, which is somewhat ironic since it's part of what brought him to South Carolina in the first place. But instead of playing defensive back, he's done almost everything else during his Gamecocks career, and that doesn't figure to change in 2015.
Cooper touched the ball on 119 plays last season, catching 69 passes for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns but also rushing for 200 yards and two TDs and completing five of eight passes for 78 yards and two scores. Also a solid return man, Cooper returned 15 kicks during 2014.
For his career, Cooper has been responsible for 19 touchdowns (10 receiving, three rushing, three passing), and last year, he had a score in all three areas in a loss to Tennessee. Expect another one of those games this season, especially with South Carolina breaking in a new quarterback.
12. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
14 of 25
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'11", 198 lbs
While Florida's offense looks to be a work in progress again this season, there's not as much uncertainty about the defense even with the loss of some key starters up front. That's because Vernon Hargreaves III will once again be turning one side of the field into a no-fly zone of sorts with his lockdown pass coverage.
Hargreaves has six career interceptions to go with 24 pass breakups, numbers that would be much higher if most opponents didn't take the wise approach and throw away from where he's defending. For those who do choose to challenge him, the results are predictable.
"Hargreaves is excellent in coverage and plays very physical despite being smaller than many of the receivers he is assigned to defend," wrote Scott Carter of GatorZone.com.
11. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
15 of 25
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'4", 236 lbs
After a very promising freshman year, Christian Hackenberg hit a sophomore slump in 2014 that put into question whether he was the top-tier pro prospect many thought going into the season. Poor decision-making and lack of protection up front contributed to his numbers failing to improve despite two extra games and two monster performances to bookend the year.
Hackenberg was sacked 44 times last season, which led to him often forcing throws when protection would break down. As a result, he was intercepted 15 times against 12 touchdowns, completing just 55.8 percent of his passes.
Despite the struggles, Hackenberg showed what he's capable of when at his best. He opened the year by setting a school record with 454 passing yards against UCF and then threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns to beat Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
10. Su'a Cravens, USC
16 of 25
Position: Linebacker/Safety
Height, weight: 6'1", 225 lbs
Recruited as a safety but too talented to be limited to just pass defense, Su'a Cravens was switched to a linebacker role in 2014 and thrived in that new position. He's still a key piece of what USC does in pass coverage, but with great run-stopping instincts, he's able to cover more of the field.
All told, Cravens had 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and three interceptions last year, bringing one back for a touchdown against Oregon State.
"I came here to play safety, but I'm a linebacker now so it's LBU [Linebacker U], and we got to hold down the defense because if they get past that first level, we're the run stop," Cravens told Rahshaun Haylock of Fox Sports. "DBs didn't come here to tackle. They came here to cover. We came here to tackle people so that's what we got to do. If not, you see big plays."
9. Rashard Higgins, Colorado State
17 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'2", 188 lbs
Want to know why Jim McElwain was a top choice for Florida during its head coaching search, and why big things are expected of him with the Gators? In addition to checking out the draft boards that have former Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson on the rise, keep an eye on how Rashard Higgins performs this season with the Rams.
Higgins led FBS with 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns, catching 96 passes along the way as he snared nearly 92 percent of the balls he was targeted with.
Now that he's under the guidance of a new coach (Mike Bobo) and working with a new quarterback, Higgins is being looked at to be the Rams' leader this season. Bobo has placed high expectations on him but also isn't giving him star treatment.
"Rashard has that mentality that he can't be covered, but he works extremely hard," Bobo told Tom Kensler of The Denver Post. "I made it a point when I took the job [in December] that I knew here was a guy who was first-team All-American but I was going to be hardest on him."
8. James Conner, Pittsburgh
18 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 6'2", 250 lbs
Coming off the greatest rushing season in school history and one of the best the ACC has ever seen, James Conner enters his junior year on pace to be Pittsburgh's No. 2 all-time rusher. The only thing that figures to keep him from passing Tony Dorsett for first on that list is that he's unlikely to remain in school for four years with the way his stock is rising.
As big a workhorse as there is in college today, Conner ran the ball 298 times for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The yardage, rushing TDs and total TD tallies were school records, all previously held by Dorsett, while his rushing TDs broke the ACC single-season record as well.
Conner came to Pitt as a defensive line prospect but quickly established himself as a hard-nosed runner. New coach Pat Narduzzi might be inclined to give Conner a look again on defense, but to do so would take away one of the Panthers' most dependable offensive weapons.
7. Derrick Henry, Alabama
19 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 6'3", 242 lbs
Running backs come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as imposing as the figure Derrick Henry cuts when heading toward defenders with the ball and a head of steam. Built like many of the players trying to tackle him, Henry has shown glimpses of what he's capable of during his first two years but now has Alabama's ground game all to himself in 2014.
This is only partly a figure of speech, as the Crimson Tide's sudden decrease in depth at the running position (thanks to the dismissal of Tyren Jones and the ACL injury to Bo Scarborough) has Henry in line to have the most carries by a Tide back since Trent Richardson ran it 283 times in 2011.
Henry has only 197 career carries to his name, getting limited action as a freshman and then splitting the work last season with the now-departed T.J. Yeldon. In 2014, Henry led Alabama with 990 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 172 rushes, and the combination of fresh legs and immense strength should make him a major weapon this fall.
6. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
20 of 25
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6'4", 280 lbs
A former No. 1 overall recruit from the 2013 class, Robert Nkemdiche has had as productive a career as possible without having the numbers to show for it.
Nkemdiche has 69 total tackles, with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks in 24 career games, yet he was a freshman All-American and was named to the SEC's all-conference team last season. This came while transitioning from defensive end to a tackle on the interior, and he's bulked up to handle that load along the way.
Now ready to unleash his full potential in a critical season for Ole Miss, as its top-ranked defense from 2014 must replace several key starters, Nkemdiche should go from being an anchor up front to a bulldozer.
5. Myles Jack, UCLA
21 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'1", 232 lbs
Part of a wave of college players over the past few seasons with the kind of athleticism that makes using them on both offense and defense a wise move, Myles Jack has shown there's little he cannot do on the football field. He's been UCLA's starting linebacker for 25 of his 26 career games, the only time he didn't get that nod coming during 2013 when he instead started at running back.
Jack wasn't as much of a two-way player last season as he was as a freshman, yet he still managed to score three rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion to go with 87 tackles, eight tackles for loss, an interception and seven pass breakups.
His defensive skills have caused him to morph into somewhat of a linebacker/safety hybrid, though this year he's being moved inside where he'll likely be more of a run-stopper.
"I get to be in space and just run and hit, which is what people say is my better quality," Jack told Claire Fahy of the Daily Bruin.
4. Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
22 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'2", 190 lbs
Tyler Boyd doesn't stack up well with other receivers in terms of size or physical presence on the field, but with the way he plays the game, he doesn't need to.
In two college seasons, Boyd has been nothing short of spectacular, an always-open wideout who is in line to set Pittsburgh's career receptions and yards records before this year is over. He has 163 catches for 2,435 yards, going for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 receptions as a sophomore.
Boyd also shines as a kick returner, and last season, he averaged more than 148 all-purpose yards per game.
A school that has produced Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant, among others, might be seeing the final season of its best receiver ever.
3. Joey Bosa, Ohio State
23 of 25
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'6", 275 lbs
On an Ohio State team full of superstars, none might be bigger in the personality department than Joey Bosa. From his patented shrug pose following big plays to the way he's constantly involved in such key stops on defense, Bosa is as recognizable as any other Buckeyes player because of his performance and persona.
And after two monster years at the college level, Bosa is poised to be even better this fall as he sets the stage for what should be a jump to the NFL following the season.
"Despite his ability to control a game from the defensive end position in just the second year of his college career, Bosa insists that he has plenty of improving to do," Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod wrote. "The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year said that he's been working to improve on everything in his skill set, despite seeing just limited reps for precautionary purposes this spring."
Bosa had 13 sacks and 21 tackles for loss last season, while also returning a fumble for a touchdown in the Big Ten title game that he followed up with one of his many "What, me?" shrugs.
2. Scooby Wright III, Arizona
24 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'1", 246 lbs
A relative unknown compared to most of the players on this list, mostly because of his lack of hype heading into college thanks to a 2-star rating by 247Sports and other recruiting services, Scooby Wright III is the epitome of a player who has developed his reputation rather than try to live up to it. And he did that in spades last season, winning three national defensive awards and leading the country in three different statistical categories.
Wright won the Bednarik, Lombardi and Nagurski awards following a 2014 campaign in which he finished first in FBS in tackles (163), tackles for loss (29) and forced fumbles (six) while ranking third in sacks (14). He was almost a one-man defense for Arizona, which struggled statistically on that side of the ball but thanks to Wright won its first Pac-12 division title and reached 10 victories for the first time since 1998.
Though not as highly valued as an NFL prospect as other players at his position—NFLDraftScout has him rated as the No. 3 inside linebacker in the 2017 draft class—there's no denying his importance to the Wildcats and how much they will rely on his presence in the middle this season.
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
25 of 25
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 6'0", 225 lbs
The top junior in college football for 2015 emerged at the most important time last season, just when Ohio State needed a dependable runner amid uncertainty at quarterback and an upcoming gauntlet of tough opponents. Ezekiel Elliott made it look easy, and as a result, he enters this season as a top candidate to win the Heisman Trophy.
Elliott sits as a 6-1 favorite (per OddsShark) to be the Buckeyes' first Heisman winner since Troy Smith in 2006 after he ran for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. More than one-third of that production came during OSU's three postseason games, as he combined for 696 yards and eight TDs in wins over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, Alabama in the Sugar Bowl/semifinals and Oregon for the national championship.
"Being able to compete for the Heisman, it's surreal, it's a blessing, and I can't do nothing but thank God and my boys for the opportunity to get to experience all of this," Elliott told Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod.
Elliott played much of last season with a broken left wrist, which he's had surgery on this offseason. With that injury expected to be fully healed for the fall, Elliott will again be the driving force for OSU as it defends its national title under constant national scrutiny.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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