College Football Players Who Haven't Scratched the Surface of Their Talent
For every player that makes an instant impact in college football, there are far more who only show brief flashes of what they're capable of at the outset. Injuries, playing time and other factors lead to their careers starting off with a whisper, rather than a bang, but in time they'll make their mark.
The time is now for these potential superstars, who in 2015 have the stage set for a breakout performance that will not only make them a key piece of their team's lineup but also give them an opportunity to show what they're capable of. In many cases, this will be their first real chance to live up to the hype.
This list comprises both underclassmen and veterans, and not just players who were 5-star prospects coming out of high school. Each is now in a position to excel, and while what we've seen from them so far has been promising, it's only just the beginning.
Mike Bercovici, Arizona State
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Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior
With his degree already in hand, Mike Bercovici had the ability to go elsewhere before the 2014 season rather than spend another year as Taylor Kelly's backup at Arizona State. He chose to stick it out, however, believing that his opportunity was coming.
"I'm in the best shape of my life, I'm the smartest person in that quarterback room, and when the opportunity arises, I'm not going to come off the field," Bercovici told Bob Young of the Arizona Republic last year.
Bercovici was only half right, as when Kelly broke his foot in late September it allowed the 6'1", 204-pound redshirt junior to step in for three games as starter. Bercovici impressed, throwing for 488 yards in his debut and following that up with 510 yards and five touchdowns (including a game-winning Hail Mary pass) in a win at USC.
Kelly took his job back when he was deemed healthy and held onto it other than for a stretch in ASU's regular-season finale when Bercovici nearly led a comeback at rival Arizona. Now that he's the guy for the Sun Devils, the sky is the limit.
"Mike Bercovici's going to have a monster year," Kyle Kensing of CFBHuddle.com tweeted. "Sun Devils offense looked better with him behind center than it did (with) Kelly last (season)."
Andrew Brown, Virginia
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Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Sophomore
Andrew Brown was one of two 5-star in-state prospects that Virginia was able to land in the 2014 recruiting class, along with safety Quin Blanding. But while Blanding stepped right in and took charge, leading the Cavaliers in tackles and interceptions, Brown's collegiate debut was far less explosive.
Brown got off to a shaky start last spring when a turf toe injury knocked him out of action and required surgery. He then suffered a shoulder injury midway through preseason training camp, limiting him to just two of Virginia's first eight games before playing in the final four contests and finishing with a mere four tackles.
At 100 percent this spring, the 6'4", 290-pound Brown has been working with the first team both on the interior and defensive end.
"He's healthy," Virginia coach Mike London told Jamie Oakes of 247Sports. "So, when you see a healthy guy playing out there, he's mentally ready to go, then you expect great things from him."
Leonard Fournette, LSU
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Position: Running back
Year: Sophomore
For most players, a 1,000-yard rushing season as a true freshman and a monster bowl-game performance would signify a stellar first season of college football. But not every player is Leonard Fournette, and few have ever entered college with as much hype.
Last year's No. 1 overall recruit (and a local kid, to boot) broke LSU's freshman rushing record, gaining 1,034 yards with 10 touchdowns. Considering what was expected of him by experts and himself, it wasn't nearly as huge a season as projected. And it took a while to get going, too, as Fournette had a combined 98 yards in early-season high-profile games against Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Once he got going, though, Fournette began to show what all the fuss was about. He ran for 289 yards and three TDs in his final two games, and in the Music City Bowl he had 264 yards and scored three times on just 13 touches that included a 100-yard kickoff return TD.
Fournette only had 20-plus carries in three games in 2014, but with the Tigers continuing to search for a viable answer at quarterback he's likely to see far more work this fall. And with that added load will come more opportunities for Fournette to display his full repertoire of talents.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jeremy Johnson, Auburn
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Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior
For as well as Nick Marshall played the past two seasons for Auburn, his departure didn't bring about many predictions of doom and gloom for the Tigers in 2015. That's because Jeremy Johnson has been in the on-deck circle for two years, primed and ready to unleash his cannon of an arm that's only fired off a handful of shots during his college career.
The 6'5", 230-pound passer has made two starts in his career, one each in 2013 and 2014, getting the nod to open last season when Marshall was suspended a half because of an offseason citation for marijuana possession. Both times Johnson looked great, completing 12-of-16 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns in just two quarters against Arkansas last August and throwing for 201 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-21 passing against FCS Western Carolina in 2013.
Johnson also came on in relief of an injured Marshall in an October 2013 win over Florida Atlantic, throwing for 192 yards and three TDs on 10-of-16 passing. For his career, Johnson has completed 73.7 percent of his passes for 758 yards and nine TDs with two interceptions.
The switch from the run-first Marshall to a more pass-oriented attack under Johnson shouldn't lead to any hiccups, not with how Johnson has fared when called upon in the past.
"Now that my time is here I'm looking very forward to the season and doing big things," Johnson said on the SEC Network, per James Crepea of the Montgomery Advertiser.
Ermon Lane, Florida State
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Position: Wide receiver
Year: Sophomore
With Rashad Greene and Nick O'Leary off to the NFL, Florida State's receiving corps is going to be decidedly younger this season. Bobo Wilson and Kermit Whitfield are the only upperclassmen in the mix, while the rest of the contenders for playing time are freshmen and sophomores.
That includes Ermon Lane, who fluctuated between looking ready to break through and being nonexistent during his freshman year.
Last season Lane had just 13 receptions but those went for 267 yards and a touchdown. Those catches came in six games, while in six other appearances he failed to haul in a pass.
At 6'3" and 205 pounds, Lane is a huge target who would work well as an outlet for whichever inexperienced quarterback gets the starting job.
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
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Position: Safety
Year: Redshirt freshman
Arguably the most highly touted recruit in Michigan history, Jabrill Peppers showed up in Ann Arbor with expectations that he would not only help dominate in the secondary but be an answer to the Wolverines' offensive woes while also starring in the return game. Instead, Peppers only made a brief appearance on the field before leg injuries shut him down for the year.
Granted a medical redshirt this winter, Peppers is starting fresh under new coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. This includes a switch from cornerback to safety, which so far has reaped major benefits and led to Peppers having a great performance in Michigan's spring game earlier this month.
Peppers had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and nearly intercepted a pass during that April 4 contest, per Dan Murphy of ESPN.com.
Assuming no other injuries pop up, this fall will serve as the delayed unveiling of Peppers as Michigan's next defensive superstar.
Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
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Position: Defensive end
Year: Sophomore
For a part-time player, Kemoko Turay had the kind of numbers last season that warranted him getting more time on the field. That's been the goal of Rutgers' coaches this spring, hoping they can turn Turay from just a pass-rushing specialist into one who can affect the game on every down.
As a freshman, Turay had a team-high 7.5 sacks among his 26 tackles but only had one additional tackle for loss as his action was mostly on obvious passing downs. The 6'6", 236-pound Turay was also a star on special teams, blocking three kicks, but when given a chance to play on first or second down he'd struggle.
"I'm used to just getting the quarterback," Turay told Ryan Dunleavy of the Asbury Park Press. "Stopping the run is a little difficult. My (adrenaline) keeps generating thinking about the quarterback. I want to take my time and be patient and attack on the dive."
Turay has spent this spring improving his run-stopping skills, and if that progress continues in the summer he'll be an every-down defender for the Scarlet Knights and a potential All-American candidate.
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
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Position: Quarterback
Year: Sophomore
If Deshaun Watson can avoid having his health be his most notable attribute, all of the other skills he displayed last season will turn him into a Heisman contender this season.
A broken hand and two knee injuries turned Watson's true freshman year into a revolving door of on-field accolades and trips to the training and operating tables. Each appearance he made for Clemson was spectacular, but brief, as the hand injury knocked him out for three games and each knee injury held him out of another. The last required surgery prevented Watson from playing in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
In between the ailments, Watson threw for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 67.9 percent passing. He also ran for 200 yards and five touchdowns.
Watson had surgery in December. While his recovery has been rapid, he wasn't able to participate in spring practice. He missed Saturday's spring game, similar to in 2014 when a broken collarbone kept him from playing as an early enrollee.
"Four months after surgery, Watson is throwing and jogging without labor, and will soon begin a weightlifting and conditioning program," wrote Aaron Brenner of the Post and Courier.
Malik Zaire, Notre Dame
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Position: Quarterback
Year: Sophomore
Malik Zaire was confident that he'd be Notre Dame's starting quarterback at the beginning of last season, but instead he was beat out by Everett Golson. Zaire only got a handful of snaps over the first three months before Golson's continued turnover issues gave him an opportunity to play.
This led to Zaire and Golson splitting the job during the Music City Bowl against LSU, with Zaire shining as both a passer (96 yards and one touchdown on 12-of-15 passing) and a runner (96 yards, one TD).
Now the two are in another battle for the starting job, though this time Zaire could be the front-runner. Saturday's spring game will help his cause, but he'll need to show further growth in handling the offense and not being so quick to change the play at the line of scrimmage, per Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune.
"Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly noted following Saturday's scrimmage that there are times when Zaire changes a play at the line of scrimmage and the coaching staff has trouble understanding why," Vorel wrote.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
