10 College Football Players with Most to Prove in 2015
You know what they say: It's a new year, a chance to start over and leave the past in the past.
For 10 college football players, 2015 is a year to prove that what happened last year (or the year before that) should not define them. It's a time to show that all the work they've put in during the spring and summer has paid off. These are the players with the most to prove this season.
Whether these players are in the middle of a position battle, coming off of an injury or suspension or simply need to rebound from a lackluster showing, they must have a breakout season in 2015. Otherwise, time could be running out for them.
LSU Quarterback Brandon Harris
1 of 10
You could make a case that quarterback Anthony Jennings is under the most pressure at LSU. After all, Jennings was the starter for almost all of last season, yet he couldn't even complete 50 percent of his passes. Jennings is currently competing with sophomore Brandon Harris for the starting job and could be demoted in the next few months.
But here's the thing: If Harris was truly better, he'd be starting already.
The former 4-star signal-caller enrolled early and impressed in his first spring game, but he didn't start for the Tigers right away. He got that chance against Auburn in early October, when Jennings was really struggling, but he couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
Harris has never been able to fully overtake Jennings for the starting quarterback spot—not yet, at least. If Jennings is named the starter for LSU's Week 1 game against McNeese State, it's time to wonder whether Harris will ever overtake him. And if Jennings continues to struggle, what would that say about Harris?
Missouri Quarterback Maty Mauk
2 of 10
Unlike LSU, Missouri doesn't have a quarterback competition. However, the Tigers do have an interesting quarterback situation with starter Maty Mauk.
As a redshirt freshman backup in 2013, Mauk, started four games in place of the injured James Franklin and was eventually named to the SEC All-Freshman team. He also provided a spark in a Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State, setting expectations high for his sophomore season.
Those expectations were never met. Mauk was all over the place in 2014. He'd throw for more than 300 yards one week and throw four interceptions another. Mauk has always been a gifted runner, but the passing component of his game hasn't reached its full potential.
Missouri has been able to reach the SEC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons because of its defensive play, namely at the edge-rusher spot. With Markus Golden and Shane Ray gone, and with defensive end Marcus Loud being dismissed for violating program policies, more pressure could be put on the offense to win games.
That falls on Mauk, who has to be far more consistent this year.
Michigan State Defensive Tackle Malik McDowell
3 of 10
To be clear, Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell didn't have a bad freshman campaign. He played in all 13 games and got some freshman All-American recognition. However, he played more as a backup and recorded just 15 tackles.
2015 should be the year McDowell breaks out and lives up to his blue-chip recruiting status. The sophomore has already cemented himself as the starting nose tackle.
"This Malik McDowell and last year's Malik McDowell are two different people," he told Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press last month. "Trust me. Two different people."
The Spartans' coaching staff and star players, like Shilique Calhoun, are taking notice. This has the makings of a huge year for McDowell. Now, can he deliver as the program's next great defensive lineman?
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Florida State Quarterback Everett Golson
4 of 10
It still feels strange typing "Florida State quarterback Everett Golson," and it probably will for some time. The Notre Dame transfer will use his final year of eligibility to try to win the Seminoles' starting job away from Sean Maguire.
Golson and Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher have been vocal about the fact that Golson won't be handed the starting job. This is a quarterback competition, straight up.
"Actually sitting down and talking to him, I felt like he was gonna shoot me straight and he was a genuine guy," Golson told Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports. "If you're not doing so well, he's gonna tell you, and if you are doing well, he's gonna tell you that, too. I can really respect a guy like that."
In the span of a few months, Golson has to learn FSU's playbook, develop chemistry with teammates and try to cement himself as the No. 1 guy. If he doesn't, it could be an entire season of zero tape for NFL scouts to use.
Give Golson credit. He went to a place where he knew he wouldn't be guaranteed to start, but would have the opportunity to learn under the best quarterback coaches in college football. This could end really well for Goslon, or he could finish his college career as a backup.
Texas Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes
5 of 10
This is a situation that practically mirrors LSU's. There's an incumbent starting quarterback who has struggled (Tyrone Swoopes) and a backup who is full of potential (Jerrod Heard) but hasn't quite been able to leapfrog the starter.
The difference is Heard redshirted last season and was never a real option unless things became dire. That's obviously not the case this year, and the coaching staff is retooling the offense in a way that fits Heard's skill set.
Because of that, Swoopes is facing more pressure. If he turns in another performance like he did against TCU (four interceptions) or Arkansas (57 passing yards), you can be sure he won't survive the whole game.
That is, if he claims the starting job at all. Heard has "closed the gap" on Swoopes, but the competition between the two will carry over into preseason camp. Both have supposedly improved from last year, but there's no doubt Swoopes is on a shorter leash.
Florida State Linebacker Matthew Thomas
6 of 10
It's not just Everett Golson who's under a lot of pressure at Florida State.
Linebacker Matthew Thomas was the highest-rated player in Florida State's 2013 recruiting class—higher than Jalen Ramsey, in fact. Yet, Thomas' time with the Seminoles has been up and down since national signing day in 2013, when it was reported that he was having second thoughts about enrolling.
As a freshman, Thomas played in four games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery for which he received a medical redshirt. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Thomas missed the season opener with an ankle injury.
That September, it was announced that Thomas was serving an "indefinite suspension" for violation of team rules. He returned for the Oct. 18 game against Notre Dame and recorded six tackles.
Thomas was then ruled out for the remainder of spring practice in late March for yet another shoulder injury. However, according to head coach Jimbo Fisher (h/t Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation), that injury is expected to sideline Thomas for half of the upcoming season.
Thomas will only be a redshirt sophomore this season, so he has plenty of time left in his college career. However, injuries and an off-field issues have hindered what looked to be a promising career. At some point, you'd like to see Thomas 100 percent healthy and active for a full season.
Alabama Tight End O.J. Howard
7 of 10
O.J. Howard was the top tight end in the 2013 recruiting class, but his stats to date haven't quite reflected the hype.
As a freshman, Howard caught 14 passes for 269 yards and a pair of scores. Not great, but not terrible for a first-year player. As a sophomore, however, Howard's numbers barely moved, and he didn't catch a single touchdown pass. Of course, receiver Amari Cooper was the primary target in the passing game, but it's been pretty stunning to see Howard lack of production.
As Marq Burnett of the Ledger-Enquirer notes, though, everything sets up nicely for Howard to finally have his breakout year:
"Now Cooper is gone. Alabama is looking for someone to step up in the receiving game so who better than Howard.
Howard is the Tide's biggest matchup problem. He is too big for most defensive backs to cover and too fast for a linebacker to run with him. If he learns how to truly use his 6-foot-6, 240 pound frame to his advantage, he'll be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.
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Penn State Quarterback Christian Hackenberg
8 of 10
There isn't a quarterback in college football who needs a bounce-back season like Penn State's Christian Hackenberg.
Hackenberg has all the physical gifts in the world and impressed as a freshman in Bill O'Brien's offense with nearly 3,000 passing yards. However, things didn't work out nearly as well last year with new head coach James Franklin.
In Hackenberg's defense, the entire offense was a disaster. The offensive line was terribly thin and Hackenberg rarely had time to make a throw to his first read, let alone his second or third. No team in the Big Ten gave up more sacks than the Nittany Lions (44).
That's the kind of stuff that can hurt a quarterback's confidence. That's a shame, because when Hackenberg has time, he makes some gorgeous throws that would make any NFL organization salivate.
The entire Nittany Lions offense has a lot to prove, but for Hackenberg, it's about showing he can bounce back from a tough season.
Stanford Running Back Barry Sanders
9 of 10
While comparing Stanford running back Barry Sanders to his father of the same name is horribly unfair, the fact is, Sanders has been quiet with the Cardinal. In two seasons, Sanders has carried the ball 64 times for 357 yards and a score.
The Cardinal's running back carries should be divided up among Sanders, Remound Wright and Christian McCaffrey.
There's not a true bruising running back on Stanford's roster like there have been in recent years, so there may not be an "every-down back" on the field in 2015. Still, there's room for Sanders to make an impact as a role player. At the very least, you'd like to see his touches and scoring opportunities go up.
Alabama Quarterback Jake Coker
10 of 10
We are quickly approaching the "if not now, then when?" question with Alabama quarterback Jake Coker. The Florida State transfer was supposed to make an instant impact for the Tide last season, but he lost the starting job to Blake Sims.
So far, Coker's career backup status can be explained away. He lost the quarterback competition to Jameis Winston at Florida State. There's no shame in that. Winston was the best player in college football. Even losing the starting job to Sims wasn't the worst thing in the world. He was more experienced with Lane Kiffin's playbook, albeit by a slim margin, and went on to have a solid year.
But now? This is Coker's final chance to take what many thought could have been his a year ago. The longer Alabama's open quarterback competition goes on, the worse it looks for Coker.
Granted, head coach Nick Saban has taken his time naming a starting quarterback before. For example: AJ McCarron initially competed against Phillip Sims in 2011, and that went into the first game of the season. But this feels different. You have to wonder if redshirt freshman David Cornwell is making a serious run at the starting job after being the dark-horse candidate this spring.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
