The Perfect College Football Starting Lineup for 2015
What if you could take the best* 22 players in college football and put them all on one team? You can't, of course; sadly, dream teams don't exist. If they did, it would be similar to watching someone play Ohio State vs. Idaho on the now-defunct NCAA Football video game franchise on easy mode.
Still, thinking about college football's perfect starting lineup is the type of thing that gets you through the offseason's summer months. With that in mind, here's our best stab at what a dream team starting lineup would look like.
Selections were based on prior accolades and stats, and absolutely zero consideration was given to offensive/defensive philosophy or continuity. In other words, players don't always have to be selected to the positions they actually play in college.
Why? Because sometimes you want a converted offensive lineman for a tight end and one million edge-rushers on defense.
(*Note: We realize the term "best" is incredibly subjective, but there are players that pretty much anyone can agree are at or near the top of the sport.)
Quarterback: Cardale Jones, Ohio State
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The crazy thing is, Cardale Jones may not even be the starting quarterback on his own team this year. Or, he may be, and this whole concept becomes much simpler.
Either way, it's tough to ignore what Jones did in the final three games of last season—the Big Ten championship game, the Sugar Bowl and national championship. The redshirt junior-to-be accounted for 832 total yards and six touchdowns. You couldn't have written a better story.
On that note, Jones doesn't have a lot of experience. Cody Kessler at USC or Trevone Boykin at TCU have years of starting experience and huge offensive numbers to boot. Neither of them, however, have the cannon for an arm and the bruising, powerful running style of Jones. He looked impossible to stop during the Buckeyes' postseason stretch.
If he could continue that momentum into 2015, Jones would be one of the top quarterbacks in college football, easily.
Running Back: Nick Chubb, Georgia
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What we saw last year was the beginning of the resurgence of the running back in college football. Some of the best backs in the country in 2014—Nick Chubb, Samaje Perine, Royce Freeman, Leonard Fournette—were just freshmen.
It's difficult to choose just one of those players. However, Chubb was asked to fill in for Todd Gurley, arguably the best running back in college football before his NCAA suspension and ACL tear, and did so seamlessly. That's no small task.
Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns last year—not the most in the country by a long shot, but he displayed a unique blend of size, speed, vision and versatility. In short, he looks like another Gurley. Imagine him and Jones in the same backfield. That's a terrifying (and awesome) thought.
Wide Receiver: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
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To this day, Laquon Treadwell's broken leg injury against Auburn last November is haunting and gruesome. Yet, he's on track to return for Week 1 of the 2015 season. That's incredible by itself, but it's also good news for anyone looking forward to seeing one of the best wideouts in college football.
"He looks like he's pretty good to me," Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze told B/R's Barrett Sallee. "He's doing backflips on trampolines, and that made me cringe a little bit."
In nine games last season, Treadwell had 48 catches for 632 yards and five touchdowns, and he was on his way to a sixth in the Auburn game before sustaining the injury. At 6'2" and 229 pounds, Treadwell is a huge target. But he's shown the ability to be both a deep threat and a guy who can make plays with yards after the catch.
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Wide Receiver: Tyler Boyd, Pitt
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Looking for another big-bodied wide receiver to line up on the opposite end of the field from Treadwell? Look no further than Pitt's Tyler Boyd. At 190 pounds, Boyd is lighter than Treadwell, but he's roughly the same height at 6'2".
More importantly, the junior-to-be is a pass-catching machine. In 2014, Boyd accounted for about 42 percent of all passes caught in Pitt's offense and about 50 percent of the total receiving yards. He was basically a one-man show in the passing game.
Also keep in mind that the Panthers, with star running back James Conner, are predominantly a run-first offense. We're talking running the ball two-thirds of the time. The fact that Boyd can still put up numbers like he did (78 receptions, 1,261 yards, eight touchdowns) is phenomenal.
Beyond production, though, Boyd is a nice route-runner who also knows how to be physical and get the ball.
Wide Receiver: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
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Treadwell and Boyd are more of your traditional, big wideouts. Pharoh Cooper at South Carolina, on the other hand, is an exciting player who's a little smaller (5'11", 208 lbs), but he adds a whole other dimension to an offense.
Cooper does a little bit of everything for the Gamecocks. He's primarily a receiver and led the team with 69 catches for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns. However, he also added 200 yards on the ground and another pair of scores. He was also the team's best passer behind Dylan Thompson, throwing a pair of touchdown passes on just eight attempts.
Cooper allows offensive coordinators to get creative with how he's used. Every offense can use a weapon like that.
Flex: Laquan McGowan, Baylor
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At 410 pounds, Baylor's new tight end, Laquan McGowan, is a comical matchup problem. Bears coach Art Briles first broke out the converted offensive lineman as a tight end in the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State.
It'll be interesting to see how he's used in Baylor's offense going forward. The Bears haven't utilized a tight end a lot in the passing game over the past few seasons. Realistically speaking, McGowan may not catch 30 passes next season.
Still, this marriage is too hilariously awesome not to utilize. And, hey, this a starting lineup that has no rhyme or reason to it anyway, so why not?
Offensive Line: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
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Like Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil sustained an awful season-ending injury, though, his came in the Peach Bowl against TCU. Still, Tunsil is a freakish athlete who should be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. According to Walter Football (h/t Rotoworld), Tunsil is the No. 1 tackle in next year's draft.
He's also getting preseason accolades, as well. Phil Steele recently named Tunsil as a first-team preseason All-American. In 2013, Tunsil was already a staple of the Rebels offensive line and earned both All-American and All-SEC honors.
Offensive Line: Max Tuerk, USC
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USC's offensive line was fairly young last year, breaking in three freshmen. However, the cornerstone of that line was center Max Tuerk. Though the Trojans are more experienced up front this year, this is still Tuerk's group.
As the center, Tuerk is the less touted leader of the offense along with quarterback Cody Kessler. He's easily the most versatile lineman the Trojans have since he's played center, guard and tackle. He's also on his way to becoming a four-year starter. Tuerk is a candidate for the Rimington Trophy and All-American consideration, and he was an all-conference selection in the past.
Offensive Line: Spencer Drango, Baylor
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For all the recognition Baylor gets as an offensive juggernaut, the Bears don't get nearly enough credit for how physical they are in the trenches. That starts with longtime contributor Spencer Drango at the tackle position.
Drango, an All-Big 12 selection, could have declared for the NFL draft after the 2014 season. His return is easily one of the biggest boosts to Baylor's 2015 conference championship hopes. When Drango missed the final four games of the '13 season with a back injury, coupled with the wrist injury to receiver Tevin Reese, the Bears passing game took a hit.
Offensive Line: Vadal Alexander, LSU
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LSU's Vadal Alexander could prove to be one of the more versatile linemen in college football with his offseason move from guard to tackle. Clearly, he's versatile enough to play both. As a freshman, Alexander played a little tackle when Chris Faulk was sidelined with an injury.
Speaking to
Offensive Line: Taylor Decker, Ohio State
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This time last year, Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker was the lone experienced player along the Buckeyes' trenches. The results for Ohio State were initially mixed at best. An early-season loss to Virginia Tech showed that the team had a long way to go.
By the end of the season, however, Ohio State was straight-up dominating teams up front, thanks in large part to Decker. A senior in 2015, Decker will lead an O-line that led the Big Ten in total offense and scoring offense in the month of November.
Defensive Line: Joey Bosa, Ohio State
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Releasing Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa on to the field was sort of like allowing a category five hurricane to approach land. The sophomore led the Big Ten with 13.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and led the Buckeyes with four quarterback hurries.
Those numbers were good enough to earn Bosa the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
What kind of season could Bosa have in 2015? The Heisman might be out of the question since true defensive players have virtually no shot, but getting to the draft may not be. Additionally, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Bosa has his top overall prospect for next year's NFL draft.
Even if you cast all of that aside, Bosa is a machine and would be an instant upgrade to virtually any college team who would pick him up (if they could, that is).
Defensive Line: Anthony Zettel, Penn State
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Let's be clear: We're not picking Penn State defensive tackle Anthony Zettel here solely because he tackled a tree. But let's also be clear about something else: It didn't hurt his chances.
Zettel is a powerful force from the interior of the defensive line. For all the emphasis that's put on pass rushing and getting into the backfield off the edge, there's something to be said for a disruptive player at the defensive tackle spot. Zettel definitely has that going for him, having led Penn State with 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks a year ago.
Defensive Line: Shawn Oakman, Baylor
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Shawn Oakman has almost become a cartoon, and that's not meant in a bad way. He's huge, yes, and the subject of Internet memes. But the guy can still play. He's not all hype.
Oakman tied for second in the Big 12 last year with 11 sacks and finished with 19.5 tackles for loss. The senior-to-be still has some work to do in terms of rounding out his game. He's not as experienced as his classification would have you believe.
Oakman is also a freakish athlete who's a pass-rushing specialist. But there's not denying what he's capable of doing. If he can keep improving, he has first-round-draft potential written all over him.
Defensive Line: Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
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What's this? A defensive line that's made up of mostly edge-rushers? Hey, it's June, and we'll do whatever we want, thank you very much.
Also, it was tough to think about a defensive line without Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun on it. Bosa might have been the Big Ten's standout defensive player in 2014, but don't forget that Calhoun won the conference's most outstanding D-line award the previous season.
Calhoun is the proven leader, the life blood of Michigan State's stout defensive line. He's a veteran guy who knows how to play the position, regardless of whatever his numbers are. To have a dream team, so to speak, without him seemed plain wrong.
Edge: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
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Somehow, leaving Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett off of the perfect starting lineup felt like a crime. Like, a felony crime. So we're bending the rules a little bit and putting the sophomore-to-be at linebacker.
Don't worry, it's one of those hybrid defensive end/linebacker spots. He can still rush the passer with the ferocity of 1,000 lions chasing down their prey.
Recall that Garrett finished second in the SEC with 11.5 sacks a year ago, breaking Jadeveon Clowney's freshman conference record. Garrett is just 19 years old, and he's already a stud. He's still developing as a defensive end, so let's put him outside and tell him to go get 'em.
Linebacker: Scooby Wright III, Arizona
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Look, it's pretty simple. Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III recorded more tackles—a whopping 163—than any other player in college football last season. You want a guy who's going to be around the ball at all times? Wright is your guy.
Even if you don't want that, Wright is still someone you should have on your team. As a sophomore, Wright took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.
He's one of the most decorated players in college football. It's tough to leave that off, especially if the perfect college football starting lineup has fantasy football implications.
Hybrid: Su'a Cravens, USC
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Su'a Cravens began his career at USC as a strong safety. However, as last year progressed, he moved down into an outside linebacker role while continuing to moonlight at safety. He does a little of both, so we've decided to keep him at one of those hybrid linebacker/safety positions.
Cravens is a monster. A scary, scary monster. No one on the Trojans defense had more tackles for loss (17). Other than Adoree' Jackson, who played corner, wide receiver and return specialist, no one on the defense was more versatile.
If you're looking for help in run support from the back end of the defense, Cravens is your guy.
Cornerback: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
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Florida may need time to develop offensively under new coach Jim McElwain, but the Gators defense should be just fine. One of the leaders of that defense is third-year corner Vernon Hargreaves III.
As one of the nation's best lockdown corners, Hargreaves has six interceptions and 24 pass break-ups in his career. Even though he requires constant attention on the field from opposing quarterbacks, he still manages to get incredible numbers for his position. Put him on the same field with the corner in the following slide, and you have one heck of a pass defense.
Cornerback: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech
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Like we were saying, imagine being a quarterback going against this pass defense. On one side of the field is Hargreaves, and on the other is Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller. Good luck completing a pass.
Fuller is a bona fide star for the Hokies. He led the ACC with 15 pass break-ups last season and earned All-American honors. He's a two-year starter with great bloodlines—his three older brothers all played for Virginia Tech—and even better football IQ.
Fuller is one of the true shutdown corners in college football. Put him against any No. 1 receiver, and it's going to be a battle.
Defensive Back: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
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Technically, Florida State's Jalen Ramsey is now at cornerback, but he's moved all over the secondary for the Seminoles. Ramsey has spent time at safety, nickelback and corner. Even though corner will be a move out of necessity this season, there's no reason to think he won't keep doing a little bit of everything.
The most impressive thing about Ramsey is his versatility against the run and the pass. He led the Seminoles with 12 pass break-ups last season, but he also showed at times—namely against Georgia Tech—that he wasn't afraid to get up near the line and get physical. Twice in 2014, against Oklahoma State and North Carolina State, he recorded at least 10 tackles.
Defensive Back: Jalen Mills, LSU
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Jalen Mills has been a longtime starter in the secondary for LSU. He's one of the reasons the Tigers refer to themselves as "DBU."
Mills won't always rack up the most stats in a game, but he's a field general of sorts for the Tigers on the back end. As noted by Scott Rabalais of The Advocate, Mills "makes the calls and checks to get the secondary aligned properly for each play."
Mills could have departed early for the NFL draft if he wanted to, but he opted to stay another year in college to improve on his game. He enters 2015 as one of the most experienced defensive backs in college football.
Return Specialist: Alex Ross, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma has a star running back in Samaje Perine, but the Sooners are also loaded at running back behind him. Easily, OU has one of the better running back depth charts in the country.
While that means fresh legs are almost always available, it also means guys like Alex Ross have to find other ways to contribute. Ross crushed it on kickoff returns last year, averaging 31.22 yards per return and scoring a pair of touchdowns.
For as great as USC's Adoree' Jackson was last year at returning kicks, Ross actually averaged about a yard-and-a-half more per return. Small potatoes? Perhaps, but the numbers are what they are.
Place Kicker: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
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That's right. We're not above kickers on this list. Specialists have a place in football, too. It's just generally over on the bench away from everyone else.
All the same, Florida State's Roberto Aguayo has solidified himself as the best kicker in college football. The Lou Groza winner is as automatic as they come with field goals and extra points. In 2014, Aguayo made 27 of 30 field goals and went 55-of-55 on extra points.
We may not put a ton of thought into this specific selection, but that's only because Aguayo makes it that easy.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
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