Every Top 25 College Football Team's Most Under-the-Radar Player
The great thing about college football is its ability to surprise. We spend all spring and summer focusing on stars and standout teams, but once the season actually begins, a player inevitably emerges who surprises us all and winds up playing a huge role in a successful season.
These could be players who are backups, players who haven’t gotten their opportunity just yet but could this fall, or players who have the ability but not the playing time. They might be players who you’re already aware of if you’re a fan of the team in question but someone the rest of the nation could use an introduction to.
Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan recently listed 25 players on the rise for 2015. We’re using Bleacher Report’s final post-spring Top 25 rankings by Ben Kercheval, with the players listed in the order that their team appears in the ranking.
Here’s a look at an under-the-radar player from each preseason top 25 team.
25. Boise State WR Shane Williams-Rhodes
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Bryan Harsin’s first season in charge of Boise State’s program was pretty special. The Broncos finished 12-2 and capped the season with a Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona. With 17 starters returning, Boise should be solid again in 2015, although starting quarterback Grant Hedrick and tailback Jay Ajayi must be replaced. They accounted for 89.1 percent of the Broncos’ offensive yards and had a hand in 92.1 percent of offensive touchdowns.
The Broncos will need someone to step into a larger role, and senior receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes is a strong candidate to do so. He flashed versatility in 2014, catching 68 passes for 585 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 179 yards on 15 carries, mostly flanker reverses.
Williams-Rhodes is not large at 5’6”, 168 pounds, but he has solid speed and a variety of skills. He could find an even bigger spot in Boise’s offense in his final season of college football.
24. Georgia Tech TB Broderick Snoddy
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Georgia Tech had a breakout season in 2014, going 10-3 and winning the ACC Coastal Division and Orange Bowl behind a strong flexbone offense led by star quarterback Justin Thomas.
Thomas is back as Tech’s leading rusher (1,086 yards) and leading passer (1,719 yards), but the next four leading rushers and the top two receivers from 2014 are gone.
That leaves room for others to step forward, and there’s no better candidate than B-back Broderick Snoddy.
Snoddy is recovering from a broken leg suffered against Clemson but had 283 yards and three touchdowns on just 28 carries last season, averaging 10.1 yards per carry.
Snoddy has excellent speed and has excelled as a sprinter on Tech’s track team, and he should have the opportunity this fall to flash it in head coach Paul Johnson’s offense on a regular basis.
23. Nebraska WR De'Mornay Pierson-El
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Following the Bo Pelini era, Nebraska will get a fresh start under new coach Mike Riley. That’s a good thing for a program that had wearied of Pelini’s moody nature, but Pelini left behind some intriguing pieces for Riley.
One of the most interesting inheritances is sophomore receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El. The 5’9”, 185-pound wideout filled the stat sheet as a freshman. He had 23 receptions for 321 yards and four touchdowns but also displayed his blazing speed and athleticism with three punt returns for touchdowns.
With Kenny Bell graduated, Pierson-El will move into a bigger receiving role alongside junior Jordan Westerkamp. Nebraska will use more of a pro-style offense, and if Pierson-El picks it up quickly, he’ll soon be known for more than punt returns.
22. LSU WR Malachi Dupre
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Despite what was a “down” season in Baton Rouge in 2014 (8-5 certainly qualifies, given Les Miles’ track record), LSU has plenty of pieces to make a run in the SEC West in 2015, especially if a competent quarterback emerges between either Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris, who will carry their quarterback battle into preseason practice.
Miles has signed a number of talented receivers, and while junior Travin Dural emerged as a competent deep threat, many believe sophomore Malachi Dupre can be the next great LSU wideout. Last fall, Dupre had just 14 catches, but he made them count, rolling up 318 yards and averaging 22.7 yards per reception while scoring five touchdowns.
Dupre has excellent speed and athleticism, and if LSU gets better play under center, his numbers and profile will skyrocket in 2015.
21. Oklahoma State RB Rennie Childs
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Oklahoma State had a roller coaster 2014, with a five-game winning streak followed by a five-game losing streak and wins over rival Oklahoma and Washington (in the Cactus Bowl) to end the season. Still, there is reason for optimism, given that 14 starters return.
One of the biggest voids exists at running back. Leading rusher Desmond Roland graduated, and dynamic backup Tyreek Hill was dismissed following a domestic violence charge. That leaves Rennie Childs, who had 294 yards and three touchdowns a year ago, as the top returning rusher.
Talented junior-college recruit Chris Carson is on his way, but Childs will likely get a good opportunity to prove himself in the Cowboy backfield in 2015. With a talented offense around him, it’s his time to shine.
20. Arizona WR Samajie Grant
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Arizona had a breakthrough campaign in Rich Rodriguez’s third season last fall, going 10-4 with a Pac-12 South Division title and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. One of the biggest reasons for that success was a fast-paced offense led by sophomore quarterback Anu Solomon, who passed for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns.
While Cayleb Jones was a 1,000-yard receiver, junior Samajie Grant deserves some attention as well. Grant made 45 receptions for 718 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 16 yards per reception (the best on Arizona’s roster).
Grant stands just 5’9” and 177 pounds, but he plays much bigger with speed and excellent deep-threat ability. He’ll be expected to take an even bigger role in the offense this fall and can use that speed to great effect.
19. Texas A&M DE Daeshon Hall
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When head coach Kevin Sumlin hired John Chavis away from rival LSU, his charge was to revamp Texas A&M’s defense and turn it from an Achilles’ heel to a unit that actually supports A&M’s high-flying offense.
The challenge isn’t talent; it’s making the most of players such as Daeshon Hall.
Hall, a 260-pound junior defensive lineman, has been solid in his first two seasons with the Aggies. He took a step forward last fall, going from three to six tackles for loss and raising his sack total from zero to 4.5. He’ll now be expected to take another step forward under Chavis’ precise watch.
With star Myles Garrett topping opponents’ scouting reports and receiving plenty of attention, there’s time for Hall to have a true breakout season in 2015.
18. Arkansas QB Brandon Allen
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When you think about Arkansas’ offense, you think about the running game—with good reason. The Razorbacks’ 7-6 breakthrough season under head coach Bret Bielema last fall was fueled by a strong ground attack. Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins were the only 1,000-yard rushing duo in the FBS, and both scored 12 touchdowns apiece.
But Arkansas’ offense also achieved some welcome balance in 2014, and that was thanks to quarterback Brandon Allen, who was significantly improved last fall. As a sophomore, he threw for 1,552 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2014, he threw for 2,285 yards and 20 touchdowns against five interceptions, a far more efficient passer.
With four returning offensive linemen to protect him, Allen should be even better as a senior. If that’s the case, Arkansas could make more noise in the ultra-tough SEC West.
17. Oklahoma WR Durron Neal
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Oklahoma is looking to go back to the future on offense this fall. When coach Bob Stoops took over in 1999, he employed a high-powered air raid offense that had tremendous success under offensive coordinator Mike Leach. Following a disappointing 2014 season, Stoops reached back to the past and hired East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley to employ a similar system.
While OU has a powerful running game headed by tailback Samaje Perine, there’s always opportunity in the air raid for prolific pass-catchers. The Sooner offense is led by Sterling Shepard, but don’t count out someone like senior Durron Neal. Neal had 42 receptions for 513 yards and three touchdowns last fall.
While he struggled down the stretch—making only three receptions for 16 yards in OU’s final three games—he’ll have plenty of opportunities for bigger numbers in 2015 by catching passes from either Baker Mayfield or Trevor Knight.
16. Florida State WR Travis Rudolph
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Two years removed from a national title, the NFL draft and graduation hit Florida State’s roster hard this spring, led by top overall pick Jameis Winston. Only 10 starters return for Jimbo Fisher’s team, and only three of those are on offense. That said, the cupboard is far from bare in Tallahassee. This season will be all about giving young talent an opportunity to succeed.
Leading receiver Rashad Greene (99 receptions, 1,365 yards, seven touchdowns) is gone, which leaves a huge opportunity to catch passes from either Sean Maguire or Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson.
Who will emerge to fill that void? Bet on super-sophomore Travis Rudolph.
Rudolph had big expectations placed on his shoulders last fall but struggled early, failing to make a catch in FSU’s first three games. He finished strong, however, and had perhaps his best game in the Rose Bowl loss to Oregon, making six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 38 receptions for 555 yards and four touchdowns. Rudolph should take the next leap forward this fall with a season in Fisher’s offense under his belt.
15. Tennessee CB Cameron Sutton
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Tennessee spent last fall under the radar, but that won’t be the case entering 2015. Butch Jones’ team had a breakthrough season, making the program’s first bowl since 2010 and blasting Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
Still, there’s room for stories to emerge on the Volunteer roster, including junior cornerback Cameron Sutton. Sutton has started every game of his collegiate career and could make the jump to All-SEC status in 2015.
He had 37 tackles and three interceptions while facing off against many of the SEC’s best receivers in 2014 and also returned a punt for a touchdown. He has good size—6’1”, 189 pounds—and solid cover skills. If Tennessee’s defense excels, Sutton will be leading the way this fall.
14. Arizona State TB Demario Richard
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Arizona State had one of the nation’s most powerful offenses last fall, averaging 36.9 points per game, and was among the nation’s top 20 scoring offenses. Even with quarterback Taylor Kelly graduated and wide receiver Jaelen Strong gone to the NFL, there’s reason for optimism in Tempe.
Versatile tailback D.J. Foster will move to wide receiver, while senior quarterback Mike Bercovici—who capably filled in last fall when Kelly was sidelined with a foot injury—will be the man under center. Foster's move out wide opens playing time for sophomore tailback Demario Richard, who showed flashes last fall making 84 carries for 478 yards and four touchdowns.
He even had a 100-yard game against Utah, carrying 14 times for 116 yards in an overtime win. That Sun Devil coaches were comfortable moving Foster to a wide receiver spot says volumes about how comfortable they are with Richard. He should validate their confidence with a big season in 2015.
13. Georgia LB Lorenzo Carter
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Georgia’s defense showed improvement during Jeremy Pruitt’s first season as defensive coordinator in 2014, ranked No. 16 nationally and allowing 20.7 points per game. The Bulldogs’ front should be solid again in 2015 after returning six starters and adding 247Sports No. 1 overall 2015 recruit Trent Thompson, who should step in immediately to start at left tackle.
It might be easy to forget about a player like sophomore linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who isn’t penciled in as a starter, but that’d be a mistake. Carter, who stands 6’6”, 242 pounds, had a solid freshman season, making 41 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last fall.
He has excellent athleticism and playmaking ability, moves well from side to side and makes an impact all over the field. Even if he isn’t starting yet, there’s no question that Georgia and SEC fans will know his name in 2015.
12. Clemson WR Charone Peake
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Just call Charone Peake the last man standing.
Four years ago, Clemson signed an extremely talented wide receiver class highlighted by Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant and Peake. As we enter 2015, Watkins and Bryant are both excelling in the NFL, but Peake is looking to make the most of his last season of college football.
Peake suffered a torn ACL that forced him into a redshirt season in 2013 and was never fully healthy in 2014, making 12 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns while missing seven games. Now, Peake is finally healthy at the right time.
He has speed and game-breaking ability, but he doesn’t have to carry the load by himself with standouts Mike Williams and Artavis Scott beside him, as well as a loaded freshman class. That said, expect Peake to make the most of his final season in Clemson, catching passes from Deshaun Watson in a hurry-up, no-huddle offense.
11. Ole Miss S C.J. Hampton
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Despite a huge 2014 season that saw nine wins, a Peach Bowl bid and wins over Alabama and Mississippi State, Ole Miss and coach Hugh Freeze have some holes to fill in 2015. The Rebels return 16 starters, but one of the most glaring voids is at safety, where All-American Cody Prewitt departs.
Ole Miss has talented replacements with Mike Hilton shifting from corner to safety and joining senior Trae Elston as a starter. But one of the most important players in that secondary could be sophomore C.J. Hampton.
Hampton had only 10 tackles as a freshman, but he has good size (6’0”, 180 pounds), hitting and coverage ability. He will be relied upon far more heavily in 2015, so expect him to play a much bigger role on a stout Ole Miss defense.
10. UCLA WR Jordan Payton
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Head coach Jim Mora Jr. is building one of the nation’s top programs in Westwood. The Bruins have back-to-back 10-win seasons, and they return 17 starters from a 10-3 team in 2014.
While everyone knows about tailback Paul Perkins, who rushed for 1,575 yards last fall, more attention should be paid to the Bruins’ wide receiver corps, led by senior receiver Jordan Payton.
Payton enjoyed a breakout season last fall, making 67 receptions for 954 yards and seven touchdowns. Payton has good size (6’1”, 213 pounds) and has clearly proven himself as the top target for incoming starting quarterback Josh Rosen. He’ll be a key part of UCLA’s offense that should be receiving more national attention.
9. Auburn DE Carl Lawson
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While we can argue the reasons why Will Muschamp didn’t work out as Florida’s head coach, there’s no doubt that he’s a solid fit in his second stint as Auburn’s defensive coordinator. The Tigers struggled mightily under former defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, allowing 26.7 points per game (No. 62 nationally) and yielding at least 31 points to each of their final seven FBS foes.
How can these struggles be explained? Look at the pass rush. Auburn ranked No. 95 nationally in sacks per game, with linebacker Kris Frost and DaVonte Lambert sharing the team lead with 3.5 sacks apiece. Help is on the way, though.
Defensive end Carl Lawson was a freshman All-American, helping lead Auburn to the 2013 BCS national title game before being forced to redshirt last fall with a torn ACL. He’s healthy again, and he’ll be a major pass-rush force this fall as a starting end.
He had 20 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss as a freshman and should improve significantly on those numbers this fall as a starter. If he can bolster Auburn’s pass rush, the defense should be much better overall.
8. Oregon LT Tyler Johnstone
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The top story in Eugene, Oregon, this summer is clear: How will Oregon replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota? Will it be backup Jeff Lockie or Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams, who arrives on campus this summer? It’s an intriguing question, but here’s another one: Who’ll protect the new starter?
Last fall, Jake Fisher did an excellent job as the starting left tackle in keeping blockers away from Mariota. It’s no coincidence that Oregon’s only regular-season loss (to Arizona) came with Fisher sidelined. Luckily, the Ducks have a ready replacement in senior tackle Tyler Johnstone.
Johnstone was a starter before tearing his ACL in the 2013 Alamo Bowl, and he missed last season when he re-tore the ACL in preseason practice.
At 6’6”, 295 pounds, Johnstone has the pedigree and the talent to anchor Oregon’s offensive line, assuming he’s fully healthy. He could be an All-Pac 12 talent and a key to another College Football Playoff run for the Ducks.
7. Notre Dame RB C.J. Prosise
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Following an 8-5 season, there’s good reason for optimism in South Bend. The Fighting Irish will return 16 starters, and Everett Golson’s transfer to Florida State gives new starting quarterback Malik Zaire certainty under center.
He is surrounded by a number of talented offensive options, but one of the most intriguing is hybrid player C.J. Prosise, who made 29 receptions for 516 yards and two touchdowns last fall and added 10 carries for 126 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run.
Tarean Folston is clearly the lead back in Notre Dame’s backfield, but with Greg Bryant’s four-game suspension to start the season, the Irish needs backfield help behind him. Prosise’s versatility makes him a clear option to receive reps behind Folston and make impacts all over the field this fall.
6. Southern California WR JuJu Smith
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While NCAA probation and Lane Kiffin’s tenure have both hampered Southern California’s ability to return to the national elite status it enjoyed under Pete Carroll’s watch, 2015 could bring a return to former glory.
Following a 9-4 debut, head coach Steve Sarkisian returns 14 starters from a solid roster, led by senior quarterback Cody Kessler, who could be the nation’s top passer following a junior season that saw him throw 39 touchdowns against five interceptions.
Kessler lost top receiver Nelson Agholor to the NFL draft, but he has a capable replacement in sophomore JuJu Smith. As a freshman, Smith had 54 receptions for 724 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll be Kessler’s top target, and should become a national name this fall catching passes from Kessler.
5. Alabama RB Kenyan Drake
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After an impressive run in Lane Kiffin’s first season as offensive coordinator, the operative word for Alabama’s offense in 2015 is “reload.” The Crimson Tide returns only two offensive starters—both on the offensive line—and must break in key skill players across the board.
While junior Derrick Henry is more than ready to step into a front line role in the backfield, Nick Saban has typically employed a dual-tailback system.
So who’s No. 2 in Tuscaloosa? Senior Kenyan Drake is an appealing option.
Drake is coming off an ugly broken leg that prematurely ended his 2014 season, but as a sophomore, he flashed some serious skills, rushing for 694 yards and eight touchdowns. He stands 6’1”, 210 pounds and has excellent speed for his size, as well as the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
He had an 87-yard touchdown reception against Florida and is more than capable of spelling Henry and inflicting punishment on defenses as the Tide’s No. 2 back.
4. TCU RB Aaron Green
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Last fall, most of the focus surrounding TCU’s surprising 12-1 season centered around converted quarterback Trevone Boykin, who threw for 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns in his first full season as a starter. The Horned Frogs averaged 46.5 points per game and had the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense in their first season in the air raid system, but they had some balance as well in junior tailback Aaron Green.
Green didn’t become a starter until November, but he still rushed for 922 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He finished the season with four 100-yard games in his last seven outings, including a 171-yard effort in a rout of Kansas State.
With more work this fall, Green could take pressure off Boykin and easily blow past 1,000 rushing yards.
3. Michigan State RB Madre London
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With a 24-3 record, a Big Ten title and Rose and Cotton Bowl wins in the past two seasons, Michigan State has firmly established itself as one of the nation’s elite teams. But even with 13 starters returning this fall, coach Mark Dantonio has holes to patch in the starting lineup. One of the most prominent gaps is in the backfield, where 1,500-yard rusher Jeremy Langford’s departure leaves a serious void.
Redshirt freshman Madre London excelled during spring practice and appears poised to, at the very least, share the role with sophomore Gerald Holmes.
London stands 6’1”, 220 pounds and is a versatile back, capable of catching balls out of the backfield as well. If he can prove worthy of the every-down duties, it’ll be a huge boost for the Spartan offense.
2. Baylor RB Johnny Jefferson
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When you have an offense as powerful as Baylor’s, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Last season, the Bears averaged 48.2 points per game—the best in the FBS—and despite Bryce Petty’s departure, Baylor should keep rolling in 2015 with new starting quarterback Seth Russell at the helm.
Baylor has the FBS’s only returning 1,000-yard receiving duo in KD Cannon and Corey Coleman, and lead tailback Shock Linwood rushed for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall.
But it would be unwise to forget about Linwood’s backup, sophomore Johnny Jefferson.
Jefferson is solidly built at 5’10”, 205 pounds, and he rushed for 526 yards and six touchdowns last fall, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. With some more reps behind Linwood, Jefferson could see his stats improve significantly in 2015.
1. Ohio State RB Curtis Samuel
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When you win the national title, it’s hard to imagine a player going “under the radar.” A look at Ohio State’s roster shows plenty of talent and plenty of stories. Will Ezekiel Elliott make a Heisman Trophy push? Who will emerge from the three-headed quarterback battle between Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller? Will Joey Bosa emerge as the nation’s top defensive player?
That said, there are still under-the-radar stories worth following on the Buckeye roster. One of the biggest is that of sophomore tailback Curtis Samuel. The 5’11”, 200-pound player is a versatile talent who rushed for 383 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman, but saw his playing time slip as Elliott carried the offense to a national title.
He’s too good to sit again, which is why he moved to an H-back role in spring practice, as Cleveland.com's Ari Wasserman notes.
"The days of Curtis Samuel playing 10 plays are over," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer told Wasserman."It's our job to get him on the field for 40 or 50 plays."
He’ll catch and carry the ball, block and do more in Meyer’s system. If the role fits, he could be the biggest breakout player on Ohio State’s offense this fall.
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