The 25 Strongest College Football Positional Units Heading into 2015 Season
Most of the great teams in college football have one or two positions that they can point to year in and year out as a strength.
LSU is known for being "Defensive Back U." Ohio State is experiencing a "Linebacker U" renaissance under Urban Meyer. Georgia conjures up images of stellar 5-star running backs, while USC consistently has golden-armed pocket passers ready to light up the West Coast.
Other programs are looking to build those traditions with improved recruiting classes and development, such as Baylor on the defensive side of the ball and TCU with its new-look offense.
Here are the 25 strongest positional units in college football for the 2015 season. These units were chosen by the amount of depth, production, talent and overall experience—the complete foundation for success instead of just a one-off group with a star or two.
The units are listed in alphabetical order in the following slides. Sound off on what you think is the strongest unit in college football in the comments below.
Alabama Defensive Line
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Alabama has been built on championship-caliber defenses under Nick Saban, and that starts up front. This season, the Crimson Tide return all three of the starters from their 3-4 front.
The unit is led by junior A'Shawn Robinson, a massive tackle (6'4", 312 lbs) who broke into Alabama's rotation as a freshman and led the team in sacks. Last season, he started all but one game and enters 2015 as a strong candidate for All-SEC and even All-American honors.
At end, Alabama has junior Jonathan Allen, who finished second on the team in sacks and tackles for loss last season behind linebacker Xzavier Dickson. Allen was a first-team All-SEC selection, while senior Jarran Reed grabbed honorable mention for becoming a mainstay on Alabama's front last year. All three of these starters have tremendous size, strength and skill on what should be the nation's best defensive line this fall.
Of course, Alabama has plenty of blue-chip players in the rest of its defensive line rotation, including former 5-stars Da'Shawn Hand and Daron Payne. Thanks to their recruiting dominance and pro-level development, the Crimson Tide have a strong foundation up front under Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.
Arizona Linebackers
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Scooby Wright III is a name every college football fan should know by now. But Arizona boasts considerable depth behind its star linebacker as it prepares to defend its Pac-12 South crown this year.
Wright's 163 tackles and 14 sacks last season—as a sophomore—earned him the Nagurski, Lombardi and Bednarik awards on a Wildcats team that won 10 games. He's the clear leader of this position as he looks to take on more responsibilities in pass coverage, according to Ted Miller of ESPN.com.
Arizona returns seven of its top eight linebackers from a season ago, so Wright is surrounded by some experienced playmakers. Derrick Turituri broke into the rotation as a true freshman and became a regular starter last season, while DeAndre' Miller returns from a medical redshirt season to battle Jake Matthews for a spot. Sir Thomas Jackson and Cody Ippolito also have starting experience on this unit.
With the nation's top linebacker on the roster and plenty of experience across the board, Arizona's linebackers stand out, even though they don't have the recruiting stars of other top units on this list.
Arkansas Running Backs
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Bret Bielema loves his running backs, and his Arkansas offense should only improve this fall with the return of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins.
The senior Williams turned down a shot at the NFL after rushing for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns last season for the Razorbacks. With Williams and Collins, who ran for 1,165 yards and a dozen of his own scores, Arkansas can batter opponents with a constant barrage of powerful runs. The ground game has a chance to be special in 2015 as the Razorbacks also return four of their five starting offensive linemen from a year ago.
But Bielema is continuing to build the future of his "man ball" offense with backups Juan Day and Denzell Evans, who have been in the system for more than a year. According to Thomas Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Bielema said true freshman running back Rawleigh Williams reminds him of former Wisconsin star Montee Ball.
Arkansas' star running backs are going to get a ton of carries this year, and the future keeps getting brighter for the entire offense. Bielema has built the quality depth he needs at running back in order to take the program to the next level.
Baylor Defensive Line
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While Baylor's high-powered offense will consistently make the Bears a team to watch, the veteran defense should help the squad take the next step into the national championship picture.
That work starts on a defensive line that returns all four starters from a season ago. The entire college football world knows about Shawn Oakman, the 6'9" defensive end who became the subject of memes and All-Big 12 teams. He starts with fellow senior Jamal Palmer, who did well before suffering an injury midway through the season.
At tackle, senior Beau Blackshear is a mammoth 6'4" and 300 pounds with two full seasons of starting experience under his belt. Junior Andrew Billings has the potential to join Oakman on some All-American teams after recording 11.5 tackles for loss as a conference first-teamer.
Eight different Baylor defensive linemen have starting experience, making this one of the nation's deepest units. If Oakman, Billings and the rest of the supporting cast can wreak even more havoc on offenses this year, the Bears will be in fantastic shape for the College Football Playoff.
Baylor Receivers
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Baylor's dynamic duo of Corey Coleman and KD Cannon are back to stretch defenses past their breaking points this season, but the team's weapons out wide don't stop there.
Coleman led the Baylor offense, which ranked No. 1 in points and yards for the second straight season, with 1,119 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014. Cannon led the nation in receiving early in 2014—as a true freshman—and had 197 yards in a wild Cotton Bowl against Michigan State.
The Bears' No. 4 receiver from last season, Jay Lee, is back for 2015 and brings a great amount of size (6'3", 215 lbs) to the position. Lynx Hawthorne stepped up early in 2014 and recorded a pair of touchdowns, while speedy sophomore Davion Hall, a 4-star athlete, found a way onto the field last season as a newcomer. And one can't forget about tight end LaQuan McGowan, whom head coach Art Briles said at Big 12 media days earlier this week had "slimmed down" to 403 pounds.
Baylor's attack demands excellence from its receivers, and Briles has that in buckets with the likes of Coleman, Cannon, Lee and a growing list of young stars from constantly improving recruiting classes.
Clemson Receivers
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Like Baylor, Clemson has a top tandem of receivers who stood out as underclassmen last season. But the Tigers have more established depth waiting in the wings as star quarterback Deshaun Watson returns from injury.
As a sophomore last year, Mike Williams broke the 1,000-yard mark while averaging 18.1 yards per grab. Artavis Scott broke some of Sammy Watkins' freshman receiving records at Clemson and finished the season with 76 catches and eight touchdowns. Both players are preseason All-ACC picks for 2015.
Behind Williams and Scott, Clemson returns all six of its additional receivers who recorded touchdown catches in 2014. Former 4-star recruit Germone Hopper finished third on the team last season with 331 yards and three touchdowns, while Jordan Leggett and Jay Jay McCullough are reliable options at tight end.
With Watson back, Clemson's offense could actually improve after the departure of coordinator Chad Morris. The receiving corps is deep, experienced and talented.
Florida Defensive Backs
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The Will Muschamp era at Florida wasn't pretty, especially toward the end, but one could count on the Gators having great defenses. Even with a new coaching regime in Gainesville, that shouldn't change thanks to the presence of this secondary.
Florida returns all four starters from last year, and none is bigger than Vernon Hargreaves III. The junior cornerback might be the best at his position in the country and is a pure lockdown player. Senior Brian Poole joins him at cornerback, but the Gators also have experience in special sophomores Quincy Wilson and Jalen Tabor.
Juniors Keanu Neal and Marcus May are back at safety for the pass defense, which held quarterbacks to the 13th-worst combined completion percentage in the FBS. Marcell Harris, Nick Washington and Duke Dawson also logged significant game time last season for one of the nation's best secondaries.
The Gators will keep restocking their defensive backs with great recruiting classes for seasons to come. An offensive-minded coach (Jim McElwain) might be in charge now at Florida, but there's a lot to love about what he has in his defensive backfield.
Florida State Defensive Backs
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Just like their in-state rivals, the Seminoles are returning a ton of talent at defensive back this season.
Junior Jalen Ramsey is moving back to cornerback this season and has all the tools to contend for major awards at the position. Marquez White is projected to start alongside him. Tyler Hunter and Nate Andrews return at safety for the Seminoles, but 5-star early enrollee Derwin James could take over a spot this fall.
"The strength of FSU's defense will be the secondary," Bob Ferrante of Noles247 wrote in July. "Ramsey should excel as a corner and could be an All-American. If White continues to make progress, FSU will have the best corner tandem in the ACC. Andrews is a strong run-stopper."
Florida State gets some of the best defensive backs in the nation every year in its recruiting classes, so it's no surprise to see the 'Noles with another strong unit after losing two starters to the NFL. There are plenty of questions on Florida State's roster this year, but you won't find them in the secondary.
Georgia Offensive Line
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Before we get to the amount of jaw-dropping talent Georgia has in its backfield this season, take a look at the Bulldogs on the offensive line who will pave the way for those stars this season.
Georgia must replace longtime starting center David Andrews, but the four remaining starters are back for 2015. That includes preseason All-SEC first-teamer John Theus, who has three years of starting experience for Georgia, and second-teamer Greg Pyke. Brandon Kublanow and Kolton Houston became fixtures on the line last season, when the Bulldogs finished eighth nationally in yards per carry.
"What you see is what you'll get from Georgia on the offensive line this season," Jake Rowe of Dawgs247 wrote. "By that, we mean that as long as everyone is healthy, the same five to six guys are going to be in charge of paving the way in meaningful minutes. This group has spent the last two-plus years forming a chemistry together."
The Bulldogs also have plenty of players who are looking to break into the starting lineup, including center favorite Hunter Long and reliable sixth man Isaiah Wynn. Georgia fans should be excited for this offensive line this season and the next few to come.
Georgia Running Backs
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Even with star Todd Gurley now in the NFL, Georgia's running back depth is still one of the most loaded positions in college football.
With Gurley's suspension and ACL injury limiting him to six games last season, Nick Chubb took over and ran for 1,504 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. His average of 7.06 yards per carry—as a true freshman—was the best of any SEC running back with at least 100 carries since Arkansas' Felix Jones ran for 1,162 yards on 133 carries in 2007.
In addition to its young superstar, Georgia also has sophomore Sony Michel and senior Keith Marshall, who were both 5-star running backs coming out of high school. If they can stay healthy, both running backs are excellent complements to Chubb out of the backfield. Michel's speed makes him a constant touchdown threat, while Marshall has the experience of being Gurley's right-hand man in a standout 2012 season.
Chubb is a potential Heisman candidate this season, and Georgia—which also has AJ Turman and Brendan Douglas in its reserves—has developed a ton of star-studded depth behind him in case the injury bug bites again. "Run the dang ball" has never been easier to do in Athens.
Kansas State Specialists
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Kansas State's consistency in special teams is set to continue under veteran head coach Bill Snyder this season.
Matthew McCrane took over at kicker for Kansas State last season after Jack Cantele missed three field goals in a close loss to Auburn. McCrane only missed one field goal in the team's final 10 games of the season, hitting an amazing 18 of his 19 attempts.
In the punting game, Nick Walsh averaged a respectable 41.3 yards last season. Both McCrane and Walsh were freshmen last season and should only get better over the next few years.
The Wildcats will miss return phenom Tyler Lockett, but they still have senior Morgan Burns, who returned a kick back for a touchdown last season. This has the potential to be the best all-around special teams unit in the country for 2015.
Louisville Linebackers
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Todd Grantham's defense no longer has Lorenzo Mauldin, but it returns two established starters at linebacker and adds another player who was a massive star in the Big 12.
Keith Kelsey and James Burgess have locked down the heart of this defense at middle linebacker. Kelsey and Burgess were the No. 2 and No. 3 tackles last season, respectively, and should only get better in Grantham's system this season. Burgess proved to be a versatile defender in 2014, recording seven tackles for loss and three interceptions as well.
On the outside, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fields was a defensive end at TCU, but he's projected to play linebacker at Louisville. Max Olson of ESPN.com reported Wednesday he has been cleared to play for the Cardinals. Junior Keith Brown has the chance to reclaim a starting job at "Sam" linebacker this season after starting six games as an underclassman.
Louisville has plenty of quality depth at linebacker with experienced players such as Nick Dawson-Brents, Stacy Thomas, Lamar Atkins and Trevon Young. Don't sleep on this unit.
LSU Defensive Backs
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LSU prides itself as "Defensive Back U," and that tradition is showing no signs of slowing down this year.
The Bayou Bengals are coming off a No. 3 finish in pass defense and should be strong again after losing two starters. Senior safety Jalen Mills has started every game over the last two seasons, and sophomore Jamal Adams is the top returning tackler at defensive back despite just starting two games in 2014.
Junior Tre'Davious White is a shutdown corner who already has two seasons of starting experience behind him, and Ed Paris received first-team reps this spring in front of 5-star freshman Kevin Toliver II, according to Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com.
The future should continue to be filled with top LSU secondaries, as its current recruiting class has four commitments from blue-chip defensive backs. LSU isn't ready to give away its DBU title any time soon.
Michigan State Offensive Line
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There's no overstating how good Michigan State's offensive line was last season. Running back Jeremy Langford rushed for more than 1,500 yards behind the front five, which allowed the fourth-fewest sacks in college football.
Michigan State has to replace guards Travis Jackson and Connor Kruse but return three excellent starters, including third-team All-American center Jack Allen and first team All-Big Ten tackle Jack Conklin. There's also returning starter Donovan Clark, who has played both guard and tackle during his Spartans career, and standout sophomore Brian Allen.
"This will be the best offensive line that Michigan State has had since Coach (Mark) Dantonio has arrived,'' former Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins said on a BTN broadcast, according to Mike Griffith of MLive.com. "They have players all across the board, they have experience, they have guys that can play in the NFL. When it starts there, you give your quarterbacks your running backs and wide receivers a chance to be successful."
With a combined 90 career starts and a solid amount of depth, the Michigan State offensive line should be a strength on this potential title-contending team.
Ohio State Linebackers
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Ohio State has been called "Linebacker U" for its great history at the position, but as Chad Peltier of Land Grant Holy Land wrote in April, the unit wasn't strong when Urban Meyer took over.
That has changed dramatically as the Buckeyes boast some excellent athletes at linebacker these days. Sure, Curtis Grant is gone at middle linebacker, but sophomore Raekwon McMillan was a big-time contributor last season for the defending champions and should be a star this year.
Outside linebackers Joshua Perry and Darron Lee are back as starters this year. Lee broke out as a freshman in 2014 and won the Sugar Bowl defensive MVP award for his standout performance. At 6'4" and 254 pounds, Perry has incredible size for his role and led the team in tackles by a huge margin last season with 124.
Ohio State returns a vast majority of its top linebackers from a team that won it all in 2014. The Buckeyes keep signing elite talent like 5-star outside linebacker Justin Hilliard, and they have no problems with playing the youngsters early and often. This unit can do it all, from top to bottom.
Ohio State Quarterbacks
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This group is the one that immediately jumps to the front of any position rankings for the upcoming season. Ohio State's quarterback situation gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "embarrassment of riches."
Senior Braxton Miller is a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year whose blinding speed for a quarterback made him a star in an undefeated 2012 campaign and a 2013 season that started 12-0. At full health, he is one of college football's best dual-threat weapons of the past decade, and Ohio State will need to find some way to utilize his athleticism in his return from a shoulder injury that kept him off the field in 2014.
Last year, sophomore J.T. Barrett finished just behind Marcus Mariota for the nation's top passer rating (169.8) and knocked on the door of 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards before an injury of his own. And all the tank-like junior Cardale Jones did last season was come off the bench and lead the Buckeyes to three straight postseason wins in his first career starts.
Urban Meyer can't go wrong here with whoever starts. The Buckeyes definitely know the immense value of having multiple quarterbacks who can win games, and they have three of them in Columbus this fall.
Oklahoma Linebackers
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Oklahoma's defense declined last season, but it should be in better shape this year with the return of Frank Shannon and three of the starting linebackers.
Inside linebackers Dominique Alexander and Jordan Evans are both juniors and finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the team's tackle chart. Alexander was a second-team All Big-12 selection last year and a standout freshman in 2013. Shannon led the team in tackles two seasons ago but was suspended from the team all of last year.
At outside linebacker, Jordan Striker was named third-team All-American last season after leading the Sooners with eight sacks. Former JUCO pickup Devante Bond looks capable of sliding into a full-time starting spot this year after starting three games to end the 2014 campaign.
Oklahoma has five former starters to choose from at linebacker this season and also added Ricky DeBerry, the No. 2 linebacker in the 2015 class. The signs are favorable for a bounce-back season on the Sooners defense with this experienced and talented crop of linebackers.
Oklahoma Running Backs
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Oklahoma might be transitioning to an Air Raid attack under new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, but don't expect the ball to be in the air all the time. The Sooners have too much talent at running back to do that.
That talent, of course, is led by Samaje Perine, who had a magnificent true freshman season in 2014. He registered 263 carries for 1,713 yards—which was eighth-best nationally—and 21 touchdowns. Perine commanded the nation's attention in the Sooners' game against Kansas when he set the FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards.
Behind Perine, Oklahoma has speedy junior Alex Ross, who stood out as a return man last year in addition to his role as the team's second-leading rusher. The Sooners also have the recently reinstated Joe Mixon, a former 5-star recruit, and 4-star true freshman Rodney Anderson.
Oklahoma has the perfect mix of youthful potential and proven experience in its running back depth chart. Perine, the Sooners' top back, will play at least two more seasons after a record-breaking freshman campaign, and the reserves have plenty of promise alongside a strong No. 2 option.
Oregon Receivers
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Stats, speed, size and skill—Oregon's receivers have it all, and a lot of them can make big plays in the explosive offense.
The Ducks return five of their seven receivers who recorded at least four receiving touchdowns last year. All of them averaged at least 13 yards per reception last year, and four have posted at least one season of 600 receiving yards or more.
Oregon's quarterbacks have to share the wealth.
Of course, the top physical gift that stands out in an Oregon offense is speed. "Taser" Byron Marshall and the returning Bralon Addison are incredibly quick, while Devon Allen, who led the team in receiving touchdowns last year, is one of the nation's best track stars. In addition to all that speed, Oregon also has a 6'5" target in Dwayne Stanford out wide.
Behind the leaders, the Ducks have 4-stars Alex Ofodile, Kirk Merritt and Malik Lovette. With the way Oregon is recruiting, developing and featuring pass-catchers in its famed offensive attack, this position looks to be a dominant one for the Ducks for years to come.
TCU Quarterbacks
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Quarterback depth can be tough to judge, as most teams prefer to have just one starter play the whole season. TCU's quarterbacks, though, deserve special mention because they include the preseason Heisman favorite, a veteran backup and a newcomer with prior starting experience.
According to Odds Shark, Trevone Boykin has the best Heisman odds in Las Vegas at 6-1 after his breakout 2014 season. He led TCU and its new-look offense to College Football Playoff contention with 3,901 passing yards, 707 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns. With another year in the system, Boykin could have even bigger numbers for the Horned Frogs this year.
Behind Boykin, senior Bram Kohlhausen stands out with his seniority, and he's said to be the quickest of the backups in Fort Worth. The most intriguing option after Boykin leaves, though, is Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill, who had a blistering start to 2014 for the Aggies before hitting a major midseason rut. He'll sit out this year but will be a surefire contender for the starting job in 2016.
TCU has possibly the nation's top quarterback heading into 2015, a few backups with more experience after a spring camp of work and a transfer who has shown flashes of excellence in a wide-open offensive system.
Texas A&M Receivers
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With a consistent quarterback, Texas A&M's passing attack should be one of the nation's best in 2015 because of the stockpiled assets out wide in College Station.
Junior Josh Reynolds was a major red-zone threat last season with 13 receiving touchdowns, and he paired exceptionally well with star sophomore Speedy Noil, who was the nation's No. 1 receiver in the class of 2014. Noil lived up to his name and hype with 583 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman.
The Aggies also have 6'5", 235-pound sophomore Ricky Seals-Jones, who could break out to have a huge season thanks to his excellent frame. Christian Kirk, a 5-star recruit, enrolled early at A&M this spring and could have a big impact alongside the likes of Edward Pope and Boone Niederhofer.
Whether Kyle Allen reclaims the starting quarterback job or Kyler Murray wins it this fall, the Aggies' offense will have no shortage of excellent targets. Head coach Kevin Sumlin keeps raising the level of elite talent in A&M's recruiting classes, and the wide receiver position is the proof.
USC Offensive Line
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Offensive lines are usually judged in the preseason by how many combined career starts it has. USC has 99 of those, but it's another number that puts the Trojans linemen on this list.
USC has six former full-time starters on its offensive line for the 2015 season, and that comes after losing one starter from last year. It all starts with senior center Max Tuerk, a former freshman All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 player a season ago. The Trojans also have junior tackle Zach Banner, who overcame a hip injury in 2013 to star as a sophomore in 2014.
Then there are the three sophomores who started as freshmen last year—an unprecedented move for USC. Viane Talamaivao started 11 games at left guard and became a freshman All-American. Former No. 1 guard Damien Mama has shed a ton of weight and is another projected starter. Toa Lobendahn started eight games at left guard last year before moving to left tackle in place of veteran starter Chad Wheeler, who is back for the upcoming season.
The Trojans will have five former starters in their starting lineup and an experienced sixth man, which is a great luxury considering how much roster turnover exists in college football.
USC Quarterbacks
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USC once again has a Heisman contender at quarterback who is ready to lead his team back to national prominence. But for the Trojans, this position is so much more than senior star Cody Kessler.
Kessler has already cemented himself as one of the best pro-style quarterbacks in college football for the 2015 season. Last year, he threw for 39 touchdowns and just five interceptions while compiling a passer rating of 167.06—the third-best in the country for returning quarterbacks behind Barrett and Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty.
But even though Kessler leaves after this season, USC fans can be confident in his eventual successor, sophomore Max Browne. The Washington native was the nation's No. 1 quarterback prospect in the class of 2013 and completed 24 of 37 passes for 251 yards and a pair of scores in this year's spring game, according to Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com.
Behind Kessler and Browne, USC has dual-threat redshirt freshman Jalen Greene, who is also working at receiver this season, according to Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times. This offseason, the Trojans added Ricky Town and Sam Darnold, who were both 4-star quarterbacks in the class of 2015. The present and the future of USC quarterbacks are simply looking fantastic.
Utah Specialists
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Utah puts a huge emphasis on special teams play—head coach Kyle Whittingham is in charge of the unit—and it showed last season.
Tom Hackett won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter in 2014. The Australian finished third nationally in average yards per punt and had a knack for pinning opponents deep in their own territory. He's back this year and has a great chance to bring home the award again.
Kicker Andy Phillips also did his part for the Utes last season by banging home 23 of his 28 field goals. Only four more kickers nailed more field goals than he did, and he could contend for the Groza Award as one of the nation's best at his position.
Last year Utah also had Kaelin Clay, who had four return touchdowns, but expect Whittingham to find a capable return man for his team this fall.
Virginia Tech Defensive Line
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Virginia Tech gets a lot of deserved praise for its secondary, but the defensive line might just steal the show in Blacksburg this season.
The Hokies return all four of their starters in this unit, and each of them earned at least an honorable mention in All-ACC teams. Senior defensive end Dadi Nicolas finished second in the ACC in tackles for loss with 18.5 and is a potential All-American this year. He's joined by starter Ken Ekanem, who finished second in the league for sacks last season with 9.5.
At defensive tackle, senior Luther Maddy returns from a medical redshirt season to a preseason All-ACC selection after three years of consistently tormenting opposing backfields. Corey Marshall was a second-team All-ACC pick last year after recording 23 quarterback hits, per the team's official site. Nigel Williams started in place of Maddy last season, and he'll join a large number of reserves who saw plenty of action in 2014.
Maddy's return boosts a defensive line that was already one of the nation's best last season. With another strong secondary behind it, this unit could be in for a monster year.
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Justin Ferguson is an on-call college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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