15 Incredible College Athletes to Watch out for in the Pros
Let's look to the future for a second. Put your problems aside, lounge out and join us on a quest: a quest to find 15 incredible college athletes. Players we should watch out for once they reach the pros.
Don't let the cover photo fool you—this isn't all about football. We've leaped into college hoops, baseball and hockey in order to bring you the best of the best.
Our use of stats, game film and scouting reports led us to the following 15 athletes.
Jared Goff
1 of 15
The nation's No. 1 quarterback prospect has been Jared Goff out of California. Before a wretched outing against Utah—where he launched five interceptions—you could make a case for him going No. 1 overall.
In eight starts, he's completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,537 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Even with one poor performance under his belt, Goff still gives scouts a lot to love. Arm strength, accuracy and composure are all traits he's displayed more often than not.
Of all the qualities you'd get from a guy like Goff, growth is one that will matter when he turns pro. The leap he's made on film from last season to this current campaign has been astounding.
He's an incredible quarterback who is equipped with an NFL set of tools.
Ben Simmons
2 of 15
Ben Simmons has caused quite a commotion, and the dude has yet to experience a minute of college hoops. When speaking with Olgun Uluc of Fox Sports Australia, ESPN's Fran Fraschilla mentioned, "I think Ben could start for 20 of the 30 NBA teams right now."
Simmons is the real deal. His 6'10" frame makes him a fluid prospect in the sense that he doesn't have a set position yet. He is big enough to play in the post but athletic enough to take on challenges at the wing and pounce from a distance.
LSU's basketball program nabbed the dynamite athlete. He could be the team's biggest addition since Shaquille O'Neal took to the court in 1989.
Joey Bosa
3 of 15
NFL teams adore great edge-rushers. Joey Bosa from Ohio State could be the next one scouts fall in love with.
The 21-year-old has become a vital face of the Buckeyes' defensive army. Dressed in those national championship colors, Bosa has already been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts in 2014.
A fierce propensity to get off the edge and go is what drives his stock up. He's a tremendous athlete, and the Buckeyes love him for that.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller broke down Bosa's game during his 2016 draft preview. In that video, Miller compared Bosa to former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams. Could Bosa follow in Williams' footsteps and go first next year? His production certainly warrants consideration.
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Jaylen Brown
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Cal is set to hit the reset button with its program now that it landed freshman sensation Jaylen Brown.
Chopping it up in basketball terms, Brown is a man. His wiry, 6'7" frame is going to create problems for all of the poor souls who have the assignment of guarding him during the upcoming NCAA season.
Our world of one-and-done players makes you think Brown is headed for the league after this stint winds down. Whenever he decides to make that leap, people better watch out.
Brown creates a lot of space while working in the paint based off his strength and quick feet. His athleticism allows for effortless attacks to the rim.
Watch out for when Cal gets a few nationally televised contests. That's when you're really going to see Brown do what he does best: dominate.
Robert Nkemdiche
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Striking fear in the hearts of offensive players is kind of Robert Nkemdiche's thing. Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke projects the Ole Miss defensive lineman to go No. 1 overall.
You can understand why when you dissect the tape and see his upside. Nkemdiche can plug the interior of the line, even though he has the athletic ability to move around and anchor a defense.
Mixing it up is the name of the game for Nkemdiche. College football's resident super athlete is a player who you have to watch out for when he arrives in the pros.
Luke Kunin
6 of 15
College hockey fans should be aware of Wisconsin forward Luke Kunin.
He is generating a bevy of praise. Even his head coach Mike Eaves understands Kunin's collegiate stint might be short.
"He’s going to make us better here for one or two…in our best-case scenario it would be three years…but we’re probably looking at one or two years based on where he goes in the draft. We recognize that," Eaves said, according to Dennis Punzel of the Wisconsin State Journal.
How does he transition over to the pros? By becoming a great goal scorer, of course. Check back for the reign of Kunin—coming as soon as he decides to leave the Badgers.
Ezekiel Elliott
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Ohio State's national championship aspirations depend on Ezekiel Elliott. The brash, bruising, rambunctious runner for Urban Meyer's Buckeyes has destroyed the collegiate world.
Elliott is an easy projection to the NFL. He's too gifted and decisive of a runner not to produce. Already this season he's plowed along for 1,130 yards and 13 touchdowns on 167 attempts.
In CBS Sports' Dane Brugler's mock draft, Elliott finds a home with the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 22. Can you imagine if that turned out to be the case? Putting a predatory talent behind a storied offensive line would be spell disaster for the rest of the NFC East.
Brandon Ingram
8 of 15
Duke basketball has been fortunate enough to secure elite freshman talent over the last few seasons. Brandon Ingram is the latest and greatest name we can add to that growing list of stars.
Ingram is listed as a small forward. The 6'9" freshman is going to be a critical piece to the Blue Devils' chances of repeating as national champions. Everything about him oozes versatility. He's credited for being a special athlete, as Ricky O'Donnell of SB Nation pointed out.
A recipe for success and becoming a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft is all there. Ingram has to be put on watch lists entering the NCAA men's basketball season.
Leonard Fournette
9 of 15
LSU makes a second appearance on this list courtesy of the young prodigy, Leonard Fournette—the man who has already run for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games.
Fournette is gifted. There isn't a way to sugarcoat it. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. even dubbed him "the next AP." In this world, Adrian Peterson comparisons are about as good as it gets.
Based on NCAA eligibility rules, Fournette can't declare for the 2016 NFL draft. That gives him a shot to be a top-five pick in '17. In the meantime, it looks like his ground assault on the SEC will continue.
Alec Hansen
10 of 15The Colorado Rockies originally drafted Alec Hansen in 2013. Instead of sticking with the club, he left high school and decided to play ball at the University of Oklahoma.
That's where the right-handed pitcher matured and was thrust into the conversation of being selected early in the upcoming 2016 MLB draft. J.J. Cooper of Baseball America even called him the "potential No. 1 pick."
It could be a few years before we see him take the mound in a Major League Baseball uniform, but that's all right.
Great pitching is hard to come by, and Hansen could prove to be a can't-miss commodity for some lucky team.
Corey Coleman
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Want to know about a fast wide receiver who thrives in a pass-friendly offense? Here's your chance.
Corey Coleman of Baylor is starting to turn heads. He racks up yardage and touchdowns, showcasing his ability to make things happen on the field.
Already, he's caught 47 passes for 962 yards and 18 touchdowns. Yes, 18 TDs.
We understand that Baylor head coach Art Briles and his system facilitates production. But there's something unique about Coleman. He's been deemed the biggest downfield threat in college football, according to Chad Reuter of NFL.com.
The junior pass-catcher will be on plenty of NFL reads come draft time. And if he isn't already, Coleman should be on yours starting today.
A.J. Puk
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Florida pitcher A.J. Puk is on the same wavelength as Alec Hansen. He's a powerful thrower with outstanding height and a balanced arsenal.
The 6'7" lefty has a crisp blend of pitches he can mix in. A keen fastball, swift slider and solid changeup give him the stuff needed to transition to the pro ranks.
If you get a moment to watch Florida play, don't miss Puk. He is an entertaining pitching prospect.
Laquon Treadwell
13 of 15
We all want to find the next great wide receiver. Seeing Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson and Keenan Allen become unstoppable enigmas has NFL franchises salivating over the thought of getting a similar guy.
Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell could be next up. To start, the man who rocks No. 1 on the field has outstanding hands. He's a spectacular play waiting to happen. But it's more than just that. Treadwell can create separation, and his route-running could become an issue for opposing cornerbacks in the NFL.
NFL.com's Chase Goodbread spoke with the Rebels head coach, Hugh Freeze. As expected, he heaped mounds of praise on his star wide receiver. "Laquon is as good a receiver as any that I have coached. I was a receivers coach here and I had Mike Wallace, Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster," Freeze said.
The ceiling is yet to be determined for Treadwell. But based on his tape, he has a chance to be excellent.
Skal Labissiere
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Of all the talented freshman recruits who take to the floor, Skal Labissiere's backstory is one that's convoluted, to say the least.
Labissiere's basketball journey started out in Haiti. He experienced the terror and shock that came along with the nation's earthquake in 2010, as reported by Eamonn Brennan of ESPN.com.
After that experience, Labissiere moved to the United States through a program called Reach Your Dream. He bounced around from a few high school programs before committing to John Calipari's Kentucky squad.
Man, did Coach Cal get a great player.
Despite being raw, Labissiere moves around like a point guard when he's actually listed at 6'11". Assuming he's eligible to play this season—there have been doubts, as reported by Dana O'Neil of ESPN.com—Labissiere is bound to steal a ton of headlines from his peers.
His talent level is unmatched.
Vernon Hargreaves III
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With the NFL generally leaning toward offense these days, it's vital to have a strong secondary. Vernon Hargreaves III out of Florida is going to help one lucky team achieve that goal.
Hargreaves impressed the scouts over at Walter Football: "Hargreaves' natural cover skills let him run with wideouts and not allow separation. He has enough size to handle big receivers and the speed to run with deep threats. Hargreaves could end up being the best cornerback prospect to enter the NFL since Patrick Peterson or Joe Haden."
Those looking to find a defensive back they can watch shut down opposing pass-catchers in the SEC should focus on Hargreaves. He's a skilled player who should become a lockdown defender in the NFL.
All stats and information provided by Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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