Projecting Every Power 5 College Football Team's Breakout Player for 2016
We know who the returning stars are in college football, but what about the ones we've yet to discover? They're out there, waiting for the chance to take on a bigger role or live up to the potential they showed as high school recruits.
Their time will come in 2016, when they could end up being their team's breakout player.
We've selected one player from every power-conference team (as well as from major independents BYU and Notre Dame) who are poised for a big 2016 season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
1 of 66
RB Bo Scarbrough
Alabama has pulled in so many bumper crops on the recruiting trail the last few seasons that it regularly has former 5-star players either riding the bench or getting very little playing time. That's by design, making it so when one or more superstars move on, there's another group waiting to take their place.
And Scarbrough is in line to fill the spot of the Crimson Tide's biggest loss, Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.
Because Henry was more than capable of taking on the entire rushing load, topping 2,200 yards in 2015, there was little need to use the 6'2", 240-pound Scarbrough during his freshman year. He appeared in just seven games, getting 18 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown against Charleston Southern.
Scarbrough could top that production in the first game of 2016, as Henry and backup Kenyan Drake have both moved on.
Arizona Wildcats
2 of 66
DB Cam Denson
A star all-purpose player in high school, Denson has been exclusively a defensive back during his first two seasons at Arizona. He's notched five interceptions in that time, returning one for a touchdown in 2015 against Arizona State, but his skills are now set to be used on the offensive side.
The Wildcats lose three of their top four receivers—including junior Cayleb Jones, who turned pro—and a position that was once a major strength is now on the thin side. The 5'11", 168-pound Denson is among the fastest players on the team and could make for either a slot receiver or one that lines up in the backfield and is part of the run game.
Arizona State Sun Devils
3 of 66
DL JoJo Wicker
Arizona State tied for third nationally in 2015 in both sacks (46) and tackles for loss (111), adhering to the belief that constant pressure in the backfield will lead to good things. This only partly worked for the Sun Devils, which were 113th in total defense and finished with a losing record after notching two sacks and 10 TFL (but allowing 676 yards) against West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl.
Wicker got involved in this pressure approach as a freshman, with four sacks and 7.5 TFL among his 21 tackles, as well as two forced fumbles. He'll be asked to do more in 2016, with nose tackle Demetrius Cherry and devil-backer Antonio Longino graduating from the front seven.
At 6'3" and 275 pounds, Wicker fits well as an edge-rusher in ASU's aggressive system and should be ready to break through for more in the fall.
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Arkansas Razorbacks
4 of 66
DL McTelvin Agim
Arkansas' defensive line wasn't as potent in 2015 as the season before, unable to find someone to perform like Trey Flowers had on the edge. Turns out that replacement was another year away, still dominating at the high school level in the state.
Agim, a 5-star defensive end rated by 247Sports as the No. 18 overall player in the 2016 class, has been working with the Razorbacks since December. An early enrollee, the 6'2", 268-pound prospect was able to participate in Arkansas' bowl practices before he competed in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando earlier this month.
Ends Tevin Beanum and Jeremiah Ledbetter combined for four sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. Agim has the potential to surpass those numbers by himself.
"Agim is the complete package at defensive line," 247Sports' Barton Simmons wrote. "He has tremendous athleticism, a freakish motor, the strength to play several positions along the defensive front and a coachable demeanor."
Auburn Tigers
5 of 66
QB John Franklin III
We're not mincing words when we say Auburn's quarterback situation in 2015 was an abject disaster. Jeremy Johnson, hailed as possibly the next Cam Newton during the summer, ended up getting benched after throwing six interceptions in his first three games, and Sean White wasn't any better.
Those two are in the mix for the starting job next season as well, but they'll have some competition in the form of Franklin, the former Florida State player who spent 2015 at East Mississippi Junior College. He was a 4-star prospect out of high school in 2013 but opted to leave FSU last May after the school brought in Everett Golson from Notre Dame.
The 6'2", 180-pound Franklin will be a junior, the same class that Nick Marshall was when Gus Malzahn found him at a junior college in 2013. That led to big things for Auburn, with Marshall piloting the team to the BCS title game.
Baylor Bears
6 of 66
RB Johnny Jefferson
Jefferson has already begun his breakout, rushing for 299 yards and three touchdowns in the Russell Athletic Bowl last month against North Carolina as part of Baylor's bowl-record 645 rushing yards. After gaining only 701 yards during the regular season, the sophomore capitalized on an injury to starter Shock Linwood.
Linwood will be back in 2016, along with Devin Chafin and Terence Williams, which will make for a crowded backfield in Waco. This could prevent Jefferson from having the opportunity to get a lot of carries, but that doesn't mean he can't still have a significant impact.
The 5'10", 210-pound rusher gained his 1,000 yards on just 136 carries, for a per-carry average of 7.35. He showed the ability to carry a heavy load with 46 rushes in Baylor's final two games, so it will be hard not to turn to him in situations where the Bears need a workhorse.
Boston College Eagles
7 of 66
WR Charlie Callinan
Boston College had the nation's top-ranked defense last season, but all that did was keep it from giving up lots of points in its many losses. The Eagles were totally devoid of offensive playmakers, forced to use a number of unproven quarterbacks while their running backs and receivers didn't do much to help.
The arrival of graduate transfer Patrick Towles from Kentucky should fix BC's quarterback problem, but it will still need a receiver to emerge from a group that didn't have anyone catch more than 17 passes in 2015.
Callinan had 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns, which tied for the team lead, as a sophomore. He's got great size at 6'4" and 224 pounds but never managed more than three catches in a game in 2015. With a better quarterback throwing to him, he could erupt for the Eagles.
BYU Cougars
8 of 66
RB Francis Bernard
It's unknown what, if anything, new BYU coach Kalani Sitake is going to change in his first season with the program. We'll get our first glimpse of the offense that he and coordinator Ty Detmer plan to use during spring practice.
Getting more balance via the run game should be a part of that plan, in which case Bernard could be primed for a big 2016 season after showing promise as a true freshman.
The 6'0", 235-pound Bernard ran for 334 yards and seven touchdowns, the most TDs by a BYU freshman since Jamaal Williams had 12 in 2012. Williams withdrew from school before the 2015 season, with the plan being that he would return in 2016, but that might not happen.
California Golden Bears
9 of 66
RB Vic Enwere
California will be starting over on offense in 2016 with school passing leader Jared Goff on his way to being a first-round draft pick. Making matters worse, top receiver Kenny Lawler also turned pro and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin left for the same position at Middle Tennessee last week.
If coach Sonny Dykes wants to avoid a season similar to his first in 2013, when the Golden Bears went 1-11, he'll seek out a coordinator that values offensive balance so as to tap into the team's wealth of returning ball-carriers.
Enwere is among that group, having earned the most carries last season at 106. He gained 505 yards and had eight of Cal's 16 rushing touchdowns, but he only landed double-digit touches in three games. At 6'1" and 230 pounds, Enwere has the frame to handle a larger load and if given the chance, he could be the program's second 1,000-yard rusher in three seasons.
Clemson Tigers
10 of 66
DL Christian Wilkins
Wilkins' most memorable play from his true freshman season was when he was on the receiving end of a fake punt during the Orange Bowl, catching a 31-yard pass that showed off some surprising speed and agility for a 6'4", 315-pound defensive tackle. Don't expect Wilkins to suddenly become the next LaQuan McGowan, but do look for him to be making plenty of appearances in opponents' backfields in 2016.
With Clemson losing Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson from its defensive line, more pressure will be put on the interior linemen to prop up the defense and prevent a backslide. The Tigers are making numerous replacements on defense, but there's enough experience up front to offset these losses, with Wilkins expected to play a huge role.
Last season, Wilkins had 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble when not showing off his receiving skills.
Colorado Buffaloes
11 of 66
QB Davis Webb
The last quarterback to transfer from Texas Tech ended up leading his team to the playoffs. Colorado will settle for earning its first bowl bid since 2007, though getting production similar to what Baker Mayfield had last year at Oklahoma is also welcome.
Webb threw for more than 5,550 yards with 46 touchdowns in three seasons with the Red Raiders, but after losing his starting job to Patrick Mahomes II midway through 2014, he never got it back. A graduate transfer, the 6'5" 224-pound senior is eligible right away for a Colorado team that's likely to need a new starter.
According to Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, Sefo Liufau is "expected to be sidelined for the 2016 season" due to a Lisfranc injury he suffered last November. Liufau, who has started since his freshman year in 2014, is 351 yards shy of the school's career passing record.
Duke Blue Devils
12 of 66
WR T.J. Rahming
Duke is coming off its first bowl win since the 1960s, an overtime triumph against Indiana in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Blue Devils scored 44 points despite a poor showing through the air from quarterback Thomas Sirk, who was 17-of-37 with two interceptions.
The passing game will go through some tinkering this offseason with leading receiver Max McCaffrey having graduated, and that presents an opportunity for other targets to move into the primary role. Rahming might fit that bill if he can build off a solid freshman year, in which the 5'10", 165-pound wideout had 43 catches for 571 yards and two touchdowns.
"Rahming has a style of play that is very reminiscent to former Blue Devil standout Jamison Crowder," Matt Osborne of SouthernPigskin.com wrote. "He is able to use his quickness and route-running ability to gain separation from defenders to make the catch and then create extra yardage in the open field."
Florida Gators
13 of 66
QB Luke Del Rio
The 2016 season will be the fourth at the college level for Del Rio, but it's only the second that he's going to have a chance to see the field. After spending time on the bench for two other FBS programs (with a brief spell of action in 2014), the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is ready to finally show his stuff.
And Florida will need the 6'1", 216-pound redshirt junior to make an impact since its quarterback play down the stretch last season was sorely lacking. After Will Grier was lost to a drug suspension, Treon Harris tallied 163.4 passing yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games, completing 48.1 percent of his throws.
Del Rio has attempted 18 passes in college, completing eight during the 2014 season with Oregon State. He began his career at Alabama in 2013 as a walk-on but never played.
Florida State Seminoles
14 of 66
DL Josh Sweat
It was a minor miracle that Sweat was even able to play as a true freshman in 2015, having suffered a major leg injury early in his senior year of high school. For him to play in all 13 of Florida State's games last year, registering two sacks and five tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery, is the kind of stuff that movies are made about.
Now the 6'5", 237-pound Sweat is in line to show what he can do at 100 percent.
"I’ll definitely pull off a lot more sacks than I did this year," Sweat told Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel, adding that he plans to add at least 15 pounds in order to increase his strength and force.
Georgia Bulldogs
15 of 66
WR Terry Godwin
A two-sport athlete who had several professional baseball teams hoping he'd opt for that sport out of high school, Godwin showed off his versatility as a true freshman in 2015 by recording touchdowns as a receiver, running back and quarterback. He threw a 44-yard TD pass and made a highlight-reel catch for a score in Georgia's TaxSlayer Bowl win over Penn State.
Now Godwin will look to be more than just an occasional playmaker, with the Bulldogs losing top receiver Malcolm Mitchell and in need of a new go-to target.
The 5'11", 174-pound Godwin had 35 receptions for 379 yards last season, coming on strong at the end with 14 catches and both of his TD grabs in Georgia's final three games.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
16 of 66
DL KeShun Freeman
Georgia Tech's option run game figures to bounce back after an off 2015 season, but the key to the Yellow Jackets being able to rebound from a 3-9 record is to have their defense not put the offense in a position where it can't lean on that rushing attack.
The Yellow Jackets were tied for 120th in sacks and dead last in tackles for loss last year, only taking opponents down behind the line of scrimmage 47 times in 12 games. Fourteen of those TFLs came in Tech's first two games, lopsided wins over Alcorn State and Tulane.
The 6'1", 240-pound Freeman has started 24 games over the past two seasons at defensive end but saw his numbers take a major dive last year, from 4.5 sacks and 9.5 TFL as a freshman to 2.0 and 4.0, respectively. Tech needs him to break through in 2016 and set the tone for a defense that has to replace its entire secondary.
Illinois Fighting Illini
17 of 66
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn
Illinois had created a succession plan for running back Josh Ferguson early last year, making sure to give Vaughn some reps in games in an effort to make him ready to take on the full-time job at some point. That ended up happening earlier than expected, as Ferguson got hurt in October and missed most of four games.
In his absence, the 5'10", 205-pound freshman had 71 of his 157 carries that helped him finish 2015 with a team-high 723 rushing yards. So did a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries against Purdue.
With Ferguson moving on, Vaughn will likely be the go-to ball-carrier in 2016. Since he's not going in cold, expect a strong performance.
Indiana Hoosiers
18 of 66
QB Richard Lagow
Indiana lost another running back to the NFL draft this winter in Jordan Howard, but the emergence of Devine Redding in 2015 made that departure easy to handle. Seeing quarterback Nate Sudfeld graduate, however, was a little harder to take.
But the Hoosiers think they have their next prolific passer in Lagow, who 247Sports ranked as the third-best pro-style passer at the junior college level in this recruiting class. The 6'6", 240-pound Lagow threw for 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2015 for Cisco College in Texas.
Sudfeld, who was also 6'6" and 240 pounds, finished his career with 7,879 yards and 61 TDs, both of which were school records.
Iowa Hawkeyes
19 of 66
DL Matt Nelson
Not much went well for Iowa earlier this month when it made its first appearance in a Rose Bowl in 25 years. But amid the 45-16 loss to Stanford was possibly the emergence of the Hawkeyes' next great defensive lineman.
Nelson, who had logged 12 tackles in 12 games in a reserve role coming in, had a half-sack and 1.5 tackles for loss against the Cardinal. That's something the 6'8", 270-pound end can use as a springboard into his sophomore year, when he'll be part of the group trying to replace talented down linemen such as Drew Ott and Nate Meier.
Iowa State Cyclones
20 of 66
QB Joel Lanning
Former Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads made a move toward the future when he replaced senior Sam B. Richardson with Lanning midway through last season. It didn't end up saving his job, but Lanning's performance bodes well for what new coach Matt Campbell might be able to accomplish in 2016.
The 6'2", 232-pound sophomore threw three touchdown passes in relief of Richardson in an October loss to Baylor, then started the final five games and averaged 196.4 yards with six TDs. He also ran for 330 yards and four TDs overall, gaining 130 with two scores against Oklahoma State.
Lanning will have a talented receiving corps to work with this fall, and with enough time during the offseason to learn Campbell's system, some big numbers could be produced in Ames.
Kansas Jayhawks
21 of 66
WR Ryan Schadler
To be brutally honest, any Kansas player who does a lick of anything during the 2016 season is going to be a candidate for the team's breakout player. So it goes when a team is coming off a winless year and has lost 15 straight games.
Very little went right for the Jayhawks a season ago, but from all those struggles could rise some playmakers. Schadler is listed as a wide receiver but didn't get used in that capacity as a freshman, instead getting some touches in the run game and as a return man.
The 5'11", 185-pound Schadler averaged 22.7 yards on 33 kickoff returns, bringing one back for a touchdown against South Dakota State in the season opener. If he can crack the playing rotation at receiver, he could use those return skills on offense as well.
Kansas State Wildcats
22 of 66
WR Dominique Heath
Kansas State's passing game was almost nonexistent last season, with injuries at quarterback and youth across the offense making it so the Wildcats were one of the more run-oriented teams in the Big 12. To illustrate this, second-leading receiver Kody Cook threw passes in nearly as many games (seven) as ones in which he caught them (nine).
Expect K-State to work hard at getting more balanced offensively in 2015, which will require Heath to build off a promising freshman year in which he had 28 catches and three touchdowns. The 5'9", 175-pound Heath also had 21 punt returns, which could put him in line to succeed Morgan Burns as the team's primary return man.
Kentucky Wildcats
23 of 66
TE C.J. Conrad
Kentucky saw marked improvement from its top wide receivers between their freshman and sophomore years, but not enough to get the Wildcats over the hump and into a bowl game in 2015. If Conrad can build off his first season in Lexington, maybe that will change for 2016.
The 6'5", 245-pound Conrad earned third-team Freshman All-America honors from Athlon Sports after posting 15 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. He was also helpful to Kentucky's run game as a blocker.
Kentucky hasn't had a tight end catch more than 18 passes in the last eight seasons. Conrad could end that drought.
Louisville Cardinals
24 of 66
QB Lamar Jackson
It might seem like Jackson already had his breakthrough season as a true freshman in 2015, based on his overall numbers and the monster performance he put forth in Louisville's bowl victory. But last year was full of stops and starts for the talented and athletic dual-threat passer, meaning there's still a lot of room for improvement.
And that flat out scares the teams the Cardinals are set to play in 2016, all of whom either experienced what Jackson is capable of or have seen it on film.
The 6'3", 196-pound Jackson finished as Louisville's leading rusher, with 960 yards and 11 touchdowns while also throwing for 1,840 yards and 12 TDs. He played in 12 of 13 games but in two of those, he had a combined three touches, as he was in and out of the lineup.
Down the stretch, though, Jackson started to put it all together and ended with 453 yards of total offense and four scores against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.
LSU Tigers
25 of 66
DE Arden Key
The next great edge-rusher from LSU only scratched the surface of what he's capable of in 2015, when Key started nine games as a true freshman and notched five sacks with 6.5 tackles for loss. Pairing him up with one of the best defensive coordinators in the country will be fun to watch next year.
The 6'6", 231-pound Key will now get to be coached by both line coach Ed Orgeron and coordinator Dave Aranda, who last season was in charge of Wisconsin's second-ranked defense.
"The Tigers generated 34 sacks in 2015 and could push that total even higher in 2016 if Key develops as expected," Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports wrote.
Maryland Terrapins
26 of 66
WR D.J. Moore
The most pressing offensive task for new coach D.J. Durkin will be to identify a quarterback that can perform at a consistent level, a year after the trio of Perry Hills, Caleb Rowe and Daxx Garmann threw a national-worst 29 interceptions. It will help if the Terrapins can also have a go-to receiver that is able to get open, thus preventing so many throws into coverage.
No Maryland player had more than 35 catches in 2015, that coming from junior Levern Jacobs. Moore had 25 as a freshman, with 357 yards and three touchdowns, with the 5'11", 205-pound receiver catching four balls in the regular-season finale win against Rutgers.
Maryland hasn't produced a 1,000-yard receiver since Torrey Smith gained 1,055 yards in 2010.
Miami (Florida) Hurricanes
27 of 66
TE David Njoku
The combination of junior quarterback Brad Kaaya and new coach Mark Richt could lead to big passing numbers in 2016, given Richt's desire to get more hands-on with his players. That will lead to a trickle-down effect for the Hurricanes' receiving corps, but with two of the top three pass-catchers graduating, some new standouts will need to be discovered.
A spot is already reserved for Stacy Coley, whose 47 receptions and 689 yards were both second-best on the team. After that, it all depends on who is ready to rise up.
Njoku will get his chance to do that after a promising freshman year in which the 6'4", 244-pound target caught 21 passes for 362 yards and a touchdown. That lone score came in the opening minutes of a 27-21 home win over Virginia, when he also had a 56-yard catch.
Michigan Wolverines
28 of 66
DL Bryan Mone
Michigan had the fourth-best defense in the country last season in terms of yards allowed, and the Wolverines could be even more dominant on that side of the ball in 2016 if it's able to land No. 1 overall prospect Rashan Gary. But just as key to next year's team is the return of Mone, who missed all of 2015 with a leg injury.
The 6'4", 325-pound Mone had nine tackles and a tackle for loss in 2014 as a freshman, and he was expected to play a major role in 2015 before getting hurt.
Mone's return gives new Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown options for what he may want to do on the defensive line, either as a replacement for the departed Willie Henry or a key reserve that's cycled in to keep fresh bodies on the field.
Michigan State Wolverines
29 of 66
DL Malik McDowell
Michigan State is saying goodbye to three starters on the defensive line, including Shilique Calhoun, but in 2016 opponents will be saying hello a lot more to McDowell.
The former 5-star prospect—with a well-chronicled signing day saga, including his mother preferring he go to Michigan—went from 4.5 tackles for loss as a freshman to 13 this past year. Even still, it felt like the 6'6", 275-pound nose tackle wasn't performing at his highest level, and with veterans around him he didn't need to.
Now the line is his to be in control of, and look for McDowell to take another jump in performance that could lead to national awards.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
30 of 66
TE Brandon Lingen
Minnesota completed almost twice as many passes in 2015 than it did the season before, which made for more opportunities for the Golden Gophers receivers to be a part of the offense. Lingen got his chances, too, but he wasn't able to make the kind of impact that tight end Maxx Williams had the previous two years.
The 6'5", 247-pound Lingen had 33 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns last year, up from two receptions the year before. He had a pair of 100-yard games and seven with at least three catches, but he wasn't the deep threat that Williams had been.
With Minnesota losing senior and leading receiver K.J. Maye to graduation, Lingen could see his numbers jump once again.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
31 of 66
QB Nick Fitzgerald
No team in the SEC has a bigger single hole to fill than Mississippi State, which is tasked with replacing the greatest quarterback in program history and one who'd run and thrown all over the league for the past three years. Dak Prescott amassed 11,897 yards of total offense in his career, third-most in SEC history, and was responsible for 114 touchdowns.
Now it's Fitzgerald's turn to follow that production. The 6'5", 227-pound freshman got a few chances to play last season, tallying 362 yards of total offense and six total TDs in eight games, but most of his time was in non-critical situations.
In 2016, Fitzgerald is in line to be the Bulldogs' primary offensive weapon since players other than he and Prescott ran for only 1,158 yards and eight TDs.
Missouri Tigers
32 of 66
QB Drew Lock
Any question of whether Missouri's offense belonged to Lock for the foreseeable future was cemented in the last few days, as the Tigers' other two scholarship quarterbacks are no longer with the program.
Eddie Printz announced his transfer on Wednesday, then on Thursday Maty Mauk was dismissed from the team. The dismissal came soon after a video surfaced of Mauk snorting an unknown substance, and though that footage proved to be from a few years ago, he'd been suspended twice before by the school.
Lock took over for Mauk as Mizzou's starter in the fourth game of 2015, his freshman season, but only managed four touchdown passes with eight interceptions. The Tigers ranked 125th nationally in total offense, leading to a 5-7 record.
New coach Barry Odom doesn't have many options at quarterback, so it will be on the 6'4", 205-pound Lock to perform better than just the starter by default.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
33 of 66
RB Devine Ozigbo
Most of the players that Pat Riley leaned on during his first season at Nebraska were holdovers from previous coach Bo Pelini. He did manage to filter in a few members of his initial recruiting class at key positions.
That included Ozigbo, who, as a true freshman, appeared in nine games and ran for 216 yards and a touchdown. His first chance to make a real impact came after the Cornhuskers were allowed to play a bowl game despite a 5-7 record, and in the Holiday Bowl the 5'11", 225-pound Ozigbo had 21 carries for 87 yards.
Ozigbo could use that game as the foundation for bigger things in 2016, with Imani Cross graduating and no other rusher built for a heavy workload.
"He figures to be a major piece in that puzzle considering Cross will move on to graduation and Terrell Newby doesn’t exactly fit the prototype of the bruising running back," Robin Washut of Rivals.com wrote.
North Carolina Tar Heels
34 of 66
QB Mitch Trubisky
Seemingly on the cusp of supplanting Marquise Williams as North Carolina's starter for the past two seasons, in the end, the 21 games he's played in so far instead will serve as a warm-up for the start of Trubisky's run in charge of the offense.
The 6'3", 220-pound Trubisky looked about as good as a backup could in 2015, completing 40 of 47 passes for 555 yards with six touchdowns, as well as three rushing scores in nine games. The year before, he had 459 passing yards and five TDs in 12 games but also threw four interceptions.
Trubisky was 17-of-20 for 312 yards and four TDs in a September win over Delaware, and hasn't thrown an incompletion since Oct. 17.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
35 of 66
QB Jalan McClendon
Dave Doeren's first three years at North Carolina State have seen him use quarterbacks who had transferred into the program rather than ones he'd signed. Brandon Mitchell (Arkansas) and Pete Thomas (Colorado State) handled the job in 2013, and Jacoby Brissett (Florida) did so the last two seasons.
Now we see how Doeren is as far as scouting talent, as McClendon is set to take over the starting job.
The 6'5", 212-pound passer redshirted in 2014 and appeared in seven games a year ago, going 8-of-14 for 69 yards. All of his passes came during N.C. State's nonconference games, relegated to handing off when he saw action against ACC teams.
Northwestern Wildcats
36 of 66
SB Garrett Dickerson
Northwestern has a unique offense that relies heavily on a workhorse running back and a passing game that, when used, tends not to look too far downfield. The Wildcats' 5.1 yards per pass attempt was third-least in FBS last season, and only 22 pass plays went for 20 or more yards.
A good number of those went to Northwestern's "super backs," a hybrid position that's similar to an H-back, but which never runs the ball. Instead, they are a receiving option in the space between the line of scrimmage and where defenders are chasing traditional receivers, which allowed Dan Vitale to lead the team with 33 catches, 355 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.
Vitale has graduated, so the starting "super back" spot will go to his understudy, Dickerson. Last year, he caught 12 passes as a sophomore, and now the 6'3”, 245-pound will be in line to do far more.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
37 of 66
WR Corey Robinson
When Robinson hits the field this fall for his senior year, he has a chance to be just the player Notre Dame needs to replace star receiver Will Fuller and others who were heavily involved in the offense in 2015. He might also be someone whose decisions off the field impact the academic lives of his teammates.
Robinson has thrown his hat into the ring to be the school's student body president, which he'd attempt to do when not in class or playing for the Fighting Irish.
The 6'4", 215-pound wideout had only 16 receptions last year after catching 40 passes in 2014. He did finish his last season on a high note with five catches for 71 yards combined against Stanford and Ohio State. Only Torii Hunter Jr., with 28 receptions last season, returns with more production than Robinson.
Ohio State Buckeyes
38 of 66
DL Sam Hubbard
Ohio State's mass exodus thanks to graduation and the NFL draft will make for a very different-looking team in 2016, but this isn't a new experience for the program under Urban Meyer. The 2014 team had plenty of first-time starters yet ended up winning the national title, and the hope is that a similar scenario will exist again.
That will involve a lot of Hubbard, who after a strong freshman year will be thrown into the middle of what the Buckeyes have planned on defense. If that involves moving him around again, so be it.
"Hubbard came to Ohio State as an all-state safety and an athlete," according to his online bio. "Coaches experimented with him at linebacker during a redshirt freshman campaign in 2014 but ultimately settled on the defensive line for him."
Now at 6'5” and 265 pounds, Hubbard was second on the team with 6.5 sacks in a mostly reserve role. As a projected starter, he figures to produce even more.
Oklahoma Sooners
39 of 66
DL D.J. Ward
At the rate that Ward keeps seeing his playing time and performance increase, his junior season in 2016 is going to be a great one. That's big news for Oklahoma, which graduated both starting defensive ends from the Big 12 champion.
One of those spots seems destined for the 6'2", 259-pound Ward, who redshirted in 2013 and then appeared in six games the following year. Last season, he was on the field for all 13 games, with 14 tackles and one sack as well as a fumble return.
He notched a career-best four tackles in the Orange Bowl, helping the Sooners account for the absence of tackle Charles Walker because of a concussion.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
40 of 66
WR Jhajuan Seales
A strong redshirt freshman campaign in 2014 had many within Oklahoma State circles speculating that Seales could end up being one of the best receivers in school history, up there with Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon. Instead, Seales has seen his numbers dip since then, with fewer catches and yards the last two seasons combined than in the first.
Part of his dip last season was due to missing time midway through the year after being cited for OVI in October.
The 6'2", 198-pound Seales has one more chance to cement his place with the Cowboys, and with Oklahoma State losing two of its top four pass-catchers from 2015, the opportunity is there for him to come through.
Ole Miss Rebels
41 of 66
OL Greg Little
Ole Miss' personnel losses include possibly the first player taken in the 2016 NFL draft, or at least the first offensive lineman taken in junior Laremy Tunsil. Good thing the Rebels are set to add the nation's best lineman prospect to the roster for next season.
Little, a 6'5", 305-pound tackle from Texas, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 3 overall player in the 2016 class. Originally committed to Texas A&M, he re-opened his recruitment last year and pledged to Ole Miss in December.
Assuming he signs with the Rebels next week, he could end up sliding right into Tunsil's spot on the line and help protect quarterback Chad Kelly this fall.
Oregon Ducks
42 of 66QB Dakota Prukop
Oregon is putting its own spin on an old adage, deciding that if at first you do succeed, you might as well try again.
We're referring to the Ducks' acquisition of a quarterback from the FCS ranks, which is happening for the second year in a row. Vernon Adams Jr. transferred from Eastern Washington for his senior season in 2015, a move that paid off well when he was healthy, and now the Ducks have landed Prukop from Montana State.
The 6'2", 200-pound senior, who as a graduate student is eligible to play right away, had more than 7,300 yards of total offense and 70 total touchdowns during his time at Montana State. He may end up being able to surpass what Adams did for Oregon in 2015 because he's already with the program and can participate in spring drills, whereas Adams didn't show up until August and had to learn on the fly.
Oregon State Beavers
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TE Ryan Nall
Though listed as a tight end, Nall's most significant contribution during his freshman year was as a ball-carrier. And it was quite a significant effort, as his 455 rushing yards were third-most on the team in 2015.
That's the most of any returning Beaver, as quarterback Seth Collins recently announced his transfer, and running back Storm Barrs-Woods has graduated. No other player who is set to play in 2016 had more than 185 yards.
Nall had a career game in his final outing, rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against rival Oregon. The 6'2", 255-pounder also ran for 120 yards and a score against Colorado, the only Pac-12 opponent the Beavers lost to by fewer than 10 points.
Penn State Nittany Lions
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WR Saeed Blacknall
At 31 yards per reception, Blacknall would have been far and away the FBS leader in that statistic if he'd managed to make more catches. He only had eight in 2015, however, down from 10 as a freshman.
The 6'3", 210-pound Blacknall is a huge target who was a big recruiting get for James Franklin entering his first season at Penn State, but to this point, he's yet to be a real factor on a consistent basis. Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton have served as the primary receivers, though the transfer of Geno Lewis for his senior year leaves a spot open for a third target.
Godwin believes Blacknall has what it takes, though his projection that the TaxSlayer Bowl (when he Blacknall had one catch for seven yards) would be his breakout didn't happen.
"He's a very explosive player and it's just a matter of the opportunities that he gets and the opportunities that he takes advantage of," Godwin told Ben Jones of StateCollege.com.
Pittsburgh Panthers
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WR Dontez Ford
Tyler Boyd isn't the kind of player who can be replaced by a lone man, but Pittsburgh still has to slot someone else into the go-to role that Boyd has held for three seasons. The school career receiving leader had 91 catches in 2015, as many as the Panthers' next five most-targeted players.
Ford was second overall in receptions with 26 last year, his second full season with the program. The 6'2", 215-pound wideout began his career at Syracuse but never played, then after transferring to Pitt, he didn't become eligible until its final game in 2013.
He averaged more than 19 yards a catch in 2015, nearly double what Boyd averaged. If Ford can take on the role of a possession receiver, then Pitt's offense will thrive.
Purdue Boilermakers
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QB David Blough
Blough is at least partially responsible for Purdue's starting quarterbacks at the beginning of the previous two seasons no longer being part of the program. His performance during spring practice last year prompted 2014 starter Danny Etling to transfer to LSU, and after he replaced Austin Appleby early on in 2015, that led to Appleby heading to Florida this offseason.
There's no one waiting to supplant Blough, however, so 2016 belongs to him.
As a redshirt freshman, the 6'1", 202-pound Blough started eight games before a concussion knocked him out of the second-to-last contest. For the year, he threw for 1,574 yards and 10 touchdowns, throwing for 340 yards against Bowling Green and tossing four TD passes in a big win over Nebraska.
Blough could benefit from a change at offensive coordinator, with tight ends coach Terry Malone replacing the fired John Shoop.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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DL Kemoko Turay
Turay seemed primed for a breakout season in 2015 after a freshman year in which he had 7.5 sacks playing almost exclusively on passing downs and also logged three blocked kicks on special teams. Yet, the 6'6", 240-pound defensive end wound up having a severe sophomore slump.
Outside of a 26-yard fumble return touchdown in a wild midseason win against Indiana, Turay was hardly heard from last year.
Expect new coach Chris Ash and his staff to seek out the Turay of 2014 and get him in position to be an every-down contributor.
South Carolina Gamecocks
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QB Brandon McIlwain
Steve Spurrier didn't leave the cupboard completely bare when he bailed on South Carolina midway through last season, though the pickings on the shelves aren't particularly appetizing. That's put a big onus on new coach Will Muschamp and his staff to bring in a top-notch recruiting class, one that figures to include several instant-impact players.
Topping that list could be McIlwain, who 247Sports rates as the second-best dual-threat passer in the 2016 class. Already enrolled in Columbia, the 6'0”, 200-pound quarterback opted for football despite a strong chance he'd get taken early in the next MLB draft.
"McIlwain is a perfect player to run the offense Muschamp intends to run," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote, noting that McIlwain threw 17 touchdown passes and ran for 30 more as a high school senior.
South Carolina's entire lineup of passers threw 17 TDs last year, along with 12 interceptions.
Stanford Cardinal
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WR Trenton Irwin
Stanford will have FBS all-purpose record-holder Christian McCaffrey back in 2016, which helps make up for a lot of the losses the Cardinal are incurring. It might be too much to rely on him to again be the team's leading rusher, receiver and return man, however, so another receiving target will need to make his presence known this spring.
Give the nod to Irwin as a strong candidate, one who could not only take some pressure off McCaffrey but also replace senior Michael Rector. As a freshman, the 6'2", 199-yard Irwin had 12 catches for 150 yards but for the most part, he wasn't needed much.
A player with that size can be helpful for whoever replaces Kevin Hogan at quarterback. Last year, he had seven receptions on third down, getting the necessary yardage six times.
Syracuse Orange
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RB Jordan Fredericks
The Dino Babers offense that he's bringing from Bowling Green is as fast as they come in college football, but it's not just a throw-it-every-time attack. Last year, the Falcons averaged 42.4 pass plays and 38.7 run plays per game, gaining more than 2,500 yards on the ground.
Syracuse ran it 37.1 times per game compared to 25.5 pass attempts, though it failed to top 2,000 rushing yards and didn't have anyone gain more than 607. That was the amount Fredericks had in his freshman year, averaging 5.67 yards per carry but never getting more than the 14 carries he had in his collegiate debut against Rhode Island in September.
The 5'10", 208-pound Fredericks could benefit from Syracuse's new system more than any other current player.
TCU Horned Frogs
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RB Shaun Nixon
Running back seemed to be the only place where TCU didn't deal with injuries last season, as Aaron Green ran for 1,272 yards and 11 touchdowns with six 100-yard games. Green's consistency kept Nixon from making an impact in the backfield in 2015, but he still contributed when slipping out into space.
The 5'10", 196-pound freshman finished the year with 47 receptions, second-most on the team behind school career receptions leader Josh Doctson. He had 39 of those catches over the final five games for the Horned Frogs, during which both Doctson and quarterback Trevone Boykin got hurt.
Green has graduated, giving Nixon the chance to move into the starting role. He had only 16 carries for 66 yards last year, but if he can parlay his receiving success into rushing numbers, then TCU's offense will again be a monster.
Tennessee Volunteers
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WR Preston Williams
One of Tennessee's flashiest members of its strong 2015 class, Williams talked a good game (and dressed the part on signing day) but wasn't able to back it up with results. His freshman year produced only seven catches and 158 yards, most of that coming along with his two touchdown receptions in September against FCS school Western Carolina.
A hamstring injury knocked the 6'4", 209-pound Williams out for four games midway through the year, and after returning, he didn't have another catch.
Tennessee is in need of a go-to target, with senior Von Pearson having graduated.
"With his physical ability, size, speed and swagger, Williams is a prime candidate to break out," Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote.
Texas Longhorns
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RB Chris Warren III
Warren began last season far down on Texas' depth chart in the backfield, but injuries to the Longhorns' top two rushers created an opportunity for the freshman to show what he could do. The result was two of the best performances ever by a first-year player in program history.
The 6'2", 232-pounder had only 18 carries in Texas' first 10 games in 2015, but in the final two, he ran 53 times for 382 yards. He torched Texas Tech for 276 yards and four touchdowns, and followed that up with 106 yards in the upset win over Baylor.
Sophomore D'Onta had four 100-yard games in a six-game span before getting hurt, and his return will make for a strong competition with Warren for the starting job. Warren's late effort will ensure Texas won't go wrong with either rusher.
Texas A&M Aggies
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QB Trevor Knight
Texas A&M went from a team that was quarterback-rich to passer-poor in the course of a few months last fall, losing a pair of former 5-star prospects (Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray) to transfer and having to turn to an unheralded junior college product (Jake Hubenak) at the end of the season. As dire as this situation got, it also made the Aggies very attractive to graduate transfers looking for one last shot at success.
The 6'1", 207-pound Knight started 15 games for Oklahoma in 2013 and 2014, but the rise of Baker Mayfield this past season made him expendable. He only appeared in six games in 2015, throwing for 305 yards and two touchdowns, but with A&M he figures to be the top choice to start next season.
Combined with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, A&M might be able to reverse two years of uneven quarterback play since Johnny Manziel left for the NFL.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
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RB Justin Stockton
Texas Tech averaged 5.36 yards per carry last season with 34 touchdowns, both of which ranked second in the Big 12. That kind of production might be surprising to hear from a team that throws the ball as much as the Red Raiders did in 2015, but they also knew when to mix things up and hand it off.
Much of that rushing was done by slippery senior DeAndre Washington, who had 1,492 yards and 14 TDs, though Stockton contributed in his own right as well. As a sophomore, he averaged 6.02 yards per carry, scoring five times while also catching 22 passes with six receiving TDs.
At 5'10" and 192 pounds, Stockton has the build to be a scat back like Washington as well as a great outlet for Patrick Mahomes II when the deeper passing routes aren't available.
UCLA Bruins
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RB Soso Jamabo
Paul Perkins made it so UCLA didn't need to ask much of Jamabo as a true freshman, but now that Perkins has headed to the NFL, the role of go-to running back is there for the taking. Based on what Jamabo showed at times in 2015, he's capable of giving the Bruins what they need from the run game.
Jamabo had 403 yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries last season, including at least 79 yards in four different games. An injury to Perkins midway through the year gave the 6'3", 210-pound Jamabo an opportunity against California, when he had 18 carries for 79 yards and a score.
USC Trojans
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LB Porter Gustin
One of several highly touted linebackers that USC signed in its 2015 recruiting class, Gustin played in every game last year but didn't break into the starting lineup until the regular-season finale against UCLA. He may never leave that spot if he can build off a strong first campaign.
The 6'5", 250-pound Gustin tied Su'a Cravens for the team lead in sacks with 5.5, despite only making 25 tackles in 14 games.
In a large role this fall, Gustin will need to be more than just a downhill runner going full speed at the quarterback, though he figures to fit nicely in the system that new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will implement. When Pendergast was USC's coordinator in 2013, the Trojans ranked 13th in total defense.
Utah Utes
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RB Joe Williams
Utah's game plan didn't change when workhorse running back Devontae Booker was injured in mid-November and lost for the year, as backup Williams stepped in and assumed the role of the player that got the bulk of touches on offense. If he's able to continue this in 2015, Williams could put up numbers similar to his predecessor.
The 5'11", 200-pound back had 85 of his 104 junior-year carries in the final three games, rushing for 399 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores against rival BYU in the Utes' Las Vegas Bowl win.
Williams also had nine of his 11 receptions in Utah's last four games, contributing to the passing game similar to how Booker did in his two seasons in Salt Lake City.
Vanderbilt Commodores
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WR Caleb Scott
Vanderbilt has a reliable running back in junior-to-be Ralph Webb, who had 1,152 yards last season, and it appears to have found its quarterback for the future in Kyle Shurmur. Now all the Commodores need in order to have a complete offensive package is identify a receiver for Shurmur to bond with.
Scott is ready to take on a bigger role in 2016, having caught 24 passes for 339 yards last season to finish second on the team behind fellow sophomore Trent Sherfield. Sherfield had five games with at least five catches a year ago but in several other games, he was shut down, as Vandy's lack of a second option made him easy to be neutralized.
The 6'2", 195-pound Scott had two of his best performances last season when Shurmur was the quarterback instead of Johnny McCrary. That connection should bode well for each this fall.
Virginia Cavaliers
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TE Evan Butts
Virginia returns one of the more versatile offensive weapons in FBS for 2015 in Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell, a 5'10", 195-pound running back who ran for 664 yards but also had a team-best 75 receptions. Mizzell should fit in nicely with the pass-heavy offense new coach Bronco Mendenhall figures to install, but he's not the go-to receiver the Cavaliers will need in order to excel.
That needs to come from a bigger target, and Butts is plenty big at 6'4" and 240 pounds. As a freshman, he caught 16 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, with most of that production coming in Virginia’s last five games.
The Cavs graduated their top two pass-catchers besides Mizzell, which opens the door for Butts to get more looks down the field.
Virginia Tech Hokies
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QB Jerod Evans
Michael Brewer fared well as Virginia Tech's quarterback the past two seasons, and his absence for several games in 2015 with a broken collarbone was noticeable. Brenden Motley didn't show enough consistency to ensure he'd be the starter this upcoming year, especially with new coach Justin Fuente wanting to put his own stamp on the program.
That could come in the form of Evans, a junior college transfer from Trinity Valley CC in Texas who was rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 dual-threat JUCO passer for 2016. At 6'4" and 225 pounds, he's similar in size to Motley (6'3" and 221 lbs) but with better arm strength.
Evans would have a full array of receivers to work with if he can win the job, as the Hokies return their top three pass-catchers from 2015, including tight end Bucky Hodges.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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DT Duke Ejiofor
Wake Forest's offense remains a work in progress, with minor improvement in 2015 but not enough to raise the Demon Deacons' win total from the season before. It's looking like the defense, which is set to return eight starters, will have to push the agenda again this fall.
Ejiofor got his first real action last season as a redshirt sophomore, not appearing in a game until mid-October but eventually moving into the starting lineup at defensive end. The 6'4", 275-pounder finished with 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss as well as a safety against Louisville.
Given a full offseason to prepare for his expanded role, Ejiofor is primed for his best season yet.
Washington Huskies
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RB Myles Gaskin
Folks in the Pac-12 are well aware of what Gaskin is capable of, as he ran for 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2015. Now that Washington is getting billed as a team on the rise following its strong finish to last season, more of the country will find out about this rising star.
"His backfield chemistry with fellow rising sophomore quarterback Jake Browning will be important, and he's got all the tools to become a national star this fall," Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson wrote.
The 5'9", 192-pound Gaskin had eight 100-yard games last season, five coming in conference play. He then topped his first year off with 181 yards and four TDs, including an 86-yard score, in Washington's Heart of Dallas Bowl win against Southern Mississippi.
Washington State Cougars
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DL Hercules Mata'afa
Though its No. 84 overall ranking on defense doesn't stand out, Washington State's front line was quite active and disruptive in 2015. The Cougars had 102 tackles for loss, 10th-most in FBS, with five different players recording at least 10 TFL.
Three of those players have graduated, including defensive linemen Darryl Paulo and Destiny Vaeao, who combined for 25.5 TFL and 10 sacks. Their departure will put an even bigger spotlight on Mata'afa than he had during his redshirt freshman year.
Undersized at 6'2” and 242 pounds, Mata'afa made up for his lack of dimensions with great speed and agility, which led to 11 TFL and a team-high seven sacks. With WSU breaking in new players on its interior, look for Mata'afa to draw double-teams on the edge that he'll need to bust through to keep the defense from getting torched.
West Virginia Mountaineers
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WR Jovon Durante
Durante came to West Virginia with plenty of hype, billed as the school's next speedy receiver who could stretch the field and keep the Mountaineers thriving in the passing game. And early on in 2015, he was living up to this billing, with 121 yards in his first game, including a touchdown catch on his first reception.
He had 16 catches in the first five games but then had only seven more the rest of the season, four of which came in the regular-season finale at Kansas State. Then academic issues kept him out of the Cactus Bowl, when West Virginia lit up Arizona State for 532 passing yards.
Assuming the 6'1", 180-pound Durante is able to get his schoolwork in order, he can use the way his freshman year ended as motivation for a big sophomore campaign.
Wisconsin Badgers
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TE Troy Fumagalli
With Alex Erickson graduating, Wisconsin will be on the lookout for a new go-to target in the receiving game. Schools like Michigan and Minnesota have made a tight end their top option the last few seasons, and if the Badgers could look in that direction, it will mean more opportunities for Fumagalli.
In two seasons, the 6'6", 247-pound tight end has caught 42 passes with just one touchdown, that coming last year in a comeback win at Nebraska. He had at least two receptions in eight of Wisconsin's final nine games, including the Holiday Bowl win over USC.
Fumagalli has the potential to contribute to the passing game in the way that former Badgers tight ends Sam Arneson, Garrett Graham and Jacob Pedersen did over the last decade.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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