Previewing Biggest Spring Depth-Chart Battles for Top 10 College Football Teams
A week from today, programs across college football will fill voids in their rosters on national signing day. But unless a recruit is an early enrollee, those rosters will still be somewhat depleted.
Still, there will be key position battles starting to take form over the next few months. All position battles are important, but some capture more attention than others because of major losses. In the following list, we've broken down the biggest position battle for each team that finished in the Associated Press Top 10 for the 2015-16 season.
Selections for the following team weren't always the most obvious. For example, a number of Top 10 teams will have quarterback battles this offseason. Rather, the importance was based on not only the departing players but also the remaining depth chart, possible incoming players and overall strength of the position group.
1. Alabama: Cornerback
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Even though the quarterback battle to replace Jake Coker will be talked about at length over the next several months, it's not actually Alabama's most important competition. With the Tide ready to reload in the running game—Bo Scarbrough, anyone?—and many top receivers coming back, the new quarterback will be in a position to succeed.
Instead, let's focus on the Tide secondary, which loses Cyrus Jones at cornerback (Jones also was an electrifying return man) and Geno Smith at safety. Alabama's secondary has been a weakness—sometimes a glaring one—for this defense over the past few seasons. However, there's a lot of young talent ready to rectify this. Minkah Fitzpatrick (6'1", 195 lbs), Marlon Humphrey (6'1", 192 lbs) and Tony Brown (6'0", 195 lbs) are lengthy, big corners physically capable of going one-on-one with the SEC's best wideouts.
Humphrey was already slotted as a starter at one cornerback spot, and Fitzpatrick thrived in the "Star" position. But could Brown and/or Fitzpatrick move to the spot previously occupied by Jones? Or, does a more veteran player such as Maurice Smith, who has worked in dime and nickel packages, move up the depth chart?
There are options, to be sure, and the top of the depth chart at corner could be shaken up between now and September.
2. Clemson: Defensive End
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Once again, Clemson will need to find answers at defensive end.
When Shaq Lawson declared for the NFL draft this month, it shouldn't have come as a huge surprise. However, the Tigers also lost the edge-rusher opposite Lawson, Kevin Dodd. Coming into 2015, Dodd was an unknown, but he quickly turned into a perfect complement to Lawson.
Now, defensive coordinator Brent Venables has to replace both. Keep in mind Dodd and Lawson accounted for just more than half of Clemson's 48 sacks, which ranked second nationally. In fact, Dodd and Lawson combined for more sacks than 55 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
So who steps up? Freshmen Austin Bryant and Richard Yeargin saw limited time in 2015, but they contributed nonetheless. Additionally, the Tigers have a verbal commitment from 4-star weak-side defensive end Xavier Kelly. When Lawson suffered his knee injury against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, Bryant was asked to fill in. He finished with a pair of tackles.
“It was my opportunity to play. I had prepared to play all week, so I wasn't scared to play,” Bryant told David Hood of TigerNet. “I was a little bit nervous—because you can't say you aren't ever nervous before a game—but I wasn't scared. I was ready, and I was glad I was able to come in and help my teammates win the game.”
Bryant will have to show he's ready for a much bigger role in 2016.
3. Stanford: Guard
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Someone has to replace quarterback Kevin Hogan. Yes, this is a true statement. However, even common college football fans should know the Stanford offense is based on the power run. Even during Andrew Luck's best years in 2010 and '11—and Luck was the best quarterback prospect from high school to college to the NFL that Stanford had since John Elway—the Cardinal were a run-first offense, sometimes by a considerable margin.
Moving into 2016, Stanford will have Heisman-contending running back Christian McCaffrey. What McCaffrey needs, just like any good running back, are lanes. Yet, the Cardinal will replace at least one guard, Joshua Garnett. The senior was this season's Outland Trophy winner and an Internet sensation. You want second-level blocking? Garnett has your second-level blocking right here.
Stanford might need to replace another guard, Johnny Caspers, if he makes a full-time move to center in the wake of Graham Shuler moving on from football. However, head coach David Shaw is on the record that he would "love to leave Caspers at right guard," according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury-News.
Who takes over? Brandon Fanaika is the natural selection to succeed Garnett. Sophomore Jesse Burkett can play both guard and center. Otherwise, Stanford may have to fill out its two-deep with some younger players. O-lines can be shifted around, but ultimately a successful one is built on chemistry. Shaw will have about eight months to figure out the right combination.
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4. Ohio State: Tackle
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As it turns out, and as much as I'd like it to be, "everyone" is not a position category. So, we'll focus on Ohio State's attrition up front. Specifically, the tackle spot.
Taylor Decker and Chase Farris are seniors, so they're gone. Decker, in fact, is projected as a first-round pick according to ESPN's Todd McShay (via 247Sports). Even though this was an O-line that struggled with consistency in 2015, it was a veteran group a couple of years in the making. Next season, however, the Buckeyes could be relatively young on the edges.
Jamarco Jones and Isaiah Prince should be the early leaders at left and right tackle, respectively. “Isaiah Prince is going to make a huge jump,” head coach Urban Meyer said, via Patrick Murphy of the Ozone.
It's imperative that Meyer be right. Prince won't be protecting J.T. Barrett's blind side, but the passing game has to take a step forward in '16, and a clean pocket will go a long way in allowing Barrett to do what he does best, which is pick apart defenses in the intermediate passing game.
5. Oklahoma: Defensive End
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Oklahoma's heavier losses heading into next season are on the defensive side of the ball. Up front, the Sooners lose edge-rushers Eric Striker and Charles Tapper.
Technically, Striker was a linebacker, but with the way Oklahoma set up its defense, he was basically an edge-rusher half the time. Combined, Striker and Tapper led the defense with 14.5 combined sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hurries.
Furthermore, Devante Bond, the next guy in line behind Striker, is gone as well. Charles Walker should be a force at defensive tackle, but guys such as D.J. Ward, Austin Roberts and Arthur McGinnis will need to take on bigger roles.
The Oklahoma defense in '15 worked because there was a ton of athleticism and speed on the field. Getting in the backfield was this group's specialty. It doesn't get better by losing a player such as Striker, but the Sooners need to find ways to pick up the slack.
6. Michigan State: Quarterback
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Finally, we give the quarterback position the recognition it never otherwise receives.
Replacing a longtime starter at quarterback can be overrated since wins are a team statistic, but Connor Cook was undoubtedly a special talent for the Spartans. With a big arm and better-than-advertised mobility, Cook helped elevate the Michigan State offense to new heights.
Now he's gone, and Sparty will look to either Tyler O'Connor or Damion Terry—or both, perhaps. Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press called O'Connor and Terry options 1A and 1B, respectively. To that point, both saw action in the upset win over Ohio State when Cook was out with a shoulder injury.
O'Connor is slightly more experienced, but it's not a given that he's the automatic starter. Both will battle it out in the spring and perhaps in preseason practice. Playing both in 2016 isn't off the table yet, either.
7. TCU: Wide Receiver
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TCU is moving on from one of the greatest quarterback-receiver combos in the history of its program: Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson. Of the two positions, wide receiver is more fascinating going into next season. (Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill should be an early favorite to succeed Boykin.)
Not only do the Frogs lose Doctson, but they lose Kolby Listenbee. Those were TCU's two best deep threats. KaVontae Turpin is a rising star, but who steps up around him? Sophomore-to-be Jaelan Austin and all-purpose back Shaun Nixon played some major hero ball in the come-from-behind win over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. Austin is capable of taking over Doctson's role, and Emanuel Porter is a big man (6'4", 210 lbs) ready to have a breakout season.
With a number of young options available, there's plenty of room for someone—maybe a few guys—to make a name for himself.
8. Houston: Safety
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The Houston offense figures to be dangerous again in 2016 thanks to the return of quarterback Greg Ward Jr. The Cougars have more question marks on defense, however.
The secondary is being hit especially hard. Cornerback William Jackson is gone, as are the two starting safeties, Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald. Stewart had a pair of interceptions in Houston's Peach Bowl victory over Florida State.
Khalil Williams should be penciled in as the starter at free safety, but the other spot could be up for grabs. Garrett Davis is a name who could emerge after contributing heavily on special teams. Whoever emerges, the secondary figures to be an extremely young group.
9. Iowa: Defensive End
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Iowa actually doesn't lose much heading into 2016, indicating the Hawkeyes should be a Big Ten West division contender once again. If there's one area of concern, though, it's at defensive end.
Nate Meier is a senior, and Drew Ott is desperately trying to receive a fifth year of eligibility via medical redshirt after his 2015 season was cut short because of injuries. If that request is not granted, the Hawkeyes will be down not one but two stud defensive ends for next season.
There are options, though. Parker Hesse did a nice job filling in for Ott and should be called upon again to lead the charge at D-line if Ott is not given another year. Matt Nelson was Meier's backup and played in 13 of 14 games for the Hawkeyes.
To fill out the depth chart more, the Hawkeyes' 2016 recruiting class is heavy on defensive ends. Five edge-rushers have verbally committed, including Cedrick Lattimore, the highest-ranked player in the class.
10. Ole Miss: Running Back
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Ole Miss wasn't a spectacular running team in 2015, which goes against what the SEC was known for, especially in the West Division. Quarterback Chad Kelly had nearly as many passing attempts (458) as the Rebels had rushing attempts as a team (463). In a run-heavy conference, Ole Miss ranked 10th in David Ching's running back power rankings at ESPN.com.
However, the Rebels were good enough on the ground when they needed to be. Jaylen Walton (pictured), Akeem Judd and Jordan Wilkins all averaged more than five yards per carry. But with Walton gone, Judd, Wilkins and Eugene Brazley should battle for more carries. None of those players eclipsed 100 touches on the ground last season, though, and the pressure needs to be taken off Kelly to run the ball.
Additionally, Ole Miss is bringing in some help with the 2016 class. Three running backs are verbally committed, including Justin Connor, one of the highest-ranked in-state prospects.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All recruit information courtesy of 247Sports.
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