Who Will Be No. 1 Weapon of Each Top 25 College Football Team in 2016?
At this time each year—after the drama of national signing day and before the first snaps of spring practices—the buzz around college football becomes fixated on early preseason projections.
A large part of predicting who will be the contenders for conference and national titles falls on returning experience. Think of it this way: The more returning starters you have, the better. The more returning star players you have, the best.
That's what this countdown is all about. Using last month's "super-early preseason Top 25" from Bleacher Report's Ben Kercheval as a guide, let's take a look at the projected ranked teams and predict the No. 1 weapon for each. (This isn't my personal top 25, so don't come after me with your objections.)
This isn't necessarily a list of the best players, although a lot of them would take the preseason MVP title for their respective schools. It's more of a selection of the players each team would turn to right now to come up with the big game-changing play, whether it's on offense, defense or special teams—or, sometimes, all three.
Who do you think will be the No. 1 weapon on your favorite school in 2016? Let us know in the comments below, and try to stay focused on the players instead of the team rankings themselves.
25. Miami (Florida)
1 of 25
QB Brad Kaaya
2015 Stats: 238-of-389 passing (61.2 percent) for 3,238 yards, 16 TDs and five INTs
Mark Richt is inheriting an offense stacked with both experience and potential at Miami, and it all starts with quarterback Brad Kaaya. In his two seasons as the Hurricanes' starting quarterback, Kaaya has thrown for 42 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions.
Kaaya didn't score nearly as much through the air as he did as a freshman, but he improved his passing accuracy and had fewer than half the picks he had in 2014. He threw for at least 300 yards in four different games, including a 405-yard, three-touchdown performance in a close loss at Florida State.
In 2016, every offensive lineman who played a meaningful snap in front of Kaaya will be back, and he'll be able to rely on the playmaking talents of receiver Stacy Coley and running back tandem Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton. Kaaya should post even bigger numbers under a stable coaching regime this fall.
24. Oregon
2 of 25
RB Royce Freeman
2015 Stats: 283 carries for 1,836 yards and 17 TDs; 26 receptions for 348 yards and two TDs
Royce Freeman didn't get the attention of several other Heisman-contending running backs during the 2015 campaign because of Oregon's underwhelming start, but his numbers by the end of the year were some of the best in the entire country.
Freeman ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards per game and found the end zone 17 times for the warp-speed Ducks offense. This came after a freshman season in 2014 in which he scored multiple touchdowns in seven different games. He added six more games to that tally in 2015.
With Oregon breaking in a new quarterback for the second straight season, the Ducks will rely on the all-around rushing talents of Freeman to play an even bigger role for the offense. He has legitimate Heisman potential if the Ducks can avoid another rough first half of the season.
23. Washington State
3 of 25
QB Luke Falk
2015 Stats: 447-of-644 passing (69.4 percent) for 4,561 yards, 38 TDs and eight INTs
The linchpin to Mike Leach's Air Raid system at Washington State, Luke Falk unsurprisingly led the nation in passing yardage per game in 2015. The Cougars throw the ball more than any other team in the FBS, so their quarterback will usually be near the top of the charts in yards and touchdowns.
But what's different about Falk is how efficient he has been through the air compared to former Leach starters. Falk averaged more than 380 yards and three touchdowns per game while only throwing picks in six contests. His completion percentage of 69.4 ranked No. 2 nationally, and he averaged almost 10 more attempts per game than any other FBS quarterback.
Washington State has to replace a good chunk of what was an improved defense in 2015, so we could be seeing even more shootouts from the Cougars in #Pac12AfterDark action this fall. Falk has the ability to pick apart any defense he faces with few mistakes, making him one of the most intriguing players in the country.
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22. TCU
4 of 25
WR KaVontae Turpin
2015 Stats: 45 receptions for 645 yards and eight TDs; 20 carries for 116 yards; 27 kick returns for 729 yards; 17 punt returns for 181 yards and one TD
TCU will have to go through a huge overhaul on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, but the Horned Frogs can rely on the talents of rising sophomore KaVontae Turpin, who had a breakout freshman campaign in 2015.
Turpin stepped into an offense that was returning a lot of experience and became Trevone Boykin's second-leading returner behind superstar Josh Doctson. In just his fifth collegiate game, he torched Texas with six catches, 138 yards and four touchdowns. Turpin finished in the top 25 nationally for both kick and punt return average while also taking on some rushing responsibilities.
The rising sophomore gives co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham an exciting piece to build on for 2016, and he's a potential game-changer in the special teams game as well. Although the Frogs will most likely be led by their defense this upcoming season, Turpin is the one to watch.
21. Georgia
5 of 25
RB Nick Chubb
2015 Stats: 92 carries for 747 yards and seven TDs
Will this be the year college football finally gets to see Nick Chubb play a full season as a starting running back? If so, then Georgia will have one of the nation's most dangerous offensive weapons in a season that will start with some uncertainty on that side of the ball.
Chubb averaged seven yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns as a freshman while filling in for Todd Gurley. Last year, he was past the eight-yards-per-carry mark through the first five games before going down with a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee. Thanks to a long touchdown scamper, no other team ran for more yards against the top-ranked Alabama defense than Chubb did by himself.
According to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Chubb is "right where he should be" in rehabbing from his knee injury and is "going to get back as fast as he possibly can." A fully healthy Chubb next to what the Bulldogs are hoping will be an improved passing game will be bad news for any defense that comes across them in 2016.
20. Oklahoma State
6 of 25
WR James Washington
2015 Stats: 53 receptions for 1,087 yards and 10 TDs
Oklahoma State has plenty of experience returning on its high-octane offense for 2016, from efficient quarterback Mason Rudolph to its entire offensive line. But the top weapon the Cowboys will have locked and loaded this fall is most likely James Washington, the big-play wideout who grabbed a lot of attention in a Big 12 that had plenty of star receivers.
Washington averaged 20.51 yards per reception last season, which was the most of any receiver with at least 50 catches in FBS play. He was also one of 27 players to record double-digit receiving touchdowns, and he had more than 100 yards in five different Big 12 contests.
Now Washington will be back as not only the best receiver for the Cowboys but the best in the entire Big 12. His ability to turn any catch into an explosive play will make Oklahoma State an extremely dangerous team in the conference title race this fall.
19. Iowa
7 of 25
CB Desmond King
2015 Stats: 72 tackles (one for loss), eight INTs, one TD and 13 pass breakups; 29 kick returns for 709 yards; 17 punt returns for 241 yards
Desmond King was the star of Iowa's storybook undefeated regular season in 2015, as he single-handedly shut down opposing passing attacks while contributing as a dangerous return man for the Hawkeyes. The Thorpe Award winner decided to come back after his strong junior campaign instead of going pro early.
Iowa's M.O. last season was disciplined ball-control offense and outstanding defense, and King played a huge role in making the latter part happen for the Hawkeyes. Iowa ranked 19th nationally in passing yards allowed per attempt, and opposing quarterbacks threw more interceptions than touchdowns. King had eight of those, good enough for second in the FBS.
If the opposition keeps throwing the ball King's way in 2016, he could add even more picks to his already impressive tally. His ability to create big plays on special teams is another reason why he's the best weapon for Iowa heading into the upcoming season.
18. USC
8 of 25
WR/CB Adoree' Jackson
2015 Stats: 27 receptions for 414 yards and two TDs; 35 tackles, one INT, one TD, one forced fumble and eight pass breakups; 30 kick returns for 690 yards; 24 punt returns for 251 yards and two TDs
Standout wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, one of only 12 receivers to average at least 100 yards per game last season, would be the No. 1 weapon on most teams. But at USC, that honor goes to Adoree' Jackson because of the Olympic hopeful's ability to impact the game in three different ways.
Jackson had the second-most receiving yards behind Smith-Schuster last season for USC—and those numbers came while he was splitting time at cornerback. Jackson recorded the second-most pass breakups on the team and recorded a pick-six on the defensive side of the ball. On special teams, Jackson had two punt returns for touchdowns and averaged 23 yards per kick return.
With two seasons now under his belt, Jackson could make a run at a Heisman campaign with his ability to score on offense, defense and special teams. A more experienced Jackson should be an even deadlier Jackson for Pac-12 opponents this fall.
17. Washington
9 of 25
RB Myles Gaskin
2015 Stats: 227 carries for 1,302 yards and 14 TDs
Most of the college football world probably missed the rumbling coming out of the Pacific Northwest last season, when Washington freshman Myles Gaskin reeled off two different three-game streaks of 100 or more rushing yards in Pac-12 action.
Gaskin, who finished his freshman campaign with season highs of 181 yards and four touchdowns in a bowl win over Southern Miss, shouldn't sneak up on anybody this year. He'll be playing behind an experienced offensive line, and he has both the power and breakaway speed to load up highlight reels all season long.
As fellow rising sophomore and starting quarterback Jake Browning adjusts to the loss of three of his top four receivers from 2015, Gaskin should have plenty of opportunities to carry the Washington offense from the get-go. Look for him to lead the charge for a Huskies team on the rise in 2016.
16. Michigan State
10 of 25
DT Malik McDowell
2015 Stats: 41 tackles (13 for loss), 4.5 sacks, one INT and two forced fumbles
Michigan State has a lot of pieces to replace from its 2015 Big Ten championship squad, but the Spartans still have Malik McDowell, who could be one of the best defensive linemen in college football by the end of next season. The MSU coaching staff has high hopes for him this fall.
"He will play everywhere, that’s for sure," Michigan State defensive line coach Ron Burton said, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press. "No maybes. He will play everywhere."
With Michigan State needing to replace Shilique Calhoun, Lawrence Thomas and Joel Heath, McDowell will be able to showcase his pass-rushing skills more as a defensive end at times this fall. McDowell's development in 2015 and his potential in 2016 will ensure the Spartans are still quite strong in the trenches, where they've become a recent power in the world of college football.
15. North Carolina
11 of 25
RB Elijah Hood
2015 Stats: 219 carries for 1,463 yards and 17 TDs
Another running back who probably didn't get the full attention he deserved in 2015, North Carolina's Elijah Hood will be an incredible weapon for the Tar Heels as they look to follow up their breakout run to the ACC Championship Game.
Hood averaged 6.68 yards per touch last season and scored 17 times, putting him in the top 25 nationally in both categories. He averaged more than 10 yards per carry in three different games against Power Five opponents and scored multiple touchdowns in six games as well.
North Carolina will be able to lean on Mitch Trubisky as a top-notch replacement for Marquise Williams, but don't overlook what Hood means to this offense. His numbers were impressive last fall, and they could get even better behind an offensive line that returns two All-ACC performers.
14. Louisville
12 of 25
QB Lamar Jackson
2015 Stats: 135-of-247 passing (54.7 percent) for 1,840 yards, 12 TDs and eight INTs; 163 carries for 960 yards and 11 TDs
Lamar Jackson didn't have a consistent role in the Louisville offense last season, but when the Cardinal coaching staff turned him loose at the end of the year, the results were impressive. He came off the bench to record 316 total yards and three touchdowns in a rivalry win over Kentucky, and then 453 yards and four scores against Texas A&M.
"When Lamar started practice in August, you could tell right away he had some special abilities and could be a real special guy, and then we had such a hard early schedule," Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino told Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com. "If we would have had a schedule that some of the other people in our league had, where we could spend three weeks a month developing, then I think it would have happened earlier."
With an offseason of preparation, Jackson should be a devastating dual-threat quarterback for the Cardinals, who return nearly every starter ahead of a brutal 2016 schedule. He's already recorded several games of 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in his young career, and that feat could become the norm this fall.
13. Houston
13 of 25
QB Greg Ward Jr.
2015 Stats: 232-of-345 passing (67.2 percent) for 2,828 yards, 17 TDs and six INTs; 198 carries for 1,108 yards and 21 TDs
Tom Herman became a household name as Ohio State's offensive coordinator for developing outstanding dual-threat quarterbacks in his "smashmouth spread" system. Herman quickly found his Braxton Miller at Houston in Greg Ward Jr., who nearly had 4,000 yards of total offense to go with his 38 touchdowns.
Ward was once a wide receiver for the Cougars, but now he's a dark-horse Heisman threat at quarterback for a program that took the nation by storm in 2015. Houston has a few key pieces to replace, but Ward's big-play ability and a couple of chances for big wins over Power Five teams—including Oklahoma—have some thinking about a possible playoff run.
While his ability to take over games with his rushing is obvious, Ward has also developed into an efficient arm with the nation's No. 9 completion percentage in 2015. Expect plenty of touchdowns and yards from the top quarterback in the "Group of Five."
12. Ole Miss
14 of 25
QB Chad Kelly
2015 Stats: 298-of-458 passing (65.1 percent) for 4,042 yards, 31 TDs and 13 INTs; 107 carries for 500 yards and 10 TDs
Ole Miss will kick off a new era of sorts this year when it adjusts to life without several of the stars from its famed 2013 recruiting class. However, the Rebels will still be highly effective on the offensive side of the ball thanks to returning quarterback Chad Kelly.
The Buffalo native turned his career around in one season in Oxford, passing for more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns while also becoming a major threat to score on the ground whenever the Rebels got inside the red zone. In a conference that doesn't have many sure things at quarterback, Kelly is a huge boost for Ole Miss.
Kelly might not have Laquon Treadwell anymore, but he still has a number of exciting targets to sling the ball to in Quincy Adeboyejo, Damore'ea Stringfellow and Evan Engram. His play will go a long way in determining how much of a factor Ole Miss is in a stacked SEC West race.
11. Ohio State
15 of 25
QB J.T. Barrett
2015 Stats: 93-of-147 passing (63.3 percent) for 992 yards, 11 TDs and four INTs; 115 carries for 682 yards and 11 TDs
While Ohio State is without a lot of key faces from its last two star-studded teams, the Buckeyes will be able to go back to the quarterback who helped lead them to championship contention in 2014—J.T. Barrett.
Barrett didn't get the starting nod over Cardale Jones, the hero of the 2014 postseason, at the start of 2015. But by the second half of the season, Barrett was back on top, posting at least 220 yards of total offense in four of his final five appearances. He scored all but two of his 22 touchdowns past the halfway point in the regular season.
The supporting cast around him will be a lot different, but Barrett's presence will continue to make Ohio State an elite offense under head coach Urban Meyer. The last time he started every game in the regular season, Barrett had 45 touchdowns and averaged almost eight yards per play.
10. Notre Dame
16 of 25
QB DeShone Kizer
2015 Stats: 210-of-334 passing (62.9 percent) for 2,880 yards, 21 TDs and 10 INTs; 134 carries for 520 yards and 10 TDs
DeShone Kizer might not win the starting quarterback job in 2016 for Notre Dame—he has to battle a returning Malik Zaire this offseason—but he's the No. 1 weapon for the Irish based on what he showed last season as an emergency starter.
Kizer completed more than 60 percent of his passes and had twice as many touchdowns as interceptions despite the fact he was thrown into the fire early with no previous college experience. His best performances were incredible, such as the five-touchdown day against Pittsburgh, and his worst ones weren't that bad at all for a new starter.
In addition to his strong arm, Kizer brings a rushing threat that can completely change games. If he reclaims the starting job in 2016, he has all the tools to lead a new-look Notre Dame squad to big things.
9. Stanford
17 of 25
RB Christian McCaffrey
2015 Stats: 337 carries for 2,019 yards and eight TDs; 45 receptions for 645 yards and five TDs; 2-of-3 passing for 39 yards and two TDs; 37 kick returns for 1,070 yards and one TD; 15 punt returns for 130 yards and one TD
Who else could it be? Christian McCaffrey had a legitimate claim as the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner after breaking an all-time FBS single-season record for all-purpose yardage once held by Barry Sanders.
If it involves getting the ball and scoring, McCaffrey was one of the best in the country at it last season. He was No. 3 in rushing yards per game, No. 1 among running backs in receiving yards per game, per ESPN.com, and No. 8 in kick return average. While he didn't get many opportunities on punt returns, McCaffrey took one of those back for a touchdown in a Rose Bowl romp over Iowa. He even threw a pair of touchdown passes.
All of those skills combine to make what is arguably the No. 1 weapon in the game of college football—not just for Stanford. Still, with a new quarterback ready to take over for the Cardinal, McCaffrey will be relied on to make even more big plays happen in several areas this fall. It's hard to imagine anyone slowing him down.
8. Baylor
18 of 25
QB Seth Russell
2015 Stats: 119-of-200 passing (59.5 percent) for 2,104 yards, 29 TDs and six INTs; 49 carries for 402 yards and six TDs
A neck injury cost Seth Russell the second half of what would have been a strong Heisman campaign in 2015. As the Bears' new starting quarterback, Russell averaged more than 10 yards per pass attempt and eight yards per carry, making him the ideal leader of head coach Art Briles' seemingly unstoppable system.
In 2016, Baylor will need a healthy Russell to deliver huge plays alongside a new-look receiving corps that has plenty of potential. His ability to take off and make big things happen on the ground will complement an explosive running back corps that could easily go four-deep with experience this fall.
Russell has been groomed to be the perfect quarterback in the Baylor offense, and he'll get another shot to take the Bears to new heights. If what he showed in seven games last season is any indication, Russell could lead the nation in jaw-dropping, eye-popping individual stat lines in 2016.
7. Tennessee
19 of 25
QB Joshua Dobbs
2015 Stats: 205-of-344 passing (59.6 percent) for 2,291 yards, 15 TDs and five INTs; 146 carries for 671 yards and 11 TDs
Joshua Dobbs is another dual-threat star for a team that is looking to make its big breakthrough into serious championship contention this fall. He took care of the football for Tennessee last season and produced 26 touchdowns in an offense that has a pair of scoring threats next to him in the backfield.
"Everybody is enamored with a dual-threat quarterback on top of his game," Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote. "Dobbs won't have to put together a Deshaun Watson-type season...but he has a skill set that is similar to the Clemson star's abilities. He just hasn't put everything together."
With a more consistent downfield passing game, Dobbs could light up scoreboards this season on an offense that returns almost every starter from a solid nine-win season in 2015. The Volunteers are stacked with talent on both sides of the ball, and Dobbs is the top playmaker of them all.
6. Michigan
20 of 25
CB Jourdan Lewis
2015 Stats: 52 tackles (3.5 for loss), one sack, two INTs, one TD, one forced fumble and 20 pass breakups; 15 kick returns for 378 yards
Michigan will continue to be one of the stories this offseason thanks to the amount of talent coming back from a team that won 10 games in 2015. And while other Wolverines might be bigger names on a national level, Jourdan Lewis is an elite talent at cornerback who played a huge role in making Michigan the No. 1 defense in yards allowed per attempt.
"Jabrill Peppers may get most of the headlines this offseason, but he’s the tip of the iceberg for the talent Michigan has in its secondary," Dan Murphy of ESPN.com wrote. "Jourdan Lewis might be the best cover corner in the Big Ten (if not all of college football) next fall after deciding to return for his senior season."
In addition to his shutdown work in the secondary, Lewis led Michigan in kick returns last season, averaging 25 yards per touch in that category. He has the chance to be an even bigger weapon on special teams in 2016. Others on his team might have more fame and bigger stats, but Lewis is the best overall weapon on a team that prided itself on shutting others down.
5. LSU
21 of 25
RB Leonard Fournette
2015 Stats: 300 carries for 1,953 yards and 22 TDs; 19 receptions for 253 yards and one TD
His Heisman campaign might have derailed last November, but Leonard Fournette still finished the 2015 season with more rushing yards per game than any other player in college football. He's the total package at running back—size, strength, speed, vision and agility—and it didn't take long for him to live up to his hype as a former No. 1 overall recruit.
Fournette is so important to LSU that when his production dropped against Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss—the only three games in which he had fewer than 150 rushing yards—the Tigers took three straight losses. Quarterback Brandon Harris and an experienced receiver group should prevent that from happening in 2016, but Fournette's value in the pro-style Tiger attack cannot be overstated.
This fall, LSU returns three starting offensive linemen and a passing game that has the potential to take a big step forward. That should open up even more opportunities for Fournette to obliterate defenses on a legitimate national championship contender.
4. Oklahoma
22 of 25
QB Baker Mayfield
2015 Stats: 269-of-395 passing (68.1 percent) for 3,700 yards, 36 TDs and seven INTs; 141 carries for 405 yards and seven TDs
Combined with first-year coordinator Lincoln Riley's new system, Baker Mayfield sparked a tremendous offensive turnaround for an Oklahoma team that went from underachieving to winning the Big 12 championship in 2015. The Texas Tech transfer zipped the ball around the field with great accuracy and found ways to generate big plays with his mobility as well.
Oklahoma already had elite rushing talent in Samaje Perine along with several major receiving threats when Mayfield started battling for the starting job last offseason. After he won the spot, Mayfield helped those playmakers reach their full potential while putting up Heisman-contending numbers of his own.
Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal won't be back in 2016, but Mayfield still has a lot of talent around him in Perine, Joe Mixon, Dede Westbrook and Mark Andrews. He's the perfect quarterback to keep all those weapons firing in an offense-heavy Big 12.
3. Florida State
23 of 25
RB Dalvin Cook
2015 Stats: 229 carries for 1,691 yards and 19 TDs; 24 receptions for 244 yards and one TD
Even when he was at less than 100 percent due to a hamstring injury last season, Dalvin Cook was one of the best big-play weapons in the entire country. The Florida State running back averaged a dazzling 7.38 yards per carry, which was by far the best for any Power Five running back with at least 200 touches in 2015.
But Cook, a durable running back with the speed and shiftiness to be a constant touchdown threat, could be an even deadlier weapon for the Seminoles in 2016. This year, Florida State is set to bring every offensive starter back, including an offensive line that struggled at times in 2015. Yes, Cook put up those numbers behind a developing front five.
There's no telling what Cook could accomplish this fall when he's 100 percent healthy and playing behind an experienced set of blockers. Florida State should be downright scary in 2016, and Cook is a huge reason why that's the case.
2. Clemson
24 of 25
QB Deshaun Watson
2015 Stats: 333-of-491 passing (67.8 percent) for 4,104 yards, 35 TDs and 13 INTs; 207 carries for 1,105 yards and 12 TDs
Like McCaffrey and Fournette, there wasn't much of a question as to whom the No. 1 weapon is for the Clemson Tigers in 2015. Deshaun Watson exceeded expectations in his first full year as a starter by leading the Tigers to the national title game and becoming the first player in college football history with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in one season.
Clemson was loaded on offense in 2015, and it probably will get even better in 2016 by returning eight starters—including running back Wayne Gallman and all but one of its top nine receivers—in addition to 2014 top receiver Mike Williams. But Watson is the one who makes this well-oiled machine hum with so much big-play ability in both his accurate arm and his agile legs.
Without Watson, Clemson would probably have a good spread offense thanks to the playmaking talent its assembled under Dabo Swinney. But with Watson, it should be the nation's most feared unit in 2016.
1. Alabama
25 of 25
WR Calvin Ridley
2015 Stats: 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and seven TDs
One might expect a running back or a defensive star to be the No. 1 weapon for defending national champion Alabama. However, it's a wide receiver—rising sophomore Calvin Ridley—who has the best potential for top weapon honors for the Crimson Tide in 2016.
As a true freshman, Ridley emerged as the No. 1 receiver for Jake Coker and the Alabama offense. He ranked No. 15 nationally in total receptions by the end of the season, and he had four different 100-yard games against quality defenses—Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Michigan State. He became the fourth Alabama receiver to have 1,000 yards in the Nick Saban era, joining D.J. Hall, Julio Jones and Amari Cooper.
While Cooper took a step back in his sophomore season after a breakout freshman campaign, Ridley will have the benefit of playing under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin for a second year. He's already established as the top target for whoever takes over at quarterback, and the offensive brain trust at Alabama could very well lead him to a Cooper-like Heisman campaign.
All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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