Every Power 5 College Football Team's Most Important Returning Player for 2016
We know who's gone and what their loss means. We know who's coming in, and there are plenty of projections of how some newcomers can help right away.
But what is likely to have the most importance for college football teams as they prepare for the 2016 season is what they have coming back. Quantity is key, but so is quality, and everyone has at least one major performer set to return.
Check out our list of the returning players who are the most crucial to every power-conference team as well as top independents BYU and Notre Dame.
Alabama
1 of 66
DL Jonathan Allen
Jonathan Allen weighed his options, considered his pro prospects and ultimately decided being at Alabama for his senior season was the best path. We'll see what that does for his draft stock a year from now, but we don't have to speculate as to what this means for the Crimson Tide.
It's huge, even for a team like Alabama that always seems to reload instead of rebuild. The depth on the defensive line was such that it was going to be able to survive without the 6'3”, 283-pound Allen, who led the team in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (14.5), but with him back in the fold there's even less chance of a drop-off up front.
Allen will not only bring production, he'll also provide guidance to the next group of rising stars that Bama will start along the line in 2016.
Arizona
2 of 66
RB Nick Wilson
Though Arizona averaged 222 rushing yards per game in 2015, the production from the backfield lacked the consistency it had shown the year before during the Wildcats' run to the Fiesta Bowl. Much of that had to do with Nick Wilson being at less than 100 percent for much of the season.
After running for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman in 2014, Wilson's production was almost cut in half. He appeared in just eight games, missing four of the Wildcats' final seven contests, while rushing for 725 yards and eight scores.
Getting the 5'10”, 199-pound Wilson back to full strength will be a key goal this offseason, since no other returning player gained more than 208 yards last year.
Arizona State
3 of 66
WR Tim White
Arizona State's wide receiver corps has been thinned out by graduation, but it's possible the 2016 edition could be led by an Olympian.
Tim White has set his hopes on making the U.S. Olympic team as a triple jumper, which would be fitting for a player who was a triple threat for the Sun Devils during his first season with the team. As a junior, the 5'11”, 185-pound wideout had 57 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns while also serving as a punt and kick returner. He averaged 27 yards on kickoff returns, bringing one back for a score against Utah in October.
White recently jumped 53 feet in competition, which ranks as the eighth-best distance in Division I during the indoor track season.
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Arkansas
4 of 66
WR Drew Morgan
Arkansas went through an offensive metamorphosis in 2015, switching from a smashmouth run team into one that was just as capable of going vertical as it was churning out yards on the ground. For that to continue will require the Razorbacks to get the same performance at quarterback that it got from Brandon Allen, but at least their next passer has a reliable target to throw to.
Drew Morgan broke through last season with team highs in receptions (63), yards (843) and touchdowns (10) as a junior. The 6'0”, 195-pound receiver had only 10 catches and one score the season before.
With Morgan still around, that will also allow Arkansas to take its time searching for the successor to Hunter Henry at tight end.
Auburn
5 of 66
DE Carl Lawson
Auburn's defense was supposed to have been massively improved last season thanks to the presence of Will Muschamp as coordinator, but the Tigers ended up allowing only 0.7 fewer points per game. The reasons for this were many, though not having Carl Lawson available all year certainly contributed.
Injuries limited the 6'2”, 257-pound Lawson to just seven games in 2015, this after he missed the entire 2014 season. When healthy, though, his impact was felt, as Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson noted.
"The Tigers allowed 38 fewer yards per game (and one full yard per play) and five fewer points per game when Lawson played in the 2015 season," Ferguson wrote. "His presence seemed to lift the energy of the entire defense, and he has the best pass-rushing skills of anyone on the roster."
Lawson opted to return for his senior year rather than turn pro, and if he can make it through the entire season without further ailments, Auburn should make greater improvements on defense.
Baylor
6 of 66
QB Seth Russell
It was truly an amazing feat that Baylor pulled off during the Russell Athletic Bowl, transforming its offense into an old-school run-based attack that produced 645 yards on the ground. This was by necessity, as injuries to Seth Russell and Jarrett Stidham during the season left the Bears decimated at the quarterback position.
Russell was on a record pace for touchdown passes, throwing 29 in seven games despite sitting in the fourth quarter in several blowouts, before injuring his neck late in a win over Iowa State. He damaged vertebra that required surgery, ending his season.
Now a senior, the 6'3”, 220-pound Russell has been fully cleared to return. He's not guaranteed his old job back with Stidham also back (and healthy after a leg injury), but as the veteran he'll get first crack at returning Baylor to the passing prowess it had for much of 2015.
Boston College
7 of 66
LB Matt Milano
Defense is the only thing that Boston College could take pride in during the 2015 season, when it ranked first in the nation despite winning only three games. The Eagles will be hard-pressed to replicate that effort after losing coordinator Don Brown to Michigan while graduating four key starters on that side of the ball.
But it does bring back Matt Milano, who as a junior led the team in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (17.5). Fellow linebacker Steven Daniels earned greater praise, earning second-team All-ACC honors, but he's since graduated.
BC will turn to the 6'1”, 218-pound Milano to anchor another strong defense as the offense works to contribute.
BYU
8 of 66
QB Taysom Hill
One of the most exciting players in the country when healthy, Taysom Hill has had large chunks of three different seasons ruined by injury. Last year he hurt his foot in BYU's season opener and was done, this coming after he missed six games in 2014 and seven in 2012.
Now the 6'2”, 234-pound dual-threat passer is set to come back for one more year, assuming there are no hurdles with getting a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA. He also has to show he can recover from the Lisfranc injury, one of the more difficult ailments to come back from, as well as be good enough to beat out Tanner Mangum for the starting job.
Mangum had a strong freshman year in place of Hill, throwing for 3,377 yards and 23 touchdowns, but he doesn't have the mobility that Hill has shown. Hill has 24 career rushing TDs, including two during the 2015 opener before he was hurt, which could make him a candidate at running back if new Cougars coach Kalani Sitake opts to stick with Mangum at QB.
California
9 of 66
RB Vic Enwere
The offense we're going to see from California in 2016 may look completely different from last year's productive group, with record-setting quarterback Jared Goff and the top six receivers all gone. There's also been a change at offensive coordinator, with Jake Spavital coming over from Texas A&M after Tony Franklin went to Middle Tennessee.
If ever there was a time for Vic Enwere to show his full value to the Golden Bears, it's now. He emerged as their best rushing option last season as a sophomore, scoring eight of their 16 touchdowns on the ground but only got 106 carries that resulted 505 yards. Cal averaged fewer than 34 rushes per game, which ranked 107th out of 128 FBS schools.
The 6'1”, 230-pound Enwere has the size to be an every-down back, but whether Cal builds the attack around him will depend on how he develops.
Clemson
10 of 66
QB Deshaun Watson
The key to Clemson being able to make a return to the playoffs lies in how it rebuilds a defense decimated by NFL draft early entry. Or the Tigers could just hope to win shootouts, which might not be that bad of a plan with the way Deshaun Watson played in 2015.
As a sophomore, the 6'2”, 210-pound Watson had possibly the greatest season ever for a dual-threat quarterback. It was certainly a unique one, as he became the first player in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for another 1,000, a feat aided only partly by Clemson getting to play 15 games. Watson at many times was a one-man attack, and in the national title game he amassed 478 of his team's 550 yards.
The 2016 season could be even bigger for Watson since he'll be further removed from ACL surgery that cut short his freshman year. He's the early favorite, per OddsShark.com, for the Heisman Trophy, not to mention a big reason Clemson sits so high in Bleacher Report's most recent projected top 25.
Colorado
11 of 66
RB Phillip Lindsay
Colorado reeled in a big fish off the transfer market, getting former Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb for the 2016 season. That will help ease the likely loss of three-year starter Sefo Liufau, who could miss all of this year while recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury.
Webb's ability to lead the Buffaloes offense will be greatly helped by the running of Phillip Lindsay, who in 2015 was the most effective of the team's several running back options. As a sophomore he had team highs in yards (653) and touchdowns (six) while also catching 26 passes.
The 5'8”, 180-pound Lindsay might be too small to be a workhorse, but in the five games that he had the most carries last year he averaged 5.0 yards.
Duke
12 of 66
DB DeVon Edwards
Duke had three players make at least 100 tackles in 2015, with two of them graduating. The lone returner is DeVon Edwards, but his value to the Blue Devils extends far beyond knocking opponents to the ground.
Safety is the 5'9”, 180-pound Edwards' first job, but it's not his only one. He's also Duke's primary kickoff return man, and as a junior last season he averaged 29.4 yards while bringing back three for touchdowns.
Edwards ended up playing cornerback for Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl, though with fellow safety Jeremy Cash graduating he could end up going back and forth between those positions this season.
Florida
13 of 66
WR Antonio Callaway
Florida's second year under coach Jim McElwain comes with a lot of question marks, particularly at quarterback and with a defense that must replace more than half its starters. There's no such uncertainty when it comes to Antonio Callaway, who in 2015 emerged as the Gators' best receiving weapon and is in line for an even bigger sophomore year.
The 5'11”, 198-pound Callaway had 35 catches for 678 yards and four touchdowns, his per-catch average 12th among players with at least 30 receptions. He also returned two punts for TDs, averaging 15.5 yards per return.
Callaway figures to be at the helm of what Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee calls a "versatile" wide receiver corps. Of that group, he has the best shot to give Florida its first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002.
Florida State
14 of 66
RB Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook established Florida State's single-season rushing record in 2015 with 1,691 yards, doing so despite missing one game and getting just two carries in another. One of those was a long touchdown run, however, showing just how valuable the sophomore was even when not at full strength.
The first Seminoles back to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Warrick Dunn did so three times in the mid-1990s, Cook kept FSU's young-and-inconsistent offense from being a liability last year. As the quarterback position remains uncertain and the receiver corps continues to develop, he'll again be the man that everything centers around.
With 2,699 yards and 27 TDs in two seasons, Cook should be able to set the school career record for both categories this season. He needs 1,270 yards to top Dunn's mark, while another 17 TDs will push him past Greg Allen.
Georgia
15 of 66
RB Nick Chubb
The loss of one player shouldn't have devastated Georgia's offense as much as it did in 2015, which speaks more to the coaching and game plan than the rest of the Bulldogs' personnel. But that's the reality they faced after Chubb suffered a major knee injury early in the sixth game of the season, after which it became quite difficult for Georgia to move the ball.
Chubb had run for at least 100 yards in 13 consecutive games, and while Sony Michel put up decent numbers in his absence, it wasn't the same. No one could replicate the combination of power, speed and agility that Chubb had shown in his first two college seasons, and the hope is he'll be able to return to that form in 2016.
The 5'10”, 220-pound Chubb is "on schedule" to return, new coach Kirby Smart told CBS Sports earlier this month. A video posted Thursday on Twitter indicates the recovery is going well.
Georgia Tech
16 of 66
QB Justin Thomas
Despite gaining more than 250 rushing yards per game, Georgia Tech's triple-option attack wasn't nearly as effective in 2015 as in past seasons. Much of that was due to a lack of experience from the players Justin Thomas was handing off to, which accounted for him calling his own number more than twice as much as any two other Yellow Jackets.
Thomas had nearly 25 percent of Tech's 583 carries and was tied for the team lead in touchdowns at six, though he only averaged 3.37 yards per rush. Getting sacked 14 times didn't help with that rate, but neither did the fact that opponents knew he was the best option.
After rushing for 1,086 yards as a sophomore, Thomas will need to get back on track in his final season for Tech to be able to rebound from a 3-9 record.
Illinois
17 of 66
QB Wes Lunt
The recent loss of linebacker T.J. Neal—who has transferred to Auburn for his senior year—will put Illinois' defense behind the eight ball in 2016. It will also put pressure on the offense to produce on a consistent basis, and much of that responsibility will fall on the Fighting Illini's most experienced returner on that side.
wes Lunt managed to stay healthy in 2015, producing solid numbers (2,761 yards, 14 touchdowns) as a junior but ones that will need to be much better in his final go-around. He was his best in Illinois' wins, when he averaged 227.2 yards and had 11 TDs, while five of his six interceptions came when his team was trailing.
Paired with rising sophomore running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Illinois has the makings of a good offense. Just how good will depend on Lunt's play.
Indiana
18 of 66
RB Devine Redding
A year after producing a 2,000-yard rusher in Tevin Coleman, Indiana managed to get two guys to 1,000 while reaching its first bowl game 2007. And the Hoosiers won't be starting over on the ground, as they've lost Jordan Howard to the NFL draft but still have a rising star in Devine Redding.
The 5'10”, 202-pound Redding finished with 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns, gaining 401 yards over the final three games. He stepped in for an injured Howard on numerous occasions, rushing for 227 yards on 35 carries in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Redding will be asked to provide balance to the offense but also be the guiding force early, as Indiana will be breaking in a new quarterback following Nate Sudfeld's graduation.
Iowa
19 of 66
QB C.J. Beathard
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz knew he had something in C.J. Beathard, which is why he didn't hesitate in naming him the starting quarterback before spring practice began last year. That decision led to 2014 starter Jake Rudock transferring, while Beathard ended up leading the Hawkeyes to a 12-0 regular season and their first Rose Bowl in 25 years.
The 6'2”, 209-pound Beathard threw for 2,809 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for another six scores as a junior. He had just five interceptions on 362 attempts.
Beathard had surgery in January to repair a core muscle injury, according to Steve Batterson of the Quad-City Times, but he is expected to be ready for spring practice.
Iowa State
20 of 66
RB Mike Warren
New coach Matt Campbell knows a little about how what having a dynamic running back can do for your team. His last three Toledo teams averaged more than 200 rushing yards per game, and this past season he had two guys combine for more than 1,900 yards.
Now he gets to work with one of the best young rushers in the country in Mike Warren, who in 2015 led all freshmen with 1,339 yards and a 5.9 yards-per-carry average. He only scored five times, though, the 6'0”, 200-pound rusher getting just 22 of his 227 carries in the red zone.
Expect Warren to be a big part of the Cyclones offense, one that figures to run more than 41.5 times per game like it did while going 2-10 last season.
Kansas
21 of 66
DB Fish Smithson
Kansas is in the upper half of the Big 12 in terms of returning starters, according to PhilSteele.com, with a projected 13 coming back for 2016. That's not entirely a good thing seeing as the Jayhawks were winless in 2015, but among those returners Fish Smithson stood out for his ability to make plays all over the field.
As a junior, the 5'11”, 190-pound safety led Kansas with 111 tackles, including 87 solo takedowns. That came in just 11 games, compared to the 88 that national solo tackle leader Elandon Roberts of Houston notched in 14 games.
With Smithson patrolling the back line again, the Jayhawks can attempt to be more aggressive at the line of scrimmage this season.
Kansas State
22 of 66
WR Deante Burton
Kansas State's offense was expected to be much different than the version that was on display in 2015, all plans scrapped after Jesse Ertz injured his knee on the first play from scrimmage. This resulted in an almost nonexistent passing game, though Deante Burton still managed to put up strong numbers when the Wildcats went to the air.
Burton had 38 catches for 510 yards and four touchdowns as a junior, all of which were team highs, and his five-catch, 135-yard game against West Virginia helped K-State clinch a bowl bid. He's the most experienced returner outside, and whoever ends up winning the quarterback job will look his way more than anywhere else.
Kentucky
23 of 66
RB Boom Williams
Kentucky is on its third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, the latest being former Cincinnati play-caller Eddie Gran. His Bearcats team averaged 33.2 points and 537.8 yards per game, with three running backs gaining at least 700 yards.
That bodes well for Boom Williams, Kentucky's top returning rusher last season with 855 yards and six touchdowns. That came despite the sophomore missing two games because of injuries and a personal issue, per Jon Hale of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The 5'9”, 196-pound Williams is the kind of playmaker the Wildcats need more from, though, with Gran telling Hale that Williams has “got to buy into what we’re doing. He’s got to be humble. He’s got to be selfless.”
Williams had five 100-yard games last season but also three where he failed to gain 40 yards.
Louisville
24 of 66
QB Lamar Jackson
Louisville's offense was all over the place at times in 2015, much of that having to do with a revolving door at quarterback. Once the Cardinals settled on Lamar Jackson as their best option, despite his flaws, they began to thrive and ended up winning eight of 10 after an 0-3 start.
Though Jackson hardly played in a few games, the 6'3”, 196-pound freshman still led the team in rushing with 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also threw for 1,840 yards and 12 TDs, but his completion rate (54.7 percent) and interceptions (eight in 247 attempts) were troublesome.
Jackson showed how great he could be, but also what he still had to improve on, during a breakout performance in the Music City Bowl. He threw for 227 yards on 12-of-26 passing while rushing for another 227 yards, accounting for four total touchdowns.
LSU
25 of 66
RB Leonard Fournette
LSU's three-game losing streak knocked Leonard Fournette out of the running for the Heisman Trophy, which seemed his to lose after rushing for 1,372 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first seven games. Even with a minor slump in the middle, his sophomore year ended with 1,953 yards and 22 scores and the national rushing title based on average yards per game.
Fournette will again be a top Heisman contender and also be the focal point of a Tigers offense that needs more balance in order to avoid a similar losing streak. Part of that could come from using the 6'1”, 230-pound Fournette more as a receiver, as he showed good moves in space with 19 catches for 253 yards last year.
Finding the right quarterback is the most important offseason goal for LSU, but it's still Fournette's team and will go as far as he takes it.
Maryland
26 of 66
DB William Likely
Before teams stopped kicking to him, William Likely was on pace to destroy the FBS record for punt return yards in a season. He averaged 18.2 yards on 23 returns, scoring twice, but only had three returns over Maryland's final five games.
The 5'7”, 175-pound Likely could have turned pro but opted to come back for his senior year, where his value as a return man will be key but not as much as his spot in the Terrapins secondary. Last year he forced three fumbles, broke up 11 passes and had four tackles for loss.
Likely might also get more looks on offense after he ran the ball 11 times and had five receptions.
Miami (Florida)
27 of 66
QB Brad Kaaya
During his post-firing press conference at Georgia, Mark Richt noted his desire to be more hands-on if and when he got back into coaching. Specifically, he cited the interest in getting to work with quarterbacks and develop them, much like he did earlier in his career.
Brad Kaaya doesn't need much developing, after having started 25 games in his first two seasons, but pairing the 6'4”, 210-pound junior with a noted QB guru should produce big things for Miami in 2016.
So far, Kaaya has thrown for 6,436 yards and 42 touchdowns. Those numbers put him fifth and eighth, respectively, on the school's star-studded career passing list.
Michigan
28 of 66
TE Jake Butt
Jokes about his surname aside, there's no returning player on Michigan's offense that will have a bigger impact in 2016 than Jake Butt. With a new quarterback set to start, it's on the sizable shoulders of the 6'6”, 248-pound senior to be even more of a big-play guy than he was last year.
Butt's 51 receptions resulted in only three touchdowns but 29 first downs, including seven on his 10 third-down catches.
As the Wolverines spend the offseason solving the QB situation, whoever best utilizes Butt's talents as a receiving weapon will have the best shot at winning the job.
Michigan State
29 of 66
DL Malik McDowell
Officially listed as a defensive tackle, Malik McDowell might require Michigan State to give him his own unique position for what he has in store for his junior season.
According to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press, the 6'6”, 275-pound McDowell "will play everywhere" in 2016 for the Spartans as they are tasked with replacing several defensive starters including four in the front seven. McDowell is the only returner from the defensive line.
Last year McDowell had 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and an interception, numbers that are sure to go up assuming he can handle the extra attention that opponents pay him.
Minnesota
30 of 66
QB Mitch Leidner
Minnesota turned to a pair of freshmen to carry the run game in 2015, with that duo of Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith gaining 1,379 yards. Their involvement in the offense will continue to increase, though for the third year in a row Mitch Leidner is the key to what the Golden Gophers do with the ball.
As a junior, the 6'4”, 237-pound Leidner threw for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he was intercepted 11 times. He was picked off once in the Quick Lane Bowl but also managed to complete 24-of-30 passes in that comeback win. His 13-yard TD run, the sixth of the season, was the game-winning score.
Mississippi State
31 of 66
LB Richie Brown
Losing quarterback Dak Prescott was a departure Mississippi State had plenty of time to plan for, and Nick Fitzgerald has been groomed to be his replacement. It's not the same situation for the Bulldogs on defense, where juniors Chris Jones and Beniquez Brown opting to turn pro damaged what should have been a strong unit in 2016.
It's not all bad, though, because Richie Brown is back for one more season in the middle.
In his first season as a starter, 6'2”, 245-pound Brown led MSU with 109 tackles, and his 13 tackles for loss were second-most. Brown also added 6.5 sacks and an interception.
Missouri
32 of 66
QB Drew Lock
Even before Missouri decided to finally cut ties with troubled quarterback Maty Mauk, the starting job was in line to be Drew Lock's again in 2016. The Tigers turned to him midway through last season, and though he didn't do much as a true freshman the promise was there.
Now with both Mauk and Eddie Printz—who transferred to Texas State—no longer with the program, Lock becomes even more important to what Mizzou does on offense.
The 6'4”, 205-pound Lock threw for 1,332 yards and four touchdowns last season, along with eight interceptions and a 49 percent completion rate. His best games game in a pair of wins as a starter, averaging 190 yards while completing 71.4 percent of his throws in victories against South Carolina and BYU.
Nebraska
33 of 66
QB Tommy Armstrong Jr.
For a player having to learn an all new offense last season, Tommy Armstrong did pretty well in 2015. Now we get to see what he can do with another year of practice and preparation.
Armstrong threw for 3,030 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, though he was also intercepted 16 times. His 55.2 percent completion rate also impacted his ability to thrive, though when the 6'1”, 220-pound Armstrong was on his game it was fun to watch.
A change that could be seen in 2016 is to have Armstrong run more, much like he did as a sophomore. Coach Mike Riley's offense didn't call for as much of that from its quarterback, yet Armstrong still managed to score seven times and gain 400 yards on 98 carries.
North Carolina
34 of 66
QB Mitch Trubisky
Marquise Williams finished his North Carolina career as the school's all-time total offense leader, with more than 10,000 yards and 99 total touchdowns. Yet at times in 2015 his job seemed in jeopardy, not so much because of his performance but because of the promise Mitch Trubisky showed when getting a chance to play.
Last season the 6'3”, 220-pound sophomore completed 40 of 47 passes for 555 yards with six touchdowns, adding three rushing scores. Much of that came in a relief role against FCS Delaware, when he was 17-of-20 for 312 yards and four TDs.
Trubisky backed up for Williams for two seasons, appearing in 21 games, giving him plenty of experience to take the job full time.
"I think he’s excited for the opportunity to be the leader of this offense, leader of this team," Larry Fedora said, per Mark Podolski of the News-Herald. "I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t have a great spring and show some things because he has grown tremendously. He knows the offense, he’s a good leader and he’s just what we’re looking for at quarterback in this system."
North Carolina State
35 of 66
TE Jaylen Samuels
Jaylen Samuels was North Carolina State's top receiver and one of its most productive players out of the backfield in 2015, resulting in 16 scores on just 121 offensive touches. The Wolfpack could continue to use him in multiple ways in 2016, but if they opt for him to focus on one area he could be dominant.
As a sophomore, the 5'11”, 236-pound Samuels caught 65 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns while scoring nine rushing TDs. He was NC State's best red-zone option regardless of how he was used, rushing for eight scores and catching four TD passes inside opponents' 20-yard line.
With the Wolfpack breaking in a new quarterback and top running back Matthew Dayes returning from injury, expect Samuels to have a major role yet again.
Northwestern
36 of 66
RB Justin Jackson
Northwestern threw the ball only 27 times per game last season, among the fewest of any FBS teams. The Wildcats would love to air it out a little more, and continued improvement from quarterback Clayton Thorson will help with that. But as long as Justin Jackson can handle a heavy workload, there's no need to change.
Jackson has run for 2,605 yards in his first two seasons, going for 1,418 last year. That came on 312 carries, with only Heisman winner Derrick Henry and Heisman finalist Christian McCaffrey getting the ball more often.
Notre Dame
37 of 66
QB DeShone Kizer
There's going to be a competition for the starting quarterback job, just as there was a year ago at Notre Dame, which means DeShone Kizer is no lock to be playing as often as he did in 2015. But the performance he had after Malik Zaire was injured last September bodes well for the Fighting Irish, knowing that they have options and don't have to rely on Zaire to come back at full strength right away.
"Let those two kids go compete, DeShone and Malik," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman (h/t Bleacher Report's Mike Monaco). "It’s wide open. Let the best man win."
Based on numbers and experience, Kizer has the edge. Though he was thrown into the fire as a redshirt freshman, the 6'4”, 230-pound Kizer finished with 2,880 passing yards and 21 touchdowns and added 10 rushing scores.
Kizer was the reason Notre Dame didn't sweat losing Everett Golson to transfer last spring, and he's why it won't worry if Zaire can't win back his job.
Ohio State
38 of 66
QB J.T. Barrett
Ohio State lost nine players early to the NFL draft, adding to heavy graduation losses that leave the Buckeyes with only six returning starters for 2016. That's the least of any team in FBS, according to PhilSteele.com, yet somehow they're among the favorites to win the national title next season.
The main reason? That small list of returners includes the single-most important player, both from last year and the upcoming one, in Barrett. With him set to be the full-time starter at quarterback again, there's no worry about a distracting competition, and all offseason attention can directed toward filling in the other holes.
Barrett didn't take back his starting job in 2015 until the season's second half, and when he got the bulk of the snaps, OSU's offense was at its best. He had four games with at least 200 yards of total offense and finished with 22 total touchdowns, with 11 of the rushing variety.
The hope is the 6'1", 225-pound Barrett can produce again like he did as a redshirt freshman, when he had 3,772 yards of total offense and accounted for 45 scores.
Oklahoma
39 of 66
QB Baker Mayfield
Oklahoma changed its offense for 2015 to get the team back on track, but it was Baker Mayfield who made the Sooners go. Another year of him playing the role of gunslinger and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them make a return trip to the playoff.
Mayfield sat out the 2014 season after his transfer from Texas Tech. After the hiatus he erupted for a monster effort that produced 4,105 yards of total offense and 43 touchdowns.
He's not Oklahoma's only big returnee—there are a pair of great running backs to hand off to—but it's Mayfield who is most important in the effort to navigate the Big 12 again. The 6'1", 209-pound senior will also help the Sooners deal with replacing notable starters on defense by keeping the points coming.
Oklahoma State
40 of 66
QB Mason Rudolph
A two-quarterback system worked wonders for Oklahoma State for much of last season, pacing a 10-0 start in which Rudolph did the bulk of the heavy lifting and then J.W. Walsh came in and produced in the red zone. Walsh has graduated, leaving the 6'4", 220-pound Rudolph to handle the job all by himself in 2016.
Rudolph's sophomore season saw him throw for 3,770 yards and 21 touchdowns, continuing the promise he showed late in 2014. He's not a runner, though, which means the Cowboys will need to get their ground game going for the offense to be fully effective.
Ole Miss
41 of 66
QB Chad Kelly
Three Ole Miss players who still had eligibility remaining could end up going in the first round of the NFL draft, yet things should be fine in Oxford thanks to Kelly's return at the quarterback position. He's coming off a record-setting year, establishing new school marks in passing yards (4,042), total offense (4,542) and total touchdowns (41).
Last year was one of redemption for the 6'2", 215-pound Kelly, who began his career at Clemson but was kicked off the team in 2014. He spent a year at junior college, and then just after signing with the Rebels, he got into legal trouble in his hometown of Buffalo, but since joining the program he's been everything they've wanted and needed.
More of that will be asked of Kelly as a senior in 2016, as Ole Miss must replace its left tackle, its top two wide receivers and big names on defense. Additionally, it will be facing what Bleacher Report has ranked as the country's second-toughest schedule for 2016.
Oregon
42 of 66
RB Royce Freeman
Oregon has turned to an FCS quarterback to run its offense for the second year in a row, hoping Dakota Prukop can be as effective in 2016 as Vernon Adams was during much of last season. If not, at least the Ducks know what they have to work with in the backfield.
Freeman is the best of a deep crop of Oregon running backs, coming off a sophomore year in which he ran for 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2014 he set the school freshman record with 1,365 yards and 18 scores.
At 5'11" and 230 pounds, Freeman is sturdily built and has been able to handle a heavy workload. He's had at least 20 carries in 14 games, including nine last season.
Oregon State
43 of 66
TE Ryan Nall
Nall stood out as one of the few offensive bright spots on an Oregon State team that went winless in the Pac-12 and ranked 111th nationally in total offense. His versatility is going to be even more important with the Beavers losing dual-threat quarterback Seth Collins to transfer.
As a freshman, the 6'2", 255-pound Nall had a much-greater impact as a runner than a receiver. He was third on the team with 455 rushing yards, on just 73 carries, to go with seven receptions, and he saved his best for last by gaining 174 yards on 19 carries against rival Oregon.
Penn State
44 of 66
RB Saquon Barkley
With quarterback Christian Hackenberg off to the NFL, Penn State's offense could be in for a major change during the 2016 season. Barkley figures to be the focal point of this new attack based on his performance as a true freshman a year ago.
The 5'11", 222-pound Barkley ran for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns and averaged 5.91 yards per carry—numbers he put up in only 10 full games of action. He topped the century mark on five occasions.
Barkley will have some company in the backfield this season, with Penn State signing the nation's top-rated rushing prospect in Miles Sanders, according to 247Sports, but he'll still get the first looks.
Pittsburgh
45 of 66
RB James Conner
We can only wonder how the 2015 season would have gone differently had Conner been around for all of it, with the reigning ACC rushing champ suffering a knee injury in the opener that held him out the remainder of the year. Qadree Ollison ran for 1,121 yards in his absence, but it wasn't with the same power and fury the 6'2", 240-pound Conner displayed during his sophomore season.
The knee injury ended up being only a fraction of what Conner has had to face this past year. In December he announced he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
According to Jared Shanker of ESPN, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has guaranteed Conner will play for the Panthers in 2016, which would be a major boost for the team both in terms of potential production and also from an inspirational standpoint. Just having him remain with the program can serve as a motivator.
Purdue
46 of 66
QB David Blough
Purdue has made a change at offensive coordinator for 2016, which means promising passer Blough gets to start over after a freshman season that had a few highs and plenty of lows.
The 6'1", 202-pound Blough took over the starting job from Austin Appleby—who has since transferred to Florida—in the fourth game of last season and finished the year with 1,574 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also intercepted eight times, completed just 57.7 percent of his passes and was knocked out late in the season by a concussion.
Blough now gets to work with Terry Malone—the Boilermakers' tight ends coach in 2015.
Rutgers
47 of 66
WR Janarion Grant
New coach Chris Ash was left with a few workable pieces on offense and defense, but the player he'll want to get the most out of in 2015 is one who can impact multiple areas of the game.
Grant scored touchdowns as a receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner and also threw a TD pass last season as a junior, finishing with six total scores. Three of those were on kickoffs, including in the Scarlet Knights' first two games.
The 5'11", 170-pound Grant also had 35 receptions—the most of any returning receiver.
South Carolina
48 of 66
LB Skai Moore
South Carolina will look to revamp its offense after the 2015 version managed only 21.9 points and 362.2 yards per game. Changes will come on defense, as well, though they'll involve building around top tackler Moore.
As a junior, the 6'2", 218-pound Moore had 111 takedowns, fourth-most in the SEC, to go with four interceptions and three forced fumbles. He was also the Gamecocks' leader in tackles for loss, with 6.5, which speaks both to his range and how little productivity they got from other defenders.
Stanford
49 of 66
RB Christian McCaffrey
Stanford could have returned every starter from last season's Pac-12 and Rose Bowl champion, including quarterback Kevin Hogan, and it wouldn't change its most important player. Without McCaffrey, the Cardinal wouldn't have had one of the country's most explosive offenses—let alone have won 11 or more games for the fifth time in six seasons.
McCaffrey finished second to Alabama's Derrick Henry in the Heisman voting after a sophomore year that saw him demolish the FBS record for all-purpose yards. His 3,864 yards were 1,247 yards more than any other player in the country, and they came from all areas, as he was Stanford's leading rusher (2,019) and receiver (45 catches, 645 yards) while also scoring touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns.
Adding to the mix, the 6'0", 201-pound McCaffrey also threw two TD passes, so if Stanford struggles to find a replacement for Hogan, he could play the position in a pinch.
Syracuse
50 of 66
DB Antwan Cordy
The new offense coach Dino Babers plans to install at Syracuse should be fun to watch, assuming he can find the right players to fit into the system. It will also help if that unit doesn't have to worry about the Orange's defense breaking down, as was the case much of 2015 when they allowed 31 points per game.
Much of that will depend on the play of Cordy, who as a sophomore played much bigger than his 5'8", 169-pound frame. He led Syracuse in tackles for loss (12) while adding two interceptions and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown against Virginia.
TCU
51 of 66
WR KaVontae Turpin
Many of the parts will be different, but TCU's offense should again be full of flash and flair in 2016 despite the need to replace eight starters. A key to being able to move seamlessly into the new season will be how much the electric Turpin is involved in the plans.
As a freshman the 5'9", 152-pound Turpin scored nine touchdowns, eight on receptions and one on a punt return. He emerged as a major weapon late in the season after Josh Doctson was injured, though his breakout game came when he had four TD catches in a blowout win over Texas in October.
Turpin averaged 14.4 yards on his 45 catches—5.8 yards when given the ball in the backfield, 10.6 on punt returns and 27.0 on kickoff returns. With more touches, he'll be one of the country's top all-purpose players this season.
Tennessee
52 of 66
QB Joshua Dobbs
Tennessee brings back most of its starters from another late-blooming team, one that ended on a six-game win streak that included a blowout victory over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. All the Volunteers' top skill players return, though none are more essential than the team's on-field "CEO."
That's how Tennessee coach Butch Jones has referred to Dobbs—or at least what he's hoped the 6'3", 207-pound passer would become. His junior year was the first time he spent the entire season as a starter, and though his numbers (2,962 yards of total offense, 26 total touchdowns) were good, they can get better.
Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote that Dobbs' "arm rarely kept opponents honest," with only a 59.6 percent completion rate and only 17 completions of 25 or more yards. Being able to stretch the field more will help the Vols stay strong throughout the season.
Texas
53 of 66
LB Malik Jefferson
Charlie Strong's third season at Texas will be defined by the growth his team's offense makes after a pair of unimpressive efforts to this point. We've already started to see where the Longhorns are headed on defense, with Jefferson serving as the face of that unit—and arguably the entire program in 2015.
As a true freshman, the 6'3", 232-pound Jefferson had 61 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a defensive touchdown after returning a fumble for a score against Rice. More importantly, he quickly asserted himself as a leader—one who will serve as a mentor to Texas' next crop of recruits just signed.
Texas A&M
54 of 66
DL Myles Garrett
Offensive struggles led to another second-half slump for Texas A&M last season, and that's the area where most attention will be paid during the spring and summer with the addition of new coordinator Noel Mazzone and Oklahoma transfer quarterback Trevor Knight. This will allow the Aggies defense to work on improving outside of the spotlight, though it will be hard not to notice what Garrett is doing.
After setting the SEC freshman sack record in 2014, last year was an even bigger season for the 6'5", 262-pound Garrett. He led the SEC with 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, giving him 24 sacks and 30.5 TFLs in his career.
Garrett isn't alone in terms of big-time players on A&M's defensive line, with tackles Daeshon Hall and Daylon Mack plugging up the middle, though his work off the edge stands out above all others.
Texas Tech
55 of 66
QB Patrick Mahomes II
The reigning FBS leader in total offense, Mahomes II was a huge reason Texas Tech was bowl-eligible last season despite having one of the nation's worst defenses. He'll have to be even better as a junior, with the Red Raiders losing prolific running back DeAndre Washington and top receiver Jakeem Grant.
The 6'3", 215-pound Mahomes threw for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns, while adding 10 rushing scores and 456 yards on the ground. But he was intercepted 15 times, including 10 in the Red Raiders' six losses, sometimes trying to do too much, with the offense needing to score almost every time to account for defensive breakdowns.
Mahomes came to Tech as a two-sport athlete, but he's putting baseball on the back burner to focus solely on football.
"Imagine what Mahomes will be able to do with a full spring in Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive system, building on the team’s bowl practice?," Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News wrote.
UCLA
56 of 66
QB Josh Rosen
Rosen's hype entering his true freshman season was the kind that most players can never live up to, but he somehow exceeded most expectations in 2015. Now he goes from a promising newcomer to the leader of a UCLA offense that has to replace its leading rusher and three of its top four receivers.
That will put more on the shoulders of the 6'4", 210-pound Rosen, which means being more consistent. Last year he threw for 3,669 yards and 23 touchdowns, but had 11 interceptions, with most of those coming in losses. He was picked off at least twice in four different games.
Rosen enters 2016 as a gritty veteran thanks to taking nearly every offensive snap in his first season, which means the learning curve is over.
USC
57 of 66
WR/DB Adoree' Jackson
One of college football's fastest and most athletic players, Jackson is a unique weapon who in his first two seasons has enabled USC to work through scholarship limitations thanks to his ability to play numerous positions. The Trojans won't need him to start at receiver, cornerback and handle all of the return duties anymore, but that doesn't mean he won't still do so.
The 5'11", 185-pound Jackson had 1,453 all-purpose yards in 2015, with touchdowns scored as a receiver, punt returner and defensive back. As a freshman he also scored twice on kickoffs, while late last season he started to get touches as a running back as well.
Jackson may be able to move to offense on a full-time basis this fall, serving as the No. 2 receiver behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, though knowing he can slide back into the secondary on a moment's notice adds to his value.
Utah
58 of 66
DL Hunter Dimick
Utah led the nation in sacks during the 2014 season, but that number dipped by almost one-third last year. Losing Nate Orchard played a large role in that dip, but so did not having Dimick available for every game because of injury.
The 6'3", 270-pound Dimick was limited to seven games in his junior season, recording three sacks and seven tackles for loss after he had 10 sacks and 14.5 TFL the year before.
Dimick should be completely healthy for his final season, when he'll be expected to return the Utes' defense to the level they were two years ago.
Vanderbilt
59 of 66
RB Ralph Webb
Vanderbilt ranked 117th in FBS in total offense last season, but that was still an improvement from the year before. The development of Webb as a reliable ball-carrier deserves most of the credit for that uptick, and in 2016 the junior should be even better.
The 5'10", 200-pound Webb ran for 1,152 yards last year, giving him 2,059 yards for his career. That puts him within reach of Commodores career rushing leader Zac Stacy (3,143 yards) this season if he can remain on his current pace.
Webb finished strong in 2015 with three 100-yard games in the final four contests.
Virginia
60 of 66
RB Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell
Virginia's offense in 2015 was one that couldn't get out of its own way, turning it over 24 times that included 18 interceptions. The best option was to get the ball to Mizzell in whatever way possible, since the shifty junior was the only player who managed to produce.
Mizzell led the Cavaliers with 664 rushing yards and was also their top receiver, with 75 catches for 721 yards. The 5'10", 195-pound Mizzell scored eight touchdowns—three of which came in an upset of Duke in November.
With 2,284 yards from scrimmage in his career, Mizell has produced more than all other returning Virginia rushers and receivers.
Virginia Tech
61 of 66
TE Bucky Hodges
New coach Justin Fuente will want to put his own stamp on the Virginia Tech offense, which should happen in the form of junior-college transfer Jerod Evans at quarterback. He'll be sure to make the most of a unique weapon the Hokies didn't make enough use of in 2015.
Hodges is 6'7" and 241 pounds—a converted quarterback who had 45 catches and seven touchdowns as a freshman but dipped to 40 receptions and six scores last year. Part of that was due to Isaiah Ford's emergence as a legitimate downfield threat, but Hodges was still underused.
At Memphis, Fuente's offense didn't have a tight end of Hodges' size. Expect him to make the most of the junior in 2016.
Wake Forest
62 of 66
LB Marquel Lee
While Wake Forest's offense remains a work-in-progress, and the reason it has only won two ACC games in Dave Clawson's two seasons, the defense is what has prevented the Demon Deacons from being a lost cause. That should be the case again in 2016, with Lee in the middle of a unit that ranked 38th in the country last year.
Lee enters his third season as a starter, with last year's junior campaign producing a team-high 10 tackles for loss. He had 101 tackles and 12 TFLs the season before.
Wake lost key defenders Ryan Janvion and Brandon Chubb, making the 6'3", 235-pound Lee the top guy for this fall.
Washington
63 of 66
RB Myles Gaskin
Washington has the country's best young pairing of offensive stars, a tandem that could push it to a Pac-12 North title and beyond in 2016. Both Gaskin and quarterback Jake Browning are equally important to the Huskies' hopes, though we're going with Gaskin for the way he can take over a game by himself.
This happened several times as a freshman a year ago, when the 5'9", 192-pound Gaskin had 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had eight 100-yard efforts, including in his last four games, with 319 yards and six TDs combined against rival Washington and in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against Southern Mississippi.
"From Week 8 onward, Gaskin graded out as Pro Football Focus' second-best running back in the nation, behind only Stanford's Christian McCaffrey," ESPN's David Lombardi wrote. "As long as the program's improvement mirrors Gaskin's, good times certainly lie ahead."
Washington State
64 of 66
QB Luke Falk
Falk led FBS in passing yards per game in 2015, averaging 380.1 yards, along with a school-record 38 touchdowns. He did that despite missing a game-and-a-half due to a concussion.
The 6'4", 205-pound Falk completed 69.4 percent of his passes as a sophomore, which is saying something since he attempted 644 throws. Since taking over for Connor Halliday late in 2014, Falk has thrown for 6,420 yards and 51 TDs in roughly 16 games.
With Washington State routinely the nation's most pass-happy team, having an accurate passer who doesn't make mistakes is essential. Falk only had eight interceptions last year.
West Virginia
65 of 66
QB Skyler Howard
When Howard was good, he was really good for West Virginia last season and late in 2014. The problem was, that didn't happen often enough, resulting in a 54.8 percent completion rate and 14 interceptions a year ago.
As a junior, the 6'0", 202-pound Howard had six games with 250-plus yards, including 532 yards with five touchdowns in the Mountaineers' Cactus Bowl win over Arizona State. He was also picked off twice in that game and only went without an interception once in the final 10 games.
Howard's running ability—he had 502 yards and six scores—keeps him valuable, especially with West Virginia losing leading rusher Wendell Smallwood to the NFL draft.
Wisconsin
66 of 66
RB Corey Clement
Wisconsin managed to win 10 games last season despite having one of the program's least productive rushing attacks in recent history. An injury-plagued year for Clement was as much to blame for that as anything else.
The 5'11", 219-pound Clement was limited to just four games in 2015, with much of his absence due to surgery to repair a sports hernia. He had 221 rushing yards and five touchdowns, with 115 yards and three scores coming in his first game back after missing seven contests.
Clement nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark the season before as Melvin Gordon's backup. If fully healthy, he'll get the Badgers' run game back to its old levels.
Statistics provided by Sports-Reference.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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