10 College Football Seniors with the Most to Prove in 2016
Pressure is a constant in college football. The game features opportunities for fame, success and athletic gain, but with it comes pressure. Pressure to win. Pressure to perform. Pressure to hang onto the job with other talented players behind you, pushing for your starting role.
Yes, pressure is a common issue in college football. But some players will feel a little more of it than others in 2016. They might be stepping into a more prominent role, or departures around them might make their jobs a lot tougher than they were previously. Either way, these guys will feel pressure.
Here’s a look at 10 seniors who have the most to prove in 2016.
Alabama DE Jonathan Allen
1 of 10
Alabama has been consistently successful under Nick Saban’s watch. The Crimson Tide’s 2015 national title, a hard-fought win over Clemson, was the fourth in nine seasons under Saban. And just like most seasons, 2016 will be about reloading in Tuscaloosa. Alabama returns 11 starters, five on defense.
The Tide’s front seven was hit particularly hard. Monstrous defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson declared for the NFL draft, and productive defensive end Jarran Reed and linebacker Reggie Ragland graduated; all three are likely high picks in this spring’s NFL draft.
A cornerstone of the rebuilt defensive front will be senior defensive end Jonathan Allen. He had an excellent junior season, recording 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, but opted to return to school for his final season to improve his NFL stock.
"I looked at it from every angle I possibly could and discussed it with all the people I trust,” Allen told ESPN.com's Chris Low.“The smartest thing I could do was come back to Alabama and finish out my career. It’s not an easy decision. You think about all the what-ifs and hear what everybody is saying on the outside. But at the end of day, it’s a business decision, and I feel like I made a good one.”
While Alabama will plug in talented players around him, Allen will be a major focus of opposing offensive lines. He could find openings more difficult as a senior, and the onus will be on him to produce consistently and set an example for those around him.
Florida QB Austin Appleby
2 of 10
College football’s graduate transfer rule is the perfect way for players to get a new start. Austin Appleby personifies that concept. He began his career at woeful Purdue and was good, not great. In three seasons, he threw for 2,777 yards with 20 touchdowns against 19 interceptions.
He began 2015 as the Boilermakers starter but was benched after a three-game stretch that saw him throw four touchdowns against five interceptions. However, Appleby finished the season strong, throwing for 332 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against Indiana.
A new opportunity appealed to him, and Appleby found one at Florida. The Gators need a starting quarterback following Will Grier’s departure and Treon Harris’ move to wide receiver. Appleby will compete with well-traveled transfer Luke del Rio for the starting role.
It’s no guarantee, but Florida certainly has a more talented offense than Purdue does. All the Gators need is a guy who makes more good things than bad things happen. It’s a great spot for Appleby to wrap up his collegiate career.
Clemson LB Ben Boulware
3 of 10
While Deshaun Watson and Clemson’s offense got most of the highlights, the Tigers defense was equally responsible for the program’s run to its first College Football Playoff and national runner-up finish. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables took a unit gutted by NFL and graduation departures and put together an impressive front that finished No. 10 nationally in total defense.
The challenge in 2016? Do it again. Only three starters will return from a defense that lost several standouts to the NFL draft. Defensive ends Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson declared early. So did defensive backs Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse, T.J. Green and Travis Blanks.
While the Tigers will have talent, they’ll need leadership. Who will provide it? Linebacker Ben Boulware. The fiery rising senior is ready to step forward. He had 82 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions while displaying attitude and grit with every snap last year.
He’ll be the most experienced returnee and one of the best players on a young but talented defense. The pressure will be on Boulware to improve his game while serving as a mentor, and here’s guessing he’ll respond.
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Wisconsin RB Corey Clement
4 of 10
As Corey Clement began the 2015 season, Wisconsin had high hopes, and surely, he did too. His junior season was supposed to be the year that Clement took the leap toward becoming a true star in the Badgers backfield. Following a strong sophomore season that saw him rush for 949 yards with nine touchdowns and average 6.5 yards per carry, it was his turn to be the lead man in the backfield.
Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon was gone. This was Clement’s time, right? Wrong. Hr struggled with groin injuries and played in only four games, rushing for 221 yards and five touchdowns and averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Fellow junior Dare Ogunbowale led the Badgers with 819 yards and seven touchdowns. Both Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal will be back, but Clement has the most potential of the trio.
If Wisconsin hopes to return to the Big Ten title game, the Badgers will lean on their running game. And Clement must lead the way in his final go-round in college football.
BYU QB Taysom Hill
5 of 10
If college football had an award for “most star-crossed player,” Taysom Hill would win it in a landslide. BYU’s senior quarterback has clear dual-threat talent. However, he has had serious trouble staying healthy enough to display it for an entire season.
As a sophomore, he threw for 2,938 yards with 19 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. He began 2014 strong, throwing for 975 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions, as well as rushing for 460 yards and eight touchdowns, but his season ended after he suffered a broken ankle in the fifth game.
2015 was even more frustrating. Hill threw for 268 yards in the opener against Nebraska but suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his foot, which ended his year before it could really get going. Freshman Tanner Mangum performed well in his stead, throwing for 3,377 yards with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The NCAA has granted Hill a sixth year of eligibility, and he’ll take advantage of it to compete with Mangum this summer and fall, per Jeff Call of the Deseret News. There are no guarantees, and the pressure will certainly be on Hill to outperform Mangum and stay healthy at long last.
Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson
6 of 10
My, how one year’s time can change things. Last April, Jeremy Johnson was the next great Auburn quarterback. Following an excellent spring, he was anointed as the Tigers’ starting quarterback and drew comparisons to former Tiger and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
Those were, shall we say, unfair.
Johnson struggled and never found his groove in Auburn’s offense, setting a tone for a disappointing season. The preseason SEC title pick, Auburn finished 7-6 and went to the Birmingham Bowl. Johnson threw for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions, losing his job to backup Sean White.
Auburn will have a wide-open quarterback competition in spring practice, but Johnson will have the opportunity to win his job back. He’ll compete with White, freshman Tyler Queen and newcomers John Franklin III and Woody Barrett.
Johnson will have no guarantees in 2016. If he wants a strong finish to his Auburn career, the pressure is on his shoulders to perform well. He’ll have one final chance to do so.
Michigan State OT Kodi Kieler
7 of 10
2016 will be a transitional year for Michigan State. Following an exceptional 2015 season that saw a Big Ten title and the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance, Mark Dantonio will be doing some reshuffling this fall. Only nine starters will return, and only three on offense.
Among those leaving are graduating quarterback Connor Cook, a program leader, and junior left tackle Jack Conklin, who declared for the NFL draft. Michigan State must find a replacement for Cook, and then the Spartans must find someone to protect the new quarterback.
That someone could be offensive tackle Kodi Kieler. He spent last season as the starting right tackle, but he is Michigan State’s most experienced returning offensive lineman with 19 career starts. While there are no guarantees, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kieler flip to the left side and protect the new starter’s blind side. That’s a high-profile role, but if he’s healthy, Kieler will be as well-equipped as anyone on the roster to fill it.
Oregon QB Dakota Prukop
8 of 10
Last fall, Vernon Adams blazed a trail for FCS quarterbacks everywhere. The Eastern Washington senior decided he needed a new challenge and found it at Oregon, replacing Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota as the leader of the Ducks offense.
Despite not joining the Ducks until after preseason practice had already begun, Adams was an instant hit in Oregon’s uptempo scheme, earning the starting role immediately. He finished with 2,643 yards and 26 touchdowns against six interceptions, and the Ducks finished the regular season on a six-game win streak.
Prukop followed Adams’ path. As a junior, he threw for 3,025 yards and 28 touchdowns at Montana State, adding 797 yards on the ground. He picked Oregon over Alabama, Michigan and Texas, among others. He is the clear favorite to win the starting role, but he’ll face some pressure. Like Adams, he’ll have just one season to thrive in a Pac-12 offense.
Boston College QB Patrick Towles
9 of 10
There was a time when Patrick Towles was considered a star in waiting at Kentucky. He seized the starting quarterback role as a sophomore and flashed potential for an improving program, throwing for 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions as the Wildcats just missed a bowl at 5-7.
However, Towles regressed as a junior under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. He threw for nine touchdowns against 14 picks, and his passing yards dropped by nearly 600 yards. Kentucky again finished 5-7 and missed postseason play. Dawson was gone after one season, and so was Towles, who moved to Boston College as a graduate transfer.
He’ll have competition, but Towles will also have an opportunity to improve one of the nation’s worst offenses. Boston College scored just 20.8 points per game last fall, ranking No. 115 nationally, and finished fourth-worst in FBS in passing, managing just 111.2 yards per game. It’s an excellent chance for him to finish his college career strong, although it certainly won’t be easy, with less talent surrounding him than he left behind at Kentucky.
Georgia Tech QB Justin Thomas
10 of 10
Two years ago, Georgia Tech made a surprising run to an 11-win season with an ACC Coastal Division title and an Orange Bowl victory. Justin Thomas was at the heart of that run, taking over as the starting quarterback and enjoying an impressive season. He threw for 1,719 yards with 18 touchdowns against six interceptions and rushed for 1,086 yards and eight touchdowns.
Last fall, with its offensive core gone, Georgia Tech regressed to a 3-9 season. So did Thomas. He threw for 1,345 yards with 13 touchdowns against eight interceptions, completing just 41.7 percent of his passes. His rushing stats were down sharply too; Thomas rushed for 488 yards and six scores, averaging just 3.4 yards per attempt.
In the flexbone offense, which features the quarterback at its center, that’s unacceptable. Georgia Tech’s offensive skill positions return largely intact, but the pressure will be on Thomas to be much better and much more involved in the offense in 2016.
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