Every Power 5 Team's 1 Position Battle That Could Last Until Opening Day
Nothing makes the interminably long college football offseason drag along even slower than a prolonged position battle. Spring practice takes care of some of the questions surrounding your favorite team, but not all of them, and in most cases the queries left standing are big ones.
Who will start at quarterback? Who's going to rush the passer? Is there someone who can run the ball effectively? Will the line be able to open holes? Why is there so much uncertainty!?
With spring practice underway at many schools—and set to begin at several others—battles will be waged for open starting positions. Several will get filled as a result of spring competitions, and many of these position battles will not only continue on into preseason camp but might not end up getting decided until just before kickoff of that first game in the 2016 season.
Here's our look at the position battle for each power-conference school (along with top independents BYU and Notre Dame) that has a chance to last that long.
Alabama
1 of 66
Quarterback
This is the third straight offseason that Alabama will have a quarterback competition, and like the ones in 2014 and 2015, it doesn't figure to get sorted out anytime soon. Blake Sims didn't beat out Jake Coker until just before the 2014 opener, while last year Coker didn't lock down the starting job until several weeks into the season.
"Spring won’t ultimately decide Alabama’s next QB," Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer wrote.
It's another large field, with only one career start among the quartet of junior Cooper Bateman, sophomore David Cornwell, redshirt freshman Blake Barnett and true freshman Jalen Hurts. Bateman started Alabama's lone loss last season, against Ole Miss, and then became Coker's permanent backup after that.
Barnett was one of the highest-rated members of the Crimson Tide's 2015 recruiting class, the first dual-threat passer that Nick Saban had brought in. He is the program's future, but it will depend on whether the 6'5”, 200-pounder can live up to hype.
Arizona
2 of 66
Linebacker
The search for the next Scooby Wright has already begun at Arizona, which was the first power-conference school to get started on spring practice. The Wildcats will be done before spring actually arrives, which means the linebacker competition won't kick into high gear until the summer.
Wright won a pair of national awards and led FBS in several defensive statistics in 2014, but knee and foot injuries limited to just one full game and brief appearances in two others last season. The linebackers who would have been around him also dropped like flies, with Cody Ippolito tearing his ACL in the preseason and Derrick Turituri held to only four games. Additionally, Jake Matthews missed Arizona's final two games of 2015 due to injury.
Those players are among a long list of candidates for the starting jobs, including Iowa transfer John Kenny, converted fullback Jamardre Cobb (who previously had been switched from defense to offense) and freshmen Jacob Colacion and Kahi Neves. With Arizona working more on technique and conditioning than scheme this spring, expect the linebacker spots to remain open until late in the preseason.
Arizona State
3 of 66
Quarterback
Arizona State had a ready-made successor waiting in the wings after Taylor Kelly graduated in 2014, with Mike Bercovici making a mostly seamless transition into the starting role last year. No such luck this time around, as he rarely left the field in his final season and threw all but two of the Sun Devils' 533 passes.
Manny Wilkins appeared in four games as a freshman, rushing seven times for 55 yards with most of his activity coming at the end of the season. He's at the top of the depth chart in spring ball, ahead of redshirt freshmen Bryce Perkins and Brady White.
The competition isn't likely to end before the temperatures heat up in Tempe, not with Dillon Sterling-Cole coming in during the summer as part of ASU's recruiting class.
Arkansas
4 of 66
Running back
Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams were a dynamic rushing duo in 2014, while Collins had to do it all himself last season after Williams suffered an injury in August. Both are no longer with the program, and thus there is a new era in Arkansas' backfield.
The Razorbacks are also replacing their starting quarterback, though Austin Allen appears to have the edge in that competition. The same can't be said for any candidate at running back, where two returners (including one is coming back from a significant injury) will battle a highly touted freshman.
Kody Walker was second on the team with 394 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season, while Rawleigh Williams was in the midst of a promising freshman year before he went down with a neck injury in October. He's been cleared for contact this spring, but coach Bret Bielema might not allow that.
"It's going to be very guarded positions I put him in for his well-being and my well-being," Bielema told Matt Jones of WholeHogSports.com.
That means Williams might not be able to go full speed until the summer, when 4-star prospect Devwah Whaley shows up and looks to land the job.
Auburn
5 of 66
Quarterback
Auburn's 2016 recruiting class included two quarterbacks, one who is active in spring ball (junior college transfer John Franklin III) and another who doesn't arrive until the summer (Woody Barrett). Unless Franklin blows away the competition this month, expect to wait for a decision until after Barrett can get his shot.
Franklin began his career at Florida State but left before the 2015 season. He then shined at East Mississippi Community College. The last JUCO QB that Auburn brought in did pretty well, as Nick Marshall led Gus Malzahn's first team on the Plains to the BCS national title game.
He will battle a field that includes two guys who started for Auburn last year in Jeremy Johnson and Sean White, though neither did particularly well. Still, their familiarity with Malzahn's system keeps them in contention, and when combined with Barrett's summer arrival, this battle won't end anytime soon.
Baylor
6 of 66
Defensive line
While Baylor isn't particularly known for its defense, the work it did in the trenches did stand out. And that's where the Bears have the most work to do this offseason, after losing three starters including pass-rusher Shawn Oakman and nose tackle Andrew Billings. Byron Bonds, a senior, is the only returnee with starting experience.
KJ Smith had five tackles for loss (TFL) last year, the most of any player who will be in the running to start. Brian Nance had three TFLs, while Byron Bonds was credited with an assisted TFL.
Baylor addressed this area in its recruiting via the junior college and high school route. JUCO transfer Jeremy Faulk, the NJCAA defensive player of the year, is involved in spring ball; however, four other signees don't show up until the summer.
Boston College
7 of 66
Running back
New offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler will bring in a pro-style attack that he's used at other stops, most recently at Virginia Tech. That requires an effective passer and capable rushers, but only one area is set heading into spring practice.
Graduate transfer Patrick Towles comes from Kentucky and should end up winning the quarterback job, while who he hands off to is up in the air. Jon Hilliman ran for 860 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman but then broke his foot in the fourth game of last year and didn't return. With him out, BC's top non-quarterback rusher was Tyler Rouse with 422 yards, while Myles Willis and Marcus Outlaw also got significant touches.
Hilliman would be the best option if he's healthy. If not, the competition will remain open and might last into the season.
BYU
8 of 66
Quarterback
New offensive coordinator Ty Detmer declared last week that "nobody is winning a job in spring," per John Coon of the Associated Press. That might sound like hyperbole, but it is more likely the product of BYU starting over with an all-new coaching staff.
The Cougars return 15 starters, including quarterback Tanner Mangum, who stepped in for Taysom Hill after he went down with a season-ending injury in the opener at Nebraska. Mangum fared well, but with Hill back for another year (and able to participate in spring practice), the job isn't guaranteed to be his.
Hill and Mangum won't compete much in spring with Hill still coming back from injury, but in the preseason the battle will go full-scale.
California
9 of 66
Wide receiver
California feels its quarterback position is in good hands with Chase Forrest, who spent the last two years backing up record-setter Jared Goff and showed off a good arm in mop-up duty in 2015. There's no such comfort when it comes to who Forrest will end up throwing to this fall, though.
With Kenny Lawler turning pro early, Cal lost six players with at least 40 receptions from last season. Chad Hansen, who had 19 catches and one touchdown in his sophomore year, is the most prolific returner, while no other wideout had more than seven receptions.
As many as seven of the Golden Bears' 25 signees could help bolster the receiving corps, depending on whether any of the recruits listed by 247Sports as all-purpose backs end up seeing time as pass-catchers. With so many potential options yet to join the program, there's no point in deciding on starters until late in training camp.
Clemson
10 of 66
Secondary
Clemson can start to fill the holes on its defensive line during spring camp, both via returning players and early enrollee Dexter Lawrence. However, the Tigers can't address the replacements for an NFL early entry-ravaged back line until the summer.
Mackensie Alexander, Travis Blanks, T.J. Green and Jayron Kearse turned pro, which leaves Cordrea Tankersley as the only returning starter. Reserves Adrian Baker, Ryan Carter, Mark Fields, Jadar Johnson, Tanner Muse, Van Smith and Korrin Wiggins are back to contend for the openings.
Any progress made in the spring will not prevent freshman Trayvon Mullen, a 4-star cornerback who joins the team in the summer, from getting a shot to win a starting job.
Colorado
11 of 66
Wide receiver
Pac-12 career receptions leader Nelson Spruce has graduated, which leaves a massive hole in Colorado's passing game. Four wideouts with at least 24 catches from a year ago are set to come back for 2016, but only Shay Fields has shown he can make a real impact. This will make for a spirited competition for the second and third receiver spots both in the spring and summer.
Currently, the battle is between returners Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo, Donovan Lee and Jay McIntyre, son of coach Mike MacIntyre. That group will get a leg up on the Buffaloes' freshmen signees, but not enough to eliminate them from competition.
Junior college transfer Juwann Winfree and freshman Johnny Huntley are two of the four receivers Colorado signed, along with several athletes who could factor into the battle outside.
Duke
12 of 66
Quarterback
Duke didn't expect to have a competition for this spot in 2016, with Thomas Sirk back for his second year as starter. Then the senior-to-be ruptured his Achilles tendon in February and may miss the upcoming season.
For now, junior Parker Boehme ascends to the top spot on the depth chart after being Sirk's backup last year. Boehme threw for 579 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 181 yards and five scores; he put up 328 yards of total offense in a loss to Pittsburgh in 2015.
But if Sirk is able to return for the preseason and Boehme hasn't locked down the job, then it will remain open. Duke also has to make sure another option, such as Quentin Harris, Christian Hutzler and Daniel Jones, isn't capable of being the starter.
Florida
13 of 66
Quarterback
Passing recruits Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask both enrolled early, which means Florida has both the spring and summer to figure out if it will go with either of those youngsters or turn to one of two transfers. The massive importance of this decision almost guarantees that coach Jim McElwain will take his sweet time before picking a starter.
Austin Appleby has transferred in from Purdue, where he threw for more than 2,700 yards and 19 touchdowns (but also 19 interceptions) in his career. Luke Del Rio began at Alabama but never played there, and he only saw limited action with Oregon State in 2014 before joining Florida and sitting out the 2015 season.
Franks was a key piece of Florida's 2016 class, a flip from LSU late in the process, while Trask is probably best suited for a redshirt but by coming in early should still be considered a candidate.
Florida averaged 208.3 passing yards per game in 2015 but had only eight touchdown passes over the final eight games after Will Grier was suspended.
Florida State
14 of 66
Quarterback
Sean Maguire finished up the 2015 season as Florida State's quarterback, a job he wrestled away from Everett Golson down the stretch. His play was up and down, yet he showed promise for the future, but then an ankle injury suffered in the Peach Bowl loss to Houston required surgery and has put him on the shelf for spring ball.
That means challengers J.J. Cosentino, Deondre Francois and Malik Henry will take center stage when practice begins March 16, but it also ensures no finality will come to the competition until Maguire returns to action.
Maguire threw for 1,520 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, and in 2014 he started in place of the suspended Jameis Winston in FSU's overtime win over Clemson, throwing for 304 yards. Cosentino appeared in three games in 2015, including the Peach Bowl after Maguire was injured. Francois is a redshirt, and Henry is a longtime Seminoles commit who signed early.
Georgia
15 of 66
Offensive line
There's some simple math that will go into how Georgia sorts out its blockers for 2015: Two graduated starters plus a new offensive line coach equals a competition that will probably last until just before Kirby Smart's debut as head coach.
Brandon Kublanow, Greg Pyke and Isaiah Wynn all return as starters, though Jason Butt of Macon.com wrote that Kublanow and Wynn could be at different spots in 2016. That would allow Tyler Catalina, a graduate transfer from FCS Rhode Island, to start at either tackle position if he can stand out during the preseason. If not, true freshman Ben Cleveland (an early enrollee) has a shot.
Pat Allen, Kendall Baker, Sage Hardin, Mirko Jurkovic, Sam Madden and Dyshon Sims will also be under consideration for starting spots. With at least eight players vying for two openings, don't expect clarity anytime soon.
Georgia Tech
16 of 66
Secondary
Georgia Tech doesn't pass much, but it still has to defend the pass as often as any other team. The 2015 secondary was a solid one, allowing only 12 touchdowns all year, but all four starters have graduated.
Lawrence Austin and A.J. Gray are the only returning defensive backs who logged an interception last season, and they'll be among the top candidates to start, along with fellow second-teamers Step Durham and Corey Griffin. There are also a handful of incoming freshmen who will get into the mix, such as Jarett Cole and Ajani Kerr.
Illinois
17 of 66
Secondary
Illinois has to replace three starting defensive backs, but the process to do that is on hiatus. That's because the surprising move by new athletic director Josh Whitman to replace coach Bill Cubit with Lovie Smith has essentially rendered spring practice moot when it comes to determining new starters.
Spring ball was set to begin this week but was delayed after the coaching change.
Smith will use his first set of practices to learn about his roster, waiting until preseason camp to start identifying a pecking order. When the summer comes around is when Jaylen Dunlap, Chris James and Darius Mosely will compete at cornerback, while Caleb Day, Chris James, Darwyn Kelly and Jevaris Little will vie to start alongside Taylor Barton at the open safety position.
Indiana
18 of 66
Offensive line
Had guard Dan Feeney not chosen to return to Indiana for his senior year, an already big task of replacing some key starters in the trenches would have become much tougher. Still, the Hoosiers have to replace left tackle Jason Spriggs and center Jake Reed, who were key in producing a run game that had two 1,000-yard rushers in 2015.
Who will open holes for Devine Redding and protect likely starting quarterback Richard Lagow? Wes Rogers is the successor at center unless someone moves from another position, while the top candidates at left tackle are Tim Gardner and Brandon Knight, both of whom played last year as freshmen.
In the summer, a lineman-heavy recruiting class will add the likes of Coy Cronk, Mackenzie Nworah, Ryan Smith and Grayson Stover into the competition.
Iowa
19 of 66
Wide receiver
Iowa is poised for another big season with returning talent on both offensive and defense, with no major deficiencies that need to be addressed. Instead, offseason practice will focus on building depth and filling in a few key holes.
One of the more important areas to address is the receiving corps. Top target Matt VandeBerg returns for his senior year, but no one else had more than 20 receptions last year. Those were by tight end George Kittle, who led the Hawkeyes with six receiving touchdowns.
Iowa only threw a little more than 26 times per game in 2015, but when it did, it was looking for efficiency. It will use the spring and summer to find the best fit alongside VandeBerg, whether it be a returner (Adrian Falconer, Riley McCarron, Jay Scheel or Jerminic Smith) or a newcomer (tight ends Noah Fant and Shaun Beyer or receivers Emmanuel Rugamba and Devonte Young).
Iowa State
20 of 66
Wide receiver
Quenton Bundrage graduated, and D'Vario Montgomery was dismissed from the program, which leaves Iowa State with two openings in its starting lineup next to Allen Lazard. It's among the many areas where new coach Matt Campbell gets a chance to make his mark right away, though he'll be patient in his evaluation.
Jauan Wesley had 30 catches in 2015, and Dondre Daley added 24, with each scoring twice. Darius Lee-Campbell and Brandon Harris will also be considered, as will Denver Johnson after he redshirted last year.
In the summer the Cyclones will add a few more potential options, such as athletes Deshaunte Jones and Lawrence White and receiver Jalen Martin.
Kansas
21 of 66
Wide receiver
Tre' Parmalee's graduation makes Kansas even younger at receiver than a year ago, when four of its top five pass-catchers were freshmen. That group's experience should pay off in 2016, but someone has to emerge as the go-to target for quarterback Ryan Willis.
Steven Sims Jr. and Tyler Patrick each had 30 catches in their first year of action, while Jeremiah Booker had 23 receptions in eight games after not debuting until October. Darious Crawley, a junior, will also be in the competition, as well as Texas A&M transfer LaQuvionte Gonzalez, who had 26 catches and two TDs with the Aggies in 2013-14.
Evan Fairs and Stephan Robinson, both of whom arrive in the summer, also figure to get a look.
Kansas State
22 of 66
Offensive line
Only center Dalton Risner remains from Kansas State's starting five up front, one of the few experienced areas for the Wildcats during an up-and-down season. Replacing those blockers will be essential for the offense to exhibit more balance.
Will Ash, Bryce Fitzner and Terrale Johnson served as backups on the line last year, with each getting a shot to move into a starting role. They'll get challenged by a slew of other linemen such as A.J. Allen, Evan Applegate, Ajahne Brager, Evan Curl, Scott Frantz, Adam Holtorf, Jason Lierz, Tyler Mitchell, Reid Najvar, Alec Ruth and Glenn Williams.
As if that's not enough, no less than three more offensive line recruits will come to Kansas State in the summer.
Kentucky
23 of 66
Defensive line
Turnover up front has been a regular occurrence for Kentucky during Mark Stoops' tenure, and it will again be an area of concern heading into 2016. Three of four starters are gone, but there is no shortage of potential successors to join nose tackle Matt Elam, who didn't become a starter until midway through last season.
Courtney Miggins gets first crack at defensive end, but junior college transfer Alvonte Bell will get a shot after redshirting in 2015. Additionally, incoming freshmen Jaylin Bannerman and T.J. Carter could be considered when they show up for fall camp.
At defensive end, Regie Meant has the best chance to be starter, but not until after freshmen Kordell Looney and JaQuize Cross and JUCO transfer Naquez Pringle get a look. And the options at rush end are even more expansive, with Denzil Ware, Kengera Daniel, Josh Allen and Courtney Love at the top of the list.
Louisville
24 of 66
Defensive line
Louisville has ranked in the top 20 in total defense in each of Bobby Petrino's first two seasons back in charge of the program, though most of the standouts he's had at his disposal came from predecessor Charlie Strong. That's mostly over now, particularly up front where two of the Cardinals' three starting spots are open for 2016.
While Devonte Fields will still be rumbling into the backfield from his linebacker spot, both end positions are in need of replacements. The big loss was Sheldon Rankins, who had 13 tackles for loss (TFL) and six sacks and helped Louisville hold opponents to 120 rushing yards per game.
Drew Bailey, Nick Dawson-Brents and James Hearns saw times as backups last year, with Hearns earning 3.5 TFLs as a sophomore. They'll battle for starting jobs in the spring before Michael Boykin and Tabarius Peterson come in during the summer as true freshmen.
LSU
25 of 66
Quarterback
Sports hernia surgery shouldn't keep Brandon Harris from participating in spring practice, which began this week at LSU. Because of that, he might be forgiven if he's not at 100 percent at the start of his quest to holding onto his starting job.
Only if Harris is able to clearly distance himself from junior Anthony Jennings—whom he beat out for the gig last fall—and Purdue transfer Danny Etling will the competition be over this spring. The more likely scenario is that a final decision won't be made until the preseason, likely right before LSU faces Wisconsin in Green Bay.
Harris threw for 2,158 yards and 13 touchdowns but completed just 53.4 percent of his passes last year. That's still better than what LSU got from the position in 2014, when Harris and Jennings combined for a 50 percent completion rate and 162.9 yards per game.
Maryland
26 of 66
Quarterback
Maryland's passers were a collectively poor bunch last season, throwing an FBS-worst 29 interceptions to just 15 touchdowns, with an overall completion rate of 47.2 percent. Four different quarterbacks got a shot, with Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe getting the bulk of the work (and producing 28 of the picks).
Hills and Rowe are back for their senior seasons; also returning are junior Shane Cockerille and redshirt freshman Gage Shaffer. That will account for the spring competition, with incoming freshmen Max Bortenschlager and Tyrrell Pigrome possibly added to the battle during the preseason.
An all-new coaching staff, one that's overloading with head coaching experience, will take its time finding the best available option and hope that the passing game goes better than a year ago.
Miami (Florida)
27 of 66
Offensive line
Nine of Miami's 10 most used linemen return for 2016, but the Hurricanes need more than experience to get the job done up front. Their offensive line was considered a weakness last season, producing a rushing average of 3.68 yards per carry that ranked 112th in FBS. Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post noted those blockers were a major factor in Miami ranking last in penalties per game (9.3).
New coach Mark Richt and his choice to run the offensive line, Stacy Searels, have the option to completely revamp the lineup despite having so much returning experience. Center Nick Linder and right guard Danny Isidora might be the only ones to stay in their normal spots, while others could shift around for the best order.
Injuries can also delay the evaluation process, pushing it deep into the preseason, as Linder is coming off shoulder surgery and 6'8” tackle Sunny Odogwu tore his MCL in November.
Miami has three redshirt freshmen it will include in the competition, as well as 3-star tackle Tre Johnson when he shows up this summer.
Michigan
28 of 66
Quarterback
Michigan's high-profile week of practice at IMG Academy in Florida drew plenty of attention, as was the goal. It also shone light on a quarterback competition that's not going to end anytime soon and will probably get decided behind the scenes.
Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press wrote that juniors Shane Morris and John O’Korn and sophomore Wilton Speight split the majority of the "primary" snaps in Florida, and thus they should be considered the top contenders to replace graduated starter Jake Rudock. Also under consideration are freshmen Alex Malzone and Brandon Peters, the latter being an early enrollee.
In 2015 Rudock won the job after arriving from Iowa during the summer, while this year the entire field is in place already. O'Korn transferred from Houston, where he started 13 games from 2013-14 before sitting out last season, while Morris has starting experience with Michigan from 2014. Speight served as Rudock's backup last year.
Michigan State
29 of 66
Wide receiver
Senior-to-be R.J. Shelton had 43 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns last season, numbers that by default make him a top candidate to be a starting wide receiver in 2016. After that it's anyone's guess who will take the second and third spots in the lineup this fall.
Felton Davis and Monty Madaris are the only other returning receivers who caught a pass last year, and each only had two. Everyone else who will get a shot is a freshman, including some who haven't arrived on campus.
While 4-star prospects Cameron Chambers and Donnie Corley signed early and will be part of spring ball, Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne arrive in the summer. All four were rated by 247Sports as among the top 235 players in the 2016 class, and at least one of them figures to have a great shot to win a starting job.
Minnesota
30 of 66
Wide receiver
With KJ Maye having graduated, Minnesota must replace its top pass-catcher for the second year in a row. There's no shortage of candidates to rise into that No. 1 spot, but whittling down the field will take some time.
"It will probably be the biggest group of receivers that we’ve had since we’ve been here," coach Tracy Claeys, in his first full season in charge of the program, told Andy Greder of TwinCities.com.
Drew Wolitarsky was second with 39 receptions in 2015, and heading into his senior year he's the favorite to win the top job. But he'll compete with Eric Carter, Isaiah Gentry, Melvin Holland and Rashad Still during the spring. The summer will bring even more candidates, including 3-star athlete Tyler Johnson.
Mississippi State
31 of 66
Quarterback
Dak Prescott was a one-of-a-kind player for Mississippi State, one for whom its offensive record book should be named. Now that he's graduated, though, the Bulldogs are at a crossroads where making the right decision for his successor will determine whether they continue climbing up the SEC ranks or take a major step back.
Nick Fitzgerald was Prescott's backup last season as a redshirt freshman, appearing in eight games and accounting for six touchdowns. At 6'5” and 227 pounds he's much taller than Prescott but just as mobile, having averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
Elijah Staley saw a few snaps last year as well, while Damian Williams gets back into the mix after being redshirted in 2015. He lost out to Prescott for the starting job in 2014 after getting meaningful time the year before when Prescott was injured.
Missouri
32 of 66
Running back
Quarterback play was a key contributor to Missouri's poor offensive performance last season, but the Tigers are all-in at that position with Drew Lock serving as the only viable option. There's more uncertainty at running back but no less importance, not after Mizzou ranked last in the SEC at 115.4 yards per game.
Ish Witter was the team leader in 2015, with only 518 yards and one touchdown, and he's back for his junior year. But he faces major competition from two incoming players, junior college transfer Natereace Strong and freshman Damarea Crockett—both of whom don't get to Columbia until the summer.
Witter is the only returner with any real experience, as Morgan Steward was forced to retire because of lingering hip problems that limited him to three games in the previous two seasons.
Nebraska
33 of 66
Defensive line
Nebraska spent much of last season ranked dead-last in the nation in passing defense, finishing seventh-worst overall by allowing 290.5 yards per game. The Cornhuskers' defensive line was as much at fault as any other position group, producing just 20 of the team's 24 sacks. And their top two interior linemen—Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine—turned pro early, while end Jack Gangwish graduated.
Freedom Akinmoladun had a stellar redshirt freshman year, leading the 'Huskers with 4.5 sacks, but beyond him there is a lot of uncertainty. He has a great shot to replace Gangwish and work opposite returning starter Greg McMullen, but the interior spots are wide open.
Ross Dzuris, Kevin Maurice, Carlos Davis, Khalil Davis, Mick Stoltenberg and Kevin Williams will be competing, with Williams coming back for a sixth season after injuries limited him to 23 games from 2012 to 2015.
North Carolina
34 of 66
Linebacker
North Carolina has to replace two of its top three tacklers in linebackers Shakeel Rashad and Jeff Schoettmer, but it has to do more than just find guys who can fill those positions. They must also be able to do more than just take down a ball-carrier after he's made it a few yards up the field.
The Tar Heels allowed more than 247 rushing yards per game in 2015, which ranked seventh-worst in FBS.
Ayden Bonilla and Andre Smith were the primary backups to Rashad and Schoettmer, respectively, with both playing in 2015 as freshmen. They will get the first crack to move up but must compete against returners Cole Holcomb, Dan Mastromatteo and Hunter Crafford and early enrollees Jonathan Smith and J.B. Copeland.
North Carolina State
35 of 66
Offensive line
As if breaking in a new quarterback wasn't enough, first-year offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz must also find replacements for three starting linemen. Don't expect that to get done this spring, as that will be when he's trying to evaluate everyone's strengths and weaknesses rather than find the best lineup.
It also doesn't help that Will Richardson, who was a backup at right tackle and would be in the running for the open left tackle spot, is suspended for spring practice due to a DUI arrest from the fall.
That leaves Peter Daniel and Tyler Jones as the first ones who will get a shot at left tackle before three freshmen arrive during the summer. The 2016 recruiting class includes five offensive line signees, all of whom will likely be considered before any starting jobs are locked down.
Northwestern
36 of 66
Defensive end
Gone are Deonte Gibson and Dean Lowry, who last year combined for 12 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. Their play was a big part of Northwestern's stout defense, which ranked 12th in FBS by allowing 18.6 points per game.
The Wildcats will look at a mixture of backups, redshirts and newcomers to fill those spots, starting with returners Ifeadi Odenigbo and Xavier Washington. That duo served as Gibson and Lowry's main reserves in 2015, combining for 8.5 tackles for loss, but redshirt freshman Joe Gaziano will challenge them.
Northwestern's recruiting class includes 3-star end Tommy Carnifax, whose summer arrival will delay any decisions on starters until just before training camp ends.
Notre Dame
37 of 66
Linebacker
The knee injury that prematurely ended Jaylon Smith's Notre Dame career early in the Fiesta Bowl could have provided a silver lining because it meant possible successor Te'Von Coney could show his worth on a big stage. Then Coney got hurt, throwing what was already going to be an uncertain offseason at linebacker into further turmoil.
Coney's shoulder injury may keep him out of spring ball, which starts March 16, and thus will keep the competition for at least one of three starting spots ongoing until preseason camp. James Onwualu and Nyles Morgan could wrap up the other two spots before the summer, though true freshman early enrollee Daelin Hayes will also get strong consideration.
Notre Dame also has high hopes for Greer Martini, who has appeared in all 26 games the past two seasons, as well as redshirts Josh Barajas and Asmar Bilal. And two more candidates arrive in the summer, including Jonathan Jones.
Ohio State
38 of 66
Wide receiver
There will be no shortage of competition for starting jobs in the spring and summer with Ohio State, which lost nine players to the NFL draft and had several other starters graduate. Thankfully for the Buckeyes, their depth across the board will make most of these openings easy to fill.
The same goes for wide receiver, but OSU will want to find the best two or three starters who can mesh with quarterback J.T. Barrett to form a strong passing unit for 2016. That could come from players coming off injuries, newcomers getting their first shot or a mixture of both.
Noah Brown was injured before last season began and was out all fall, while Corey Smith was limited to four games in 2015. Dontre Wilson has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and that trio has combined for just 73 catches over their career.
Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon are hoping to get a shot for the first time as well, while early enrollee Austin Mack and summer arrivals Binjimen Victor, Jordan Fuller, Malik Harrison and Jahsen Wint will add to the candidate pool.
Oklahoma
39 of 66
Linebacker
Not much is going to get decided about the middle of Oklahoma's defense this spring, not with two starters gone and a third (Jordan Evans) being limited while coming back from a shoulder injury. It will enable some of the contenders to get critical experience, but with three more notable prospects not arriving in the summer, there's no point in ending the competition early.
Top signee Caleb Kelly, a 5-star recruit from California, is one of at least three linebackers who will arrive in the summer. Also set to join the Sooners and have a shot to start are junior college products Emmanuel Beal and Kapri Doucet, while a fourth (Bryce Youngquist) is committed but still hasn't signed.
Those newcomers join redshirted linebackers Ricky DeBerry and Arthur McGinnis and returners Curtis Bolton, Tay Evans and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Oklahoma State
40 of 66
Running back
The lack of a dependable run game—other than from quarterback J.W. Walsh, who has since graduated—contributed to Oklahoma State's late-season fizzle in 2015. The Cowboys haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Joseph Randle went for more than 1,400 yards in 2012, and last year Chris Carson was the leading gainer with only 517 yards.
Carson, Rennie Childs and Raymond Taylor have spring ball to battle for supremacy in the backfield, but the competition will resume in the summer when graduate transfer Barry J. Sanders (the son of former OK State great Barry Sanders) shows up after finishing his degree at Stanford.
With the Cardinal, Sanders gained more than 700 rushing yards in three seasons but had no shot to start in 2016 with Christian McCaffrey still around.
Ole Miss
41 of 66
Wide receiver
Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core are gone, taking with them more than 1,800 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns from last season. Returning wideouts Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore'ea Stringfellow may rise up the depth charts to take the spots of those departed standouts but not without facing fierce competition this spring and during preseason camp.
In the spring they'll tangle with returners such as Markell Pack and Damarkus Lodge; the latter was a top recruit from 2015 whose only catch last year was a 12-yard TD in the opener against Tennessee-Martin. Then comes additional challenges from the 2016 class, which features a trio of receiving prospects who will show up this summer.
A.J. Brown, DeKaylin Metcalf and Tre Nixon, all 4-star signees, will get a shot at the starting lineup before any decisions are made.
Oregon
42 of 66
Defensive line
New Oregon defensive coordinator Brady Hoke told ESPN.com's Chantel Jennings he's going to be a "walk-around coordinator" this spring, watching and listening to figure out how the players he's in charge of will fit into his switch from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3. What he'll see and hear is a group of promising candidates to replace most of last year's defensive line—one that he'll want to take as much time as possible sorting out.
At least eight players will be involved in the battle for the starting jobs during the spring, including former 5-star prospect Canton Kaumatule in the mix at defensive end. Jalen Jelks, a sophomore, had three tackles for loss last year, while junior Henry Mondeaux had 22 tackles.
Early enrollee Hunter Kampmoyer will get a look as well, as will summer arrivals Bryson Young and Wayne Kirby.
Oregon State
43 of 66
Linebacker
Since going 2-10 overall and winless in the Pac-12 last season, Oregon State has continued to suffer losses. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake was hired as BYU's head coach, quarterback Seth Collins left the program, and leading tackler Rommell Mageo headed to Ole Miss as a graduate transfer.
Mageo's departure is the one that has the greatest long-term impact, because it leaves the Beavers in need of two new starters in the middle of their defense. Fellow linebacker Jaswha James graduated, leaving behind a big pair of holes.
Manase Hungalu is back at one starting spot, while Caleb Saulo and Jonathan Willis could handle two other spots. That leaves at least one opening for the likes of returners Ricky Ortiz, Kyle Haley and Bright Ugwoegbu or someone from the incoming recruiting class.
Penn State
44 of 66
Quarterback
James Franklin inherited his starting quarterback when he took the Penn State job prior to the 2014 season, as Christian Hackenberg was coming off a masterful freshman year and was the clear choice. The decision isn't as clear now that he has turned pro.
Trace McSorley got a jump on his audition late in his redshirt freshman season when he subbed for an injured Hackenberg in the second half of the TaxSlayer Bowl. He threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes and nearly led the Nittany Lions back after trailing by 21 points.
That gives him an edge on redshirt freshman Tommy Stevens and true freshman Jake Zembiec as spring practice is set to begin on March 18, but not enough to ensure the job is his. With Franklin needing the right guy in place at quarterback, expect him to use the entire offseason to find the best fit.
Pittsburgh
45 of 66
Wide receiver
Tyler Boyd was far and away Pittsburgh's most effective (and most utilized) offensive weapon in 2015, and in his three seasons he stood head and shoulders above the rest of the Panthers' wide receivers with 254 receptions and 21 touchdowns. His departure for the NFL now forces them to find other players to throw the ball to, and this figures to be a lengthy process.
Dontez Ford, who had 26 catches for 505 yards and two TDs last year, heads into his junior year as the top candidate to move into Boyd's go-to role. There are others who might get a look as well, such as junior Zach Challingsworth and sophomore Elijah Zeise, who had 12 and five receptions, respectively, in 2015.
And then comes the next wave of candidates with a pool of five signees from the incoming recruiting class. Topping that list is 4-star prospect George Hill, ranked by 247Sports as the eighth-best athlete in the 2016 class.
Purdue
46 of 66
Cornerback
Purdue's opponents completed more than 62 percent of their passes in 2015, and that was with a pair of seniors covering on the outside. Now, the Boilermakers have to start over at corner, as no candidate on the existing roster has an interception in his career.
Da'Wan Hunte and Myles Norwood were second on the depth chart last year, though neither did much. David Rose, who played sparingly as a sophomore, is another existing option, as are Evyn Cooper and Race Johnson.
Kamal Hardy, a junior college transfer who enrolled early, and four incoming freshmen will also be looked at as possible starters.
Rutgers
47 of 66
Quarterback
New coach Chris Ash is making 2015 starter Chris Laviano earn his job back this spring, and nothing short of absolute dominance will keep this audition from lasting until late in the preseason. Laviano threw for 2,247 yards and 16 touchdowns but was intercepted 12 times.
Hayden Rettig, a transfer from LSU who appeared in five games last year, will be Laviano's main competition during the spring. In the summer a couple of more candidates show up, one via scholarship (3-star pro-style passer Tylin Oden) and another as a preferred walk-on.
Tom Wyatt, who had previously committed to Army to run the option, will join the program in June in hopes of getting a shot to battle for the starting job.
South Carolina
48 of 66
Wide receiver
New coach Will Muschamp will want to choose his quarterback as soon as possible, and freshman early enrollee Brandon McIlwain might be the best fit for that gig. Who his top receiving target will be isn't as easy to sort out, though.
Pharoh Cooper and tight end Jerell Adams combined for 94 catches, 1,394 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015. As a team, South Carolina had 191 receptions for 2,490 yards and 17 scores. Deebo Samuel and Matrick Belton are the only returners who had 11 or more catches a year ago, while Hayden Hurst and D.J. Neal each had eight receptions.
Bryan Edwards, an early enrollee, and summer arrivals Korey Banks, Randrecous Davis, Chavis Dawkins and Kiel Pollard will also get a shot.
Stanford
49 of 66
Offensive line
The decision by center Graham Shuler to retire means Stanford must replace three starters from the offensive line that enabled Christian McCaffrey to run for more than 2,000 yards last season. Also gone are left tackle Kyle Murphy and left guard Joshua Garnett, which leaves the entire blind side for the Cardinal's new quarterback unaccounted for.
Backups David Bright, Jesse Burkett and Brandon Fanaika will get the first opportunities to win those open jobs, but expect Stanford to also give a look to incoming signees Clark Yarbrough, Devery Hamilton, Henry Hattis, Nate Herbig and Dylan Powell. Additionally, redshirted linemen from the 2015 class will get their chance.
Expect Stanford to try out various combinations in the spring and summer, seeing how they mesh with the quarterback candidates to find the best mix.
Syracuse
50 of 66
Offensive line
The switch to new coach Dino Babers' uptempo offense was already going to give Syracuse's offensive line a stern test, and that process is being undertaken by a relatively inexperienced group that features only two returning starters. A silver lining might be that injuries in 2015 and earlier enabled backups to see playing time, per John Cassillo of SB Nation.
Michael Lasker and Seamus Shanley have started in the past as injury fill-ins, and they'll use that to their advantage in competing with fellow returners Cody Conway, Jamar McGloster and Aaron Roberts, as well as redshirted linemen Evan Adams, Colin Byrne, Sam Clausman and A.J. Duerig.
Four more linemen show up this summer as part of Babers' first signing class; the highest-rated is 3-star tackle Sam Heckel.
TCU
51 of 66
Cornerback
TCU will have players line up at cornerback during spring ball, but not many. Not when the position has been so snakebitten the last year when it comes to injury, and that's continued in the offseason.
In early February, Julius Lewis was hurt in a workout and hasn't been able to participate in spring practice; neither has potential starter Ranthony Texada. Tony James was shifted over from wide receiver to work in the secondary along with Jeff Gladney, Torrance Mosley, Nick Orr and Markell Simmons.
Simmons is a junior college transfer who enrolled early; he's one of two cornerback signees from the 2016 class. KeShawn Somerville arrives in the summer, which is when the real competition should start with the expected return of Lewis and Texada.
Tennessee
52 of 66
Safety
Tennessee doesn't have many open positions for which a battle will be waged this offseason, and most of those could get solved during the spring. That includes the two safety spots, assuming Evan Berry and Todd Kelly can move from reserve roles to replace graduates LaDarrell McNeil and Brian Randolph.
But it will take a tremendous performance by that duo to lock up the jobs, especially with highly touted prospect Nigel Warrior set to arrive this summer.
Warrior, a 4-star recruit who was rated by 247Sports as the fourth-best safety in the 2016 class, is expected to contend for a starting gig.
Texas
53 of 66
Quarterback
Texas opened spring practice Monday, and one of the first things coach Charlie Strong said was that the five-man quarterback competition shouldn't take long to decide.
"There will be enough reps that we'll know fairly quickly who the guy will be," Strong said, per ESPN.com's Max Olson.
That is assuming that someone from the pool of senior Tyrone Swoopes, sophomore Jerrod Heard and freshmen Shane Buechele, Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick stands out enough from the pack. If that's the case, it's a huge bonus for the Longhorns, whose offense has been pedestrian in Strong's first two seasons.
It's a safer bet to expect this competition to last into the fall, however, since the returners (including Locksley and Merrick, who redshirted in 2015) are all working within a new system installed by first-year offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.
Texas A&M
54 of 66
Offensive line
Jim Turner is the coach that Kevin Sumlin has tasked with figuring out who will be blocking in the trenches in 2016, a must-win season for Sumlin after consecutive subpar offensive performances. And the first thing Turner has to do is find three new starters.
Keaton Sutherland started seven games, and Avery Gennesy held down the left side of the line for most of 2015, which leaves the right side wide open. Jermaine Eluemunor started at guard in the Music City Bowl, while Jeremiah Stuckey has five career starts with the Aggies. Others with playing experience include J.J. Gustafson, Connor Lanfear, Ryan Lindblade and Koda Martin.
A&M signed five offensive linemen in its 2016 class, including early enrollee Colton Prater and 4-star tackle Kellen Diesch, who arrives in the summer.
Texas Tech
55 of 66
Wide receiver
Texas Tech's passing attack is so diverse that it doesn't rely on just one player to do all the work. Though graduated star Jakeem Grant had 90 catches, 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Red Raiders in all categories, seven other players had at least 20 receptions in 2015.
Six of those are back, including running back Justin Stockton, who like previous starting running back DeAndre Washington was key to the receiving game. This also includes Devin Lauderdale, who had 43 catches for 639 yards but who has been suspended since December and missed Tech's bowl game.
Per Don Williams of RedRaiders.com, coach Kliff Kingsbury is hoping to have Lauderdale back by the summer, which is also when 4-star prospect T.J. Vasher arrives. Two other receivers signed early and are part of spring ball, including junior college transfer (and former Iowa wideout) Derrick Willies.
Tech will have no shortage of options to throw to, but it will take all offseason to pick out the best of the lot.
UCLA
56 of 66
Wide receiver
Other than Darren Andrews, who had 42 receptions in 2015, there's not much in terms of production coming back for UCLA at the wide receiver position. Quarterback Josh Rosen was great in his first season, but he was helped by a veteran pass-catching group that is now starting over.
Most of the candidates to start are already on the roster, including early enrollee Theo Howard. A few more possible starters will come along in the summer, most notably 4-star prospect Dymond Lee.
The pool also features junior Eldridge Massington, who had 25 catches and three touchdowns in 2014.
USC
57 of 66
Defensive line
Replacing the entire starting group in the trenches is a task that will require every possible practice session between now and USC's 2016 season opener. This is particularly true for a Trojans team that will be unveiling that new defensive line against defending national champion Alabama.
As many as 10 players figure to get a look along the line this spring, including 5-star prospect Oluwole Betiku. There's also Kenny Bigelow and Rasheem Green, big names from the 2015 recruiting class who both saw significant time as true freshmen, and fifth-year senior Jordan Simmons. Freshman Connor Murphy and junior college transfer Josh Fatu will join the mix in the summer.
With so many possibilities, the spring will be used more to whittle down the list (much like the early debates and primaries for the GOP presidential nomination), while fall camp will be when the starters emerge.
Utah
58 of 66
Quarterback
After having the same starter for the last four seasons, give or take a game when Travis Wilson had to sit out due to injury, rushing to a quick decision on Wilson's successor wouldn't be wise. That's why Utah is likely to wait until late in the preseason to pick a winner from a three-man competition that will begin later this month.
Junior Brandon Cox, junior college transfer Troy Williams and true freshman Tyler Huntley are all vying for the gig, with only Williams having considerable experience. He began his career at Washington, appearing in five games as a freshman in 2014, before spending last year at Santa Monica College in California.
Cox is in his fourth year with Utah, but his only appearance in a live game came in 2014.
Vanderbilt
59 of 66
Center
Vanderbilt must replace two starters on its offensive line, with the one in the middle holding the most importance for coach Derek Mason in his third season.
Spencer Pulley started all 12 games at center in 2015, helping anchor a line that paved the way for Ralph Webb to rush for the second-most yards in a season in program history. His primary backup, Cole Hardin, stands to inherit the job and will try to lock it down this spring, though it will take a great effort to make that happen with the Commodores bringing in a key recruit this summer.
Sean Auwae, the nation's fifth-rated center prospect comes to Nashville from Hawaii.
Virginia
60 of 66
Defensive line
New coach Bronco Mendenhall has his hands full from an overall standpoint with Virginia, a program that hasn't made a bowl game since 2011. And with only four returning starters on defense, he has his work cut out for him right off the bat.
The biggest attrition came up front, with three of four starters from last season having moved on. Only tackle Andrew Brown is back, and he had just 2.5 tackles for loss, while backup tackles Andre Miles-Redmond and Donte Wilkins combined for 3.0 tackles for loss. It's even thinner on the outside, where potential replacements Darrious Carter and Chris Peace were both freshmen a year ago.
Virginia's 2016 recruiting class includes three defensive line prospects, but none was rated higher than 100th at the position by 247Sports.
Virginia Tech
61 of 66
Quarterback
Justin Fuente's most pressing question heading into his first year with Virginia Tech is who he will have at quarterback. That position hasn't been one of strength for the Hokies for some time, yet it's how Fuente turned Memphis around and became a hot commodity on the coaching market.
Six passers will have an opportunity to win the starting job. Fuente landed of them in his first signing class, and four others were holdovers from the Frank Beamer era. The latter includes Brenden Motley, who started six games last year as an injury replacement but who struggled with accuracy and interceptions.
Dwayne Lawson, Chris Durkin and Jack Click were all recruited for previous offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler's pro-style system, while junior college transfer Jerod Evans and early enrollee freshman Joshua Jackson possess more of the dual-threat abilities that Fuente is looking for from the position.
Lawson was the nation's top-rated dual-threat JUCO passer and is considered a strong candidate to win the starting job, but that's not likely to happen this spring. Expect Fuente to bide his time before ending the competition.
Wake Forest
62 of 66
Linebacker
Defense has been all that Wake Forest can take pride in during the last two seasons, consecutive 3-9 campaigns in which it has won just two total ACC games. The Demon Deacons allowed 24.6 points per game last year, and it would have been worse if not for the play of now-departed linebackers Brandon Chubb and Hunter Williams.
Replacing their production will determine if Wake can again rely on that side of the ball to make plays, with the spotlight on new linebackers coach Clark Lea and his options at the position. He has Marquel Lee back at one starting spot but will need others from the reserve pool to rise.
Grant Dawson, Lee's backup at the middle linebacker position, should get a chance to contend with Demetrius Kemp, Jaboree Williams, Zack Wary, Kalin McNeil and others for a starting job during the spring. LaRonde Liverpool, a 3-star prospect who comes to Winston-Salem this summer, could also earn a shot.
Washington
63 of 66
Linebacker
Washington's defense was impressive all throughout 2015 and should again be an area of strength this coming season, assuming the Huskies can find the right people to replace their two best run-stoppers.
Linebackers Travis Feeney and Cody Littleton combined for 29 tackles for loss, while returners Keishawn Bierria and Azeem Victor logged 16.5. That duo will create a good foundation to build around, though Washington still needs others to emerge for the remaining starting spots.
Ben Burr-Kirven, Psalm Wooching, Connor O'Brien, Sean Constantine and Tevis Bartlett served as the top backups, and they'll compete with newcomers such as Camilo Eifler and Brandon Wellington when they show up this summer.
Washington State
64 of 66
Offensive line
Luke Falk led FBS in passing yards per game last year, but he was also sacked 37 times and knocked out of one game with a head injury that caused him to miss Washington State's rivalry matchup with Washington. And that was with a pair of seniors on the left side of the line, including projected high draft pick Joe Dahl at tackle.
With that duo gone, the Cougars must find the best fit for those spots to ensure that Falk's blind side is protected. This spring and summer they'll throw in different players to see who works best, possibly trying out starters Eduardo Middleton and Cole Madison from the right side. If that doesn't work, 2015 backups such as Andre Dillard, Cody O'Connell and Jacob Seydel will get their chance.
There are also six lineman signees who come to Pullman in the summer, including 3-star guard Frederick Mauigoa from American Samoa.
West Virginia
65 of 66
Running back
West Virginia's 2015 season began to turn in its favor once the offense revolved more around the run game, leading to a 1,500-yard performance by Wendell Smallwood. He used that as a springboard to the NFL draft, which leaves Rushel Shell as the top candidate to get the workload this season.
Shell ran for 708 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a junior, with two 100-yard games. The job isn't automatically his, though, as three newcomers are set to challenge him, including early enrollee Kennedy McKoy.
Two more arrive in the summer in the form of freshman Martell Pettaway and junior college transfer Justin Crawford, two 3-star prospects.
Wisconsin
66 of 66
Secondary
Cornerback Sojourn Shelton is the only returning starter on Wisconsin's back line, which makes the secondary the biggest issue for a team that is coming off a tremendous defensive performance. In 2015, the Badgers ranked second overall in yards allowed and allowed just seven touchdowns on 49.3 percent passing.
Leo Musso had two interceptions backing up Tanner McEvoy at free safety, which gives him the best shot to move into that starting spot. He'll compete with D'Cota Dixon, Arrington Farrar and Joe Ferguson for either free or strong safety, while Titus Booker, Natrell Jamerson and Derrick Tindal are the main candidates for the open cornerback spot.
That's the spring competition, but summer arrivals will keep Wisconsin from finalizing its starters in the secondary. Safeties Eric Burrell and Seth Currens and corners Dontye Carriere-Williams, Ke'Shan Pennamon and Caesar Williams will get their chances.
Statistics provided by CFBStats.com. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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