2016 College Football Coaches and Players as Superheroes
Us sports fans love to get carried away with our allegiances, and we essentially think of college football players and coaches as men who are changing the universe.
In honor of national superhero day (April 28), we've assembled a list comparing superstars from the field to some memorable comic-book heroes. Physical and mental traits were primary factors in determining the matches.
You won't see these guys saving the word as their respective character does in movies, but Saturdays in the fall will showcase their sport-altering abilities.
Cam Robinson as the Hulk
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Size and strength make The Hulk a dominant force. Cam Robinson, a 6'6", 327-pound left tackle, is using the same combination to excel at Alabama.
Just ask Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leon Jacobs about that.
The Hulk can have a mean streak, but it's exactly what coaches want from an offensive lineman, too. Robinson will end defenders. According to the school's official site, he has collected 78 knockdown blocks through two seasons.
Robinson will be a fixture in the first round of 2017 mock drafts, and the monster lineman has top-5 potential.
Adoree Jackson as the Flash
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Adoree Jackson skipped spring practice to concentrate on attempting to qualify for the Olympics in long jump. However, he participated on the USC Trojans' track team in the meantime.
Is 10.35 seconds in the 100-meter dash good?
Per the Track & Field Results Reporting System, Jackson posted the blazing run in mid-April at the Mt. SAC relays. To date, it's the No. 1 time by a Pac-12 outdoor competitor this year.
In 2015, Jackson recorded 35 tackles, eight pass breakups and one pick-six. He caught 27 passes for 414 yards and two scores, adding a pair of punt-return touchdowns.
Tom Herman as Doctor Strange
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Doctor Strange is merely human, but the wealthy and skilled surgeon is a connoisseur of the magic arts. He was a rising star in the field of neurosurgery at a young age.
As the offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Tom Herman—who dissects defenses on a regular basis—won a national championship with a third-string quarterback. Just 40 years old, he's considered a top young coach, especially after lifting the Houston Cougars to prominence in 2015.
Herman worked his magic while perfectly utilizing the strengths of dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. en route to the Cougars finishing 13-1 in 2015 with a 38-24 victory over the Florida State Seminoles in the Peach Bowl.
In all likelihood, Herman will eventually join a powerhouse program—like Doctor Strange and the Defenders.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jabrill Peppers as Iron Man
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Like Iron Man, Jabrill Peppers sometimes gets dinged up. He missed the 2016 Citrus Bowl because of a hand injury. But the next time Iron Man or Peppers is ready for "battle," they bring a new weapon.
And the Michigan Wolverines standout seemingly never runs out.
Last year, Peppers notched 45 tackles—including 5.5 for a loss—and 10 pass breakups as a safety, outside cornerback and nickelback. He scored two rushing touchdowns and added eight receptions. Peppers averaged 27.9 and 11.4 yards per kick and punt return, respectively.
Looking ahead to 2016, Peppers is shifting to linebacker, where he'll allow the Wolverines to change personnel without substituting. For a defensive coordinator, that's the ultimate weapon.
Mark Dantonio as Batman
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A respected figure by day, Bruce Wayne becomes a dominant force in hand-to-hand combat as Batman. His best offense is a strong defense, highlighted by a versatile collection of weapons.
Head coach Mark Dantonio's balanced attack and ferocious defense will repeatedly punch opponents into submission on the field.
Both Batman and the Michigan State Spartans developed into this imposing figure, though. Batman used his mental prowess to create his persona, and Dantonio built the program on 3-star talent—a mysterious way to rise at a power-conference school.
The Spartans aren't the best or strongest; they have plenty of weaknesses. Still, similar to Batman, MSU is an opponent you don't want to face when everything is on the line.
Deshaun Watson as Superman
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Superman has few vulnerabilities, but one is red sun radiation. So far, Deshaun Watson's only weakness is the Crimson Tide—and just barely.
Otherwise, the Clemson Tigers quarterback boasts similar strengths to those of Superman, including outstanding vision, reflexes, strength, speed and endurance.
In 2015, Watson became the first player ever to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark as a passer and 1,000-yard barrier as a rusher. He finished with 5,209 yards of total offense and 47 combined touchdowns.
Maybe the junior will get another shot at Alabama in 2016.
Christian McCaffrey as Spider-Man
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Spider-Man isn't an imposing figure. At 6'0" and 202 pounds, Christian McCaffrey doesn't fit that mold, either. Both atone for physical limitations with tremendous durability, however.
Plus, biology gave Spider-man sensational reflexes and agility, while genetics offered McCaffrey a wealth of skills to develop—which he has accomplished at an All-American level.
As a sophomore at Stanford, McCaffrey set the NCAA all-time, single-season record for all-purpose yards with 3,864. He logged 434 total touches—the highest mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision—ending the year as the No. 2 rusher and No. 3 kick returner.
McCaffrey hasn't showed wall-clinging ability, but that might be in the works for the 2016 campaign.
Jim Harbaugh as Captain America
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Captain America is a rare superhero with no superhuman powers. As far as we know, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is a normal guy. He's simply one of the world's greatest football coaches.
Best of all, Harbaugh is a proponent of these here United States.
"In my America, you're allowed to cross the state borders," he said when discussing satellite camps, according to George Schroeder of the Detroit Free Press. "That's the America I know."
The Michigan coach certainly doesn't have the physique of Captain America, but Harbaugh's biggest weapon—an extensive knowledge of the NCAA rule book and its limitations—has bashed the SEC with a star-painted shield.
Leonard Fournette as the Thing
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The Thing is a massive, scary opponent. Running backs don't get much more physically imposing than Leonard Fournette.
A 6'1", 230-pounder, Fournette has built a reputation for bulldozing defenders. He racked up an FBS-best 162.8 yards per game as a sophomore, running for 1,953 total yards and 22 touchdowns.
Like with any relationship, though, what's on the inside matters. Despite his terrifying stature, the Thing has a caring heart. Fournette is apparently a big ol' teddy bear.
"He's always happy," teammate Lewis Neal said, per Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com. "He's never stuck up or in a hole and not happy. Every time I see him he's smiling, and that's a big lift to the team."
Fournette will ruin your day on the football field, but he'll brighten your day after the game.
Nick Saban as Professor X
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Professor X founded the X-Men—a unit equipped with superhuman abilities—and prepared to overcome every challenger.
That's basically what Nick Saban has accomplished at Alabama.
Among other examples, NFL-bound defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson looked like an NFL veteran last season. Derrick Henry—a 6'3", 247-pound running back—won the Heisman Trophy. His replacement is Bo Scarbrough, a 6'2", 230-pound wrecking ball.
Last season, the Crimson Tide defeated Watson and the Clemson Tigers to claim their fourth national championship over a seven-year period. Saban also won a title with LSU in 2003.
Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
