College Basketball Players Who Could Star in College Football

As college basketball fans, we're saddled with a ridiculously long offseason that spans more time than the season itself. And it's during this dead period between April and November that we're so desperate for information and activity that we'll take anything.

Even if that means wishing some of college basketball's best and brightest could suit up for a college football team. At least then we'd get to see them compete a little sooner, since the football season begins in September.

Beside that, however, there's also the concept of how the amazing athleticism and competitive drive that some college basketball players show could carry over to the football field.

We've picked out a handful of returning hoops stars—those who are still undecided about coming back to school weren't considered—who figure to be able to make the leap, laying out what role they'd have in that sport.

Mo Alie-Cox, VCU

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Height, weight: 6'6", 250 lbs

Projected position: Defensive end

Mo Alie-Cox's role with VCU during his career has been mostly as an enforcer, an undersized forward who has to bang around with taller guys by using his stocky frame to get position. Put him in a football uniform, though, and you line him up on the edge and set him free on opposing quarterbacks.

This past season, as a junior, Alie-Cox averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 61.2 percent.

All of his shots were taken from two-point range, mostly in the paint on layups, dunks and short jumpers and quite often after pulling down an offensive rebound. For his career, Alie-Cox has collected 11.4 percent of available offensive rebounds and 12 percent of all missed shots when he's on the floor.

With a fondness for working in tight quarters, Alie-Cox could even line up inside the defensive line at tackle and use his physicality to push through blockers and swallow up a running back.

Grayson Allen, Duke

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Height, weight: 6'4”, 195 lbs

Projected position: Wide receiver

Grayson Allen has developed quite a reputation during his Duke career, one fueled by a few tripping incidents as well as his refusal to shake hands after a Sweet 16 loss to Oregon. Call him dirty or just overly competitive, what you can't say is he doesn't care.

To this point, though, Allen hasn't had anyone come at him while on the court. The same wouldn't likely be the case if he were part of Duke's football team, particularly as a wide receiver going over the middle for a catch.

Allen is coming off a breakout sophomore season, one in which he led the Blue Devils with 21.6 points per game.

His scoring was the result of relentless effort, often diving on the floor to grab a loose ball or banging into ball handlers trying to rip the ball loose. This latter approach didn't always work, though, resulting in plenty of fouls, so he'd be better off on offense where his job is to jump up and snatch the pass out of the air before anyone else can get it.

There's little doubt that Allen's many haters wouldn't mind seeing him get hit a few times, too.

Chris Boucher, Oregon

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Height, weight: 6'10", 200 lbs

Projected position: Special teams

Oregon tends to be at the forefront of oddness in football, what with its endless array of uniforms and its state-of-the-art gear compliments of program benefactor Phil Knight of Nike.

The Ducks' team is also among the trendsetters with their style of play, including some unique formations when they line up for field goals or extra points.

So why, then, couldn't unique basketball standout Chris Boucher not be able to find himself a role on Oregon's special teams? After all, there aren't many hoops players who are capable of making a vicious block on one end and then draining a three-pointer on the other?

That's what Boucher brought to Oregon this past season, setting the school record with 110 blocks along with his 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Some of his scoring came via 39 threes, which he hit at a 33.9 percent clip.

Boucher would probably be a monster punt- or kick-blocker, or a nice long target to throw to on two-point conversions.

Deonte Burton, Iowa State

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Height, weight: 6'4", 250 lbs

Projected position: Linebacker

Quite often this past season, it seemed like Deonte Burton couldn't make up his mind whether he was a guard or a forward. This was partly due to his odd combination of height and girth but also because he went back and forth between powering his way inside and trying to be a perimeter shooter.

We've made the decision for him: He should be playing linebacker for the Cyclones, where he'd be a valuable asset as a beast in the middle of their defense.

Burton—who tested the NBA draft waters but is returning to school for his senior year—shot 53.3 percent overall and 47.4 percent on 35 three-pointers this past season, his first with Iowa State after transferring from Marquette.

He was often the Cyclones' sixth man, though he did start seven games, and while he had 23 points and 14 rebounds against TCU, he otherwise didn't fare well trying to rebound against guys several inches taller than him.

If playing football, Burton's size wouldn't put him at a disadvantage against any opponent.

Tra-Deon Hollins, Omaha

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Height, weight: 6'2", 190 lbs

Projected position: Cornerback

It takes a certain kind of mindset to want to put yourself on an island, responsible for guarding an opponent's best wide receiver one-on-one all over the field. We have to think Tra-Deon Hollins is built for such a job as a cornerback, assuming he'd want to give up that basketball thing he's pretty good at.

What Hollins is most adept at is recording steals. He led Division I with 127 steals in 2015-16, his first since transferring from a junior college, 33 more than any other player in the country. That included 18 swipes in five games against teams that also have FBS programs.

Omaha no longer has football, dropping that sport a few years ago when it moved up from Division II. If the Mavericks still offered it, though, they wouldn't have much competition for their shutdown corner spot.

Maurice Watson, Creighton

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Height, weight: 5'10”, 165 lbs

Projected position: Option quarterback

Maurice Watson had to sit out the 2014-15 season after transferring from Boston University, but he must have used his time away from the game wisely. Once he returned, he gave Creighton a great multi-threat option on offense with his scoring and distribution.

The junior led the Blue Jays in scoring (14.1 points per game) and assists (6.5) while shooting a healthy 47.4 percent for a small guard. He would judge the situation and decide whether it was best to shoot, drive or pass to someone else for an open look.

Those are the same traits that make dual-threat quarterbacks so effective, and Watson looks like the kind of competitor who could make those same reads in an option attack. When the hole is there he runs, if not he either pitches it outside or drops back and throws the pass.

All statistics courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information from 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.