Projecting College Football's 2016 All-Breakout Team
Everyone in college football is always looking for the next big thing. Teams want to see players surge up the depth chart and become stars. Fans want to see the hype pay off for athletes they've heard all about during the long offseason.
College football demands a constant cycling of stars thanks to the four-year window of eligibility and the chance for elite players to jump to the NFL early. And that's not as easy as simply plugging in February's highest-rated recruits into holes on the depth chart.
As the offseason moves closer to fall camp, here are the picks for 2016's all-breakout team in college football. These are the potential stars at every position based on offseason performance, importance to their respective teams, past experience and recruiting rankings. This team contains a full offense and a full defense, as well as an extra wide receiver and inside linebacker.
In picking this team, I tried to avoid players who were regular starters in 2015 or are true freshmen heading into the 2016 campaign. The result is a team with players who have waited their turns to become stars for their respective teams and are ready to become some of the nation's best.
A lot of tough cuts were made, and plenty of excellent breakout candidates didn't land on this squad. Pick your own all-breakout teams in the comments below.
Quarterback
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Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
Mitch Trubisky is stepping into the ideal situation for a first-year starting quarterback. North Carolina, which led the nation in yards per play last season, returns six of its top seven receivers from a season ago, its top two running backs—including preseason Maxwell Award watch list nominee Elijah Hood—and four of the five starters from an offensive line that Football Outsiders rated No. 3 nationally last season.
But Trubisky would be a candidate to break out even if he didn't have that massive amount of returning talent around him for 2016. Trubisky was a 4-star dual-threat quarterback and Mr. Football in the state of Ohio in high school. In his limited work behind Marquise Williams last season, Trubisky was incredible, completing 40 of 47 passes for 555 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions.
North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora didn't wait around to name Trubisky as his starting quarterback, giving him the widely expected nod before the end of spring practices. He is the perfect passer to run UNC's uptempo offense, and he should have huge numbers as the leader of one of college football's fiercest attacks.
Running Backs
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Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
It's no secret Bo Scarbrough is expected to break out for Alabama in the 2016 season. In fact, the hype surrounding the second-year running back is so huge that he's at 20-1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy, according to Chip Patterson of CBS Sports. Those are the same odds as Oregon star Royce Freeman, per the oddsmakers cited by Patterson, and they're better than the ones for Oklahoma's Samaje Perine (25-1) and Notre Dame quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire (both 28-1).
And it's easy to see why Scarbrough is getting all this preseason love. Alabama running backs have crashed the quarterback club of recent Heisman winners, and Scarbrough is expected to start for the Tide this fall after racking up superhuman numbers in spring scrimmages. As Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer wrote in January, the 6'2" bruiser with sub-4.4 speed is already a cult hero in Tuscaloosa.
Like last year's Heisman winner, Derrick Henry, Scarbrough is a complete physical specimen who should thrive in Alabama's run-first offense this fall. Fellow sophomore star Damien Harris will fight for his share of carries this fall, but Scarbrough is the one who is expected to carve defenses up for the Tide.
Chris Warren III, Texas
Texas fans didn't have a lot to cheer about on the offensive side of the ball last season, but Chris Warren III's end-of-the-year surge for the Longhorns has them salivating for 2016. While Warren will most likely split carries with returning No. 1 rusher D'Onta Foreman, there's a chance he'll be a household name in college football circles by November.
Warren, the son of former NFL running back Chris Warren, rushed for 276 yards and four touchdowns in a close loss to Texas Tech late last year that included an unbelievable 91-yard score. The next week, he added 106 more yards in a win over Baylor.
He showcased last season he was a terrifying blend of size and speed who can take over games, and the 6'2" running back was up to a massive 255 pounds during the spring, per Ryan Autullo of the Austin American-Statesman. Warren should get plenty of touches in new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert's fast-paced attack, where he will be able to run past opponents or right over them.
Wide Receivers
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Preston Williams, Tennessee
The biggest question mark on what should be a dangerous Tennessee team in 2016 is the production of its wide receivers for quarterback Joshua Dobbs. One wideout expected to take the next step and then some this fall is Preston Williams, a former 4-star recruit who had a monster spring in Knoxville.
Dobbs needs a receiver who can stretch the defense vertically this season, and Williams looks like the ideal candidate. The 6'4" sophomore only had seven receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns last season, but he routinely turned heads during spring practices and was named the team's most improved offensive player, according to Wes Rucker of 247Sports.
"Big spring, remarkable progress, and it all started with his mentality and his attitude and inner drive to be the best," Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said, per Rucker. "He still has strides that he has to make in terms of route running and catching the football and high-pointing and all that, but his attitude, his mentality, it’s been great to see."
Corey Holmes, Notre Dame
Will Fuller became a star at Notre Dame with his incredible straight-line speed, and the Fighting Irish needed to find a receiver who could replicate that success in 2016. This spring, they got it from Corey Holmes.
According to Nick Ironside of 247Sports, the offensive staff clocked Holmes at 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash this spring, and he exited practices as a starting wide receiver. Holmes spent all of 2015 on the sidelines for Notre Dame, and the time helped him mature as a wideout. It seems a spring practice rarely went by without some member of the Irish coaching staff praising Holmes' performance.
Notre Dame doesn't have an established receiver on the roster besides Torii Hunter Jr., so Holmes' breakout at the slot position was a huge boost for the offense. If he can burn defenses with that speed on the field this fall, the sky is the limit for this former 4-star recruit from Florida.
Noah Brown, Ohio State
This time last year, Noah Brown was expected to become a star for Ohio State. Unfortunately, the young wide receiver broke his leg in fall camp and missed all of the 2015 campaign for the Buckeyes. But this spring, Brown got all of that hype back for an Ohio State offense going through a massive overhaul at the skill positions.
"I feel like personally [Brown] was one of the best receivers last year," Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin said, per Ian Hartitz of Land-Grant Holy Land. "Him and [former OSU wide receiver Mike Thomas] were pretty much unguardable last year."
The 6'2" Brown originally made a name for himself as a solid blocker for Ohio State, and he uses that physicality to his advantage in going after receptions. He has all the makings of the next go-to receiver for Ohio State after getting more rave reviews this offseason.
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Tight End
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Mike Gesicki, Penn State
On paper, Mike Gesicki has all the tools to be a dominant tight end at the college level. He stands at 6'6" and 255 pounds, and he has the ability to stretch the field for big plays. But Gesicki had a quiet year rotating as a starter for Penn State in 2015, grabbing only 13 catches for 125 yards and a single touchdown.
This spring, though, Gesicki looked more like the game-changing tight end he should be in new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead's uptempo, quick-strike attack. Moorhead's offense is expected to feature the tight end more heavily in the passing game, and Gesicki impressed with his hands this offseason after struggling with drops early in his career.
With improvement as both a receiver and a blocker, Gesicki is primed for a huge 2016 for the Nittany Lions. His size and his speed can cause matchup nightmares, and he'll put in hard work in helping out an offensive line that struggled with protection issues in the last two seasons.
Offensive Line
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Alex Bars, Notre Dame
Taylor Wright of Pro Football Focus named Notre Dame's offensive line the best in the country heading into this season despite the loss of 2016 first-round draft pick Ronnie Stanley and second-round pick Nick Martin. That's because the Fighting Irish have talent such as right tackle Alex Bars, who played guard last season before suffering an injury, ready to step up and keep the tradition of dominant line play going.
Bars was the No. 10 offensive tackle in the country as a high school senior, and he made the switch back to the outside this offseason without a hitch. He's got all the physical tools to become the next star offensive lineman for the Irish.
Alex Bookser, Pittsburgh
The name of Alex Bookser's game is versatility. Last season, he was the sixth man of sorts for the Pittsburgh offensive line, as he had the skill set to play either guard or tackle. This spring, he even repped some at center for the Panthers.
Pittsburgh listed Bookser, a former 4-star recruit, as its starting right guard ahead of the 2016 season. He gives the Panthers the freedom to move pieces around on a veteran offensive line that has had great success paving the way for the likes of James Conner and Qadree Ollison on the ground.
Jake Fruhmorgen, Clemson
Jake Fruhmorgen is projected to be one of just a few new starters on Clemson's loaded offense for the 2016 season. But he picked up some quality experience for the Tigers a season ago, and he has all the makings of a key piece of a Clemson line that was dominant last fall.
According to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports, the 6'6" Fruhmorgen added a good bit of weight in the offseason and is now up to 302 pounds. He was a coveted recruit out of high school who should be the next breakout star on the Clemson front five, much like left tackle Mitch Hyatt was last year.
Javon Patterson, Ole Miss
Last season, Javon Patterson picked up a handful of starts as a true freshman on the Ole Miss offensive line. By the end of the year, though, Patterson was back on the bench. The Rebels won't be able to afford to do that this season as Patterson closes in on a key role on Ole Miss' rebuilding front in 2016.
Patterson, who was the No. 3 guard in the class of 2015, should excel this fall after picking up valuable playing time in 2015. All eyes will be on true freshman Greg Little in 2016, but don't sleep on the breakout potential of Patterson, who has already adjusted to the college game.
Drew Richmond, Tennessee
Last year, Tennessee had the luxury of redshirting Drew Richmond, who was the third-best offensive tackle in the class of 2015. This year, the Volunteers are more than ready to plug Richmond into the left tackle spot on their experience-laden 2016 offense.
Richmond was the first-team left tackle this spring for the Volunteers, showcasing great improvement on quarterback Joshua Dobbs' blind side after a year on the sidelines. Richmond has the size (6'5", 301 lbs), skill and now the confidence to be a game-changing bookend for what should be a strong Tennessee attack.
Defensive Ends
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Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama
Da'Shawn Hand is a testament to just how stacked Alabama's defense has been in recent seasons. Hand was the No. 5 overall recruit in the class of 2014. For most programs, Hand would have been an experienced starter by now. But Hand has been a rotational piece for the Tide, recording 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in the last two seasons.
Those numbers should explode in 2016, though, as Hand is set to step into a starting defensive end role opposite star Jonathan Allen. Between his freakish strength and size (6'4", 273 lbs), Hand could be an All-American candidate in 2016 now that he's set to play more than just a small percentage of the Tide's snaps.
"Unlike some of the defensive ends we've seen at Alabama, Hand has length and plus get-off after the snap," Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote. "Hand has said he's bench-pressed 42 reps at 225 pounds (no one had more than 34 reps at this year's NFL Scouting Combine), so don't think that he doesn't also have that trademark Alabama power."
Josh Sweat, Florida State
Florida State didn't know what to expect out of Josh Sweat in 2015, as he suffered a devastating knee injury during his senior year of high school. But Sweat made a freakish recovery and a surprising impact for the Seminoles, notching 41 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception as a reserve.
Now Sweat is projected to start opposite veteran DeMarcus Walker on the defensive line, and opposing offenses won't be able to just key on one strong pass-rusher. The 6'5" former 5-star should be a constant menace off the edge as a regular playmaker for a fierce Florida State defense.
"If he can take that next step, from good to great, then the Seminoles might just have the best defensive end combo in the country," Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat wrote. "And that will be bad news for opposing offenses."
Defensive Tackles
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Christian Wilkins, Clemson
College football got a taste of what Christian Wilkins could do last season, when the then-freshman defensive tackle recorded 4.5 tackles for loss on the season and a memorable fake punt reception against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff.
That production in a small amount of snaps showed what the Connecticut native could bring to the field for Clemson as a regular starter in 2016. His incredible athleticism for a 6'4", 315-pound underclassman gives him the ability to play both defensive tackle and defensive end for a rebuilding Clemson defense in 2016.
The former 5-star recruit's work at end in spring ball might make him a starter at the position this fall, but he exited spring listed as a starter at tackle, according to the State's Gerry Melendez. No matter where he plays, he has the tools to be the next great Clemson defensive lineman.
Harrison Phillips, Stanford
While defensive end Solomon Thomas became a budding breakout star on Stanford's defensive line last season, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips was on the sidelines as a medical redshirt after tearing his ACL. Now that he's back on the field, expect Phillips to raise his game and that of everyone else around him on the Cardinal front.
Phillips is a converted defensive end, but he holds his own down the middle of the 3-4 scheme with his athleticism and great burst. He appeared in six games as a freshman and recorded a couple of sacks. Last year, he was primed for a strong sophomore campaign before suffering the early-season injury.
Look for Phillips to finally have his breakout season for the Cardinal in 2016 as he opens things up for a resurgent defensive line. Stanford linemen are always good candidates for stardom in the Pac-12, and Phillips fits the bill perfectly.
Outside Linebackers
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Arden Key, LSU
New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has a lot of exciting pieces to work with at LSU, but none might be more exciting than Arden Key. A defensive end who now plays the hybrid "Buck" outside linebacker role in Aranda's unique scheme, Key has the potential to be one of the most feared defenders in college football by season's end.
At 6'6" and boasting plenty of speed, Key will be used in a variety of ways to attack opposing quarterbacks. Key finished the second half of the 2015 season as a starter for the Tigers and had 6.5 tackles for loss and five sacks over the course of the year, but there's still plenty of room for him to grow as a superstar defender.
Aranda took undervalued and unrecruited players at Wisconsin and turned them into edge-rushers who could stuff box scores with plenty of tackles for loss and sacks. Key is a former 4-star from Georgia who picked up valuable experience last season. That combination should be scary in Aranda's hands.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
Eric Striker was the heartbeat of the Oklahoma defense over the last couple of seasons, charging at opposing backfields with great success and making plays all over the field. This fall, the Sooners need someone to step into his spot, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is the man to watch.
Obo picked up a sack last season for the Sooners as a reserve but was borderline unblockable during practices and Oklahoma's annual spring game. His teammates and his coaches have hyped him over the last two years, and he showed signs of being ready to become the star pass-rusher in front of a strong Oklahoma secondary in 2016.
"He's becoming a really consistent player," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said, per Brandon Chatmon of ESPN.com. "That's the big thing we want with him, consistency in everything he does. ... (The) edge guy has become important in this defense, and he certainly has the explosive speed and pass-rushing ability you need."
Inside Linebackers
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Osa Masina, USC
USC linebacker Osa Masina got his college career off to a solid start last season, coming up with 25 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss as a freshman. According to Alicia de Artola of Reign of Troy, the former 5-star was originally projected to be among the defensive ends in returning coordinator Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 scheme, but he is currently listed with the inside linebackers.
That spot should work well for Masina, who will challenge for the starting job next to fellow sophomore Cameron Smith, who broke out with a huge true freshman campaign in 2015. Masina is a quick, instinctive linebacker who will provide great run support behind an inexperienced defensive line.
Masina has the potential to make plays all over the field like Smith did in 2015, and the switch to Pendergast's scheme plays right into his strengths as a linebacker. He should live up to his 5-star billing this fall for the Trojans.
Natrez Patrick, Georgia
If you're looking for a potential star to break out for Georgia's defense in 2016 under new head coach Kirby Smart, who knows a thing or two about excellent defenses, look no further than Natrez Patrick. At inside linebacker, Patrick battled his way to becoming the leader for a starting job after recording 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss last season.
According to Jason Butt of the Macon Telegraph, Patrick "has a chance to make the biggest leap of anyone on Georgia's defense." Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com said Patrick "is going to be a superstar" after what he showed in spring ball, per Frank Frangie of Gridiron Now.
Smart and his defensive staff at Georgia have experience with producing superstar linebackers, and Patrick has all the tools to become just that for the Bulldogs in 2016. He's a proven weapon against the run and in pass coverage, and he can get after the quarterback as well.
Cornerbacks
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Vayante Copeland, Michigan State
Michigan State was well below its "No Fly Zone" standards in 2015, allowing opposing offenses to complete more than 60 percent of their passes and average 7.3 yards per attempt. A big reason for that decline was the loss of Vayante Copeland, the team's most talented cornerback, who suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2.
Copeland is back for 2016, though. At 100 percent health, he is arguably the best defensive back on a roster that returns three veterans in Darian Hicks, Montae Nicholson and Demetrious Cox. That trio gained experience in a trial by fire last season. Now they all return as starters and get Copeland back into the fold.
If the Spartans have a strong secondary in 2016 that resembles the great ones of recent seasons under head coach Mark Dantonio, there's a great chance Copeland will become a star in the Big Ten. The turnaround potential is strong for both Copeland and the entire unit this fall.
Jamel Dean, Auburn
A former Ohio State signee who never had medical clearance to play for the Buckeyes, Jamel Dean has found a home at Auburn, where he was recruited by former coordinator Will Muschamp. The Florida native wasted no time in impressing his new teammates, as there were whispers of his being the best defensive back on the roster during his redshirt campaign last season.
Dean is a physical presence at cornerback who stands at 6'2" and weighs 205 pounds. He'll line up opposite fellow Sunshine State product Carlton Davis, who was a lockdown cornerback for the Tigers last season as a true freshman.
Auburn's defense should be a strength in 2016 as the Tigers look to bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 campaign. They'll be able to generate a solid pass rush with their Carl Lawson-led line, and Dean should turn heads with his playmaking ability as the new star of an experienced secondary.
Safeties
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Malik Hooker, Ohio State
Ohio State needed new playmakers to step up all across its defense this spring after a mass exodus of talent to the NFL ranks. Malik Hooker answered the call, shining brightly in the spring game with a pick-six and several impressive plays against the Buckeyes' potent offense.
While Hooker was one of the lowest-rated recruits currently in the mix to start for the Buckeyes in 2016, he's emerged as a potential star in a sea of blue chips in Columbus. What's even more impressive is that Hooker didn't even start playing football until his junior year of high school, per Chad Peltier of SB Nation's Land-Grant Holy Land. The ceiling is even higher for this talented Buckeye.
"Hooker is very athletic and has the ability to be a big playmaker," Dave Biddle of 247Sports wrote. "Yet, he's also stout in run support and appears to be a sound tackler overall. I think we're talking about a future NFL player in Hooker, and we'll look back on 2016 as his breakout year."
JoJo McIntosh, Washington
College football fans should already know the names of Budda Baker and Sidney Jones, the star players for a Washington secondary that led the way for the Pac-12's No. 1 defense in 2015. Now the Huskies are adding sophomore safety JoJo McIntosh into the mix.
McIntosh picked up some valuable experience for the strong Washington defense last season, recording 38 tackles and an interception. Washington added several highly touted recruits in the secondary this offseason, but the former 3-star has held them all off in the depth chart.
Washington has received a ton of preseason hype, and a solid part of it has to do with the star-studded secondary pairing of Baker and Jones. McIntosh proved last season he could contribute at a high level, so don't be surprised if he's the next big name to come out of Seattle.
Stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports. Projected depth charts are courtesy of Ourlads.
Justin Ferguson is a national college football analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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