Grading Depth Charts for Every Top 25 College Football Team Entering 2016 Season
Football can be a brutal sport. Hard hits add up over time and wear players down. It’s rare for a front-line player to make it through a 12-game regular season completely healthy and without any nagging injuries. That’s a fact of life in college football, and it makes quality depth a key to a successful season.
Every Football Bowl Subdivision program has 85 scholarships, and they’re needed, as well. Injuries and the game’s violent nature make sure of that. If your team expects to challenge for the College Football Playoff, it needs a deep roster.
We took a shot at grading the depth charts of each preseason Top 25 team (based on a list culled from every available preseason poll). Factors like experience, talent on hand and overall depth were taken into account.
All defensive stats were taken from teams' official websites, and recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
25. Miami
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Miami and Mark Richt was one of the best marriages of the 2015-16 college football coaching carousel. Richt didn’t have to work after parting ways with Georgia following 15 strong seasons, but the Hurricanes opening was too good to pass up. He is a Miami alum and a South Florida native, and the Canes needed the boost he can provide. Ex-head coach Al Golden left the roster in decent shape. Miami returns 16 starters, led by junior quarterback Brad Kaaya, one of the nation’s top pocket passers.
Receivers Stacy Coley and Braxton Berrios are proven pass-catchers, and David Njoku is a developing talent at tight end. Tailbacks Mark Walton and Joe Yearby form an excellent one-two punch in the backfield. The Hurricanes return four starting offensive linemen, but given that Miami finished No. 117 in rushing offense last fall, that might not be such a good thing.
On the other side of the ball, ends Chad Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad could start for pretty much any Power Five program. However, there are serious concerns at linebacker, where a pair of freshmen (Michael Pinckney and Shaquille Quarterman) could start and Darrion Owens is returning from a serious knee injury. Senior Jermaine Grace is a productive force on the strong side.
Corn Elder, Rayshawn Jenkins and Jamal Carter provide solid senior leadership in the secondary, which is otherwise full of freshmen and sophomores. The Hurricanes should be improved under Richt’s watch, but he needs time to recruit and build them into an ACC Coastal power.
Grade: B-
24. UCLA
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Jim Mora Jr.’s fifth season at UCLA will be one of transition. The Bruins have won 37 games in his four seasons in Westwood, but they slipped to 8-5 last fall following a pair of 10-win seasons and lost six underclassmen to the NFL draft. Twelve starters return, but Mora will be counting on some younger players to mature, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
UCLA has one of the nation’s top young quarterbacks in Josh Rosen, who threw for 3,669 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a true freshman, but he is one of only four offensive starters returning. Soso Jamabo and Nate Starks will attempt to fill the void left by tailback Paul Perkins, who rushed for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns last fall. Four of the top five receivers from a year ago are gone, leaving Darren Andrews (43 receptions, 443 yards, one score) as the top returnee to pair with freshman Theo Howard, the nation's No. 13 wideout recruit, and junior Eldridge Massington.
The offensive line returns only two starters. UCLA does return eight defensive starters and has a veteran front seven, with standout defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes returning from a torn ACL that cost him the 2015 season. In addition, seniors Marcus Rios and Randall Goforth, as well as junior Jaleel Wadood, return to anchor a secondary that led the Pac-12 in pass defense a year ago. There are questions across the board, but the Bruins have the talent to compete in the Pac-12 South.
Grade: B
23. North Carolina
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2015 was a special season for Larry Fedora and North Carolina. After beginning the season with a disheartening 17-13 loss to a South Carolina team that would finish 3-9, the Tar Heels reeled off 11 consecutive wins, won the ACC Coastal Division and pushed Clemson hard in the ACC title game before falling 45-37. An offense that averaged 40.7 points per game, No. 9 nationally, suffered key losses with quarterback Marquise Williams’ graduation and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell’s departure to become the North Texas head coach.
However, the Heels will run the same offensive system with new coordinator Chris Kapilovic and new quarterback Mitch Trubisky, an experienced backup stepping into a larger role. UNC returns seven offensive starters and six on the defensive side of the ball. Trubisky will have key passing-game weapons in seniors Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins and Bug Howard, and four offensive linemen also return. It’s worth noting that UNC has no experience behind Trubisky should he suffer an injury.
Elijah Hood is one of the nation’s top tailbacks coming off a 1,463-yard, 17-touchdown season, and backup T.J. Logan averaged 6.1 yards per carry. There are some question marks on a defense that improved last fall but still allowed 247.4 rushing yards per game, No. 122 nationally. No starting linebackers return, and Andre Smith and Cole Holcomb are both sophomores who’ll be counted upon heavily.
Up front, defensive end Dajaun Drennon and defensive tackle Nazair Jones are proven talents, and end Mikey Bart led the Tar Heels with 6.5 sacks last season. This looks like a group that should challenge for another ACC Coastal title.
Grade: B
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22. Oklahoma State
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Oklahoma State was one of the nation’s biggest surprises last fall, beginning 10-0 and staying in the Big 12 and College Football Playoff conversation until mid-November. An ugly 0-3 end to the season, including a 48-20 Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss, left a bad taste in Cowboys fans’ mouths. But head coach Mike Gundy returns 16 starters, meaning there’s plenty of good things to build on.
Junior Mason Rudolph is developing into a quality quarterback. He threw for 3,770 yards and 21 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 2015. He’ll need to stay healthy, as his backup, John Kolar, has yet to throw a collegiate pass. The Cowboys return five starting offensive linemen and also bolstered the line by signing junior college All-American left tackle Larry Williams. James Washington (53 receptions, 1,087 yards, 10 scores) leads a talented receiving corps.
There are questions in the backfield, where leading rusher Chris Carson had only 517 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. He’ll be pushed hard by Stanford transfer Barry Sanders Jr., the son of Oklahoma State legend and Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. On defense, Emmanuel Ogbah’s departure creates a lack of depth in the pass-rushing area, which sophomores Jarrell Owens and Jordan Brailford will be asked to fill.
Upperclassmen Jordan Burton and Chad Whitener lead a solid linebacker corps, and safety Jordan Sterns made 108 tackles and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. There are issues in the run game and pass rush, but this looks like a Big 12 title contender again.
Grade: B-
21. Louisville
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As he begins the third season of his second stint at Louisville, head coach Bobby Petrino has the Cardinals program in solid shape. Following nine wins in 2014 and eight last season, the Cardinals return 16 starters, led by emerging dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson (last seen torching Texas A&M for 453 total yards and four scores in the Music City Bowl). Kyle Bolin threw for 1,154 yards with seven scores against six picks last fall and provides quality depth if Jackson is injured. Jamari Staples, James Quick and converted quarterback Reggie Bonnafon give the passing game some heft.
Jackson was the leading rusher with 960 yards and 11 scores, but the top three backs do return in Brandon Radcliff, Jeremy Smith and L.J. Scott. Four starters return from an offensive line that struggled with consistency issues in 2015.
Eight starters return on defense, and there are solid front-line options in the secondary and at linebacker. Cornerback Shaq Wiggins and Josh Harvey-Clemons followed defensive coordinator Todd Grantham from Georgia and thrived, and senior linebacker Devonte Fields is a rush end hybrid who led Louisville with 11 sacks a year ago.
This is a veteran group that is deep, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, and that’s what Petrino needs to compete with Clemson and Florida State in the ACC Atlantic Division.
Grade: B+
20. Oregon
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Change will be the order of the day at Oregon this fall. Head coach Mark Helfrich has won 33 games and guided the Ducks to a national runner-up finish two years ago, but the program was a bit uneven last fall, finishing 9-4 and blowing a 31-0 halftime lead to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. With Scott Frost’s departure to become Central Florida’s head coach and Don Pellum’s demotion, Oregon will have two new coordinators and return just eight starters.
There are questions at quarterback, where Oregon must replace graduate transfer Vernon Adams with either another graduate transfer in Dakota Prukop or freshman Travis Jonsen. The running game is deep, with Royce Freeman leading the way with 1,836 yards and 17 scores as a sophomore. Backups Kani Benoit and Taj Griffin are also solid. The offensive line, however, returns just two starters, and while Charles Nelson and Darren Carrington are playmakers, the receiving corps will be breaking in a new group of starters.
New defensive coordinator Brady Hoke inherits a unit that struggled under Pellum’s direction, allowing 485.3 yards per game, No. 117 nationally. It returns just four starters, three in a secondary that was porous in 2015, allowing 306.5 yards per game. Will Hoke’s 4-3 scheme pay dividends? We’ll see. There are issues across the board with a talented but inexperienced roster.
Grade: C-
19. Georgia
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Kirby Smart didn’t exactly inherit a fixer-upper from Mark Richt as Georgia's head coach. Richt parted ways with the Bulldogs after a three-year SEC East title drought, but he left behind a talented roster that has 13 returning starters and plenty of potential. The most intriguing spot is at quarterback, where Jacob Eason, the nation's No. 5 overall recruit, is competing with Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey for the starting role. If Nick Chubb (knee surgery) and Sony Michel (broken forearm) return at full strength, Georgia could have the best backfield in the SEC. And Terry Godwin is an emerging star at receiver.
Defensively, all four starters return from a unit that led the SEC in pass defense, keyed by safety Dominick Sanders, who had six interceptions last fall. There is talent in the front seven, including sophomore defensive tackle Trent Thompson, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2015, and linebackers Reggie Carter and Lorenzo Carter.
Richt recruited well in his Georgia tenure, and this is not a rebuild. The question is how much Smart and his new staff can squeeze from this roster.
Grade: B+
18. Southern California
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As he begins his first full season as the Southern California head coach, Clay Helton has some problems to solve, but a lack of talent is not one of them. The Trojans return 14 starters from a team that won eight games and the Pac-12 South title in a tumultuous season that featured the departure of former head coach Steve Sarkisian for alcohol-related issues.
Helton must pick between junior Max Browne or freshman Sam Darnold at quarterback, but that’s the only real concern on offense. Justin Davis and Ronald Jones lead a formidable backfield, and JuJu Smith-Schuster is coming off an 89-catch, 1,454-yard, 10-score sophomore season. Adoree’ Jackson is perhaps the nation’s most versatile player, and he’ll make impacts at receiver, cornerback and kick returner. The Trojans also return the entire offensive line from 2015.
Defensively, there are some worries up front amid new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast’s move to a 5-2 scheme. There are no returning starters on the defensive line, leaving players like Rasheem Green and Malik Dorton pressured to mature quickly. However, the entire secondary, headlined by Jackson and Iman Marshall returns. Overall, this is a deep, talented roster with plenty of potential.
Grade: A-
17. Iowa
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Last fall was a special season in Iowa City. Head coach Kirk Ferentz quieted his critics by putting together a 12-0 regular season and a Big Ten West title, coming within inches of making the College Football Playoff. Can it happen again? The Hawkeyes return 13 starters, including many key returnees from 2015.
The offense returns just five starters, but one of them is quarterback C.J. Beathard, who was a major difference-maker as a starter while throwing for 17 touchdowns against five interceptions. Also returning is Matt VandeBerg, who had 65 receptions for 703 yards and four scores last fall. Iowa returns three offensive line starters, and tailbacks LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley combined for 1,142 yards and 15 scores last fall. They’re both physical, tough runners who’ll keep the offense humming.
Defensively, Iowa returns eight starters from a group that finished No. 19 nationally in scoring defense and No. 22 in total defense. The headliner is senior cornerback Desmond King, the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner. Linebacker Josey Jewell piled up 126 tackles as a sophomore. Jaleel Johnson and Nathan Bazata provide veteran presence on the defensive line. Matt Nelson and Parker Hesse are unproven as defensive ends following Drew Ott’s departure, but this defense shouldn’t see a big drop-off at all.
Grade: B+
16. Washington
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In two seasons at Washington, head coach Chris Petersen is just 15-12, including last fall’s mediocre 7-6 mark. However, the Huskies are regarded as one of the nation’s biggest potential surprise teams. One look at their depth chart explains why. Washington returns 17 starters and has a wealth of talent and a solid mix of experience and youth.
Last fall, Myles Gaskin emerged as one of the nation’s top runners, rolling up 1,302 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Backup Lavon Coleman averaged 5.3 yards per carry in limited action. Quarterback Jake Browning is coming off a solid freshman season, throwing for 2,955 yards with 16 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He has a good arm and should only be better as a sophomore, and K.J. Carta-Samuels provides quality depth behind him. Washington also returns four starters on the offensive line.
Eight starters return from a defense that led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (allowing 18.8 points per game) and total defense (yielding 351.8 yards per game). The secondary is a major strength, with talented safety Budda Baker and junior cornerback Sidney Jones. They’re the kind of players quarterbacks try to avoid if at all possible.
Azeem Victor and Keishawn Bierria anchor a linebacker corps that is trying to replace a pair of starters. Overall, there are few serious holes on this depth chart. There’s good reason for Huskies fans to be excited about this group.
Grade: B+
15. TCU
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Two years ago, the move to the Air Raid offense rejuvenated a TCU program coming off a 4-8 season. Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson made the offense go, helping the Horned Frogs to 23 wins over two seasons with one of the nation’s most potent attacks (TCU averaged 42.1 points per game last fall, No. 7 nationally). Now, though, it’s time to reload. Boykin has graduated, Doctson moved on as an NFL first-round pick, and junior left tackle Joseph Noteboom is the only returning offensive starter. Is that cause for alarm? Not necessarily.
Co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham have talent on hand, even if it isn’t experienced. Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill showed flashes of brilliance with the Aggies and is competing with backup Foster Sawyer to replace Boykin under center. KaVontae Turpin flashed big-play potential with 45 receptions for 649 yards and eight touchdowns, and Jaelan Austin, Ty Slanina, Shaun Nixon and junior college transfer Taj Williams all figure to make big contributions at receiver. The lack of starting experience on the offensive line is a concern.
On the defensive line, Josh Carraway and James McFarland will bring pass-rushing punch. Junior linebacker Travin Howard led TCU with 105 tackles a year ago. Overall, the defense returns seven starters but has solid depth, including two returning starters in the secondary. This team is largely untested but has big promise across the board.
Grade: B-
14. Ole Miss
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Head coach Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss enjoyed a truly special 2015 season. The Rebels won 10 games and capped the year with a Sugar Bowl rout of Oklahoma State, and they beat Alabama for the second consecutive season. Only a wild 53-52 overtime loss to Arkansas kept the Rebels from the SEC title game. How do they build on that? It won’t be as easy as one might think. Freeze returns just 10 starters, although the roster has its fair share of talent.
Senior quarterback Chad Kelly has found a home in Oxford. Last fall, he emerged as a star, throwing for 4,042 passing yards with 31 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He’s also the leading returning rusher with 500 yards and 10 scores on the ground. However, top returning tailbacks Akeem Judd and Jordan Wilkins must prove themselves after combining for 800 yards and seven scores last fall. Two offensive line starters return, but true freshman Greg Little, the nation's top offensive line recruit, has big shoes to fill following the NFL draft departure of left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
At wide receiver, Laquon Treadwell’s NFL draft departure leaves a big hole, although Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore’ea Stringfellow are both capable replacements along with tight end Evan Engram.
Defensively, the Rebels lose a major force with defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (who regularly drew double-teams) off to the NFL. Junior defensive end Marquis Haynes tied a program record with 10 sacks. Issac Gross and Fadol Brown also are potential difference-makers.
Linebacker DeMarquis Gates finished the season strong with a team-high 76 tackles, and safety/nickel Tony Conner will provide leadership in the secondary. Freeze and Co. must answer some questions, but this once again has the look of an SEC West contender.
Grade: B
13. Michigan State
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Head coach Mark Dantonio has quietly built Michigan State into a national power. The Spartans have put together three consecutive Top 10 finishes, and 2015 was the best yet. MSU went 12-2, won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff before falling to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Keeping the good times rolling might be tough, though.
Michigan State returns only nine starters, with replacements needed for steady quarterback Connor Cook and pass-rushing specialist Shilique Calhoun. Senior Tyler O’Connor, who beat Ohio State last fall while Cook sat with a shoulder injury, is the heir apparent at quarterback, and junior defensive tackle Malik McDowell is one of the nation’s best defensive linemen and could fit in at tackle or end.
O’Connor must work to develop chemistry with the passing game. Senior R.J. Shelton had 43 receptions for 503 yards with four touchdowns, but he’s the only returnee with more than seven receptions in 2015. LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes are a capable backfield duo, and Madre London will also make things happen on the ground.
Defensively, McDowell is the only returning defensive line starter, but junior end Demetrius Cooper should be a strong addition to the starting rotation. At linebacker, Riley Bullough leads a deep group and is coming off a 106-tackle season. Montae Nicholson and Demetrious Cox are a talented safety duo that anchors the secondary. Overall, there could be a few bumps in the road, but this roster doesn’t lack talent.
Grade: B
12. Houston
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2016 is a huge season for Houston’s emerging program. Tom Herman took an underachieving team and got the nation’s attention in his first season at the Cougars’ helm, going 13-1 with an AAC title and a Peach Bowl win over Florida State. That got the attention of the Big 12, as well. The Cougars have been tied to the league’s potential expansion, with both Texas and Texas Tech officials publicly supporting their inclusion, as SB Nation's Alex Kirshner noted A strong 2016 could only help their cause, especially with Power Five foes Oklahoma and Louisville on the schedule.
Houston returns 11 starters, highlighted by dynamic senior quarterback Greg Ward. Ward passed for 2,828 yards and 17 touchdowns and added 1,108 yards and 21 scores on the ground, joining Clemson’s Deshaun Watson as the only FBS quarterbacks to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 last fall. Offensive line depth is a concern, as center Will Noble is the only returning starter. Chance Allen and Steven Dunbar lead a talented but unproven group of receivers. Texas transfer Duke Catalon figures to step in immediately as an every-down tailback.
The Cougars lost four defensive backs from a group that allowed 274.7 passing yards per game, No. 116 nationally, although athletic corner Brandon Wilson is a difference-maker. Hometown recruit Ed Oliver should make an immediate impact on the defensive line after picking Houston over LSU and Texas. Outside linebacker Steven Taylor is one of the AAC’s best linebackers and had 92 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a junior. This unit will sink or swim on its pass coverage, though.
Herman and Houston hope to make a run at the College Football Playoff. They’ll need to beat Oklahoma and Louisville to have any shot, but this group does have some talented pieces.
Grade: B-
11. Baylor
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No program in America had a tougher offseason than Baylor. Following an independent investigation into the program, eight-year head coach Art Briles was fired while chancellor Kenneth Starr was stripped of his power and athletic director Ian McCaw resigned following findings that Briles and his staff had obstructed and misled investigations into allegations of sexual assault and dating violence against his players.
Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe was brought in as “acting” head coach, but the scandal did a number on Baylor’s depth chart. Eleven recruits, half of Baylor’s 2016 class, have been released from their national letters of intent, including star guard/tackle Patrick Hudson and top receiver Devin Duvernay, per Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle. Talented sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham also announced plans to transfer.
That said, the roster is far from bare. Seth Russell had 2,104 passing yards with 29 touchdowns against six interceptions in seven games before missing the rest of 2015 with a neck injury. Potent deep threat Corey Coleman is off to the NFL, but KD Cannon is coming off a 50-catch, 868-yard, six-score sophomore season and will thrive as Russell’s main target. Shock Linwood rushed for 1,329 yards as a junior, and junior Johnny Jefferson was also a 1,000-yard rusher.
However, senior center Kyle Fuller is the only returning starter on the offensive or defensive lines. That’s a major concern. The linebacker corps, led by junior Travon Blanchard, is solid, and the secondary finished third in the pass-happy Big 12 in passing yardage allowed in 2015 and returns three starters.
The front-line players give Baylor reason for hope in 2015. But the program’s overall margin for error is rather thin.
Grade: C
10. Stanford
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Head coach David Shaw has quietly turned Stanford into a Pac-12 and national power. The Cardinal have won three of the last four Pac-12 titles and are knocking on the door of a College Football Playoff berth. Last fall, only a lackluster 16-6 season-opening loss to Northwestern and a 38-36 loss to Oregon kept them out of the playoff. This fall, Shaw and Stanford have some concerns, as they return only nine starters. However, Shaw has recruited well, and although the schedule is tough (with Southern California, UCLA, Washington, Washington State and Notre Dame in the first six weeks), Stanford should again be a Pac-12 power.
The offense’s biggest question revolves around who’ll replace steady Kevin Hogan at quarterback—sophomore Keller Chryst or junior Ryan Burns. Both are capable passers. And they get to hand off to Christian McCaffrey, who is coming off the top all-around yardage season in FBS history. He led Stanford in rushing yards (2,019) and receiving yards (645) and scored 13 offensive touchdowns. He has speedy sophomore Bryce Love as a backup.
Wide receivers Michael Rector and Francis Owusu provide veteran leadership, and while senior right guard Johnny Caspers is the only returning starter on the offensive line, Shaw and the Cardinal have a history of strong offensive line play.
Defensively, Solomon Thomas should be a threat rushing passers off the edge, while juniors Kevin Palma and Peter Kalambayi (the leading returning tackler with 52) shore up the linebacker corps. Overall, this group has some question marks, but it also has a good blend of experience. The same could be said for the roster as a whole.
Grade: B
9. Tennessee
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Is 2016 the year that Tennessee returns to national prominence? It wouldn’t be surprising. Head coach Butch Jones has steadily built the Volunteers into a program to be feared, and he returns virtually everyone of importance from a 9-4 team that thumped Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. Eighteen starters return, making Tennessee a strong SEC East contender.
Senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs is a steady offensive leader, and he’ll be protected by an offensive line that returns all five starters. They block for an elite run game led by Jalen Hurd, coming off a 1,288-yard, 12-touchdown season. Backup Alvin Kamara is also an SEC-level talent. There are questions about a receiver group led by Josh Malone, who had just 31 catches for 405 yards and two touchdowns. He and fellow junior Josh Smith need to take some pressure off the strong run game.
Defensively, junior end Derek Barnett and Jonathan Kongbo could be one of the SEC’s top sack tandems, and defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie is a load at 6’3”, 325 pounds. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is coming off a 105-tackle season, and fellow linebacker Darrin Kirkland is also athletic and productive. The secondary is anchored by one of the nation’s top corners in senior Cameron Sutton.
There are issues with the receiver corps and depth on the defensive line, but this is a team more than capable of challenging for the SEC East title and beyond.
Grade: B+
8. Notre Dame
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Brian Kelly has done a solid job as Notre Dame’s head coach. It’s hard to hide in South Bend, and Kelly has done well, winning 55 games in six seasons with a national runner-up finish on his resume. The Fighting Irish are coming off a 10-win season and Fiesta Bowl berth in 2015, although they bring back only eight total starters.
One of the nation’s most scrutinized quarterback battles will take place between DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire. Kizer took the reins of the offense after Zaire suffered a season-ending broken ankle in Week 2 of 2015 and thrived, passing for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Either would be a highly capable starter. Tarean Folston should be a solid No. 1 back, assuming he’s fully recovered from offseason knee surgery. Josh Adams rushed for 835 yards and six touchdowns.
The wide receiver corps has unproven but solid talent led by Torii Hunter Jr. Only two starting offensive linemen return. The defense lost major pieces in linebackers Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt, tackle Sheldon Day and cornerback KeiVarae Russell but still returns five starters, led by senior defensive end Isaac Rochell.
The secondary is a potential concern, with inconsistent senior cornerback Cole Luke the only returning starter. This group’s depth will be tested early on with high-profile games against Texas and Michigan State.
Grade: C+
7. Ohio State
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Head coach Urban Meyer has quickly built Ohio State back into a national power. In four seasons in Columbus, Meyer is 50-4 with a national championship and a Big Ten title under his belt. He hasn’t faced a task like the one ahead of him this fall, however. While Meyer’s staff has recruited well, Ohio State will return just six starters from 2015’s 12-2 team. OSU lost 12 draft picks to the NFL, including nine underclassmen.
Per Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com, Meyer is spending a lot more time on practice planning this season.
"I have never spent this much time on practice schedules," Meyer said. "I stare at that board for two hours a day. Every practice I've probably gone over five, six, seven times to make sure we're getting everything."
Ohio State no longer has the depth it once had at quarterback, but it has one of the nation’s top leaders in junior J.T. Barrett, who is the unquestioned starter one year removed from a pitched battle with Cardale Jones. Barrett is an excellent dual-threat passer and an offensive cornerstone. He’ll throw to the likes of Noah Brown and Corey Smith, both unproven quantities, and H-back Curtis Samuel can also contribute in a number of ways. The right side of the offensive line should be solid with senior Pat Elflein and right guard Billy Price, but it must fill three starting roles.
The defense returns just three starters, led by star middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan, who piled up 119 tackles as a sophomore. On the defensive line, Sam Hubbard and Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa’s younger brother, should be key pass-rushing threats along with junior Tyquan Lewis. Junior Gareon Conley is the only returning starter in the secondary.
This is a talented roster, but with so many young and unproven players, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few bumps in the road along the way this fall.
Grade: B-
6. LSU
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Les Miles is one of the nation’s most eccentric, fun-to-watch head coaches in college football. But he’ll be feeling the stress this fall on LSU’s sidelines. The Tigers put Miles’ job in jeopardy with a three-game November swoon following a 7-0 start. But they finished strong with a 56-27 rout of Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl, and the Tigers return 18 starters, including 10 on defense.
They’re led by one of the nation’s top tailbacks in junior Leonard Fournette, a bruising back coming off a 1,953-yard, 22-touchdown sophomore season. Three offensive line starters will return to block for him as well. The Tigers have a talented wideout duo in Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural, but they need more consistency from quarterback Brandon Harris. Harris is the unquestioned starter, but he needs to be better than his 13-touchdown, six-interception sophomore season.
New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda inherits a unit that returns 10 starters and finished fifth nationally in total defense, allowing 347.2 yards per game. Lewis Neal and Arden Key are both respected pass-rushers, and the secondary is loaded with senior cornerback Tre’Davious White and hard-hitting junior safety Jamal Adams leading the way. Aranda will get the most out of a deep, talented group that can compete with the top of the SEC West.
Grade: A-
5. Michigan
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Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s track record suggested he’d be able to turn around Michigan’s flagging hopes. The only surprise was how quickly he’s done it. Harbaugh’s drive and omnipresent intensity and enthusiasm improved the Wolverines immediately, taking them from 5-7 to 10-3, with two of their losses coming by a combined 11 points.
As he begins his second season in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh will build on a solid base. The Wolverines return 14 starters (eight on offense), with quarterback the biggest sticking point. Steady graduate transfer Jake Rudock is gone, leaving backup Wilton Speight and Houston transfer John O’Korn to battle for the starting role. The eventual starter will be protected by an offensive line that returns four starters, three of them seniors. Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson form a veteran pass-catching duo, with Darboh coming off a 58-catch, 727-yard, five-score junior season. De’Veon Smith is the best of a rather average bunch at tailback.
The defense will be keyed by one of the nation’s most dynamic all-around talents in Jabrill Peppers, who’ll be a strong-side linebacker. Peppers can also play corner, safety and catch passes, throw passes and get carries out of the backfield. He’s good. Jourdan Lewis and Jeremy Clark anchor a secondary that ranked as the Big Ten’s best last fall.
Senior defensive end Chris Wormley piled up 6.5 sacks last fall, and the nation’s top overall recruit, defensive tackle Rashan Gary, figures to make his presence known immediately. The same could be said for Michigan as a whole in 2016.
Grade: B+
4. Oklahoma
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It might be hard to believe, but Bob Stoops is now the longest-tenured head coach in the FBS. Frank Beamer’s retirement following 29 seasons at Virginia Tech gave Stoops the mantle. He has Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz beaten by one day; Stoops was hired by Oklahoma on Dec. 1, 1998, and Ferentz was hired a day later. Stoops owns a national title, but this could be one of his best teams.
Oklahoma is coming off a 12-2 record, College Football Playoff appearance and returns 12 starters. One of the biggest areas of strength? The backfield, where Samaje Perine leads the way following a 1,349-yard, 16-touchdown sophomore season. Speedy Joe Mixon is an excellent complement. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is a mobile threat and Heisman Trophy candidate who threw for 3,700 yards with 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first season as the Sooners starter. He’ll need to develop a new group of receivers following Sterling Shepard’s departure, with Dede Westbrook and Penn State transfer Geno Lewis leading the way.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jordan Evans (83 tackles) leads an inexperienced group in the middle. End Charles Walker is a budding edge-rushing star following a six-sack sophomore season. The secondary returns three starters, led by junior cornerback Jordan Thomas, who had five picks as a sophomore.
Overall, this group has the talent to make another run at a College Football Playoff berth.
Grade: B+
3. Florida State
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It is a testament to the job that head coach Jimbo Fisher has done with Florida State that 2015 was a “down” season for the Seminoles. Yes, 10 wins and a New Year’s Six bowl game was a down year in Tallahassee. Just don’t expect FSU to stay down long. Fisher returns 15 starters, including nine on offense, and has recruited well. That should show through in 2016.
The offense is led by junior tailback Dalvin Cook, coming off a 1,691-yard, 19-touchdown sophomore season that could have been even better if he was fully healthy. Cook fought through leg injuries but remained an explosive back. Who’ll hand off to him is less certain. Freshmen Deondre Francois and Malik Henry will push senior quarterback Sean Maguire. Travis Rudolph, Jesus Wilson and Kermit Whitfield are all capable of big plays in the passing game. Four offensive line starters return, but the group as a whole was inconsistent last fall.
Defensively, FSU will be keyed by a strong secondary that should be great despite the loss of Jalen Ramsey to the NFL. Sophomore Derwin James had 91 tackles as a freshman and is a rising star, and Trey Marshall and Nate Andrews provide a strong veteran presence. Linebacker is a concern with no returning starters. Veteran reserve Matthew Thomas must earn coaches’ trust. Defensive ends Josh Sweat and DeMarcus Walker will be tough for opponents to contain. Overall, this group has the talent to return to national elite status.
Grade: B+
2. Clemson
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Last fall, Clemson showed that it belonged among the nation’s elite programs. The Tigers began the season 14-0, finished as the national runners-up to Alabama and put together their fifth consecutive season with at least 10 wins. Dabo Swinney returns 12 starters, and there’s no reason to doubt that his group can continue to play at a high level, given the consistently solid recruiting classes he’s welcomed.
The offense returns eight starters, led by junior quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Heisman Trophy third-place finisher. Watson became the first player in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He’ll throw to a deep group of receivers. Do-everything receiver Artavis Scott had 93 receptions for 901 yards and six scores, and junior Mike Williams (who redshirted following a neck injury) is fully healthy with a 1,000-yard sophomore season on his resume. Ray-Ray McCloud, Hunter Renfrow and Deon Cain are all capable of making big plays, and junior Jordan Leggett is one of the nation’s top tight ends.
An offensive line that returns three starters (led by sophomore left tackle Mitch Hyatt) will open holes for a potent run game keyed by Wayne Gallman. Adam Choice and Tyshon Dye, as well as freshman Tavien Feaster, will battle for carries behind him.
The NFL draft took a big toll on a defense that ranked No. 10 nationally in total yardage, with six underclassmen, led by defensive end Shaq Lawson and cornerback Mackensie Alexander, turning pro. However, senior defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, sophomore Christian Wilkins and freshman Dexter Lawrence (the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit) will make things happen in the trenches.
Senior Ben Boulware will key the linebacker corps, and senior corner Cordrea Tankersley is an All-ACC-caliber player. The secondary is the biggest issue for defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Mark Fields and Ryan Carter will battle for playing time alongside junior Marcus Edmond and freshman Trayvon Mullen.
Overall, there’s little reason to believe the Tigers will slip in 2016, particularly given the accumulated offensive talent.
Grade: B
1. Alabama
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Under head coach Nick Saban’s watch, Alabama has become a well-oiled machine. The Crimson Tide graduate players and lose talent to the NFL on a consistent basis, but they just reload with excellent, elite-level recruiting. Coming off Saban’s fourth national championship in nine years, that will be no different in Tuscaloosa this year. Alabama returns 11 starters and has questions to answer, but talent is not an issue.
Lane Kiffin’s offense returns six starters, but the biggest focus will be at quarterback, where Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell, Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts will battle to replace national champion Jake Coker. Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Derrick Henry is also gone, but powerful sophomore Bo Scarbrough should be a capable replacement. Whoever wins the starting quarterback role has an excellent weapon in sophomore Calvin Ridley, who had 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and seven scores as a freshman. ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster are also capable targets.
The offensive line returns three starters, and one of them is All-American left tackle Cam Robinson, one of the nation’s best offensive linemen. O.J. Howard is one of the nation’s most athletic tight ends, as Clemson found out in the national title game.
Defensively, the secondary will be a huge key after returning three starters, led by safety Eddie Jackson and cornerbacks Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey. Reuben Foster is the only returning starter in the linebacker corps, but freshmen Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson, along with senior Tim Williams, should be impact players.
The defensive line suffered NFL draft losses, most notably mammoth defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, but senior Jonathan Allen should be one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC; he is coming off a 12-sack sophomore season. Junior defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and sophomore defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne will get a chance to flash their talents in bigger roles.
As always, Alabama has holes to fill, but this depth chart should look far better at season’s end than it does right now.
Grade: A-
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