College Football Players Turning Heads During 2017 Spring Practice
Spring practice isn't quite in full swing yet, but there are enough college football programs already immersed in the routine of absorbing the scheme, diving into playbooks and knocking pads that several players are beginning to stand out.
For some veterans, it's an opportunity to shine with stars having departed. A lot of new names are breaking out and making names for themselves, too.
From a duo of SEC quarterbacks turning heads to a handful of seasoned secondary members making the most of their chances, coaches and reporters are consistently calling out names across the country as potential stars of 2017.
At Auburn, Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham is seizing the opportunity in front of him to gain a leg up in the starting quarterback race. Feleipe Franks is doing the same in Florida with Luke Del Rio out.
With all eyes on the quarterback race at Clemson, a running back is stealing some of the spotlight.
You don't normally win jobs in March, but that's the time where coaches begin to develop comfort levels in players that pay huge dividends once the reps get closer to crunch time.
Let's take a look at some guys around the country like the ones mentioned above who are making waves through spring drills.
Cam Akers, Florida State Running Back
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A player everybody wanted to see this spring who is off to a fantastic start is Florida State mid-term freshman enrollee Cam Akers, who is making it difficult to keep him off the field already.
The Seminoles have a good problem, considering former backup veteran Jacques Patrick looks like a solid option to fill Dalvin Cook's huge cleats. But he isn't as explosive as Akers, the former Clinton, Mississippi, standout who chose FSU in a hotly contested recruiting battle.
Akers is firmly in the mix for important carries, and Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher is even working him in as a returner. Akers isn't disappointing.
"[Akers is a] very natural returner," Fisher told 247Sports' Brendan Sonnone. "He catches the ball, tremendous ball skills. I mean really good ball skills, judges it really well. You can catch underneath and still not go catch punts."
Between Patrick, Akers and sophomore Amir Rasul, Florida State is going to have a plethora of able ball-carriers, and perhaps the best thing about the competition this spring is everybody seems to be helping each other.
Teams need more than one capable back. Patrick is the bruiser, but Akers brings a smooth skill set with breakaway speed. He's going to be a key part of what is expected to be a good Seminoles team.
That's evident this spring as Fisher is getting him touches anywhere he can.
"That guy is going to be really good," Patrick said of Akers, according to the Orlando Sentinel's Safid Deen.
Jamel Cook, USC Defensive Back
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USC's Jamel Cook probably would have found his way on to the field as a true freshman in 2016, but the talented youngster injured his foot, forcing him into a redshirt.
Now, after sitting a season, he's showing out this spring in an effort to work his way into the defensive back rotation.
The Trojans lost Adoree' Jackson to the NFL, but it's the departure of Leon McQuay III that freed up a spot for Cook. He's taking advantage. Though he was expected to play a backup role at free safety behind Marvell Tell Jr., Cook has forced his way into a spot.
USC is trying to make the athletic, 6'4", 195-pound defensive back into a nickelback, and he's shining. In one scrimmage, Cook had an eye-opening three interceptions, and he has delivered big hit after big hit as well.
The former Miami Central High School standout is just one of many talented defensive backs on the Trojans roster, and he is showing that he belongs on the field.
"He has flashes of real brilliance," USC coach Clay Helton told the Los Angeles Daily News' Scott Wolf. "[He needs to work on his] consistency of assignments and learning the system."
He's got the time to do it and the talent to excel once he does.
A defender with Cook's length makes it difficult on smaller receivers, and he can be a big asset because of it. Before long, the cousin of Dalvin Cook who flipped from FSU to USC a year ago may make his own big name.
Tavien Feaster, Clemson Running Back
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Wayne Gallman is spending his time these days training for the NFL and waiting to see where he'll be selected in the upcoming draft.
That means the Clemson Tigers are looking for a new feature running back among their stable of able runners. Though C.J. Fuller was the primary backup in 2016 and figures to play a significant role again this year, the big gainer so far this spring is Tavien Feaster.
The talented former star recruit didn't do much damage as a true freshman, but with sub-4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and after watching Gallman for a year, he has displayed the knack for doing things the right way this spring.
It's big news for head coach Dabo Swinney, who needs offensive playmakers to emerge in the post-Deshaun Watson era. Feaster looks like a prime candidate.
Swinney told TigerNet's Tony Crumpton that Feaster is primed to take a big leap:
"I expect him to make a huge step forward. I think he will be a big-time factor for us. He was a guy last year that I think had Wayne [Gallman] not been there then there would be a different type of a need, but with having a guy like Wayne Gallman who was kind of the heart and soul of that position, it allowed us to really bring him along at a good healthy pace. He's ready.
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In another story, Feaster told TigerNet's David Hood he is ready to "dominate" and win a starting job. So, while most of the eyes are on Kelly Bryant and Co. in the race to replace Watson, Feaster is not-so-quietly stealing headlines.
He hopes he keeps doing so in the fall.
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Feleipe Franks, Florida Quarterback
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There is a figurative wide-open, swinging door in Florida's quarterback race this spring thanks to Luke Del Rio sitting out of drills with an injury.
Even if the senior was healthy, it was going to happen regardless because of Del Rio's play in 2016. He didn't impress anybody in his first real action as a starter in Gainesville, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,358 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Head coach Jim McElwain's offense has struggled in his two seasons with the Gators despite two trips to the SEC Championship Game. If he can find an able slinger, Florida may be the beast of the East again.
This spring, that opportunity is being seized by redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks, a former LSU commitment who the Gators flipped. The talented second-year player has looked good in his battle with Kyle Trask for the job.
Running back Jordan Scarlett told SEC Country's Ryan Young that Franks has been the most impressive:
"I say from when [Franks] first got here, he didn’t want to take care of the ball as much. He didn’t realize college football is a lot faster. But now he’s making more smarter decisions with the football and I like it. Trask, he’s a very patient thrower and he’s got a good arm. I just think that he needs to bring on more [of a] leadership role and get more vocal like Feleipe and then he’ll be good.
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ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff says Franks is the "presumed leader," and in his story, McElwain offered a glimmer of hope for the position, saying of such a maligned spot for the Gators in recent years, "We're going to be pretty good."
Rashan Gary, Michigan Defensive Lineman
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Considering Michigan has hardly played any spring football yet, how can one of the Wolverines already be stealing national headlines?
It's because there's a freak in Ann Arbor, and thanks to head coach Jim Harbaugh continuing to come up with creative ways to generate buzz, one of the most anticipated players in spring practice is getting a ton of talk before the pads go on and things get hot and heavy.
That would be rising sophomore Rashan Gary, who was one of the nation's top recruits a season ago, choosing Michigan among offers from virtually everybody in the country. The versatile 6'5", 287-pound lineman registered 23 tackles, including five for a loss, as a true freshman in 2016.
But because of stars like Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley, he was brought along slowly, despite playing in 12 games. Now that practice has begun, Gary is getting praise for his size and athleticism.
With the NFL draft around the corner, Harbaugh held a mock combine for his players still in school. Gary stole the show, running a reported 4.57 40-yard dash, which is basically unheard of for somebody his size.
"Yeah, I don't know about all that," UM defensive tackle Maurice Hurst told MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner. "It might have been a little fabrication with it being the 4.5 there. I'm not hating, but I think there was a little fabrication in that 4.5. He has all the ability and all the tools to be a star. I think that's something that's going to come out now."
Added Charlton: "I think he can be great. An NFL-caliber player. A top-10 pick."
Those are lofty words for a player who has only played a full season. His latest feat is the definition of a head-turner.
Collin Johnson, Texas Wide Receiver
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Before now, Texas sophomore receiver Collin Johnson has been known for the acrobatic catches in last year's game against Texas Tech.
He's trying to diversify his portfolio.
This spring, he's off to a good start.
Horns247 noted the 6'6", 212-pound pass-catcher from San Jose, California, has held down a starting role thus far in camp, trying to make a giant leap forward after a strong first year that saw him grab 28 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns in a support role.
That article detailed a couple of impressive catches he recently hauled in during drills, and at his size, he's a mismatch for every defensive back who will line up against him. As if the Texas Tech catches weren't enough to make everybody go "Wow," Johnson is at it again this spring.
He made a spectacular catch in drills that earned its own article from 247Sports' Chris Hummer. The word being thrown around not-so-lightly to describe the target is "freak."
So, while everybody wants to know how new head coach Tom Herman's offense is going to look and who is going to run it in the quarterback battle between Shane Buechele and true freshman Sam Ehlinger, the winner of that race is going to have a fun time lobbing it up to Johnson.
He's proving to everybody again this spring that he's a human highlight reel.
Ed Paris, LSU Safety
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There are few coaches in the country better at recruiting than LSU head man Ed Orgeron, and a pair of the jewels from his first class are safeties JaCoby Stevens and Grant Delpit.
Both star recruits are mid-term enrollees, both are unbelievably talented, and both have drawn praise from coaches in the Tigers' spring drills thus far. SEC Country's Matt Jennings even listed Stevens as a breakout player to watch.
But sometimes the incumbent player is a better option sooner than all the shiny new toys.
Ed Paris has played in all 37 games in his LSU career, mostly on special teams. He's started only two times in those first few years, but he has stuck around and waited his turn. Now, as a senior, the former 4-star U.S. Army All-American believes it's his time.
With Jamal Adams gone and heading to somebody in the first round of the NFL draft, Paris must hold off those awesome young guns. So far, he's doing it, trotting out with the first team throughout the entire first half of spring drills. He's "showing flashes," according to NOLA.com's James Smith.
After moving over from cornerback to safety last year, the 6'1", 203-pound defensive back has found a home.
"I think he’s going to be OK," Orgeron told The Advocate's James Bewers of Paris, who has registered 17 total tackles in three seasons. "I think that’s a natural spot for him. I didn't think corner was."
It's going to be one of the most intriguing battles all throughout spring and into the season. Paris is no slouch from a talent perspective himself, and his strong spring so far is showing him capable of fending off Delpit and Stevens.
Jarrett Stidham, Auburn Quarterback
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It's hard to read about young guns around the country this spring without hearing Jarrett Stidham's name. The former Baylor star recruit who got on the field for Art Briles as a true freshman has found a new home following the fallout of the Briles regime.
He's proving himself to be worthy of the buzz.
Though true freshman Malik Willis is also turning heads this spring for Auburn, Stidham is the heavy favorite to be the starting quarterback. He's proving he is firmly in the mix to beat out Sean White for the job as the two are the favorites to stand out at the position.
White is playing with a plate in his arm after injuring it in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma.
Stidham is showing ample mobility and a strong arm. More than anything else, he's proving he belongs from a leadership standpoint. He's already earned enough trust to stand in front of the media and answer questions for the first time following Saturday's spring scrimmage.
"I would say arm strength," junior receiver Ryan Davis told SEC Country's Lauren Shute in regards to why Stidham is standing out. "He's very smart and intelligent, and he knows what he's going to do before he does it. He has a great understanding of the offense and of defenses. That's what stands out to me."
The Montgomery Advertiser's Matthew Stevens summed up what Stidham means to Auburn perfectly with an article. With the Tigers being set at running back with star Kamryn Pettway, a stable of talented receivers and a strong defense, all they need is a quarterback.
Stidham's spring performance so far is giving them hope.
Manny Wilkins, Arizona State
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Most of the preseason talk around Tempe when it came to Arizona State revolved around Alabama transfer Blake Barnett, who was supposed to come in and seize the starting job for the Sun Devils and help head coach Todd Graham off the hot seat.
Somebody forgot to tell incumbent Manny Wilkins.
Or maybe somebody did, and he decided to do something about it.
It's an exciting battle so far between some potentially good signal-callers in the desert, and Wilkins may just seize control for his redshirt sophomore season. After starting last year off well, he suffered some injuries as the Sun Devils fell to 5-7.
But, he still completed 63.3 percent of his passes and averaged 257.5 yards of total offense. The dual-threat quarterback isn't just handing Barnett the job because of his reputation. Graham called Wilkins' name to azcentral.com reporter Jeff Metcalfe recently when discussing quarterback play:
"I've been very impressed. All three of the guys that are repping (Wilkins, Barnett, Dillon Sterling-Cole) are working extremely well. In particular with Manny. You can tell he has raised his game. Blake coming in, you can tell he's learning. They bring a lot to the table. We'll know more about that evaluation in our first scrimmage.
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That scrimmage is scheduled for March 29, and until then, Arizona State will watch and evaluate. New offensive coordinator Billy Napier doesn't feel obligated to name a leader right now, but he's got some strong options.
Sometimes, a quarterback competition will bring out the best in players, and that seems to be the case with Wilkins.
Aaron Williams, Nebraska Safety
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Nebraska made an impressive turnaround in year two under head coach Mike Riley, shedding its tough-luck label from 2015 and putting together a nice season before succumbing to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.
If the Cornhuskers are going to take another step forward in 2017, their defense must improve, starting with a secondary that ranked 10th in pass defense in the Big Ten.
Thankfully for NU and new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, the secondary just so happens to be the biggest pleasant surprise of the spring, and it's led by junior safety Aaron Williams. It's no surprise Williams is shining, following a sophomore campaign that saw him register 62 tackles, two sacks and three picks.
But it's the leadership he's displaying on a unit in desperate need of it that is separating him.
New safeties coach Bob Elliott said Williams was "as smart of a player as I've been around," according to Landof10.com's Chris Heady. He's one of the main reasons why Riley told Heady in another article he's "excited" about that group and that his defensive backs could be a strength.
The Atlanta native may have come from the heart of SEC country, but he's becoming a star in the gritty chest of the Midwest, and the Huskers are proud to have a player of his caliber manning the back end of the defense.
Last year, he played safety and nickelback, so with his versatility, he can fortify a lot of different positions on the third level. That's huge news for a Nebraska defense that looks like it may be better this year than it was a season ago.
All stats gathered on CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings and information courtesy of Scout unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers college football for Bleacher Report.
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