Every Top 10 College Football Team's Secret Weapon
It’s hard to believe, but we’re entering the final month of the 2017 college football regular season. When the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its initial Top 25 poll Tuesday night, we’ll have a good idea of which teams are prepared to contend for a playoff spot and which teams have a tough road. Of course, all of the Top 10 teams in the poll (and in the latest Associated Press Top 25, which is the ranking used for this article) are talented and have multiple stars carrying the load.
But they can’t do it all themselves. Every successful team has a secret weapon who serves as a major difference-maker, even if his name doesn’t roll off the tongue of casual fans. Among their roles are providing an offensive spark, pinning opposing offenses deep and having a knack for game-changing defensive plays. Here’s a look at every Top 10 team’s secret weapon: players who aren’t necessarily front-line stars but are worth getting to know better as the 2017 season reaches its apex.
10. TCU WR KaVontae Turpin
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TCU's hopes of an unbeaten season and push for a College Football Playoff spot took a hit Saturday in Ames. Two red-zone turnovers ultimately undid the Horned Frogs, who dropped a 14-7 decision to Iowa State. It wasn't what Gary Patterson's bunch hoped for, but it did find a major bright spot in KaVontae Turpin.
With TCU trailing 14-0 at halftime, Turpin gave his team a huge adrenaline jolt by returning the second-half kickoff 94 yards for what turned out to be TCU's only score of the day. Energy is Turpin's speciality; the 5'9", 153-pounder contributes in a number of ways.
He has a 90-yard punt return for a score and is also TCU's co-leader in receptions with 23 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown, along with five carries for 59 yards and a touchdown and one pass for 48 yards and a score. In other words, he's been directly involved in a scoring play in five different ways this season.
Turpin is far from the biggest player on the field, but his versatility and all-around skills make him a dangerous factor for opposing defenses no matter where he lines up. Expect more big plays down the stretch as TCU battles for a Big 12 title.
9. Miami RB Travis Homer
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In Mark Richt's second season, Miami has been impressive. The Hurricanes are one of five remaining unbeatens in the FBS, and at 7-0 they are No. 9 nationally with big games against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame ahead. The loss of standout tailback Mark Walton to a season-ending ankle injury had the potential to torpedo the offense, but sophomore tailback Travis Homer has taken the starting role and run with it.
In three games as the starter, Homer is averaging 101.7 rushing yards per game with two touchdowns. Along with new starting quarterback Malik Rosier, he gives the Hurricanes confidence that they can contend for an ACC title and, potentially, a College Football Playoff spot.
8. Oklahoma RB Abdul Adams
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When Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine left early for the NFL following 2016, it left a big void in Oklahoma’s backfield. But the Sooners have thrived regardless this fall with a backfield by committee comprised of Trey Sermon, Abdul Adams and Rodney Anderson.
Adams, in particular, is intriguing with his impressive 10.4-yards-per-carry average; he is OU’s second-leading rusher despite having just 45 carries and missing two games with an ankle injury. He runs with power and aggressiveness, and he uncorked a 99-yard touchdown run against Baylor, finishing with 11 carries for 164 yards and the score.
He has shown improvement from a freshman season in which he carried 53 times for 283 yards and no scores, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. If he keeps this current trajectory, Adams should play an even bigger role in the Sooners offense down the stretch.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Penn State P Blake Gillikin
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Penn State's hopes of a Big Ten East title and national title took a big hit in Saturday's 39-38 loss at Ohio State, but the Nittany Lions are still in position to have an excellent season with a 7-1 overall record. We all know the greatness of junior tailback Saquon Barkley, who has 801 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns as well as 36 catches for 471 yards and three receiving scores, but one of the Lions' most important weapons might be the guy who steps on the field when Barkley and the offense are stopped short of their goals.
Sophomore Blake Gillikin has emerged as one of the nation's best punters. He averages 44.3 yards per punt and is a particularly precise punter. Of his 33 punts, 17 have been downed inside the opponent's 20 and nine have traveled more than 50 yards.
That gives Penn State's defense an extra edge when it hits the field to face opposing offenses. That has been a huge factor for the Lions, who allow 13.3 points per game, No. 7 nationally.
6. Clemson RB Travis Etienne
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After winning a national championship in 2016, Clemson lost multiple key offensive pieces to the NFL, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, wide receiver Mike Williams and tailback Wayne Gallman. The Tigers are once again a national title contender and, following Saturday's 24-10 win over Georgia Tech, stand 7-1 and firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. While junior quarterback Kelly Bryant has done an excellent job after stepping into Watson's shoes, and the defense has been its typical nasty self (allowing 13.1 points per game, No. 6 nationally), the Tigers backfield has been productive and underrated.
Freshman Travis Etienne has the third-most carries behind Bryant and sophomore Tavien Feaster, but he deserves more than the 58 he has received. He leads Clemson in rushing with 489 yards and averages an impressive 8.4 yards per carry. Etienne also has seven touchdowns, with scores in each of Clemson's last three games.
He has game-breaking speed, with touchdowns of 52, 54 and 81 yards on the season. It would be no surprise if Etienne got more carries and more opportunities to make things happen, certainly more than his current 7.3 attempts per game.
5. Notre Dame CB Julian Love
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Following a 20-19 loss to Georgia, Notre Dame has emerged as one of the nation's best teams. The narrow loss to the Bulldogs looks better by the week, as the Fighting Irish have reeled off six consecutive victories, all by at least 20 points. Tailback Josh Adams is a clear Heisman Trophy candidate, with 1,169 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, but Notre Dame's defense has carried the Irish.
Notre Dame allows 16.1 points per game, No. 10 nationally, and has a stingy secondary. One of the unsung heroes is cornerback Julian Love. He has emerged as a key contributor capable of playing both corner and safety and has made a pair of huge interceptions. He took his first interception of the season 59 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State, and in Saturday's 35-14 win over NC State, he snagged a Ryan Finley pass and took it 69 yards to the house on the first drive of the second half, a turning point in the Irish's 35-14 win.
To make the College Football Playoff and win a national title, Notre Dame will surely face some potent pass attacks, and Love will be relied on heavily to help shut them down.
4. Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus
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Wisconsin is 8-0, and, thanks to a soft Big Ten West, stands an excellent chance at making the Big Ten title game and facing off against the East champion, be it Ohio State, Penn State or even Michigan State. The Badgers are known far more for their run game, with freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor rushing for 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook has just 1,570 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, but when Wisconsin needs to move the ball through the air, he knows just where to turn.
Sophomore Quintez Cephus is having a breakout season, with 28 catches for 477 yards and five touchdowns. He has made multiple receptions in each game this season, including a five-catch, 100-yard, one-score day against Purdue.
Cephus stands 6'1", 205 pounds and was originally committed to play basketball at Furman before flipping to football at Wisconsin. He has great leaping ability and knows how to make the tough catches, something the Badgers will lean on him heavily for down the stretch.
3. Ohio State WR Johnnie Dixon
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Saturday, Ohio State saved its season in thrilling fashion. The Buckeyes erased a 35-20 fourth-quarter deficit and rallied for a 39-38 win over No. 2 Penn State, giving OSU a clear case to be one of the Top Four teams in the first College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings. And while J.T. Barrett starred and led the way, he and the offense couldn’t have reached their peak without contributions from receiver Johnnie Dixon.
The junior had his best game in a Buckeyes uniform, making three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns (both in the fourth quarter). Dixon has great potential but has struggled to stay on the field because of knee issues. In his first three seasons, he made seven catches for 55 yards.
He is enjoying a breakout season with 13 catches for 332 yards and six touchdowns. If Dixon can stay healthy, he’ll be a huge factor in Ohio State’s push for another playoff bid.
2. Georgia WR Mecole Hardman
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In Kirby Smart's second season, Georgia has made tremendous progress. The Bulldogs are 8-0 and look destined for a showdown against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Freshman Jake Fromm has been excellent while supplanting Jacob Eason at quarterback, and tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel form a potent 1-2 duo in the backfield.
But the Bulldogs have other weapons as well. Following a season spent in Georgia's secondary, sophomore Mecole Hardman has made the transition to receiver and is emerging as a game-breaker. Against Missouri, he took a reverse 35 yards for a touchdown and then took a short screen pass and raced for a 59-yard touchdown.
Hardman has nine catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns as well as four carries for 40 yards and the aforementioned score, and he also returns punts and kicks, averaging 25.4 yards per kick return and 10.3 yards per punt return. He has sprinter speed (he was on Georgia's 4x100 meter relay team as a freshman) and is finding ways to harness it that make huge impacts on the offense.
1. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
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When the first College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings comes out Tuesday, Alabama will be one of the Top Four teams and has an excellent chance of being No. 1. The Crimson Tide have dominated their foes, averaging 43 points per game while allowing just 9.8. And while sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts has been solid in leading the offense, he's had a little help.
A rash of transfers following Hurts' emergence as a freshman left Alabama thin at quarterback, and freshman Tua Tagovailoa has provided key snaps as a backup. The Hawaii native has completed 28 of 42 passes for 385 yards with five touchdowns against one interception, and added 95 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Tagovailoa has shown mobility and the ability to throw on the run, and has picked up Alabama's offense quickly. His legs and strong arm give defenses plenty to think about while game-planning. While he isn't yet challenging Hurts for the starting role, the Tide have to be happy about the possibilities he offers in the offense and for the future in Tuscaloosa.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
