College Football 2011: The 10 Most Exciting Players Returning In 2011
Oftentimes, the most popular or recognizable face on any team in college football is the one with the most dynamic talent or the most explosiveness.
Much like Cam Newton was at Auburn in 2010, having an explosive playmaker can make a world of difference for any team.
Even though Newton is gone, there are still plenty of gamebreakers out there across the country.
Here are the ten most exciting players to watch in 2011.
10. Michael Dyer, RB: Auburn
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It's extremely rare that a freshman that comes into an SEC program and rushes for over 1,000 yards flies under the radar.
But when the guy handing off the football is named Cam Newton, it's not hard to overlook Michael Dyer.
And the young freshman from Little Rock, Ark., showed the world what he could do in Glendale, rushing for 143 yards against Oregon, including the two big rushes late in the game to seal the deal for Auburn.
Dyer's unique combination of power and quickness will make him the feature back in Gus Malzahn's offense in 2011, as he will be expected to carry more of the load without Newton.
9. Greg Reid, DB/PR: Florida State
2 of 10It's not often that a player who only touches the ball two or three times a game can be considered one of the most electrifying players in football.
But for Florida State's Greg Reid, he makes an exception, not only with his punt return ability, but also with his monster hits.
While Reid only has three TDs in his career, he is one of those few players that is a homerun threat everytime he touches the ball.
Reid can easily be the next Devin Hester in the NFL, but he is also working on being a very good corner as well for Jimbo Fisher, with five career INTs in his two seasons.
8. Jeff Demps, RB: Florida
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We all know that Jeff Demps is one of the fastest if not the fastest players in college football as he has showed off his wheels in each of his three seasons.
But Demps struggled in 2010 with only three TDs and 551 yards rushing, both career lows which were no help to Florida's offensive woes in Urban Meyer's final season.
With one more year in his career, Demps may see more of an active role in the offense being installed under Will Muschamp.
Even though he will most likely run a pro-style attack, it would be foolish to not have special packages designed to get No. 2 the ball on the perimeter and let him turn on the afterburners.
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7. Marcus Lattimore, RB: South Carolina
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South Carolina never played for an SEC championship up until 2010, and they mostly had homegrown freshman sensation Marcus Lattimore to thank.
Lattimore came in to USC as a highly-touted five-star recruit and came in with a bang, running for 182 yards and two TDs on 38 carries against Georgia.
He finished his first year as a Gamecock with just under 1,200 rushing yards and 17 TDs, along with two receiving TDs on 412 yards.
Heading into his sophomore season, Lattimore along with WR Alshon Jeffery will be counted on to top spectacular 2010 seasons if they want to go back to the SEC Championship Game.
6. Justin Blackmon, WR: Oklahoma State
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The 2010 Biletnikoff winner made Oklahoma State football fans quickly forget about Dez Bryant by putting up astronomical numbers in Dana Holgorsen's offense.
Blackmon lit up scoreboards, reeling in 111 receptions for 1,782 yards with 20 TDs and a rushing TD.
He is coming back in 2011 along with QB Brandon Weeden even though Holgorsen is going to West Virginia where he will eventually take over as head coach.
Even though Holgorsen is no longer in Stillwater, that doesn't mean Blackmon won't be lighting up opposing secondaries again and again this season.
5. Denard Robinson, QB: Michigan
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No player mattered more to his team in the Big Ten than Michigan's Denard Robinson, who seemed early on in the season like the runaway favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
He led the Wolverines in passing with 2,570 yards and 18 TDs as well as rushing with 1,702 yards and 14 TDs.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not he can be as effective in Brady Hoke's pro-style offensive attack this season.
Yet last year clearly showed that Robinson is a major weapon on offense and it will be hard for him not to have some similar success to last season.
4. Terrelle Pryor, QB: Ohio State
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This ranking would have been the same whether or not Pryor had not been suspended for the first five games of this season pending an OSU appeal.
But in his junior season, Pryor shattered his career passing numbers, throwing for 2,772 yards and 27 TDs, and totaling 336 yards in the Sugar Bowl over Arkansas despite a foot injury that kept him out of the final few minutes of the game.
Pryor will probably not win the Heisman this year, but he can certainly take his team to New Orleans again for a title shot if OSU starts off 5-0.
He has shown an ability to play big in big games, and will have up to nine games in 2010 to improve on his breakout junior season.
3. Trent Richardson, RB: Alabama
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It's officially Trent Richardson's time in Tuscaloosa. With Mark Ingram departing for the NFL, Richardson becomes the feature back in a run-heavy attack in 2011.
Richardson rushed for exactly 700 yards and six TDs, and showed improvement as a receiver, catching 23 passes for 266 yards and four TDs.
Expect his numbers to surge as be will be taking a large majority of the carries in both practice and in game action.
And if he plays at the level he certainly is capable of, he could be a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
2. Andrew Luck, QB: Stanford
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In the decision that stunned us all (no, not that one), Andrew Luck announced that indeed he would come back to Stanford to finish his degree, even without Jim Harbaugh who left to coach the 49ers.
Luck would have been the No. 1 pick in the draft, especially after putting up big-time numbers in the passing game, including over 3,300 yards and 32 TDs to just eight INTs.
And Luck has also shown tremendous toughness, including a powerful run and a tackle Greg Reid would be proud of earlier in the season.
A strong performance in the Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech only makes the hype for Stanford to make a darkhorse title run that much stronger, and Luck is the reason why.
1. LaMichael James, RB: Oregon
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Despite an unimpressive performance running the football against Auburn, the Heisman Trophy finalist returns to Eugene as the favorite to win the award on one of the most loaded teams in America.
James surpassed his numbers from 2009, rushing for 1,731 yards and 21 TDs, including three TD runs of over 60 yards.
He returns with running mate Kenjon Barner and QB Darron Thomas as Chip Kelly's Ducks look to get back to the national championship game after two lackluster showings in the BCS.
They will need James to run wild again this season if they expect to make it back to the BCS.
And there's little doubt that he won't be able to at least replicate his past success if not surpass it again this year.
This article is featured on The BCS Blitz, which is your home for college football news including National Signing Day buzz. Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest up-to-date college news.
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