College Football 2011: The 25 Most Entertaining Players Coming Back in 2011
One of the primary definitions of the word entertaining is “agreeably diverting”.
If college football isn’t “agreeably diverting”, I don’t know what is.
Yes, the greatest team sport in these United States agreeably diverts our attention in such a wide variety of ways it is almost spellbinding.
So who, on a player level, will most entertain us, the college football nation, during the 2011 season?
Who will elude an obscene number of defenders and run 99 yards for a score? Who will, continually, week after week, harass opposing quarterbacks and rack up an unheard number of defensive stats?
Who will change a game and a season with an unreal performance, and who will shove their fingers through a facemask and into an opponent’s eyeball?
Who will stalk off the field of play and dramatically confront their coach or teammates before exploding in the post game press conference or vent via social networking?
Indeed, who among the field of talented athletes will suddenly become the “dark horse” candidate to win the Heisman Trophy?
The following slideshow attempts to identify 25 players (and others) who will “agreeably divert” us in 2011.
25. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
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In 2010, Blackmon literally exploded onto the college football scene, racking up 1,782 yards on 111 receptions and scoring 20 touchdowns.
He was the No. 2 receiver nationally in total yardage, No. 1 overall among receivers in touchdowns and ranked No. 1 overall in yards per game.
Blackmon, a sophomore from Ardmore, Oklahoma, was awarded the 2010 Biletnikoff Award recognizing the best receiver in college football.
With Brandon Weeden back under center in Stillwater for the 2011 season, a repeat of “Extreme Air Attack” seems likely, minus that tiny little bother of OC Dana Holgorsen packing his bags for West Virginia.
Justin Blackmon’s name is prominent among early 2011 early Heisman Trophy candidates, and it will be intriguing to see if he can somehow manage to build on his tremendous success in 2010.
24. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia
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Crowell, a 5-star recruit from Columbus, Georgia, is a key element of the Bulldog’s No. 5 ranked 2011 recruiting class.
He was ranked No. 4 among all running backs nationally, the No. 23 ranked player overall and was the No. 3 ranked player in the state of Georgia.
Crowell is a muscular, strong back with good hands, and he is expected to have immediate impact on a Georgia team that was disappointing 6-7 in 2010.
The Bulldogs ranked No. 73 overall in rushing yards per game in 2010.
It will be exciting to see how quickly Crowell can acclimate to the SEC and how much impact he will actually have on the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs (a team that rapidly moved up the preseason Top 25 rankings based on their recruiting haul).
23. Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
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Referred to in picturesque Morgantown as “the Sack Master”, Bruce Irvin was No. 2 overall in total sacks in 2010, registering a blistering 14 sacks on opposing quarterbacks.
This fact is even more impressive when you consider the fact that Irvin wasn’t a starter in 2010.
Bruce Irvin was transferred to West Virginia from Mt. San Antonio Community College (Walnut, California) for the 2010 season.
The Mountaineers come into the 2011 season without much of the defensive firepower that earned them a No. 3 ranking in total defense in 2010, but the losses set up a significant opportunity for Irvin.
So if Irvin could manage to be the No. 2 sack leader nationally in 2010 as a back-up, what insane numbers can he rack up in 2011 as a starter?
Provocative.
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22. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
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Pryor’s 2011 season might have been considered worthy of labeling “entertaining” even before the “Tat Five” and “Tresselgate” broke into the headlines.
Despite the fact that he lead his team to a 12-1 finish and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2010, Pryor ranked only No. 49 overall in yards per game in 2010 and threw 11 picks.
Yes, we would have wondered if Pryor could have lived up to the hype in 2011 and performed well enough to be a real part of the Heisman conversation long before any trouble started brewing in Columbus.
But now things are even more fascinating. We know that as of today, Pryor is committed to coming back in 2011 and will miss the first five games of the season, but what if Tressel leaves?
If “the Vest” is vacated, then how does this affect not only Pryor but all the Buckeye players? And if Pryor and friends guaranteed Tressel that they would be back, and he is gone, can they break their sacred vows?
21. Robert Woods, WR, USC
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Robert Woods racked up 792 yards on 65 catches and scored six touchdowns during his freshman season as a receiver at USC.
Hardly seems “entertaining” until you add in the fact that this guy also racked up 971 yards and one score on 38 kickoff returns.
In fact, Robert Woods was tied for No. 3 nationally in number of kickoff returns over 30 yards in 2010 with 12.
Woods is a game breaker, a game changer; worth watching.
20. Jacory Harris, QB, Miami (FL)
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As of the latest Miami Hurricanes depth chart, Jacory Harris is still the starting QB in Coral Gables.
One of the big questions coming into the Hurricanes 2010 season (that looked promising from the start) was how Jacory Harris would perform, more specifically, could he reduce the number of mistakes he made in 2009?
Harris threw 17 picks in 2009 (No. 2 overall in the nation), and his performance was thought to be pivotal to the success of the 2010 Hurricanes squad.
With 2010 in the books, we know now that Jacory Harris threw 15 interceptions (tied for No. 11 overall), and the Hurricanes finished a disappointing 7-6, which initiated the dismissal of head coach Randy Shannon and the subsequent hiring of Al Golden.
So again, how will Jacory Harris perform in 2011, and will this finally be the year that he harnesses his stunning athletic abilities and leads the Hurricanes back to national prominence?
19. The Michigan Wolverine Defense
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Well, Rich Rod is gone, and besides looking ahead to the Brady Hoke era in Ann Arbor Michigan, fans are currently occupied (and tantalized) by the fall from grace of a certain vested coach from Columbus.
But, surely no true Michigan man nods off to sleep without at least a brief episode of pure angst over a defense that finished 2010 in shambles.
Indeed, the Wolverine defense ranked No. 110 overall in total defense in 2010 (the lowest ranked BCS AQ team other than No. 114 Texas Tech) and enter 2011 minus two starting linebackers, a starting defensive lineman and a starting cornerback.
So how will the Wolverine defense look under new DC Greg Mattison (most recently the DC at the Baltimore Ravens)?
It doesn’t seem like a drop in performance is possible, but can they make up enough ground to boost QB Denard Robinson and the No. 25 ranked scoring offense from 2010 to a win over Ohio State and more?
18. Vinny Curry, DL, Marshall
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Vinny Curry is a 6’5”, 252 pound defensive lineman from Neptune, N.J. and he was the No. 6 ranked pass rusher in the nation in 2010.
Curry registered 12 sacks last season for 81 negative yards and will spend his senior season making opposing quarterbacks miserable.
Watching this guy come off the end makes watching a Marshall game a must in 2011.
17. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
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Is Geno Smith truly a dark horse Heisman candidate for 2011?
Well, here’s one way to approach this question. Who expected Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden to be the No. 3 ranked QB in passing yards before the 2010 season?
Honestly, probably not too many folks.
Not to diminish the skills of the offensive players at OSU in 2010, but one of the most important factors that transformed the No. 56 ranked scoring offense in 2009 to the No. 3 ranked offense in 2010 was offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.
In case you haven’t heard, Dan Holgorsen is now the OC and coach in waiting at West Virginia.
So what effect does this leadership change have on QB Geno Smith, who was 241 for 372 and 2,763 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2010?
You can almost just feel the yards being obscenely stacked up in Morgantown.
16. Garret Gilbert, QB, Texas
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Coming into 2010, Garret Gilbert was heralded as the successor to the mighty Longhorn quarterback throne. Despite the fact that everyone was sure Colt McCoy couldn’t be replaced overnight, eventually Gilbert would lead Texas, yet again, to gridiron glory.
2010 might not find the Longhorns back in the BCS Championship, but certainly they would vie for a Big 12 title and earn either a BCS bid, or, at the very minimum, a good solid top tier bowl game.
Who would have ever predicted that Gilbert would sputter to tossing only 10 touchdowns and throw a blistering 17 interceptions (tied for No. 2 nationally) on his way to being ranked the No. 103 ranked passer in the land?
Garret Gilbert didn’t lead the Longhorns to .500 or a bowl game at all; instead, the talent laden Texas squad finished 5-7 and only won two Big 12 games.
Coming into 2011 the QB race has begun to heat up in Austin, and now Gilbert isn’t even assured a starting role.
Despite the controversy, Gilbert is still the guy with the most (or virtually only) game experience, and so what will he (and the Longhorns) do in 2011?
Will he fulfill the promise that brought him to Texas, or will he ultimately be the answer to the trivia question, “Who was the Longhorn QB during their crappy 5-7 2010 season”?
15. Taveon Rogers, WR, New Mexico State
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The New Mexico State Aggies struggled to a 2-10 record in 2010, hardly something worth getting too excited about.
But, Las Cruces New Mexico is the football home of Taveon Rogers, a 6’0”, 175 pound incoming senior from Lancaster, California.
In 2010, Rogers, a receiver who caught 18 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, was the No. 2 kick returner in the country racking up 1444 yards on 53 returns.
Rogers also led the nation in returns over 30 yards with 16 and tied for second in returns over 40 yards with seven.
This guy is a game breaker, and if the rest of the NMSU squad can catch up, it could make a huge impact in the Aggies 2011 campaign in the WAC.
14. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
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Lattimore was a key component of the Gamecocks 9-3 regular season finish in 2011 earning them a place in the SEC Championship game, a Chick-fil-A Bowl bid and a No. 22 final ranking in the AP polls.
As a freshman, Marcus Lattimore racked up 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns on 249 rushes in 2010.
Recent reports that Lattimore has added 15 pounds of muscle coming into spring ball leads you to believe that he could well be atop the rushing leaders list by the close of the 2011 season.
Can his continued maturity and success lead the Gamecocks to another SEC East crown, another shot at the SEC title and finally the allusive BCS bowl bid?
13. Aaron Green, RB, Nebraska
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Aaron Green, a 4-star recruit from San Antonio, Texas in 2011, was the No. 8 ranked running back in the country, the No. 61 overall ranked player nationally and the No. 8 ranked player overall in the state of Texas.
Green was at the core of this year’s No. 15 ranked Cornhusker recruiting class and is a much needed commodity for a team that ranked No. 9 nationally in rushing yards last season but comes into 2011 minus its No. 1 back Roy Helu, Jr.
And remember, Nebraska has left the pass happy Big 12 for the grind it out on the ground old school Big Ten conference. They will need a running game where they are going...
Green is lighting fast (runs a 4.4, 40) and has the potential to be a game breaker right away.
Look for Green to be an early impact player possibly on returns and then on the Husker offense as the season progresses.
12. Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
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Before suffering a season ending injury in November 2010, Dan Persa threw 222 completions on only 302 attempts for 2,581 yards, 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
This netted Persa a QB rating of 159.04, which had him ranked at No. 9 nationally at the end of 2010.
So well thought of was Persa in 2010 that despite the injury and missing the final two games plus the appearance in the Ticket City Bowl vs. Texas Tech, the Big 10 coaches selected him as first team all Big 10.
This is quite a coup in a conference that also has big name quarterbacks such as Terrelle Pyror, Ricky Stanzi, Denard Robinson, Kirk Cousins and Scott Tolzien.
For 2011, Persa looks on track to be ready for summer camps and fall practices and to be back under center for the opener on the road versus Boston College.
With some major improvements defensively, Northwestern, who dropped the last three games in 2010 to finish 7-6 without Persa, could be a dark horse Big 10 contender in the new Legends division.
11. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU
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Mathieu, a freshman in 2010 from New Orleans, Louisiana, was a huge part of the Tiger defense that ranked No. 11 overall in scoring (allowing only 18.2 points per game).
In the regular season, Mathieu, again as a freshman, registered 3.5 sacks, one pick, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a safety and 50 tackles.
He was named the Cotton Bowl’s most valuable defensive player in the Tigers’ 41-24 dismantling of Texas A&M where he forced two fumbles, sacked Aggie QB Tannehill once and registered 6.5 tackles.
Mathieu’s five total forced fumbles in 2010 earned him a No. 2 overall national ranking in that statistical category.
Mathieu will be fun to watch in 2011 as the LSU Tigers make a run at the big nasty enchilada.
10. Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
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Boston College was No. 19 overall in scoring defense in 2010, allowing only 19.5 points per game.
The Eagles defense was dominant enough last season to catapult a team that ranked No. 109 nationally in offensive scoring (only 18.5 points per game) to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
At the heart of the stingy “D” was sophomore linebacker Luke Kuechly (from St. Xavier HS in Cincinnati, Ohio), who led the nation in tackles in 2010.
Kuechly’s stats are stellar: 183 total tackles, 110 unassisted, three picks, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
Luke Kuechly is simply a beast, and if he continues to improve, 2011 might be mind blowing.
9. Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
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In his first year as a starter sophomore, Brandon Jenkins finished No. 3 nationally in sacks with 13.5.
Jenkins, a 6’3”, 258 pound product of Florida HS in Tallahassee, also registered 63 tackles, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups in 2010.
His dominant 2010 performance as a pass rusher helped the Seminoles defense hold opponents to 19.6 points per game (No. 20 in the nation), and if they hope to make a BCS run in 2011, Jenkins’ play will be key.
8. The University of Texas Football Team
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However you slice it, the Longhorns will be one of the most intriguing story lines in 2011.
How the super talented, stacked Texas squad responds to a 5-7 mark in 2010 and unprecedented turnover on the coaching staff will be fascinating.
As much as Aggie, Sooner, Red Raider and Cowboy fans were entertained by the Longhorns demise in 2010, the entire college football nation will be “agreeably diverted” by whatever happens to Texas in 2011.
7. John Brantley, QB, Florida
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Yet another provocative story line for 2011 is the fate of the Florida Gators under the new Will Muschamp regime.
In 2010, Gator QB John Brantley completed 200 passes on 329 attempts for 2,061 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 picks. These stats netted Brantley a 116.35 quarterback rating, which was No. 89 overall nationally.
For 2011, Charlie Weis and his pro-style offense enters stage right, and what this does for the fate of Brantley in his senior season and a Gator “O” that finished the season ranked No. 88 in passing yards remains to be seen.
Will Brantley throw more touchdown passes than picks? Will the Gators make a serious bid for an SEC East title? Will the people of the Swamp rise once again?
It certainly will be fun to find out.
6. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska
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Taylor Martinez both enjoyed and suffered through a freshman season that was the definition of “up and down”.
Ups were tremendous scrambling scoring plays, and downs were taking seven sacks in the Big 12 championship and a 53-yard performance in an ugly Holiday Bowl.
Martinez was 116/196 for 1,631 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a quarterback rating of 138.78 (No. 37 overall nationally).
He was also the Huskers No. 2 rusher scrambling or 965 yards and 12 touchdowns on 162 carries.
At last check, Martinez was still No. 1 on the Nebraska depth chart, and his maturity and improved consistency will have a huge impact on how successful the Cornhuskers are in their first season in the Big Ten.
Big bonus points in terms of entertainment value are the possible continuance of Martinez’s off field drama from 2010, which included Coach Pelini blow-ups, phone calls to Dad from the sideline, playing injured (and not playing injured) and a coy shyness in the age old game of “meet the press.”
5. Tavon Austin, RB, West Virginia
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Whether he plays running back or receiver Tavon Austin is the other guy (besides QB Geno Smith) with the most to gain from Dana Hologorsen’s hiring as the OC at West Virginia.
Austin was the Mountaineers No. 1 receiver in 2010 with 787 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 catches.
If Austin digests Holgorsen’s high powered offense quickly and effectively, he will rack up an obscene number of yards, scores and honors.
Is it a stretch to say Tavon Austin could be a dark horse Heisman candidate in 2011?
Absolutely not.
4. Bo Pelini, Head Coach, Nebraska
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If it is indeed “entertainment” you seek, Bo Pelini is the total package.
In Pelini, we find unbridled passion and intensity resulting in explosive outbursts and vein popping good times.
Add in Taylor Martinez (and his Dad), a new offensive coordinator and a new stage (and television network) in the Big Ten, and Bo Pelini may well be as entertaining as any player in 2011.
Seriously, I can’t wait.
3. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
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The No. 1 rusher in 2010, LaMichael James amassed 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns on 294 attempts last season. James was also the leading scorer last season, racking up an insane 144 points.
Third in 2010’s Heisman voting, James may well be at top of everyone’s ballot in 2011, especially if Oregon can manage a repeat to their stunning offensive successes in 2010.
It’s no coincidence that the No. 4 ranked rushing team in the country (Oregon) faced the No. 5 ranked rushing team in the country (Auburn) in this past season’s BCS Championship game.
LaMichael James has just gotten better every year, and if he improves again in 2011, the sky is quite literally the limit (for him personally and the well dressed Ducks).
2. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
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Quite possibly the most entertaining player in 2010, Denard Robinson detonated a serious offensive bomb in the opener against UConn, and when the dust finally settled, finished last season with 2,570 yards passing and 1,702 yards rushing.
Robinson was the No. 20 ranked QB (in passing ratings) in 2010 and was the No. 5 ranked rusher averaging over 130 yards rushing per game.
Denard Robinson becoming a realistic part of the Heisman discussion in 2011 will be dependent on consistency, how quickly he can adapt to new OC Al Borges’ pro style system and whether or not the Wolverine defense can improve enough to catapult Michigan into the BCS conversation.
Also fascinating is how Robinson was taken out of games (sometimes at key junctures) during the 2010 season.
Was he hurt, was he winded or was Rich Rodriguez suffering from a mental lapse? Regardless, it created a little titillating drama.
Long may it continue.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
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Perhaps the most coveted recruit in college football history, Jadeveon Clowney had college scouts foaming at the mouth for most of his college career at South Pointe HS in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The South Carolina Gamecocks finally nabbed the nation’s top rated recruit in February and Clowney will no doubt continue to be a big story coming into the 2011 season.
Will he have an immediate impact on a South Carolina team that may finally be ready to step up to the BCS? Is he good as advertised and how soon can he use his “freakish” athletic ability to dominate the college game?
Some experts have claimed that Clowney was good enough last year to play in the NFL.
If that’s the case, our approach as college football enthusiasts should be two prong. First, watch every Gamecock game on T.V. in 2011, and secondly, enjoy seeing him on Saturday while we can. Next stop, Sunday.
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