College Football 2011: The Top 50 Players of the Year

As the opening week continues to get closer and closer, college football fans are like little kids counting down the days to Christmas.

When the 2011 season begins, the college football landscape will be full of both new faces and familiar ones. Some stars have graduated or left for the pros, while others have returned for another season.

Here is a look at the top 50 players around the nation.

No. 50: Aaron Murray

Despite what the record may suggest, Aaron Murray had a good season in 2010. He ended up throwing for 24 touchdowns and has been intercepted only eight times.

In 2011, the Bulldogs appear ready for a strong season, but everything we need to know about Murray will be found out in the first two weeks when they take on Boise State and South Carolina.

No. 49: Chris Polk

With Jake Locker now in the NFL, the Washington Huskies are likely going to turn to running back Chris Polk to help shoulder the load.

Polk is an extremely talented back, but when looking at the Pac-12, he is overshadowed by LaMichael James of Oregon.

As the Huskies help Keith Price get up to speed with the offense, they will need Polk to deliver and help this offense go.

No. 48: Kenjon Barner

If you put Kenjon Barner on any other team in the land, he would be their starting back and would go over the 1,000-yard mark with ease. On the Oregon Ducks, Barner backs up All-American LaMichael James, and still contributes on both offense and special teams.

In 2011, Chip Kelly is looking for more ways to get both backs on the field, which should lead to increased opportunities for Barner.

No. 47: Robert Woods

Only a sophomore in 2011, Robert Woods looks like he could end up being one of the elite receivers and return men in the nation.

As a freshman in 2010, Woods caught 65 passes for six touchdowns and also returned a kick for a touchdown.

It appears Woods and Matt Barkley are on the same page going into 2011 and could be one of the top passing threats in the Pac-12.

No. 46: Kheeston Randall

While maybe not as well known as some of the other players on this list, Kheeston Randall from Texas is poised to have a breakout season and hopefully help the Longhorns defense regain some its swagger.

In 2010, Randall had 33 tackles and a sack and is ready to see those numbers jump significantly—especially if he gives a consistent effort.

No. 45: Taylor Martinez

Entering his sophomore season, Taylor Martinez and Nebraska are both making the switch from the Big 12 to the Big Ten.

Last year, Martinez was more of a threat in the rushing game, running for 965 yards and 12 touchdowns. Through the air, he also passed for 10 touchdowns.

It will be interesting to see how both Martinez and Nebraska adjust to Big Ten play as they enter the conference as one of the favorites to win it.

No. 44: Chase Minnifield

Chase Minnifield had an outstanding start to his sophomore season in 2010, intercepting six passes and separating himself as one of the top corners in the nation. Down the stretch, he suffered an ankle injury that limited his production in the second half of the schedule.

Minnifield is back up to speed in 2011, and if he can remain healthy through the year, he should be one of the top corners in the nation.

No. 43: Michael Egnew

If Blaine Gabbert were still at Missouri, Michael Egnew would be much higher up on this list. Egnew caught 90 passes as a tight end last season and is an incredible talent.

With the loss of Gabbert, Egnew will likely take a hit in his receptions, but will still be one of the top tight ends in the nation.

No. 42: Courtney Upshaw

Courtney Upshaw is another member of a very talented defensive unit in Alabama. Last year, Upshaw had 52 tackles, seven sacks and was a starter in 11 games, missing two starts due to an ankle injury.

In 2011, Upshaw will be one of the senior leaders on this squad and will make life difficult for SEC defenses.

No. 41: Sean Spence

Sean Spence was a tackling machine for the Miami Hurricanes last season. He racked up 110 tackles and three sacks in 2010.

This will be Spence's junior season, and if he is able to make the same kind of leap this year as he did in his previous season, the ACC will have its hands full.

No. 40: Jeff Fuller

In a conference that is full of outstanding receivers, Jeff Fuller sometimes gets overlooked when taking a look at the receivers in the Big 12.

One thing that cannot be overlooked is the outstanding season Fuller had in 2010, recording 12 touchdowns and 79 catches.

No. 39: Mike Adams

The good news for Ohio State fans is the fact that Mike Adams is one of the best offensive tackles in the nation.

The bad news for Ohio State fans is Adams is one of the players who will miss the first five games of the 2011 season.

Despite the suspension, you cannot ignore the talent Adams has. As long as he stays in shape through the start of the fall, he will make an immediate impact upon his return.

No. 38: Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III had a great year in 2010 and helped turn Baylor into a more competitive squad. As a dual-threat quarterback, Griffin accounted for 30 total touchdowns and also completed 67 percent of his passes.

As the 2011 season gets underway, Griffin will be entering his junior season and looking to continue developing his passing skills to help Baylor take another step forward.

No. 37: Kirk Cousins

Last year, Kirk Cousins helped lead Michigan State to a share of the Big Ten title; in 2011, he hopes to have it all to himself.

Cousins has a great arm and is a leader on the Michigan State team. If the offensive line is able to come together in front of him, he should have an even better season in 2011.

No. 36: Omar Bolden

One major piece to the defense down at Arizona State is Omar Bolden. With expectations for the defense running high, Arizona State will need a similar 2011 as it got from Bolden in 2010. But after tearing his ACL April 2 and undergoing surgery, his return is questionable.

During his 2010 season, Bolden was one of the top corners in the Pac-10 with 52 tackles, three interceptions and a score.

No. 35: Bruce Irvin

Bruce Irvin could not have had a better year as a junior for West Virginia. After coming to the Mountaineers as a JUCO transfer, Irvin stepped right in and recorded 14 sacks in the 2010 season.

Big East offenses need to be concerned about what this athlete will do as a senior.

No. 34: Mark Barron

In his last two seasons at Alabama, Mark Barron has accomplished a lot. In 2009, Barron intercepted seven passes, and as a junior in 2010, he made three interceptions, but also recorded 77 tackles and two sacks.

As the 2011 season gets underway, Barron will be part of an outstanding Crimson Tide defense and will have plenty of opportunities to make big plays for the Tide.

No. 33: Denard Robinson

While Denard Robinson is a truly amazing playmaker with his legs, the part of his game that is still lacking as a quarterback is his arm.

In 2010, Robinson was able to fool defenses with his ability to take off and run, but eventually Big Ten defenses caught on and limited the success he had, which forced him to pass the ball.

If new coach Brady Hoke can help Robinson develop in the passing game, the Big Ten could be in real trouble.

No. 32: Chris Owusu

For as good as Andrew Luck is out at Stanford, it would be hard for his top target to not make this list. Chris Owusu is an outstanding route runner and has great speed at the wide receiver position.

With the losses on defense, Luck may have to lean on Owusu even more in 2011 to make sure Stanford stays alive in the Pac-12 and national title race.

No. 31: Barrett Jones

As a junior, Barrett Jones will be relied upon as one of the main pieces of the Alabama offensive line.

With the backfield transitioning to a new quarterback and Trent Richardson taking the majority of the carries, the offensive line will be a huge part of the Tide's success. 

No. 30: Montee Ball

Montee Ball may be the only running back in the nation who could claim that his 18 touchdowns were not all he could have done for the Badgers.

Last year, Ball and two other running backs shared carries for Wisconsin, and it will be interesting to see how things go in 2011, especially with the addition of Russell Wilson.

No. 29: Lavonte David

Lavonte David's junior season may be as good as it gets for a linebacker in his first year at Nebraska. David had the third-most tackles in the nation with 153 and recorded six sacks.

As a senior, David will be a huge part of a tough Nebraska defense that could challenge to win the Big Ten.

No. 28: Robert Lester

Another Crimson Tide player to find their way onto the list is Robert Lester. In 2010, Lester finished second in the nation with eight interceptions.

He will be part of a dominant Crimson Tide defense that could be one of the nation's best.

No. 27: Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson now finds himself in Wisconsin and is believed to be the missing piece for the Badgers.

With the ability to run or pass, Wilson is a talented dual-threat quarterback who will be difficult for other Big Ten defenses to stop.

No. 26: Jonathan Martin

One of the reasons Kellen Moore is able to be as successful as he has been is because of the amount of time he has to get rid of the ball.

One of the men responsible for that time and protection is Nate Potter.

Potter is one of the best tackles in the nation and will be one of the main pieces of a Boise State team that is looking to make a national title run.

No. 25: Trent Richardson

Down in Alabama, the backfield is now being handed over to Trent Richardson. Richardson has spent his time with the Tide sharing carries, but with the departure of Mark Ingram, Richardson will now be leaned on as the go-to back.

If Richardson is able to stand up to the down-after-down punishment, he could end up leading the SEC in rushing yards.

No. 24: Mike Brewster

While the Buckeyes are awaiting the return of the players who have been suspended and working out their quarterback situation, they will lean on the stability of center Mike Brewster.

During his career at Ohio State, Brewster has 36 starts and counting and will certainly be up for postseason awards.

No. 23: Vontaze Burfict

There are two sides to Vontaze Burfict; there is the linebacker who can take over a game and dominate on defense, and there is also the Burfict who takes pointless penalties and makes the program look bad with some of his on-field antics. 

If Burfict is able to stay focused on football and control his action, he could end the year as one of the best linebackers in the game.

No. 22: Quinton Coples

Quinton Coples put up an impressive 10 sacks and 59 tackles on the defensive line for North Carolina last year.

In 2011, Coples will be in his senior season and looking to make sure he fills out his resume for the next level. If he is able to remain focused, Coples could end up being the best defensive lineman in the country this year.

No. 21: Alfonzo Dennard

While the loss of Prince Amukamara will certainly be hard to overcome, Alfonzo Dennard will help ease the blow. In 2010, Dennard had four interceptions and often found himself matched up against some of the best in the Big 12.

Shifting to the Big Ten, Dennard is going to a conference that is not as deep at wide receiver, so he should have the ability to make more big plays.

No. 20: Matt Barkley

While there is not a huge amount of attention being paid to USC and Matt Barkley, defenses should make sure they wake up and take notice.

As USC continues to play through sanctions against the program, Barkley has continued to be impressive and is one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.

No. 19: Michael Dyer

Michael Dyer did have a good 2010 season, but people truly stood up and took notice based off the performance he put together in the BCS National Championship game.

If not for Marcus Lattimore, Dyer would have had all the attention in terms of SEC newcomers.

No. 18: Darron Thomas

In Year 1 as a starter, Darron Thomas led the Ducks to their program's first undefeated regular season and their second-straight conference title.

More impressively, Thomas showed the poise and skill of a senior quarterback. As the season continued, he became more and more effective in the passing game and is primed for an outstanding 2011.

No. 17: Knile Davis

In a conference loaded with running back talent, one player who should not get lost in the shuffle is Knile Davis.

Davis had 13 touchdowns in 2010 and will be leaned on heavily early in the 2011 season as the Razorbacks look to break in a new quarterback.

No. 16: Jared Crick

Last year, Jared Crick had a great year on the defensive line for Nebraska, which is preparing for its first season in the Big Ten conference.

During the 2010 season, Crick had 70 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He should see those numbers grow during his senior season.

No. 15: Travis Lewis

The good news for Oklahoma is that Travis Lewis has returned for his senior season, but on Tuesday, the Sooners' leading tackler for the past three years suffered a broken foot and will be out for eight weeks.

Despite the injury, Lewis is an outstanding linebacker, and his presence will be missed early in the season. Once he does return, he will be key in helping the Sooners make a run at the national title.

No. 14: Manti Te'o

Last year was the first year Manti Te'o started for Notre Dame, and he made sure it counted. Te'o recorded 129 tackles in 2010.

With the expectations once again high for the Fighting Irish, Te'o will be expected to take another step forward in his development.

No. 13: Cliff Harris

Cliff Harris is one of the most talented players in the country. Not only is he a lock-down corner who causes quarterbacks to hesitate when looking his way, but he can also turn the game around on special teams.

Coming into 2011, Harris is suspended for at least the LSU game, but when he does get on the field, Harris will be a force on both defense and special teams.

No. 12: Landry Jones

Landry Jones has the privilege and pressure of leading the preseason No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners.

Last year, the Sooners offense put up some big numbers and is looking to do even more in 2011. If Jones can improve on what he did last year, not only will the Sooners be in good hands, but it could also drastically improve his draft stock in the NFL.

No. 11: Michael Floyd

With the announcement that Michael Floyd has been reinstated on the Notre Dame squad, Floyd will get back on the field as one of the nation's top targets.

In 2010, he hauled in 12 touchdowns and is a constant home run threat whenever he is on the field.

No. 10: Marcus Lattimore

Last year, true freshman Marcus Lattimore took the SEC by storm and found himself running all over teams in the South. He was able to contribute in a big way to South Carolina, who got to the SEC Championship game.

As a sophomore, Lattimore will not catch any defenses off-guard, but that is not going to stop him from putting up big numbers.

No. 9: Luke Kuechly

As a sophomore at Boston College, Luke Kuechly led the nation in tackles with 183 and also had three interceptions.

The Eagles' rush-defense was one of the better units last year, and if Kuechly plays up to his potential, he will be one of the nation's leaders again.

No. 8: Jayron Hosley

In his sophomore season, Jayron Hosley put up numbers you would expect from a senior corner. He ended up intercepting nine passes, then broke up an additional eight.

As Hosley enters his junior season at Virginia Tech, ACC offenses will be taking fewer and fewer chances to his side of the ball.

No. 7: Ryan Broyles

Last season was an outstanding year for receiver Ryan Broyles, and he appears to be aiming at an even better 2011.

In 2010, Broyles led the nation with 131 receptions for 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns. More impressive was the fact that Broyles had double-digit receptions in six games and went over 100 yards 10 times during the season.

No. 6: Kellen Moore

While last year did not go the way that Boise State had hoped, Kellen Moore had another great season that put him in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

In 2011, Boise State shifts conferences, which should raise the level of competition, as well as the amount of respect Moore and the Broncos get if they can continue to put up the numbers they did last season.

No. 5: Alshon Jeffery

Alshon Jeffery had an outstanding year in 2010, but may have gone partly unnoticed due to other major receivers in the conference.

In 2010, Jefferey averaged more than 100 yards receiving, and with defenses having to worry about running back Marcus Lattimore, Jeffery should see some great opportunities to put up even bigger numbers in 2011.

No. 4: Brandon Jenkins

As a true freshman, Brandon Jenkins started all but one game, and during his sophomore season he was even more impressive. Last year, Jenkins had 13.5 sacks and ended up third in the nation.

Back for his junior year, Jenkins should be even better, which is a scary thought for ACC offenses.

No. 3: Justin Blackmon

Last year's Fred Biletnikoff Award-winner comes in at No. 3 on the list, and Justin Blackmon is going to be a force like no other receiver in 2011.

During his sophomore year, Blackmon had 20 touchdowns on the year and never totaled less then 117 yards receiving.

No. 2: LaMichael James

Since stepping onto the field as a freshman, LaMichael James has been a force both in-conference and nationally. He has broken the season record for rushing yards by a freshman and sophomore in the Pac-10 and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2010.

In 2011, James will be looking to not only break more records, but also help the Ducks get back to the national championship. If he is able to help them achieve that, James will likely find himself back in New York as well.

No. 1: Andrew Luck

The best player in the nation coming in to the 2011 season is Andrew Luck.

At the end of 2010, Luck had the opportunity to leave school and likely be drafted the No. 1 in the NFL Draft, earning him millions.

Instead, he has returned to terrorize Pac-12 defenses all year long.