Top 15 Amplifiers in College Football

Unlike in the NBA and MLB, the game played in the NFL is a team game.  Except for a handful of high profile players, each team’s 53-man roster is stocked with important, if not indistinguishable, role players.  Sure, there are superstars in the league, but except for maybe Peyton Manning, nobody is expected to go out week-after-week and win games alone. 

College football is an entirely different animal.  With over 100 Division I football teams and without roster restrictions, the talent pool in the NCAA is extremely diluted.  When a team’s role players are 19-year-old kids out of high school, a single athletically-gifted player can literally be the difference between a .500 season and a national championship season. 

If you’ve been watching college football this year, you know the NCAA is stacked with game-changing athletes who can single-handedly win a game on the field or single-handedly lose a game from the bench. 

Here are the top 15 amplifiers in college football.   

15. Tyler Bray, QB, University of Tennessee

For decades, the Tennessee Volunteers were an NCAA powerhouse.  That was until Phil Fulmer "resigned" as head coach in 2009 after 16 seasons, leaving the team on a downward trajectory.  Fulmer was replaced by Lane Kiffin for one disastrous season, before Derek Dooley was named the new head coach in 2010.

However, Tennessee fans have reason to believe the ship is bring righted, thanks to the play of second-year starter quarterback Tyler Bray.  Building on a solid first season, Bray has completed 68 percent of his passes for 986 yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions, leading the Vols to 2-1 record.  After years of uncertainty at the position, Bray is someone the team can build around. 

Just ask an Indianapolis Colts fan how much losing a Vol's quarterback can hurt a team.

14. Michael Floyd, WR, University of Notre Dame

Despite Notre Dame’s ongoing existential crisis, there has been one player who has consistently been the Irish’s best weapon on offense—no matter who is coaching or who is under center.  That person is wide receiver Michael Floyd, who opted to stay for his senior season, though he was projected as a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

After three seasons and four games, Floyd has caught 206 balls for 2,963 yards and 30 touchdowns.  He’s managed to post these numbers despite opposing defenses focusing on his role in the pass-happy, play-calling of head coach Charlie Weis, and now, Brian Kelly.  

Notre Dame is trying to restore its place in college football as an elite program, but their struggles have not been because of the play of Michael Floyd.

13. Russell Wilson, QB, University of Wisconsin

Russell Wilson is one of those rare college athletes just too gifted to excel in one sport, he has to be a star in two.  Wilson spent the 2009/2010 seasons at N.C. State as the starting quarterback; throwing for over 6000 yards with 59 touchdowns.  He accounted for a mind-blowing 72 percent of the Wolfpack’s offensive touchdowns. 

Wilson is an outstanding baseball player and was taken in the fourth round of 2010 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.  His desire to play both sports prompted him to request an early transfer to Wisconsin, a request granted by Wolfpack head coach, Tom O’Brien. 

Though a top-tier team in the Big Ten, the perennially quarterback-deficient Badgers have long featured an offense that could pound the ball but was never dynamic enough to consistently beat teams like Ohio State.  After landing Russell Wilson, the Badgers are 4-0 and outscoring their opponents 194-34.

12. Trent Richardson, RB, University of Alabama

Football powerhouses like Alabama have NFL-talent like shark’s teeth; one falls out (or gets drafted in the first round) and before the nation can sigh in relief a new, more dangerous one has taken its place.  While former quarterback Greg McElroy was a solid two-year starter, Nick Saban’s team is predicated on a stifling defense and a punishing running game. 

Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram may be playing on Sundays now, but Alabama has not missed a beat, because of Trent Richardson.  After Ingram injured his knee shortly before the start of the 2010 season, Richardson was asked to carry the load.  He answered by starting the first two games and carrying the ball 32 times for 210 yards and three touchdowns.  Richardson finished the season with 112 carries for 700 yards and six touchdowns; he averaged a crazy 6.3 yards per carry. 

As the starter this season, Richardson is on pace for over 1,300 yards and 24 touchdowns and is a Heisman candidate.  Sound familiar?

11. WR Justin Blackmon & QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State University

At 4-0, Oklahoma State isn’t just a contender to win the Big 12, they appear to have a legit shot at competing for a national championship.  The duo of quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon are a punishing force on offense and are on track to have an even better season this year than last. 

In 2010, Blackmon, the Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman candidate, caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns.  Put this in perspective:  Brandon Weeden threw 34 touchdown passes and 13 picks last year.  Blackmon accounted for 68 percent of Weeden’s touchdown throws. After four games, Blackmon already has 38 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns, accounting for a quarter of Weeden’s completions and passing yards. 

If Oklahoma State University enters their final game of the season against Oklahoma, undefeated and win away from playing for the national title, they have two guys to thank. 

10. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford University

Surely, you are surprised to see Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck on this list, after all isn’t he the only player eligible for the 2012 NFL draft?

All joking aside, Luck’s value to the currently undefeated Cardinal is unquestioned.  After a solid season in 2009, Luck really impressed in 2010 with 32 touchdowns and only eight interceptions and a 70 percent completion percentage; he finished third overall in quarterback rating, 16th in total yards. 

Luck is on pace for a repeat performance in 2011; trough three games he already has eight touchdowns, just one interception and a 67 percent completion percentage.  Stanford fans' monopoly on the next John Elway ends in a few short months, and it can't come too soon for the winner of the sweepstakes.

9. Chris Rainey & Jeff Demps, RB, University of FLorida

It’s no secret that Florida struggled in 2010 after losing senior quarterback Tim Tebow to the NFL, after starting 5-0, they lost five of their last eight games. 

Gators’ quarterback John Brantley through more interceptions than touchdowns and was sacked an unpleasant sounding 22 times.  Brantley’s play has improved in 2011, but he’s not the reason things are looking up in Gainesville; running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey are the offensive force responsible for Florida’s 4-0 start. 

Demps and Rainey have combined for a total of 1015 yards total offense and eight of the Gators’ 16 touchdowns.  Compare that to Brantley’s 752 yards and four touchdowns and it becomes clear these two are willing and able to carry this team on their backs all season.   

8. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson University

One of the stars of Clemson’s 2009 recruiting class, Tajh Boyd was a 5-star recruit, co-MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the No. 4 ranked quarterback in the country.  Boyd was redshirted his first season then spent 2010 as the inconsistent and turnover-prone Kyle Parker’s backup as Clemson struggled to a 6-6 record. 

This season, the Tigers became Boyd’s team, and they are undefeated four games into the season. Despite a defense that has given up 25 points a game and struggling against the likes of Troy and Wofford, Boyd has been the difference maker for the Tigers, completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,255 yards, 13 touchdowns and only one interception. 

Boyd's standout play has also helped create a new star in freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has 28 catches for 433 yards and six touchdowns in just four games. 

7. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore might not ever play in a national championship; if that’s the case, it’ll be the only thing he didn’t accomplish.  Moore, who has improved statistically each year, finished amongst the top quarterbacks in the NCAA during each of his four seasons as a starter for the Broncos. 

In 2010, Moore was ranked No. 1 overall amongst quarterbacks with 3,845 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, only six interceptions and a 71 percent completion percentage.  Moore is on pace to improve yet again in 2011, most notably in his completion percentage, which has jumped to 79 percent. 

Moore’s most impressive stat is his current 41-2 win/loss record as a starter.  Moore only needs eight wins in 2011 to overtake former Longhorn Colt McCoy’s 45-7 record at Texas.

Two losses since September 2008!  That is just ridiculous. 

6. Tyrann Mathieu, CB, Louisiana State University

Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is one of the NCAA’s premiere players on defense.  In just his sophomore season at LSU, Mathieu has shown that the knack for creating game-altering turnovers was not a fluke a season ago.

In Week 1 against Oregon, he scored a touchdown on a fumble return.  During the first half of LSU’s battle against WVU, Mathieu forced a fumble (his seventh...tying the LSU record) and intercepted another pass that returned to the WVU 1-yard line. 

In just four games, Mathieu has made LSU fans forget about the immensely talented Patrick Peterson and has been the defining force of the No. 1 team in the nation. 

5. Denard Robinson, QB, University of Michigan

Michigan’s Denard Robinson does not lead the NCAA in any quarterback statistical categories, and his 48 percent completion rate leaves a bit to be desired.  That being said, if you’ve watched this guy play over the last two years, you know what he brings to the Wolverines is immeasurable. 

Robinson is as close to an offensive one-man-band as there is in college football; his 624 yards passing, 552 yards rushing and 11 total touchdowns, dwarf the numbers of every other offensive contributor on the team.  He is as exciting a player as there is in college football and is reason enough alone to tune into Michigan games each week. 

This year, Robinson has led the undefeated Wolverines to wins against Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, San Diego State, and most impressively, a comeback victory against Notre Dame. 

4. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor University

Without a standout running back, the 3-0 Baylor Bears lean almost entirely on quarterback Robert Griffin III.  Though, it’s only three games into the season, Griffin’s statistics have shown sharp improvement from 2010, and currently, he’s got the highest quarterback ranking in the NCAA.  At 85 percent, Griffin’s ridiculous completion percentage is between 10 and 30 points higher than the rest of the top 40 quarterbacks. 

Griffin’s most impressive stat?  His 13 touchdowns on the year outnumber his 12 total incompletions on the year.  Seriously!

3. LaMichael James, RB, University of Oregon

Oregon running back LaMichael James led the NCAA in rushing in 2010 with 1,731 yards, with 21 touchdowns he accounted for 50 percent of the Ducks’ 42 rushing touchdowns. 

Not content to rest on past success, James seems poised for a repeat performance in 2011; his 613 rushing yards leads the NCAA, and he’s averaging an impressive 9.4 yards per carry. 

LaMichael James doesn’t have to go it alone, thanks to generally solid play from quarterback Darron Thomas, but his 772 total offensive yards and eight touchdowns account for a huge portion of a prolific Ducks offense that has scored 208 points already.   

2. Case Keenum, QB, University of Houston

In 2009, Houston quarterback Case Keenum was one of the top quarterbacks in the NCAA; his 5,671 passing yards, 44 touchdowns and 70 percent completion percentage was substantially higher than Tim Tebow, Kellen Moore, Jimmy Clasusen, Ryan Matt and Andy Dalton.  Keenum led the Cougars to a 10-4 record. 

Unfortunately, Keenum’s 2010 season ended abruptly when he suffered a knee injury in a loss against UCLA in mid-September.  The blow was devastating to the Cougars’ who only mustered three more wins without their star quarterback, finishing 5-7.

Keenum is back in 2011 and doesn’t seem to have missed a beat; he’s in the top five quarterbacks in total passing yards, touchdowns, completion leaders, passing attempts and in the top 10 of most other statistics. 

Houston's absolutely collapse in Keenum’s absence in 2010 really illustrates his value.

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, University of South Carolina

South Carolina running back and Heisman trophy frontrunner, Marcus Lattimore is currently the second leading rusher in the NCAA—just two yards behind Oregon’s LaMichael James. 

Lattimore has carried the 4-0 Gamecocks on his back through the first four games of the season, and it’s not just because he can, it’s because he has to.  At the moment, the play of South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is about as bad as it gets.  Garcia’s seven interceptions are more than double his touchdowns, and his completion percentage is just under 55. 

Not convinced?  How about the fact that Lattimore‘s rushing has matched Garcia’s passing yard-for-yard, with each being tied at 684 total yards.  Gamecock fans are probably in church every Sunday, praying this guy stays healthy.