25 College Football Players Who Came out of Nowhere in 2011

Until Kansas State beat Miami on the road 28-24, like most people outside of Manhattan, Kan., I had never heard of Collin Klein.

From that impressive performance until the end of the season, Klein earned a reputation as a tough player and a winner.

He was also one of 25 players who took the nation by surprise with his unexpected season filled with highlights.

Every year we get a few players who are either unknown are far exceed any expectations, and here are the best from 2011.

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State

Edwin Baker was supposed to be the main ball carrier for Michigan State, especially after rushing for 1,156 yards in 2010.

But Le'Veon Bell was the Spartans' workhorse this season.

Bell rushed for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns on 165 carries, while Baker had just 655 yards on one less carry.

Bell had just two 100-yard games, but he should get more carries next year and that number should increase.

David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State

David Amerson was expected to start at defensive back for North Carolina State, but it's easily one of he biggest surprises how well he performed in 2011.

Amerson has made basically every All-America team and he won the Jack Tatum Award.

He led the nation with 11 interceptions and has 54 tackles heading into the Belk Bowl against Louisville on Dec. 27.

Dustin Garrison, RB, West Virginia

When offensive guru Dana Holgorsen arrived in Morgantown it was expected that quarterback Geno Smith and his receiving corps would have huge seasons.

The Mountaineers' running game was hot and cold all season, but with freshman Dustin Garrison you could see a potential star in the making.

He had a huge day against Bowling Green when he compiled 291 yards on the ground to go with two touchdowns.

Garrison also closed the season strong with 87 yards and a score against South Florida that propelled WVU into the Orange Bowl.

Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State

Collin Klein, the original Honey Badger, went from unknown junior quarterback to one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

He was also a key cog in Kansas State's resurgence this fall, which includes a 10-win season and Cotton Bowl date with Arkansas.

Klein may look bloody and beaten after games, but he's usually on the winning side.

I can't wait to see his encore in 2012.

Tyler Tettleton, QB, Ohio

Tyler Tettleton, son of former Major Leaguer Mickey Tettleton, led Ohio to its first 10-win season behind his accurate arm and fearless running.

Tettleton scored the game-winning touchdown in the Bobcats' 24-23 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was Ohio's first-ever bowl win.

Now Tettleton will now try to deliver the program's first Mid-American Conference championship next season.

Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina

Since Giovani Bernard didn't see the field last year because of an injury, any expectations this year were tempered.

All he did was become the first North Carolina back to rush for more than 1,000 yards since 1997.

When he eclipsed the 100-yard mark, the Tar Heels went 5-1 this season.

Bernard should flourish in Larry Fedora's offense next season.

Jarrett Lee, QB, LSU

Jarrett Lee may have lost his starting job during the Alabama game to Jordan Jefferson, but he still had his finest season at LSU.

When Jefferson was suspended to start the season, Lee stepped in and led LSU to a perfect 4-0 September against Oregon, Northwestern State, Mississippi State and West Virginia.

Lee proved to be surprisingly accurate and resilient.

He led the Tigers with 1,306 passing yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

The Clemson freshman receiver was considered a top recruit, but it's always a surprise when a player like Sammy Watkins bursts onto the scene.

Watkins became a house-hold name after pulling down 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns when Clemson knocked off Auburn.

He finished with 78 receptions for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If he were eligible to leave for the NFL now, I'd be shocked if Watkins wasn't a first-round pick.

Danny Trevathan, LB, Kentucky

Danny Trevathan had earned a reputation as a physical player who was always around the ball carrier.

So Kentucky expected him to be a among the team's top tacklers, which he is with 143.

Surprisingly, he also led the team with four interceptions.

He made his presence felt in a close loss to Georgia when he piled up 17 tackles.

Michael Rocco, QB, Virginia

Michael Rocco struggled at times early in the season, but as he gained experience his overall performance improved.

He completed 196-of-325 passes for 2,359 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, he also threw 11 interceptions.

Rocco wasn't a breakout star, but he showed flashes of what Virginia can expect to see in the future.

Marqise Lee, WR, USC

USC quarterback Matt Barkley's favorite target was sophomore Robert Woods, but he also loved getting the ball to freshman Marqise Lee.

He was second on the team in receptions (73), yards (1,143) and touchdowns (11).

Lee and Woods will make for one of the nation's best receiving corps, and the expectations for USC should be sky high in 2012.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Louisville coach Charlie Strong was well aware he was getting a special talent in Teddy Bridgewater when he switched his commitment from Miami to the Cardinals.

Strong had hoped to let Bridgewater play a back-up role in 2011 and then unleash his top player in 2012.

Well, it didn't quite work that way, and Bridgewater struggled at first.

But during the second half of the season, Bridgewater became the stud performer that every Louisville fan was hoping they had.

He finished the regular season with 1,855 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.

Keith Price, QB, Washington

After four years of penciling in Jake Locker as the starting quarterback at Washington, Steve Sarkisian had to find his new leader.

It was a tough battle between Keith Price and Nick Montana, but Sarkisian went with Price.

There was very little second guessing after the fans saw what Price could do. I'm not sure he made them forget Locker, but they were excited.

Price completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,625 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

Braxton Miller is another true freshman quarterback that was planning to see some spot duty and mop-up work.

But coach Luke Fickell had no choice but to turn the offense over to Miller when Joe Bauserman couldn't deliver a consistent performance.

Miller had his ups and downs, but there are huge expectations for him in Columbus now that Urban Meyer is in charge.

De’Anthony Thomas, WR, Oregon

De'Anthony Thomas was a big-time recruit and Oregon coach Chip Kelly expected to get some production out of him this season.

But he has to be a bit shocked that his freshman wide receiver led the team with 42 receptions, 571 yards and nine touchdowns.

Thomas was also one of the nation's top return men, including 858 yards and two touchdowns on kickoffs.

He's another Oregon speed demon.

Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin

Russell Wilson was not completely under the radar when he arrived in Madison, Wis.

Wilson led North Carolina State to a 9-4 record in 2010, which included an MVP-performance in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Still, in one season at Wisconsin it was Wilson who lifted the team up and delivered a big win in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. He was even in the Heisman conversation for a big part of the season.

If the Badgers are going to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl I'd bet Wisconsin will need another big bowl performance from Wilson.

Isi Sofele, RB, California

Isi Sofele rushed for a minimal 328 yards last season for California.

Well, he became the go-to guy for the Bears this fall and he reached 1,270 yards and nine touchdowns on a career-high 232 attempts.

Sofele is small in stature (5'8", 190 pounds), but he's a quick and physical runner.

He definitely gives Cal coach Jeff Tedford something to build around in 2012.

James Vandenberg, QB, Iowa

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz knew he a tough task of replacing Ricky Stanzi this season, but even he has to be pleasantly surprised with James Vandenberg.

The junior completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns.

His best outing came against Pittsburgh as he led a come-from-behind win. He finished 31-of-48 passing for 399 yards and two scores.

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Michigan

When Brady Hoke took over at Michigan he knew he needed a workhorse at running back.

He got his man in Fitzgerald Toussaint, who enters the Sugar Bowl game against Virginia Tech with 1,011 rushing yards on 174 carries.

His ability to pick up a bulk of the running took a lot of pressure off quarterback Denard Robinson.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

I know, he's the Heisman Trophy winner, but who honestly thought Robert Griffin III would actually win that honor back in August, September or October?

Griffin's talents were never in doubt, but he lift Baylor on his shoulders and led the Bears to a nine-win season, which includes wins over TCU, Oklahoma and Texas.

Now that's surprising.

Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia

Jarvis Jones had such an impressive season that it was thought he'd probably jump to the NFL.

Well, the All-American linebacker has already announced he'll return in 2012, and it won't be a surprise when he racks up a bunch of tackles and sacks.

Jones was a stud high school player who originally attended USC, so the fact he's a star player now isn't a huge shock.

But you just don't know what you'll get until a prep star steps on the field. Jones delivered in 2011.

Nigel Malone, DB, Kansas State

Kansas State was the surprise team of 2011, so it should come as no shock that the Wildcats had two players make the list.

Nigel Malone transferred from City College of San Francisco and made a huge impact on Kansas State's defense.

He led the team with seven interceptions and was recognized on a bunch of All-American teams.

Brad Wing, P, LSU

I know it's a punter, but whenever a freshman like Brad Wing steps onto the field and can flip field position the way he does then you have something special.

When a punter can impact the outcome of a game then you have to recognize his skills.

He averaged a little more than 44 yards a kick, so Wing will not be an unknown for the next three years at LSU.

David Molk, C, Michigan

It's not that David Molk wasn't expected to have a good season for Michigan, but when the Wolverines switched their offensive approach away from the spread that had a big impact on the line.

Molk relished the change and became an All-American performer.

He also played a key role in Michigan having two 1,000-yard rushers this fall.

Whitney Mercilus, DL, Illinois

The Ted Hendricks Award winner was a major bright spot for an Illinois team that dropped six straight to end the season.

Whitney Mercilus went from little-used back-up to a full-fledged superstar this season.

He finished with 14.5 sacks after recording just two the previous two seasons.

Mercilus is not expected to return for his senior season.