Jabrill peppers = young deon...dude will win the heisman
2014 Official Random College Football Thread
- Thread starter MikelArteta
- Start date
Woodwerkz
R.I.P. King Bean #8 #24 and Little Deuce #2 Gigi
Top 10 future college stars
Watson, Hargreaves among players set to break out in the next three years
Updated: July 9, 2014, 1:16 PM ET
By Tom Luginbill | ESPN Insider
AP Photo/Anderson Independent-Mail/Mark CrammerQB DeShaun Watson has the talent to start as a true freshman at Clemson in 2014.
CFB Future Power Ranks | 10 future stars | Chat wrap | 2013 FPR
It's always fun to pull out our crystal ball and project who is going to be the next star or make the biggest splash in college football over the next few years. More than half of the players on our list from a year ago made an impact on the gridiron in 2013, and some on the list hadn't even entered college yet, so their fate is still undetermined.
In conjunction with the release of our College Football Future Power Rankings, we will once again sprinkle in a few high school seniors who we think could be premier players over time in conjunction with current college players who are on the verge of breaking out.
Here are the top 10 players set to become college football stars over the next three years.
1. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson Tigers
Don't be surprised if Watson is the starting quarterback as a true freshman at Clemson by midseason of this year. Although he was injured in spring football, he made great strides and a fantastic impression on both the coaching staff and his teammates. Cole Stoudt may be the senior, but he does not have Watson's talent. Plus, Stoudt lacks the high-level athleticism that offensive coordinator Chad Morris seeks. Watson has a chance to be special, and from a maturity standpoint he is capable of handling the jump from high school to college with very few growing pains. He's the quarterback of the future of this program and will be charged with continuing its run of double-digit-win seasons and competing for championships.
2. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators
Maybe it's not fair to put Hargreaves on this list considering he was a starter as a true freshman and many think he was the best corner on Florida's roster. However, 2013 might just be the tip of the iceberg as it relates to the impact Hargreaves could have on the Gators' defense over the next couple of years. He is a surefire top-10 selection two years from now, in our opinion. He is a difference-maker athletically, but more importantly, his football IQ is off the charts.
3. Dontre Wilson, ATH/RB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Wilson saw significant action as a true freshman in a limited role as a scatback and wide receiver in 2013, but expect his role to increase as he blossoms into a go-to player with this offense. He bulked up his weight and strength to be able to handle the load as a ball carrier if called upon, and he may be the most explosive perimeter player on the Buckeyes. He is a difference-maker in space and is capable of winning foot races in the open field. Wilson likely will add significantly more explosive plays of 20 yards or more to this offense.
4. Chris Jones, DE, Mississippi State Bulldogs
There was a lot of hype in 2013 surrounding Robert Nkemdiche (and deservedly so), but across the state, Jones was making an immediate impact on the Bulldogs' defense at defensive end. This kid is an absolute monster and has such a high ceiling for development because he came into the college level so raw. He could potentially be a three-and-out, first-round draft choice in two years. He may not be a national name yet, but he is within the SEC. Who would have ever thought that potentially the two best defensive ends in the conference would be at Ole Miss and Mississippi State?
5. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin Badgers
This may seem like a bit of a cop-out because Wisconsin has turned into Running Back U as of late, but when you consider that Clement had a significant role within the offense as a true freshman with James White and Melvin Gordon in front of him, it's pretty easy to see why he could be special over time. He is a galloping workhorse capable of breaking long runs and carrying the load for an offense. Plus, Clement is the perfect fit in terms of what the Badgers want to be as far as their offensive identity. Don't be surprised if folks need to be reminded who Montee Ball was after Clement's college career is over.
6. Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas Razorbacks
This kid is a stud, and we've only seen him scratch the surface of what he's capable of. You've got to be careful with freshman running backs in terms of ballhandling and pass protection, but over the course of his freshman campaign Collins emerged as the premier runner in this offense. The scheme is tailored to his strengths and will feature him as the focal point of the offense in 2014, which will allow him to pile up some monster stats both this year and beyond. Collins could emerge as one of the top running backs in all of college football in 2014.
7. Cameron Robinson, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide
It won't be long until this true freshman is starting for the University of Alabama. As talented as this unit has been for Alabama over the last five or so years, the Crimson Tide have not had an O-line prospect of Robinson's caliber. Cyrus Kouandjio is the closest comparison, but Robinson is much further ahead technically than Kouandjio was at the same stage. We rarely make assessments when it comes to projecting beyond the college level for high school prospects, but we projected D.J. Fluker would be a first-round draft choice coming out of high school as an offensive lineman even though he was being recruited as a defensive lineman. At that same stage, there is no comparison between him and Robinson.
8. Brandon Harris, QB, LSU Tigers
He may be thrust into duty earlier than expected by most, including us, but when you consider his performance during the spring, Harris could very well find himself under center for LSU in its opening game against Wisconsin. This is an extremely gifted player with rare arm talent. How quickly he assimilates and can process the offense will determine how fast he rises up the ranks. There isn't a player on LSU's roster who can throw the football the way he can. With the weapons LSU is going to have on offense over the next few years, Harris could be surrounded with the personnel necessary to compete for a national title.
9. Jabrill Peppers, CB/ATH, Michigan Wolverines
While not even on campus yet, a lot is going to be expected of Peppers in a Michigan uniform. In our opinion he will deliver. Michigan's current roster does not have a player of Peppers' caliber athletically. Yes, many comparisons have been made to Charles Woodson; fair or unfair, that's the reality of the situation. In our opinion, he is a difference-maker who is capable of playing multiple positions on offense or defense and is a future star.
10. Robert Foster, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
Many within the Alabama program think that Foster should have played a year ago as a true freshman, but hindsight will tell you Alabama was correct in redshirting him and allowing him to get acclimated to the college life in terms of time management, academics and all of the other areas that require so much attention. That being said, outside of Amari Cooper, Foster may be the most talented skill player in Alabama's receiving corps this year. Once Cooper departs for the NFL a year from now, Foster could become the go-to guy in Alabama's passing game.
Tom Luginbill
RecruitingNation
- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
SubscribeThey should've put Mackenzie Alexander on there for Clemson over Deshaun Watson. He had a bad groin injury that kept him out last season so he's a red shirt Freshman ready to start from day one. Him and HARGRAVES were the top 2 CB's that came out of Florida that year. Dude is physical...and i can't wait to see him in action this season.
Lucky_Lefty
Dreams Are Colder Than Death...
Alex Collins country ass wearing cowboy boots at a meet and greet my homie attended today
Rigby.
The #1 Rated Mixtape of all Time
I miss that potential Auburn vs Oregon rematch bruh
Mariota had the best overall QBR of the year while Marshall had the best QBR of the latter 8 games of the year
Would've been amazing to see
Mariota had the best overall QBR of the year while Marshall had the best QBR of the latter 8 games of the year
Would've been amazing to see
QuintessentialBM
GoldenAgeGamer82 - PSN ID
You act like Marshall is about to be gone or something.This Auburn we talking bout man,this Auburn.What's the punishment?A"straighten up"and a pat on the ass?
Under Malzahn, I don't know how he reacts to stuff like this. Most likely you're right, not much is going to happen because he didn't get arrested.
You act like Marshall is about to be gone or something.This Auburn we talking bout man,this Auburn.What's the punishment?A"straighten up"and a pat on the ass?
In other SEC crime news...
Tennessee hasn't changed much from the Dooloey days which didn't change much from the Fulmer days.
Man i wish they had that under a ounce law or whatever the hell it is back when i was his age!I'd be like
Had a dream it was week 2, if its anything like the dream. Gonna be dope as fukk
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/30/usc-trojans
Yalls tickets are cheap as hell.
Y'alls showcase game against powerhouse Stanford is $100, our game against Tenn is starting at $150.
Y''all have other game at only $30.
Lucky_Lefty
Dreams Are Colder Than Death...
Dog, I tried to get in on an Ole Miss game and they starting at $85. Schools like UNC, Maryland, UVA, Miss State got it right on their sites with the pick your own seat option. Got the UNC- Va Tech tix between the 20s for $45, and UVA-UCLA tix in the endzone for $55. Still trying to get a Ga Tech-Miami and Tennessee ticket but they bullshyttin and not selling single games until the beginning of Augusthttp://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/30/usc-trojans
Yalls tickets are cheap as hell.
Y'alls showcase game against powerhouse Stanford is $100, our game against Tenn is starting at $150.
Y''all have other game at only $30.
You cant find an OU ticket under $60, and that's for 1st game vs cupcake University
SMH
