Participant rankings: Snubs, overrated, underrated and extra
ESPN workers
Preseason faculty soccer rankings are an inexact science. So is analyzing them. (Final yr, the 2 gamers thought of overrated in our preseason high 50 had been Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa. Whoops.)
However that is not going to cease us from breaking it down once more. Which gamers on this yr’s preseason high 50 are going to make us look foolish by the tip of the season? Can a real freshman make a Trevor Lawrence-like leap? (Most likely not, however let’s discover out.)
Here is a breakdown of who our consultants assume are overrated, underrated and extra within the preseason participant rankings.
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Participant ranked too low
Andrea Adelson: Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace
There may be unquestioned star energy at receiver throughout this nation this yr, and that features Wallace, some of the explosive returning wideouts in some of the explosive offenses in faculty soccer. Wallace ranked No. 2 within the nation a yr in the past in whole receiving yards, and although the Cowboys have a brand new beginning quarterback, expectations for Wallace have not modified. He is one of many high 15 gamers within the nation.
Kyle Bonagura: Ohio State QB Justin Fields
That Fields is even on the checklist speaks to his exceptional potential as a result of normally there is no such thing as a room for gamers who have not began a school sport. Nonetheless, it is easy to take a look at Fields at No. 48 and have little or no doubt he’ll be a lot larger on the finish of the season. The mix of his particular person expertise and Ohio State’s offense below first-year coach Ryan Day might flip him right into a top-five participant by the tip of the season.
1 Associated
Invoice Connelly: Vanderbilt RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
I am a sucker for a Roman candle within the backfield, and Vaughn’s late-2018 explosion was absurd. In his final 5 video games, he carried the ball 85 instances for 749 yards (eight.eight per carry!) and 7 touchdowns. If he can keep wholesome, he might be the highest operating again within the nation.
Adam Rittenberg: Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes
If Willekes performed for Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and even Michigan, there is no approach he would barely crack the highest 50. Whereas the Large Ten is loaded with standout defensive ends, Willekes received the league’s defensive lineman of the yr award in 2018, incomes second-team All-America honors. He has 35 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his profession. He is a top-25 nationwide participant, little doubt.
Mark Schlabach: Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes
It took Willekes some time to earn the respect of Michigan State’s coaches, and the previous walk-on continues to be being missed right here. In keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, he led all FBS edge rushers with 23 quarterback hits and was sixth with 39 quarterback hurries in 2018. He has 151 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 15½ sacks in 27 profession video games. In my view, he is one of many 25 greatest gamers within the nation.
Participant ranked too excessive
Adelson: Georgia QB Jake Fromm
Fromm has been extremely profitable as Georgia’s quarterback, there is no arguing that. And he is a giant motive why the Bulldogs are favored to make it to the School Soccer Playoff this season. He is the most effective gamers within the nation, however is he the fifth-best participant? You possibly can make the argument Jonathan Taylor, Justin Herbert, Travis Etienne, Rondale Moore and Chase Younger ought to all be ranked larger. Perhaps even Sam Ehlinger, too.
Bonagura: Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez
He is enjoyable to look at and a motive to look ahead to seeing Nebraska early this yr, however is he actually the 30th greatest participant in faculty soccer? It feels excessive. There have been instances final season, particularly late within the yr, when he made a powerful case, however this feels extra like a best-case-scenario, end-of-season rank for Martinez than the place he needs to be going into his sophomore yr.
Connelly: Oregon QB Justin Herbert
We’re giving him the advantage of the doubt due to what he might be, however he hasn’t persistently been that man simply but. His passer score over the previous two seasons is a rock-solid 152.four, however that is extra Brett Rypien than Tua Tagovailoa. His QBR was 24th final yr, between Kelvin Hopkins Jr. and David Blough. (Additionally: Fellow Pac-12 QB Okay.J. Costello outplayed him final yr.)
Rittenberg: Clemson WR Justyn Ross
I noticed what occurred within the playoff. Ross is a particular expertise, and coaches inform me he’ll be a future first-round NFL draft choose. However high 10 preseason? Forward of extra achieved receivers like Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr., and Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace (ranked approach too low at 27)? This appears a bit presumptive. Ross additionally shares touches with so many different superstars at Clemson. Let’s pump the brakes a bit.
Schlabach: Ohio State QB Justin Fields
What do the 10 quarterbacks ranked forward of Fields on this checklist have in widespread? Oh, yeah, they’ve all guided their groups to a victory in faculty soccer. I feel it is too early to anoint Fields as the following nice quarterback. Certain, he was extremely ranked popping out of highschool, however he appeared overwhelmed throughout his freshman season at Georgia. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day does an important job teaching the place and perhaps Fields will carry out higher in Ohio State’s offense. However I feel there are nonetheless a number of rising pains to come back.
Ought to Arizona State star RB Eno Benjamin have gotten extra love in our participant rankings? Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire
Unranked participant who must be on checklist
Adelson: Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin
Benjamin may lack the identify recognition of some others on this checklist, however he clearly deserves to be ranked among the many high 50 gamers within the nation. Benjamin set a college file with 1,642 yards dashing a season in the past, rating him fifth within the nation in whole dashing yards. Headed into Yr 2 below coach Herm Edwards, he won’t carry the identical workload, however he might be used much more as a pass-catching menace out of the backfield.
Bonagura: Stanford QB Okay.J. Costello
Justin Herbert at No. 7 is comprehensible contemplating his stature as an NFL prospect, however it was Costello, not Herbert, voted second-team All-Pac-12 final season (behind first-teamer Gardner Minshew of Washington State). It was for good motive, too: Costello was ranked No. 6 nationally in Whole QBR, behind two first-round picks (Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins) and three of the 11 quarterbacks on this checklist (Tua Tagovailoa, Jake Fromm, D’Eriq King).
Connelly: Iowa State QB Brock Purdy
He had a better QBR than Herbert final yr, and the Cyclones had been 7-2 with him behind heart. They averaged 18 factors per sport with out him and 31 factors per sport with him. He is a possible sophomore-slump man — opponents needed to regulate to him on the fly when he began taking part in in October, and now they’ve had an entire offseason to arrange — however he will get the advantage of the doubt for now.
Rittenberg: Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin
A number of Pac-12 gamers match this class, together with Utah defensive finish Bradlee Anae, however Benjamin is undoubtedly a top-50 participant. Final fall, he set ASU’s single-season information for dashing yards (1,642), carries (300) and 100-yard dashing performances (9). Benjamin is each elusive (94 missed tackles, third within the FBS) and explosive (47 runs of 10 yards or longer, fourth nationally).
Schlabach: Virginia CB Bryce Corridor
How is Corridor not on the checklist? Final season, whereas main the Cavaliers to their first eight-win season since 2011, he led the FBS with 22 go breakups and was tied for first with 24 passes defended. He had 62 tackles, 3½ tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble restoration and a pair of interceptions. He is nearly as good as any cornerback within the nation.
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Group of 5 participant who needs to be ranked
Adelson: UCF S Richie Grant
Grant had a breakout season in 2018, main the Knights with 109 whole tackles and 6 interceptions in his first yr as a starter. He needs to be even higher this yr, as coaches rave about his work ethic, athleticism and penchant for all the time being across the ball. Grant has big upside as a professional prospect, too, and is a difference-maker on UCF’s protection.
Bonagura: Utah State QB Jordan Love
As a sophomore, Love guided Utah State to one among its greatest seasons at school historical past. He threw for three,567 yards and 32 touchdowns because the Aggies received a school-record 11 video games and completed ranked within the ultimate AP ballot, at No. 22, for simply the third time in historical past. In a blowout win towards North Texas within the New Mexico Bowl, Love outplayed one other robust Group of 5 candidate, QB Mason Nice.
Connelly: Boise State DE Curtis Weaver
He is a completely dynamite edge rusher, and new defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding ought to know precisely how one can get essentially the most out of him. (Additionally, shout-out to Utah State’s Jordan Love, whom I’d have talked about right here as an alternative had I trusted that he had any receivers to throw to this yr.)
Rittenberg: Utah State QB Jordan Love
The place’s the Love? I am going to present myself out. Significantly, Love is likely one of the most dynamic younger quarterbacks in faculty soccer. He had an unimaginable 2018 season, eclipsing three,500 passing yards with 32 touchdowns towards simply six interceptions for an 11-win Utah State squad. He had seven 300-yard passing performances and two 400-yard video games. He joins one other Mountain West star, Boise State defender Curtis Weaver, as notable Group of 5 snubs.
Schlabach: Utah State QB Jordan Love Love was some of the correct passers in faculty soccer in 2018. He accomplished 64 % of his passes for three,567 yards with 32 touchdowns and solely six interceptions. He threw for 300 yards or extra in seven video games. He’ll have a few possibilities to show his value towards Energy 5 opponents; the Aggies open the season at Wake Forest and play at LSU on Oct. 5.
Oregon landed the No. 1 ranked recruit within the nation, defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux (eight). Roy Okay. Miller/Icon Sportswire
True freshman who will make end-of-year checklist
Adelson: LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
The Tigers historically produce distinctive gamers within the secondary, and Stingley seems to be subsequent in line to fill that position. LSU has an enormous want on the place, too, which solely will increase the chance and potential for a breakout season for the true freshman, ranked No. 18 on the ESPN 300. LSU can be anticipated to make use of him to return punts, relying on him to considerably improve its return sport.
Bonagura: Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
He arrived as ESPN’s No. 1 ranked general participant within the Class of 2019 and figures to have an opportunity to play a giant position from day one for the Geese. Touchdown a participant of his stature was vital for the Pac-12, however he’ll be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and the clear expectation is he will not want a lot time to stand up to hurry.
Connelly: Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
A boring alternative, actually, however he might fill an instantaneous want for a Pac-12 contender. If the Geese can unearth a bit extra of a go rush, they might be top-10 worthy. This wasn’t a giant yr for immediate-impact QB recruits, so we’ll simply go together with perhaps the very best participant general.
Rittenberg: Auburn LB Owen Pappoe
Impression freshmen have each distinctive expertise and loads of alternative, and Pappoe checks each containers. ESPN’s top-rated linebacker and No. eight general participant within the 2019 class might be an instantaneous contributor for Auburn, which brings again one of many nation’s greatest defensive traces however loses Deshaun Davis and others at linebacker. Taking part in behind Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson, Nick Coe and others will enable Pappoe to showcase his large means from Recreation 1.
Schlabach: Georgia LB Nolan Smith
If Georgia goes to get again to the SEC championship sport, Smith goes to need to emerge as a authentic pass-rusher. Pretty much as good because the Bulldogs have been below coach Kirby Sensible the earlier two seasons, they struggled to get strain on the quarterback. In 2018, they’d solely 24 sacks in 14 video games, which ranked tied for 103rd within the FBS. Freshman outdoors linebacker Nolan Smith, the No. 2 prospect within the ESPN 300, might assist change that instantly.