After gathering input from every Power 5 head coach in the past month, Insider has identified the top 50 breakout players in college football for the 2016 season. We begin today with Nos. 50-41, a group that includes a reality TV star trying to make it on the SEC stage, the son of a longtime NFL coach and a Big 12 receiver with decidedly good genes.
50. Jarrell Owens, DE, Oklahoma State
2015: 11 tackles (three sacks), one forced fumble
Those close to the program, including coach Mike Gundy, do not expect Owens to resemble recently departed All-American Emmanuel Ogbah when the season begins, but watch for Owens to surge as the season progresses. He'll only get better as the Cowboys enter the teeth of their Big 12 schedule late in the season.
Gundy said Owens, a prolific high school running back in Texas, always had speed; at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, the redshirt sophomore now has the size to stand against the push of opposing lines.
"He's a pure talent," Gundy said. "He's not where Ogbah was, not yet, but we're hoping he can make progress."
49. Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College
Lindstrom represents coach Steve Addazio's prime example of an offensive line coming together. He played a year ago as a 265-pound freshman; this season he's a 300-pound sophomore with a year of game experience.
"He's an animal," Addazio said. "He'll be a top-three-round offensive lineman [in 2017 or 2018]. He sums up that whole group: We're a year away from being dominant, but we're getting back our edge. We'll have that competitive edge up front."
That would certainly help an Eagles offense that was ranked 124th (of 128) in the FBS in yards per play in 2015.
48. Solomon Vault, WR, Northwestern
2015: 159 rushing yards; 95 receiving yards; two kick return touchdowns
Coach Pat Fitzgerald acknowledges the Wildcats have not been all that good when it comes to creating explosive plays. In 2015, Northwestern finished dead last in the FBS in the percentage of 10-plus-yard offensive plays (14.2 percent).
Vault showed his speed and ability on kick returns with scores against Duke and Penn State, but Fitzgerald wants to see that translate to more offensive production as an all-purpose back and receiver.
"For us to take the steps that we need to take, he's going to have to be a guy that's going to need to make big plays for us on the outside," Fitzgerald said of the junior.
47. John Franklin III, QB, Auburn
Anyone who has seen the Netflix documentary series "Last Chance U" knows that Franklin, shown during his time at a Mississippi junior college, is one mercurial guy. It remains to be seen whether the former track star, with unquestioned athletic ability, can do enough to win over his teammates and take away some snaps from expected starter Sean White.
But even if White, a sophomore, nets the primary role, it doesn't preclude Franklin from being an important piece in Gus Malzahn's offense. Plus, we've all seen what Malzahn can do with dual-threat juco prospects, something he's often quick to remind his coaching colleagues of, Insider has been told.
"Hell, he took a defensive back [Nick Marshall] and almost won a national title," one SEC coach said.
46. Kyle Shurmur, QB, Vanderbilt
2015: 503 passing yards, five touchdowns (three interceptions)
Those close to the Vanderbilt program describe Shurmur, who grew up around NFL locker rooms as the son of veteran pro assistant Pat Shurmur, as a "complete package."
"He's really unflappable," Vandy coach Derek Mason told Insider, referring to the 6-4, 223-pound sophomore. "None of this fazes him. He's thrown to pro receivers. For him, he's worried about decision-making, leadership and taking care of the ball. He 'gets' the quarterback position. Do I think Kyle Shurmur has a chance to be a really good quarterback? Yes, I do. When? Hopefully now."
There's a sense in Nashville, too, that Andy Ludwig, now in his second season calling plays, will pair well with Shurmur, and that the offense -- a paltry No. 120 last season in yards per play -- will be less of a liability in 2016.
45. George Kittle, TE, Iowa
2015: 290 receiving yards, six touchdowns
Kittle and Henry Krieger Coble formed a solid tight end tandem on last season's Rose Bowl team. Coble is now gone, presumably leading to more opportunities for Kittle as a junior, particularly in the red zone, as evidenced by his touchdown total in 2015.
Coach Kirk Ferentz said Kittle, now at 250 pounds, has gained 50 pounds since arriving on campus three years ago.
"He's really grown," Ferentz said, "not only physically but as a player."
44. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
2015: 226 rushing yards, two touchdowns; 250 receiving yards, one touchdown
Coach David Shaw vowed at Pac-12 media days that he would continue to use Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey at a high rate. And why wouldn't he? But he added that there's room in the offense for Love, who had 44 touches as a freshman, to assume an expanded role.
"Bryce is going to go from a spot player to being a full-time player for us," Shaw said, adding that McCaffrey's and Love's versatility lends itself to flexibility within the offense.
"You saw it some last year, where we had both in the game at the same time. Maybe we can move one, slide him out to the slot. There are a bunch of things that we can do with both of those guys."
43. Eric Dungey, QB, Syracuse
2015: 1,298 passing yards, 11 touchdowns (five interceptions)
Coaches across college football sense that Dino Babers' wide-open, tempo system is going to throw the ACC for a loop. They really liked the hire because it throws a wrench into a league that's still mostly reliant on pro-style schemes.
But it might take some time for Babers to get personnel to fit his offense.
"That's been the hardest part," Babers told Insider. "You had an option-based offense that you're changing to a throwing offense."
Dungey's ability to grasp and excel in the offense as a sophomore will be key to the program's overall timeline. He looked good at times a year ago, and this offense -- predicated on Art Briles' hurry-up, no-huddle system at Baylor -- has a chance to make him a star.
42. Ka'Raun White, WR, West Virginia
2015: 275 receiving yards
During a spring stop to Mountaineers' practice, a staffer pointed to White and said, "That guy's going to be a star. You watch."
White's older brother, Kevin, went from 507 yards and five touchdowns as a junior to 1,447 yards and 10 scores as a senior. Coach Dana Holgorsen says the younger White, entering his junior season, is ahead of where Kevin was at this point.
"He's going to be fun to watch," Holgorsen said. "He's got the same body type, does a lot of the same things. But what made Kevin so dominant was the intimidation factor. We still have to see if Ka'Raun can get there."
41. Otaro Alaka, LB, Texas A&M
2015: 12 tackles (one for loss)
Alaka dealt with injuries and personal matters a year ago, negating a season that began with great promise. Coach Kevin Sumlin said it was a "big blow" not having Alaka in the middle of the defense, even as Shaan Washington emerged to become the team’s second-leading tackler.
With Washington and a healthy Alaka, John Chavis' defense continues to look the part more and more. There's a ways to go, however; the Aggies were still No. 108 against the run in 2015.
"I like where we're at right now," Sumlin said. "We've got talented players across the board."