After gathering input from every Power 5 head coach in the past month, Insider is ready to project the top 50 breakout players in college football for the 2016 season.
The countdown continues today with Nos. 20-11, a group that includes Zeke Elliott’s replacement at Ohio State, the next wave of elite-level Clemson defensive linemen and two SEC receivers poised for 1,000-plus-yard seasons.
20. Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State
Earlier this summer, Urban Meyer credited Weber for getting into better shape. Those close to the program believe the redshirt freshman is now ready to carry the load while trying to replace first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott’s eye-popping production.
“He’s definitely quicker [in 2016], has some speed to him,” quarterback J.T. Barrett told Insider. “He’s hard to get down because he’s so low to the ground and runs with so much force. He’s definitely going to be hard to tackle with that low center of gravity.”
Also, even though Curtis Samuel has been around the program, coaches and teammates say to look for more consistent contributions from the versatile back.
19. Derrick Willies, WR, Texas Tech Red Raiders
The dry-erase recruiting board in the team’s quarterbacks room has featured a common denominator the past couple of years: about a dozen offers out to taller receivers.
The Red Raiders have had smaller weapons such as Jakeem Grant, but they’ve been missing a receiver that can stretch the field and provide a viable downfield target for quarterback Pat Mahomes.
The 6-4, 210-pound Willies, ESPN's top JUCO receiver prospect in 2016, finally fills that void. Willies is a primary reason why one coach in the league believes Mahomes will throw for 6,000 yards (!) this season.
18. John Ross, WR/KR, Washington
2014 stats: 371 receiving yards, four touchdowns; two kickoff returns for touchdowns
Ross, who missed the 2015 season (knee), returned the spring game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown. He went on to catch a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jake Browning.
With sub-4.3 speed, he’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as a receiver or return man.
“We need him to be able to take the next step for us to do what we want to do,” Petersen said. “He’s played very little receiver, but if he stays healthy, he’ll get where we need him.”
17. KaVontae Turpin, WR, TCU
2015 stats: 116 rushing yards; 649 receiving yards, eight touchdowns
Even without the team’s top two pass-catchers from 2015 (Josh Doctson, Shaun Nixon), Frogs coach Gary Patterson told Insider twice this summer that he feels good about the diverse options he has returning at the receiver spot.
There’s no more versatile piece than Turpin, the 5-9, 163-pound dynamo who even threw two passes in addition to his 65 touches as a freshman. His usage rate should increase as a sophomore, especially considering the team has terrific depth but not all that much experience at receiver.
Turpin and Deante' Gray, who is returning from injury, figure to be the top two targets for transfer quarterback Kenny Hill.
16. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
2015 stats: 37 tackles (10.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks), two fumble recoveries
Some in Pac-12 circles would argue that Thomas broke out in 2015 as a redshirt freshman, but his impact should be felt more profoundly this fall. Those around the program think he’ll become a national name.
Cardinal coach David Shaw said he sees Thomas evolving to become more of a defensive leader. He envisions Thomas sliding into the leadership role that leading tackler Blake Martinez occupied a year ago.
On the field, the 6-3, 256-pound end is a gifted pass-rusher who will help Stanford bounce back after the team saw its sack total dip from 46 in 2014 to 34 last season.
14 & 15. Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson
We asked Dabo Swinney about the Tigers' recent run of dominant D-linemen.
“We’ve kind of got that going right now, don’t we?” Swinney said. “We’ve done a great job recruiting and getting players on campus, and Marion Hobby and Dan Brooks are two of the best defensive line coaches in America.”
Meet the next wave. Ferrell is a redshirt freshman whom Swinney expects to make a decided impact in the second half of the season, once he gets game experience. And another ACC coach greatly lamented missing on Lawrence in the recruiting process.
“He might be the best one they’ve had on the inside [at tackle],” he said. “I’m not kidding.”
The news this week that sophomore end Austin Bryant will miss at least a month with a broken foot means even more early reps for Ferrell. The same goes for Lawrence since sophomore Christian Wilkins, a tackle by trade, had been cross-training at end.
13. Davante Davis, CB, Texas
2015 stats: 36 tackles, one interception, seven pass breakups
Much was made of Longhorns coach Charlie Strong adding five Floridians in his first full recruiting class, but only two remain, and Davis is the only one on defense.
Despite just five starts last season as a freshman, Davis tied for the team lead in passes broken up; it’s a clear indication of the 6-2, 191-pound Davis’ elite length and range. As a full-time starter in 2016, expect UT opponents to mostly test the other side of the field. They will not want any part of Davis, who is on a rocket ship trajectory toward the first round in the 2018 draft.
12. Preston Williams, WR, Tennessee
2015 stats: 158 yards, two touchdowns
Position coach Zach Azzanni said Williams is evolving to become “a football player, not just a pass-catcher.” It’s understandable that that evolution was initially slow; Williams didn’t enroll until halfway through camp in 2015, and he was coming off an ACL tear in high school.
He’s catching up now. The Tennessee staff said Williams emerged a different player for spring practice, and that has continued into preseason camp.
“What I’ve seen in Preston is just consistency in his approach,” coach Butch Jones told Insider. “He’s worked very, very hard. He understands the expectations in our program.”
Quarterback Josh Dobbs was tied for No. 80 last season in yards per passing attempt. Jones said Williams is someone who can “win the 50-50 ball and create explosive plays down the field.”
11. Damore'ea Stringfellow, WR, Ole Miss
2015 stats: 503 receiving yards, five touchdowns
Coach Hugh Freeze called Stringfellow’s Egg Bowl performance (84 yards, two scores) a breakout game.
“That’s kind of what I expect to see every game from him,” Freeze said, referring to the 6-2, 211-pound Stringfellow taking over for Laquon Treadwell as quarterback Chad Kelly’s top target.
“He knows his ability,” Freeze said of the Washington transfer. “He’s excited about taking that role on. To be honest with you, I think last year was hard for him because he knew he was capable of doing more than he did.”