Every team has one -- the do-everything player who rarely grabs the headlines but is one of the biggest reasons for its success. To their teammates, though, they are not working in obscurity and deserve a little love.
So here is a little love as we recognize the most unheralded player on each Top 25 team.
1. Clemson Tigers: CB Derion Kendrick
In his first year on defense, Kendrick helped transform Clemson's secondary into one of the top units in the country. After starting his career at receiver, Kendrick made the switch before the 2019 season and allowed just 5.3 yards per target, the best rate among all Clemson defenders, while surrendering just two completions of more than 20 yards. -- David M. Hale
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: WR Chris Olave
Ohio State fans don't undervalue wide receiver Olave, but it seems he doesn't get the national recognition he should. He was overshadowed last season by Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins on offense as well as what Chase Young was doing on defense. But all Olave did was lead one of the best offenses in receiving yards and touchdowns. Despite Olave's stats, people are still talking about what sophomore receiver Garrett Wilson can do in his second season and how much of an impact Fields will have in his second go-round. Olave's production compared to the national talk and attention he gets is lopsided, and if he continues the rise he sees each season, he should start to garner more attention. -- Tom VanHaaren
3. Alabama Crimson Tide: RB Najee Harris
It's time to give Harris his due. The former blue-chip recruit had a slow start to his career in Tuscaloosa, struggling with the details of the position at the college level. But boy did he turn a corner last season, emerging as a dependable workhorse behind Tua Tagovailoa, rushing for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns. And with inexperienced Mac Jones expected to take the reins at quarterback, don't be surprised if Harris' number of carries grows considerably next season, transforming a pleasant surprise into a potential All-American. -- Alex Scarborough
4. Georgia Bulldogs: S Richard LeCounte
Frankly, it's a bit of a surprise LeCounte is back in Athens in the first place. Don't let his absence on the All-SEC team fool you. He could have turned pro as one of the better safeties in the conference last season. And the fact that he didn't is going to be huge for coach Kirby Smart. Because while it's not sexy to talk about consistency and experience, LeCounte brings both of those things to a defense that needs it. If he can be the shepherd for that young, talented group in the way he's capable of, he could become one of the most indispensable players in the SEC. -- Scarborough
5. Penn State Nittany Lions: DE Shaka Toney
Toney didn't quite put up the stat line that fellow defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (a second-round pick to the Carolina Panthers) did last year, but he was close. While Gross-Matos had 9.5 sacks to Toney's 6.5, they each had 36 pressures, per Sports Info Solutions. Now PSU's top DE, Toney could easily have a breakout season, especially with QBs preoccupied with Micah Parsons. -- Bill Connelly
6. Oregon Ducks: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Ducks have always been a force on offense, with plenty of nationally known names throughout the years, with defensive stars sprinkled in. This makes Thibodeaux a great candidate to be the unheralded star here. Thibodeaux went off when he replaced Gus Cumberlander because of injury, recording 10.5 of his 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 of his nine sacks in the final six games. Don't be surprised if he comes up with big stops and sacks when Oregon needs them most in 2020; he's a special talent. -- Harry Lyles Jr.
7. Florida Gators: LB Ventrell Miller
Watch for linebacker Miller to start getting the praise he deserves. He had his best season yet in 2019, but with more heralded players like Jon Greenard, CJ Henderson and David Reese getting more of the headlines, it was easy to ignore Miller. He finished second on the team in tackles, while also making plays behind the line of scrimmage (three sacks, five tackles for loss). He finished the season with back-to-back career days against Florida State and Virginia (career-high eight tackles), so if he continues to improve on that performance, he won't be ignored much longer. -- Andrea Adelson
8. LSU Tigers: DL Tyler Shelvin
Nose tackle Shelvin is going to be a key piece to the LSU defense this season. With LSU known as one of a handful of schools competing yearly for the "DBU" crown, and another expected breakout year from Ja'Marr Chase, many might not expect him to shine. Although he very well might. Shelvin is expected to be an anchor in Bo Pelini's defense. He was a key player on the line last year with 39 total tackles, with three coming for loss. -- Lyles
9. Oklahoma Sooners: WR Charleston Rambo
Rambo waited behind Hollywood Brown and played alongside CeeDee Lamb the past two seasons. While the Sooners' offense became tilted toward the run with Jalen Hurts, Rambo averaged 17.3 yards per catch, finishing with 43 receptions for 743 yards. His numbers dipped in the later part of the season when Hurts struggled, but this year the Sooners need him to become their next star. -- Dave Wilson
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: LB Drew White
The Irish defense has a chance to be very good in the 2020 season, and there are quite a few names to watch. One name that probably doesn't get a lot of credit nationally is linebacker White. Whether it's because Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah gets a lot of the attention, or if people are talking about the first season Kyle Hamilton had, all White did was rack up 80 total tackles last season, tied with Owusu-Koramoah. White also had eight tackles for loss, including two sacks, and has become one of Notre Dame's leaders on defense. He surprised a lot of people in 2019, given he played sparingly in the previous seasons, but he should get more attention than he does. -- VanHaaren
11. Texas A&M Aggies: TE Jalen Wydermyer
Wydermyer was almost our pick for A&M's most exciting player, which is rare for a 6-5, 260-pound tight end. But he has uncommon athleticism for his size (as he proved on a 52-yard TD against Mississippi State last year). Tight ends are a major factor in Jimbo Fisher's offense, and Wydermyer, who had 32 catches for 447 yards and six TDs as a true freshman, will be counted on in a young receiving corps. -- Wilson
Jalen Wydermyer makes the catch and eludes multiple Mississippi State defenders for a 52-yard Texas A&M touchdown.
12. Oklahoma State Cowboys: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
With RB Chuba Hubbard and WR Tylan Wallace returning, Ogbongbemiga doesn't get top billing in Stillwater. But his 100 tackles was sixth in the Big 12, and he led the Pokes with 15.5 tackles for loss and five sacks and finished the year with 12 tackles against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl and was a key cog in an OSU defense that significantly improved last year. -- Wilson
13. Wisconsin Badgers: QB Jack Coan
It's pretty hard for a quarterback to become an "unheralded" star, but Coan qualifies. He beat out star freshman Graham Mertz for the starting job last year, then went out and threw for 2,727 yards and finished ninth in Total QBR. Coan struggled in the Rose Bowl, but he was downright good for much of the season and still had fewer all-conference votes than Shea Patterson (32nd in QBR). Coan will have to find a new go-to guy, however, now that Quintez Cephus is a Detroit Lion. -- Connelly
14. Auburn Tigers: RB D.J. Williams
He was overshadowed by JaTarvious Whitlow last season, but Williams played well enough as a true freshman to deserve to be on everyone's radar, rushing for 400 yards on just 84 carries. Against eventual champion LSU, he ran for 130 yards. And now he won't have Whitlow to contend with as the mercurial athlete has left the team. Williams is a stout back with more than enough speed, and the tandem of him and quarterback Bo Nix in the option game could yield a ton of yards in 2020. -- Scarborough
15. Michigan Wolverines: WR Ronnie Bell
The offense came on late last season, hitting a stride, so not many people were looking at Michigan's offensive players as stars early on. Wide receiver Bell also wasn't a household name with some of the receivers Michigan had on its roster, but he led the Wolverines in receiving yards. He had only one touchdown on the season, but Bell consistently made big plays in times of need and seemed to be in the right place at the right time for Michigan last season. -- VanHaaren
16. Minnesota Golden Gophers: RB Mohamed Ibrahim
Quarterback Tanner Morgan and receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson got a ton of attention last season. Rightfully so, as the three were a huge part of Minnesota's success. But the run game was equally important for Minnesota, and with leading rusher Rodney Smith off to the NFL, Ibrahim is going to be relied upon more heavily. Ibrahim had seven touchdowns last season as part of a rotation with Smith and Shannon Brooks, so giving him a bigger role should enable his numbers and importance to increase within the offense. -- VanHaaren
17. Cincinnati Bearcats: S Darrick Forrest
It kind of feels as if everyone on Cincinnati's team is a little unheralded, considering how good the team has been the past few seasons. Safety Forrest was excellent for the Bearcats defense last season, leading the team in tackles with 106 total tackles. He also had three interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss and filled in well while fellow safety James Wiggins was out for the season with an injury. Cincinnati needed Forrest to step up, and he did. If he can continue that success he saw in 2019, he should get more notoriety in 2020. -- VanHaaren
18. Iowa State Cyclones: TE Charlie Kolar
Is Kolar still unheralded? If so, that will change quickly in 2020. Only SMU's Kylen Granson had more yards among returning tight ends, while Kolar's 51 catches and seven TDs were also among the nation's best. Meanwhile, 77% of Kolar's catches last year went for a first down or touchdown, the best rate of any returning TE with at least 30 grabs. -- Hale
19. Boise State Broncos: LB Riley Whimpey
Linebacker Whimpey (A) led Boise State in tackles last year, (B) made 11 run stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, (C) broke up seven passes and allowed just 4.3 yards per attempt as the primary pass defender, and (D) produced a rock-solid 19% pressure rate when asked to rush the passer. Defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding asks Whimpey to do a little of everything, and he does it all quite well. -- Connelly
20. Iowa Hawkeyes: WR Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette might be the most dangerous receiver on the roster, but Tracy isn't far behind. The sophomore-to-be averaged over 16 yards per catch, just like Smith-Marsette, and posted intriguing numbers despite a case of the freshman dropsies. Fix the glitches and Tracy could have all-conference potential. With Smith-Marsette, Tracy, Nico Ragaini, Brandon Smith and maybe Buffalo transfer Charlie Jones, Iowa is loaded in the receiving corps. Now the Hawkeyes just have to find out whether they've got a quarterback to deliver the ball. -- Connelly
21. USC Trojans: DL Jay Tufele
Trojans fans might be puzzled seeing his name in this position, since they certainly know of his talent. But nationally, Tufele is likely going to be one of those names that the rest of the country hears and learns when the 2021 NFL draft comes around. He had 7.5 sacks the past two seasons but is expected to take a leap in the 2020 season. Tufele could have comfortably entered the draft this past April, but ESPN's Mel Kiper has him as a first-round pick in 2021. Tufele is going to be a problem for Pac-12 offensive lines and quarterbacks this season. -- Lyles
22. North Carolina Tar Heels: RB Javonte Williams
The Tar Heels are considered a team on the rise with Sam Howell and his top receivers returning this season. But there is no way to overlook their resurgent run game and what Williams adds. Last season, he had 1,109 all-purpose yards splitting time with Michael Carter. In fact, both Williams and Carter had over 1,000 all-purpose yards, a stunning change from the previous season, when no running back came close to hitting that mark. Howell and the receiving group get plenty of attention, but Williams might end up being the second-best back in the ACC this season. -- Adelson
23. Texas Longhorns: LB Joseph Ossai
Ossai was only a second-team All-Big 12 pick despite leading the Longhorns in tackles (90), tackles for loss (13.5), sacks (5) and QB hurries (9). He starred in the Valero Alamo Bowl after being tried at rush end. His six tackles for loss and three sacks earned him defensive MVP honors. New coordinator Chris Ash will keep him there as a 6-4, 255-pound jack, or edge rusher, and Ossai could cause havoc. -- Wilson
24. Appalachian State Mountaineers: CB Shaun Jolly
If the rest of the country doesn't know his name, QBs in the Sun Belt are keenly aware of how good cornerback Jolly is. As a sophomore in 2019, Jolly picked off five passes, returning two for touchdowns. He added eight PBUs, 3.5 tackles for loss, 45 tackles, a forced fumble and blocked kick to his résumé, too. He's a shutdown corner whose explosiveness makes a pick-six possible on every throw his way. -- Hale
25. Baylor Bears: LB Terrel Bernard
As a sophomore linebacker, Bernard had 9, 12 and 19 tackles in his first three games after moving to the middle following Clay Johnston's season-ending injury last year. Bernard finished the season with 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a TD to seal a win over Oklahoma State. He's a first-team preseason Big 12 pick, so he won't be under the radar for much longer. -- Wilson