Much like in the NFL, college football has a quarterback obsession. So much attention is focused on the QB1s, whether it's for the Heisman Trophy race, the College Football Playoff field or the most desirable draft prospects.
There's nothing wrong with that, and coaches know their ability to contend for championships often hinges on who starts under center. But coaches also are quick to point out that players in other roles are critical to their teams' success and ultimately in constructing championship rosters. These players are truly luxuries, such as a capable backup quarterback, a powerful third-down back or a linebacker who can not only crash on run plays, but also drop back in coverage.
Georgia won back-to-back national titles with a quarterback, Stetson Bennett, who began his career as a walk-on reserve. Michigan's rise since 2020 under coach Jim Harbaugh can be attributed to upgrades at several positions, but perhaps none more than the offensive line. Pass-rush specialists matter. So do pass-catching running backs and elite nickel cornerbacks. Where would Iowa be without Tory Taylor, who inspired the "Punting is Winning" T-shirts that couldn't be more spot-on, given the Hawkeyes' continued struggles on offense?
As college football begins its stretch run for the 2023 season, here's a look at the luxury position players (and groups) around the sport and what makes them successful.
Jump to position:
Backup QB | O-line | All-purpose RB | WR2
WR3 | Situational pass-rusher | Coverage LB
Nickel CB | Punter | YAC back | Late-down back
Backup quarterback
Kansas' rise from the depths under coach Lance Leipold is linked in part to Jalon Daniels, the undersized, under-recruited quarterback from California who has been dynamic and dazzling when he's on the field. The problem is that Daniels has missed time with injuries in each of the past two seasons, and back problems have kept him out since Sept. 23. Thankfully for the Jayhawks, Bean has always been ready to step in and keep the offense moving.
Although Kansas' record without Daniels isn't great, Bean has 2,193 passing yards, a 64.5% completion rate, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions over the past two years. Bean recorded career highs in both passing yards (410) and touchdown passes (five) on Oct. 14 against Oklahoma State, but Kansas fell 39-32. Last year, Bean helped Kansas defeat Oklahoma State, completing 18 of 23 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
"He understands Jalon's the starter, but he has come back to improve his game and he's stayed ready," Leipold told me. "He's been an inspiration to the young quarterbacks in our program and other backups in the program to stay ready and do what you have to do."
Bean, who began his career at North Texas and started for Kansas in 2021, went through Senior Day ceremonies last fall and considered pursuing the NFL at another position before deciding to return shortly after the Jayhawks' bowl game. He spent part of the summer training as a receiver, where his speed -- Bean has 1,157 career rushing yards and 11 touchdowns -- could translate. Leipold said at least one NFL coach is "highly interested in him getting an opportunity."
But since early in training camp, Bean has focused solely on quarterback. Leipold said Bean has been "a different guy" since he returned, showing greater confidence.
"He continues to improve as much as anyone," Leipold said. "I want Jalon back as quickly as possible, but there's a big part of me rooting for Jason because he deserves it, to have success and opportunities. It's good for college football. We need more stories of Jason Beans sticking it out, so players who aren't ready aren't forced to play."
Also worth mentioning is Fifita, a true freshman who has been brilliant in relief of Jayden de Laura at Arizona. He has 877 passing yards and eight touchdowns with a 73.5% completion rate in his first three career starts -- narrow losses to Washington and USC, and a 44-6 road thumping of Washington State on Oct. 14.
"He's a pain in the ass, man," Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen said of facing Fifita in practice. "We knew it, it didn't surprise us when Jayden went down, I was like, 'Man, we're going to be fine.' That's the way he is. When he goes against the [starting] defense at practice, he's just a baller and smart."
Offensive line
Jim Harbaugh's vision for what Michigan can become is best reflected in an offensive line that has become the nation's best and deepest. Michigan became the first back-to-back winner of the Joe Moore Award -- given to the top offensive line in college football -- and is on track to compete for a third. The Wolverines have overwhelmed their opponents with size, strength and agility, which Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck noted after a 52-10 loss, describing Michigan's linemen as "big, athletic pullers." Michigan ranks No. 2 in fewest tackles for loss allowed, is tied for 12th in fewest sacks allowed and is 16th in time of possession.
The group has surged through a mix of player development, retention and targeted transfer additions. Center Olu Oluwatimi, a transfer from Virginia, became Michigan's first-ever Outland Trophy winner in 2022, while also taking home the Rimington Trophy. This winter, Michigan added three transfers from the Pac-12 in Arizona State's LaDarius Henderson and Stanford's Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton. They joined returnees Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, first-team All-Big Ten performers and All-America candidates.
"The portal has been a big piece to help," said offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who has overseen the line since 2021. "This year, we hit on three and love all of them, and hit big with Olu last year. The big thing is bringing in guys who fit us, who fit this program, and not just guys who are really good players. Just continuing the development of that and developing the players that we have here on the roster make us really good."
Moore often will use up to 10 linemen, but noted that the flow of the game and certain situations shape Michigan's rotations. Michigan has nine linemen with starting experience for 188 combined starts.
All three transfers have started, but Nugent has been a mainstay at center.
"I told him, 'It's not going to be your job, you've got to go and compete for it,' and he did and he won it," Moore said. "He's played at a super high level. He's a tenacious worker who loves the process of the game. He pushes himself, he pushes the team. He's just been an amazing addition for us."
All-purpose running back
Initially, Jeanty was my pick for best pass-catching back, but the category seemed too limiting. He has been a huge factor in catching passes, leading the FBS in receiving yards by a running back (335) and tying for first in receptions (23), but he also leads in broken tackles (37, eight more than any other player) and ranks third in overall rushing yards (863).
Jeanty is averaging 180.6 yards from scrimmage per game, nearly 25 more yards than any other player. He also leads the nation in total touches (181) and broken tackles (37). Although Jeanty had been pegged for a complementary role alongside George Holani (1,157 rushing yards in 2022), the plans changed when Holani sustained an injury early in the opener at Washington.
"We knew going in that he was going to have to take on a little bit more workload -- we just didn't know how much it would be," running backs coach James Montgomery told me. "We're still trying to figure out how we can take a little load off of him because we don't want to run him into the ground."
Jeanty played slot receiver in high school in Florida, recording 41 receptions as a senior, and expected a significant role with Boise State's passing game. Montgomery, who joined Boise State's staff in January, immediately noted Jeanty's "smooth, natural hands," and his ability to execute a larger route tree than most backs.
The larger workload has been a welcome challenge for Jeanty, who recently was called "a training room rat" by Boise State's athletic trainers because he's constantly seeking treatment.
"You see the way the game is trending, the backs that are ranked high in terms of the NFL, getting paid more, that's the goal obviously, they're able to catch the ball out of the backfield," Jeanty told me. "The really good ones are able to line up in the slot, too, and run routes. Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, I get compared to those guys all the time. It's a good thing to be able to be so versatile. Not only does that [increase] my draft stock, but it helps my game even more."
Jeanty's all-around ability is reflected on plays like a rail route he ran against UCF. The Knights brought pressure to the side where he was running, forcing the ball out quickly. Jeanty adjusted to it and raced for a 38-yard touchdown to put Boise State ahead.
Aiming to become "an all-downs back," Jeanty has both power and elusiveness in addition to his capable hands. Montgomery said Jeanty squats close to 600 pounds.
"He has wiggle, he has really fluid hips and can make moves at the second level," Montgomery said. "He does some special things. He runs with a certain physicality and a mentality where he knows he's going to get downhill and no matter if it's a linebacker or a safety coming down, if it gets condensed in there, he can lower that shoulder and keep those feet moving."
No. 2 receiver
LSU knew it had a nationally elite wideout in Malik Nabers, but it needed others to help grow the passing offense behind quarterback Jayden Daniels. Thomas had started 15 games, including nine as a true freshman in 2021, and showed production with 720 yards and seven touchdowns. But this fall he has emerged as one of the SEC's best wide receivers alongside Nabers, with 42 receptions, 732 yards and 11 touchdown catches, which leads the nation.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Thomas has been excellent one-on-one, making 60% of contested catches, and he has 16 receptions against man coverage, tied for seventh nationally.
"He'll go up and get it," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "He's got long speed. He's more raw than Nabers, he needed to be developed, but naturally his ceiling is so high."
Thomas always had the physical tools to be great, but LSU's staff wanted to see better preparation and practice habits, which have emerged this year. The team has worked to isolate Thomas because, as a source noted, "You can't cover Brian one-on-one. He'll outjump you, he'll outrun you."
After LSU lost Kayshon Boutte and Jaray Jenkins to the NFL, Thomas sensed his opportunities would increase alongside Nabers, who has 56 receptions for 981 yards this season.
"We play off each other well," Thomas told me. "If teams try to bracket him, then it leaves me one-on-one. If teams try to bracket me, it leaves him with a mismatch. It depends on where we line up."
Thomas has thrived on fade routes from the slot position, consistently beating his defender. Growing up just east of Baton Rouge, Thomas is well aware of LSU's wide receiver history and loved watching Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and others. He said his game is most similar to that of Ja'Marr Chase, the Biletnikoff Award winner in 2019, who also won most of his matchups in man coverage.
"I always want more, I always feel I can do a little bit better," Thomas said. "I feel like I've gotten off to a great start. I just want to keep going as the season progresses, making the most of my opportunities."
No. 3 receiver
In 2022, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan became the first Washington teammates to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. Both returned for 2023 and there was hope the Huskies would have a third star in Polk, who had 41 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns last fall. Polk is well on his way to eclipsing those numbers (with 41 receptions, 688 yards and five touchdowns) functioning more like a No. 2 receiver because McMillan has missed time with a leg injury.
Washington coach Kalen DeBoer thinks Polk would be a No. 1 receiver for most teams.
"He's a really significant player for us," DeBoer told me. "Jalen and Rome get a lot of the pub, but we know internally that JP is a really good player. He's a critical, critical piece to why we're doing what we're doing, not just offensively but as a team. He's a leader."
When DeBoer arrived at Washington, he learned that Polk brought the energy and emotion to the team's receiving corps. The coach also noticed Polk's strong hands and deceptive speed, which have paid dividends this season. Polk averages 16.8 yards per reception. He's tied for seventh nationally in receptions against zone coverage with 25, and is tied for 12th nationally in catches that go for first downs with 29.
"We know he runs really well, but down the field, making plays on fades and posts and things like that, we've seen that now both years," DeBoer said. "And then he's really productive for us in helping move the chains. Along with being sure-handed, he's a go-to guy on third downs."
Polk has produced several highlight catches, including a touchdown against Cal and a leaping grab near the goal line against Michigan State, a game in which he hauled in three touchdowns.
"We have to be intentional about making sure he has his opportunities," DeBoer said. "In our offense, there's enough balls to go around. It isn't just two guys. There's three, four, five guys who can all be significant contributors and have opportunities to make game-winning plays."
Situational pass-rusher
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Pearce headlines a Tennessee pass rush that ranks third nationally in sacks per game (four). He leads the nation in defensive pressure percentage in pass rush situations at 23.1, while recording seven sacks and tying for the national lead for individual sack percentage on pass rush snaps (6.5%).
Pearce, who had two sacks as a true freshman in 2022, is tied for sixth nationally in sacks per game and has eight quarterback hurries in his past four games.
"He has legitimate speed, but just the power and the balance that he plays with," Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks told me. "He's got a really good first step off the ball. When they have that, they typically just try to run around guys, but he's really getting great at going from speed to power and playing with good leverage. That really separates him from a lot of pass-rushers."
Tennessee pegged Pearce for a pass-rush specialist role but has gotten more from him than expected.
"He's obviously made a lot of splash plays in the throw game, but he's been very consistent, even when we dropped him in coverage," Banks said.
In adding Powell-Ryland from Florida, Virginia Tech expected him to bolster a pass rush that last season ranked 74th nationally in sacks per game (2.09) and tied for 63rd in team pressures (135). The Hokies noticed Powell-Ryland's pass-rushing prowess with the Gators, where he started five games in 2022, recording three sacks and three forced fumbles.
"One of the reasons he ended up leaving Florida was that he wanted to prove to the NFL and to other people, maybe even to himself, that he was an every-down player," Price said. "He was basically being used at Florida as a third-down substitution rusher. So you had that aspect on film and we loved what it looked like. But he wanted the challenge of being out there for all three downs, and he's done a great job of that."
Powell-Ryland displayed his rushing talent Oct. 14 against Wake Forest with one of Virginia Tech's best single-game performances in years (four sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery). He joined Bruce Smith, Morgan Roane and J.C. Price, his current defensive line coach, as the only Virginia Tech players to record four sacks in a game.
"I'm more confident than ever now," Powell-Ryland told me. "I felt like I was going to be able to make a few plays. I didn't expect to set a record like that."
Powell-Ryland says he's used as a pass-rusher "almost every play" he's on the field. Virginia Tech has moved him around so opponents "can't exactly pinpoint where he is," Price said. Although the Wake Forest game jumps out, Price noted Powell-Ryland also had two sacks in the opener against Old Dominion and has forced fumbles in three games.
"He's been around the quarterback in every game," Price said. "Sacks and turnovers, we always talk about how they come in bunches. If you're close enough, enough times, the sacks will come, and that's what happened for him. Even though he's not an overly large guy, he's got a lot of strength, a lot of pop.
"He's a natural pass-rusher."
Linebacker in coverage
Dupree, a sixth-year playing for his third coaching staff at Liberty, is the unquestioned leader of the Flames' defense, recording 65 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks. But he's at his best when in pass coverage. Dupree ranks third nationally among linebackers in coverage plays (209), and has recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups, while forcing incompletions on 20% of plays when he's a targeted defender.
He has worked to become a top playmaker not only in the box, but when offenses put him in space.
"It's your eyes, where are you putting your eyes, especially in man coverage?" Dupree told me. "When I've been out of position, it's because my eyes are bad."
He recalled a play during a Week 2 win over New Mexico State in which he recognized a "jailbreak screen" as the play was developing. Dupree was able to brush off an offensive tackle trying to veer him toward the inside, and tackled the pass-catcher.
"I had to get better at [coverage]," Dupree said. "I was more accustomed to trying to fit the run and stuff like that. Once we started playing more teams that spread you out, you try to work on getting better feet and better hips."
Dupree enjoys "mugging up" opposing offensive linemen before plays, hinting at a blitz, but being just as comfortable dropping back in coverage, or spying an individual offensive player. At 215 pounds, he isn't the bulkiest linebacker but has adapted to the position and how linebackers are used in today's game.
The Leesburg, Alabama, native played quarterback in high school before switching to defense at Liberty.
"Guys like me, who appear undersized, have the advantage sometimes in open space," Dupree said. "Back in the day, Ray Lewis was like 245, 250, one of those guys who came down and fit the run. But now you've got to guard tight ends or guard slot receivers sometimes, even running backs in space. It's a big space game, so it gives guys like us a chance."
Nickel cornerback
Abrams-Draine primarily played nickel corner in 2021 before moving outside, but Missouri essentially can use him anywhere it wants against opposing wide receivers. He has become one of the nation's top cover men, leading the nation in total passes defended (14), while ranking second in passes defended per game (1.8) and tied for fourth in interceptions (four).
Opponents are completing only 20.7% of their passes when Abrams-Draine is the primary defender. Only two players have lower percentages.
"He's obviously an elite cover guy," coach Eliah Drinkwitz told me. "He's just got great athleticism and ball skills. He's a former quarterback and wide receiver, so he's able to track the ball in the air. Most of his interceptions are on deep balls. He's able to force the defender to the sideline, and then he's able to time the jump and go up like a wide receiver."
Abrams-Draine was a four-star wide receiver recruit from Alabama in Missouri's 2020 class, who appeared in five games as a freshman wideout before transitioning to defense. In 2021, he led Missouri with seven pass breakups while recording three interceptions. He followed with 14 more pass breakups last season, good for ninth nationally.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Abrams-Draine ranks second nationally with 22 pass breakups. His talent has shined on third down this season, where he has three interceptions, three pass breakups and has allowed completions on only 8.3% of passes when he's Missouri's primary defender.
"On our third-down package, we move him into the slot, where he played his first year," Drinkwitz said. "He has a lot of position flexibility because he's a former quarterback, so he doesn't learn in a vacuum. He learns the whole thing, so he understands his place in the system."
Drinkwitz thinks Abrams-Draine will have "a longtime NFL future" after Missouri, where he handled returns earlier in his career and had a 100-yard runback against Tennessee. Abrams-Draine also has improved in run defense.
"He can play on all the special teams," Drinkwitz said. "He's got returnability, he can cover punts, kickoffs, but then he has position flexibility, whether he plays corner or he plays smart nickel. He's got a bright future."
Punter
Tory Taylor, Iowa
Normally, a home team's defense forcing a punt is cause for cheers, but not for Wisconsin fans when Taylor kept taking the field Oct. 14 at Camp Randall Stadium. Taylor averaged 50.6 yards on 10 punts against the Badgers, launching two for 60 yards or longer and placing six inside the 20-yard line. His career high in punt yardage (506) helped Iowa beat Wisconsin 15-6.
"To be able to go out there and hit a few good punts, I can kind of tell, they're like, 'Oh s---, not again,'" Taylor told me. "There's a few jeers in the crowd, which is strange. But I just love going out there and making my teammates and family proud, and whatever I can do to help us win, that's all I'm focused on."
Taylor, the inspiration for the "Punting is Winning" T-shirts Iowa fans wear with pride, has been essential to the team's 6-2 start. Iowa's historic offensive struggles from 2022 have spilled over into this season, as a unit hampered by key injuries and other problems is averaging only 17.25 offensive points per game (122nd nationally).
Iowa needs to punt well to win, and Taylor has delivered, ranking second nationally in net punting average (45.96 yards) on 55 total punts, five more than any other player. He leads the nation in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (21) and ranks third with 10 punts downed inside the 10.
"I didn't fly all the way across the world to sit on the sideline," said Taylor, a native of Melbourne, Australia. "I love going out there and making plays, so there's no pressure whatsoever."
While Taylor might not feel pressure, he and Iowa's specialists understand they need to perform every week. Iowa's special teams unit ranks fourth nationally in expected points added, and leads the FBS by a wide margin during Taylor's time in the program.
"It's not really anything new," Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods told me. "We've all known Tory to be a dynamic player with the ability to change field position, pin people inside the 5, inside the 10. What you're seeing from him now is a little bit more consistency. For whatever reason, it's shining more for him this year, but he's been doing the same stuff."
This fall, Woods has seen Taylor punt "from the pocket," rather than running before booting the ball. Taylor also has improved on open-field spiral punts, a technique he had practiced for only about a year before coming to Iowa.
"He sees everything as an opportunity," Woods said. "He doesn't look at it as, 'Aw, I have to do this again.' If you look across the board, he's one of the best players, not only on our football team but in the country at what he does. Who doesn't want that guy on the field?"
YAC (yards after contact) back
At just 5-foot-8, Vidal isn't the most imposing running back, but his power and low center of gravity have allowed him to pinball off and fight through would-be tacklers. A second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2022, Vidal has elevated his play even further as a senior, leading the nation by significant margins in both rushing yards (951) and yards per game (135.9).
He ranks second behind Jeanty in rushing yards after contact (527), while averaging only 2.75 yards before first contact. Vidal has been excellent at evading tackles, leading the nation with 28, while breaking 16 tackles and logging 25 rushes of 10 yards or longer.
Kimani Vidal outruns the Red Wolves' defense for a 39-yard touchdown.
"Some of it goes to his low center of gravity," Troy coach Jon Sumrall told me. "He's got great power, he's very strong, his lower half, he's built, and then really, he absorbs a lot of things. He takes hits that don't really move him as much. He sort of just embraces them. He doesn't always look to get hit. He'll take a hit, but it doesn't faze him."
Vidal's ability to reach top-end speed has jumped out to Sumrall. He also finds room to run where it seemingly doesn't exist.
"There's one or two runs every game where you're like, that's going to be a zero- or 1-yard gain and it ends up as a touchdown or a 20-yard gain, and you're like, 'How does that just happen?'" Sumrall said. "I tell our staff all the time, 'Just get him to the line of scrimmage and we're going to have a good play.'"
Troy is 21-3 when Vidal runs for 50 yards or more and 10-1 when he reaches the 100-yard mark. Vidal needs 142 yards to become Troy's all-time leading rusher.
Third- and fourth-down back
Texas State coach GJ Kinne said he didn't remember Mahdi from last season, when Kinne's Incarnate Word team clobbered Mahdi's Houston Christian squad 73-20. He knew Incarnate Word's defensive staff had been concerned about Mahdi. After taking the Texas State job and studying Mahdi's film, Kinne saw why.
"We didn't feel like we had any home-run hitters," Kinne told me. "We had some really, really good running backs in that room, but nothing like him. We wanted to get that speed in here."
Mahdi has brought speed and much more to Texas State's offense. He's tied for 13th nationally in rushing yards per game (103.7), despite logging only 15 carries in the first three games. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Mahdi averages 26.1 yards per reception, with an 89-yarder against Southern Miss.
He does his best work on the most important downs, ranking fifth nationally and second among running backs in scrimmage yards per game on third and fourth down (38.9). Mahdi averages 10.7 yards per carry on third down.
"Put the ball in my hands and let's go get the first down, that's how I feel," Mahdi told me. "Third-down plays are when we bring out our best plays to put the ball in our playmakers' hands, so Coach is calling a good play and me executing my job and knowing where the first-down marker is, that's how we get them."
Mahdi, who played slot receiver in high school, enjoys catching screens behind a pulling tackle on third down or doing option routes where he can go one-on-one with linebackers. He said his route tree has no limitations, and he has worked to improve in protection by identifying defensive fronts and coverages, and identifying blitzers to pick up.
"I'm trying to be a complete running back, be a third-down back, stay on the field as much as possible," he said. "Rather than being on the field for second down and getting out and the defense realizes, 'He goes off on third down,' it will be harder for defenses to stop me when I can be on the field at any given moment."
Mahdi looks forward to competing directly with Vidal when Troy visits Texas State on Saturday.
"[Mahdi is] really electric, he has really good hands, he's smart and he's great with pass [protection]," Kinne said. "The biggest thing about him is he just hits the hole and goes. There's no dancing around. He's that home run, one cut and go. In our offense, that's a great fit."