Koledž fudbal 2019/20

4. Georgia
Perhaps no team had a more disappointing end to the season than the Bulldogs. First they blew a lead against Alabama in the SEC title game. Then they lost to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. But this team is going to write a different ending. QB Jake Fromm could make a serious run for the Heisman, but he won't have to do it alone. RB D'Andre Swift should be lethal from the backfield. There may not be a huge star on defense, but the unit will be extremely tough. Now it's just about finally beating 'Bama.

3. Ohio State
Urban Meyer, QB Dwayne Haskins, RB Mike Weber and WR Parris Campbell are all gone. But new head coach Ryan Day and QB Justin Fields (UGA transfer) might be even better on offense. J.K. Dobbins will regroup to become a menace for defenses, plus DE Chase Young will lead what will be an even better defense.

2. Alabama
Nick Saban hasn’t gone two consecutive years without a national title since the 2013-14 seasons. Whenever there are doubts about the Tide’s dynasty ending, Alabama seemingly returns to the top. But for the first time since that 2009 title, Saban’s bunch has competition as the sport’s dominant program. With QB Tau Tagovailoa, WR Jerry Judy and LB Dylan Moses among the returning stars, another ‘Bama-Clemson showdown might be on the way.

1. Clemson
The Tigers will go into the season as the huge ACC favorites, national title favorites with Alabama and possibly the Heisman frontrunner in QB Trevor Lawrence. The schedule is also far from daunting, so it would be a slight surprise if the Tigers don’t go 12-0 (or 13-0 with an ACC crown). Can any ACC team even stay within two touchdowns?

College football's best players:

1. Trevor Lawrence

QB, Clemson
Sophomore
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 30-4 TD-INT ratio

Lawrence didn't win the starting job until Week 5, but once he was atop the Clemson depth chart, the only remaining question was -- what took so long? Lawrence finished with 30 touchdown passes, just four picks and 3,280 yards passing to go with a national championship trophy. Not bad for a true freshman. Now the biggest question is how he can possibly top such an impressive debut campaign.

2. Tua Tagovailoa

QB, Alabama
Junior
Last year's ranking: 11
Key 2018 stat: No. 2 in Heisman Trophy voting

The lefty from Hawaii played quarterback like no one at Alabama ever had last season, throwing for 43 touchdowns and 3,966 yards and finishing No. 2 in the Heisman Trophy voting. Now he's back, healthy and motivated, having lost 15 pounds over the summer.

3. Jerry Jeudy

WR, Alabama
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: Biletnikoff Award winner

He's No. 1 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board for a reason. Last season, despite competing with a crowded receiver room at Alabama, he hauled in 68 catches for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns, and won the Biletnikoff Award for the top receiver in the country.

4. Grant Delpit

S, LSU
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: Led SEC with five interceptions

It is hard to believe Delpit was just a sophomore last season when he emerged as one of the best defensive players in the country, earning unanimous All-America honors while becoming a finalist for the Nagurski Award. His versatility allows him to do so many things so well, and that shows on his stat line. Last season, he had 74 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, led the SEC with five interceptions, and added nine pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

5. Jake Fromm

QB, Georgia
Junior
Last year's ranking: 30
Key 2018 stat: 171.2 passer rating

Fromm has already played in 29 games, starting in 28 of those, including two SEC championship games and a College Football Playoff national championship game. So he's obviously used to the big stage and ranks second only to Tagovailoa nationally among returning quarterbacks in passer rating. Fromm finished with a 171.2 rating last season while throwing 30 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.

6. Jonathan Taylor

RB, Wisconsin
Junior
Last year's ranking: 7
Key 2018 stat: Second straight year with 1,950 yards or more

No FBS player has ever had more rushing yards in two years than Taylor's 4,171. He's only the third rusher (LaDainian Tomlinson, Troy Davis) to record consecutive seasons of 1,950 yards or more. Fumbles have been an issue, but Taylor is durable, consistent and explosive (6.9 YPC career average).

7. Justin Herbert

QB, Oregon
Senior
Last year's ranking: 14
Key 2018 stat: 3,151 yards passing

The 6-foot-6, 237-pound Herbert might have been one of the first QBs drafted this year if he had opted to leave school early. He's back after his first full season as Oregon's starter in which he threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

8. Travis Etienne

RB, Clemson
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 8.1 yards per rush

There may not be a better big-play threat in college football than Etienne, who averaged 8.1 yards per rush last season, including 23 carries that went for 20 yards or more. Overall, Etienne finished with 1,658 yards on the ground, a number made even more impressive considering he had more than 16 carries in a game just twice last year.

9. Chase Young

DL, Ohio State
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 10 sacks

He already has a pro body (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) and led Ohio State in both sacks (10) and tackles for loss (15.5) as a true sophomore. A potential top-five draft pick next spring, Young aims to become just the second Buckeye (Mike Vrabel) to record 10 or more sacks in multiple seasons.

10. Justyn Ross

WR, Clemson
Sophomore
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 1,000 receiving yards

Entering October, Ross had just nine catches on the year, which seemed about right for a true freshman in a crowded receiving corps. After that though? He did a little better. Ross finished the year with 1,000 receiving yards on the nose, including 12 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the College Football Playoff. The only thing holding him back this season is that there's only one football to go around on Clemson's offense.

11. Jalen Hurts

QB, Oklahoma
Senior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 72.9 CMP%

After amassing 7,602 yards of total offense and accounting for 71 total touchdowns, Hurts has traded Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for Norman, Oklahoma. With Lincoln Riley in charge, Hurts will be running an offense that has produced the past two Heisman winners and is better suited for his uber-athletic skill set.

12. Rondale Moore

WR, Purdue
Sophomore
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 114 receptions, 2,215 all-purpose yards

The Big Ten's first-ever freshman to earn consensus All-America honors broke Purdue's all-purpose yards record (313) in his Boilermakers debut. He set the team single-season all-purpose yards mark (2,215), while tying the record for most 100-yard receiving performances (7). Moore's 114 receptions in 2018 ranked second in league history.

13. Sam Ehlinger

QB, Texas
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 25-5 TD-INT ratio

After a decade of searching, the Longhorns have finally found their quarterback. The junior has brought much-needed productivity and stability to the position, and he embodies the qualities coach Tom Herman desires: toughness, competitive fire and leadership. Whether it's throwing the ball or running it, Ehlinger plays winning football.

14. D'Andre Swift

RB, Georgia
Junior
Last year's ranking: 33
Key 2018 stat: 1,049 rushing yards

Swift is the latest in a long line of explosive Georgia running backs. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior rushed for a team-high 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Swift had 15 plays from scrimmage of 20 yards or longer and is excellent when it comes to catching the ball out of the backfield. He also caught 35 passes a year ago, including three that went for touchdowns.

15. Andrew Thomas

OT, Georgia
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: First team All-American

Georgia should have one of the best offensive lines in the country in 2019, and a big reason why is Thomas, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound junior who shifted over to left tackle a year ago to protect Jake Fromm's blind side. Thomas started every game at right tackle as a true freshman and has the combination of size and footwork that could make him a top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

16. CeeDee Lamb

WR, Oklahoma
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 1,158 yards, 11 TDs

The junior has done nothing but produce since donning a Sooners jersey, compiling nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 18 touchdown catches in his first two seasons in Norman. He has the speed to run away from defenders and the leaping ability to make the highlight-reel catch. No active Big 12 receiver has more career receiving yards (1,965) or touchdowns than Lamb.

17. Derrick Brown

DT, Auburn
Senior
Last year's ranking: 41
Key 2018 stat: 25 solo tackles

This time a year ago, Brown was being touted as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country. In a bit of a surprise, he decided to return for his senior season and will anchor an Auburn defensive line that will again be loaded. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Brown has 21 career tackles for loss and specializes in collapsing pockets. His length, size and athleticism make him virtually unblockable at times.

18. Laviska Shenault

WR, Colorado
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 112.3 receiving YPG (led Pac-12)

A foot injury limited him to nine games last year, but he was still able to lead the Pac-12 in receptions (86) and receiving YPG (112.3). He added on 1,011 receiving yards and set 12 school records -- nine outright and three tied in 2018, including the most 10-reception games in a season (five).

19. Tee Higgins

WR, Clemson
Junior
Last year's ranking: 40
Key 2018 stat: 12 TDs

If Ross is the rising star on Clemson's receiver depth chart, Higgins is the grizzled vet. Never mind that he's just a junior. Higgins' 12 touchdown grabs made him one of the most prolific red zone targets in the nation last season, while he led Clemson with 59 grabs. Higgins had at least one TD catch in eight of Clemson's final 10 games, including four combined in the ACC title game and College Football Playoff.

20. CJ Henderson

CB, Florida
Junior
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 38 tackles, five for loss

Florida has a history of producing talented cornerbacks, so it comes as no surprise that expectations are high for Henderson to have an All-America type season. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said Henderson is the best player he's ever coached at the position. There is no doubt Florida will rely on Henderson to set the tone and build on his 2018 season, when he finished with 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

21. Xavier Thomas

DE, Clemson
Sophomore
Last year's ranking: NR
Key 2018 stat: 10.5 tackles for loss

What happens when a team's entire starting defensive line gets drafted? If that team is Clemson, it's on to the next stud. Thomas was a five-star recruit who showed his immense talent in reserve duty last year, including a highlight-reel sack of Syracuse's Eric Dungey to seal a Tigers win in the season's closest call. Now he'll be in a starting role and figures to build on his 3.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries and 10.5 tackles for loss.