Jeff Lockie (17) could be a sleeper player in 2015. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Predicting sports is something everyone can do. But being good at it is an art, or as a cagy Englishman would say “a stroke of luck.”
The same could be said for spotting talented players before they become stars.
One key to football, or any sport for that matter, is finding the good players that no one else sees. Those who see talent benefit from talent, but coaching also plays a major role in the ultimate success of a team.
But sometimes coaches don’t even know what they have in a player until they run ‘em out on the field and get ‘em in the mix.
Look, some guys are average practice players, but they turn it on when the bright lights shine. Others are consistent in practice and in games. It’s a weird dynamic, but you see it every season in college football and the NFL for that matter. There’s always that guy that comes out of nowhere to emerge as a star.
On my list below, there are a few “known” talents that are in position to lead their teams to productive years, but you’ll also hear names that you probably haven’t heard of before.
Will the predictions be right? Eh, maybe. But they may also be wrong.
Regardless, if this column makes your wheels spin, then I’m doing my job.
Here are my Top 10 most intriguing positions in college football. And as you will notice, there’s an emphasis on QBs.
Ohio State’s quarterback: Had anyone heard of Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett before the season began last year? Ah … see my point about emerging stars?
Everyone wants to know who will operate the Ohio State offense, but only Urban Meyer has the answers.
All I know is Jones won when the games meant the most. And his arm can stretch defenses better than Barrett’s can. But, J.T. is ridiculous in the zone-read run game.
Regardless how ya slice it, the Buckeyes lead QB role has just a little bit of hype surrounding it.
Alabama’s quarterback: Jake Coker is an urban legend, no doubt. But sooner or later you got to set the glass down, get on the dance floor and mix it up.
There’s no questioning the size (6-5, 233 pounds) and athletic ability of the Mobile, Ala., native, but that can only go so far.
A good quarterback has to be smart and accurate first and foremost, and there’s too small a sample size to judge Coker on that in game action. But, he seems to have a good touch on the deep ball, an important element to Lane Kiffin’s offense.
Can he throw it or not? That may be determined against an-always solid Wisconsin defense, which will likely throw the kitchen sink at whoever the Crimson Tide signal-caller is in the season opener.
Sophomore Cooper Bateman and junior Alec Morris are competing with Coker for the starting job, but Bateman has turned heads in fall camp due to his athletic ability and quick decision-making.
Oregon’s quarterback: Vernon Adams was a stud at Eastern Washington and could be even better in Eugene … if he can get to camp and compete for the starting job.
Adams is finishing up one more math class and is expected to officially be a member of the Oregon program in a week or so. But right now, his arrival has been put on standby, which has opened the door for incumbent Jeff Lockie to be UO’s starting signal-caller when the Ducks take on, ironically, the school Adams is trying to leave, EWU, in the season opener at home.
Adams comes highly regarded. He’s a great athlete with a good arm. But Lockie, a 6-2,205-pound junior, knows the system and is currently in line to replace Marcus Mariota as UO’s starting signal-caller.
Hey, doesn’t this sound like a Blake Sims scenario last year? We know how that turned out don’t we?
Georgia’s quarterback: Is it Brice Ramsey? Or Faton Bauta? Or Greyson Lambert?
The million dollar question will be revealed when the invincible white ink gets decoded on college football’s first weekend — or in a week or two.
But, if the Dawgs have a secret weapon here, they could win the whole thing. Georgia is due. And UGA has talent galore, as always. All that’s missing is a credible passer with the pieces the Dawgs have in place.
Auburn’s defensive ends: Jeremy Johnson could be included in this list (have seen him play and he’ll be A-Okay), but the return of Carl Lawson, who sat out last season with a knee injury, is a major storyline for Auburn. The 6-2, 257-pound sophomore (in football eligibility) is a leader, one of the team’s strongest players and a ferocious pass rusher.
Lawson, DeVonte Lambert, also recovering from a knee injury, and true freshman Byron Cowart could potentially give the Tigers a dynamic trio at one of the most important positions on defense.
Cowart, the top-ranked prep defensive end in America, has drawn rave reviews in fall practice for his maturity and is expected to contribute right away. Considering the Tigers’ proven ability to score on offense, a new-found pass rush (21 sacks in 2014) could be huge for Gus Malzahn’s Tigers.
TCU’s linebackers: The Horned Frogs have to replace with the loss of stud linebackers Paul Dawson, the Big 12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American, and Marcus Mallet at their two linebacker positions. The two combined for more than 200 tackles last season and made play after play in key situations. That’s tough to production to replicate.
Athletic freshman Mike Freeze created a buzz with his play in the spring, but, if TCU want to get to the College Football Playoff, he, along with junior Sammy Douglas, will need to rise to the occasion and perform well this fall.
Clemson’s defensive linemen: The Tigers lost some serious talent along the defensive front (Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett most notably), but Dabo Swinney seems to like what he has in ends Shaq Lawson (7.5 sacks in two seasons) and Kevin Dodd, rangy athletes with good size and athletic ability, along with rugged tackles D.J. Reader (6-2, 325) and Carlos Watkins (6-3, 295).
With quarterback Deshaun Watson and another stud collection of wideouts on board, the Tigers will be talented enough to score points — even with the loss of offensive coordinator Chad Morris.
But playing sound defense once again under coordinator Brent Venables could mean a trip to the four-team playoff for a Clemson program that’s been consistently successful under Swinney.
Baylor’s quarterback: Under Art Briles’ watchful eye, Baylor has produced some of the nation’s finest players at quarterback.
Although it’s not yet known what the Bears truly have behind center this season, fourth-year junior Seth Russell, an athletic QB with a strong arm and deceptive speed (4.49 40 time), is expected to continue the trend of sensational Baylor signal-callers.
No, Russell isn’t Robert Griffin III; nor is he Bryce Petty. He’s Seth Russell. And that’s the only thing he can be.
The Bears are loaded on both sides of the ball and how well Russell plays at QB could be the critical factor in deciding if Briles’ team gets redemption on being left out in the cold on a CFP berth a season ago — like they have vowed to do.
Michigan’s quarterback: The Wolverines return six starters from a defense that ranked seventh nationally in total D a year ago. That’s why it will be imperative for new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to find a quarterback he can rely on.
Lefty Shane Morris, a junior, and Iowa transfer Jake Ruddock are battling to out to be the team’s starter, but don’t expect there to be a two-QB system. Regardless of who wins the job, the Wolverines have talent on both sides of the ball, and Harbaugh’s coaching, along with stability at QB, could play a major role in how well the Wolverines do this season
Florida’s quarterback: When I think of Florida football, I think of scoring. And don’t think for a minute that Jim McElwain won’t bring that element back to Gainesville, which would be a blessing to a team that has talent on defense.
Will Grier and Treon Harris are dueling for the No. 1 QB job, but Grier may have the leg up considering his touch on deep balls. Harris is the better athlete, no doubt, but Grier may be a better fit for what McElwain wants to do offensively.
If Harris doesn’t win the job, look for McElwain to use him in a specialized role. After all, he’s one of the best athletes on the team. And the Gators need those on offense, which is hard to believe with all the skill in the Sunshine State.
Other positions of note: Texas A&M’s linebackers; UCLA’s QB, Arkansas’ defensive line, Wisconsin’s defensive line, Tennessee’s defensive tackles, LSU’s’ QB, Notre Dame’s QB, FSU’s offensive line, Georgia Tech’s defensive tackles.
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