10 College Football Players U Should Know

(But probably don’t)

 

#3 Andre' Woodson | QB

 

In one season Andre Woodson went from being battling for the starting position to developing into one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.  Following a dismal sophomore campaign in which he threw just as many interceptions as touchdowns the junior quarterback exploded for 3500 yards, 31 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions in 2006.  At 6-5 and almost 250 pounds Woodson already had a cannon for an arm but this season he improved his accuracy and decision making skills to raise his completion percentage to 63%.

 Woodson is the centerpiece for the resurgence of a Kentucky football program which beat Clemson for its first bowl win since 1984.  With his combination of size and vision Woodson has the tools to pick apart almost any secondary and could be a surprise first round draft selection in 2008.

                                                                                 

#14 Bobby Reid | QB

 

With all the attention given to quarterback Pat White, Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid was often overlooked as one of the top sophomore quarterbacks despite leading the nation’s 16th ranked offense.  Similar to Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, Reid’s great combination of mobility and raw passing skills makes Reid dangerous outside of the pocket after passing for 2300 yards passing and 500 rushing yards in 2007.  Reid’s signature performance was a dazzling 478 yard 6 touchdown effort against Kansas in which he passed for 411 yards, 5 touchdowns and rushed for an additional score.  Reid also accounted for 30 total touchdowns in Oklahoma State’s spread offense and should only improve in 2007.

 

#4 Sidney Rice | WR

 

With the incredible depth at wide receiver with All-Americans Dwayne Jarrett and Calvin Johnson leading the pack, South Carolina standout Sidney Rice may be the most underrated player in all of college football.  Though Rice red-shirted his freshman season after suffering a leg injury, he returned in 2005 to catch 70 passes for over 1100 yards and set a Gamecocks receiving record by catching 13 receiving touchdowns.  With his incredible combination of size, speed and athleticism Rice has would undoubtedly be a first round selection if he entered the 2006 NFL Draft,

In 2006 Rice was even more impressive this season as he posted almost the exact numbers despite starting quarterback Blake Mitchell’s shaky play and having a former wide receiver behind center for part of the season.  Even more impressive is that Rice constantly faced double coverage as the only playmaker in the stagnant South Carolina offense and exploded for a 5 touchdown performance versus Florida Atlantic University. 

 

#1 DeSean Jackson | WR

 

Coming out of football powerhouse Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Reggie Bush attended in 2002.) in San Diego, California Jackson was touted as one of the top 5 wide receivers in the nation after being named 2004’s California Mr. Football, and MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  With all the hype surrounding Jackson exceeded the expectations by setting the Pac-10 record for career punt return touchdowns with five in just his sophomore season.

Known more for his blazing speed (Jackson runs a 4.3 in the 40 yard dash) as a deadly punt returner DeSean Jackson’s prowess at receiver is often overlooked.  In 2006, as a true sophomore Jackson collected 59 receptions for 1060 yards along with 9 touchdowns and led the nation in punt return average (18.5).  This season Jackson won the inaugural Randy Moss Return Man Award for the nation's top kick/punt return man in Division I college football and should be considered a pre-season favorite for next year’s Heisman Trophy. 

Note: Jackson also plays baseball for the Bears, where he hit .338 along with 20 steals in the 2005

 

#25 Felix Jones | RB- SOPH.

 

 

Just like many of his contemporaries on this list running back Felix Jones is often overlooked b/c of a more high profile teammate, however, unlike the others Jones is mired in the shadow of a teammate who plays the exact same position.  Arkansas sophomore Felix Jones is the backup to 2006 Heisman Trophy runner-up Darius McFadden, contributes to a rushing attack which ranks 4th in the nation. With its inconsistent quarterback play the entire season Arkansas’ surprising success has relied heavily on their ground game.  While McFadden garnered the national attention and collected the awards, Jones quietly racked up over 1100 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns while averaging almost 8 yards (7.6 ypc) per carry.  On January 1, 2007, Jones’ performance in the Capital One Bowl Game vs. Wisconsin should serve as a springboard to next season as he exploded for a career high 150 yards on just 14 carries, outrunning both McFadden and Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill.

 

#12 Adarius Bowman | WR

 

Adarius Bowman is a 6-4, 220 pound junior wide receiver with game-breaking speed and too much size for most defensive backs to handle.  Had he decided to turn pro in 2007, Bowman could have been a first round selection in a draft.  After a less than spectacular sophomore season, the former North Carolina transfer dominated the competition in 2006 by catching 60 receptions for 1181 yards as well as 12 touchdown catches.  In a November comeback versus Big XII opponent Kansas, Bowman caught a dizzying 13 catches for 300 yards. Despite being named as an All-Big 12 wide receiver, Bowman has pledged to returning for his senior season in 2007 and cap off his collegiate career with a brilliant senior season.

 

#8 Percy Harvin | WR

 

With all the attention given to freshman quarterback Tim Tebow, fellow true freshman Percy Harvin has seemingly gone unnoticed by most college football fans as one of the most explosive playmakers in college football.  Considered by some as the top recruit in the 2006 class, Harvin is noted for his remarkable speed and ability to make would be tacklers look foolish.  However, much of his freshman season Harvin constantly battled injuries including a nagging ankle sprain and a neck stinger.

 In Florida’s unconventional offense Harvin has been one of the most versatile players in the nation, compiling a modest 367 receiving yards, and 406 yards rushing out of the backfield but mostly on a variety of reverses, shovel passes and option pitches.  His most impressive stat is his absurd average of 50.8 yards on his four touchdowns.  In last month’s SEC championship game against Arkansas Harvin exploded for a remarkable 167 yards, two touchdowns.  Harvin was also named the game MVP and SEC Freshman of the Year.  With a spectacular performance in the BCS title game Harvin has an opportunity to put the nation on notice and propel himself towards an All-American sophomore season

             

           

#28 C.J. Spiller | RB

            Brimming with talent ready to spill over (pun intended), Clemson freshman C.J. Spiller formed half of one of the most formidable rushing tandems in college football alongside teammate James Davis.  With his impressive breakaway speed, acceleration and ability to make defenders miss, Spiller’s talents are comparable to those of West Virginia’s Steve Slaton.  

Despite only gaining 938 rushing yards, Spiller scored 12 touchdowns, including six consisting of 50 yards or more.  His signature moment came against Boston College when Spiller caught a short screen pass and sprung it for 82 yards while making several Boston College defenders on their stomachs as he raced to the end zone.

 

 

#39 P.J. Hill Jr. | RB

 

Standing at 5-10 and 240 pounds, you may confuse him with another legendary Wisconsin running back and the NCAA’s career leader in rushing yards named Ron Dayne.  Built in the mold of Dayne, Hill is a prototypical, powerful Big 10 running back who would rather plow over defenders than go around.  With a style of play that doesn’t churn out many highlight reels, Hill is the anti-thesis to the Reggie Bush’s and Steve Slaton’s and went widely unnoticed by most fans.  However, in 2006 after returning from a leg injury that forced him to sit out his entire freshman season, Hill was just as effective as he ran for 1500 yards on an 11-1 Badger unit.  Take notice now, because I guarantee Big 10 defenders already have.

 

 

#41 Ian Johnson | RB

 

            He reached national fame after he raced to the end zone and proposed to his girlfriend on the run which gave his Boise State Broncos the victory over the mighty Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.  However, the Bronco’s sophomore running back Ian Johnson has grabbed most of his headlines this season for his on field exploits.

            After sharing the carries as part of a three man rushing attack last season, Johnson was named the feature back for Boise St. and did not disappoint. Johnson finished the regular season over 1700 yards and an NCAA best 24 touchdowns, including a 200 yard, 5 TD romp against Oregon St. on ESPN en route to becoming the first Boise State athlete ever named to an All- American team. 

            Going into Monday’s match up against Oklahoma, experts questioned whether the undefeated Broncos could grind it out against a tough Sooner defense.  On their way to shocking the nation not to mention the Sooners, Johnson rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, essentially silencing critics who questioned whether his success was simply the result of weaker competition.  Expect Johnson’s name to resurface as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy and on the tongue of NFL scouts next season.