2021 College Football Preview: The Players to Watch
College or university football is a large-turnover industry. The ideal players are seldom additional than a yr from departing for the NFL, and the good results of higher education applications arrives down to how nicely they can inventory the pipeline guiding their stars. In the operate-up to the 2021 season—which starts off at the end of August—it’s well worth looking at the players who will fill individuals roles in 2021. A number of will be to start with-time starters, even though many others have currently proven themselves as rising stars and will use 2021 as a launching pad to one thing even even bigger.
Meet 10 of them. These players, symbolizing teams from throughout the place, stand out in primary positions and are poised to have a big impact on the 2021 year.
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson
Bryce Youthful, QB, Alabama
Uiagalelei and Youthful ended up equally five-star recruits in the class of 2020, but they sat guiding star QBs in their to start with seasons. Uiagalelei experienced a pair of probabilities to begin even though Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence was out following catching COVID-19, and he confirmed a good deal of skill—even even though just about getting rid of to Boston College or university and then truly getting rid of, in time beyond regulation, to Notre Dame.
Youthful was limited to mop-up duty at the end of Bama’s blowout wins. With Lawrence and Alabama starter Mac Jones equally in the NFL, Uiagalelei and Youthful will be chiefly accountable for protecting the two greatest applications in the sport correct now.
John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
This will be Metchie’s 3rd yr at Alabama. In 2019, he barely saw the field for the reason that the Tide experienced 4 receivers forward of him (they have all due to the fact become to start with-spherical NFL draft picks). He experienced additional participating in time in 2020, but he was nonetheless just the No. three wideout guiding two of individuals NFL to start with-rounders.
This yr, all of the men forward of him are long gone, and it falls to Metchie to be the hottest in an progressively long line of unstoppable Alabama receivers. Assume him to be terrific. The only query is how terrific. With Bama reloading additional than typical this yr, regardless of whether Metchie is elite or ultra-elite will have a big effect on the Tide’s fortunes.
Jaivon Heiligh, WR, Coastal Carolina
QB Grayson McCall receives most of the awareness for the Chanticleers, who stunned anyone with an unbeaten typical year in 2020. McCall is in fact crucial, but let’s concentrate for a second on Heiligh, whose big-engage in potential in single protection experienced a sturdy effect on the rest of the offense’s good results last yr. Heiligh was a to start with-team All-Sunlight Belt participant in 2020. This yr, he really should be thought of an All-American prospect and—if he plays as nicely as he did (998 yards and 10 touchdowns)—a critical to Coastal profitable the Sunlight Belt yet again.
Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia
Salyer is the anchor of Georgia’s offensive line. The Dawgs have what feels like infinite talent together the line, but they’ve often struggled to obtain the correct mixture of players to fill the five places, leading to breakdowns. (A notable example was a loss to Florida last yr.)
The most straightforward way to make certain the Dawgs’ line retains up is for the most sure-detail star on that line, Salyer, to engage in like a star. If he’s dominant at the stage of assault and in pass safety, it’ll make lifetime a good deal easier for the rest of the Dawgs—particularly quarterback JT Daniels, whose main issue will be being healthier.
Jermayne Lole, DT, Arizona State
The Sunlight Devils have a opportunity to gain the Pac-twelve. If they are heading to do it, Lole will will need to set the tone in the center of their defensive line. He was one particular of ASU’s ideal players through a amazingly sturdy 2019 year, and he dominated through a 4-match abbreviated year in 2020.
Lole is the sort of mid-line existence that is become relatively exceptional in the Pac-twelve, a league that lacks the talent in the trenches like the SEC, Major twelve, and Major Ten. Previous yr, he experienced 4 sacks in 4 games—quite a feat for a participant trapped in the center of the line. If he builds on that progress, Herm Edwards’ application will be a good deal much better for it.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Thibodeaux is form of an odd fit for a dialogue about breakout players, for the reason that he arguably experienced damaged out just before he even set foot on Oregon’s campus in 2019. He was the consensus No. one total recruit in the place, and anyone expects him to be a contender for the No. one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as nicely.
But regardless of his stellar recruiting pedigree and his sturdy functionality in a pandemic-shortened 2020 year, it feels like Thibodeaux nonetheless has a good deal to display just before he turns pro future yr. Oregon is the Pac-12’s ideal hope to end a convention-large College or university Soccer Playoff drought that has lasted due to the fact 2016. If the Ducks do make a playoff operate this yr, Thibodeaux will be a critical portion of their good results.
Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
The Bearcats ended up 2020’s ideal team in the Team of 5 conferences (the reduce 50 percent of FBS, if you’re just catching up), and they just about conquer Georgia in the Peach Bowl. The driving element in UC’s dominance was its protection, and no person will be a even bigger portion of that protection than Sanders, who racked up eight sacks and a whopping 31 QB hurries last yr.
JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska
The Huskers are possibly not heading to be very good this yr, but Domann is an outstanding hybrid linebacker who can also engage in as a slot cornerback or a box basic safety, where by he covers receivers or chases jogging backs and limited ends close to. If, and it is a big if, the Huskers rebound a little bit this yr and restore some shine to one particular of higher education football’s legacy applications, Domann will be a critical asset.
Bralen Trahan, S, Louisiana
The Ragin’ Cajuns ended up one particular of the country’s much better teams last yr, and they have a good deal of talent coming again for 2021. They direct FBS’ 130 teams with a ninety six per cent returning score in ESPN’s “returning production” metric, which tracks how several yards, tackles, touchdowns, and other statistical totals continue to be on a team’s roster from the yr just before.
The Cajuns will also retain their head mentor, Billy Napier, who experienced been broadly expected to leave for a further task. With 4 interceptions and seven pass breakups last yr, Trahan returns as one particular of the ideal secondary players in higher education football. If UL’s defensive backs are as good as they ended up last yr, the Cajuns could upset Texas in 7 days one and make a further operate at a Sunlight Belt title.
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