College Football Focus 2017 All-America Team

Saquon Barkley (USAToday)

Buckeyes, Badgers Look Like Teams To Beat In Big Ten

Urban Meyer has his Buckeyes ready to challenge for the national title. (US Presswire)

Tide Continues To Roll While East Gets Better

Nick Saban has Alabama primed for another national title run (theodysseyonline.com)

Pac-12 Isn't A Scene, It's An Arms Race

USC's Sam Darnold is part of an impressive Pac-12 quarterback crop (draftbreakdown.com)

Rockets Ready To Take Flight In MAC

New Coaches Bring Attention To C-USA

Lane Kiffin has found a new home in Boca Raton, Fla.

Aztecs, Cowboys On Collision Course In Mountain West

Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen

Mountaineers Still Atop Sun Belt

Appalachian State is the cream of the Sun Belt crop

Seminoles Are Class Of Improving ACC

Clemson won last year's national championship

 There are few certainties in life -- death and taxes are two, and Florida State or Clemson winning the ACC is another.  It seems like that, anyway, as the Seminoles and Tigers have won the last six championships.

 Both appear steeled for another run at the crown this year, and each possess the requisite talent to reach that goal.

 But it won't be easy as the Atlantic Division is getting deeper and the Coastal is getting better. In fact, one formerly dominant team, Virginia Tech, looks like it might be ascending to the point where it not only can make the league championship game, but win it. The Hokies had a run of four titles in six years prior to the run of dominance by FSU and Clemson, and with coach Justin Fuente settling in in Blacksburg it could mean a return to that championship form.

 The Seminoles return most of a tenacious defense, and get safety Derwin James back from an early season injury. James is one of America's best talents, and his loss in the second game last year made for some uncharacteristically leaky moments for the FSU defense. Quarterback Deondre Francois (3,350 yards, 20 TDs) grew up quickly after some early hiccups, and if the offensive line can protect him better -- he was sacked nearly three times per game last year -- his potential is limitless. Freshman Cam Akers should be an able replacement for Dalvin Cook after impressing in spring practice, and some have even touted him as a legitimate Heisman candidate.

FSU quarterback Deondre Francois

FSU opens with Alabama and hosts Miami and NC State before an open week, and then finishes with two road trips -- to Clemson and Florida -- in the final three weeks of the season. So everything the Seminoles get this season will be earned.

 "I think last year will hopefully make us understand that it's not only a one game deal at the beginning, that's it's going to be all the way through and that first half of the season we're going to have to be extremely prepared," coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Last year will be that teaching tool because you learn from your experiences, good and bad."
 
  While Florida State tries to get back to the top of the mountain it ascended in 2013, Clemson comes into the year as defending national champion, knocking off favored Alabama in a wild, classic CFP title game.

 Dabo Swinney has recruited well the past few years, and there is enough talent on hand for the Tigers to not drop off precipitously. But he has to find a replacement for prodigious quarterback Deshaun Watson. Freshman Hunter Johnson gets first crack, and he's fortunate to have a pretty good stable of receivers on hand to ease the transition. Clemson's defense should show the way early in the season while the offense finds its feet, and the inside tandem of Dexter Lawrence (78 tackles, seven sacks) and Christian Wilkins (56 tackles, 9.5 TFL,10 PBU) could the best in America. The secondary needs retooled, though Oklahoma State transfer Adrian Baker should help.

 "If you recruit well and develop your players, then you can sustain consistency," Swinney said. "What we're trying to do is just be consistently competitive program that's in position to compete for this conference, because if we can compete for this conference year in and year out, hey, we're going to have one of those years where we get it done."

 Giving chase in the Atlantic will be Louisville, which was riding high early in the season before dropping its last three games, and North Carolina State, which boasts the most experienced squad in the league.

 The Cardinals return Heisman winning quarterback Lamar Jackson (3,543 yards passing, 30 TDs, 1,571 yards rushing, 21 TDs), and he may have to do even more than last year as the team lost its top running back and top three receivers. Jaylen Smith (27 catches) is an all-league talent who could shine at receiver with a larger role, and the defense pledges to get better after allowing 106 points in the season ending three game skid.

"We have a philosophy here that we call FTS, which means feed the studs," UL coach Bobby Petrino said. "Lamar is one of our studs, so don't think we aren't going to call quarterback run plays or zone read plays or option plays, because we're going to give him his opportunities to make big plays."

 The Wolfpack will get it done with a lethal defense, anchored by ends Bradley Chubb (58 tackles, 10.5 sacks) and Kentavius Street (30 tackles, 5.5 sacks), as well as three of its top four tacklers from a year ago. The offense has a solid quarterback in Ryan Finley (3,059 passing, 18 TDs) and versatile Jaylen Samuels, who is equally at home rushing (six TDs on 33 carries) as he is catching (55 catches, seven TDs). NC State misses Miami and Virginia from the Coastal and hosts Clemson -- whom it outplayed and nearly defeated last year -- and Louisville.

"You want expectations, and you have to earn them," Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said.

 Wake Forest hasn't been an easy out lately and should flirt with bowl eligibility this year, Syracuse is on the come in the second year under Dino Babers and Boston College, while still offensively challenged, will stay competitive thanks to a defense that gets to the quarterback and forces turnovers.

Virginia Tech's Justin Fuente

 The Coastal won't have as much drama as Virginia Tech and Miami appear to be the only teams that have a legitimate chance -- though neither is terribly deep, which means key injuries could open the door for someone else, maybe a Pittsburgh or Georgia Tech.

 Tech will have to rely on a lethal Bud Foster-designed defense to win games as the offense returns just five starters from a year ago. Wideout Cam Phillips (76 catches, five TDs) can vie for all-league honors if the quarterback position -- currently an unknown, though the favorites are redshirt freshman Joshua Jackson and JUCO transfer AJ Bush -- produces, and ground game is in the capable hands of Travon McMillan (717 yards, seven TDs). The stop unit is led by linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka, each of whom tallied over 100 tackles last year. Greg Stroman (13 tackles, 10 PBU) and Terrell Edmunds (89 tackles, four INTs) anchor a secondary that was the stingiest in the league in 2016.

 "Our long term mission is to return Virginia Tech back to the top of the ACC," Fuente said. "But to me, it's about the process and it's about are we going about the process that's been proven over time that leads to our improvement. The ultimate number of wins and all that sort of stuff, it's a measuring tool, but it's not the only one. Each year is different, each team is different."

 Mark Richt has Miami trending upward, though like the Hokies must find a quarterback -- more daunting when you consider that the signal-callers on the roster have thrown four passes, total. Malik Rosier has all four of the attempts, and will battle with sophomore Evan Shirreffs and touted freshman N'Kosi Perry for the starting job. Whomever wins will likely spend a lot of time handing off to running back Mark Walton (1,179 yards, 14 TDs), one of the more underrated great players in the conference. The front seven is solid, led by linebacker Shaq Quaterman ((84 tackles, 6.5 TFL), but the secondary will need to improve if the Hurricanes are to take that next step to true contender.

 It should be easier this year, in the second season under Richt's leadership.

 "Year one, it's not just football," he said. "You've got to look at everything you do and how you do it and teach everybody how you want those things done. Year two, we understand how to do the little things right, and we understand how we want to go about our business. It's a different feel, for sure."

 Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech are wildcards, with the Panthers having a slight edge due to being more balanced. Receiver/kick returner Quadree Henderson (26 catches, four return touchdowns) is a special talent, but for Pitt to make a real rise it will need to play better defensively. The Yellow Jackets have their typical triple option attack, which will be paced by running back Dedrick Mills (771, 12 TDs), and will need to control the clock to keep an average defense off the field.

 North Carolina starts almost from scratch, losing quarterback Mitch Trubisky (the second pick in the NFL Draft), both running backs and four of its top five receivers. Virginia appears to be on the rise thanks to defensive stars Micah Kiser (134 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and Quin Blanding (120 tackles, six PBUs), and if they can reverse a late season turnover deficit (-9 in the last four games) a bowl game is not out of the question. Duke has a burgeoning star in quarterback Daniel Jones (486 yards, seven TDs) and a star linebacker in Ben Humphreys (106 tackles), but faces Northwestern, Baylor and Miami in its first five games, so a slow start could make for a difficult season.

 While the SEC continues to bask in the glow of the pundits, it should be noted that the ACC has two of the last four national champs, the only league with multiple titlists in that span.

 The strength of Florida State and Clemson, and the emergence of other contenders, means the league won't take a backseat to anyone in 2017.

 "There's only one conference that had a winning record against Power 5 teams, the ACC," Swinney said. "One conference had a winning record versus ranked teams, the ACC. We had 11 bowl teams, we were 10-4 versus the SEC. There's a reason why we've played so well. We've won five bowl games in a row, and it's not because I'm some great coach. We've had good players. It's what we play against week in and week out."

ACC PREDICTIONS
ATLANTIC
 1. Florida State
 2. Clemson
 3. Louisville
 4. North Carolina State
 5. Wake Forest
 6. Syracuse
 7. Boston College

COASTAL
 1. Virginia Tech
 2. Miami, Fla.
 3. Pittsburgh
 4. Georgia Tech
 5. North Carolina
 6. Virginia
 7. Duke

ALL-ACC
OFFENSE
QB Lamar Jackson/Louisville
RB Dedrick Mills/Georgia Tech
RB Cam Akers/Florida State
WR Deon Cain/Clemson
WR Quadree Henderson/Pittsburgh
WR Jaylen Samuels/North Carolina State
TE Christopher Herndon/Miami, Fla.
OT Mitch Hyatt/Clemson
OT Geron Christian/Louisville
OG Tyrone Crowder/Clemson
OG Tony Adams/North Carolina State
 C  Ryan Anderson/Wake Forest

DEFENSE
DE Harold Landry/Boston College
DE Bradley Chubb/North Carolina State
DT Dexter Lawrence/Clemson
DT Derrick Nnadi/Florida State
LB Tremaine Edwards/Virginia Tech
LB Micah Kiser/Virginia
LB Shaq Quaterman/Miami, Fla.
CB Tarvarus McFadden/Florida State
CB Jaire Alexander/Louisville
  S  Derwin James/Florida State
  S  Quin Blanding/Virginia

SPECIALISTS
  K Joey Slye/Virginia Tech
  P  Tom Sheldon/North Carolina
KR Quadree Henderson/Pittsburgh
PR  Quadree Henderson/Pittsburgh

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -- Florida State over Virginia Tech
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Lamar Jackson
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Derwin James
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Dave Doeren/North Carolina State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- Cam Akers

Cowboys Have Talent To Lasso Big 12 Crown

Mike Gundy

 In recent seasons, fans and media have talked more about Mike Gundy's unique mullet than they have about his football team.

 This is the year that could change.

 Gundy has his best team in his 13 years of coaching, including as many offensive weapons as any team in the country. Quarterback Mason Rudolph (4,091 yards, 28 TDs, 4 INTs) is talented and experienced, and has great receivers in James Washington (71-1,142-9) -- a likely top 10 pick in next year's NFL Draft -- and Jalen McClesky, who actually led the Cowboys with 73 receptions in 2016. Underrated running back Justice Hill ran for over 1,100 yards, so defending this bunch could prove to be an exercise in futility.

 "They should be very good," Gundy said. "We're fortunate that we have an experienced quarterback that our team trusts. They have a lot of respect for him. He's played injured throughout his career. He's unselfish. We have a group of wideouts that are certainly the best as a group that I've ever been around. They're unselfish. They understand that there's not enough footballs to go around. We're going to do the best to stay involved. Some of them are going to draw a safety over the top. Some can draw a little double coverage. We have to go with our group of guys. We've evolved as a running team again in the last year with Justice. We need a backup there."

 Getting Oklahoma at home in early November is a bonus, as is a schedule that lines up very well for a big season -- TCU and Kansas State at home, and only a road game against Pitt as a real stumbling block, which means the Cowboys (10-3, 7-2) could be a prime contender for a berth in the Big 12's first-ever championship game.

 Speaking of the Sooners, they certainly will not go gently into that good night, even with a neophyte as head coach.

 Lincoln Riley takes over from Bob Stoops, who stunningly announced his retirement in early June, but he has plenty of building blocks in place to keep Oklahoma (11-2, 9-0) at the top of the Big 12 heap.

Baker Mayfield

 Quarterback Baker Mayfield ((3,965 yards, 40 TDs, 8 INTs) returns as a top Heisman candidate, though he will be more of the focus this year as his running backs and receivers from last year graduated or went to the NFL. Fortunately for him, tight end Mark Andrews returns. He should easily surpass his 31 catch total from a year ago, and will be Mayfield's security blanket while unproven players gain experience at the skill positions. The defense is rebuilding, and the schedule is grueling -- trips to Ohio State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. It could be a tall order for a first-year coach, even one as familiar with Norman as Riley is.

 "The expectations are there to win, like they always are at Oklahoma, but that's something that I enjoy and something that our staff enjoys, and our players," Riley said. "You come to play and coach at Oklahoma to win and to win big. It's always been like that. If you don't enjoy that sense of pressure and those expectations, then it's probably not the place for you."

  Riley isn't the only new Big 12 boss, and certainly isn't the most publicized. That honor falls to Tom Herman, who takes over at Texas after molding Houston into a premier Group of Five program. The Longhorns (5-7, 3-6) are starving for success after three straight losing seasons under Charlie Strong, and Herman has infused new life and belief into the players.

 He has pieces, including quarterback Shane Buechele (2,958 yards, 21 TDs, 11 INTs) and running back Chris Warren (5.9 ypg), and defensive stalwart Malik Jefferson at linebacker. Whether or not he has enough depth to really contend this year is a big concern.

 "I feel good that these guys are willing to do whatever we ask them to coming off the three-year stretch that this program has had," Herman added. "They don't want that to be their legacy. They want to be remembered as the team and the group that turned this thing around. I think we're well on our way."

Bill Snyder

 Often overlooked is Kansas State (9-4, 6-3), yet the Wildcats will once again be squarely in the hunt with an experienced team -- and the ever-present Bill Snyder on the sidelines. Snyder underwent treatments for throat cancer early in 2017, but appears to be back to full health and has a positive outlook. And with the team he has this year, he should be positive.

 Quarterback Jesse Ertz is the best dual threat in the league, passing for 1,755 yards and rushing for 1,012, and had 21 total touchdowns via ground and air. Receiver Byron Pringle (39-631-4) is a big-play component for an offense that wants to ground and pound, but K-State will, as usual, rely on its defense, which should be the best in the Big 12. Even without defensive end Jordan Willis and linebacker Elijah Lee, the Wildcats will be grudging on the stop side. Reggie Walker had 6.5 sacks as a freshman, and corner D.J. Reed was among the nation's leaders in passes defended (19).

 "We really share one same thing and that's the fact that we want to win," Ertz said. "It doesn't matter how much we communicate or laugh together. At the end of the day we want to win and play football."

 Forgetting about TCU could be a mistake, because Gary Patterson typically does very well after losing seasons -- the previous three times they were followed up with double-digit wins.

 The Horned Frogs (6-7, 4-5) were expected to be national contenders last year but instead limped home with just six victories. Injuries and mistakes plagued TCU all year, but Patterson is ready to turn the page and enjoy the role of underdog for a change.

 Quarterback Kenny Hill should be more comfortable in his second season, and could benefit from an experience receiving corps -- which, hopefully, drops fewer passes this year (38, an FBS high for 2016). Running back Kyle Hicks is solid, leading the squad in rushing (1,042 yards) and receiving (47 catches). The defense should be reliable, returning most the starters from last year's Big 12 total defense runner-up, led by linebackers Travin Howard (130 tackles) and Ty Summers (121)

 "The quarterback gets blamed for a lot of things," Patterson said. "And it's not always his fault. I think he lost a little confidence at the end of the season."

 “Any time you have a season that you don’t want to have, you want to get back in as quick as you can,” Patterson said. “Really liked our off-season. Didn’t like the way we ended the season. Feel like we had to get back to being more physical. We started that in January. For us, that’s kind of the way we’ve gone about it. Really like the team. I like the kids. Really have worked hard.”

 While not really a title contender, West Virginia (10-3, 7-2) is an intriguing team, mostly because of quarterback Will Grier, a Florida transfer with a big arm and the ability to keep plays alive.

 Baylor (7-6, 3-6) is rebuilding with new coach Matt Rhule, and will be a little more defense-oriented than past Bears squads. There will be a bit more of a power component to the offense, but it will still be "dynamic," according to Rhule. Texas Tech (5-7, 3-6), Iowa State (3-9, 2-7) and Kansas (2-10, 1-8) are all nearer the bottom of the league than the top, but aren't without merits.

 Tech, whose coach, Kliff Kingsbury, occupies a pretty warm seat, will have its usual uptempo, throw it everywhere offense. Iowa State was competitive in its last three games, losing to Oklahoma, Baylor and Kansas State by a combined 15 points, and coach Matt Campbell expects growth in year two -- receiver Allen Lazard is a good piece to have in that regard. Even traditional doormat Kansas has some optimism, thanks to a win at Texas and a one-point road loss to TCU -- and it also has the preseason defensive player of the year in Dorance Armstrong, who could vie for All-America honors this season.

 The Big 12 has made the College Football Playoff only once in three years, and that championship game could be an avenue toward getting a berth this year. Observers scoff at the brand of ball played, but Gundy thinks the league is better than most believe.

 "I think as a conference we're stronger than what the national media or our fan base might think," he said. "We play a little bit different style of football. It's an exciting game of football. And I think that we all want each other to win when we're playing non-conference games, and we'll continue to get better and better.
We're going to have terrific quarterback play. And what's interesting about our league is that, just when you think the defenses in our league won't play good in a big game, they do play good, and I think that's what makes it fun. So, yes, I think we're responsible for playing the very best we can in non-conference games to help the image of the Big 12 conference."

BIG 12 PREDICTIONS
 1. Oklahoma State
 2. Oklahoma
 3. Kansas State
 4. TCU
 5. Texas
 6. West Virginia
 7. Baylor
 8. Iowa State
 9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas

ALL-BIG 12
OFFENSE
QB Mason Rudolph/Oklahoma State
RB Justice Hill/Oklahoma State
RB Justin Crawford/West Virginia
WR James Washington/Oklahoma State
WR Allen Lazard/Iowa State
WR Byron Pringle/Kansas State
TE Mark Andrews/Oklahoma
OT Orlando Brown/Oklahoma
OT Connor Williams/Texas
OG Austin Schlottman/TCU
OG Kyle Bosch/West Virginia
 C  Erick Wren/Oklahoma

DEFENSE
DE Dorance Armstrong/Kansas
DE Chris Nelson/Texas
DT Daniel Wise/Kansas
DT Will Geary/Kansas State
LB Malik Jefferson/Texas
LB Ty Summers/TCU
LB Travin Howard/TCU
CB Adrian Baker/Oklahoma State
CB DJ Reed/Kansas State
  S  Jordan Thomas/Oklahoma
  S  Nick Orr/TCU

SPECIALISTS
  K Austin Seibert/Oklahoma
  P  Michael Dickson/Texas
KR KaVonte Turpin/TCU
PR Cameron Batson/Texas Tech

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -- Oklahoma State over Oklahoma
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- James Washington
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Malik Jefferson
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Bill Snyder/Kansas State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- RB Trey Sermon/Oklahoma

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Bullish On South Florida In The AAC

Charlie Strong

 When let go by the University of Texas, Charlie Strong wasn't sure what was in his immediate future. He thought he might have to start over, perhaps taking a coordinator position before wading again into the head coaching waters.

 But then a hurricane of sorts took place in Tampa, as Willie Taggart moved West to Oregon, leaving a vacancy in a program that many have labeled a "sleeping giant." The Bulls finished 11-2 last year (7-1 in league play) and had more talent on hand than at any time in history, but had no coach.

 Enter Strong.

 After surveying the landscape, Strong returned to the state where he took his first assistant coaching job, and immediately felt like he was "home."

 A team rife with experience and talent has Strong sitting in the catbird seat, as the choice to win the American Athletic Conference Eastern Divison, and, ultimately, the league title. That would be a reversal of fortune from last year, when the Bulls missed out on the league title game and instead watched Temple take the crown.

 "We didn't win the conference last year," Strong said. "We have something to shoot for, that carrot is dangling in front of us."

         Quinton Flowers

 The Bulls have a leg up on the competition thanks in large part to quarterback Quinton Flowers, a versatile sort who passed for over 2,800 yards with 24 touchdown passes, and added another 1,530 yards and 18 scores on the ground. He should repeat as offensive player of the year and is a darkhorse in the Heisman Trophy race.

 "We’ve got to win today,” said Strong. “It’s important for the players to realize they haven’t won anything this year.

 “We’re a big-time program, so we have to carry ourselves like a big-time program. We’ve got to give them a product that they are happy with and pleased with.”

 USF is a prohibitive favorite in the East, but Temple (10-4, 7-1) and Central Florida (6-7, 4-4) will make it work for division supremacy. The Owls will once again be defense oriented, while the Knights should continuing ascending behind a veteran stop unit and an offense that has nowhere to go but up (113th nationally in 2016).

 In the West, Memphis gets the nod thanks to senior quarterback Riley Ferguson, who threw for 3,698 yards and a school-record 32 TDs. The Tigers (8-5, 5-3) have experience on offense, including wideout Anthony Miller, but will need to get better on defense if they want to challenge for the league title.

 Houston (9-4, 5-3), Tulsa (10-3, 6-2) and Navy (9-5, 7-1) will all be in the mix, and could each win the league with the right set of circumstances. Houston gets the services of former Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen, so losing Greg Ward Jr. shouldn't be such a blow. Tulsa has running back D'Angelo Brewer (1,435 yards), while Navy will rely on its typical option-based scheme, piloted by quarterback Zach Abey, who started the final two games of last season after starter Will Worth was injured.

 Being tabbed as a division favorite often puts a bullseye on a team, but it will keep Memphis focused on the big prize.

 “It’s a great compliment, but being the preseason favorite really doesn’t get you anything,” Tigers coach Mike Norvell said. “Our guys, the biggest focus that we’ve had is trying to maximize the opportunities that we have in our preparation so that when we get to the season we’re in the best position to be successful."

 The league had a ton of turnover from last year, with five first-year coaches, four in the East -- Strong, Geoff Collins at Temple, Luke Fickell at Cincinnati and Randy Edsall at UConn, who is beginning his second stint in Storrs, having led the program from 1999-2010. Houston bumped offensive coordinator Major Applewhite up to head coach after Tom Herman left to take over Texas.


 AAC PREDICTIONS
        EAST
 1. South Florida
 2. Temple
 3. UCF
 4. East Carolina
 5. Cincinnati
 6. Connecticut

            WEST
 1. Memphis
 2. Houston
 3. Tulsa
 4. Navy
 5. SMU
 6. Tulane 

ALL-AAC
OFFENSE
QB Quinton Flowers/South Florida
RB D'Angelo Brewer/Tulsa
RB Braeden West/SMU
WR Anthony Miller/Memphis
WR Jimmy Williams/East Carolina
WR Courtland Sutton/SMU
OT Evan Pigg/Tulsa
OT John Leglue/Tulane
OG Evan Martin/Navy
OG Tyler Bowling/Tulsa
  C  Chandler Miller/Tulsa

DEFENSE
DE Justin Lawler/SMU
DE Jamiyus Pittman/UCF
DT Ed Oliver/Houston
DT Cortez Broughton/Cincinnati
LB Genard Avery/Memphis
LB Micah Thomas/Navy
LB Shaquem Griffin/UCF
CB Parry Nickerson/Tulane
CB Jamar Summers/Connecticut
  S  Sean Chandler/Temple
  S  Garrett Davis/Houston

SPECIALISTS
  K Andrew Gantz/Cincinnati
  P Spencer Smith/Memphis
KR Sherman Badie/Tulane
PR D'Ernest Johnson/South Florida

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME South Florida over Memphis
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Quinton Flowers
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Ed Oliver
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Mike Norvell/Memphis
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- RB Cordarrian Richardson/UCF

College Football 2017 Five Under The Radar

If there's one thing I am, it is a champion of the underdog, the little man, the person who doesn't have the spotlight or the stage to showcase their talent.

Everyone knows about Lamar Jackson and Jake Browning and Malik Jefferson, they're on the highlights all of the time. Their teams are covered ad nauseam, and by the end of the season fans know what they routinely have for lunch, who they are hanging out with and what song they downloaded yesterday.

While those names (and others) get lauded as award winners, there are also real ballplayers at smaller schools -- guys who are mired in remote outposts like El Paso, Texas; Jonesboro, Ark.; and Bowling Green, Ky. Don't be fooled by their small school names, though -- these guys are big time talents, and names you should know and will hear plenty from by the end of the regular season.

In an effort to make you the smartest fan in the room, it's time to unveil five players who fly under the radar, but who are game-changers and big-time talents.

WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee State (Jr.)
If his 10 catches for 95 yards against Alabama his freshman year didn't show he had something, maybe the fact that he became the first player in Conference USA history to catch over 100 passes as a freshman did. His 213 grabs in two years makes him the leading returning receiver in FBS, and a duplication of his 105-grab 2016 would put him among the top 10 all-time. He can line up in the slot or outside, he isn't afraid to go over the middle, and he's QB Brent Stockstill's best friend when it comes to jump balls. The 5-9, 180-pounder is elusive in the open field, and is harder to bring down than his size would indicate. He's also a "hands" catcher, which means he doesn't let the ball get to his body. The Blue Raiders face Syracuse and Minnesota this year, so James should get plenty of exposure.

DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State (Sr.)
The 2016 Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the year, Rolland-Jones put up an eye-popping 13 sacks, including four games of with at least a pair. Very quick off the edge, the 6-2, 240-pound Red Wolves star has a  motor that doesn't stop, and also holds up well against the run. He can get engulfed by bigger offensive linemen, as he did against Auburn and Utah State last season, but an off-season of working on technique should help him become a more complete player.

CB Darius Phillips, Western Michigan (Sr.)
The converted wide receiver really came into his own last season, leading the team in pass break ups (9), and showed that he is a jack of all trades, leading the secondary in sacks (3) and interception return touchdowns (3, all 70 yards or longer). At 5-10, 190 pounds, he has the size and strength to stick with bigger receivers and good make-up speed when the ball is in the air. Phillips doesn't always take the best angles against the run, though he is a good tackler, and is at his best in off and zone coverage. Phillips is also deadly as a return man, finishing ninth in the country in punt returns (11.5 ypr, 1 TD), and also had a kickoff return touchdown.

QB Logan Woodside, Toledo (Sr.)
Woodside may not have ideal NFL size (6-2, 201), but he is a great decision maker in the Rockets fast-paced offense, and can make more throws than expected thanks to a live arm. Woodside is also good on the move, but his best play comes when he can throw the intermediate ball down the seam. Woodside was in the NFL Draft discussion before wisely deciding to return for his final campaign, and if he can have anywhere close to the kind of season he had as a junior -- 45 TDs, 9 INTs, second nationally in passer rating (183.3) -- the Rockets will fly high, and he will be a huge reason why.

RB D'Angelo Brewer, Tulsa (Sr.)

(zimbio.com)

The 5-9, 190-pound speedster was one of two Golden Hurricane backs to go over 1,000 yards, finishing the year with 1,435 yards (5.4 ypc) and seven scores. Brewer does his best work between the tackles, showing quick feet and the ability to avoid initial contact. Brewer will have a chance to shine immediately as Tulsa opens with Oklahoma State in an intrastate showdown. A big performance there and the sky is the limit for the team's top offensive threat.

All five players are in line for successful campaigns, and don't be surprised if more than one gets talked about in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. For now, however, enjoy them this college football season -- and smile when you're the one who said you knew they were going to be big time.

Who are your under the radar players for 2017?

College Football 2017 Best Non-Conference Matchups

Baker Mayfield brings Oklahoma to face Ohio State in a marquee non-league showdown (saturdaydownsouth.com)

College Football 2017 Top Players

College Football 2017 Top Newcomers

Heisman Trophy 2017

College Football 2017 Top Coaches