20 players to watch during the College Football Playoff

Everyone knows there’s the talk amongst followers between quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, however there is no debate that Kelvin Banks is without doubt one of the greatest offensive linemen in school soccer. Irrespective of which quarterback begins or which working again ( Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue or Jerrick Gibson) totes the rock, Banks will preserve his defender from laying their fingers on them.  This Horns’ offensive line unit is without doubt one of the greatest within the nation. 

When Carson Beck performs properly, Georgia could also be the most effective group within the nation. However, man, when he has a nasty recreation, it may be spectacularly unhealthy. He really might make or break the Dawgs nationwide championship fortunes. He threw three interceptions in a loss to Alabama, and threw three picks every in wins over Florida and Texas. He is had 4 video games this season the place he didn’t throw a landing move. However then you definitely’ll see him in opposition to Tennessee (347 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions), Georgia Tech (297 yards, 5 TDs) and the second half in opposition to Alabama and also you see why NFL scouts might be so excessive on him. He is proficient, however must make higher selections. That is what may very well be the distinction in hanging one other banner in Athens. The higher extremity harm is one thing to observe, however with a first-round bye, Beck will get some further time to relaxation. 

Carter, a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski awards for a high defensive participant, has seamlessly made the transition from linebacker to edge rusher this season. He is close to the highest of the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, and his expertise as a linebacker permits him to be efficient in drop protection. Within the Nittany Lions’ solely lack of the season, Carter recorded two sacks in opposition to Ohio State. Whereas he is nonetheless studying the nuances of being a lineman, he is a disruptive power for an excellent Penn State protection. 

Ewers has had some of the distinctive school soccer careers in latest reminiscence. He initially dedicated to Texas earlier than flipping to Ohio State and reclassifying for the 2021 season. Whereas he sat for all of his freshman yr, he was one of many earliest beneficiaries of the brand new NIL period of faculty athletics. He then transferred to Texas and have become their beginning quarterback. After a rocky first season, he is been on the NFL’s radar for 2 seasons regardless of having to carry off phenom Arch Manning as his backup. That brings us to this yr the place Ewers missed time on account of harm, permitting Manning to get some enjoying time and inflicting a debate among the many fanbase about who ought to be the starter. There is no such thing as a debate for the teaching workers — it’s Ewers — although Manning has a package deal of performs sprinkled in video games.

When Curt Cignetti left James Madison for the Indiana job, having his stout defender be part of him in Bloomington was key to set the tradition he needed to put in. Fisher let the Hoosiers in tackles in his first yr as a beginning linebacker — he was a standout particular teamer at James Madison. His motor and dedication was infectious and he grew to become an all-Large Ten participant when he acquired his alternative. Going up in opposition to Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love within the first spherical, Fisher and that linebacking crew should step up. 

Gabriel has had fairly the collegiate profession. After two magical seasons at UCF the place he threw for over 7,000 yards, 61 TDs and simply 11 INTs, he broke his clavicle within the third recreation of the 2021 season and missed the rest of the season. After a two-year stint at Oklahoma, he transferred once more to Oregon, the place he is quarterbacking the highest seed and one of many favorites to win the nationwide championship. This yr he is been excellent and has been clutch within the two greatest video games of the Geese’ season — Ohio State (23 of 34, 341 yards, 3 whole TDs) and Penn State (22 of 32, 283 yards, 4 TDs). His first playoff recreation would be the 63rd begin in his school profession. He is been round so lengthy that he performed for Josh Heupel … at UCF. 

Jeanty has had the dashing title sown up for fairly some time and if he performed for a Energy 4 program he might have a greater shot at profitable the Heisman Trophy. However he is been some of the dynamic gamers within the nation and has Boise State within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Jeanty enters the playoff simply 132 yards behind Barry Sanders’ FBS document for dashing in a single season (Sanders gained all his yards in an 11-game season and his 222 yards within the Vacation Bowl did not depend in the direction of his whole). He is already tied one document with 5 70-yard landing runs on the season (LaDainian Tomlinson). 

If Oregon desires to carry dwelling the nationwide championship, Johnson goes to need to have some massive video games over the subsequent month. Johnson, a fifth-year senior who spent his first three years at Troy earlier than transferring to Oregon, has been nursing a shoulder harm he suffered in early November in opposition to Michigan. After lacking a while, he returned to the sphere within the Geese’ finale in opposition to Washington and performed within the Large Ten title recreation. He is caught at the very least one TD move in 8 of the Geese’ 11 video games, together with his return to the lineup in opposition to Washington and within the Large Ten championship.  

Klubnik entered this season nonetheless as an enigma. He was a extremely sought-after recruit who hadn’t actually turn into the star that Deshaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence was. After the Tigers had been pushed round by Georgia within the season opener (18 of 29, 142 yards, INT), the questions nonetheless remained with him. Properly, he quieted plenty of that because the season went on. Klubnik threw for 3,041 yards, 29 TDs and simply 5 INTs, profitable the ACC championship and the sport’s MVP. Positive, Clemson type of snuck into these playoffs — they wanted Miami to lose their last ACC recreation (whereas the Tigers misplaced to their non-conference rival) and acquired a 56-yard area objective on the buzzer to win the automated bid — however they’re in and there’s no person on this area that has the expertise that Dabo Swinney and Clemson does within the playoff. Can Klubnik preserve this going? 

Love has gotten scorching on the proper time for the Preventing Irish. He has rushed for a landing in each recreation this season, together with twice in three of the Irish’s final 5 video games. He had a area day in opposition to Military a number of weeks in the past, dashing for 130 yards on simply 7 carries, scoring two TDs on the bottom and likewise catching a TD move. In latest weeks, he is popped off runs of 64, 68 and 76 yards and giving Notre Dame a giant play menace that may swap momentum in a flash. The sophomore from St. Louis can create a fast spotlight anytime he touches the ball. 

Pearce is without doubt one of the greatest move rushers within the nation. Whereas his body could also be a bit of mild (he is 242 lbs whereas standing 6-foot-5) his velocity and quickness permits him to scoot round blockers and get to the ball provider. He is particularly good at getting stress on the quarterback and disrupting the timing of the offense. Vols’ head coach Josh Huepel could also be referred to as an offensive guru, it might be Tennessee’s protection that ignites a run deep into the playoff. 

It’s a must to really feel good for gamers like Kurtis Rourke. He tore it up in his fourth season at Ohio (25 TDs, 4 INTs) earlier than tearing his ACL late within the season. After one other season with the Bobcats, Rourke transferred to Indiana this season after his fifth yr. He is carried out properly on the massive stage as one of many extra environment friendly passers within the Large Ten for one of many greatest surprises within the nation. 

Sampson leads all Energy 4 faculties with 22 dashing TDs and is within the high ten nationally in dashing yards. He is had 9 video games of at the very least 100 yards dashing and has scored in each one of many Volunteers video games this season besides for his or her finale at Vanderbilt. He has been breaking faculty data all season (together with the single-season landing mark) and is having a historic season that places him amongst legendary SEC names like Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, Tre Mason, and Tim Tebow. Tennessee has been utilizing robust protection and a robust floor assault behind the workhorse Sampson to achieve their first Faculty Soccer Playoff. Going up in opposition to an Ohio State group that struggled in opposition to the run vs Michigan ought to spotlight Sampson’s significance. 

Simon is the chief for arguably the nation’s high protection. He is second on the group in tackles and a terror within the backfield for a protection that’s at or close to the highest of the nation in factors allowed, yards allowed, dashing yards allowed and passing yards allowed. As they are saying, protection wins championships and the Buckeyes’ protection is worthy of that type of reward. With so many potent offenses Ohio State should cope with on their path to their first nationwide championship since 2014, Simon … a fifth-year senior … might be a disruptive power that might carry them by. 

Skattebo blew up in his sophomore season at Sacramento State (1,372 yards, 10 whole TDs) after which transferred to Arizona State. He performed properly in 2023, however this yr he stepped it up. He is rushed for 1,568 yards and has 2,074 yards from scrimmage — a college document — whereas piling up 22 touchdowns. Skattebo is a bodily runner who can break unfastened when he will get into open house. Within the Large 12 championship win over Iowa State, he busted out runs of 47 and 53 yards and scored three TDs. 

Smith is without doubt one of the most versatile gamers on this playoff. After three years as a large receiver at Miami, he transferred to SMU and have become … a working again? After simply 18 rushes in his Hurricanes profession, Smith carried the ball 217 instances for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for the Mustangs. Oddly sufficient, 2024 was additionally his greatest statistical season as a receiver as properly, setting profession highs with 35 receptions and 4 touchdowns (his 303 yards was simply 5 off his high season). Smith can be utilized in a large number of how for SMU, which makes their fast-paced offense all of the extra harmful. 

Smith could also be (or already is) the subsequent nice large receiver at Ohio State. The true freshman has already 52 receptions for 934 yards and 10 TDs (he is additionally rushed for a landing). He is already proven he can carry out when the brightest lights are on as he caught 9 passes for 100 yards and a TD in a October loss to Oregon and caught Ohio State’s solely TD within the loss to Michigan. One of many high prospects within the Class of 2024, Smith has delivered. 

Starks is as soon as once more a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award for the nation’s high defensive again and one of many folks in life you actually root for. As a child, his household discovered themselves bouncing round from place to position making an attempt to keep away from homelessness. His mother and father stored working laborious and ultimately had been capable of finding stability for his or her household, traits that Starks holds to today. He is at all times working, at all times bettering and prepared to assist his teammates in any approach he can. Starks was one among 11 gamers named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew, a group made up of FBS gamers who’ve made very important contributions to their group. On the sphere, his laborious work earned him a beginning nod as a freshman in 2022 (a rarity at Georgia) and has turned him into a possible excessive NFL Draft choose. The Bulldogs beneath Kirby Smart will at all times be identified for his or her protection, and Starks is a giant cause Georgia might win their third nationwide championship in 4 years.

Warren could also be the most effective tight finish within the nation. He leads the Nittany Lions in receptions — and it’s by a large margin. He leads Penn State in landing receptions and has additionally totaled 4 dashing TDs and even threw a landing move. He received the Large Ten’s award for high tight finish and is a finalist for the John Mackey Award. Warren has turn into a much bigger menace on account of his addition to the working recreation — he is had 23 carries this season after having simply six in his first three seasons in Blissful Valley … and all of these got here in 2021. He very properly will be the first tight finish drafted subsequent April. 

Watts leads the Irish with 5 interceptions, together with a 100-yard pick-six in opposition to USC within the season finale. Actually, he was in all places in opposition to the Trojans — 9 tackles, six solo tackles, a few key fourth down stops and that landing return. He’s a high-energy participant who makes use of physicality to cowl receivers and assault the run. Notre Dame’s protection might be key in the event that they need to advance within the playoff.