The 25 most important players in the playoff race

23. LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Really, you can just say "insert veteran defender from Alabama here" and be covered. Last year, despite the quinnen Williams and Isaiah Buggs who scored 33 tackles for a defeat in advance, Jennings still had the opportunity to make 13 TFL and 16.5 points. Given the role played in the race at the neck, his numbers could ignite.

22. CB Kristian Fulton, SJM
Fulton was only eligible until the end of the fall camp last year, but he only allowed a 41% catch rate by Pro Football Focus, and probably outstripped his counterpart, Greedy Williams, one of the 50 best choices. If it develops further, an excellent LSU defense will have the effect of erasing about one-third of the field from its game plan.

21. OT Thomas Andrew, Georgia
Thomas spent a good part of last season fighting an ankle injury and playing the best ball on one of the youngest and best lines in the country. Now he is the anchor of the best line of college football. His transcendence could make offensive midfielder Andre Swift and / or quarterback Jake Fromm Heisman.

2 related

19. LB Micah Parsons, State of Penn
The Harrisburg Blue Shredder almost immediately played the role of first-year player, leading a top-15 defense in the tackles and recording 12.5 runs. Now he gets the full leadership of the most talented defense of the James Franklin era. When he's refueled, Shane Conlan (the linebacker to the Nittany Lions in the 1980s), Penn State has potential in the top five (and his coach, James Franklin, will also pick him up in 2020).

18. WR Justyn Ross, Clemson
We are only beginning to understand what Ross is capable of, and he is already one of the top 10 players. He spent a lot of 2018 in frustrated first year trying to find a niche in a charged offense. He then stole the show in college playoffs, scoring 12 assists for 301 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama and Notre Dame. Imagine what he could do in a full season as a # 1 guy.

(Other candidates in this category: Stanford's Paulson Adebo, Wisconsin's Tyler Biadasz, Auburn's Derrick Brown, Syracuse's Andre Cisco, AJ Epenesa of Iowa, Clemson's Travis Etienne, Yetur Gross State Matters, Washington of Bryce Hall , Washington of Levi Onwuzurike, Utah, Georgia Reed, Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, Daniel Thomas of Auburn, Calvin Throckmorton of Oregon, Ke Vanderbilt's Shawn Vaughn, Curtis Weaver of Boise State, Evan Weaver of Cal, Kenny Willekes of Michigan, and Marvin State of Florida,

Key members of the distribution

The four players in this category must find occasional transcendence for their respective teams to achieve full competitor status.

17. Michael Young, Kevin Austin Jr. or Lawrence Keys III, Notre Dame
Ian Book's high-efficiency passes were a good substitute for an imprecise game, but he still needed the vertical threat provided by Miles Boykin (872 yards, 14.8 per shot). Now that Boykin is aboard the Baltimore Ravens, Book desperately needs a new threat to complete Chase Claypool and Chris Finke. These three seem to be the most likely candidates.

16. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, SJM
The Tigers hinted that we had to open the passing game (we'll come back to it), but it's still LSU. Being able to run physically and efficiently is always essential. The Tigers ranked only 92nd in terms of marginal efficiency last year, but Edwards-Helaire was more effective than last year, Nick Brossette, and he could play a key role in the extension of the pass.

14. WR Tyler Simmons or Demetris Robertson, Georgia
Georgia is loaded into all units except the receiving corps, where it has to replace the five main targets of last year. Simmons and Robertson attended just nine receptions last year, and they have blue shreds on their heels, but it will probably take some veterans to get UGA to meet expectations, right?

(You can also argue for two key linemen in this category: Florida's new starting tackle, Stone Forsythe, and Wisconsin's new anchor, junior Cole Van Lanen.)

The main defenders with a possible jump in them

A breakthrough at the All-American level of any of these three players could provide an answer to the biggest question mark of these contenders.

13. S B.J. Foster, Texas
The Longhorns have to replace their top three tacklers on the line, the top two at the linebacker and three out of five at the high school. While Tom Herman has recently recruited as a gangbuster, Foster and Caden Sterns – two world-class students – must play as seasoned veterans to account for any failures that would occur in advance. And they could very well.

12. DT Jordan Williams, Clemson
Clemson has been dominant in defensive tackling for decades, but the Tigers have to replace three of the top four players from last year in the center. Nyles Pinckney is back, but either Williams or first-time rookie, Tyler Davis, must give an immediate boost to ensure that a long-time strength zone will not become at least a temporary weak point.

11. CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Fictional lands, aside, perhaps the lasting image of last year 's national title game was that the Alabama' s secondary player had been roasted several times by the players of Clemson, Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins. It's easy to assume a breakthrough here as youngsters like Surtain and Josh Jobe corners and protections Xavier McKinney and Daniel Wright acquire more seasoning. But it is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

(Other candidates here: Oregon driver Kayvon Thibodeaux and new Washington player Elijah Molden.)

Veteran Quarters That Could Beat a Competitor

Let's move on to quarterbacks. You do not necessarily have to play for a title candidate to affect the title race. Just ask Stephen Garcia of South Carolina (who defeated Alabama in 2010), Ole Miss' Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly (respectively Bama and Bama in 2014), Nathan Peterman of Pitt (defeated by Clemson in 2016) or Eric Dungey from Syracuse (defeated by Clemson 2017), for example. The more experience the opportunities are equal to the potential inconvenience.

10. QB Jake Bentley, South Carolina
Let's say it a lot for the ridiculous 2019 Gamecocks calendar: it offers many opportunities. South Carolina plays pre-season teams No. 1 (Clemson), No. 2 (Alabama) and No. 3 (Georgia), as well as other hopeful titles like Florida and Texas A & Bentley quietly helped the Gamecocks rank 21st in the offensive group S & P + last year, and his team of players has extensive experience. He could at least choose one of these suitors.

(Two other candidates here: the Missouri quarterback – and Clemson transfer – Kelly Bryant, shot in Florida and Georgia, and Jarrett Guarantano of Tennessee, shot in Florida, Georgia and Alabama You can also include Ian Book of Our Lady in about three of these categories, depending on what you think of the Irish chances this year.)

Quarterbacks with a potentially decisive potential jump

The three players here were new starters for the new teams last season. They showed a glimpse of potential greatness and definitive signs that they might have more to offer to move forward.

9. QB Adrian Martinez, Nebraska
As a freshman, Martinez dominated veterans like Jarrett Stidham of Auburn and Mississippi Nick Fitzgerald from the perspective of Total QBR and, perhaps more importantly, radically surpassed that. McKenzie Milton of UCF managed as a freshman under the direction of Scott Frost. If he makes a leap forward at Milton-esque, the Huskers become a potential top 10 with minimal defensive improvement.

7. QB Shea Patterson, Michigan
It seems odd to have a veteran with two young people here, especially one who finished the year tied with Trevor Lawrence in Total QBR. But there is no doubt that Michigan has not been able to take full advantage of Patterson's production potential in its first season in the North. The Gattis system must better fly free spaces and use Patterson mobility. Sky is the limit.

New quarterbacks for potential contenders

Last year, it seemed like almost every major contender was entering a new QB. The situation is different this year, but some teams have yet to wait to see what they have late to properly define their expectations. (And if one of these teams turns out to have stars at QB, pay attention.)

6. Qc Jacob Eason, Washington
The circumstance defines so much our perceptions. If Eason had not been forced to play (and fight) as a freshman in a reorganized city in Georgia, or if he had not been injured early in his second year, he might have was the star of the recruitment of experts who had predicted it to be.

Instead, he found himself stuck behind Jake Fromm in 2017, and then was absent last year after his transfer. Now, we can finally find out what he's capable of, and if that answer is "hugely", Washington is probably your favorite Pac-12 again.

5. QB Sean Clifford, State of Penn
Penn State could have its best defense in five years. The Nittany Lions are proud to be fascinating back half-breeds and a reasonably experienced O-line. But can they pass? They really could not do it last year, first because of the receiver turnover (and many lost passes), and then because of Trace McSorley's persistent injuries.

The body of recipients, though very young, is hopeful, and key figures such as KJ Hamler and his partner Pat Freiermuth are no longer freshmen. If Clifford is ready to reach his four-star potential, this offense has everything he needs to make PSU a Big Ten candidate.

4. QB Justin Fields, State of Ohio
Georgia seemed desperate to involve Fields last year despite Fromm's presence, but they did not give him much to do, except to read from time to time. This ended up wasting a year of development. Now, while it's getting ready for life, it's actually the only high-end quarterback option in the state of Ohio – do not let this discussion of a QB battle will fool you – we still do not know what he is capable of.

The weapons around Fields are huge and the defense should improve. But Ohio State is a title contender only if Fields behaves like a shredder.

3. QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Technically, we know what Hurts is capable of. After all, he won the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year award as a freshman, led Alabama to two games for the national title, and then saved the title hopes from last year with a magical act off the bench late in the SEC championship.

Still, we do not know what he is capable of under the guidance of the latest University Football Whisperer, the head coach of the OU, Lincoln Riley. Can Riley take advantage of the major game potential of the senior more mindful of efficiency? He will have to do it – until we see that the Sooners' defense has improved, supposes that their title hopes rest on another offensive ranked first.

(Just broaden the definition of "candidate" to make Jarren Williams of Miami or anyone else running for Auburn for this category as well.)

Quarterback with both a potential jump that will change the game and a chance against a lot of contenders

The two players in this category have by far the greatest potential impact on our balance sheet in 2019. First, they both showed a huge upside potential during the turbulent seasons last year and they are the drivers the best potential teams in their own right. On the other hand, they will have so many chances to defeat other contenders. They both reside in the SEC West and also host potential teams from the top 10 outside of the conferences.

Joe Burrow did not hit this mark. In his first nine games as LSU incumbent, he scored only 14 goals in 38 on those passes (37%) at 12.6 yards per attempt. But late in the season, big games began to pour in. In his last four games, he has completed nine of his 17 in-depth attempts (53%) for a total of 303 yards (17.8 per pass), with six points without any selection. Against UCF in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, he was 4-in-5 for 129 and three scores.

At the end of the year, LSU started to show an unprecedented offensive offensive level since Odell Beckham Jr. and Reuben Randle followed in the footsteps of Zach Mettenberger in 2013. But, although the defense of this team dropped him a little 16th in the S & P + defensive standings, their second lowest ranking of the last 10 years), this year's Tigers could have their best defense since Ed Orgeron became full-time head coach. If they can also gougle their opponents for easy points, it is one of the top five teams.

LSU hosts Florida, Auburn and Texas A & M during a visit to Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. A top-five team would not win all these games, but Burrow and the Tigers are more than capable of winning a few. Which could determine the race for the national title.

1. QB Kellen Mond, Texas A & M
In his second match under Jimbo Fisher, as a real sophomore, Kellen Mond had to face Clemson's defense. He pitched for 430 yards, three touchdowns and no catch in a 28-26 loss – the closest match the Tigers have played all season.

In his penultimate game of the season, Mond was ranked among LSU's top 10 defensemen, totaling 287 yards, six touchdowns and no touchdowns, while gaining a 61-yard lead. The Aggies has bothered LSU in seven overtime and his four OT finishes have been touchdowns.

Mond looked spectacular in the two most important games of the season for A & M. He stalled over the overtime, he trusted his receivers to take over 50-50 balls and he gave his team a chance to beat very good teams.

Meanwhile, he was lighted by Alabama, Mississippi State and Auburn and made several selections in a closer than expected victory to Arkansas. His deep pass was at best average, and his desire to prolong the games and struggling had also lost a lot of time. It was clear that his work was underway – a very good one in Total QBR (28th, between Stanley Iowa's Nate and Marcus McMaryion of Fresno State), but no wonder. But his ability to shine when the projector was the strongest was, to say the least. , intriguing.