We've got just a few more weekends until college football finally kicks off, so it's time for the Saturday couch dwellers to start doing some prep work. These are ten players that I am extremely excited to watch (all QBs and RBs to make it easy) this upcoming season, in no particular order. I'm not even particularly saying that these are the 10 best players, just 10 players that are grabbing my attention before the season even starts. Since I have a lot to say about most of the players, I will be dividing this post into to parts. Here are the first 5:
Deshaun Watson
I know I said that this list is in no particular order, but Deshaun Watson is absolutely the player I am most excited for this upcoming season. I spent the 2015 season covering Clemson and this kid is simply magnificent. I've said on record that there is no doubt in my mind Watson will be this year's Heisman winner. There is an incredible amount of hype surrounding him, and Watson is the type of player who rises up instead of crumbling. Watson threw for 4,104 yards last year (9th most in the nation), 35 touchdowns (8th in the nation), and ran for a total of 1,105 yards (3rd most of any QB). I expect Watson to have another fantastic year as he has his #1 target back in Mike Williams, who suffered a neck injury that caused him to miss all of last season. If you're not impressed by Watson's stats, all you need to know is that Nick Saban said Deshaun Watson is the best college football player since Cam Newton. Even when up against Saban's legendary defense last year in the National Championship, Watson threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns, completing 30 of 47 attempts.
Christian McCaffrey
Stanford's Christian McCaffrey is another no brainer on this list, as he established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the country last year. Many would argue that McCaffrey should have won the Heisman over Alabama's Derrick Henry, which is a debate that I could see both sides on. Statistically speaking, Henry blew McCaffrey out of the water in rushing touchdowns as he recorded 28 compared to McCaffrey's 8. But McCaffrey did have an average of 6 yards per carry, just edging out Henry's 5.6 yards per carry. The main difference between these two players is that Christian McCaffrey is so much more versatile, he does it all. On top of his 2,019 total rushing yards, McCaffrey also recorded 645 total receiving yards, 1,070 yards on kick returns (37 attempts), and 130 yards on 15 punt returns. The special teams weapon returned one punt and one kickoff for touchdowns. So while I think Derrick Henry was clearly the better running back, Christian McCaffrey is a better overall athlete. McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record for all purpose yards of 3,250. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, the Stanford standout had a total of 3,864 all purpose yards. The Heisman Trophy is awarded to college football's most outstanding player, not necessarily the best player. Personally I think a threat in the run game, passing game, and special teams stands out way more than a talented power back, but the past is the past and McCaffrey will have another shot to take home the Heisman in 2016.
Leonard Fournette
LSU running back Leonard Fournette had probably the hottest start to the season out of anyone last year as he ran for at least 150 yards through the first seven games. Fournette's Heisman campaign was looking like a walk through the park until the monstrous Alabama defense held him to 31 yards on 19 carries last season. 31 yards! That's an average of 1.6 yards per carry. Now Fournette's statistical absence in that game is more of a tribute to the excellence of that Crimson Tide defense than Fournette's inability to succeed, but you can't be winning the Heisman with numbers like that under the spotlight. If Fournette put up his usual stats in that game, they should've just given him the trophy right then and there. Once again this season, I think the LSU vs. Alabama game will be a make or break day for Leonard's Heisman hopes. The two SEC powerhouses will face off on November 5th, and I expect Fournette to have tallied some ridiculous numbers again by the time that date rolls around.
Baker Mayfield
After transferring from Texas Tech, Baker Mayfield kept his talents in the Big 12 and led the Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoff where they inevitably got embarrassed by Clemson. Despite the disappointing finish, Mayfield still had a magnificent year and there is no doubt in my mind he will do the same again in 2016. Mayfield is a talented dual threat quarterback going up against the worst defenses in the country (if you weren't familiar with my Big 12 bashing already, buckle up and get used to it). Expect the Sooner QB to record some huge numbers throughout the season, similar to last year as he threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns (tied for 6th most in the country), while rushing for 405 yards and 7 touchdowns. Mayfield can throw the ball deep with great accuracy, and has the ability to make something out of broken plays with his speed and agility. The Sooner's first major test will be in their third game when they host the Ohio State Buckeyes, which should serve as Mayfield's first true test of his Heisman capability.
Josh Rosen
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen had a phenomenal freshman season for the Bruins, finishing just inside the top 20 for total passing yards with 3,670. The freshman starter threw 23 touchdown passes and finished the year with a QB rating of 134.3. Now I'm not saying Rosen will be seated for the Heisman ceremony or break any crazy records, but his talent is very apparent after succeeding in the Pac 12 at the age of 18. I assume the young quarterback has matured over the course of the offseason and will be one of the country's top quarterbacks. There certainly is room for improvement as the Bruins finished last season 8-5, losing four of their in-conference matchups (Arizona State, Stanford, Washington State, USC) and their bowl game to Nebraska (37-29). Rosen is clearly a pass-first type of quarterback; don't expect UCLA's golden boy to do much on his feet after totaling 15 yards and two touchdowns in 2015.
Part 2 of my "Exciting Players to Watch" list will be coming soon, featuring two running backs and three quarterbacks. Stay tuned.
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