College football wasn't intended to become a breeding ground for future NFL stars, but there's no doubt it's become this over the years. And nowhere do pro teams spend more time evaluating prospective talent than among the junior class. With few exceptions, the best juniors in the country tend to make that their last year at the college level. Because they're eligible for the NFL draft after that season, and with the window to make it at the next level growing smaller by the year, the best of the best in college often jump at the chance to get their pro clock started. Because of this, our list of the 25 best juniors in college football heading into the 2016 season could almost serve as an unofficial 2017 NFL draft big board. Though seniors and even some draft-eligible sophomores will end up getting picked very high next spring, by and large the bulk of those top picks will come from the current junior class. Scroll our list to see who made the cut, and give us your thoughts in the comments section. Putting together a top-50 list would have been much easier for the junior class, which every year tends to be the deepest and most talent-laden of the lot. Because we're sticking with 25 (as we did with Bleacher Report's top freshmen[1] and sophomores[2] lists), that meant some very notable juniors missed the cut: Position: Running back Height, weight: 6'1", 215 lbs What he's done Deshaun Watson is the face of Clemson's explosive offense, but if not for the dependable running of Wayne Gallman throughout last season, we might not have seen the Tigers play for a national title. His school-record 1,527 rushing yards included nine 100-yard performances, with 187 yards coming in the ACC title game and 150 in the Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma. Gallman nearly doubled his production from 2014, when he ran for 769 yards as a freshman but had just four touchdowns. He scored 13 times last year, with 10 of those coming in the red zone. What's in line for 2016? Clemson has no shortage of weapons to turn to, and it could get by with just Watson running the ball, but that would put him at risk for injury. Gallman is the go-to ball-carrier who comes into this season with nine games with 20 rushes but could end it with at least that many more. Position: Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6'6", 275 lbs What he's done Malik McDowell started every game for Michigan State last season during its run to the College Football Playoff, excelling at nose tackle despite not having the girth that most interior down linemen possess. That didn't stop him from recording 4.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss along with two forced fumbles and an interception, which he brought back 13 yards for a touchdown against Penn State. A former 5-star prospect[3] whose letter of intent didn't arrive until almost two months after signing day in 2014—because of a disagreement[4] between him and his mother as to where he should play—McDowell is just starting to scratch the surface of his talent, something that figures to be on display this fall in a much more sig nificant role. What's in line for 2016? McDowell is the only returning starter for the Spartans up front, which could prompt them to move him around the line depending on the scenario. He's strong enough to power through in the middle at nose tackle but has the speed, reach and agility to handle edge assignments if needed. Position: Linebacker Height, weight: 6'4", 230 lbs What he's done Zach Cunningham broke through in his third season at Vanderbilt, taking over as a starter at inside linebacker after Nigel Bowden suffered a concussion that knocked him out for the year. He responded with a team-high 103 tackles (69 of them solo), the most takedowns for a Commodore since Chris Marve had 121 in 2009. His 16.5 tackles for loss tied for fourth[5] in the SEC, with 11.5 coming in league play. Along the way, he had four forced fumbles. What's in line for 2016? Bowden should be back for Vanderbilt, giving it a potent duo in the middle. Cunningham might not need to carry as much of a burden from an overall standpoint but will need to improve his play against the pass, as will the entire defense, as his 4.5 sacks last year were the most on the team. Position: Quarterback Height, weight: 6'4", 210 lbs What he's done Brad Kaaya has started all but one game the last two seasons, missing October's win at Duke with a concussion. A week later, he was 20-of-26 for 289 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia, followed by two of his four 300-yard games en route to a second straight 3,000-yard season. With 6,436 yards in two years, Kaaya is on pace to become Miami's all-time passing leader by the end of his junior season. He needs 3,130 to pass Ken Dorsey on the top of the list. What's in line for 2016? Paired with new coach Mark Richt[6], who has a proven track record of developing quarterbacks from his time at Georgia, Kaaya could be on the verge of his best season yet. Position: Cornerback Height, weight: 6'0", 199 lbs What he's done Jalen Tabor started nine games last year after getting five starts as a true freshman, usually taking on the opponent's second-best receiver while Vernon Hargreaves III got the top assignment. This meant Tabor was tested more often than his teammate, and he responded with four interceptions, returning picks for touchdowns against East Carolina and Missouri. With five career interceptions and 22 pass breakups to his credit, Tabor is ready to slide over to the primary corner spot. What's in line for 2016? The Florida secondary lost not just Hargreaves III but also nickelback Brian Poole. Tabor will often be on an island, but he's shown he can handle the attention. Position: Linebacker Height, weight: 6'2", 240 lbs What he's done A first-time starter last season, Raekwon McMillan was the top tackler on Ohio State's talent-loaded defense. His 119 tackles included 57 of the solo variety but just four behind the line of scrimmage, as he deferred to fellow linebackers Darron Lee and Joshua Perry and the defensive line to do most of that work. McMillan showed great instincts in pass coverage with four pass breakups to go with five quarterback hurries[7], third most on the team. What's in line for 2016? Now one of the veterans of a unit that was ravaged by graduation and the lure of the NFL draft, McMillan will be asked to make up for some of the lost production but also serve as a leader and mentor to the younger players around him. "As a middle linebacker, at all times you feel like a leader out there on the field," McMillan said, per Steve Helwagen of 247Sports[8]. "For the last two years—even though I did not start my freshman year—any time I was out there, I felt like I was a leader. It's nothing different than the last two years." Position: Wide receiver Height, weight: 5'11", 190 lbs What he's done Clemson lost top receiver Mike Williams to a neck injury in the first game of 2015, throwing Artavis Scott into a more high-profile role. He'd already been the Tigers' most prolific pass-catcher of the previous season, as a freshman, so the shift wasn't difficult, and he thrived with the extra touches. Scott had 93 catches last season, though he averaged just 9.7 yards per catch as more of a possession receiver than one who is sent downfield. Since Clemson wasn't often in 3rd-and-long situations, his damage was most often done on first and second downs, when he made 84 of his receptions and five of his six TDs. What's in line for 2016? With Williams returning to an increasingly deep receiving corps, Scott might not get the ball as much on offense, but that will free him up to do more in special teams. He averaged 24.7 yards on kickoffs and 4.2 yards on punts in 2015, rates he should improve on this fall. Position: Defensive end Height, weight: 6'3", 257 lbs What he's done On a Tennessee team that's made the rise the last two years thanks to all-around improvement, Derek Barnett has been a beast from the very beginning. He's started 23 games in his career, including 10 as a true freshman when he set school marks for sacks (10) and tackles for loss (20.5) by a first-year Volunteer. Barnett had another 10 sacks last year, moving him into a tie for eighth[9] on the school's career list, while his 44 solo tackles were among the most of any down lineman in FBS. He started slowly before picking up steam in the second half, timed perfectly with Tennessee's late-season surge. What's in line for 2016? Overshadowed the last two years by Texas A&M's Myles Garrett, Barnett will get to play against the Aggies this fall in a game that NFL scouts will likely flood to. "It'll be months before Barnett puts pads back on and hits someone, and it can't come soon enough," ESPN's Edward Aschoff[10] wrote. "This very well could be Barnett's final season in Knoxville, but he's focused on putting an entire season together again. He's ready to push himself even more to avoid another early-season drought in what could be a very special season for the Vols." Position: Wide receiver Height, weight: 6'0", 180 lbs What he's done Baylor's injury issues at quarterback contributed to a slightly down sophomore year for KD Cannon, who, after gaining 1,030 yards with eight touchdowns in 2014, had 868 yards and eight scores last season. But that didn't affect his tendency to make the most of his catches and maintain his place as the Bears' big-play target. Cannon has averaged 17.6 yards on his 108 career receptions, the best rate of any Baylor player with at least 100 catches. More than 22 percent of his catches have gone for at least 25 yards, including 16 of 40 or more yards. What's in line for 2016? With Corey Coleman turning pro and Jay Lee graduating, Cannon becomes the No. 1 option in the passing game. That could cause him to pull in more catches closer to the line of scrimmage, but look for Baylor to keep tapping into his ability to stretch the field, particularly after it has run the ball to draw in the defense. Position: Junior Height, weight: 6'1", 235 lbs What he's done A starter since midway through his redshirt freshman season, Anthony Walker became a breakout star in 2015 as the top tackler on a Northwestern defense that ranked 13th[11] in the nation and helped the Wildcats to 10 wins. Of his 120 total tackles, 20.5 were for a loss to make him the Big Ten leader in that category. Walker got his hands on the ball quite often with an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble returns. One of those he returned 13 yards for a touchdown against Minnesota, one of four teams Northwestern held to seven or fewer points last season. What's in line for 2016? Northwestern has to replace six defensive starters, but it's in good shape at linebacker, where Walker will patrol the middle and split his time charging the line or dropping back into coverage. Position: Safety Height, weight: 6'2", 205 lbs What he's done Virginia has won just nine games the past two seasons, which has prevented much of the country from being able to see the work of one of the most active safeties in the game. Quin Blanding has 238 tackles in his two years with the Cavaliers, including 123 as a freshman that were the most by any first-year player in FBS in 2014. Though equally strong stopping the run as he is defending the pass, Blanding is best in the air, where he's registered four interceptions and nine pass breakups in his career. He also takes care of business on his own, with seven games logging at least seven solo tackles. What's in line for 2016? A new coaching staff in Charlottesville includes defensive coordinator Nick Howell, who also handles Virginia's secondary. He's tasked with finding a new starting cornerback for departed senior Maurice Canady (three interceptions, 12 pass breakups in 2015) but will have no concerns about Blanding's play at free safety. Position: Running back Height, weight: 5'10", 230 lbs What he's done A change in offensive philosophy lowered Samaje Perine's numbers last year, but it didn't change his approach to the game. That would be one where he's not afraid to take on contact and drive through it, even if that means having to play through injury as he did on several occasions in 2015. Perine ran for 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, down from his phenomenal freshman totals of 1,713 yards and 21 scores (aided by an FBS single-game-record 427 yards against Kansas in November 2014). The ninth Oklahoma player to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career, he needs 980 to surpass Adrian Peterson for the all-time school mark. What's in line for 2016? Oklahoma's Air Raid attack is back for another year, though Perine's running ability keeps the Sooners from going all out with the pass. He has to share carries with sophomore Joe Mixon as well as quarterback Baker Mayfield, but Perine is called on for the hard yards. Position: Safety Height, weight: 6'1", 211 lbs What he's done The ongoing debate between Florida and LSU over which school deserves to be known as "DBU" leans in the Tigers' favor thanks to the play of Jamal Adams, a safety with the skills to play at corner but who is more valuable roving around and making big hits. Just ask former Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington, whom ESPN.com's Sam Khan[12] said got broken in half by a hit from Adams in December's Texas Bowl. Adams had four interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble in 2015, along with 67 tackles and five tackles for loss. What's in line for 2016? Fellow safety Jalen Mills has graduated, leaving Adams as the veteran on the back line who will again be asked to strike fear into opposing receivers and ball-carriers. Position: Offensive lineman Height, weight: 6'6", 326 lbs What he's done Not to take any credit from Heisman-winning running back Derrick Henry or quarterback Jake Coker, but it doesn't hurt to have a sure thing blocking for you at left tackle. That's pretty much what Cam Robinson has been in his two years at Alabama, starting all 29 games including 14 as a true freshman in 2014. Robinson has been a part of an offensive line that's allowed just 42 sacks the past two years while helping the Crimson Tide rush for more than 200 yards per game. His protection on the blind side also enabled Coker and 2014 starter Blake Sims to have monster years. What's in line for 2016? Robinson's starting spot is safer than anyone else's on Alabama, and his presence on the left side will make whoever wins the latest quarterback competition feel safe when they drop back. He also figures to play a role in how the Tide replace Henry, with Bo Scarbrough or Damien Harris knowing they can run in his direction without worry of getting touched early. Position: Wide receiver Height, weight: 6'2", 215 lbs What he's done The legacy of big-bodied, big-play receivers continues at USC with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who after a strong freshman year in 2014 (though the second option to Nelson Agholor) moved into the primary role last season without any hiccups. He had 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the Pac-12 in receiving yards. Smith-Schuster did so despite a hand injury that required midseason surgery but didn't keep him out of the lineup. He fractured the hand against California on Halloween but seven days later had eight catches for 138 yards and a TD against Arizona. What's in line for 2016? USC isn't lacking for options at the receiver position, but new quarterback Max Browne will almost always look toward Smith-Schuster first. According to SB Nation's Bill Connelly[13], Smith-Schuster was targeted nearly 31 percent of the time last year and responded by catching 65.9 percent of passes thrown his way. Position: Defensive end Height, weight: 6'3", 255 lbs What he's done Missouri's reputation for developing an assembly line of talent in the trenches was furthered in 2015 when Charles Harris emerged as the latest down lineman to emerge. Stepping in for the injured Harold Brantley, Harris had seven sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss along with two forced fumbles and 56 tackles. Harris spent his redshirt freshman season playing behind Markus Golden and Shane Ray, which enabled him to learn from future NFL draft picks. That made for a seamless transition into a starting role and helped the Tigers rank sixth[14] nationally in total defense. What's in line for 2016? Harris had surgery[15] on both shoulders this offseason, most recently on his right shoulder in late March. Neither procedure is expected to cause him to miss time in the fall, when he's expected to start for a second year in a row. Position: Running back Height, weight: 5'11", 230 lbs What he's done For as much attention as Oregon has drawn for its quarterbacks—both Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and his graduate transfer successors—its offense remains rooted to the ground. The Ducks have averaged at least 270 rushing yards per game in four of the past five seasons, with Royce Freeman at the forefront of that attack in 2014-15. Freeman is coming off a school-record 1,836 yards with 17 touchdowns, topping 100 yards in 11 of 13 games last season. He's also proved to be a reliable pass-catcher, with 42 career receptions and three TDs. Another 1,800-yard season would put Freeman over the 5,000-yard mark for his career, challenging LaMichael James' school record of 5,082 yards. What's in line for 2016? Likely starting quarterback Dakota Prukop brings more of a running ability than 2015 passer Vernon Adams Jr., which might keep Freeman from topping the 283 carries he had last year. But it won't lessen his value as a dependable runner, one who averaged 6.83 yards per carry on third down and 6.73 in the fourth quarter last season. Position: Cornerback Height, weight: 5'11", 185 lbs What he's done All Adoree' Jackson has done has shown it's possible not only to start on both offense and defense at the college level but do it in the same game. He did that as a freshman, starting at wide receiver and cornerback, while last season he saw time in both areas but had the bulk of his starts on the defensive side. No matter the starting assignment, though, Jackson remained one of USC's top options on special teams. He scored twice on punt returns in 2015 to go with a pair of kickoff-return TDs the year before, and he's also notched five receiving scores and an interception-return TD. What's in line for 2016? Jackson was allowed to skip spring practice[16] to be able to train for his goal of making the U.S. Olympic team as a long jumper. That shouldn't impact his ability to get back up to speed for his junior year, even if he ends up spending much of the preseason in Brazil. USC's depth at receiver and in the secondary has improved since Jackson arrived two years ago, which may lessen the need to have him playing both ways in every game but also frees him up to bounce around based on matchups. Regardless, he'll continue to handle punts and kickoffs where he can show off his open-field moves. Position: Running back Height, weight: 5'10", 220 lbs What he's done Nick Chubb has started 14 games in his college career, topping 100 rushing yards in all but one of them. That was his last start, in October, when he tore knee ligaments on the first carry of a loss at Tennessee and was knocked out for the rest of the season. Before getting hurt, Chubb was continuing what he'd done to finish his freshman year, with 13 consecutive 100-yard games and a career yards-per-carry average of 7.38. His absence completely changed Georgia's offense, just as his presence as a midseason replacement to an injured Todd Gurley kept the Bulldogs' attack steady in 2014. What's in line for 2016? Chubb has been involved in spring practice but only on a limited basis, focusing on the rehabilitation he's been involved with since November. On pace for a full return this fall, Chubb figures to regain his spot atop the rushing depth chart if he can stay healthy. "He's getting better every day," junior running back Sony Michel told Jordan Hill of the Red and Black[17]. "He's moving a lot faster than I would think." Position: Quarterback Height, weight: 6'2", 225 lbs What he's done J.T. Barrett was a record-setting freshman in 2014 but then spent much of the following season trying to win back his job from another Ohio State quarterback phenom, resulting in a disappointing second year from a statistical standpoint. It was going to be hard to match the 3,772 yards of total offense and 45 touchdowns he'd amassed as an emergency fill-in, but not being able to take over the full-time job until October didn't help. Numbers aside, Barrett showed the best command of the Buckeyes' diverse offense last season thanks to his field vision as well as a willingness to tuck it and run. Barrett has 22 career rushing TDs on just 286 carries, topping the 100-yard rushing mark five times in two seasons. What's in line for 2016? Ohio State lost 16 starters to graduation or the NFL draft, but having Barrett locked in at the quarterback position keeps the Buckeyes among the playoff favorites. His experience with the offense and a move into a leadership position are expected to offset the youth that will surround him. "Now the focus is just trying to get better and developing skill," Barrett told Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod[18]. Position: Defensive end Height, weight: 6'5", 262 lbs What he's done The reigning Super Bowl MVP (Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller) is a Texas A&M alum, but since his graduation in 2010 the Aggies hadn't been known for their defensive prowess. Myles Garrett has been doing his best to change that one sack or tackle for loss at a time. In two seasons, Garrett has recorded 24 sacks and 33.5 TFLs, setting the SEC freshman sack record in 2014 in the process. He's helped usher in a renewed focus on defense, which last year saw A&M rise from 104th[19] to 51st[20] nationa lly, but Garrett told Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton[21] it "could've been better in some ways." What's in line for 2016? A&M's defensive line has become a strength thanks not just to Garrett but also senior Daeshon Hall and sophomore Daylon Mack. The continued improvement of the latter two will no doubt lead to more one-on-one opportunities for Garrett, who plays well both against the run and the pass. It's possible Garrett could challenge A&M's career sack record with a big 2016. He needs 18 to tie the 42 that Aaron Wallace had from 1986-89. Position: Running back Height, weight: 6'1", 230 lbs What he's done Leonard Fournette entered college in 2014 as one of the most hyped prep prospects ever and has done little to temper the expectations he came with. He set LSU's freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards that season and then exploded for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2015 to shatter both previous school marks. The reigning FBS rushing leader[22], based on yards per game, Fournette had four 200-yard games (including three in a row in September) and finished out his sophomore year with 212 yards and four TDs against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Fournette would become LSU's all-time rushing leader with 1,571 yards this season, something that took him just over 10 games to accomplish last year. What's in line for 2016? No matter how much LSU efforts to become a balanced offensive team, Fournette will remain the focal point. He had 300 carries last season and figures to see at least that many this fall despite what should be a constantly stacked box. Fournette also figures to become more utilized in the passing game after he had 19 receptions (including a 44-yard TD catch in the Texas Bowl) last year. Position: Running back Height, weight: 5'11", 202 lbs What he's done Dalvin Cook is the first Florida State running back with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Warrick Dunn did it three straight years in the mid-1990s. He's also the Seminoles' single-season rushing leader, coming off a 2015 campaign in which he had 1,691 yards and 15 touchdowns. And that came in less than a full season, as Cook missed one game because of injury and was limited to two carries in another. With 2,699 career rushing yards, Cook needs 1,261 to surpass Dunn for the school's career mark. Another 17 TD runs will put him past Greg Allen's school record of 43. What's in line for 2016? Cook underwent shoulder surgery[23] in early April, cutting short his spring practice and putting him on the shelf until the summer. It's not expected to slow him down, not after he played through various ailments including a nagging hamstring last year. Position: Quarterback Height, weight: 6'2", 210 lbs What he's done It's unfair to give the credit for Clemson's near-perfection last season to one player, though having Deshaun Watson certainly served as the boost the Tigers needed to go from good to great. After a knee injury shortened his freshman year in 2015, Watson returned to become the first player in FBS history with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. Officially he notched 4,104 passing yards and 35 touchdowns with a 67.8 percent completion rate and added 1,105 rushing yards with 12 scores. He had six 400-yard games including the national championship, when Watson had 478 of Clemson's 550 yards against Alabama. Watson ran for 100-plus yards five times and threw for 300 or more on five occasions, accounting for at least two TDs in all but one game in 2015. What's in line for 2016? Look no further than Watson for your Heisman Trophy favorite, according to Odds Shark[24], who is listed at 3-1 after finishing third in the voting last year. Whether he puts up similar numbers might depend on how long he stays in the game, as Clemson is set to face the 108th-toughest schedule[25] (based on 2015 records) out of 128 teams, according to Phil Steele. But his ultimate goal will be to get the Tigers back into the playoffs and finish what they started. "We have the potential to be even better this year," Watson told Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson[26]. "But we can't just talk about it. We have to prove it and put in the work." Position: Running back Height, weight: 6'0", 201 lbs What he's done Christian McCaffrey has established himself as the most dangerous all-purpose weapon in college football, a talented running back who can also catch passes and return kicks and punts. He did that over and over in 2015 to the tune of 3,864 all-purpose yards, blowing away the FBS record in the process. Just his 2,019 rushing yards and eight touchdowns alone would be enough to rank him near the top of this list, but then McCaffrey threw in 645 receiving yards and five scores as well as one-punt return TD, one kickoff-return TD (as well as a stellar 28.92 yards-per-return average) and a pair of TD passes. McCaffrey showed flashes of his all-around ability as a freshman, compiling 796 all-purpose yards, but last year proved his overall value and worthiness as our top junior. What's in line for 2016? Expect more of the same, possibly much more, from McCaffrey as Stanford breaks in a new quarterback and searches for a new set of top receivers. The Cardinal have a promising sophomore rusher in Bryce Love who could cut down on some of McCaffrey's every-down touches, but in critical situations don't expect them to turn to anyone else for the key conversion. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com[27] or Sports-Reference.com[28], unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports[29], unless otherwise noted.
Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes II
References
- ^ freshmen (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ sophomores (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ 5-star prospect (247sports.com)
- < a href="#readabilityLink-4" title="Jump to Link in Article">^ disagreement (espn.go.com)
- ^ tied for fourth (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Mark Richt (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ quarterback hurries (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Steve Helwagen of 247Sports (ohiostate.247sports.com)
- ^ tie for eighth (www.utsports.com)
- ^ ESPN's Edward Aschoff (espn.go.com)
- ^ 13th (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ ESPN.com's Sam Khan (twitter.com)
- ^ SB Nation's Bill Connelly (www.footballstudyhall.com)
- ^ sixth (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ surgery (twitter.com)
- ^ skip spring practice (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Jordan Hill of the Red and Black (www.redandblack.com)
- ^ Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ 104th (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ 51st (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Brian Hamilton (www.campusrush.com)
- ^ FBS rushing leader (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ shoulder surgery (www.tallahassee.com)
- ^ Odds Shark (www.oddsshark.com)
- ^ 108th-toughest schedule (www.philsteele.com)
- ^ Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ CFBStats.com (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Sports-Reference.com (www.sports-reference.com)
- ^ 247Sports (www.247sports.com)
- ^ @realBJP (www.twitter.com)
Source → Ranking the Top 25 Juniors Heading into the 2016 College Football Season
