Being a senior in college football means a player has navigated a long journey, one likely filled with ups and downs, and now is headed into the final stretch. Seniors are an incredibly valuable commodity, even if they generally aren't considered among the most talented on a team.
Because players can turn pro after their junior year, those who stick around for their senior season often get labeled as less talented. This blanket description doesn't accurately describe each player's individual situation, as while most weren't good enough to enter the NFL draft, some hope to use one last season to improve their pro stock. Others might have gotten off to a slow start in their careers, and a player's senior year is the best chance to shine.
As we have with the freshman[1], sophomore[2] and junior[3] class, we've ranked the 25 best seniors heading into the 2016 season based on what they've achieved to this point and what is expected of them this fall.
With only 25 spots, there wasn't enough room to fit every top college football senior, but we couldn't let some players go without getting a shout-out. Here's who just missed the cut:
- C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa
- Matt Breida, RB, Georgia Southern
- Marcus Cox, RB, Appalachian State
- Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
- Dan Feeney, OL, Indiana
- Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
- Nate Gerry, S, Nebraska
- Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
- Isaiah Jones, WR, East Carolina
- Gunner Kiel, QB, Cincinnati
- Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson
- Gabe Marks, WR, Washington State
- Skai Moore, LB, South Carolina
- Max Redfield, S, Notre Dame
- Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan
- Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan
- Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'1", 196 lbs
What he's done
Nick Mullens set school records for passing yards (4,476) and touchdowns (38) last year as Southern Miss won nine games and claimed Conference USA's West Division title. In games against power-conference opponents Mississippi State, Nebraska and Washington, he averaged 363 yards with five TDs on 68.6 percent passing.
With 8,722 yards for his career, Mullens needs 2,171 yards to pass Austin Davis for the Golden Eagles' all-time mark.
What's in store for 2016?
Southern Miss had a surprise coaching change when Todd Monken left just before national signing day for an NFL assistant job. New coach Jay Hopson, previously of FCS school Alcorn State, doesn't figure to do much tinkering with Mullens' game.
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'11", 214 lbs
What he's done
Corey Clement outgained many teams' leading rushers in 2014 despite being a backup to Melvin Gordon. With 949 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore and nearly 1,500 yards in his first two seasons, big things were expected from Clement last year as he moved to the top of the Badgers' depth chart.
But injuries limited Clement to just four games, missing seven straight contests after having sports hernia surgery and then sitting out two more games late in 2015. He finished with 221 yards and five TDs on just 48 carries, with 66 yards and a TD in Wisconsin's Holiday Bowl win over USC.
What's in store for 2016?
Clement is poised to show the hype he built up early in his career will still pan out this season, though he has to contend with Dare Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal for touches.
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'4", 220 lbs
What he's done
Mike Williams entered 2015 as one of the top receivers in the country—he was eighth at that position in Bleacher Report's CFB 250[4] rankings in August—after pulling in 77 catches with nine touchdowns in his first two seasons. His second catch of his junior year went for a score, but on that play he collided with the goal post and suffered a neck injury.
Diagnosed with a small neck fracture, Williams missed the rest of the season but returned this spring in a limited role.
What's in store for 2016?
Assuming he can return to his old form, Williams will again be Clemson's big-play receiver. He averaged 18.1 yards per catch as a sophomore, with 15 catches of 25 or more yards.
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 6'0", 203 lbs
What he's done
Johnathan Ford has spent time in his career at both corner and safety after being recruited to Auburn as a running back. He started 13 games at safety in 2014 and moved to nickel last year, the position he's in line to handle this year with the Tigers lining up often in a 4-2-5 formation.
With 211 tackles the past two seasons, including 118 in 2015 for the most by an Auburn player in 15 years, Ford can handle whatever task is asked of him. Last season, he forced two fumbles and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown against Idaho.
What's in store for 2016?
Ford could be the glue that holds Auburn's defense together this fall. New coordinator Kevin Steele will look to tap into his senior's quickness to cover large areas of the field, roving on pass coverage and operating as a spy against mobile quarterbacks.
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'3", 273 lbs
What he's done
One of the few starters who remain from Florida State's 29-game win streak from 2012-14, DeMarcus Walker has shown steady improvement throughout his career. From three starts as a true freshman in 2012 to holding down an end spot in all 13 games last year, Walker is a prime example of long-term development.
He's coming off his best season yet, with 58 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss along with four forced fumbles. He also had an interception and a blocked field goal, showing his all-around value.
What's in store for 2016?
Walker is among six returning defensive starters, four of whom come from the Seminoles' front seven. His overall role doesn't change, but don't expect complacency.
"I have a lot more to prove," Walker said, per Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post[5]. "I feel I can be the most dominant player in the country. And I just have to work for it."
Position: Offensive lineman
Height, weight: 6'3", 300 lbs
What he's done
A two-year starter, Pat Elflein has been a part of some dominant offensive lines at Ohio State. In 2014, he started three games at left guard and 12 more at right guard, blocking for a national championship team that averaged 264.5 rushing yards per game with 41 touchdowns. Then last year, he held down the right guard spot for all 14 games.
With Elflein opening holes, OSU has rushed for 300-plus yards seven times in the last two years.
What's in store for 2016?
The loss of three starting offensive linemen has prompted Ohio State to move Elflein to center this fall. He served as Jacoby Boren's backup the previous two years and is projected as a center in the NFL.
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'4", 237 lbs
What he's done
How stacked was Alabama's defense last season during its run to the national title? Tim Williams had 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, both of which ranked second on the team, despite sitting third on the depth chart at his position.
Williams had only 19 tackles in 15 games in 2015, but as the Crimson Tide's pass-rushing specialist, he handled his role as well as anyone else on the squad. Had he opted to turn pro, he might have been the top-ranked edge-rusher on Bleacher Report NFL draft expert Matt Miller's big board[6].
What's in store for 2016?
Alabama remains loaded on defense despite losing numerous starters and key reserves, with Williams now likely to move into a more full-time role that will call for him to be able to handle the run as well as he has the pass. He had two sacks in Saturday's spring game[7], a preview of things to come this fall.
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'3", 207 lbs
What he's done
Joshua Dobbs has been a starter during each of his three college seasons, but only in 2015 did he have that job from the outset. This produced his best numbers yet, with 2,291 passing yards and 15 touchdowns along with 11 rushing scores, though he struggled with his accuracy by completing only 59.6 percent of his throws.
While the numbers haven't always been big, Dobbs' leadership on the field remains strong. He's considered Tennessee's "CEO" on the field, one who has helped the Volunteers rally late in each of the past two years.
What's in store for 2016?
Dobbs must put it all together in his final season, continuing his role as a mentor but also coming through more from a statistical standpoint.
"I hold myself to a high standard in how I play with my execution," Dobbs told Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee[8].
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'4", 254 lbs
What he's done
Louisville gave Devonte Fields a second chance and turned that into the best season of his career. In 2015, he had 22.5 tackles for loss, which tied for third-most[9] in FBS, along with 11 sacks in his first year with the Cardinals.
His move from defensive end—where he starred for TCU in 2012-13, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2012—to linebacker managed to free him to build up speed heading to the line, turning him from an undersized pass-rusher to one of the bigger players at his new position.
What's in store for 2016?
Fields could have easily used last year as a springboard into the NFL, where he's projected as an edge-rusher, but another college season can only help his stock. Louisville returns eight starters on defense, but two of those losses were to the defensive line, so Fields figures to see even more time back up front.
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'2", 252 lbs
What he's done
Kendell Beckwith is coming off his first season as a full-time starter for LSU, during which he was second on the team in tackles (84) and tackles for loss (10). He also had 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, taking advantage of the freedom that comes as the lone middle man in a 4-3 defensive alignment.
Projected as a second- or third-round pick[10] in this year's NFL draft, Beckwith bucked the trend that had seen most draft-eligible Tigers standouts in recent years turn pro.
What's in store for 2016?
New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has switched the front seven into a 3-4 alignment, which gives Beckwith even more room to roam. He's also taking on a leadership role, since outside linebackers Deion Jones and Lamar Louis have graduated.
"I'm starting to feel like the older guy here, and I'm going into this year just trying to embrace it all," Beckwith told Jerit Roser of NOLA.com[11].
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'9", 200 lbs
What he's done
Baylor's big-play passing ability often overshadows what has been a very productive run game during Art Briles' tenure as coach. Shock Linwood could end up being the most prolific back he's had, one who is coming off a pair of 1,000-yard seasons but who saw his 2015 campaign cut short by injury.
Linwood ran for 1,329 yards and 10 touchdowns last year in 12 games, but he was hurt in the regular-season finale against Texas. That kept him from being a part of the bowl-record 645 yards the Bears rushed for against North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
For his career, Linwood has 3,462 rushing yards and needs just 213 to surpass Walter Abercrombie as the school's all-time leader.
What's in store for 2016?
A fifth-year senior, Linwood was held out of spring ball while recovering from surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot. Briles isn't concerned about Linwood being able to bounce back from the injury even without the offseason workouts, though.
"When it's turn loose time we'll pitch him the ball and turn him loose," Briles said, per Craig Smoak of ESPN Central Texas[12].
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'11", 186 lbs
What he's done
Cameron Sutton has started for Tennessee at cornerback in all 38 games of his college career, and the past two saw him also take on punt return duties. This second job has taken on a life of its own, as Sutton led FBS[13] with an 18.68 punt-return average in 2015 while scoring touchdowns against Kentucky and Vanderbilt during the Volunteers' season-ending six-game win streak.
Pass coverage still remains Sutton's primary responsibility, where for his career he's notched six interceptions and 26 pass breakups along with 11 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
What's in store for 2016?
There will be more double duty for Sutton this fall, though with Tennessee replacing both starting safeties, his emphasis again will be on pass coverage. During Saturday's spring game, Vols coach Butch Jones introduced him to the Neyland Stadium crowd as the best cornerback in the country, per Scout.com's Cory Gunkel[14].
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'7", 175 lbs
What he's done
Though he's best known for his return exploits, which has resulted in six touchdowns on punts or kickoffs, William Likely's main job with Maryland has been as its shutdown corner. Despite being far smaller than most receivers he's guarding, Likely had 11 pass breakups in 2015 and 26 for his career along with seven interceptions.
Likely was starting to morph into an all-around contributor last season when he began getting looks on offense. As the Terrapins limped to a 3-9 record, he rushed 11 times for 93 yards and had five catches for 17 yards. On 74 plays, he had more than 1,300 all-purpose yards, most of that coming on special teams.
What's in store for 2016?
An all-new coaching staff will look to get as much out of Likely as possible in his final season, which will probably mean contributing to offense, defense and special teams.
"When I'm here, I'm still going to do the same thing and just try and get better at it," Likely told Justin Silberman of PressBoxOnline.com[15].
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6'0", 210 lbs
What he's done
Florida's secondary was more than just some big-name cornerbacks last season. As much as Vernon Hargreaves III and Jalen Tabor did on the back line, if not for knowing Marcus Maye was there to support, the numbers those corners produced would have been a lot different.
Maye had two interceptions, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries along with 82 tackles in 2015. For his career, he has four interceptions, seven forced fumbles and 5.5 tackles for loss.
What's in store for 2016?
A fifth-year senior, Maye brings 23 career starts into his final season when, he'll look to become more involved in the play at the line of scrimmage and not just on pass coverage. Florida lost Hargreaves, safety Keanu Neal and nickel corner Brian Poole from last year's SEC East championship team.
"Just wanted to come back and be a more complete player," Maye told Florida Today's Michael Parsons[16].
Position: Tight end
Height, weight: 6'6", 248 lbs
What he's done
More than just a giggle-inducing name[17], Jake Butt has plenty of game. A big-play receiver in an even bigger package, Butt has started 24 games in his career, including 11 last season when he emerged as Michigan's go-to target in key situations.
Only three of Butt's 51 catches went for touchdowns in 2015, but 29 went for first down, including 73 percent of the time on third or fourth down[18]. He had at least three catches in 10 of 13 games, including a career-best eight in the season opener against Utah and seven in an overtime win over Indiana.
What's in store for 2016?
Michigan returns its top three receivers this fall, and while Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh will get targeted quite a bit, it would be wise for the Wolverines' new quarterback to always know where Butt is on the field.
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'2", 215 lbs
What he's done
Stops at Clemson and a junior college preceded Chad Kelly's arrival in Oxford in 2015, but that journey prepared him for one of the best quarterback seasons in Ole Miss history. Under his guidance, the Rebels reached 10 wins for the first time since 2003, knocked off eventual national champion Alabama and claimed their first Sugar Bowl in 46 years.
Kelly "broke or tied 14 Ole Miss single-season records," per his online bio[19], including passing yards (4,042), total offense (4,542) and total touchdowns (41). He completed 65.1 percent of his passes, had eight 300-yard passing games and also ran for 10 TDs, including three as part of a 110-yard rushing effort against Arkansas.
What's in store for 2016?
Ole Miss said goodbye to many members of a superb junior class, but Kelly remains for one more season, during which he'll be asked to work with a younger receiving corps and get the most out of an underachieving run game. Kelly must also cut down on his turnovers, as he was intercepted 13 times last year with 11 of those coming during a six-game stretch.
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'0", 175 lbs
What he's done
Thomas Sperbeck put together arguably the best season in Boise State history for a wide receiver, catching 88 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015. The yardage broke Titus Young's school record while he tied Matt Miller for most receptions in a season.
Along the way, Sperbeck had five 100-yard receiving games, including a massive 20-catch, 281-yard performance in a loss to New Mexico.
Sperbeck's breakout actually began in December 2013, when he had 12 catches for 199 yards in Boise's Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona.
What's in store for 2016?
As Boise State's top weapon—and a popular target for rising sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien—Sperbeck could challenge the school career catch record. He needs 101 to surpass Miller's tally of 244, and with 735 yards, he'll beat Young for the Broncos' all-time yardage mark.
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'9", 180 lbs
What he's done
Donnel Pumphrey is the active FBS rushing leader[20], having gained 4,272 yards in three seasons at San Diego State. More than 3,500 of that has come in the last two years, along with 37 of his 45 rushing touchdowns.
Last year, Pumphrey ran for 1,653 yards and 17 TDs in helping the Aztecs to an 11-3 record, winning their final 10 games. He averaged 134.8 yards per game during that stretch with at least 90 yards in every contest.
Pumphrey needs 318 yards to become SDSU's career rushing leader, passing Marshall Faulk.
What's in store for 2016?
San Diego State is among the Mountain West favorites again this season, and Pumphrey will again be the focal point of the offense. He's on tap to be FBS's first 5,000-yard rusher since Wisconsin's Montee Ball wrapped up his career with 5,140 yards in 2012.
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'10", 175 lbs
What he's done
Jourdan Lewis has 19 career starts at Michigan, including all 13 in 2015 when the Wolverines had the No. 3[21] passing defense in the country. Lewis had as much to do with that as anyone, notching a pair of interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown against Northwestern) along with 20 pass breakups.
Lewis' 20 PBUs are "five more than any Michigan player has recorded in a single season," per Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com[22]. "He needs just six more to pass Todd Howard for Michigan's all-time career record in that category."
Adding to his value last year was a 25.2 yards-per-return average on kickoffs, second-best[23] in the Big Ten.
What's in store for 2016?
Lewis is the leader of a relatively young secondary, one that may no longer have the use of Jabrill Peppers as he's transitioning to linebacker. This will make it even more likely that Lewis will regularly line up against opponents' best receivers, though he did that quite often in 2015 with tremendous results.
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 5'11", 185 lbs
What he's done
The combination of Greg Ward's athleticism and first-year coach Tom Herman's offensive creativity produced a breakout season for Ward in 2015. In leading Houston to a 13-1 record with wins over Louisville, Vanderbilt and Florida State (the last in the Peach Bowl), Ward established himself as the top mid-major player in the country.
Ward threw for 2,828 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing 67.2 percent of his passes, and ran for 1,108 yards and 21 TDs. He had the fifth-most[24] rushing TDs in FBS, and his yardage was second-best among quarterbacks, trailing only option passer Keenan Reynolds of Navy.
With four 100-yard rushing games and three each with either three or more passing or rushing TDs, Ward was one of the top dual-threat QBs in the country in 2015.
What's in store for 2016?
Houston's top two running backs have graduated, as has leading receiver Demarcus Ayers, so the pressure will be on Ward to work with younger teammates and mold them into standouts. The Cougars have a pair of high-profile games on the schedule, starting with Oklahoma in the season-opener, which Ward could parlay into a dark-horse Heisman campaign.
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'3", 220 lbs
What he's done
Two years of backing up Bryce Petty translated into big things for Seth Russell last year in his first time as a starter, with only a scary neck injury keeping him from putting up greater numbers. Before requiring season-ending neck surgery in late October, Russell was as dominant as any quarterback in the country with 2,104 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in seven games.
Russell did that on just 200 pass attempts, throwing at least three TDs in his first six games, including six against Rice and five each against SMU and West Virginia. He also had a five-TD game in 2014 when he started in place of an injured Petty.
As impressive as the passing numbers were, Russell was solid with his legs as well. He ran for 402 yards and six TDs, including a 160-yard performance against West Virginia.
What's in store for 2016?
Russell returned to the practice field only four months after his surgery, though a strained pectoral muscle[25] limited what he did this spring. The fact he was able to come back so soon is a miracle.
"As long as I don't put my head down and try to run over somebody I'll be all right," Russell said, per Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesmen.[26]
His starting job isn't guaranteed, either, as sophomore Jarrett Stidham looked great in Russell's place before he broke his ankle in November.
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'0", 225 lbs
What he's done
Jalen Reeves-Maybin has held down the Will linebacker position for the past two years at Tennessee, during which time the Volunteers defense has made massive improvements. It ranked 84th[27] during Reeves-Maybin's freshman year in 2013 and finished 36th[28] last fall thanks to consecutive 100-tackle seasons.
His 14 tackles for loss led Tennessee in 2015, when he also had six sacks and forced two fumbles. He has six career 10-tackle games, including 21 last season against Oklahoma.
What's in store for 2016?
A shoulder injury[29] suffered during spring practice has sidelined Reeves-Maybin until June, but he's expected to be at full strength for this season. He'll anchor a veteran defense that returns eight starters for new coordinator Bob Shoop, previously of Penn State.
Don't expect the injury to change Reeves-Maybin's attacking style of play, one that will see him spend as much time up near the line of scrimmage as when he falls back into pass coverage.
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'3", 283 lbs
What he's done
On a defensive line overflowing with talent, Jonathan Allen managed to stand out from the pack by leading Alabama with 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. And that's despite being a full-time starter.
Allen had all of his sacks against power-conference competition, with 10 of those coming in road or neutral-site games. He was also credited with four pass breakups, six quarterback hurries[30] and two forced fumbles.
With Allen working the edge, the Crimson Tide finished 2015 with the nation's No. 3 defense[31] en route to another national title.
What's in store for 2016?
A possible first- or second-round pick this spring, Allen wasn't certain of where he'd get drafted, so he took the safe route and came back for a final season. That will allow him to take on a more prominent role in Alabama's defense, one where he's able to stand out and not be lumped in with other players, as had previously been the case.
According to Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh[32], Allen needs 7.5 more sacks to have the most career sacks of any player Alabama's Nick Saban[33] has coached. He has 18 for his career, trailing former Michigan State players Julian Peterson (25) and Robaire Smith (22) and ex-LSU star Marcus Spears (19).
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 6'1", 212 lbs
What he's done
After sitting out the 2014 season following a transfer from Texas Tech, Baker Mayfield erupted for a monster year in helping Oklahoma win the Big 12 and reach the playoffs. With a Brett Favre-like style that was big on fair but also provided plenty of substance, Mayfield executed the Sooners' new Air Raid offense with ease to the tune of 3,700 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.
Mayfield added 405 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground, numbers that would have been much better had he not taken 39 sacks. Several of those were due to Mayfield scrambling to keep plays alive rather than throw it away, which also resulted in a few head injuries that knocked him out of games.
Mayfield started seven games and threw for more than 2,300 yards as a freshman at Texas Tech in 2013.
What's in store for 2016?
Because Mayfield lost a year of eligibility due to transferring within the Big 12—despite being a walk-on, appeals to retain that year were denied—he's a senior despite this fall being only his third season of competition. Expect him to go all out since Mayfield has shown he's highly motivated by past slights.
"Having the mentality that this is my last run at it and I want to make it the best for this program and for my team just because they've given me everything that I've had so far," Mayfield told Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel[34].
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'11", 200 lbs
What he's done
Desmond King is the reigning Thorpe Award winner, an honor given to the nation's top defensive back. He earned this in 2015 after pulling down eight interceptions, tied for second-most[35] in FBS, in addition to 13 pass breakups as the linchpin of an Iowa secondary that recorded 19 picks.
Some of King's interceptions came in the Hawkeyes' biggest games last year, with two in the early-season win over Pittsburgh and another pair in a victory at Wisconsin. King has 11 career interceptions, two of which he's brought back for touchdowns.
He's also proved to be a valuable return man, averaging 24.4 yards on kickoffs and 14.2 yards on punts in 2015.
What's in store for 2016?
Losing his final two games of last year didn't sit well with King, who opted not to enter the draft despite his stock being so high. The Hawkeyes fell to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship and then were blown out by Stanford in the Rose Bowl, souring a 12-0 start to the season.
His return helps solidify a secondary that graduated safety Jordan Lomax and went without fellow corner Greg Mabin this spring because of injury. Though his first responsibility remains pass coverage, King will continue to handle the bulk of Iowa's returns and might even get a look on offense.
Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com[36] or Sports-Reference.com[37], unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports[38], unless otherwise noted.
References
- ^ freshman (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ sophomore (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ junior (bleac herreport.com)
- ^ Bleacher Report's CFB 250 (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post (seminolepost.blog.palmbeachpost.com)
- ^ big board (twitter.com)
- ^ Saturday's spring game (www.sportingnews.com)
- ^ Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ tied for third-most (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ second- or third-round pick (twitter.com)
- ^ Jerit Roser of NOLA.com (www.nola.com)
- ^ Craig Smoak of ESPN Central Texas (twitter.com)
- ^ led FBS (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Scout.com's Cory Gunkel (twitter.com)
- ^ Justin Silberman of PressBoxOnline.com (www.pressboxonline.com)
- ^ Florida Today's Michael Parsons (www.floridatoday.com)
- ^ giggle-inducing name (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ third or fourth down (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ online bio (www.olemisssports.com)
- ^ active FBS rushing leader (www.s ports-reference.com)
- ^ No. 3 (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com (www.mlive.com)
- ^ second-best (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ fifth-most (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ strained pectoral muscle (collegesports.blog.statesman.com)
- ^ Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesmen (collegesports.blog.statesman.com)
- ^< /sup> 84th (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ 36th (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ shoulder injury (twitter.com)
- ^ quarterback hurries (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ No. 3 defense (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Nick Saban (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel (www.orlandosentinel.com)
- ^ second-most (www.cfbstats.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 Seniors Heading into the 2016 College Football Season
