Summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, but for college football teams, summer is as good as here. Spring practices have wrapped up across the nation, and so have spring semester classes. It's a time for college coaches to take a breather (well, a small one) and for players to continue polishing their skills for the regular season through "voluntary" workouts that are really anything but voluntary.
It's a time when players tend to fly under the radar—unless, of course, they wind up on a police blotter, which is any coach's worst fear. Regardless, teams can accomplish plenty during this period. Here's a look at what each Top 25 team is hoping for between now and the beginning of fall camp in early August. The Top 25 ranking is determined by a composite of preseason polls[1] compiled by Bleacher Report.
If you think you can't go home again, just look at Mark Richt[2]. In 15 years at Georgia, Richt often faced intense pressure to win, and he scored his share of successes, including two SEC titles and six SEC East titles. But three consecutive seasons without an SEC East championship led to his ouster, and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart replaced him.
Richt landed on his feet, though. Miami needed a coach after firing Al Golden following four-plus mediocre seasons, and Richt, a South Florida native and Miami alum, was a natural fit. He seemed re-energized this spring while leading the Hurricanes, an eight-win team in 2015 that has big potential with talented quarterback Brad Kaaya.
But there is work to be done. Miami's facilities lag behind the ACC's top echelon, and the program doesn't have an indoor facility, a must in a stormy, tropical climate. Richt knows how important that is, and he has pledged $1 million of his own money toward construction, per Susan Miller Degnan[3] of the Miami Herald. Getting the indoor facility moving would be a huge goal for his first summer back in South Florida.
UCLA took a step backward in 2015. Following a pair of 10-win seasons, the Bruins fell to an 8-5 record. And there are no indications that 2016 will be any easier. The Bruins must replace their top rusher and receiver following Paul Perkins and Jordan Payton's departure to the NFL, and need players such as sophomore tailback Soso Jamabo and receiver Darren Andrews to become front-line contributors.
But most importantly, UCLA needs more from Josh Rosen. Rosen, a 6'4", 210-pound sophomore quarterback, is a talented pocket passer. He had his moments as a freshman, throwing for 3,670 yards with 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. But he was inconsistent at times, throwing five touchdowns against four interceptions as the Bruins went 1-3 in their final four games.
With younger talent surrounding him, Rosen needs to carry a bigger load and play steadier. That starts in offseason workouts where he can build chemistry with his new group of receivers. This summer will be time for Rosen to show that he can be a leader worth trusting.
Oklahoma State has the talent to be one of the Big 12's best teams. The Cowboys won 10 games last fall and return 10 offensive starters, led by improving junior quarterback Mason Rudolph. They return all five offensive line starters. But the running game is the unit's Achilles' heel.
A year ago, the Cowboys averaged just 3.6 yards per carry as a team, and Chris Carson (517 yards, four touchdowns, 3.9 YPC) was the team's leading rusher. A more consistent rushing attack would take pressure off Rudolph and the passing game. The answer could be Stanford transfer Barry Sanders Jr., the son of NCAA and OSU legend Barry Sanders.
Sanders averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 51 carries a year ago but was stuck behind Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey. A transfer to the program where his father won the Heisman could be just what the younger Sanders needs. He recently arrived on campus, and summer will be key for his picking up the playbook and being ready to hit the ground running when preseason practice begins.
North Carolina had an excellent 2015 season. The Tar Heels threw Larry Fedora far from the hot seat with an 11-3 season that featured an ACC Coastal Division title and an 11-game winning streak. Heel fans would like nothing more than a repeat in the ever-fluid Coastal, but UNC must prove it can thrive without one of its best players from 2015.
Quarterback Marquise Williams fulfilled his potential by accounting for 4,020 yards of total offense and 37 total touchdowns, but he has graduated. That leaves the job to junior Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky pushed Williams hard as a freshman and excelled as a backup last fall, throwing for 555 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 85.1 percent of his passes.
No one expects Trubisky to keep up that incredible completion percentage (he'll make some mistakes), but the Heels need him to fit seamlessly into the offense. A summer spent throwing routes to leading returning receivers Mack Hollins and Ryan Switzer would help. Trubisky needs to prove that UNC can count on him as a leader if the program hopes to excel in 2016.
Oregon's first season without Marcus Mariota under center was up-and-down. The Ducks started the campaign 3-3, finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak with graduate transfer Vernon Adams under center, and then blew a 31-0 halftime lead in the Alamo Bowl against TCU, eventually falling 47-41. Adams excelled, throwing 26 touchdowns against six interceptions, but he's gone, leaving new offensive coordinator Matt Lubick to fill the void, potentially with another graduate transfer.
Dakota Prukop transferred from Montana State after flashing impressive dual-threat skills. But athletic redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen pushed him hard in spring practice. Oregon needs one of them to prove himself quickly. It would behoove Prukop to spend time learning the Ducks offense and pull away from Jonsen this summer. That also might be the best outcome for the program overall.
In a normal world, Jacob Eason would just be going through his high school graduation ceremony and beginning to think about some summer classes at Georgia. However, in today's world of early-enrollee freshmen, Eason was a natural to begin his Bulldogs experience early.
He was the nation's No. 5 overall recruit and its top pro-style quarterback, per 247Sports[4], and has excellent size at 6'5", 208 pounds. Eason lived up to the hype surrounding him in Georgia's spring game, completing 19 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. He's competing with Greyson Lambert (the incumbent starter) and Brice Ramsey for a starting role, but Eason is clearly the future.
This summer, he'll need to show moxie beyond his years to mesh with his new teammates and lead while new coach Kirby Smart isn't watching. If Eason can win the confidence of the offense, it would be a huge boon for Georgia's 2016 hopes in Smart's first season.
New Southern California coach Clay Helton inherited a talented roster from Steve Sarkisian, one that he stabilized by leading the Trojans' charge to a Pac-12 South title following an ugly start under Sarkisian.
However, the Trojans still have plenty of change beyond the head coaching position this summer. Helton spent the spring watching Max Browne and Sam Darnold battle to replace Cody Kessler at quarterback, a fight that will carry over into preseason practice.
However, a more worrisome transition took place on the other side of the ball. Helton dismissed defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox in favor of veteran Clancy Pendergast, who transitioned the unit from a 3-4 to a 5-2 look in the spring. Pendergast is working with a thin defensive line; the Trojans had just 15 healthy linemen by spring's end.
A quartet of sophomores (Jacob Daniel and Rasheem Green at tackle, and converted linebackers Porter Gustin and Osa Masina) must prove they're ready for prime time. A summer spent studying Pendergast's scheme and its adjustments would pay big dividends this fall.
As Bobby Petrino begins the third season of his return to Louisville, he has to feel pretty comfortable. The Cardinals finished 8-5 for the second consecutive season but return 17 starters from that group, including 10 on offense. Lamar Jackson is an emerging star at quarterback. Last fall, he rolled up 1,840 yards passing with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions and was also Louisville's leading rusher, going for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Jackson is backed by a solid run game led by Brandon Radcliff and LJ Scott, and he tantalized fans with a breakout Music City Bowl against Texas A&M, accounting for 453 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
But he must be more consistent if Louisville hopes to pass Clemson and Florida State in the ACC Atlantic. Last fall, he completed just 54.9 percent of his passes and had only four games with more touchdowns than interceptions. If Jackson can find some stability through the air, the Cardinals will be truly dangerous.
In two seasons, Chris Petersen[5] has yet to fulfill the immense hype that followed him from Boise State to Washington. The Huskies are just 15-12 under Petersen, including a 7-6 record last fall. But that could be about to change. Washington ended 2015 on a three-game winning streak, averaging 47 points per game, and returns 15 starters.
They include talented sophomore quarterback Jake Browning, tailback Myles Gaskin and safety Budda Baker, all of whom excelled in 2015 and should be even better this fall. The Huskies have become national darlings and a fixture in preseason Top 25 polls.
The key for Washington this summer? Don't buy into the hype. Petersen's team is talented but has yet to succeed together on the field. Petersen can't have direct contact with his team in the summertime but needs to keep it focused and selfless during offseason workouts, as he told Adam Jude[6] of the Seattle Times:
The preseason rankings are a joke, I think. There's just so many things that have to happen, have to go right. I think in this world we live in with the media that's in our kids' face every single day, the only thing that can do is maybe steer us down the wrong path. But it's what we've preached to them from Day 1, so we'll see if our message gets through at all.
Iowa had an unexpectedly great season in 2015. Coming off a 7-6 2014 campaign, the Hawkeyes began the season 12-0 and came inches short of the College Football Playoff, taking considerable heat off Kirk Ferentz.
A strong defense led by Jim Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Desmond King was a key factor, but the Hawks need help up front. Defensive end Nate Meier graduated, and the NCAA denied fellow end Drew Ott a sixth year of eligibility following a knee injury.
That means Iowa needs pass-rushers to emerge. Sophomore Matt Nelson showed signs of being a playmaker, as did Parker Hesse (who made a key pick-six in the regular-season finale against Nebraska). Ferentz and his staff need both to work hard this summer and be ready to hold down the line as front-line players early on this season.
The Air Raid offense has been good to TCU. Following a 4-8 season in 2013, coach Gary Patterson hired Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham as co-offensive coordinators and installed the Air Raid, which throws the ball all over the place. With Trevone Boykin under center, the Frogs' system thrived, and TCU went 23-3 over the last two seasons.
Now, however, Boykin has graduated (with Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill and Foster Sawyer battling to replace him). The receiver corps has even more turnover. NFL first-round pick Josh Doctson (79 receptions, 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns) is gone, as is No. 3 receiver Kolby Listenbee. KaVontae Turpin returns following an impressive freshman season that saw him catch 45 passes for 649 yards and eight scores.
But he'll need help. Jaelan Austin (10 receptions, 137 yards, two scores) is ready for a bigger role, but TCU needs junior college signees Ryan Parker and Taj Williams to contribute immediately. Neither went through spring practice in Fort Worth, and they will need to pick up the Air Raid playbook quickly to keep the offense humming this fall.
Michigan State had a tremendous 2015 season, breaking through on the national level and making its first College Football Playoff. But to repeat the feat, the Spartans must do so without Connor Cook. Despite his NFL draft free fall, Cook was a valuable piece and leader on the offense, throwing for 3,131 yards with 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2015.
His heir apparent? Veteran backup Tyler O'Connor. O'Connor took a clear lead for the role during spring practice, completing 10 of 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. He has experience, as he helped lead an upset win at Ohio State last November while Cook was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
This summer will be crucial for O'Connor to build rapport with his new first-team teammates in throwing and conditioning drills. If he hopes to approximate Cook's leadership, the time is now.
On the surface, things are good for Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss. The Rebels return just eight starters, but they will have a talented roster that includes senior quarterback Chad Kelly, an athletic passer who could be among the best quarterbacks in the nation.
However, off-field issues are a significant problem for Freeze and the Rebels. During the first round of the NFL draft, left tackle Laremy Tunsil's Instagram was hacked, revealing alleged requests for illegal payments between him and athletic department staffers.
It's the latest twist in a lengthy NCAA investigation into the program that predates Freeze's tenure but also includes Level 1 allegations against members of his staff, according to an NCAA notice of allegations released by the school Friday, per Daniel Paulling[7] of the Clarion-Ledger.
Ole Miss requested a delay in its NCAA hearing to deal with the Tunsil news, but by fall, the program surely hopes to have a better feel for what it's facing in the infractions process. It would be somewhat reassuring as the 2016 season begins.
As summer begins, Houston is in good shape. The Cougars are coming off a dynamite first season under Tom Herman's watch that featured a 13-1 record, American Athletic Conference title and a Peach Bowl win over Florida State. How do they top that? Easy: make the College Football Playoff.
As a "Group of Five" team, of course, that's far easier said than done. It likely requires an unbeaten record (with wins over Oklahoma and Louisville, both of whom come to H-Town this fall) and some chaos ahead of them in the playoff pecking order.
With 12 starters returning, led by dynamic quarterback Greg Ward Jr., Herman has a solid foundation to build upon. One of the biggest areas of concern is the backfield. Ward is the returning leading rusher with 1,108 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, but Kenneth Farrow (958 yards, 12 scores) and No. 3 rusher Ryan Jackson both graduated, leaving Javin Webb (277 yards, four scores) as the leading returning back.
Webb has some potential, but Texas transfer Duke Catalon is the man to watch. Can he build confidence among his teammates during the summer? If he can provide the lead for a steady run attack behind Ward, Herman will rest a bit easier.
While Christian McCaffrey played a huge role in Stanford's 2015 Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl victory, leading the nation in all-purpose yards and finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting, he was far from the only key piece in the Cardinal's success. Four-year starting quarterback Kevin Hogan was an experienced passer who threw for 2,867 yards with 27 touchdowns against eight interceptions as a senior.
His graduation creates a big hole under center for Stanford. A pair of young quarterbacks are vying to fill it in 2016. Sophomore Keller Chryst and redshirt freshman Ryan Burns battled through spring practice, but neither emerged. Both are tall, right-handed quarterbacks (both stand 6'5") and have strong arms with the ability to run.
Chryst would be the presumptive favorite. He served as Hogan's backup in 2015, completing five of nine passes for 59 yards with a touchdown. If he can bond with receivers and impress teammates in summer workouts, it would be one less thing a team replacing 11 starters this fall would have to worry about.
There are many reasons for optimism on Rocky Top as 2016 inches closer. Butch Jones has turned a young roster into a legit SEC contender, going from five to seven to nine wins over the last three seasons. With 18 starters returning, hopes have gone even higher this summer.
One of the biggest concerns? Wide receiver. Leading receiver Von Pearson moved on following the 2015 season, and that isn't a huge loss. He had 38 receptions for 409 yards and three scores. Sophomore Preston Williams, junior Josh Malone (Tennessee's second-leading receiver a year ago), transfer Jeff George and tight end Jason Croom are all ready to step forward.
This spring, senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs worked on chemistry with the new wideouts, but this summer will be important to polish that bond and take some pressure off hard-running tailback Jalen Hurd.
Brian Kelly[8] has an enviable but unenviable problem. How does he choose between two talented quarterbacks? Kelly has a talented core returning from a 10-3 team that made the Fiesta Bowl, but his decision at quarterback could set the tone for 2016.
Last fall, Malik Zaire had claimed the role as his own, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns against Texas. But he broke his ankle in the second game against Virginia, ending his season. In his stead, backup DeShone Kizer excelled. He threw for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and showed mobility while rushing for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns.
This spring, the two battled to a virtual draw through 15 practices, with neither really separating from the other. Their battle will extend into fall practice.
While Kelly and his staff have no official contact with the quarterbacks this summer, you can bet they'll be paying close attention to the workouts and the vibes around them. Is one quarterback bonding better with his teammates? Is one slacking off? Kelly can still learn a lot from summer workouts, and you can bet he will have his ear to the ground.
Baylor is coming off a 10-3 season and must replace 11 starters, including four offensive line starters and receiver Corey Coleman from an offense that led the nation in both yards and points per game. However, those storylines have been shoved aside in Waco, and understandably so. This week, the results of an investigation into Baylor's program rocked the university.
After an independent investigator concluded that coach Art Briles and his staff had obstructed and misled investigations into allegations of sexual assault and dating violence against his players, Briles was suspended with the intent of termination, and university president Kenneth Starr was stripped of his power and moved to a chancellor role, while athletic director Ian McCaw was sanctioned. And this could be only the beginning of the turmoil surrounding the program. As USA Today's Dan Wolken[9] wrote, Baylor had no choice but to fire Briles.
The Bears have a talented team returning, but myriad questions and distractions will surround them this fall. The most important on-field task for the interim head coach, whoever he is, will be to rally the program around him and create a unified front, calming waters that might not be easily calmed.
This fall, at least at first, will be more about who isn't at Ohio State than who is. The Buckeyes had an NFL-record 12 players selected in the recent NFL draft, and nine of them were underclassmen. Urban Meyer[10] will return only six starters, although one of them is junior quarterback J.T. Barrett, a major plus for the offense.
We know that Barrett will run the offense, but who will he hand off to? The most appealing option appears to be redshirt freshman Mike Weber. Weber spent last season biding his time and watching the powerful Ezekiel Elliott chew up opposing defenses, but he impressed in spring practice, outplaying senior Bri'onte Dunn.
In Ohio State's spring game, Weber carried eight times for 38 yards and two touchdowns while playing behind a shuffled line, which is typical of spring scrimmages. He has power and speed and is poised to be the man in the Buckeyes backfield. This summer will be telling. Is Weber willing to put in the work to assume a starter's workload this fall? We'll see.
Following a tumultuous 9-3 2015 season, LSU and Les Miles[11] know there is potential for much more this fall. The pressure will be on Miles to achieve it, considering the Tigers will return 18 starters, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette, one of the nation's best, most bruising runners. But a tough, experienced defense is going through an adjustment. Following Kevin Steele's surprising departure to Auburn after one season in Baton Rouge, Miles scored a coup by luring defensive coordinator Dave Aranda away from Wisconsin.
Aranda spent the spring transitioning a defense that will return nine starters into a 3-4 scheme. One of the only holes is at safety, where Jalen Mills departed for the NFL. Jamal Adams will be one of the SEC's best safeties, and senior Rickey Jefferson is expected to take the other starting role. However, he'll be pushed by Eric Monroe and Cameron Lewis. Cornerback Tre'Davious White will lead the secondary after eschewing a shot at the NFL draft.
Overall, the defense is talented, but moving to a new system is always an adjustment. Aranda would feel a lot better this fall if his new charges spent plenty of time in the film room brushing up on their playbooks.
Baker Mayfield played a huge role in Oklahoma's turnaround last fall. The Sooners went from 8-5 to 12-2 and appearing in the College Football Playoff, and the Texas Tech transfer quarterback was a major catalyst. He thrived in new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley's Air Raid system, throwing for 3,700 yards with 36 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and rushing for 405 yards and seven scores. He made plays happen with his arm and feet and played with a brash attitude.
Part of that was surely fueled by how he left Tech. Mayfield was a walk-on with the Red Raiders and lost a year of eligibility when he transferred within the Big 12, per league rules. He has yet to get that year back, and OU and Mayfield have argued that the rule shouldn't apply to him because he was never on scholarship at Texas Tech.
Next week, per Chuck Carlton[12] of the Dallas Morning News, the Big 12 is set to vote on amending the rule, which would give Mayfield back a year of eligibility. That would make him a junior rather than a senior this spring. OU has talented Texas A&M transfer Kyler Murray waiting in the wings, but another year of Mayfield would certainly be welcome.
When he took over Michigan's flagging program in January 2015, Jim Harbaugh made a concerted effort to make the Wolverines ubiquitous. Mission accomplished. It's nearly impossible to avoid news about Harbaugh, whether he's taking shots at Ohio State, holding sleepovers with recruits or battling to hold satellite camps across the nation.
This spring, Harbaugh and Michigan won a major victory when the NCAA rescinded its brief ban on satellite recruiting camps, allowing the Wolverines to hold camps wherever they pleased. They're doing just that, racking up the frequent-flyer miles by scheduling camps across America as well as in Australia and American Samoa, per Matt Wenzel[13] of MLive.com.
It's questionable whether Michigan will actually unearth any recruits in those far-flung locales, but surely Harbaugh hopes to catch the eye of a massive Samoan lineman who would be the perfect fit in Ann Arbor and the Big Ten.
Florida State had a "down" season by its standards in 2015, compiling a 10-3 record. Given that the Seminoles return 17 starters, including all 11 on offense, that should improve this fall. However, Jimbo Fisher still needs to find some stability at quarterback. Last season, Sean Maguire failed to truly take hold of the starting role, throwing for 1,520 yards with 11 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Maguire missed spring practice while recovering from ankle surgery, which allowed freshmen Deondre Francois and Malik Henry to excel in his absence. Both are expected to push Maguire for his job when preseason practice begins, but Jimbo Fisher and his staff will be watching this summer to see if he is truly healthy and ready to do so. The quarterback spot will be a major storyline this fall in Tallahassee.
Clemson had a tremendous 2015, finishing 14-1 as the national runner-up, with its only loss coming 45-40 to Alabama in the national title game. With dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson and eight offensive starters returning, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers hope to take the next step and win a national title this fall.
Doing so, however, will require the defense pulling its weight again.
That might be difficult, given that Clemson returns just three defensive starters after losing six players to NFL draft early entry. The secondary was hit especially hard, with senior Cordrea Tankersley the only returning starter. The unit will lean on Tankersley to provide leadership, especially after expected contributor Adrian Baker suffered a torn ACL, leaving his availability for 2016 in doubt.
The Tigers will count upon recruits such as cornerback Trayvon Mullen[14] and safety Isaiah Simmons[15] early on. This summer, they'll need to work hard to pick up Brent Venables' defense and show they're ready for immediate playing time.
Alabama doesn't rebuild. Nick Saban[16] reloads. Even after winning a fourth national championship in nine seasons in Tuscaloosa, that will be the case in 2016. The Crimson Tide return 12 starters, and while one of the most talked-about storylines might be the quarterback battle among Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell, the offensive line has to be a serious concern.
Alabama was already replacing key starters in center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Dominick Jackson, and the spring was not kind, either. First, right tackle Charles Baldwin, who was expected to challenge for significant playing time, was dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules. Then, All-American left tackle Cam Robinson was arrested on drug and felony weapon charges in Louisiana, per Michael Casagrande[17] of AL.com, leaving his status for 2016 uncertain.
That's a huge blow. Beyond Robinson, the top returning tackle, Korren Kirven, is a converted defensive lineman with one career start. If Robinson suffers a significant suspension, September games against Southern California and Ole Miss get that much tougher. While it is out of its hands, Saban's staff would surely love to see Robinson's legal status get some finality before preseason practice begins in August.
References
- ^ composite of preseason polls (docs.google.com)
- ^ Mark Richt (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ per Susan Miller Degnan (www.miamiherald.com)
- ^ per 247Sports (247sports.com)
- ^ Chris Petersen (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ told Adam Jude (www.seattletimes.com)
- ^ per Daniel Paulling (www.clarionledger.com)
- ^ Brian Kelly (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ USA Today's Dan Wolken (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ Urban Meyer (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Les Miles (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ per Chuck Carlton (sportsday.dallasnews.com)
- ^ per Matt Wenzel (www.mlive.com)
- ^ Trayvon Mullen (247sports.com)
- ^ Isaiah Simmons (247sports.com)
- ^ Nick Saban (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ per Michael Casagrande (www.al.com)
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