The cyclical nature of college football creates a unique atmosphere where players can emerge as elite stars in the right situation every single year. Skill, situation and timing are the key factors that contribute to players emerging as stars on an annual basis. We considered those factors when trying to predict a handful of players that are next in line to emerge as stars. Here is a look at the four college football players that are primed to reach elite status in 2016.
QB: Lamar Jackson
Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals sophomore quarterback flashed his ability with several strong performances last season and his spring performances were raved about by coaches and the media that was on hand to see him. We all know that Bobby Petrino can coach up offenses and quarterbacks, which is why many are expect Jackson to hit elite status.
Jackson struggled with consistency in a part-time role a year ago but the Louisville coaching staff worked him hard throughout the spring and he will enter this year as the clear-cut No. 1 passer on the roster. Jackson has already shown he can beat teams with his elite speed as a dual-threat quarterback and his ability to push the football downfield with his arm will make him that much more dangerous. Everything is in place for Jackson to thrive as the No. 1 quarterback for the Cardinals this season and there is no doubt he is primed to become an elite dual-threat passer in 2016.
RB: Myles Gaskin
Washington Huskies
Washington is a team on the rise in the Pac-12. Chris Peterson needed a couple of years to get the program back in order, but now the former Boise State head coach has this team on the cusp in the Pac-12. One of the keys to their success in 2016 will be Gaskin.
We’ve already seen that the defense is quite stout in Seattle, so it will be up to the offense and Gaskin to balance out the team. For Gaskin, his ability as a big-play threat could help put them over the top as a legitimate conference championship contender in 2016. Gaskin rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of the Huskies’ last nine games and he finished his freshman year with 1.302 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The 5’9’’, 192-pound running back is strong, quick, elusiveness and has the elite speed to break out big runs every single time he touches the football and another year of experience at the college level should help make him that much more dangerous. Washington is a dangerous darkhorse pick to do some serious damage in the Pac-12 this coming season and Gaskin could be the elite running back that helps take them to another level.
QB: Mason Rudolph
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Rudolph delivered in his first full season as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma State a year ago when he led them to an impressive 10-0 start and finished with 3,770 passing yards and 21 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. The 6’4’’, 220-pound passer is smart, athletic, accurate and strong enough to make all of the throws and another full year of experience in the Cowboys’ offense should help him get to another level. Rudolph is on the verge of breaking through as an elite quarterback in the Big 12 and the talent he is surrounded with at Oklahoma State should help him get to that level in 2016.
RB: Jovon Robinson
Auburn Tigers
Robinson is looking to carry on the tradition of Auburn having a 1,000-yard rusher in every season since 2009. All signs point to him thriving in the Tigers’ run-heavy system again this coming year. Robinson, who transferred from JUCO before last season, struggled with injuries early on a year ago but is primed for a big season now that he is healthy and in line to be the No. 1 running back. Robinson has the speed, quickness and elusiveness to become an elite rusher for Auburn this season and the marriage of skill, situation and timing should result in him breaking through as a star SEC running back in 2016. It should also help if the Tigers find some competent quarterbacking as last year they were very inconsistent at the position.
