College football scholarships allow players who aren’t ready or needed as freshman to redshirt their opening year, which in turn allows for their four seasons of competition to actually be spread out over five years. More and more freshmen are thrown in to the fire right away but there are still a number of players across the country that redshirt the first season. Those that stick around for the full extent of their eligibility eventually become fifth-year seniors, which is the highest level of experience in college. We took the time to break down the best of the best in that current group. Here is a look at the best fifth-year seniors in college football right now.
QB: Chad Kelly
Ole Miss Rebels
Kelly set several single-season school records at Ole Miss a year ago when he threw for 4,042 yards, 41 touchdowns and finished with 4,542 yards of total offense. Kelly led the Rebels to their first 10-win season in more than a decade and his numbers justify him being at the top of this list. The fifth-year senior will have the opportunity to add to his resume at Ole Miss this season and it will be interesting to see how he fares as he attempts to lead the Rebels to an SEC championship. The Rebels do have some holes on their roster but they have what many consider to be the top quarterback in the conference and that alone could make the difference.
LB: Devonte Fields
Louisville Cardinals
The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a true freshman in 2012 opted to stick around for a few more years to the surprise of several scouts, coaches and fans. Fields registered 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss at TCU in his first season but an injury limited his second year and an off-field incident led to his dismissal from the Horned Frogs. Louisville opted to give Fields a second chance and he has made the most of it including tying for third in the nation with 22.5 tackles for loss last season. Fields will have another opportunity to add to his NFL Draft stock as a fifth-year senior in 2016 and he should thrive once again coming off the edge for the Cardinals.
QB: Seth Russell
Baylor Bears
Baylor has turned out some impressive quarterbacks over the years and that allowed Russell to learn and grow in their offense as a backup. Russell finally earned the starting job a year ago and he was on pace for a monster year before he was injured. Russell will look to pick up from where he left off after throwing for 2,104 yards and 29 touchdowns while going undefeated in seven games to start last season and if he can stay healthy he will have a legitimate chance to try to break Nick Florence’s single-season school record of 4,309 passing yards.
OL: Pat Elflein
Ohio State Buckeyes
The top fifth-year offensive lineman has started 28 straight games for Ohio State and is poised to extend that run as he shifts from the guard position to center this season. Elflein talked about losing a little weight in order to improve his quickness and strength and there is every reason to expect him to thrive in the middle. Elflein redshirted in 2012 when a foot injury limited him but he has started every game over the last two years and his experience will be important to the Buckeyes’ ability to protect quarterback J.T. Barrett this college football season.
DT: Carlos Watkins
Clemson Tigers
Clemson has had five defensive lineman selected in the last two NFL Drafts and Watkins should be next in line to follow in their footsteps. Watkins was a lightly used reserve as a true freshman in 2012 and a car accident in 2013 forced him to redshirt the majority of that year. Watkins would return in 2014 when he was stuck in a reserve role once again but he finally got his shot last year in 2015 when he produced 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss while earning All-ACC first-team honors. Watkins will return in 2016 as the lone senior on the Tigers’ defensive line and his experience will be very important as Clemson looks to challenge for a college football championship once again.
