There is no shortage of outstanding athletes across the college football landscape every season but when it comes to the best of the best, they are on another level. From track and field stars to defensive beasts with an extremely unique combination of strength, power and speed, these players constantly stand out on film with the ridiculous plays they make seem routine. We’ll probably see a number of them contending for the Heisman Trophy throughout the season. Here is a look at the top five freak athletes in college football heading in to this season.
DE: Myles Garrett
Texas A&M Aggies
Garrett absolutely lit it up coming off the edge on Texas A&M’s defensive line a year ago when he led the SEC in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles while consistently beating double teams against some of the best offensive linemen in the entire country. The 6’5’’, 262-pound end has the strength to bench-press 485 pounds and can run a 4.45 40-time, which is an illustration of his ridiculous combination of strength and speed. The fact that Garrett is still just 20-years-old helps make him one of the most intriguing NFL prospects in the entire country and his complete package makes him our pick for the top freak athlete in college football right now.
WR: Devon Allen
Oregon Ducks
Allen showed off his world-class speed as a redshirt freshman in 2014 when he led the Ducks with seven touchdown catches and finished third on the team in receiving yards. A brutal knee injury kept him from building on those numbers with an encore performance in 2015 but he has worked his way back in to elite form and he has the potential to dominate again in 2016. Allen qualified for the Rio Olympics with a 110-meter hurdle time of 13.03 seconds – the second-fastest time in the world so far this year. It’ll be a lot of fun to watch him at the 2016 Summer Games as they take place right before the start of the season. That elite athleticism should translate well in Oregon’s offense this season with Allen clearly one of the top athletes in the game right now.
RB: Leonard Fournette
LSU Tigers
Fournette might not be a track and field superstar but anybody that watched him at LSU last season understands how incredible of an athlete he is. Fournette averaged 6.5 yards per carry while rushing for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2015 and he has the potential to top those numbers with more help this coming season. Fournette has plenty of power built in to his 228-pound frame and he registered a 4.40 40-time this summer. With an elite combination of size, power, speed and agility, Fournette is an easy pick for this list. Now if only he could get some decent quarterback play to help keep opposing defenses from stacking the box with eight and nine-man fronts, he might just take home the Heisman Trophy this season.
CB: Adoree’ Jackson
USC Trojans
The dynamic junior cornerback from USC didn’t make the U.S. Olympic track team but he did win the Pac-12 long jump titles and came in fifth in the NCAA championships. His incredible athleticism was on full display a year ago when he caught 27 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver while also contributing on special teams with two kick return touchdowns in addition to his duties on defense. Jackson’s elite speed and agility put him in a class of his own in terms of defensive backs and he will undoubtedly be the most important player on the football field for the Trojans this fall.
WR: Taywan Taylor
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Taylor hasn’t received the same attention that some of the other star wide receivers in Power Five conferences have but he certainly deserves it as one of the most complete athletes in college football. The 6’1’’, 195-pound wide receiver set school records a year ago when he made 86 catches for 1,467 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns and his athleticism was on full display during spring testing drills when he registered a 4.33 40-time and a 39.5-inch vertical. Taylor is one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the country regardless of conference and he earns the final spot on this list as one of the top freak athletes in college football right now.
