 |
| Gideon Davidson, Clemson |
It's become one of my favorite annual spring traditions. Even with the chaos of the transfer portal and NIL, we still see every year second-year players rise from relative unknowns to stars in the college football universe. From Ollie Gordon to Rashod Bateman, to Demond Williams last season, this list has had a pretty good hit rate over the years. Now it's time to take a stab at this year's list, with these ten as the players I see most likely envision having a sophomore breakout.
Lotzeir Brooks, WR, Alabama
(2025 Stats: 32 receptions, 441 yards, 2 TD)
Playing under Kalen DeBoer in his short FBS head coaching career has proven to be quite the benefit to young wide receivers. Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan are all in the pros, Germie Bernard just got there, and Ryan Williams was one of the most memorable freshman phenom in recent memory. Next up in line could be Lotzier Brooks, who looked the part in his freshman season and seemed to get better each and every week. Brooks will be competing for targets with Williams (who now goes by Coleman-Williams), but the two are vastly different wide outs. Coleman-Williams is going to look for the deep shot and stretch defenses vertically, while Brooks is more of your gadget guy, using his 5'9" frame to slither into openings and make things happen. That ability to create underneath and his reliability makes Brooks a likely target to form a fast connection with whoever ends up winning the Alabama quarterback job, whether it's veteran Austin Mack or the rising youngster Keelon Russell. Expect more of what we saw in last season's College Football Playoff win over Oklahoma. Against one of the country's best defenses, Brooks caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns, the type of breakout performance on the big stage that should set the stage for even greater things on the horizon.
Tanook Hines, WR, USC
(2025 Stats: 34 receptions, 561 yards, 2 TD)
While all eyes were on the star sophomore duo of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams entering 2025, it was USC's Makai Lemon who emerged as the nation's top receiver and the eventual Biletnikoff Award winner. Lemon was so impressive that the Philadelphia Eagles made him their first round pick and likely A.J. Brown replacement, meaning the Trojans are on the hunt for a new No. 1 target. Yet, it wasn't just Lemon who departed - Ja'Kobi Lane in own right was a third round pick by the Ravens after serving as Robin to Lemon's Batman in 2025. Needless to say, there's targets available in this USC offense, which sets up perfectly for sophomore Tanook Hines. Hines made his presence felt quickly for the Trojans as a big-play threat, averaging over 16.5 yards per catch. He was at his best down the stretch, going for 6-141 and a touchdown against an elite Oregon secondary and 6-163 in the Alamo Bowl defeat at the hands of TCU. It felt like just the beginning for Hines, and the setup for him heading into 2026 is perfect. We all know how much Lincoln Riley loves to chuck the ball around, and he has a veteran QB at the controls in Jayden Maiava. A player like Hines who formed quick chemistry with Maiava last season, could go from merely impressive freshman to a household name in the Big Ten in 2026.
Devin Sanchez, CB, Ohio State
(2025 Stats: 15 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery)
The entire Ohio State defense was hit hard by the NFL Draft this offseason, with the likes of Arvell Reesee, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs all hearing their names called on Day One. The result leaves defensive coordinator Matt Patricia with some work to do, particularly among a secondary that also lost Davidson Igbinosun and Lorenzo Styles Jr. later on. The Buckeyes will fill multiple gaps with transfer portal additions, namely Duke's Terry Moore and Georgia's Dominick Kelly, but they're also counting on a huge step forward from rising sophomore Devin Sanchez. The former five-star prospect had flashes last fall, appearing in 13 games and making one start, but the expectation now is that he'll break into a starting role. Sanchez will benefit the most from the fact he may be facing the best wide receiver group in football already, including Jeremiah Smith in one-on-one situations. That was evident in Ohio State's spring game, when he matched up regularly against the Biletnikoff Award favorite and slowed him down. It's hard to glean too much from one spring scrimmage, but when you consider the opportunity in front of Sanchez, the potential he displayed last season, and the high billing coming out of high school, you're looking at a superb bet to have a huge sophomore season for one of the sport's National Title frontrunners.
Gideon Davidson, RB, Clemson
(2025 Stats: 60 carries, 260 yards, 11 receptions, 93 yards)
The Clemson offense is undergoing a massive transition as they gear up for the 2026 campaign. Chad Morris has taken back control of the offense in his old position after the Tigers opted to move on from Garrett Riley. Morris will be tasked with bringing back the magic of a group that was once the envy of college football, but has slid in a major way over the past half-decade. The quarterback battle will capture most of the attention entering fall camp, but the reality is that Clemson needs more from their running back room if they want to return to contention in 2026. Converted wide out Adam Randall played the feature back role last year and was solid, finishing with 814 yards and ten touchdowns. But what Clemson truly needs is a workhorse that can take the pressure of a young quarterback - and they're hopeful that guy can be sophomore Gideon Davidson. Davidson earned rave reviews through last spring and had a solid debut season for a true freshman playing in power conference ball. 260 yards on 43 carries is nothing to scoff at, but Davidson was unable to get in the end zone a year ago. The Tigers do bring in SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr. and holdover Jay Haynes, who missed all of last season with a knee injury suffered in the ACC Championship. But neither possess the mix of bruising power and explosiveness of Davidson. If he can fulfill his potential with this type of opportunity, the chance is there for the sophomore to emerge as one of the ACC's best in 2026.
Hayden Lowe, DE, Miami (FL)
(2025 Stats: None)
From the season-opening win over Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff run, Miami's pass rush was the fuel behind their National Runner-Up campaign. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor formed one of the most fearsome pass rushing duos in recent memory, and it was no surprise both heard their names called in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Now that both have moved on, who is up next for the Hurricanes? Missouri transfer Damon Wilson Jr. is expected to make an immediate impact, but Miami is also hoping for some of the younger pieces to emerge, with redshirt freshman Hayden Lowe a top candidate. Lowe was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2025 who Miami went into the state of California to snatch away from the likes of USC and Oregon. He was buried on the depth chart with the experience in front of him, but now has an opportunity to show what he can do given the attrition in front of him. Lowe's size, at 6'5", 255 pounds and explosive first step make him an exceptionally difficult player to slow down, and the fit in Corey Hetherman's defensive style is another benefit. Hetherman will unleash his defensive linemen in this aggressive scheme, and Lowe won't be asked to do anything much more complex than put his head down and charge at the quarterback. He could play a pivotal role on a team that will surely be the ACC favorite heading into the fall.
Adam Schobel, QB, TCU
(2025 Stats: None)
Josh Hoover's decision to transfer out was a gut punch to Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs. TCU will start anew at the position for the first time in three years after Hoover earned a massive bag from the defending National Champion Indiana Hoosiers to be their new starting QB. Dykes and staff brought on Harvard transfer Jaden Craig, the all-time leading passer in Crimson history, but don't be surprised if it's the redshirt freshman Adam Schobel who overtakes the newcomer. Schobel is a TCU legacy whose father and uncle both played for the Horned Frogs before moving on to the NFL. He enrolled early prior to last spring and while he didn't see playing time a year ago, has now been in the system for far longer than Craig. Schobel earned rave reviews throughout spring practice, so don't be surprised if this is a much more heated competition heading into fall camp than expected. It would not shock me if Dykes turns to the younger talent and sees what he can do. And much like others on this list, both the opportunity and system fit are a major reason why Schobel makes the list. Dykes has never been afraid to throw the ball all over the field, and veterans like Jordan Dwyer and Terry Shelton lead a receiver room with real promise. If Schobel can either beat Craig in fall camp or steal the job away early on in the season, he could very much surprise.
Harlem Berry, RB, LSU
(2025 Stats: 104 carries, 491 yards, 2 touchdowns)
One of the most shocking elements of the Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge was how completely inept the LSU Tigers were at running the football. We got so used to ground-and-pound Tiger teams under Les Miles, and even under Ed Orgeron, the program never had significant issues on the ground. Whether it was the scheme or the personnel, potentially a mixture of both, LSU simply never got going in this area under the old regime. Now Lane Kiffin comes to town and has flipped over most of this roster. Names like QB Sam Leavitt and tackle Jordan Seaton bring the star power, but I firmly expected the backfield to potentially be the position group that benefits the most from the new staff. It seems like Kiffin-coached teams always seem to be able to run the ball - from Derrick Henry when he was Alabama OC to Devin Singletary and Quinshon Judkins when he was head coach at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. That's great news for sophomore Harlem Berry, who was a bright spot as a freshman during a lost LSU 2025 campaign. Berry was naturally quiet during the start of the season, but after seeing 11 carries against Vanderbilt, he saw double-digit rushes in five of his last six games. Berry will have to compete for his opportunities in a backfield that includes veteran Caden Durham and Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones, but he seems like the back with the most upside on this roster. He has the home run hitting ability that others on this roster simply lack.
Emmanuel Karmo, LB, Minnesota
(2025 Stats: 14 tackles, one sack, 2 pass deflections)
It's essentially a tradition to have a Minnesota Golden Gopher on this list, with linebacker Emmauel Karmo as the representative this year. The Minnesota native was the top ranked player in the state coming out of high school prior to last fall, and he displayed ample upside during his first season with the Gophers. Karmo's versatility allowed him to play all over the field, seeing time on the defensive line, inside linebacker, and even at slot corner. After seeing action in 204 snaps last fall, expect him to be the favorite to start next to Maverick Baranowski at inside linebacker for the Gophers, as incumbent starter Devon Williams has exhausted his eligibility. It could be quite the effective duo for Danny Collins, with Baranowski operating as the hard-nosed, bullying linebacker in run support and Karmo playing with wider range and helping out more in pass coverage. The Gophers have done a fine job developing the position, with names like Carter Coughlin, De'Vondre Campbell, Jack Gibbens, and more all making their way to the pros. Karmo has that type of talent, and should be a difference-maker in 2026 and beyond.
James Finley, CB, Illinois
(2025 Stats: 21 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 pass deflections)
A strong defense has been a key reason why Illinois has put together a pair of impressive seasons back-to-back in the rugged Big Ten, but this side of the ball is set to look much different in 2026. Bobby Hauck has left his post as Montana head man and will lead the Illini defense, while ushering in a 3-3-5 defensive scheme. He brings much of his staff from Montana with him, including defensive backs coach Ronnie Bradford. Bradford is blessed with a potential Jim Thorpe Award frontrunner in Xavier Scott, who is healthy again after missing the majority of last season. Yet, I'm watching sophomore James Finley as the potential breakout candidate on this Illini defense. Finley was a fairly big recruiting get for a school like Northern Illinois prior to last season and he saw ample playing time in Year One. Finley would finish with 11 appearances and four starts, with 21 tackles and a pair of interceptions as the highlights. It's no surprise that he caught the eye of power conference schools, with Illinois staying inside the state to secure his services. Finley does join a safety room that is already strong with Scott and Matthew Bailey, but his versatility means he could see him help out at several spots throughout the season. Hauck will need more from a secondary that will have to slow down passing offenses like Ohio State and Oregon on the year, and names like Finley will have to play an important role.
Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State
(2025 Stats: 43-77, 629 passing yards, 458 rushing yards, 13 total TD, 1 INT)
Mississippi State is still in the early stages of the rebuild under head man Jeff Lebby, but this 2026 edition could be genuinely fun. The team showed real progress last fall after a brutal 2024 season, as they started off 4-0 before a 5-8 finish. Now, the Bulldogs turn to Kamario Taylor at quarterback, a dual-threat who played really impressive football down the stretch. After being more of a package quarterback as backup to Blake Shapen for most of last season, Taylor got his first start in the Egg Bowl and quickly made an impact. He ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and added 178 through the air, quite a showing against a team that was one win away from a National Championship Game berth. Taylor followed that up by again surpassing 300 all-purpose yards in a bowl loss to Wake Forest. Needless to say, that late-season stretch has the Bulldogs excited for what he can be, and he has been super impressive throughout the spring. Taylor's dual-threat ability is a really fun fit in a Lebby offense, one that plays fast and with a bunch of spacing sideline to sideline. Mississippi State is going to put up a lot of points, and Taylor will be at the centerpiece of it. There will be plenty of mistakes as he acclimates to the role, and turnovers will be expected in an offense that will try to get the ball downfield. But a player with his skillset in this system is the type of thing that can make college football so fun. If new defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, their former head coach, can get this defense whipped into shape, this is a team that could really surprise some folks and evolve into a SEC dark horse.
No comments:
Post a Comment