CFB: Potential Breakout Players in 2017
Every season in college football, we witness athletes that go from hidden gems to household names, including players like Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel, and this year's Lamar Jackson that ascend to Heisman status, one year removed from being well-kept secrets. I am going to predict five potential breakout players that have the opportunity to continue their quiet success from this past season and turn it into a full blown eruption in 2017-18. Also, all of these players will be sophomores or older. It's too early to predict how freshmen will do at this point.
1. Shea Patterson (QB/Ole Miss): Patterson stepped in for the injured Chad Kelly this season and showed flashes of someone familiar: Johnny Manziel. If there's anyone that can make a meteoric rise like Lamar Jackson in 2016, it'd be Patterson. I'd bet on him taking home the 2017 Heisman Trophy.
2. Rashan Gary (DE/Michigan): With the majority of Michigan's staunch 2016 defense leaving, Gary will have to step up and become a cornerstone of Michigan's 2017 defense. Gary showed flashes of his potential as a rotational pass rusher in 2016, and I think as the main pass rusher for the Wolverines, he will become a force.
3. Nick Bosa (DE/Ohio State): The brother of now Chargers DE Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa showed flashes of greatness as a freshman, and with the majority of the attention on other edge rushers Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard, Bosa should be able to rack up a ton of sacks as a rotational pass rusher.
4. K.J. Costello (QB/Stanford): With Christian McCaffrey leaving for the NFL Draft, Stanford cannot simply rely on McCaffrey and the run game to win them games. Instead, they need a program changing QB, and Ryan Burns/Keller Chryst just haven't gotten it done. I think K.J. Costello will prove to win the job in 2017 spring practice, beating out incoming freshman Davis Mills, and he could be the QB Stanford desperately needs.
5. Equamenious St. Brown (WR/Notre Dame): Even with Notre Dame having a down year, St. Brown emerged as a viable target for Deshone Kizer to throw to. Now with Kizer leaving for the draft, I think St. Brown will step up even more and prove to be a No. 1 receiver for whoever starts for the Irish next year. St. Brown's 6'5" frame is very helpful and he could be the next breakout receiver in college football.
Photo Credit: Saturday Down South.
