CFB Players Destined for Breakout Seasons

By Liam Willerup

    Every year in College Football, players seem to defy expectations and turn into stars before our eyes. Alabama's Mac Jones was far from being viewed as a 1st round talent before last season. Same goes for players like Jaelan Phillips, Zach Wilson, and Kyle Pitts. Looking into the next college football season, there seems to be a plethora of candidates to have a breakout season and propel their draft stock.

Emory Jones, QB Florida

 

    With the departure of Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, and Kadarius Toney, many will be quick to write off those Gators in Gainesville. However, there is plenty of hope in the college football community that the next in line for QB will be perhaps more impressive than Heisman finalist Kyle Trask. The #5 Dual Threat QB in the 2018 Recruiting Class behind talents like Justin Fields and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Emory Jones might be the truth. On paper the Florida receiving core doesn't jump out to you. The most prominent weapon for Jones next season seems to be 4 Star receiving Jacob Copeland, both players who came into Gainesville in the same class. However, Pitts and Toney were so dominant that others on Florida didn't have too much room to shine. With his ability make plays on the ground and through the air, it wouldn't surprise me to see Emory Jones flourish this next season.

John Metchie III, WR Alabama

    A Wide Receiver factory these last couple of seasons with first rounders in DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, all the attention points to Alabama wideout John Metchie III to breakout and be the next great Bama receiver. Just over 900 yards and 6 TDs last season playing alongside the dominate DeVonta Smith, Metchie has the tools to take over. His sophomore season can be highlighted by his FIVE reception, 181 yard, 2 TD game vs. Texas A&M. Obviously a player who will benefit playing in the college football powerhouse in Tuscaloosa, he will prove to be a valuable target for Mater Dei product Bryce Young. With Brian Robinson Jr. as the only other proven weapon on the offense, expect Young to defer often to Metchie next season early and often.

J.T. Daniels, QB Georgia

    A transfer from USC, the promising J.T. Daniels is poised to take the helm for the Georgia Bulldogs next season. Yet to have any extremely flashy stats, his four games with Bulldogs in 2020 were promising with a 67% completion rate and a 10:2 TD/INT ratio. Looking at Georgia, the talent around him is no joke. Georgia landed star transfer Arik Gilbert after a complicated process, a 5 star TE/WR hybrid who has flashed signs of being the next Kyle Pitts in college football. Jermaine Burton is also another talented wideout, heading into his sophomore season with a highlight performance versus Mississippi State where he brought in 8 receptions for 197 yards and 2 TDs, which happened to be Daniels' first game with the Bulldogs. With a great program in Georgia, Daniels has the keys to the well-oiled machine and should make the Bulldogs a real contender in the SEC next season.

Justyn Ross, WR Clemson

    A player who has already shown brilliance in his career at Clemson, wideout Justyn Ross is a darkhorse candidate to win the touted Biletnikoff Award in 2022. A 6'4" wide receiver who saw his most success in his true freshman season alongside Trevor Lawerence, Ross looks to be the ideal target for rising star DJ Uiagalelei. After taking the last season off, Ross will come in as the clear cut WR1 with both Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell onto the NFL. Ross went over 1,000 in his first season in Clemson on only 44 receptions. The promise from Uiagalelei in his stretch as a starter assures fans Clemson will be in good hands. While all the signs point on Ross to be a star next season, he will need to show that a year removed from NCAA competition has only bettered him. A season well over 1,000 yards and dominating ACC defenses should give Ross the chance to be called on Day 1 in the 2022 NFL Draft.