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15 for '15: College football's best offensive players

ยป Complete 15 for '15 series

CFB 24/7's "15 for '15" series looking at 15 superlative players in college football for 2015, across dozens of categories, continues with a look at the top offensive players returning this fall.

Headshot_Author_Chase_Goodbread_1400x1000
Chase Goodbread
Size: 6-6, 310 Class: Senior Buzz: The Bears' third-year starter at left tackle might play in a hurry-up, no-huddle offense, but don't mistake him for a finesse player. He is one of the best run blockers in the Big 12. Drango submitted an application to the NFL Draft Advisory Board last December as he considered applying early entry, but the feedback returned advised him to stay at Baylor. One possible reason for that feedback: He was coming off back surgery last year and wasn't at peak effectiveness for the entire season.
1 / 15
15. Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor

Size: 6-6, 310
Class: Senior
Buzz: The Bears' third-year starter at left tackle might play in a hurry-up, no-huddle offense, but don't mistake him for a finesse player. He is one of the best run blockers in the Big 12. Drango submitted an application to the NFL Draft Advisory Board last December as he considered applying early entry, but the feedback returned advised him to stay at Baylor. One possible reason for that feedback: He was coming off back surgery last year and wasn't at peak effectiveness for the entire season.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Size: 6-2, 230 Class: Senior Buzz: Prescott was a fringe candidate for the Heisman Trophy last year until November, when he fell out of the race with the Bulldogs' first loss of the season. He is a dual-threat quarterback in Dan Mullen's spread-option offense and returns as the most accomplished quarterback in the SEC this fall, having thrown last season for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns, with 986 yards on the ground with 14 more scores. At 6-2 and 230 pounds, he's built to punish defenders when he keeps the ball on the option play.
2 / 15
14. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State

Size: 6-2, 230
Class: Senior
Buzz: Prescott was a fringe candidate for the Heisman Trophy last year until November, when he fell out of the race with the Bulldogs' first loss of the season. He is a dual-threat quarterback in Dan Mullen's spread-option offense and returns as the most accomplished quarterback in the SEC this fall, having thrown last season for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns, with 986 yards on the ground with 14 more scores. At 6-2 and 230 pounds, he's built to punish defenders when he keeps the ball on the option play.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Size: 6-2,188 Class: Junior Buzz: When CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson was busy attracting NFL scouts last year, this is the guy he was usually looking for. The margin by which Higgins' numbers dwarfed the team's other receivers suggests Grayson rarely had to look for his second read. He caught 96 passes for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns; the Rams' No. 2 receiver, Joe Hansley, posted just 35-540-2. Higgins was a consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. This fall, he'll have to overcome the transition to a new coach, a new offense and a new quarterback.
3 / 15
13. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

Size: 6-2,188
Class: Junior
Buzz: When CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson was busy attracting NFL scouts last year, this is the guy he was usually looking for. The margin by which Higgins' numbers dwarfed the team's other receivers suggests Grayson rarely had to look for his second read. He caught 96 passes for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns; the Rams' No. 2 receiver, Joe Hansley, posted just 35-540-2. Higgins was a consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. This fall, he'll have to overcome the transition to a new coach, a new offense and a new quarterback.

Cathleen Allison/Associated Press
EDITOR'S NOTE: This list was published before Dalvin Cook was suspended indefinitely.Size: 6-0, 203 Class: Sophomore Buzz: When the FSU offense was saddled by Jameis Winston's inconsistency and interceptions in some close games last year, it was often Cook who bailed the Seminoles out. The dynamic freshman didn't get as many carries as other backs listed here, but he made the most of them with a 5.9-yard average (170 carries for 1,008 yards). In two narrow wins over Louisville and Miami (Fla.), he averaged 12.2 and 13.1 yards per carry, respectively. Cook's footwork through the hole and balance are pure magic.
4 / 15
12. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

EDITOR'S NOTE: This list was published before Dalvin Cook was suspended indefinitely.
Size: 6-0, 203
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: When the FSU offense was saddled by Jameis Winston's inconsistency and interceptions in some close games last year, it was often Cook who bailed the Seminoles out. The dynamic freshman didn't get as many carries as other backs listed here, but he made the most of them with a 5.9-yard average (170 carries for 1,008 yards). In two narrow wins over Louisville and Miami (Fla.), he averaged 12.2 and 13.1 yards per carry, respectively. Cook's footwork through the hole and balance are pure magic.

John Raoux/Associated Press
Size: 6-1, 215 Class: Senior Buzz: It's hard to understand how USC lost four games last year with the season Kessler had at quarterback: 3,826 yards and 39 touchdown passes to five interceptions. The fifth-year veteran not only chose to stay in college instead of jumping to the NFL draft, but tried to convince the Trojans' top underclassmen to do the same. He posted seven 300-yard games and wasn't intercepted more than once in a game all season. Look for Kessler to challenge for the Heisman, as long as the USC defense is improved enough to keep the team in Pac-12 contention.
5 / 15
11. Cody Kessler, QB, USC

Size: 6-1, 215
Class: Senior
Buzz: It's hard to understand how USC lost four games last year with the season Kessler had at quarterback: 3,826 yards and 39 touchdown passes to five interceptions. The fifth-year veteran not only chose to stay in college instead of jumping to the NFL draft, but tried to convince the Trojans' top underclassmen to do the same. He posted seven 300-yard games and wasn't intercepted more than once in a game all season. Look for Kessler to challenge for the Heisman, as long as the USC defense is improved enough to keep the team in Pac-12 contention.

Ben Liebenberg/NFL
Size: 6-2, 250 Class: Junior Buzz: Conner is a big, powerful rusher, but slips through holes and runs with defensive backs like a much smaller running back. He carried the Panthers' offense last season with 1,765 yards on 198 carries and 26 touchdowns. More impressively, he had some of his biggest games against some of the tougher teams on the schedule, including Boston College (36 for 214) and Iowa (29 for 155). His signature game came against Duke, when he posted season highs of 38 carries and 263 yards.
6 / 15
10. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh

Size: 6-2, 250
Class: Junior
Buzz: Conner is a big, powerful rusher, but slips through holes and runs with defensive backs like a much smaller running back. He carried the Panthers' offense last season with 1,765 yards on 198 carries and 26 touchdowns. More impressively, he had some of his biggest games against some of the tougher teams on the schedule, including Boston College (36 for 214) and Iowa (29 for 155). His signature game came against Duke, when he posted season highs of 38 carries and 263 yards.

Sharon Ellman/Associated Press
Size: 6-2, 205 Class: Sophomore Buzz: Watson was heralded as a budding star after breaking school freshman records in his first career start with 435 yards and six touchdown passes, a 50-35 win over North Carolina. But that came against one of the worst defenses in the country -- he was actually more impressive a week earlier, in a relief role, when he took FSU to the wire on the road before losing in overtime. Several injuries, including a torn ACL, marred his freshman season. Still, he managed to inspire Clemson fans with huge hopes for the future in completing 93 of 137 passes (68 percent) for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
7 / 15
9. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Size: 6-2, 205
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: Watson was heralded as a budding star after breaking school freshman records in his first career start with 435 yards and six touchdown passes, a 50-35 win over North Carolina. But that came against one of the worst defenses in the country -- he was actually more impressive a week earlier, in a relief role, when he took FSU to the wire on the road before losing in overtime. Several injuries, including a torn ACL, marred his freshman season. Still, he managed to inspire Clemson fans with huge hopes for the future in completing 93 of 137 passes (68 percent) for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Bob Leverone/Associated Press
Size: 5-11, 237 Class: Sophomore Buzz: The Sooners freshman gave observers an exciting taste of what is to come with an NCAA single-game record 427 yards against Kansas, knocking Melvin Gordon off the perch just a week after Gordon had broken LaDainian Tomlinson's record. Perine possesses uncanny power at 5-11 and nearly 240 pounds, but can break long runs if he gets past the second level of the defense. Fun comparison: Perine's freshman year at Oklahoma (263 carries, 1,713 yards, 21 TDs, 6.5-yard average) and Adrian Peterson's debut OU season (339 carries, 1,925 yards, 15 TDs, 5.7-yard average).
8 / 15
8. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma

Size: 5-11, 237
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: The Sooners freshman gave observers an exciting taste of what is to come with an NCAA single-game record 427 yards against Kansas, knocking Melvin Gordon off the perch just a week after Gordon had broken LaDainian Tomlinson's record. Perine possesses uncanny power at 5-11 and nearly 240 pounds, but can break long runs if he gets past the second level of the defense. Fun comparison: Perine's freshman year at Oklahoma (263 carries, 1,713 yards, 21 TDs, 6.5-yard average) and Adrian Peterson's debut OU season (339 carries, 1,925 yards, 15 TDs, 5.7-yard average).

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Size: 6-4, 220 Class: Senior Buzz: The senior is primed for a run at the College Football Playoff, supported by a stout defense, as long as the new weapons around him on offense are able to make their share of big plays. Cook led the Big Ten last year in passing yards per game (247) and posted a TD-INT ratio of 24-8. In Mark Dantonio's balanced offense, he won't have the stats of some other Heisman Trophy-contending quarterbacks, but as long as Michigan State has a zero in the loss column, he'll be in the conversation.
9 / 15
7. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

Size: 6-4, 220
Class: Senior
Buzz: The senior is primed for a run at the College Football Playoff, supported by a stout defense, as long as the new weapons around him on offense are able to make their share of big plays. Cook led the Big Ten last year in passing yards per game (247) and posted a TD-INT ratio of 24-8. In Mark Dantonio's balanced offense, he won't have the stats of some other Heisman Trophy-contending quarterbacks, but as long as Michigan State has a zero in the loss column, he'll be in the conversation.

Nick Wass/Associated Press
Size: 6-0, 225 Class: Junior Buzz: For all the talk about the way Cardale Jones performed in three starts at quarterback to close out Ohio State's season, it was Elliott who raised his game even more over the same stretch. Elliott saved his best three games of the year for the postseason (20-220-2 vs. Wisconsin, 20-230-2 vs. Alabama, 36-246-4 vs. Oregon). For the year, he finished with 1,878 yards with a 6.9-yard average. This fall, he'll be a staple of the Buckeyes' offense no matter who is at quarterback.
10 / 15
6. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Size: 6-0, 225
Class: Junior
Buzz: For all the talk about the way Cardale Jones performed in three starts at quarterback to close out Ohio State's season, it was Elliott who raised his game even more over the same stretch. Elliott saved his best three games of the year for the postseason (20-220-2 vs. Wisconsin, 20-230-2 vs. Alabama, 36-246-4 vs. Oregon). For the year, he finished with 1,878 yards with a 6.9-yard average. This fall, he'll be a staple of the Buckeyes' offense no matter who is at quarterback.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press
Size: 6-6, 326 Class: Sophomore Buzz: This is all that needs to be said about Robinson's effectiveness at left tackle: As a true freshman last year, he was an upgrade from 2014 second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio at the position for the Crimson Tide. The first true freshman to start for Alabama at left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson gave up just three sacks all season while seeing action against six NFL draft picks (Dante Fowler, Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Preston Smith, Danielle Hunter and Trey Flowers). As if that wasn't enough of a test, he also battled three of the best 15 defensive players still in the college game: Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Texas A&M's Myles Garrett and Tennessee's Derek Barnette.
11 / 15
5. Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama

Size: 6-6, 326
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: This is all that needs to be said about Robinson's effectiveness at left tackle: As a true freshman last year, he was an upgrade from 2014 second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio at the position for the Crimson Tide. The first true freshman to start for Alabama at left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson gave up just three sacks all season while seeing action against six NFL draft picks (Dante Fowler, Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Preston Smith, Danielle Hunter and Trey Flowers). As if that wasn't enough of a test, he also battled three of the best 15 defensive players still in the college game: Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Texas A&M's Myles Garrett and Tennessee's Derek Barnette.

Aaron M. Sprecher/NFL
Size: 6-2, 225 Class: Sophomore Buzz: Urban Meyer might not have picked a quarterback yet, but we can. The Buckeyes have a trio of options in Barrett, who led the team to an 11-1 regular season last year, postseason hero Cardale Jones, and two-year starter Braxton Miller. We'll go with Barrett over Jones because his body of work last year was much larger than Jones' three-game run for the title, impressive as it was. And we'll go with Barrett over Miller because it remains to be seen how well Miller's throwing shoulder rebounds. Jones might be the popular choice after beating Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to finish a championship run, but Barrett's contribution isn't to be forgotten: 203 of 314 passing, 2,834 yards and 34 TD passes. And, oh yeah, he rushed for at least 50 yards in 10 of 12 games.
12 / 15
4. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State

Size: 6-2, 225
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: Urban Meyer might not have picked a quarterback yet, but we can. The Buckeyes have a trio of options in Barrett, who led the team to an 11-1 regular season last year, postseason hero Cardale Jones, and two-year starter Braxton Miller. We'll go with Barrett over Jones because his body of work last year was much larger than Jones' three-game run for the title, impressive as it was. And we'll go with Barrett over Miller because it remains to be seen how well Miller's throwing shoulder rebounds. Jones might be the popular choice after beating Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to finish a championship run, but Barrett's contribution isn't to be forgotten: 203 of 314 passing, 2,834 yards and 34 TD passes. And, oh yeah, he rushed for at least 50 yards in 10 of 12 games.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press
Size: 5-10, 220 Class: Sophomore Buzz: There has to be a drop-off in the Georgia backfield with Todd Gurley moving on to the NFL, right? Maybe not. The Georgia rushing attack didn't even flinch with Chubb as the primary rusher while Gurley missed time with an injury and a suspension. The freshman ripped off eight consecutive 100-yard games, and gashed a Louisville defense that produced six 2015 NFL Draft picks for 266 yards in the Belk Bowl. The best year Gurley ever had at Georgia was his freshman season in 2012 (1,385 yards in 12 starts). Chubb sat behind Gurley for the first five weeks last year, then piled up 1,547 in just eight starts.
13 / 15
3. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Size: 5-10, 220
Class: Sophomore
Buzz: There has to be a drop-off in the Georgia backfield with Todd Gurley moving on to the NFL, right? Maybe not. The Georgia rushing attack didn't even flinch with Chubb as the primary rusher while Gurley missed time with an injury and a suspension. The freshman ripped off eight consecutive 100-yard games, and gashed a Louisville defense that produced six 2015 NFL Draft picks for 266 yards in the Belk Bowl. The best year Gurley ever had at Georgia was his freshman season in 2012 (1,385 yards in 12 starts). Chubb sat behind Gurley for the first five weeks last year, then piled up 1,547 in just eight starts.

John Bazemore/Associated Press
Size: 6-5, 305 Class: Junior Buzz: The two-year anchor of the Rebels' offensive line might be the best pass protector in the country. In 2013, he was one of just two true freshmen in the entire NCAA to be a full-time starter at left tackle, and allowed only one sack all season. He reportedly allowed only one more as a sophomore. He fractured his fibula to add to Ole Miss' misery in a blowout loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl, but his rehabilitation has gone well. If healthy, he'll dominate the left side for the Rebels once again this fall.
14 / 15
2. Laremy Tunsil, OL, Ole Miss

Size: 6-5, 305
Class: Junior
Buzz: The two-year anchor of the Rebels' offensive line might be the best pass protector in the country. In 2013, he was one of just two true freshmen in the entire NCAA to be a full-time starter at left tackle, and allowed only one sack all season. He reportedly allowed only one more as a sophomore. He fractured his fibula to add to Ole Miss' misery in a blowout loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl, but his rehabilitation has gone well. If healthy, he'll dominate the left side for the Rebels once again this fall.

Aaron M. Sprecher/NFL
Size: 6-2, 205 Class: Senior Buzz: The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 4,608 total yards last season -- 3,901 passing and 707 rushing -- as TCU fell short of reaching the inaugural College Football Playoff. He is a first-down machine whose key receiving weapons are returning, signaling another pinball-like season on the scoreboard for TCU. Boykin accounted for 41 touchdowns last season; 50 this season isn't out of reach. He's the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy, and the reason TCU is poised to win the Big 12.
15 / 15
1. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

Size: 6-2, 205
Class: Senior
Buzz: The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 4,608 total yards last season -- 3,901 passing and 707 rushing -- as TCU fell short of reaching the inaugural College Football Playoff. He is a first-down machine whose key receiving weapons are returning, signaling another pinball-like season on the scoreboard for TCU. Boykin accounted for 41 touchdowns last season; 50 this season isn't out of reach. He's the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy, and the reason TCU is poised to win the Big 12.

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press
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