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15 for '15: College football's smallest players

ยป Complete 15 for '15 series

Little people, big impact. That's what stood out in CFB 24/7's look at 15 of the smallest players in the college game. Most of them are starters or significant contributors, yet all but one 5-8 or shorter, and they only weigh anywhere from 150 to 178 pounds.

The smallest of them all, Kent State's Ernest Calhoun (5-6, 151 pounds), led the Flashes in all-purpose yards last year with 1,033. Bottom line: these guys can play. And if the NFL has room for the likes of Trindon Holliday, Dexter McCluster, Dri Archer and T.Y. Hilton, it could well have room one day for a few of these.

Headshot_Author_Chase_Goodbread_1400x1000
Chase Goodbread
Size: 5-7, 150 Buzz: A backup last year in the Horned Frogs' prolific offense, White averaged about one catch per game as a freshman. All the team's top receivers from last year return, including the No. 1 target, Josh Doctson, so the pecking order for White isn't getting any easier.
1 / 15
15. Desmon White, WR, TCU

Size: 5-7, 150
Buzz: A backup last year in the Horned Frogs' prolific offense, White averaged about one catch per game as a freshman. All the team's top receivers from last year return, including the No. 1 target, Josh Doctson, so the pecking order for White isn't getting any easier.

Ashley Landis
Size: 5-7, 176 Buzz: The younger Sanders is a gifted return specialist, but last year he showed a bit more production in the Mustangs' offense with 23 catches for 188 yards. That's just an average of 8.2 yards per reception -- not exactly the explosiveness one might expect from the son of Prime Time -- but in an anemic offense that scored just 133 points on the season, opportunities were few for all of SMU's playmakers. In the return game, Sanders averaged 20.5 yards on 37 returns.
2 / 15
14. Deion Sanders, Jr., WR, SMU

Size: 5-7, 176
Buzz: The younger Sanders is a gifted return specialist, but last year he showed a bit more production in the Mustangs' offense with 23 catches for 188 yards. That's just an average of 8.2 yards per reception -- not exactly the explosiveness one might expect from the son of Prime Time -- but in an anemic offense that scored just 133 points on the season, opportunities were few for all of SMU's playmakers. In the return game, Sanders averaged 20.5 yards on 37 returns.

Michael Dwyer
Size: 5-8, 160 Buzz: Ole Miss isn't the only team in the Magnolia State with a tiny running back. But unlike the Rebels, MSU's offense calls for a bigger, more powerful back handling most of the carries. As such, Holloway figures to play a backup role this fall, but not an unimportant one. Last year he carried 45 times for 294 yards, 6.5 per rush. He should also be a presence on kickoff returns for the Bulldogs this fall.
3 / 15
13. Brandon Holloway, RB, Mississippi State

Size: 5-8, 160
Buzz: Ole Miss isn't the only team in the Magnolia State with a tiny running back. But unlike the Rebels, MSU's offense calls for a bigger, more powerful back handling most of the carries. As such, Holloway figures to play a backup role this fall, but not an unimportant one. Last year he carried 45 times for 294 yards, 6.5 per rush. He should also be a presence on kickoff returns for the Bulldogs this fall.

Rogelio V. Solis
Size: 5-6, 151 Buzz: Entering his junior season, Calhoun looks to expand his impact beyond his primary role of kickoff returns. He ran 34 of them back last year for 709 yards. Offensively, he pulled in 33 passes, but didn't get downfield much with 319 receiving yards. Still, he's the top returning receiver on the roster and Kent State has a clear need for increased production.
4 / 15
12. Ernest Calhoun, WR, Kent State

Size: 5-6, 151
Buzz: Entering his junior season, Calhoun looks to expand his impact beyond his primary role of kickoff returns. He ran 34 of them back last year for 709 yards. Offensively, he pulled in 33 passes, but didn't get downfield much with 319 receiving yards. Still, he's the top returning receiver on the roster and Kent State has a clear need for increased production.

John Beale
Size: 5-8, 166 Buzz: Wiggins has four career kickoff returns for touchdowns, and his next will break a Mountain West Conference record. He averaged 29.3 yards last season, but didn't have enough returns (13) to qualify in national rankings after missing several games due to injury. A year prior to that, he was the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. Wiggins also runs track for the Lobos, and according to coach Bob Davie, he might add punt returns to his duties this fall.
5 / 15
11. Carlos Wiggins, WR, New Mexico

Size: 5-8, 166
Buzz: Wiggins has four career kickoff returns for touchdowns, and his next will break a Mountain West Conference record. He averaged 29.3 yards last season, but didn't have enough returns (13) to qualify in national rankings after missing several games due to injury. A year prior to that, he was the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. Wiggins also runs track for the Lobos, and according to coach Bob Davie, he might add punt returns to his duties this fall.

Eric Draper
Size: 5-8, 175 Buzz: McKenzie became a crowd favorite at Sanford Stadium last year as a freshman with his exciting return skills. He didn't have enough returns (11) to qualify for NCAA rankings, but his average (28.1) would have put him among the top 10 in the country. With a 12.1-yard punt-return average, he did rank in that category (seventh in nation). As with several listed here, he should be a bigger presence on offense this fall.
6 / 15
10. Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Georgia

Size: 5-8, 175
Buzz: McKenzie became a crowd favorite at Sanford Stadium last year as a freshman with his exciting return skills. He didn't have enough returns (11) to qualify for NCAA rankings, but his average (28.1) would have put him among the top 10 in the country. With a 12.1-yard punt-return average, he did rank in that category (seventh in nation). As with several listed here, he should be a bigger presence on offense this fall.

David Stephenson
Size: 5-8, 178 Buzz: Two years into his career, the Utes' defensive back is still looking for his first interception. But he's contributed in plenty of other ways, from a fumble recovery against Arizona to a sack against UCLA. With 37 tackles last year and seven pass breakups, he's got enough experience now at both cornerback and nickelback to nail down a full-time role as a fourth-year junior this fall.
7 / 15
9. Justin Thomas, DB, Utah

Size: 5-8, 178
Buzz: Two years into his career, the Utes' defensive back is still looking for his first interception. But he's contributed in plenty of other ways, from a fumble recovery against Arizona to a sack against UCLA. With 37 tackles last year and seven pass breakups, he's got enough experience now at both cornerback and nickelback to nail down a full-time role as a fourth-year junior this fall.

Rick Osentoski/Rick Osentoski
Size: 5-7, 177 Buzz: After making a big impact as a freshman in 2013, injuries last year took a toll on Phillips' playing time and, thus, his production. He caught 25 passes for 272 yards after more than doubling those numbers the year before. He holds the Arizona bowl record for receiving yards (193 vs. Boston College in the 2013 Advocare V100 Bowl).
8 / 15
8. Nate Phillips, WR, Arizona

Size: 5-7, 177
Buzz: After making a big impact as a freshman in 2013, injuries last year took a toll on Phillips' playing time and, thus, his production. He caught 25 passes for 272 yards after more than doubling those numbers the year before. He holds the Arizona bowl record for receiving yards (193 vs. Boston College in the 2013 Advocare V100 Bowl).

Jeff Chiu/AP2013
Size: 5-7, 160 Buzz: If Natson were heavy enough to handle the pounding, his average of 10 yards per rush would make the Aggies' offense unstoppable. As it is, he ranked fourth on the team last year with 50 rushes (498 yards). Oddly enough, he delivered almost exactly the same production as a receiver (51 for 504). Natson also scored two touchdowns on punt returns while averaging 11.7 yards per try (10th in the nation).
9 / 15
7. JoJo Natson, WR, Utah State

Size: 5-7, 160
Buzz: If Natson were heavy enough to handle the pounding, his average of 10 yards per rush would make the Aggies' offense unstoppable. As it is, he ranked fourth on the team last year with 50 rushes (498 yards). Oddly enough, he delivered almost exactly the same production as a receiver (51 for 504). Natson also scored two touchdowns on punt returns while averaging 11.7 yards per try (10th in the nation).

Eli Lucero
Size: 5-9, 150 Buzz: Being 150 pounds hasn't kept Deayon from being around the football for the Broncos. He's intercepted six passes in each of the last two years, broken up nine more in each of the last two, and gives Boise State a strong presence as a punt returner as well.
10 / 15
6. Donte Deayon, DB, Boise State

Size: 5-9, 150
Buzz: Being 150 pounds hasn't kept Deayon from being around the football for the Broncos. He's intercepted six passes in each of the last two years, broken up nine more in each of the last two, and gives Boise State a strong presence as a punt returner as well.

Rick Scuteri
Size: 5-8, 172 Buzz: No small back in the SEC gets as many touches as Walton, so his toughness and ability to take a hit can't be questioned. He is a blur in the open field but, of course, isn't much of a tackle breaker. He led the Rebels in rushing with 586 yards on 106 carries, averaging 5.5 per rush. As Ole Miss' primary kickoff returner (21.3-yard average) and its top pass catcher among running backs (19 for 206), his value to the team has never been higher.
11 / 15
5. Jaylen Walton, RB, Ole Miss

Size: 5-8, 172
Buzz: No small back in the SEC gets as many touches as Walton, so his toughness and ability to take a hit can't be questioned. He is a blur in the open field but, of course, isn't much of a tackle breaker. He led the Rebels in rushing with 586 yards on 106 carries, averaging 5.5 per rush. As Ole Miss' primary kickoff returner (21.3-yard average) and its top pass catcher among running backs (19 for 206), his value to the team has never been higher.

Crystal LoGiudice/Crystal LoGiudice
Size: 5-6, 168 Buzz: A preseason candidate for the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player, Williams-Rhodes gives the Broncos a receiver (team-high 68 catches last year), a rusher (15 for 192 yards) and punt returner (he and Donte Deayon shared the role in 2014). According to the Idaho Press-Tribune, his weight slipped to 156 pounds by the end of last season, but he's put on 12 pounds since then in an effort to get bigger for 2015.
12 / 15
4. Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State

Size: 5-6, 168
Buzz: A preseason candidate for the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player, Williams-Rhodes gives the Broncos a receiver (team-high 68 catches last year), a rusher (15 for 192 yards) and punt returner (he and Donte Deayon shared the role in 2014). According to the Idaho Press-Tribune, his weight slipped to 156 pounds by the end of last season, but he's put on 12 pounds since then in an effort to get bigger for 2015.

Casey Sapio/Casey Sapio
Size: 5-8, 174 Buzz: Unlike some listed here, Shelton is far more than a speedy special-teams guy. He's made 24 career starts as a Big Ten cornerback in his first two years in the program. He had a stronger season as a freshman in 2013 than last year, and at his size, he can always expect to be tested against bigger receivers. Still, his performance in spring practice provided a more encouraging outlook for 2015.
13 / 15
3. Sojourn Shelton, DB, Wisconsin

Size: 5-8, 174
Buzz: Unlike some listed here, Shelton is far more than a speedy special-teams guy. He's made 24 career starts as a Big Ten cornerback in his first two years in the program. He had a stronger season as a freshman in 2013 than last year, and at his size, he can always expect to be tested against bigger receivers. Still, his performance in spring practice provided a more encouraging outlook for 2015.

Jeff Hanisch/Jeff Hanisch
Size: 5-6, 169 Buzz: The Red Raiders fan favorite exploded for 938 receiving yards last season on 67 catches. He ranked in the top 10 of the Big 12 conference in multiple categories, including catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns (seven), and all-purpose yards per game (124.1). He's also Tech's primary kickoff return man. Look for Grant to crack the 1,000-yard receiving mark this season.
14 / 15
2. Jakeem Grant, WR, Texas Tech

Size: 5-6, 169
Buzz: The Red Raiders fan favorite exploded for 938 receiving yards last season on 67 catches. He ranked in the top 10 of the Big 12 conference in multiple categories, including catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns (seven), and all-purpose yards per game (124.1). He's also Tech's primary kickoff return man. Look for Grant to crack the 1,000-yard receiving mark this season.

Gregory Bull/AP2013
Size: 5-7, 175 Buzz: Likely gets the nod as the best overall player listed here. He's a first-team All-Big Ten performer who tied for the league lead in interceptions last year (six), and returned two of those for touchdowns. His 15 pass breakups also tied for the Big Ten lead. Throw in averages of 11.1 yards on punt returns and 31.0 on kickoff returns, and Maryland simply doesn't have a more valuable player.
15 / 15
1. William Likely, DB, Maryland

Size: 5-7, 175
Buzz: Likely gets the nod as the best overall player listed here. He's a first-team All-Big Ten performer who tied for the league lead in interceptions last year (six), and returned two of those for touchdowns. His 15 pass breakups also tied for the Big Ten lead. Throw in averages of 11.1 yards on punt returns and 31.0 on kickoff returns, and Maryland simply doesn't have a more valuable player.

Patrick Semansky
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