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16 for '16: Top prospects from outside Power 5
Much of the hype heading into each season surrounds stars from the Football Bowl Subdivision's Power 5 conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. Throw Notre Dame into that mix, as well.
But last year, Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) power North Dakota State had the No. 2 overall draft pick in QB Carson Wentz. In fact, four first-rounders were picked from schools outside the Power 5 (plus, Notre Dame) last April while nine others landed in the top 100.
As part of CFB 24/7's "16 for 16" series, I reviewed the top 16 players from outside the Power 5. Three stars from the FCS are included here, while the rest hail from the other FBS conferences.
1 / 16
16. Corey Levin, OT, Chattanooga
Jeff Hurndon/University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2 / 16
15. Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State
Youngstown State University
3 / 16
14. Jeremy Cutrer, CB, Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State University
4 / 16
13. B.J. Singleton, DT, Houston
Troy Taormina/USATODAY SPORTS/Troy Taormina
5 / 16
12. Steven Taylor, LB, Houston
Troy Taormina/USATODAY SPORTS/Troy Taormina
6 / 16
11. Brandon Wilson, CB, Houston
Troy Taormina/USATODAY SPORTS/Troy Taormina
7 / 16
10. Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming
Blaine McCartney/Associated Press
8 / 16
9. Nico Siragusa, OG, San Diego State
Jake Roth/USA TODAY SPORTS/Jake Roth
9 / 16
8. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
Alex Gallardo/Associated Press
10 / 16
7. Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press
11 / 16
6. Marlon Mack, RB, USF
Chris O'Meara/Associated Press
12 / 16
5. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Patrick Record/Associated Press
13 / 16
4. Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
Parker Waters/Associated Press
14 / 16
3. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
David Richard/Associated Press
15 / 16
2. Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State
Aaron M. Sprecher/Associated Press
16 / 16
1. Greg Ward Jr., WR, Houston
John Bazemore/Associated Press
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