2018
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Devin Singletary – RB – Florida Atlantic
Lane Kiffin’s tweets may help Singletary. Despite playing in the
Conference USA, Singletary’s talent should enable him to make
enough flashy runs to turn some heads on SportsCenter. He led
all rushers in touchdowns with 32 while averaging 6.4 yards per
carry last season. Lane Kiffin is known for finding ways to get
his playmakers the ball in various ways, look for Singletary’s
name to hit the scene come mid-season.
Tua Tagovailoa – QB – Alabama
The talented left-handed quarterback was given limited playing
time in 2017 but made the most of what he was given. Tagovailoa
is known for the dramatic comeback he led the Crimson Tide
in the second half of the National Championship game against
Georgia where he took over for Jalen Hurts and threw three
touchdowns including the game-winner. Tagovailoa was a
five-star recruit with the ability to make plays with his feet as well
as his arm. Alabama quarterbacks will always be in the spotlight,
so Tagovailoa is an obvious candidate for the Heisman.
Justice Hill – RB – Oklahoma State
The rising junior is one of the most explosive playmakers in the
country. Hill has a deadly combination of elusiveness and speed
that allows him to go the distance each time he touches the ball.
Last year he racked up over 1,500 on the ground and sixteen
touchdowns. As the featured player in Mike Gundy’s run and
shoot offense, the Cowboys’ running back very well could have
a seat in New York come December. Will people respect Big 12
defenses enough to respect Hill’s numbers?
Bryce Love – RB – Stanford
Love is arguably the most dangerous player in the country with
great vision and ability to break the first tackle. Add in elite speed,
and you have quite a weapon. He led all Power 5 rushers with
2,118 rushing yards. With big games all throughout the season
and a head coach that is committed to the run game, look for the
Cardinal running back to be in New York in December.
Jonathan Taylor – RB – Wisconsin
The Badgers’ running back led the Big Ten and broke Adrian
Peterson’s NCAA freshman record for rushing yards in a single
season with 1,977 yards. Taylor has a great chance of putting up
even better numbers as the entire starting offensive line returns.
Will Grier – QB – West Virginia
Grier possesses the knack for making big plays and is one of the
best passers in the country. With weapons all around him and a
coach who loves to put the ball in the air, the Mountaineers quarterback
is a top candidate to be in New York to accept the Heisman.
AJ Dillon – RB – Boston College
The workhorse running back is among the best in the country
and will carry the Eagles offense this season. We have not seen
a running back with this type of style since Toby Gerhart at
Stanford when he made his Heisman run. Dillon will need his
Eagles to win 8-9 games for him to warrant significant attention.
Jake Browning – QB – Washington
Browning is coming off a shoulder injury he suffered in November,
but if he comes back as the same player, he’s capable of
garnering Heisman consideration. In 2016 he led his Huskies to
a college playoff game and tossed forty-three touchdowns.
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Heisman Hopefuls
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SCOTT FROST UCF Nebraska
The Nebraska alumnus is the perfect fit at the right time for the
Cornhuskers who are trying to catch the likes of Penn State,
Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Michigan. Prior
to his stint at UCF capped off by a 13-0 season, Frost was the
offensive coordinator at Oregon where he ran a prolific offense—
like one often unseen in the Big Ten which plays in slow motion
compared to some other more offensively-inclined conferences.
That offensive style gives Oregon the chance to be unique and
thus harder for opponents to prepare to play.
JIMBO FISHER Florida State Texas A&M
Jimbo is one of the top coaches in the game, proving that he can
recruit and develop top talent year after year. His last several
seasons with the Noles were overshadowed only by Dabo
Swinney and Clemson. Fisher will make 7.5 million dollars each
year at A&M, a program which has had only pedestrian success
in the SEC. The Aggies have fallen behind a program like TCU
in terms of perpetual competitiveness. That does not sit well
with prideful Aggie fans. Fisher developed three first round
quarterbacks at Florida State which quarterbacks rapidly
transferred from A&M. That is sure to change.
DAN MULLEN Mississippi State Florida
Mullen made Mississippi State competitive without the pedigree
and history of the Florida program. Mullen was 69-46 in
Starkville, made eight straight bowls, and never complained
about what is certainly the toughest job in the SEC West. Mullen
will thrive in his return to Gainesville thanks to better resources
and more fertile recruiting ground. He’s a steady hand for a
program that has had too much turnover in recent years.
JEREMY PRUITT Defensive Coordinator at Alabama Tennessee
Pruitt is the first name on this list without head coaching experience.
The Tennessee coaching search saw fans rebel against a hire like
former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano who is not the right fit or
personality for Knoxville. Vols fans’ efforts ultimately proved
successful in getting a better fit and football mind in Pruitt. His
style is not flashy or all about ball, but that is what Tennessee
needed after Butch Jones’ built Tennessee with paper instead of
the solid bricks he professed. Pruitt was at Florida State before
Alabama. In his only season as defensive coordinator there, the
Noles defense allowed just 12.1 points per game en route to a
national championship.
CHIP KELLY Purgatory UCLA
Kelly, the former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach is back
on the west coast coaching a Pac-12 team where he built his
legacy as an offensive innovator. From 2009-2012 at Oregon,
Kelly’s Ducks were 46-7 and played for a national championship.
Unfortunately, Marcus Mariota is not walking through the door
to quarterback the Bruins, but Kelly will develop talent. He’s at a
top spot in the Pac-12 and should reel in talent. He’s a solid hire
even if he does not win forty-six games right away like he did at UO.
CHAD MORRIS SMU Arkansas
A quiet guy by nature, Morris will be quite a change for the
Razorbacks. Last year, he led SMU to their first bowl game
since 2012.
WILLIE TAGGART Oregon Florida State
Taggart spent just one year at Oregon but proved to be one of
the hottest names in the profession. Taggart is an offensive
genius who should attract top talent in Tallahassee, Florida, a
state in which talent is around every corner.
KEVIN SUMLIN Texas A&M Arizona
Arizona is the least desirable job on this list thus far, but they
landed a proven winner in Sumlin. Contrast that to Arizona
State’s hire of former NFL coach Herm Edwards, and you see
why this is a good hire for the Wildcats.
MARIO CRISTOBAL Offensive Coordinator at Oregon
Head Coach at Oregon
Cristobal was not immensely successful at FIU in his five years
at the helm there, and as a result, some believe Oregon settled
with this hire, but if he can keep continuity with what Taggart
started, he can have success in Eugene. Cristobal spent four years
learning from Nick Saban after that FIU stint.
JOSH HEUPEL Missouri Offensive Coordinator UCF
Heupel is an up-and-coming offensive mind that inherits high
expectations after a 13-0 season. Missouri averaged 31.4 points
per game in Heupel’s lone season at the helm.
College football’s coaching carousel season brought
twenty-one changes after the 2017 season that
featured big names, big schools, and a
coaching search unlike any ever seen
before at the University of Tennessee.
Eventually, the Vols found their man
along with twenty other schools.
By Alex Apple
By Alex Apple
40 COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY 41
Tiger Stadium (Death Valley)
Louisiana State Tigers
Located in Baton Rouge, where fans of the
purple and gold create the most hostile and
hectic environment for an opposing team in
the country. With an actual Tiger on hand for
each game, plus 92,542 fans coming together
constantly chanting, heckling and creating ear
deafening noise are just a few reasons why Tiger
stadium is known as “Death Valley.”
Kyle Field
Texas A&M Aggies
It seats 102,733, making it the biggest stadium in the SEC.
Nicknamed the “12th Man” because it is known that the fans
here create one of the biggest home-field advantages. Being a
part of the 12th Man, singing The Aggie War Hymn and
rocking with the rest of the stadium creates one of the most
unique environments in college football. The Aggies recently
completed a much-needed upgrade the stadium, cementing its
spot in the top eight.
The Rose Bowl
University of California Los Angeles Bruins
Known as “The Granddaddy of Them All”, the prestigious
Rose Bowl located in Pasadena, California seats 94,392. This
national historic landmark is home to 1 of 5 BCS (Bowl
Championship Series) bowl games and has been a host to
two different Olympic games.
STADIUMS
By Alex Apple
Best
Neyland Stadium
Tennessee Volunteers
It all starts with the “Pride of the Southland
Band” forming a “T” for the team to run out to
102,455 screaming fans. As the national anthem
concludes, you will hear three fighter jets flying
over the stadium as the “T” begins to open. We
hope you like “Rocky Top” if you attend a game
here because it will get stuck in your head for
weeks. The Vol Navy rolling up the banks of the
Tennessee river is a phenomenal tradition just
outside of the stadium.
Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Nearly 105,000 come together to watch the
Buckeyes play in Columbus at one of the most
unique stadiums in the country. It is called “The
Horseshoe” because well…that’s what it looks like.
These fans create one of the biggest advantages
there is in college football, and they are also known
for some of the best gameday tailgating. When a
celebrity or local legend dots, the “i” in Ohio State,
you can feel the passion of all 105,000 in the stadium.
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Alabama Crimson Tide
Could we have gotten through a list
without putting Alabama on it in
some capacity? The Greek life knows
how to throw a party in Tuscaloosa,
and you will likely leave that place
with a loss. From 1963 to 1982, they
won 57 games in a row at home. With
Nick Saban, they could do that again.
Michigan Stadium (The Big House)
Michigan Wolverines
As the largest stadium in the US and the third largest in the
world, we know how Michigan Stadium got its nickname
“The Big House.” It has an official seating capacity of 109,901,
although it set the NCAA single-game attendance record in
2010 with 113,090. It’s a bucket-list destination.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp)
Florida Gators
“Welcome to The Swamp,” the sign reads inside the stadium.
Welcoming 88,548 people each week, Florida is known for their
on-the-field swag. The fans have some of the best off-the-field
swag as they all are decked out in orange and blue. They
collectively sing “We Are the Boys” and are known for the
“Gator Chomp.”
CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
30 Elevating a Program:
Will Healy’s Journey at Austin Peay
By Connor Scott
32 Heisman Hopefuls
By Alex Apple
34 Impact Transfers
By Alex Apple
36 NFL Mock Draft
By Alex Apple
38 Coaching Carousel
By Alex Apple
40 Best Stadiums
By Alex Apple
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY 7