Top NCAA Football Superstars for the Coming Season

In college football, just like most competitive sports, playing efficiently on the field is important, but without an image to back it all up, that efficiency sometimes gets overlooked. Often, a good image sells, as was the case for NFL-bound Marcus Mariota, who clinched the 2014-2015 Heisman Trophy in a landslide with 2,534 votes and won all the five voting regions. His closest rival, Melvin Gordon, was only able to rack up 1,250 votes. In spite of his Superstar status, Mariota is known to have an admirable on and off-field discipline, no wander many NFL teams are dying to have him, as opposed to Jameis Winston, whose stardom has been marred by countless controversies, making him a risky gamble. Still, in the media, the general “silent” rule is that negative sells… that’s why tabloids and news sites are often filled with names and activities about the “bad boys”, with very little attention being given to the good-doers. Nevertheless, whether you are as disciplined as Mariota, or as explosive in character as Winston, the bottom line is that the Superstar status more often than not proves invaluable at some point in your career, especially if you couple it with a strong performance on the field. Former Texas A&M player Johnny Manziel and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III are good examples of just how important it is to be a celebrated figure in the world of college football. With that in mind, here are our projections for the players likely to emerge as top superstars in the 2015 college football betting season.

Here are our Top NCAA Football Odds Superstars for the Coming Season

@TweetTheFrogs Check out my new Trevone Boykin highlights! https://t.co/QQqFDPi9Bs — Texas (@HookemHorns2015) March 8, 2015

Quarterback Trevone Boykin, TCU Horned Frogs

Out of the 2014 Heisman Trophy contenders, Boykin is the highest returning finisher, with the likes of Mariota, Winston, Gordon and Amari Cooper all headed to the NFL. In the Heisman voting, Boykin amassed 218 votes (including seven first-place votes). The quarterback’s exploits for the Frogs in 2014 were beyond amazing, setting single-season records for touchdown passes (33), passing yards (3,901), total touchdowns (42 total, 33 passing, 9 running) and total offensive yards (4,608). Also, he ranked at No. 3 in the country in total offense at 354.5 YPG and became the third QB since 2009 to average at least 300 YPG passing (300.1) and 50 YPG rushing (54.4). The other QBs were Manziel and RGIII. The Big 12 did not fail to notice Boykin’s contributions, naming him the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week four times in 2014. Simply put, it’s hard to see any quarterback shine better than Boykin next year, particularly with Mariota and Winston (the other two strong QBs from the 2014 CFB season) turning Pro. Also, with nine starters back in the Frogs’ offense, Boykin should be able to continue with his stellar numbers and catapult himself to an enviable Superstar status, probably even winning next season’s Heisman Trophy in the process. In fact, it is probably because of Boykin’s efficiency (together with on and off-field discipline like Mariota) that TCU has been placed as second-favorites on college football odds to win the 2015-2016 College Football Playoff.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State Buckeyes

Elliot, the highly-praised offensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl and offensive MVP of last season’s national championship game, is certainly going to be a player that many people will be watching an talking about in 2015. Though Alabama’s Mark Ingram is the only running back in this century to win the Heisman (in 2009), there is no doubt that Elliot is able to rise to the occasion next year and give a performance worthy of that title. The only problem with Elliot’s limelight is that he will be playing alongside the star-studded Ohio State quarterback trio Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, and J.T. Barrett, who may overshadow his exploits. This may considerably bring down his celebrity status and even his Heisman votes. Still, be sure that Elliot will have a big year and probably finish next season ranked among the best running backs in the country for the 2015-2016 NCAA football season.

Quarterbacks Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, and J.T. Barrett, Ohio State Buckeyes

As glimpsed above, it’s going to a tough run in Ohio State as Jones, Miller and Barrett will be fighting for the QB position. Jones, a former third-stringer and a redshirt sophomore, replaced Barrett after he got injured in the final game of the regular season. Before his first start in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin, Jones only had 19 total pass attempts in his career. Still, that did not stop him from shining as he was 12-of-17 for 257 yards and three TDs to lead his team to a 59-0 shutout of the highly-rated Badgers. After that, Jones proved to be very efficient against Alabama’s top-ranked defense, going 18-of-35 for 243 yards, one score and one pick, while also rushing 17 times for a total of 43 yards, leading the Buckeyes to a 42-35 upset win over Bama. Come the national finals, Jones was at it again, going 16-of-23 for 242 yards, a score and a pick, while also rushing 21 times for a total of 38 yards and a running TD against Mariota and Oregon. Of course, his performance against the Ducks led to a National Championship title for Urban Meyer’s team. After leading the Bucks to a national trophy, and doing so in just three starts is simply magnificent, and I doubt if Meyer will be putting him on the sidelines come next year. In the early college football betting odds, Bovada lists Jones as the favorite to get the starting QB role, something I fully agree with and expect to happen. Miller, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, was sidelined earlier last season with an injury and is still in rehab. Recent reports indicate that he will not be able to practice until he completes his surgery around late May 2015. Still, Miller is a proven offensive player, who can function as a QB, WR and RB, so he should be able to find somewhere to fit in, either as a Buckeye, or as transfer to another FBS school. Already there are reports linking Miller with a move to Florida State, Oregon and LSU, since those teams are in dire need of viable QB replacements. It would therefore not be a surprise if Miller opted for such high-profile transfers, rather than stay in Ohio State where he is not guaranteed game-time or a starting role. Oh, and Miller already graduated, so he will be eligible to play immediately in case he transfers to another FBS school. Whether he stays at Ohio State or goes to another school, Miller is bound to be a hit in 2015, so don’t sleep on him. If you ask me, I’d tell you to pick Miller to go to FSU, where I believe he’ll be best fitted to play. Barrett, since replacing Miller earlier last season until his injury at the end of the season, was in sensational form and Meyer is likely to keep him at Ohio State. Plus, it would be advantageous for Miller to stay because, if he transfers to another FBS school, he would have to sit out for a year, while if he stays with the Bucks, the starting job will probably be his in the two seasons after 2015, with Jones highly likely to turn Pro after the 2015 season. Furthermore, Meyer has a history of being able to use two QBs without any problem. In 2006, when Meyer won his first national title with the Gators, he used both senior Chris Leak and the talented freshman Tim Tebow at quarterback, though with Leak enjoying most starts at that time. Still, Tebow got some good playing time, which is the reason he later became a hit in the world of football. Added to the fact that injuries do happen, as was the case last year, Barrett could see himself find some good game time and experience as he looks to get the starting role when Jones is gone.

Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA

In the Class of 2015, Rosen was regarded as the top pocket-passing quarterback, strikingly complemented by his strong arms and off-the-charts football IQ. With UCLA’s three-year starter Brett Hundley headed for the 2015 NFL draft, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Rosen should be able to find his way into the hearts of UCLA fans and a starting role in his team, especially after he posted an incredible 8,473 passing yards and a whopping 90 TDs in his career at St. John Bosco. Of course, Rosen will have to fight for his spot with Hundley’s backups, but none of them offer serious competition, so although Rosen may not start immediately, he is likely to be in the driving seat once he gets starting opportunities. On his own, Rosen has the potential to be a superstar, like Hundley who was the best QBs in UCLA’s history, but what is likely to propel him quickly to Superstardom is the fact that one of Rosen’s targets in the team will be freshman receiver Cordell Broadus, son of the famous American rapper Snoop Dogg. Expectedly, the media has been obsessed with Broadus, following his moves on the field, while also keeping tabs on him off the field, including his tweets and anything he says to his friends or teammates. This overwhelming media focus is sure to spill on Rosen, which is likely to see him become one of the hottest freshmen quarterbacks in 2015. And speaking of freshmen, keep an eye out for nation’s top tight end recruit Chris Clark (UCLA); the nation’s top-ranked dual-threat QB Kyler Murray (Texas A&M) who is coincidentally the son of Kevin Murray, a former star A&M quarterback; the nation’s No. 1 receiver recruit Calvin Ridley (Alabama) who will be looking to fill Amari Cooper’s big shoes alongside the Tide’s returning receivers Chris Black (15 catches in 2014) and ArDarius Stewart (12 catches in 2014); and the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit defensive end Byron Cowart (Auburn) who chose Auburn specifically to work with defensive maestro Will Muschamp (Auburn’s defensive coordinator and former Florida head coach).

Other Remarkable Superstars to Watch out for in 2015

Nick Chubb

(Georgia Bulldogs) Posted 1,547 running yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman, in spite of playing second fiddle to Todd Gurley (who got suspended and later injured). Chubb should be able to have a better season now that Gurley is destined for the NFL.

Dak Prescott

(Mississippi State Bulldogs) Was an early favorite for the Heisman last year, but his odds plummeted as the Bulldogs slipped out of contention in the SEC. The junior QB ended the season with 244-of-396 passes for 3449 yards, 27 TDs and 11 picks, which saw him finish at No. 8 in the Heisman votes. As long as he avoids clubbing too much and getting into unnecessary trouble, while his team starts and finishes the season strongly, Prescott should have another solid season and become a household name among NCAAF betting enthusiasts.

Deshaun Watson

(Clemson Tigers) Completed 93 of 137 (67.9 percent) passes for 1466 yards, 14 TDs and just two picks in 2014. As long as he can fully heal from his ACL surgery, he will be a force to reckon with in 2015.

Cody Kessler

(Southern California) Posted 3,826 passing yards, 39 TDs and just five picks in 2014 and should be a massive hit in 2015. However, the loss of his top receiver Nelson Agholor may affect his output, unless Cal finds a good replacement.