With the College Football Playoff just more than a week away, here’s a look at the five players who will influence the chase for the NCAA title the most.
5. Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Reed gets a lot of love from ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, and for good reason. He is one of the anchors of the third-best defense in the nation, which played most of its schedule against top-notch SEC competition. Defensive tackles don’t normally get a lot of attention, but Reed’s the rare DT with stats to back up the praise.
Miss Alabama Winners Love College QBs
He has only two sacks this year, but he’s piled up 91 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. He clogs up multiple defenders on every play, and let’s the rest of the athletes populating this defense fly around. He’s a nightmare for opponents, and especially for the Spartans who love to establish the run.
4. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
If Reed is going to be wreaking havoc and forcing Michigan State to be one-dimensional, the Cotton Bowl is going to be Cook’s proving ground as an NFL prospect. The Spartans will likely lean on him to tear up Alabama’s defense since they don’t have a 1,000-yard rusher to lean on when the going gets tough. Cook’s weapons are solid but unspectacular, meaning the onus is on him to get the job done.
If Alabama Wins Another Title, Nick Saban May Bolt For NFL
If Cook shines vs. this defense, expect his draft stock to skyrocket.
3. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
Perine is lost in the shuffle with a few other running backs that have had big seasons, but he’s amassed 1,375 yards from scrimmage and scored 16 touchdowns for the third-best offense in the nation. Perine wasn’t in the running for the Heisman Trophy, but he is the engine of the Sooners’ attack, and allows Baker Mayfield to put up such gaudy numbers.
If Oklahoma winds up in a shootout with Clemson in the Orange Bowl, don’t be surprised if they rely on Perine to slow the game just a bit, and wear down the Tigers.
2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
The Heisman Trophy winner has to be on the list. The junior rusher has been a tornado of destruction, posting more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scoring 23 total touchdowns. In the Cotton Bowl, he will be up against a strong, proud Spartans unit that ranked seventh in the country against the run. They allowed just 3.55 yards per attempt. If Henry can’t bust through that front, this could be a nail-biter. If he can, Alabama will cruise.
1. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Clemson is the No. 1 seed nobody seems to believe is for real. Because they played in the ACC they aren’t taken quite as seriously as the other three teams, but Watson’s dual threat offers them the biggest wildcard in the playoff. Sure Watson has 11 interceptions, but he also threw for 3,517 yards and 30 touchdowns, while putting up 887 yards and 11 scores on the ground. That’s right ladies and gents—41 total touchdowns.
Watson’s supporting cast isn’t quite what the other teams have to work with at the skill positions, so if Watson doesn’t play well things could get ugly. But he’s one of the nation’s elite talents, and this Tigers team overall is underrated, beginning with Watson.
