One Breakout Player On Every Power 4 College Football Team

Sup. College Football is finally here, it's right there, you see it? Yup. Saturday. This Saturday. We watch ball, they play ball.

With the ball on our television screens in just a few hours, I wanted to deliver my sorta kinda annual write up on some college football players. This one is all about guys who are primed to breakout and be forces to be reckoned with this fall. I certainly will not hit 100% with these shouts but I hope to be right a good bit and just help you ball watchers get a bit more educated on the pool of talent this sport has to offer.

Note: I opted not to do every team in the FBS for several reasons. If you are upset about that just tweet me or DM me on the Twitters and I'll give you a breakout player for that team or something like that.

ACC + Notre Dame

Reed Harris, WR, Boston College / Under recruited 6-foot-5 wideout from Montana who is aiming to impress in his RS Sophomore campaign. Big body, big target. Bill O’Brien and co. will do what they can to create mismatches with this kid. Shed about 15 pounds, now he’s faster and feeling quicker in his short area movement. If that route-running becomes a bit more refined he’ll be a serious problem.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, Cal / The obvious pick for Cal is the talented true freshman who edged out Devin Brown for the QB1 spot. Was set to be an Oregon Duck and quickly changed course. A Hawaiian lefty who mixes up his throwing pace with frozen ropes and pristine touch. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Jaron-Keawe is one of CFB’s best throwers down the road. His athletic background includes basketball, shot put, and discus throw.

Gideon Davidson, RB, Clemson / Boring pick because it’s the probable/eventual RB1 for a loaded Clemson team. Fun pick because it’s a true freshman who is about to showcase his NFL talents from a very early stage of his collegiate career. Ghana born 6-foot 200 lb back with a track background. Promising blend of size, speed, and strength. Paired with an uncanny ability to explode and breakaway from defenders. Patient, great vision. Will be a menace between the tackles and catching balls out of the backfield. A do it all player with star potential. 

Kimari Robinson, CB, Duke / Duke boasts one of America’s best cornerbacks in Chandler Rivers, opposite of him is a dawg named Kimari Robinson. 5-foot-10 180 lb CB who plays aggressively and can lay the wood. Massive help in run support. Looking forward to seeing him develop as a cover corner and learn from Rivers. He’s got the tools to be a very good player.

Ousmane Kromah, RB, Florida State / True freshman who has received ridiculous amounts of buzz and praise from teammates and staff. A 6-foot-1 218 lb downhill runner who not only destroys those in his path but can bounce off incoming tacklers with innate contact balance. I’ve heard about a lethal juke and jump cut. FSU will have no choice but to find ways to get the rock in his hands this season. A back that can do all things as he’s a gifted route-runner and is more than willing to put the work in as a pass blocker. Guys like this are hard to come by, here’s to hoping he reaches his full potential and becomes a star in this sport.

Will Reed, OT, Georgia Tech / Experienced right tackle who saw action in the last three seasons at Princeton, started all games in 2024. Coveted portal prospect who is a really strong fit in the Georgia Tech offense. He’ll do damage in the run game as he gets out in space and creates space for the Yellow Jackets dynamic ball carriers to coast through. Lettered in basketball back in High School. Funny name.

Rodney Johnson, CB, Louisville / Grad transfer from Southern who worked double shifts the last two seasons. Balancing football and work isn’t always easy, he was also being a parent to his young son. The fact he’ll be playing in the ACC and keeping his NFL dreams alive while juggling all that and living paycheck to paycheck is pretty nuts. On the field he’s very physical, a guy that flies to the ball. Intriguing closing speed, often overly aggressive to try and make a play on the ball. Offers to be a versatile piece. I’d personally find ways to play him at nickel and some safety in addition to corner. Good story, rooting for his success and hope he finds himself in the NFL one day.

Justin Scott, DT, Miami (FL) / Former 5-star who played sparingly as a true freshman last season. He says his footwork feels much more compact now after a strong off-season. He’s working hard on becoming more violent on a consistent rep to rep basis and striking fear into those lining up across from him. Hard worker who is dedicated to his craft and yearns to be great.

Daniel King, OL, North Carolina / 6-foot-5 340 lb force who was a key piece of Troy’s program the previous few years. Set to play guard but has ability to kick out and play tackle as well. Look for him to continue his bulldozing ways and lead the way for Bill Belichick’s ground game. A tremendous leader who teammates rave about. NFL eyes are watching him.

Noah Rogers, WR, NC State / Track kid who had a lot of believers when he arrived at Ohio State as a true freshman, he showed a glimpse of why that is in his RS Freshman season at NC State. Super talented 6-foot-2 pass catcher with excellent leaping ability. Love his stop/start, acceleration in routes. Has a knack for winning contested balls. Can be a very respected NFL Draft prospect if he begins to win with separation.

Kenny Johnson, WR, Pitt / 6-foot-1 200 lb wideout who progressed from 2023 to 2024 from a production standpoint but I expected more and am once again believing in the traits. QB Eli Holstein sees the vision as well by saying, “He’s one of the most elite receivers I’ve been around. He’s got the talent that can separate himself and become a top NFL WR at some point.” I’ve been seeing the vision since 2023, the kid is a nasty route-runner with prolific contested catch skills. Big sticky paws, alpha dog mentality. I think he’s a reliable weapon, a QB’s best friend. Expect a big year from Kenny Johnson and get ready to draft him on your NFL Fantasy teams.

Derrick McFall, RB, SMU / Do it all high school athlete who is set to breakout as SMU’s RB1 this fall. He played QB, RB, and WR in HS in addition to playing basketball and track. 5-foot-11 187 lb threat with a natural feel for the sport as evidenced by playing everywhere on offense in HS. Explosive. Innate receiving skills out of the backfield. 

Micah Ford, RB, Stanford / 6-foot 200 lb back who made ACC All-Academic Team as a true freshman. Showed flashes of promise but didn’t run for a single TD in 2024, expect that to change! Ran for 122 yards on 15 carries at Clemson last season. I like his wiggle. Appreciate his quick decisiveness. With plenty of volume coming his way, look for a big improvement on his numbers and buzz going into 2026.

Demetres Samuel Jr., CB/WR, Syracuse / Freak. One of the most intriguing players in the country. He turned 17 years old in April and will start at CB on day one for an ACC program. While getting looks on offense as a receiving playmaker that will demand the ball be in his hands. Out of this world athlete with jaw dropping speed. Outrageous range, sticky coverage, wild hands. Must see TV. Syracuse is home to a future star.

Xavier Brown, RB, Virginia / 5-foot-10 198 lb vet who is in a crowded backfield but has shown plenty of promise when he’s been on the field. Health permitting, Xavier Brown should excel. Displays remarkable balance and burst. Tough, bowling ball stature. Breakaway speed is underrated.

Quentin Reddish, S, Virginia Tech / The type of safety you don’t want to see playing against your favorite team. Scary, menacing presence at 6-foot-3 205 lb. Flies to the ball, just has a nose for being around it at all times. Tenacious hitter. Do not meet him in the middle. The staff sees a great player here, he was the lone member of the Hokies 2024 recruiting class to avoid redshirt status. 

Micah Mays Jr., WR, Wake Forest / 6-foot-2 184 lb wideout who is the only receiver with production under his belt that was on the team last year. Turned 16 catches into 218 yards and two touchdowns. Will build off that in 2025, although there is a QB concern and if they can actually get him the ball or not. Natural separator with impressive strides, acceleration, and explosion. Decorated track and field athlete who accomplished many feats such as: gold in Florida’s 1A 400-meter dash and triple jump, third in high jump, personal best of 47.52 in 400-meter dash and 45 '11.75 " in triple jump. Also played basketball in HS. 

Anthonie Knapp, OL, Notre Dame / Talented kid who started in every game he played in as a true freshman. Versatile at 6-foot-4 300 lb, he can kick inside or play out. Distributes his weight nicely. Big time finisher, gets nasty and dirty. Maybe not the truest breakout selection but I see a guy who will enter the 2026 season as one of the sports very best in the trenches and need to give him the recognition he deserves. Might just be the future of your favorite NFL teams O-Line.

Big 12

Isaiah Mizell, WR, Arizona / True freshman 6-foot-1 161 lb burner with a track background who clocked in at 22 MPH during a HS game last fall. Natural separator, extreme vertical threat. Needs to add on a bit of weight/strength.

Martell Hughes, LB, Arizona State / Saw plenty of PT as a true freshman where he shined on special teams. High effort grinder who exhibits remarkable tenacity, closing speed, and plus athleticism. Bendy. Played QB, RB, WR, LB, and S in HS.

LeVar Thornton Jr., CB, Baylor / RS Sophomore who showed flashes last season. Dave Aranda has been excited about this kid since he stepped on campus. Tall at 6-foot-3. He’s long and wiry with major athleticism. Fluid hips. Basketball and high jump background.

Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU / True freshman who has the potential to be a future star in CFB. Built like a tank at 6-foot-2 225 lb, he can win with his arm or legs. Yeah, shockingly the quarterback wearing No. 47 is going to run dudes over like it's easy or something. A brilliant mind, can manipulate a defense. Was a highly sought after recruit for a reason. Hails from the Bachmeier Dynasty, don't disrespect his name.

Rukeem Stroud, CB, UCF / Probably early to this one but… 5-foot-11 160 lb corner who doesn’t shy down from anyone. True freshman who is remarkably quick and possesses elite speed. He’s physical, active hands, very scrappy. Scrawnier so needs to put on weight. 

Jiquan Sanks, S, Cincinnati / Comes from the Phenix City, AL pipeline. Saw valuable reps as a true freshman in 2024. A heat seeking missile who hits a big stick and inflicts serious pain. Growing rapidly with his coverage skills.

Omarion Miller, WR, Colorado / Highly talented 6-foot-2 WR who floats with acrobatic ball skills and stellar hands. Needs to stay healthy and he can have a massive season that helps establish NFL Draft stock.

Koby Young, WR, Houston / Highly confident wideout who believes he has supreme abilities. Those around him are big believers too. Tracks the ball very well. Smooth route-runner, like his pace. Playmaker. Can’t wait to watch him. Says he’d be a sniper if he didn’t play football.

Tre Bell, CB, Iowa State / Tall, long limbed smotherer. 6-foot-2 205 lb corner who transfers in from Lindenwood. NFL evaluators will salivate over this guy. Was set to play both basketball and football at Lindenwood but opted to focus fully on football and greatly improve his chances at playing in the NFL.

Calvin Clements, OT, Kansas / 6-foot-7 315 lb kid from Lawrence, Kansas. Ups and downs in limited play thus far. Raw. But just a RS sophomore who didn’t start playing football until sixth grade. Has had a terrific offseason. The hope is that he’s learned from mistakes and can build off that. You’re banking on the massive frame, big reach, and hunger to improve.

Chiddi Obiazor, EDGE, Kansas State / Monster of a human who boasts a massive wingspan. 6-foot-6 275 lb with daunting arms and quick moving feet. Powerful, needs to understand how to distribute that power and force better. Ceiling is very high.

Josh Ford, TE, Oklahoma State / 6-foot-6 265 lb true sophomore from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Had just one offer out of HS and it was the hometown team. Had 10/92/1 in his true freshman season and looks to evolve in 2025. Played TE and DL in HS. Electric and lovable personality. Ginger with a sick mullet, respect.

Ryan Hughes, OT, TCU / Big, physical, active 6-foot-6 290 lb OT who gets to the point of attack with a purpose and looks to deliver a crushing finish. Nasty streak, could be a great run blocker. Wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL ends up seeing him as a guard in a few years.

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech / NDSU transfer who didn’t play in 2024 due to a broken foot. Former linebacker who transitioned to safety and made waves in the FCS. 8 INT’s in 2023. Rangy and instinctual ballhawk who flies to the ball to make painful hits or disrupt a pass catcher trying to make a play. Elite athlete who played QB and safety in HS in addition to being a captain on the basketball team as well as doing track and field.

Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah / 6-foot-6 302 lb OT who anchors the left side while partner in crime Spencer Fano gets the right. An elite pass protector who attacks edge rushers early and stuns them with active, powerful hands. Pure footwork. He’s the forgotten man because Fano gets all the love but Lomu has the potential to be a top 10 pick as well.

Diore Hubbard, RB, West Virginia / WVU’s crowded backfield is in a weird spot as only Hubbard and Jaheim White have been practicing due to the others being banged up or waiting on waivers. This gives Hubbard an opportunity to impress and carve out a role in a hyper fast Rich Rod offense where he expects multiple backs to produce and hit home-runs. I like his long speed and wiggle. 

Big Ten

Ca’Lil Valentine, RB, Illinois / Great footwork, feet are always churning, slippery and a thumper. Bret Bielema told me he has high hopes for Valentine and it's easy to see why.

Amare Ferrell, S, Indiana / Rover who boasts a monstrous frame at 6-foot-2 200 lbs. Great coverage skills with innate physicality, can rush the passer too. Shoutout Mike Katic for the knowledge here.

Kade Pieper, RG, Iowa / No. 22 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. 6-foot-4 290 lbs, Gronowski and Dunker raved about this kid and said he’s going to blow up. Holds program record for fastest short shuttle at 4.13 among guards, insane athlete. Shot putter background. Back to back Hay Bale Toss champion.

Neeo Avery, EDGE, Maryland / Local kid who was an important recruit and has fully recovered from his ACL injury, 6-foot-6 249 lbs with long, daunting arms. 2025 is a make or break year.

Hogan Hansen, TE, Michigan / 6-foot-5 236 lbs, versatile, big time athlete, basketball background, will blossom into a NFL caliber TE, one of my favorite TE prospects in the sport. Big frame, big hands, big after the catch ability. Tank.

Stanton Ramil, OT, Michigan State / One of the best stories in sports, doctors advised the family to abort him due to expectation of severe birth defects. His mom and dad just wanted their baby to have a chance at life. 6-foot-7 312 lb tackle moves well and packs a powerful punch. Mike Katic says he does a much better job at blocking down as opposed to blocking out. Oozing with physical traits and leadership that will have NFL FO’s foaming at the mouth to draft him one day

Anthony Smith, EDGE, Minnesota / 6-foot-6 285 lb freak athlete who is wiry and looking to hit double digit sacks this season. Folks don't know his name right now but he's a potential top 60 pick.

Nyziah Hunter, WR, Nebraska / Made waves at Cal as a RS Freshman in 2024, can make plenty of noise at Nebraska in 2025. If this team is good, he’ll be popping off and people will take notice. 6-foot-1 contested catch machine who boasts big time tracking ability. Reportedly clocked in at 22 MPH as well, would love to see him blossom into a consistently dangerous vertical threat.

Griffin Wilde, WR, Northwestern / Highly productive FCS product who does lethal damage after the catch. Far and away the best pro prospect on Northwestern and truthfully should be playing at a much better program but has good connections to NW. Will be drafted and I think will carve out a successful pro career, I’ve been a believer since before he played a down at S Dak St.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio State / 6-foot-6 265 lb who doesn’t have the production under his belt but has the frame, twitch, and god given ability to be a high first round pick. Those inside the Buckeyes program salivate over the talent here.

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon / More than willing blocker but the main intrigue is uber athleticism. Smooth with and without the rock in his hands, a TE who moves like a WR and you can line him up just about anywhere. No. 11 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List

Elliot Washington II, CB, Penn State / Very physical CB who uses long arms to overwhelm WRs. Good disruptor who can jar ball loose. Grabby. Hit 23 MPH and ran a 4.32 40

George Burhenn, TE, Purdue / 6-foot-5 235 lb security blanket who should see solid production on a Purdue team that will trail in plenty of games. A bit raw but fluid. Played WR, TE, S, Track and Field, and Basketball in HS. 

KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers / Big 6-foot-6 227 lb pass catcher who hauled in 27 for 425 as a true freshman. Big confident hands. Moves so well regardless of his size, natural.

Jaivian Thomas, RB, UCLA / Home run hitting back with NFL size, speed, vision, and decisiveness. Clean cutter. Hard worker who puts the extra work into pass pro, ultra competitor

Kameryn Fountain, EDGE, USC / 6-foot-6 wiry, twitchy pass rusher with violent hands and remarkable closing speed. D’Anton Lynn is one of the best DC’s in CFB and will unleash Fountain in frightening ways

Rahshawn Clark, DB, Washington / Versatile DB who can play CB, S, and Nickel. Natural ball skills thanks to his love for WR which he also played in HS. Innate closing speed on the ball and natural ability to dissect routes.

Grant Stec, TE, Wisconsin / Promising young 6-foot-6 tight end from Sleepy Hollow, Illinois. An injury to TE1 Tucker Ashcraft will open up a lane for Grant Stec to succeed in his first action as a Badger. Big body pass catcher who offers a nice catch radius to work with. Truly a modern era TE as he looks to use his size out wide and in the slot creating mismatches and using that large stature to bully defenders. Ideally he can become a field stretcher too. Played basketball and track in high school. Future NFL guy.

SEC

Wilkin Formby, RT, Alabama / 6-foot-7 324 lbs from Tuscaloosa. Technical player who has become much more physical throughout his development. DeBoer has big expectations for him this season.

Braylen Russell, RB, Arkansas / Made an impact as a true freshman and looks to build off that with a big 2025. Thick 6-foot-1 238 lb back who runs downhill hard. Physical and nasty, great vision and natural instincts.

Demarcus Riddick, LB, Auburn / Prototypical daunting linebacker with a nasty streak. Talks a lot of trash. Flies to the ball with violence and looks to inflict serious pain on every piece of contact. The type of backer you see at one of the SEC’s premier schools and say… “Yeah, that guy looks like he’s in the NFL”

Dallas Wilson, WR, Florida / True freshman with a terrific build, great speed, and promising hands. Track background. Paces himself very well. Acrobatic as heck. Potential to be a game breaker one day.

Elijah Griffin, IDL, Georgia / True freshman 6-foot-4 310 lb mythical beast. Everything you hear about him from any source is the highest praise imaginable. Big, strong, scary demon with elite skills and traits across the board. Arms are monstrous, frighteningly quick. He’s going to be playing high high high levels of football for years to come. Shot put background.

Hardley Gilmore IV, WR, Kentucky / Showed promise as a true freshman on a bad Kentucky team, six catches for 153 and a TD. 6-foot-1 183 lb left for Nebraska but returned to Kentucky in the same off-season. Blazing speed, nice release package.

Ahmad Breaux, IDL, LSU / 6-foot-3 278 lb plays for his high school coach and former LSU/NFL IDL Kyle Williams who is now LSU’s DL coach. Smart, powerful, versatile, fierce player. Switched to the interior thanks to eating spicy bacon burgers from Whataburger which helped him gain over 50 lbs.

Austin Simmons, QB, Ole Miss / 6-foot-4 215 lb brainiac who is an elite athlete with pro potential in both football and baseball. Lefty who throws a frozen rope, can fit it into the tightest of spots, and leads his receivers very well. Will be one of the best QBs in CFB, I honestly consider this an extremely lazy breakout call but it’s the right pick. Can't wait to watch him on Saturday's and Sunday's.

Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State / Long and lean 6-foot-4 195 lb corner with big speed. Converted from S to CB. Traitsy and raw, needs to progress as a player but the foundation is there.

Donovan Olugbode, WR, Mizzou / Exciting true freshman talent who should force his way onto the field in a solid WR room. NFL build at 6-foot-2 207 lb and still growing. Route technician and outrageous ball skills. A dawg.

Eli Bowen, CB, Oklahoma / Undersized, scrappy and savvy 5-foot-9 183 lb who plays with a super high motor and tenacity. Gets up in your face at the LOS. Continue to show progression as a cover corner and stocks will continue to rise.

Michael Smith, TE, South Carolina / Safety blanket who provides a big target at 6-foot-6 248 lb. Receiver like ball skills and agility. Expect Smith to be a workhorse and heavy target in the red zone.

Jordan Ross, EDGE, Tennessee / Menacing 6-foot-5 245 lb explosive edge rusher with extreme length. Was a highly touted recruit and looks to make his mark as a true sophomore on a very good Tennessee defense. High end disruptor.

Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas / 6-foot-2 214 lb future NFL WR who I expect a massive season and career from. Savvy route runner with elite tracking skills and plus speed. Innate ability to find soft spots. Buy all the stock you can.

Dezz Ricks, CB, Texas A&M / 6-foot-1 195 lb fast, explosive corner who had his ups and downs as a young RS Freshman in 2024. Fast moving hips. Active arms, really comes down on receivers trying to make a play. 

CJ Heard, S, Vandy / Former two-way player who excelled in his role at FAU as a true freshman. Gets a real chance in a crucial role at Vandy to showcase his game on a national level in a premier conference. Rangy, nosy, dissector. Nicknamed The Sea Snake.  

Thank you for reading, have a great day or night or morning. Enjoy your college football this season!