20 players to watch during the College Football Playoff

Big players step up when games are on the line, and the second edition of the College Football Playoff has no shortage of star power.

Here’s a look at 20 players to keep an eye on during the 2015-16 College Football Playoff.

1. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – Henry has amassed an SEC single-season record 1,986 yards (and counting) and 23 touchdowns this season and is one of three players nominated for this year’s Heisman Award.
2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson – Watson joins Henry in New York among the Heisman finalists after leading Clemson to a 13-0 record. The quarterback threw for 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns, and ran for another 887 yards on the ground to go along with 11 rushing touchdowns.
3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – Mayfield has rejuvenated the Sooners behind 3,389 yards and 35 touchdowns. Guiding Oklahoma to an 11-1 record, many believe the junior was snubbed by the Heisman committee.
4. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama – The SEC named Ragland as it’s 2015 Defensive Player of the Year. The senior returned to Tuscaloosa this year to lead the Crimson Tide with 90 tackles, 6. 5 TFL and 2.5 sacks.
5. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson – Lawson’s 22.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks lead the nation and have convinced the Clemson junior to declare for the 2016 NFL Draft.
6. Conner Cook, QB, Michigan State – The winningest quarterback in Michigan State history, Cook was given the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the top fourth- or fifth-year quarterback in nation. He finished the season with 2,921 yards and 24 touchdowns.
7. Eric Striker, LB, Oklahoma – Striker is a tackles-for-loss machine for Oklahoma, tallying 16.5, including 7.5 sacks, for the Sooners and rarely holds back his feelings.

8. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma – Perine, owner of the NCAA record for yards in a single game (427), shook off some early season rust under new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, but he responded to lead Oklahoma with 1,291 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
9. A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama – Robinson is a leader on an Alabama defense that ranks second in the nation in total defense. The junior has 42 tackles, 7.5 of them for loss, and 3.5 sacks this season.
10. Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson – Deshaun Watson couldn’t do it alone for Clemson. The quarterback had tremendous support from running back Gallman, who posted 1,332 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
11. Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State – Burbridge set the Spartan’s single-season record for receptions en route to a 1,219-yard and 7-touchdown campaign.
12. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama – Kelly was named the winner of this year’s Rimington Award for the nation’s best center.
13. Jack Allen, C, Michigan State – A Michigan State team captain, Allen was one of three finalists for the Rimington Award, which is annually bestowed upon the nation’s best center.
14. Zack Sanchez, DB, Oklahoma – A nagging ankle injury didn’t stop Sanchez from picking off six passes this season, earning USA Today Second Team All-American honors.
15. Shilique Calhoun, DL, Michigan State – Like Reggie Ragland, Calhoun returned for his senior season and markedly improved his NFL Draft stock with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks this season for Sparty.
16. Eddie Jackson, DB, Alabama – The Walter Camp Foundation tabbed Jackson for its Second Team this season. The junior led the SEC in interceptions (5), taking two of them to the house for a touchdown.
17. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma – Shepard trails only Michigan State’s Aaron Burbridge for most receiving yards among College Football Playoff teams. The senior hauled in 1,201 yards this season and found the end zone 11 times.
18. Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson – Leggett is instrumental in Clemson’s offense, leading the team with 7 touchdowns this season to go along with 442 yards in the air.
19. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama – Ridley has drawn comparisons to former Tide wide out Amari Cooper, thanks to 893 yards and 5 touchdowns in his freshman campaign in Tuscaloosa.
20. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson – Kevin Dodd gets a chance to rest a lower leg injury in the lead-up to the College Football Playoff. Dodd has 15 tackles for loss and 8 sacks for a Tigers defense that ranks No. 7 in the nation for total defense.

Chris Wuensch

Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.