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Every winter and spring, some of college football’s brightest bid adieu to campus and move on to the next phase in their lives, be it the NFL or a life after football. That leaves their alma maters with holes to fill on the field. This offseason, many of the nation’s very best players from 2014 will be exiting the college ranks, leaving big shoes to fill for their successors.
Who are the players that will be expected to step up in place of departed stars next season, both in the SEC and around college football? We examine some of the biggest stars and their replacements.
Editor’s note: Class designations for replacements reflect their 2015 standing
SEC
2014 star: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
2014 stats: 124 catches, 1,727 yards, 16 TD
2015 replacements: Cam Sims, sophomore; Robert Foster, junior; ArDarius Stewart, redshirt sophomore
Alabama is losing not just its record-breaking star in Cooper, but also its next two leading receivers from 2014, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones. While there’s not a lot of experience on the depth chart, the Crimson Tide certainly don’t lack for talent. Foster was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, while Sims and Stewart were four-star players. All three players stand 6-foot-1 or taller, something Lane Kiffin seems to like in receivers, and they’ll have gotten work with quarterback Jacob Coker playing on the second team in 2014. If Kiffin’s history is any indication, one of these guys will rise above to have a dominant season.
2014 star: S Landon Collins, Alabama
2014 stats: 102 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 INT, 1 forced fumble, 7 pass breakups
2015 replacements: Geno Smith, senior; Deionte Thompson, freshman
Collins was one of the most dynamic defensive players in the country in 2014, and he’ll be an early first round pick in this spring’s NFL draft. With fellow starting safety Nick Perry graduating, Alabama is tasked with replacing both players along the back line. Smith will be one of the few players available for the job with playing experience, cycling in as a backup safety and in Alabama’s nickel package in 2014. Thompson, the No. 2 high school safety in the country this year, is already enrolled at Alabama and could be in line to see the field early.
2014 star: QB Nick Marshall, Auburn
2014 stats: 2,532 passing yards, 20 TD, 7 INT; 798 rushing yards, 11 TD
2015 replacement: Jeremy Johnson, junior
There was talk in 2014 of subbing Johnson in for Marshall, and the feeling is that Johnson is completely ready to take the reins of Gus Malzahn’s offense. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Johnson gives Auburn a very different type of athlete and passer behind center. Whereas Marshall was as much or more of a threat with his legs as he was with his arm, Johnson will likely play in the pocket far more. We’ll have to wait to see whether removing the dynamic threat of Marshall running will significantly alter Malzahn’s offense, or if Johnson’s passing prowess will take the Tigers to a new level.
2014 star: DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas
2014 stats: 68 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss
2015 replacement: JaMichael Winston, junior
Winston was a starter in 2014, but he’ll be counted on to replace one of the SEC’s most underrated players in 2015. Flowers was the engine that powered Arkansas’ stingy run defense, but he and defensive tackle Darius Philon will likely both be collecting NFL paychecks come fall. That leaves Winston and fellow rising junior Taiwan Johnson to fill the void left behind. Winston had 26 tackles and 2.0 TFL in 2014, and his production and impact will have to rise big time next season for Arkansas to continue the success it had at the end of the 2014 season.
2014 stars: DEs Shane Ray and Markus Golden, Missouri
2014 stats: Ray — 65 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss; Golden — 78 tackles, 10.0 sacks, 20. tackles for loss
2015 replacements: Charles Harris, redshirt sophomore; Marcus Loud, redshirt sophomore
With Missouri’s track record of developing defensive linemen, replacing its two stars from 2014 gets a lot less intimidating. Harris and Loud were overlooked as high school prospects, but after both redshirted in 2013 they showed flashes of promise as backups in 2014. With defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski deciding to remain at Missouri, there’s no question that Harris and Loud will be as prepared as they can be when 2015 kicks off.
Around the country
2014 star: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
2014 stats: 4,454 passing yards, 42 TD, 4 INT; 770 rushing yards, 15 TD; 1 catch, 26 yards, 1 TD
2015 replacement: Jeff Lockie, junior
Stepping up to replace a Heisman winner is never going to be easy. With Lockie taking over for Mariota, we’ll get a good feel for just how much Oregon’s system does for its passers. Like Mariota, Lockie was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He’ll have to battle a couple of young passers for the job, but is considered the favorite heading into 2015.
2014 star: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
2014 stats: 3,907 passing yards, 25 TD, 18 INT
2015 replacement: Sean Maguire, junior
Florida State is bringing in a slew of talented quarterback prospects, but Maguire seems in line to succeed the 2013 Heisman winner. Maguire was the starter when Winston was suspended against Clemson and played admirably given the circumstances, giving him a leg up on the race. Incoming players Deondre Francois and De’Andre Johnson, as well as rising redshirt sophomore John Franklin will be in competition for the job as well.
2014 star: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
2014 stats: 2,578 rushing yards 29 TD
2015 replacement: Corey Clement, junior
Playing in Gordon’s mighty shadow, Clement had a very good 2014 season. He came close to cracking 1,000 yards himself, finishing 2014 with 974 yards and 9 TD, and he did it while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Wisconsin cranks out 1,000-yard rushers every year like clockwork, and with the framework and a successor in place the Badgers shouldn’t have any problems running the ball in 2015.
2014 star: DE Leonard Williams, Southern California
2014 stats: 80 tackles, 7.0 sacks. 9.5 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles
2015 replacements: Greg Townsend, redshirt senior; Claude Pelon, redshirt senior
Williams, the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, leaves a wide hole to replace. Williams’ impact was felt far beyond his totals, and it’ll take a group effort to replace him. Southern Cal is bringing in a handful of touted defensive line prospects who should push Townsend and Pelon, who may slide over from defensive tackle.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
