Baseball America names 10 best baseball players in CFB, includes 7 from SEC
Kyler Murray has proven that it’s possible to excel at both football and college at the college level at the same time.
Murray, a former Oklahoma quarterback/outfielder, was selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft and the 2019 NFL draft. He decided to play professional football after getting selected No. 1 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
So who has the potential to be the next two-sport star like Murray? Baseball America explored that possibility on Thursday, as it listed the top 10 college football players who also play baseball. Seven of the players came from the SEC, including two from both Ole Miss and Florida.
Here’s the full list, with SEC players in bold:
- Maurice Hampton, LSU
- Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
- Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
- Thayer Thomas, N.C. State
- Lucas Krull, Florida
- John Rhys Plumlee, Ole Miss
- Justin Fields, Ohio State
- Feleipe Franks, Florida
- Trevon Flowers, Tennessee
- Jake Fromm, Georgia
Hampton and Ealy haven’t yet shown how their skills translate to college, as both are part of the 2019 class at their respective schools.
Hampton was a 23rd-round selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2019 MLB draft, and he could make his biggest impact on the baseball diamond for LSU. He didn’t make the Tigers’ depth chart for their football season opener vs. Georgia Southern on Saturday as a safety, but he should be a key outfielder during baseball season.
Ealy was selected in the 31st round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in this June’s MLB draft, but like Hampton, he opted to honor his college commitment. He should make an impact in football this fall, as he’s listed as Ole Miss’ No. 2 running back entering its season opener against Memphis.
Franks was also selected in the 2019 MLB draft, getting picked in the 31st round by the Boston Red Sox. Of course, Franks’ main sport is football and he’s back with the Gators this fall at quarterback.