Tag Archives: alabama crimson tide

25 Best Players for 2018

1. Bryce Love – Stanford RB: Some might disagree with my pick here and I am fine with that. Love is a little on the small side, by the way, and they would say he will be broken if he gets hit. I’m fine with that, too, because that’s true of a lot of players. Love played behind Christian McCaffrey for a couple of seasons, but when he got playing time, he demonstrated what he could do. Last season, he crushed the 2,000 yard barrier by over 100 yards and finished second in the nation in rushing behind recent 1st round draft pick, Rashaad Penny. Love just has another level of quickness and can take it the distance on any given play. He apparently learned a lot by playing with McCaffrey about following his blockers and being patient, but when he sees that opening, Bryce Love is gone.

2. McKenzie Milton – UCF QB: Some will disagree with this pick as well, but Milton is a player. He may miss Scott Frost this season, but his new head coach is former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Josh Heupel and he’s a very offensive minded coach. Heupel was the offensive coordinator at Missouri last season and was responsible for an incredible offensive output by the Tigers as they recovered from a deplorable beginning where they were crushed by Purdue. They started 1-5 and finished 6-1 and averaged around 50 points a game. Milton is capable of getting things done at UCF

once again. Milton is like Bryce Love in that he’s too small, but he makes plays time after time. He impressed me incredibly last season. I am predicting another great season for McKenzie Milton even though I wish he could follow Scott Frost to Nebraska.

3. Nick Bosa – Ohio State DE: A lot of people are predicting Bosa to be the top draft pick in 2019. I don’t think that will happen, but he should have a real breakout season in 2018. On the other side of the ball, watch out for sophomore Chase Young and junior Jonathan Cooper, two incredible up and coming talents and especially Young. Bosa led the Buckeyes with 8.5 quarterback sacks last season and he’s super spectacular coming off the edge just as everyone thought he would be. With the success of older brother Joey at San Diego, that probably helps Nick’s draft status.

4. Jonathan Taylor – Wisconsin RB: Really talented speedster with good size that shocked everyone last season by breaking Adrian Peterson’s freshman rushing record last season with well over 1,900 yards rushing. Taylor was a dream come true for the rushing offense of the Wisconsin Badgers. The 5-11, 220 Salem, New Jersey native should crush the 2,000 yard wall in 2018 now that he is an established star for the Badgers. To top it all off, Wisconsin has an outstanding offensive line returning.

5. Ed Oliver – Houston DT: Oliver was the first ever 5 star recruit that signed with a team that was not in a power 5 conference. He has more than lived up to the billing and the hype. From day one in

his freshman year, Oliver has brought terror on opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks and he’s all over the field. He’s not huge like some of these guys, but he uses his quickness and his strength to manhandle anyone he faces. He’s projected as a first round draft pick after this season and he’s already stated that he will leave college football for the NFL.

6. Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama QB: I clearly remember saying this guy was a beast last spring, and some doubted. Some still may doubt, but many were won over in the national title game when Tagavailoa brought Alabama back from a sure loss to an overtime victory.  Tua is the spark that the Alabama offense needed. Alabama is not going any where for the haters and will be back in the title hunt again and again.

6. AJ Brown – Ole Miss WR: Brown is big, but not wide receiver big. He’s more like fullback big. He’s 6-1, 225 and can run like a smaller man. Brown will be a junior next season and led the Ole Miss team in receiving with 75 receptions for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s a full grown man and should be a top 5 or 10 pick in next year’s draft. Say what you will about Ole Miss and their program, but they have some top wide receivers even after losing Van Jefferson when he transferred to Florida.

7. Christian Wilkins – Clemson DT: Incredibly, Wilkins decided to return to Clemson for his senior season. Supposedly some NFL scout claimed that the Clemson defensive line was overrated and I do believe he’s been dropping acid. Wilkins started at tackle as a freshman and then had the athletic ability to move out to end when the team faced some injury problems in their national championship season. He moved back to tackle last season and he was one of the team’s top tacklers. Wilkins is listed at 6-4, 300 and can do the splits.

8. Khalil Tate – Arizona QB: I have some visions of Tate having a sensational season in 2018 and

that’s because of the arrival of Kevin Sumlin and what he was able to do at Texas A%M when he had a really good quarterback and Tate has that Johnny Manziel kind of  talent. Last season, Tate threw for only right under 1,600 yards, but he ran for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns. Tate has a great arm, but he needs refinement with his passing. He’s a tremendous athlete that can make plays with his arm, or with his feet. Tate will be a junior this year, but he’s still really young because he came to Arizona as a 17 year old. I think Kevin Sumlin was a good hire for the Wildcats and he’s in the perfect league for his coaching style.

9. Tee Higgins – Clemson WR: Eyebrows might rise over this choice, but hear me now and believe me later when I tell you that Higgins will be a star. Higgins surprised the world last year by bypassing the in state Tennessee Vols and signing with the Tigers. He played as a true freshman and caught 17 passes, but the 6-4, 200 Higgins is what the Tigers were missing last season. Mike Williams left after the championship year and they missed their big play guy. I thought that Deon Cain would be that guy, but Higgins definitely can bring the big plays back into the Clemson offense. He can run and he can jump and overcome double coverage as well as anyone.

10. Raekwon Davis – Alabama DL: You can count on the Tide having great defensive linemen and Davis out played them all last season. Davis is a monster at 6-7, 310 and very productive. In 2017, Davis was the team’s 4th leading tackler. He also contributed 8.5 quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Davis is a monster and will be a nightmare to opposing offenses all season.

11. AJ Dillon – Boston College RB: A good player comes in and changes a team. As a true freshman, once Dillon was placed in the starting lineup and he ran for 1.500 yards and led the Eagles to a winning season.  The most impressive feature about Dillon is his size at around 6-0, 240. He’s a bull dozer. If you need two yards, Dillon can get you four. He’s also got the speed to break a tackle and take it the distance.

12. Clelin Ferrell – Clemson DE: The Tigers return all four starters in the defensive line and Ferrell could be the best of all of them. Clemson has become a defensive line factory producing one after another especially at end. Ferrell is about 6-5, 265 and is a force off the edge. Last year, Ferrell led the Tigers in quarterback sacks with 9.5 which was one more than his sidekick at the other end spot, Austin Bryant. Ferrell should be a first round draft pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

13. Juwan Johnson – Penn State WR: I’m expecting a really big year out of Johnson. Last season, he was one of the top receivers on the Nittany Lion team just behind tight end Mike Gesicki. But, Penn State lost DaeSean Hamilton, Mike Gesicki and their other top receiver Saquon Barkley. Juwan Johnson is a big receiver at 6-4, 225 with great hands and more than adequate speed. He will be the most experienced receiver with plenty of talent and a top quarterback returning in Trace McSorley. Johnson should be McSorley’s go to guy in 2018.

14. Dexter Lawrence – Clemson DT: One of the best true freshman defensive tackles I’ve ever seen, but he dropped off somewhat as a sophomore. He’s still huge and he can run. Going into his junior season, Lawrence will no doubt leave after next season and be a top draft pick. Lawrence is listed as 6-4, 340 and he supposedly has posted a really good 40 time at that size.

15. Josh Allen – Kentucky LB: This year’s version of Tremaine Edmunds of Virginia Tech who was a 1st round draft pick in the last NFL Draft. Allen is 6-5, 230 with really good speed and is moving up the wish list of NFL teams. Allen could have declared for the draft, but chose to come back for another year. He probably made himself a lot of money by coming back, actually.

16. Trey Adams – Washington OT: Northwestern giant and a 4 year starter, at left tackle for the

Huskies. Adams came to Washington at about 6-8, 270 and has bulked up to around 330, but he still looks about the same. He’s a huge offensive lineman that still moves pretty well and can get pass block as well as run block.

17. Chase Winovich – Michigan DE: A very fun player to watch. Winovich has always been a little undersized, but not many play with more heart than he does. He plays across the line from Rashan Gary who was the number one recruit in the nation coming out of high school and they nicely compliment each other. Winovich has a motor and is always playing all out. He’s now about 6-3, 255 and finished his junior season with 8 quarterback sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. He tied with Khaleke Hudson for the most sacks on the team. Winovich decided to return to Michigan for his senior season.

18. Montez Sweat – Mississippi State DE: This guy is impressive and could be ranked much closer to the top of the page. First of all, he is big at 6-6, 245. The NFL likes guys this size and don’t we all on the football field. He’s not only big, but he has outstanding quickness and moves. He can get past just about any offensive lineman and last season, the Stone Mountain, Georgia product, led the Bulldogs with 10.5 quarterback sacks. He also had 15.5 tackles for loss. Sweat is also back for his senior season and could move up in the draft standings with a  huge senior year and NFL Combine.

19. Ahmmon Richards – Miami WR: Raise your eyebrows with this pick and I am fine with that because Richards just flat out wasn’t all that good as a sophomore last season. But, he was so outstanding as a true freshman in 2016 that I think he just must have had personal problems last year. He got a case of the drops and couldn’t catch most of the season. As a true freshman, Richards looked like those Miami receivers of yesteryear that could take it the distance at just about any moment. Richards did not look great last season with passes bouncing off his hands left and right, but often that’s about focus. I’m not worried about Richards at all and I think he’s big time.

20. Rashan Gary – Michigan DE: The number one recruit in the country a few years back. Gary has been good, but not exactly great as of yet. Going into his junior season, this is when Rashan Gary has his breakout season. At 6-5, 280 Gary has covered the 40 yard dash in 4.57 seconds, supposedly. He hasn’t really been a slacker. Last season, he was among the team leaders in tackles and he did come up with 6 quarterback sacks. Much is expected out of a guy that is the nation’s number one recruit and this will be the year.

21. Cam Akers – FSU: Akers was the top running back recruit in the 2017 class and he did not disappoint running for over 1,000 as a true freshman on a really bad team. Who would have thought I would be typing really bad team when writing about Florida State, but they were bad last season. He’s fast, but not Dalvin Cook fast. However, he’s just a solid all around running back that can take it the

distance and get the tough yards up the middle, or to the outside. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield. He will still be sharing the backfield with big back Jacques Patrick, but look for Akers to be even better under a new coaching staff.

22. Trace McSorley – Penn State QB: The Nittany Lions had maybe the top quarterback recruit in the country, but when he left for the NFL a year early and McSorley stepped into the starter’s role, then good things began happening for Penn State. They were 7-6 and fans calling for head coach James Franklin’s head. With McSorley, suddenly they were Big 10 champs and playing in the Rose Bowl. McSorley was a winner in high school and he’s a winner in college as well. Penn State has been 22-5 since McSorley took over. McSorley threw for over 3,500 yards a year ago, but this season he will not have Saquon Barkley to depend on.

23. Jarrett Stidham – Auburn QB: Stidham has to have mention on this team because before his arrival, Auburn was pretty much back in the pack. With Stidham, they beat Alabama and won the SEC West which is no small accomplish. Now, Stidham didn’t do it on his own and he had a lot of help. But, his presence elevated the Auburn offense to another level. The Baylor transfer from Stephenville, Texas should have another great season this year.

24. Joe Jackson – Miami DE: The Hurricanes have had a pretty good defensive line and Jackson was their best lineman last year. At about 6-5, 260 Jackson can bring good quickness and athleticism off the edge and get some heat on the quarterback. Miami lost most of their defensive line to the NFL probably and Jackson will need to take his game to another level. Jackson was second on the team in sacks last season behind senior Trent Harris and he should be the top guy this season.

25. Walker Little – Stanford OT: In my personal opinion, Little was the top offensive lineman I had seen in a while in the recruiting world. Some recruiting services had others rated ahead of Little even one that Stanford also signed. But, Little started at left tackle as a true freshman. This was on an offensive line that helped Bryce Love explode for over 2,000 yards. I will continue to speak of the talent of Walker Little until somebody proves me wrong. The 6-7, 310 Little is just a beast.

When the season gets started, some of these guys could move up and some above could move down. That’s the way that football usually works.

Paddy Fisher – Northwestern

Austin Bryant – Clemson

Jonah Williams – Alabama

Iman Marshall – USC

Greg Little – Ole Miss

Greedy Williams – LSU

You can avail ginseng root in different packaging options as per price of levitra your various requirements. What’s more worrying is that many men struggle with at some point http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/06/07/did-mountain-man-really-live-256-years/ viagra sale in their life. This ingredient works by inhibiting the action viagra buy more of PDE-5 enzyme in the body. buy canada levitra The condition, in general, refers as inability of reaching hard-on to make intercourse pleasurable experience. N’Keal Harry – Arizona State WR

Cam Smith – USC LB

Chauncey Gardner Jr – Florida S

Najee Harris – Alabama

Damien Harris – Alabama RB

Myles Gaskin – Washington RB

Rodney Smith – Minnesota RB

Bryan Edwards – South Carolina WR

Parris Campbell – Ohio State WR

Michael Deiter – Wisconsin OT

Mitch Hyatt – Clemson OT

Dru Samia – Oklahoma OG

Corbin Kaufusi – BYU DE

Zach Allen – Boston College DE

TJ Edwards – Wisconsin ILB

Porter Gustin – USC OLB

Anthony Nelson – Iowa DE

Bobby Roundtree – Illinois DE

Ricky Walker – Virginia Tech DT

Beau Benzschawel – Wisconsin OL

Benny Snell – Kentucky RB

Byron Murphy – Washington CB

David Edwards – Wisconsin OL

David Sills – West Virginia WR

Will Grier – West Virginia QB

JK Dobbins – Ohio State RB

Dalton Risner – Kansas State OL

Devin Singletary – FAU RB

Sutton Smith – No Ill DE

Derrick Brown – Auburn DT

Marion Davidson  – Auburn DE

DK Metcalf – Ole Miss WR

Nick Fitzgerald – Miss State QB

Jeffery Simmons – Miss State DT

Drew Lock – Missouri QB

Jake Bentley – South Carolina QB

Devin Bush Jr – Michigan LB

Brian Burns – Florida State DE