15 Players to Watch Out for in the 2013 College Football Season

Image via Complex Original

Position: QB
School: Florida State
Year: Freshman (RS)

Following the departure of first round draft pick E.J. Manuel, and a training camp battle with redshirt sophomorem Jacob Coker, Jameis Winston was named starting quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles. Given what this kid can offer in terms of his poise, pocket presence and arm strength, though, that shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody.

A former five star recruit, Winston may be a relative unknown to many outsiders going into this season, but that could change in a heartbeat when the Seminoles take the field against Pittsburgh this coming Monday. Winston has the potential to put up big numbers in a hurry, so long as he can stay accurate on his throws. It won't be a surprise if Coker still sees some snaps against Pitt but, for now, the job is Winston's to lose.

Position: DE
School: Ole Miss
Year: Freshman

The No. 1 prospect in the nation, Robert Nkemdiche came out of left field with his decision to attend Ole Miss. But that uncommon selection will make him no less dominant on the field when he suits up for the Rebels this week. Some scouts have suggested that, even at 298 lbs, Nkemdiche would be capable of playing running back, just because of how quick his feet are and how athletic of a player he is. The dude brings it on every play, earning comparisons to a certain defensive lineman from South Carolina: Jadeveon Clowney. You heard of him? That's a high ceiling for Nkemdiche to reach, and in order to do so, he'll have to improve his technique. Don't bet against this guy, he could definitely make you pay in the end.

Position: RB
School: Georgia
Year: Sophomore

With over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman last season, Todd Gurley asserted himself as one of the best running backs in the country last year; along with grabbing first team All-SEC honors at the end of the season. Splitting carries with platoon mate Keith Marshall, Gurley could've probably had even more impressive numbers had he been the only guy taking snaps but, as is, the Bulldogs prefer to have their one-two punch holding it down in the backfield.

Gurley is the more powerful option of the duo, and didn't shy away from the spotlight, churning out 122 yards and two TDs versus Alabama, as well as 118 yards against Florida. Again, as a freshman. This kid can straight-up play, and with Marshall, Gurley, and quarterback Aaron Murray running the offense for Georgia this season, the Bulldogs could be scary good in 2013.

Position: WR
School: Maryland
Year: Sophomore

Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs has never been an eye-popping physical specimen, but when it comes time to play the actual game, Diggs has always managed to outshine his seemingly more talented opponents. Diggs has superior body control, great hands, and is a superb player with regard to nailing all the nuances of route-running and slot receiving. Like his 2012 classmate, Dorial Beckham-Green, Diggs can stand to improve on his freshman season, but 54 receptions and 6 TDs isn't half-bad for a first year player. As long as Maryland has a quarterback capable of getting Diggs the ball, then he'll be able to keep the Terrapins competitive in their inaugural Big Ten season.

Position: RB
School: Baylor
Year: Junior (RS)

After finding himself as the low man on the totem pole on a stacked Oregon depth chart, running back Lache Seastrunk decided to transfer to Baylor in order to see some more time on the field. Bears fans are more than happy to have him, as the Texas-born product broke a 1,000 yards rushing last season while crossing the goal line seven times. What's most impressive about those stats, though, is the fact that Seastrunk was able to put up those numbers despite only having 95 yards combined after the first five games of last season.

Seastrunk was one of the hottest backs of the second half of 2012, and will be hoping to keep that momentum going for 2013. According to him, a Heisman isn't out of the question, either. We're not sure we'd go that far but, at the same time, we don't want to put it past him. Seastrunk is the type of player who is fueled by his haters. Will he continue to prove them wrong this year?

Position: CB
School: Ohio State
Year: Junior (RS)

With an All-American season now notched on his belt, Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby looks to improve even more in what will likely be his final year for the Buckeyes. Catching battery charges isn't the ideal way to spend your offseason, but luckily for Roby, the charges were dropped this week, and it doesn't appear that he'll miss any substantial playing time, aside from his one-game suspension.

That's good news for the Buckeyes too, as they would've missed the speed and pass-defending ability that Roby brings to the table, which often forces teams to throw away from their top guys for much of the game. Roby isn't the biggest guy on the field, and durability has been something of an issue for him, but it'd be a bit of a shock if we don't see him crossing the stage to shake Roger Goodell's hand during the first round next year.

Position: DE
School: Oregon
Year: Senior

The fascination over former Oregon lineman Dion Jordan during the lead-up to the 2012 NFL Draft was a little baffling to some, and that was primarily because Jordan wasn't even the most dominant player on his Oregon squad last season. That distinction belongs to former linemate Taylor Hart, who picked up eight sacks in 2012 (compared to five for Jordan) and appears to be ready to assert himself as one of the country's top D-line prospects in 2013. With long, powerful arms, a muscular frame, and surprising quickness, Hart is a bear of a player to handle for any offensive lineman. As defenses move to become faster and faster, count on a defender like Hart to be the type of athlete that teams start to center their plans around.

Position: RB/WR/KR
School: Kent State
Year: Senior

When you say, "Dri Archer," we hear, "speed." A utility man over at the Ohio MAC school, Kent State, Archer has elite-level burners and a phenomenal ability to change direction and break open a big play downfield. One name keeps coming up when scouts are asked to compare Archer to an NFL player: Darren Sproles. Remember Sproles back in his days at K-State? Dude was a monster, and Archer appears to fit neatly into that same mold as a player.

At 5'8", he's a little bit taller than Sproles but, unfortunately, that isn't saying much. Size will always be a knock against the Kent State product, but in the college game, that always seems to matter less than it does in the pros. For now, just sit back and enjoy the highlight reel material that this guy puts up on a weekly basis. We'll talk about the draft later.

Position: LB
School: UCLA
Year: Senior

In a game increasingly trending towards athletic, pass-catching tight ends, the need for a versatile, cover linebacker has become more pressing than ever. For a defense looking to modernize its schemes, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr is going to be the pick. After collecting 13 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss last season, Barr is sure to gain the attention of NFL scouts and defensive coordinators alike as he prepares for his second year on the field as a linebacker.

Yes, you read that right: second. Converted from running back, Barr had about as smooth a transition as one can have last season, and he appears poised to continue that success this year. Obviously with a player this raw, the fundamentals will be a weakness initially, but another year on defense should quickly bridge that gap for Barr, and his explosiveness and agility are enough to disguise those shortcomings in the meantime. Pac-12 quarterbacks: beware.

Position: QB
School: Oklahoma
Year: Freshman (RS)

Many believed that the older Blake Bell had the lock on Oklahoma's starting QB spot going into the 2013 season, but coach Bob Stoops decided to switch things up this past week by instead opting for the younger, more dynamic Trevor Knight instead. Starting a redshirt freshman certainly isn't without precedent in Stoops' program, though. In fact, it's actually a pretty prestigious pedigree. Heisman winner Sam Bradford and OU career passing leader Landry Jones were the last two to do it for the Sooners.

Will Knight be able to follow in their footsteps? His mobility and arm strength say yes, but his consistency and accuracy will need to improve if he wants to make Stoops look good for this unorthodox decision. Don't doubt Knight's ability to overcome those deficiencies, though.

Position: CB
School: Florida
Year: Junior

The Florida Gators have one of the best secondaries in all of college football, and that starts with the talent and playmaking ability of junior cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy. Earning his starting role on the team last year, Purifoy excelled in man coverage, and displayed a Honey Badger-like ability to create turnovers when he forced three fumbles, and blocked two kicks.

When LSU, Missouri and Georgia come to town, expect Purifoy to be the guy stepping up against Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Dorial Beckham-Green, and Malcolm Mitchell. Purifoy doesn't have any glaring weaknesses as a player, and boasts the agility, size, and skill set to completely change the way an offense gameplans. A selection in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft appears likely for Purifoy, and don't count out his chances at snagging a Thorpe Award before that, either.

Position: OLB
School: BYU
Year: Senior

Kyle Van Noy first came to the nation's attention during the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State University, when he was able to sack the opposing quarterback three times and establish himself as a top talent on the turf. He decided to pass up on the draft this year, and that was probably for the best. Van Noy's technique is nearly flawless, but he's also pretty undersized at just 230 lbs.

If he hopes to make an impact in the NFL, there's no doubt that the BYU linebacker will have to find a way to add some muscle to his frame. As for now, though, expect the senior to continue to wreak havoc against college offenses this season, while standing out as a leader of the BYU squad.

Position: WR
School: Missouri
Year: Sophomore

The No. 1 ranked wide receiver of the class of 2012, Dorial Beckham-Green got off to something of a slow start for the Missouri Tigers last year. We expect that to change this time around, though, as the sophomore readies himself for a breakout campaign in 2013. Most comparisons peg him as the next A.J. Green or Calvin Johnson, and if that seems superfluous, then take another look at this kid. At 6'6" and 225 lbs, Beckham-Green towers over defending cornerbacks, and has the blazing speed to shake them on foot as well.

With his quarterback, James Franklin, healthy this year, Beckham-Green is sure to improve upon the middling 28 receptions he snagged last year. This guy is a surefire threat in the red zone, capable of doing most anything you could ask from a wide receiver.

Position: RB
School: Oregon
Year: Freshman

If you're wondering where you've heard the name Thomas Tyner before, ask yourself, does the phrase, "643 rushing yards in one game" ring a bell? The incoming freshman for the Oregon Ducks turned heads last year when put up that rushing total, along with 10 touchdowns in a single game. Able to run a 40 in just 4.3 seconds, and possessing savvy instincts between the tackles and in the open field, Tyner will fit in well with the fast-paced Oregon offense as they look to continue their prolific success under new head coach, Mark Helfrich.

Will Tyner start right away? With the uber-talented De'Anthony Thomas ahead of him on the depth chart, the prospects don't look good, but don't be surprised to see him get some playing time this season. Tyner's status as a superstar player isn't being debated, it just comes down to when he'll get the nod to take over.

Position: QB
School: Michigan
Year: Junior (RS)

After former Michigan quarterback—and current Jacksonville Jaguars offensive weapon—Denard Robinson went down with an elbow injury midway through the 2012 season, backup Devin Gardner—who had been playing wide receiver up to that point—was brought onto the field to bring back a much needed spark to the Wolverines attack. He did that, and then some. Replacing a player like Denard Robinson is never easy, but Gardner handled the role ably, putting up numbers similarly huge to those of Robinson, highlighted by a six touchdown performance in a 42-17 beatdown of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Like Denard, Gardner is an athletic, mobile quarterback who shows the poise and leadership necessary to lead his team to greatness. He's certainly a much better passer than Robinson ever was as well, and—at 6'4", 206 lbs—looks the part better too. However, his inexperience at quarterback leaves some question marks about his ability. Will Gardner be able to handle a full season's worth of duties this year? Will defenses be more prepared for him this time around? Michigan's title hopes depend on that not being the case.