The 2016 College Football season is only a few weeks away. There has been a wave of Texas born players that have departed from the college ranks to the National Football League. The defending National Champions, Alabama Crimson Tide, are looking to repeat as National Champions even after losing Fort Worth’s A’Shawn Robinson to the Detroit Lions. These five players will be the reason for their school’s success in challenging the Crimson Tide for the top spot.
5: Patrick Mahomes II: Quarterback, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Mahomes comes into the 2016 season as the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. Last year, he put up career stats with 36 touchdowns and 4,653 passing yards. He’ll be looked upon to lead Tech to another bowl game appearance after leading them to the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl against the LSU Tigers.
Something that should give Texas Tech fans hope for a Big 12 championship is that Mahomes had an 18:10 home-away touchdown ratio. With games at Lubbock against Big 12 rivals, Oklahoma, Texas, and Baylor, Mahomes could lead this Red Raiders squad to its best finish since 2008.
4: Malik Jefferson: Outsider Linebacker, Texas Longhorns
This former five-star recruit from Poteet High School out of Mesquite, TX is going to be looked upon to bring the University of Texas out of the gutter that they’ve found themselves in over the last two years. With Jefferson coming into his second year he is already getting attention from NFL Scouts.
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Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft expert Matt Miller tweeted about his stock rising saying: “NFL scouts are already raving about Malik Jefferson. The arrow is pointing way up on the Texas sophomore linebacker.”
NFL scouts are already raving about Malik Jefferson. The arrow is pointing way up on the Texas sophomore linebacker.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 4, 2016
3: Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson: Running Backs, Baylor Bears
The two Baylor running backs share the number three spot, as they’re equally important to the Bears continued reign at the top of the Big 12 conference. Both players rushed for a combined 2,329 yards and 18 touchdowns as Baylor went 9-3. With top receiver, Corey Coleman, off to the NFL these two upperclassmen will be looked upon to carry this high-powered offense.
However, according to the USA Today Jefferson is currently out indefinitely due to broken ribs. According to the piece, Bears’ head coach Jim Grobe has said that Jefferson “will be out for a while”.
2: Baker Mayfield: Quarterback, Oklahoma Sooners
The quarterback from Austin, Texas led the Sooners to a Big 12 championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoffs last season. On top of those accomplishments, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. So to say that expectations are high for the Texas Tech transfer would be underplaying where they’re really at.
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If Mayfield can live up to how he finished his 2015 season it should lead the Sooners back to the playoffs. However, if the Sooners do get back, he will have to exercise the demons from last season where had one of his worst games of the season.
1: JT Barrett: Quarterback, Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State University quarterback tops this pre season power rankings. Barrett comes into the season without Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller backing him up. Over the past two seasons, the Wichita Falls product has only tasted defeat twice in 16 games. That insane stat should give Buckeye fans enough confidence to expect its third straight Big Ten east division championship, and its second National Championship.
