NCAAF teams
ESPN staff 9y

#CFBrank: 91-100

College Football, Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Georgia Bulldogs, Arkansas Razorbacks, Oklahoma Sooners, UCLA Bruins, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Baylor Bears, Florida State Seminoles, Virginia Tech Hokies

What is #CFBrank?
#CFBrank is the Twitter hashtag to use if you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along.

How did we rank the players?
We asked 43 of ESPN's college football writers, editors and analysts to rate players on a scale of 0-10 based on their on their expected contributions for the 2015 season.

Full player rankings:
1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 | 51-60 | 61-70 | 71-80 | 81-90 | 91-100


91. Charles Nelson
Oregon Ducks
Sophomore | Cornerback/Receiver
Score: 6.63

Oregon coaches sang the praises of the speedy freshman receiver last season, but it wasn't until the middle of the season when Nelson forced the staff's hand into putting on the field for significant snaps. The special teams player extraordinaire finished with 23 catches and five touchdowns and averaged 19 yards per kickoff return. The Ducks experimented with Nelson playing cornerback this spring, so don't be surprised to see him playing for all three units in 2015.


92. Justin Thomas
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Junior | Quarterback
Score: 6.60

Thomas was one of the bigger surprises of the season last year, assuming the starting role after Vad Lee's transfer, earning team captaincy and turning into the best QB of the Paul Johnson era in Atlanta. Thomas threw for 1,719 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he rushed for 1,086 yards and eight more scores. The Capital One Orange Bowl MVP returns behind a veteran offensive line on a team expected to contend for the ACC crown in 2015.


T-93. Lorenzo Carter
Georgia Bulldogs
Sophomore | Linebacker
Score: 6.58

Carter's freshman season contained some glimpses of what's to come, namely his performance in the Belk Bowl win over Louisville (eight tackles and one sack). After 41 tackles (seven for loss) and 4.5 sacks while starting only five games (though appearing in 13), Carter's sophomore season could be a big one.


T-93. Hunter Henry
Arkansas Razorbacks
Junior | Tight end
Score: 6.58

After two productive seasons in Fayetteville, including a 37-reception, 513-yard campaign in 2014, Henry seems poised to make a case as the SEC's best tight end and one of the best in the country. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Henry is a true dual-threat tight end as a pass-catcher and a strong blocker.


T-95. Zack Sanchez
Oklahoma Sooners
Junior | Cornerback
Score: 6.53

Oklahoma's boom-or-bust cornerback will occasionally give up the big play, but he'll come back and force the big play, too. Sanchez was second in the Big 12 in interceptions last year, including a pivotal pick-six in the narrow win over Texas. As the Sooners attempt to repair a pass defense that ranked next-to-last in the Big 12 last season, Sanchez gives them at least one reliable pass-defender they can count on.


T-95. Eddie Vanderdoes
UCLA Bruins
Junior | Defensive lineman
Score: 6.53

The Bruins may own the Pac-12's best defensive line, and prized talent there has matured quickly. Vanderdoes has developed into a 305-pound machine that should wreak plenty of havoc this season alongside 308-pounder Kenny Clark. Vanderdoes owns an enviable combination of strength, balance, and quickness - one that's even earned him a couple of carries in short-yardage situations on offense.


97. Brad Kaaya
Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Sophomore | Quarterback
Score: 6.49

One of only two true freshmen QBs to start every game in 2014, Kaaya instantly flashed star potential at Miami, leading the ACC in yards per attempt (8.5), QB rating (145.8) and passing touchdowns (26). Kaaya was the only true freshman quarterback in the Power 5 to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and 3,000 or more yards in the past decade.


T-98. Andrew Billings
Baylor Bears
Junior | Defensive tackle
Score: 6.42

He's established himself as by far the strongest player in the Big 12 and added to that reputation with 11.5 tackles for loss in his second year as a Bear. If he can get better at making tackles in space as a lateral playmaker, Billings could be a dark horse candidate for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior. There's simply no double-teaming him, either, considering the strength of Baylor's defensive front.


T-98. Roderick Johnson
Florida State Seminoles
Sophomore | Offensive tackle
Score: 6.42

It's not often a defending national champion decides to let a true freshman protect its Heisman-winning QB's blind side, but that's exactly what FSU did a year ago with Johnson. When the team's line struggled early, Jimbo Fisher moved senior Cam Erving from left tackle to center, and Johnson stepped into the starting lineup. The move immediately invigorated FSU's offense, with sacksĀ reduced and the running game soaring. Johnson's quick progression was the key to the move, and he'll now anchor a new-look O-line in Tallahassee in 2015.


T-98. Shock Linwood
Baylor Bears
Junior | Running back
Score: 6.42

Baylor might best be known for chucking the ball deep, but it's Linwood's powerful running between the tackles that really makes the Bears nearly impossible to slow down. While breaking in a new quarterback in Seth Russell, Baylor could rely on the returning 1,252-yard rusher even more, at least early on this season.


T-98. Dadi Nicolas
Virginia Tech Hokies
Senior | Defensive end
Score: 6.42

Nicolas was one of the most disruptive players in the nation last season, making 18.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including nine sacks. He added 35 quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and two blocked kicks. The Hokies' defensive line is loaded with talented returning starters alongside Nicolas, who will have the chance to reintroduce himself to the nation in the opener against Ohio State, which surrendered two sacks and five hurries to Nicolas in its lone loss last season.


T-98. Cameron Sutton
Tennessee Volunteers
Junior | Cornerback
Score: 6.42

A picture of excellence since his arrival in 2013, Sutton has started every game for the Vols in his two seasons on campus. Undoubtedly one of the SEC's best corners, Sutton had 37 tackles, four tackles for loss and 16 passes defended in 2014. Going into his junior year, Sutton may even be a bit underrated.


Voters: Andrea Adelson, Dane Beavers, Brian Bennett, Kyle Bonagura, Ryan Canner-O'Mealy, Brandon Chatmon, David Ching, Chris Cotter, Jeremy Crabtree, Heather Dinich, Brad Edwards, Chris Fallica, Matt Fortuna, Kevin Gemmell, Travis Haney, Brock Huard, Chantel Jennings, KC Joyner, Sharon Katz, Sam Khan, David Lombardi, Chris Low, Greg McElroy, Erik McKinney, Ted Miller, Josh Moyer, Dan Murphy, Conor Nevins, Max Olson, Greg Ostendorf, Adam Rittenberg, Alex Scarborough, Joe Schad, Mark Schlabach, Jared Shanker, Mitch Sherman, Phil Steele, Joe Tessitore, Jake Trotter, Derek Tyson, Tom VanHaaren, Austin Ward, Jeremy Willis

^ Back to Top ^