A new year of college football brings a fresh batch of breakout players, and a collection of them will become household names after the opening week of the 2015 season.
Exposure on major television networks is important to receiving nationwide recognition, but it’s not necessarily required. After all, if a player is elite, it’s impossible to keep his name out of a football-loving house.
The following players will quickly establish themselves as nationally recognized names this season, and they’ll start with a bang in Week 1.
Seth Russell, QB, Baylor
The junior quarterback patiently waited his turn. Now, it’s Russell’s time to shine. Baylor enters the year as a College Football Playoff contender, and Russell is in charge of helping the Bears reach their ultimate goal. Baylor’s quest begins against lowly SMU, so the final score certainly won’t be pretty. Russell’s box score, on the other hand, will be gorgeous. Corey Coleman, Kd Cannon and Jay Lee should have no trouble shredding the SMU defense for a few long touchdowns, and Russell will then receive the praise for a dominant outing.
When and where to watch: Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn
Last year, a handful of college football analysts said Auburn boasted a Heisman-contending quarterback, but he was sitting on the bench. That gunslinger was Johnson, who started the 2014 season-opener when Nick Marshall was suspended. Johnson racked up 243 yards and two touchdowns in the first half against Arkansas before only throwing 21 more passes during the remainder of 2014. But Marshall has since graduated, and Johnson will lead Gus Malzahn’s Tigers into a nationally televised nonconference showdown with Louisville on Saturday afternoon.
When and where to watch: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Mike Bercovici, QB, Arizona State
Behind every darkhorse College Football Playoff candidate is an underrated quarterback, and Bercovici fits the mold at Arizona State. He started three games last season in place of an injured Taylor Kelly, throwing nine touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. Bercovici trashed the USC defense for 510 yards and five scores en route to a 38-34 upset on the road. The senior opens the 2015 season against Texas A&M, and fans should expect another gaudy stat-line.
When and where to watch: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin
The perennial excellence of Wisconsin running backs will not stop when Clement carries the load. Last season, he backed up Melvin Gordon, who racked up an absurd 2,587 yards on the season. Guess what? Clement tallied 949 yards and nine touchdowns as the second-stringer. Yes, Clement nearly reached the century mark—wait for it—as the backup! The junior must face a stingy Alabama defense in primetime, but behind a stout Badgers offensive line, Clement will make his presence felt during his first game as a full-time starter.
When and where to watch: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
Byron Marshall, WR, Oregon
Without a doubt, the spotlight is currently fixated on Vernon Adams. The quarterback recently transferred to Oregon, and he’ll face his former team, Eastern Washington, on Saturday night. However, Marshall is the name to remember following this outing. Grantland’s Matt Hinton called Marshall one of the 10 most indispensable players in college football. He racked up 1,038 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, then tallied 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. The senior’s numbers against Eastern Washington will be jaw-dropping, and Marshall’s moves will be, too.
When and where to watch: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Joey Bosa is suspended for the opener against Virginia Tech, so the defending national champions need someone to step up. Look no further than Lee, who racked up 16.5 tackles for loss—including 7.5 sacks—last season, two absolutely stunning totals for a linebacker. While Bleacher Report’s Ben Axelrod said Lee is the college football’s most overlooked star, he has an opportunity to dominate the Hokies on Labor Day night in front of a massive audience. Oh, by the way, Lee is only a sophomore. He’s not leaving the national scene anytime soon, so it’d be smart to welcome Lee’s name into your home.
When and where to watch: Monday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN