One of the most exciting elements of college football is the immediate impact that a star talent can make when they finally get their opportunity to showcase their skill sets. For an elite group of players, it doesn’t take long at all to steal the spotlight. We took a look at the top players in the country that are still 19-years-old or younger and narrowed down our list to focus on the very best of them. Here is a look at the best college football players that are 19 or younger heading in to this season.
DT: Ed Oliver, Houston Cougars
Oliver might be the best player in the country regardless of age or position right now. The 19-year-old registered 65 tackles including 22.0 for a loss, five sacks, six passes defended and two forced fumbles in his freshman season. The fact that he managed to put up those numbers is even more impressive when you consider that he was constantly double-teamed. Oliver still has the potential to develop as he gains more experience at the college level while improving his physical condition. There might not be a better defensive tackle in the entire country at this point.
DT: Dexter Lawrence, Clemson Tigers
Lawrence thrived as a key piece on a dominant defensive line that helped Clemson win a national championship last season. The 6’5’’, 340-pound tackle recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. The experts were already talking about Lawrence’s potential to be the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft even before the 2017 NFL Draft took place. Lawrence will have the opportunity to improve his overall level of play at Clemson over the next two seasons before eventually taking the next step and graduating to the NFL.
The Tigers are moving into a rebuilding mode after losing star quarterback Deshaun Watson to the NFL. That means that guys like Lawrence and the defense are going to have to shine early on in the season while the offense finds its feet.
QB: Jalen Hurts, Alabama Crimson Tide
Hurts led Alabama to 14 wins and a national championship game appearance as an 18-year-old last season. What does he have in store for his 19-year-old season? The Crimson Tide will give Hurts even more responsibility in 2017 as he looks to build on the impressive numbers he recorded last season. Hurts completed 62.8-percent of his passes for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns while also rushing for 954 yards and 13 scores. Hurts has the potential to be even better this year, which is scary considering what he has already accomplished. Hurts is the best 19-year-old quarterback in the country and he has the potential to be even better this coming season. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact there is with him working with his third offensive coordinator in three years. Remember Lane Kiffin is gone and Steve Sarkisian, who coached in the championship game, has also moved on (Atlanta Falcons).
RB: Justice Hill, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Hill rushed for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns at Oklahoma State last season. He should be able to produce even better numbers this season after getting a year of experience under his belt. He’s a key cog on one of the best offensive teams in the country.
Hill got off to a slow start in his freshman season but he turned it on down the stretch as he averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 105.3 yards per game over his final 10 contests. Hill could emerge as a legitimate star for the Cowboys this season as they continue to feed him the football despite operating a pass-heavy offense.
DE: Rashan Gary, Michigan Wolverines
Gary was the No. 1 overall recruit in 2016 and he didn’t disappoint in his first season at Michigan. Gary was brought along slowly by head coach Jim Harbaugh and company but he still finished with 23 tackles including five tackles for a loss. Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley and Ryan Glasnow have all graduated to the NFL, which will open up more playing time and opportunities for Gary to make his mark. After a strong debut, look for Gary to reach another level in 2017 as one of the best 19-year-olds in all of college football.
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