Biggest boom or bust player for each top 25 team

Kendrick thought he was going to get more reps as a slot receiver for Clemson in 2019. Due to depth issues at cornerback, the coaching staff tried him out at that position and he wowed everyone. Now he could be the starting cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell and receive a lot of attention from opposing quarterbacks. How he handles the transition to defense (and what could be an extended role on both sides of the ball) could determine if Clemson can repeat as national champions. 

Yes, I'm putting a kicker in this spot. Alabama is stacked, and there are guys all over the roster who will be key to the Tide's success in 2019. Yet the kicking game could be a big factor in Nick Saban bringing home his sixth national championship at Alabama and seventh overall. Bulovas did well last year, hitting 14-of-18 field goals, but he missed six extra points. Will Reichard, the top high school kicker, is the backup and could get the starting job if Bulovas struggles this year. 

The Bulldogs have the look of a team that can finally break through to a national title, but they are a little thin at wide receiver. After Kirby Smart kicked Jeremiah Holloman off the team due to off-field problems, Robertson ascended into a key figure in the Georgia offense. After transferring from California last season, he caught exactly zero passes and of his four touches (all carries), only one came against a Power 5 team. Now he could possibly be Fromm's main target. 

Hurts hasn't had the best of luck. As a freshman, he made an amazing run for a possible title-winning touchdown before Deshaun Watson drove Clemson down the field and won the game in the final second. The next year, he was pulled at halftime of the national championship game and watched his backup make an amazing comeback to win the title. Last year he sat back as Tua Tagovailoa received Heisman praise all year only to pull off his own comeback in the SEC title game in relief...and then watch his Tide get blown out by Clemson for the title. He won 26 of his 28 games as a starter at Alabama. Now he's at Oklahoma where all he has to do is follow Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray's consecutive Heisman seasons. No one is expecting Hurts to win a third award in as many years for the Sooners, but many are looking for him to reach a fourth consecutive national championship game and get Oklahoma over the hump. 

Fields came into his freshman season as a much-hyped recruit who was to take over the starting job at Georgia and lead the Bulldogs back to the national championship game. That didn't exactly happen, as he couldn't overtake Jake Fromm and would eventually transfer to Ohio State. He is eligible to play immediately and should win the starting job, but is he ready for this? Again, he was expected to take the Georgia starting gig and couldn't do it and now, while the competition isn't as stiff at Ohio State, he is being counted on to pick up where Dwayne Haskins left off. A lot is riding on this season in which Ryan Day is making his head coaching debut. 

The story is similar to Justin Fields in that Burrow transferred to LSU after he failed to beat out Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State. He did OK as the Tigers starter last year, throwing 16 TDs and only five interceptions, but he completed less than 58 percent of his passes. The Tigers have a new passing game coordinator in Joe Brady, so there will be another learning curve for Burrow. He also loses leading rusher Nick Brossette, so more of the offense will lean on him. If LSU looks to contend in a highly competitive SEC, Burrow must take the next step. 

Turner redshirted last year after playing in three games, which included his 10 carries and 55 yards in the Wolverines' 41-15 loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl. With Karan Higdon and Chris Evans moving on, Turner will be relied on to shoulder the running load for an offense that should be a lot more in tune this year. Shea Patterson will need someone to step up at the running back slot, and Turner will get the first shot at being that guy. 

Franks is the quintessential "boom or bust" player. After an uninspiring 2017 season (nine TDs, eight INTs), Franks had a breakout season of sorts last year when he threw 24 touchdowns and just six picks. Dan Mullen is a wiz with quarterbacks, and it seems as if he's got Franks on the right path. There have been some rough patches along the route though. He nearly lost his starting job to Kyle Trask after a horrible showing against Missouri, but Trask broke his foot in practice the following week. After that, Franks looked great again and led the Gators on a four-game winning streak. Which player shows up this season?

Bilal is the lone returning Irish linebacker with significant experience, recording 50 tackles and three tackles for loss in 2018. Bilal was a big-time recruit coming out of high school but in three years hasn't produced as most had hoped. He will take over the role of the "Rover" position — a linebacker/safety hybrid, and will be relied on to stuff the run as well as come up big in coverage. 

The Longhorns need to have some balance to their offense. Sam Ehlinger is a dual threat at quarterback, but he took too many big hits last year and it would be in the 'Horns best interest to limit his rushing attempts. Enter Keaontay Ingram, a power runner who not only can move the chains but also can break off a big run. He's motivated to land a bigger role in the offense, and Texas hopes he can deliver and break Oklahoma's four-year stranglehold on the Big 12.

Texas A&M had one of the nation's top front sevens last season, but many of those players have gone on to the NFL or graduated. Madubuike will now step into a leadership role as the lone starter remaining from a stout defensive line. He was disruptive last season, with 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. There is no doubt he is talented, but now he steps into being "the man." If he is up to the task, the Aggies defense will continue to frustrate the talented offenses A&M will face this season.

Eason is mostly known for losing his job to Jake Fromm at Georgia due to an early-season injury. He has found his way to Washington where he walks into the void left by Jake Browning and inherits an outstanding group of receivers. The Pac-12 North division will be highly competitive (Oregon, Washington State and Stanford will battle the Huskies for the crown), and Eason must acclimate himself in a hurry if Washington wants to repeat as conference champs.

Johnson played three years at Penn State before transferring to Oregon, and while he looks the part of a big-time receiver he hasn't exactly had the results. He caught just 25 passes for the Nittany Lions last year and has caught only two touchdowns in his college career. But he's a guy who can stretch defenses with his ability to go up for jump balls. He won't catch a high volume of passes, but he can make the big plays that the Ducks need to have a big season.

Trace McSorley did everything at Penn State, and his name is peppered all over the program's record books. He is now trying to begin an NFL career, and the Nittany Lions are trying to find his replacement. Clifford is seemingly the leader in the clubhouse, though Will Levis is nipping at his heels. Clifford ended last season as McSorley's backup and looked good when he did get game action, but that's much different than replacing him completely. The conference...heck, the division...is so competitive that having a reliable quarterback is paramount for Penn State in 2019.

Huntley was having a nice 2018 season before a broken collarbone ended it. He has everything a quarterback could want: a talented running back in Zack Moss, a deep stable of receivers and a big offensive line. The key is limiting turnovers, something that killed the Utes last season, which is rather odd for a program that prides itself on fundamentals. Huntley's backup, Jason Shelley, led Utah to the Pac-12 title game, so there is a Plan B if Huntley struggles with his consistency once again.

Jarrett Stidham left a big hole at quarterback for Auburn, and there is no obvious successor to the starting job. Nix, a freshman from Pinson, Alabama, could be the guy. Nix fits Gus Malzahn's system of having a dual-threat quarterback...but so does sophomore Joey Gatewood, who has a bit more size. Nix is the son of former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix. 

McKenzie Milton has been fantastic over the past two seasons but suffered that gruesome knee injury that will likely keep him out the entire 2019 season. Darriel Mack took over for Milton in the AAC championship game and the Fiesta Bowl and seemed to be the starter until he broke his ankle in July. So now it's on to Notre Dame transfer Wimbush, a dual-threat quarterback who struggles with his completion percentage and isn't known to be the kind of passer that Milton and Mack are. Wimbush will likely begin the season as the starting quarterback for key early-season games against Florida Atlantic, Stanford and Pitt. 

Alex Hornibrook is now at Florida State, so Wisconsin has to bring in some new blood to lead the Badgers. Mertz was one of top passing prospects in the country, and it's a bit of a coup that Wisconsin nabbed him. He may not start out the season as the starter (Jack Coan could be), but it will be hard to keep him from eventually taking over the reins. With the last two national championships won on the arm of a freshman quarterback, the stigma of needing an experienced signal-caller to win at a high level is gone. The Big Ten West division is up for grabs, and Mertz could be what makes the difference between a conference title or another 8-5 season.

Sargent enters the season at the top of the depth chart at running back. As a sophomore last year, he led the Hawkeyes in rushing with 745 yards. That's not a number that screams out at you, but he didn't make a start until the 10th game of the year. When he got the nod, he was choppy. He wowed in wins over Nebraska and Illinois (294 rushing yards, four total TDs) but gained minus-3 yards on seven carries in the Outback Bowl against Mississippi State. 

Michigan State's offense was simply ineffective last season and really let down a program that boasted one of the nation's top defenses. There are a lot of players on that side of the field who need to step up, but the biggest hole that needs filling is in the Spartans backfield. Heyward, it is projected, will be the starter in 2019 but he doesn't exactly own the confidence of the fan base. Michigan State relies on the run to have success, and Sparty needs to find someone who can be a workhorse back. 

The Cougars lost James Williams to the NFL, so Borghi is expected to step in and be the featured back. He is a tough back who rushed for eight touchdowns last season despite only 72 carries all season. He's also a fine receiver, which is a must in a Mike Leach offense, as he caught 53 passes and four TDs. Can he be the workhorse back without having much experience behind him? If Borghi continues his production then the Cougars (who will again be breaking in a new starting quarterback) could contend in the Pac-12.

DeVito, a redshirt sophomore, was a big-time recruit for Syracuse who has waited his turn behind Eric Dungey...one of the best quarterbacks in program history. He is more of a pocket passer than Dungey was and showed his wares in games against Florida State and North Carolina. He isn't polished and has some developing left to do, but the coaching staff is all in. If he could break out this season, the Orange could be a thorn in Clemson's side in the ACC's Atlantic Division. 

Bryce Love is now a Washington Redskin. While Love was a Heisman candidate and a key cog for the Stanford Cardinal over the last three years, he didn't exactly leave with a bang. Stanford needs to have its running back perform at a high level for its pro-style offense to be at its best. Enter leading returning rusher Scarlett, a senior, who has rushed for 16 touchdowns over the last two seasons and shined in Stanford's Sun Bowl win over Pitt (94 rushing yards, two TDs). 

Two-time all-Big 12 selection David Montgomery is gone, and it will be up to two freshmen to vie for the starting running back gig at Iowa State. Jirehl Brock has a good shot at taking the job, but signs point to Breece Hall as the more likely choice. He ran for 2,127 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in high school (he also caught eight TD passes) and enrolled at Iowa State early enough to participate in spring practice. The Cyclones have a lot of lofty goals, and if Hall can become the factor most think he can be then Iowa State can reach a lot of those expectations. 

Northwestern managed to win the Big Ten West despite having one of the worst offenses in the nation. Hunter Johnson, who sat out last season after transferring from Clemson, was one of the top QBs in the 2017 class but knew when the Tigers signed Trevor Lawrence that only one of them would spend his time on the bench. So he transferred to Northwestern where he has a great opportunity to walk in and resurrect a Wildcat offense that needs any kind of spark. Many people felt that Northwestern was a one-hit wonder that got lucky that the Big Ten West was mediocre. If Johnson can get off on the right foot, the Wildcats could find themselves back in the Big Ten championship game.