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Ranking the 50 best college football players for 2016

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) throws a pass against the Florida State Seminoles in the fourth quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Houston defeated Florida State 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) throws a pass against the Florida State Seminoles in the fourth quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Houston defeated Florida State 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman took over as the head coach of Houston two years ago and the program is already seeing major changes. Houston is no longer a middle-of-the-pack football program as it is one of the major non-Power Five title contenders.

Senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. also felt the shift of the program from average to elite. His own personal game saw an uptick in production with the arrival of the former Buckeye coach, increasing every statistical category in 2015 as opposed to his 2014 campaign.

The dual-threat quarterback was solid for the Cougars as a sophomore, but Herman had big plans for him last year and relied on him much more than Ward was used to. He passed for 2,827 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 67 percent completion rate while rushing for another 1,114 yards and 21 scores.

Houston’s offense basically made a complete 180 turn and the improvement of Ward Jr. was a major reason for that success. He doubled his rushing yardage, more than tripled his rushing touchdowns, added 800 passing yards and five passing scores to his total from his sophomore to his junior year.

Ward Jr. will be one of the best quarterbacks heading into the 2016 season and he’s coming off a 13-1 season in which he led the Cougars to an AAC title as well as a victory over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. This kid is electrifying.

Next: 29. Jarrad Davis

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