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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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Oct 3, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) gets tackled by Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) gets tackled by Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Playing for two different coaches and having to learn two different styles of play has to be difficult for any collegiate athlete, but going from Will Muschamp to Jim McElwain was probably the best move for senior linebacker Jarrad Davis.

As a junior, the lightning-fast linebacker finished with a career-best 98 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. He became much more than just a role player as he developed into a star and caught the eye of many NFL scouts. He probably could have made the jump to the NFL, but having two years of starting experience could go a long way.

The former three-star recruit from Georgia was a second-team All-SEC player and could be an early favorite to be a first-teamer as a senior.

With a 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame, he can fly around the field and lay licks on ball-carrier left and right. He’s not afraid of contact and he has a knack for getting to the ball faster than any linebacker on the team. Not only can he defend against the run, but he had four pass deflections and an interception in 2015.

Florida’s defense was one of the best in the nation in 2015 and could be even more lethal this season with a more experienced Davis manning the middle of the field.

Next: 28. Roderick Johnson

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