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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 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) runs back a kickoff against the Michigan State Spartans during the1st half of a game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) runs back a kickoff against the Michigan State Spartans during the1st half of a game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Many people would give the nod to Jabrill Peppers as one of the 10 best players in college football, but I’m not ready to give him that high of praise. The junior safety from Michigan might just be the top athlete in the Big Ten, but there’s just no way he is the best all-around football player in the conference.

Peppers can play offense as well as defense, both pretty well, but he’s not even the best member of the secondary on his own team — that player will be coming up soon on this countdown.

The Wolverines’ safety came to Michigan as the top safety in the country back in 2014 out of Paramus Catholic in New Jersey — the same high school as the nation’s top prospect from 2016 who committed to Michigan, Rashan Gary. The hype has always surrounded him and he’s beginning to live up to it, but he has yet to reach his full potential, and that could happen this year.

There’s something to be said about a guy who can do it all on the football field. Not only can he defend against both the pass and run, but he can rush the ball, catch the ball and return punts and kicks.

As a sophomore, the All-Big Ten safety recorded 45 tackles, 5.5 for loss and defended 10 passes while racking up 72 rushing yards and two scores and 79 receiving yards. In the return game, he averaged 11.4 yards per punt and 27.9 per kickoff.

Jim Harbaugh keeps giving Pepper a bigger and bigger role. If he can stay healthy, he will be an All-American safety before the season is over.

Next: 24. J.T. Barrett

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