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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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Nov 27, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) runs the ball against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) runs the ball against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

Royce Freeman came out of high school already possessing the entire package. The former five-star prospect from California was fast, had power, size and the ability to make defenders miss, vaulting him into the starting running back conversation for the Oregon Ducks the second he stepped foot on campus.

The 5-foot-11, 230-pound boulder of a back is so hard to bring down, he makes would-be tacklers regret trying to take him to the ground. He can punish defenders more than any other back in the country and he has a similar style to Alabama’s Derrick Henry.

Freeman was a Freshman All-American in 2014 after rushing for 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry and followed that up with an even more impressive 2015 season. As a sophomore, he finished with 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per touch. That improvement showed that he had yet to reach his potential and we still might be waiting to see the best from Freeman.

The junior running back will be relied on much more this season without a true starting quarterback in place — last season it was Vernon Adams Jr. and before that it was Marcus Mariota.

Oregon will be dishing more carries his way and he will likely improve his numbers even more in an electric offensive scheme. Royce Freeman might just be a Heisman-caliber running back in 2016.

Next: 22. Mike Williams

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