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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 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars wide receiver Gabe Marks (9) celebrates after scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass with three seconds to play against the UCLA Bruins in a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Washington State defeated UCLA 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars wide receiver Gabe Marks (9) celebrates after scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass with three seconds to play against the UCLA Bruins in a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Washington State defeated UCLA 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Once considered a top prospect at the high school level, Gabe Marks decided to join Mike Leach’s Washington State program in 2012 — the head coach’s first season with the school Leach has a brilliant offensive mind, but it wasn’t clear what type of team he would have as the Cougars had been hapless for years, winning just nine total games from 2008-11.

Leach’s team won just three games in his first season, but Marks had a solid year, catching 49 passes for 560 yards and two touchdowns. Washington State improved a bit the next year as Marks’ numbers rose, catching 74 balls for 807 yards and seven touchdowns.

After redshirting in 2014, Marks returned in 2015 with a new quarterback under center in sophomore Luke Falk. The gunslinger happened to make him his favorite target, hitting him 104 times for 1,192 yards and 15 touchdowns. Marks was an All-Pac-12 first-team selection and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.

Looking at the rise in numbers over his first three seasons, it’s crazy to think what kind of numbers he can put up as a senior in 2016 with Falk having another year of experience under his belt. He stands just 6-foot-0, 176 pounds, but he is an explosive route-runner and has great hands.

Next: 48. Luke Falk

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