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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 21, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Jalen Tabor (31) reacts as Florida Atlantic Owls misses the field goal during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Jalen Tabor (31) reacts as Florida Atlantic Owls misses the field goal during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Coming to Florida as one of the top 15 recruits in college football, Jalen Tabor had some major expectations coming his way. Playing alongside elite defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III happened to cause nightmares for opposing offenses.

The two star cornerbacks combined to make up the 13th-best secondary in the country in terms of passing yards allowed per game.

Tabor was an instant star for the Gators in 2014 under Will Muschamp, playing in all 12 games and starting five. He became a Freshman All-American after recording 31 tackles, five for loss and two sacks to go along with an interception and eight pass breakups. This kid isn’t afraid to blitz from the cornerback position and he makes his presence felt by opposing QBs one way or another.

Nicknamed ‘Teez’ by those who know him best, Tabor improved his numbers tremendously from freshman to sophomore year. He finished his second season as the starting quarterback with 40 total tackles, four for loss, a sack, four interceptions, two pick-sixes and 14 pass breakups.

With his innate ability to jump routes and read the opposing quarterback’s eyes, Tabor has become one of the scarier defensive backs in the nation. Could he be a Thorpe Award winner for the Gators and Jim McElwain in 2016?

Next: 16. Calvin Ridley

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