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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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Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Anthony Walker (18) celebrates as he made a sack against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Anthony Walker (18) celebrates as he made a sack against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not often you see Northwestern players break a top 50 list like this seeing as they like to do things under the radar. The Wildcats have been putting together consistent 8-to-10 win seasons under Pat Fitzgerald, but rarely does he have a guy who stands out from the group.

Anthony Walker has broken that mold as he was one of the top linebackers in the nation as a sophomore in 2015. It makes sense, though, that a linebacker would stand out under Fitzgerald as he was an All-Big Ten linebacker in his day.

Walker, reigning from Miami, had a chance to sit out during his freshman year as a redshirt, learning the defensive scheme. That seemed to work wonders as he started seven games in his redshirt freshman campaign in 2014, recording 51 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions.

The 2015 season was when he really broke out, though. The inside linebacker finished the season with a team-leading 122 total tackles to go along with 20.5 tackles for loss — fourth in the country — and four sacks along with another interception.

Heading into his junior season, there’s a strong chance he could be an All-American selection yet again and potentially win the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Next: 46. Jake Butt

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