Trying to discover the next immense talent is the holy grail of football analysis. As players like Joe Burrow and Zach Wilson appear seemingly out of nowhere to dominate college football, everyone wants to know who will be “that guy” for the upcoming season and into the 2022 NFL Draft. Will there be a similar ascension this season? We take a look at some potential breakouts and sleepers for the 2021 college football season.
College Football Breakouts 2021 | Offense
Below are, in no particular order, 11 players who could be set for breakouts in the 2021 college football season. Let’s first take a look at the offensive players.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The pride of the Texas Longhorns’ 2020 recruiting class, Bijan Robinson was the top-ranked running back out of high school just one year ago. After a slow start to his college career, the former five-star recruit had a breakout of sorts late last season. Robinson rushed for over 100 yards in three of the Longhorns’ final four games. He also added 4 touchdowns, with 3 scores in the regular-season finale at Kansas State.
Strong, speedy, and elusive, Robinson will spearhead the Texas offense under Steve Sarkisian. If the new Longhorns head coach finds a way to utilize Robinson in the same way he did with Najee Harris at Alabama, we could see the most devastating breakout of the 2021 college football season. All gas. No brakes. Texas is back.
Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
The nature of college football means that in most seasons, a team will have to replace significant production that is lost to the NFL. This season’s North Carolina Tar Heels are no exception. Not only did they lose a pair of prolific running backs, but in Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown, they’ve lost over 1,750 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Thankfully for Mack Brown’s team, they have an in-house replacement in Josh Downs. Although he only had 3 receptions through the regular season of his freshman campaign, against Texas A&M, the diminutive pass catcher demonstrated why he’s ready to be one of the breakouts of the 2021 college football season. Downs snagged 4 receptions for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Orange Bowl defeat to the Aggies.
Look for Downs to be the go-to guy for quarterback Sam Howell this upcoming season.
Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
The 2021 Aggies team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. In the running back room alone, they have multiple rushers who would be the No. 1 guy in most offenses. Isaiah Spiller is one of the top running back prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ainias Smith provides a dual-threat as a rusher and receiver. And yet, however good those two are, Devon Achane may well be the best in the room.
A dynamic rushing threat, the 5’9″ running back is one of the fastest players in the nation. After wowing in the Orange Bowl win over North Carolina, Achane has spent the offseason setting personal bests in the 100m and 200m as part of A&M’s track team. His 140 yards on 12 carries with 2 touchdowns against the Tar Heels should be the springboard for a breakout college football season in 2021.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Some of the best programs in the country will have to reset at the quarterback position this fall. All four teams that comprised the 2020 College Football Playoffs have lost their quarterback to the NFL. Although Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei is a popular breakout candidate for the 2021 college football season, he feels like an obvious choice to have on this list. After all, we’ve seen him in action against Notre Dame and Boston College. We know what he can do.
At this point, we don’t even know if C.J. Stroud is the guaranteed starter for Ohio State. However, he’s my favorite to win the starting job. Furthermore, he’s got the talent — and more importantly, the surrounding talent — to be successful this season. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson give him one of the best receiving tandems in the nation. The Buckeyes also have impressive pieces to protect him on the offensive line with Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
Kayshon Boutte had to share targets with Terrace Marshall Jr. as a true freshman last season. However, the first-year pass catcher still managed to lead the Tigers in receiving yards. Although the LSU quarterback position is still uncertain at this moment in time, what isn’t is that Boutte will be the go-to guy for the offense this season.
The 6’0″, 185-pound receiver racked up 735 yards at an impressive 16.3 yards per catch last season. The majority of that yardage came from a mesmerizing performance against Ole Miss. Boutte set the single-game SEC receiving record with 308 receiving yards, showing his speed, strength, and after-the-catch ability.
There is every chance he breaks 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns as one of the breakout stars of college football in the 2021 season.
Jaylen Hall, WR, Western Michigan
Although most of the breakout candidates for the 2021 college football season are young players yet to establish themselves fully, age and experience don’t preclude a player from going the list. Western Michigan’s Jaylen Hall will be a redshirt senior this coming season, but he could be on the verge of producing the best football of his career.
Hall’s production has steadily increased during his three years with the Broncos. Despite only securing 12 receptions last season, he snagged 7 touchdowns for an offense that contained second-round NFL Draft selection D’Wayne Eskridge. While Eskridge was famed for his big-play ability, Hall actually led the nation in yards per catch last season. With an expected uptick in targets, Hall could be the next Western Michigan receiver headed to the NFL.
College Football Breakouts 2021 | Defense
Which defensive players are set to be breakouts for the 2021 college football season?
Adam Anderson, OLB, Georgia
Georgia pass rusher Adam Anderson has been a bit-part player for the Bulldogs for the past three seasons. With multiple players departed for the NFL, the senior outside linebacker needs to grab the opportunity with both hands to become one of the breakouts of the 2021 college football season. Anderson is explosive, athletic, and when he gets the chance to hit, he does so in dominant fashion.
There’s no doubting his ability to get the job done. Used predominantly on third downs, Anderson has been a tremendous pass-rush threat. He has amassed 10 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in limited game time. With gargantuan defensive tackle Jordan Davis returning to draw double-teams, Anderson should be able to eat this season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him equal his career production in just one season.
Justin Flowe, ILB, Oregon
With Noah Sewell earning rave reviews for his performances in his true freshman season, it’s easy to forget who was the top recruit of Oregon’s 2020 recruiting class. That would be Justin Flowe. The 6’2″, 225-pound five-star recruit was the No. 1-ranked inside linebacker in the nation just one year ago. Furthermore, he is the second-highest-ranked recruit in program history behind Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Unfortunately, Flowe made just one start for the Ducks last season after suffering a meniscus tear. His only contribution in his freshman season was a solo tackle against Stanford.
In high school, however, Flowe lived in the opposition’s backfield, racking up 30 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles in his senior season alone. If he can return fully fit and replicate that form, Flowe should be one of the 2021 college football season breakouts.
Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
After landing an astonishing amount of transfer portal players, Utah could be one of the surprise packages in the Pac-12 this season. Nevertheless, one of the potential college football breakouts for 2021 is already on the Utes roster.
Clark Phillips III was a surprising addition to Utah’s 2020 recruiting class, choosing the Utes over Ohio State, USC, and Alabama.
Phillips impressed in a disrupted freshman season, logging 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass deflections, and an interception returned for a score. The Utah cornerback has the speed, fluidity, and ball skills to become one of the premier cornerbacks in the nation. If Utah’s recent acquisitions help the team compete in the Pac-12, Phillips will get to show his skills on the national stage this coming season.
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
Daxton Hill is a former five-star recruit who parlayed his incredible high school career into an impressive freshman campaign for Michigan in 2019. The No. 1 safety of the 2019 recruiting class was named the Wolverines’ Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, his opportunity to build on that as a sophomore was derailed by the entropy of last year’s college football season.
As a result, Hill is poised to be one of the breakouts of the 2021 college football season. The Michigan safety has ideal size, speed, and playmaking skills to be disruptive at the heart of Michigan’s secondary. Hill has averaged 3.5 pass deflections and 1 interception in each of his two seasons to date.
Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
Clemson has several defensive breakout candidates ahead of the 2021 college football season. Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee could both establish themselves as household names by the end of the year. On the other hand, cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. can be one of the best cornerbacks in the nation in his first entire season as a starter.
Heading into this season, Booth has as many career interceptions as he does starts. His game film is a highlight reel of acrobatic interceptions and pass deflections. Booth possesses the ball skills of a wide receiver while not being afraid to get involved in the run game.