Whereas his manufacturing waned in 2024, Department has the explosiveness to be a difference-maker for Georgia.
Working again Makhi Hughes
2024: Tulane Inexperienced Wave | 2025: Oregon Geese | With Oregon transitioning from sixth-year senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel to redshirt sophomore Dante Moore, Hughes will probably be pivotal to the Oregon assault.
Hughes, the 2023 AAC Rookie of the 12 months and two-time first-team All-Convention choice, rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns final season for the Inexperienced Wave. Per PFF information, he compelled 55 missed tackles and was certainly one of seven FBS operating backs with not less than 200 carries and no fumbles.
Quarterback John Mateer
2024: Washington State Cougars | 2025: Oklahoma Sooners | Brent Venables is coming into a pivotal fourth season as Oklahoma head coach. The Sooners moved to the SEC final season and went 6-7, together with 2-6 in convention, tied for his or her second-worst convention report in program historical past.
The offense was abysmal, rating 97th nationally in scoring (24 factors per recreation).
Mateer, a redshirt junior, threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 12 video games at Washington State. Venables wants a powerful season to maintain his seat from burning, and Mateer could possibly be the right man to do the trick.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza
2024: California Golden Bears | 2025: Indiana Hoosiers | It will likely be difficult for Indiana to repeat final season’s CFP run, however touchdown Mendoza helps. Final season at Cal, Mendoza accomplished 68.7 p.c of his passes for 3,004 yards and 16 landing passes.
He’ll look to duplicate 2024 starter Kurtis Rourke’s success in head coach Curt Cignetti’s system. Rourke, whoplayed at Ohio from 2019-23, posted profession highs in completion proportion (69.4 p.c) and passing touchdowns (29) final season.
Indiana has a more durable schedule this fall, with street video games towards Iowa (Sept. 27), Oregon (Oct. 11) and Penn State (Nov. 8). If Mendoza follows in his predecessor’s footsteps, the Hoosiers might as soon as once more be a playoff contender.
Quarterback Darian Mensah
2024: Tulane Inexperienced Wave | 2025: Duke Blue Devils | Head coach Manny Diaz led Duke to a 9-3 regular-season report in 2024, its greatest since 2013. After upgrading at quarterback with Mensah, the Blue Devils could possibly be higher in 2024, doubtlessly even an ACC sleeper.
Final season, Mensah led the AAC in completion proportion (65.9 p.c) and guided Tulane to a 9-3 report and convention championship recreation look. It is attainable he might have the identical sort of affect at Duke.
Tight finish Max Klare
2024: Purdue Boilermakers | 2025: Ohio State Buckeyes | Klare completed final season seventh amongst tight ends in receiving yards (684). Excellent sophomore wideout Jeremiah Smith will command a whole lot of consideration from defenses, which might permit Klare to be an important security valve for unproven sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, the crew’s anticipated starter.
Edge-rusher Will Heldt
2024: Purdue Boilermakers | 2025: Clemson Tigers | We’re unsure what’s stranger: lowly Purdue having a number of high-profile transfers or Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney embracing the portal. Both manner, Heldt might play a key position in whether or not the Tigers stay as much as expectations and symbolize the ACC because the convention’s CFP automated qualifier.
In 2024 at Purdue, Heldt had 37 tackles (10 for loss), 5 sacks, a fumble restoration and landing.
