ESPN's preseason top 100 places Texas quarterback Arch Manning at No. 23, prompting questions about whether that spot reflects his production across the past two seasons. Texas defender Colin Simmons finished last season with nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss and showed strong CFP performances, suggesting a higher projection. Other potentially underrated defenders include Anthony Hill Jr., Notre Dame corner Leonard Moore, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey and LSU linebacker Whit Weeks. Bailey is viewed as a potential early-round draft pick, and Weeks posted 125 tackles with an SEC-best 89 in conference play. Several notable players finished just outside the top 50.
Texas' Colin Simmons ended last season as one of the nation's top young playmakers on defense. He led Texas in sacks (9), finished second in tackles for loss (14) and had some of his best games in the CFP. The former five-star recruit told me he wants to be more of a complete player, especially against the run. We have Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 2, but I wouldn't be surprised if two Texas defenders end up in the postseason top 10.
Both came close to finishing inside the top 50, but I suspect we're probably a little too low on Texas Tech's edge rusher David Bailey at No. 58 and LSU linebacker Whit Weeks at No. 60. Bailey flew under the national radar a bit during his career at Stanford but is one of the best returning defenders in the country and a potential early-round draft pick.
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