The smallest player on our list, 5-foot-11, 185-pound Justin Thomas has big-time potential as the prototypical quarterback in Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson’s triple option offense.
In his first season as a starter, Thomas led the Yellow Jackets to a 10-2 regular season record and a spot in the 2014 ACC Championship Game, where they fell 37-35 to Florida State, the undefeated defending national champions. Then, in the Orange Bowl, Thomas orchestrated a 49-34 upset of Mississippi State with 121 rushing yards and three touchdowns to go with 125 passing yards a TD on 7-for-12 passing.
The team’s leading rusher in 2014, Thomas surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 2014 for the nation’s second leading rushing team (342.1 yards per game). And with Tech’s next four most productive rushers Synjyn Days (924 yards, 9 TDs), Zach Laskey (851 yards, 9 TDs), Charles Perkins (443 yards), Tony Zenon (293 yards, 4 TDs) as well as the team’s top four receivers all graduating, Thomas could carry a bigger load in 2015.
The schedule is tough for Thomas and the Yellow Jackets in 2015. After opening with non-conference creampuffs Alcorn State and Tulane, Tech plays at Notre Dame, at Duke, North Carolina, at Clemson, Pitt, FSU and at Virginia in consecutive weeks. After a bye, Tech hosts Virginia Tech, travels to Miami and plays Georgia in Atlanta.
The tough slate is a double-edged sword because Georgia Tech has the target of defending the ACC Coastal Division Championship coupled with so many questions on offense, though it also offers plenty of high-profile opportunities for Thomas to shine for a national audience and earn the attention of Heisman voters.
Next: Keenan Reynolds