College Football: 25 breakout players to watch in 2016

By John Buhler | Aug 19, 2016

Nov 27, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) enters the field before the game at Memorial Stadium for the contest against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. King has been suspended from the first quarter of play due to a team violation. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive end Carl Lawson (55) reacts after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn Tigers won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

To be honest, the 2016 Auburn Tigers might have themselves another tough year in the brutal SEC West. Their eight-game SEC slate isn’t favorable and neither is opening the year at home against ACC juggernaut Clemson in Week 1.

Head coach Gus Malzahn might be on the hot seat, even after signing that multi-year extension. Much of that has to do with which quarterback will have a firmer grasp of he and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s ‘hurry-up-and-run’ playbook: Jeremy Johnson or Sean White?

The Tigers might struggle to get to a bowl game, but they will have a great playmaker on defense in redshirt junior Carl Lawson. Lawson had a brilliant freshman campaign in 2013, but missed all of 2014 due to injury. He played in 2015, but didn’t seem like a great fit in Will Muschamp’s defense.

Auburn gets a huge upgrade defensively by nabbing new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele from division rival LSU this offseason. LSU is a pass rushing powerhouse and Lawson is a former five-star recruit coming out of high school in 2013.

In 19 total games with the Tigers in three seasons, Lawson has 37 tackles for five quarterback sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss of yardage. Should he and Steele develop a solid rapport this fall, Lawson is looking like a 10+ sack candidate and an All-SEC First Team designation as Auburn’s best player in 2016.

Lawson could surpass Dee Ford in Auburn lore this fall and might even get into that Nick Fairley realm if the Tigers do some real damage in a tough SEC West this year.

Next: 15. Mitch Trubisky.

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