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College Football: 25 breakout players to watch in 2016

By John Buhler

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
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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Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) runs the ball while defended by Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (78) during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) runs the ball while defended by Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (78) during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

In the SEC, it’s all about who has the premier talent at defensive tackle. Alabama usually has the depth to win that argument and there is a bit of a void now that Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche is playing on Sundays with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Though he is still probably a year away from arriving as a top 10 defensive talent in college football, Georgia Bulldogs true sophomore defensive tackle Trent Thompson should have himself a huge year for new head coach Kirby Smart in 2016.

Thompson has been tabbed as the next great interior defensive lineman at Georgia since Geno Atkins or John Jenkins. He’s developed a strong rapport with defensive line coach and College Football Hall of Famer Tracy Rocker. Rocker won both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy as one of the best players in Auburn Tigers history back in the late 1980s. Thompson is his biggest project to date.

Though Thompson did grow into a solid rotational role under former defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt last fall, expect a quantum leap from him under new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Tucker, Smart, and inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann all came from Nick Saban’s staff in Tuscaloosa. Rocker and outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer are the two lone holdovers from Mark Richt’s 2015 Georgia staff.

In short, Georgia is going to be a more defensive-minded football team under Smart’s leadership. Thompson has lost a ton of weight entering year two in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program. Should he have his health, he should eviscerate most interior offensive linemen he’ll go up against in SEC play in 2016.

Next: 11. Duke Catalon.

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