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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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Nov 28, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Arden Key (49) and LSU Tigers defensive end Lewis Neal (92) celebrate sacking Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen (10) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Texas A&M Aggies 19-7. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Arden Key (49) and LSU Tigers defensive end Lewis Neal (92) celebrate sacking Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen (10) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Texas A&M Aggies 19-7. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /

A major reason that the LSU Tigers have remained virtually a top 15 program annually for much of the last decade under head coach Les Miles is LSU’s nearly unrivaled ability to reload in the front seven defensively. LSU dominates recruiting in the front seven with so many big and agile bodies inside of Louisiana’s borders.

The Tigers rarely get defensive linemen to play all four years of college ball in Baton Rouge and 2016 should be no different. For the Tigers to appropriately reload in the defensive front seven in 2016, LSU will need a big sophomore season from sophomore defensive end Arden Key.

Key was a former four-star recruit out of Hapeville, Georgia that chose to play for Miles as part of his 2015 LSU recruiting class. As a true freshman in 2015, Key played in 11 games with 38 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, four quarterback sacks, and a fumble recovery.

Outside of Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly and Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight, the Tigers won’t face a strong SEC quarterback this season, leaving Key open to making some head-turning plays beyond the line of scrimmage as a preeminent pass rusher of the Tigers.

Key will have a 2017 NCAA season to put together a pass-rushing highlight reel for LSU that could have him be a first-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. LSU needs to have somebody step up big time in 2016 on the defensive end should the Tigers push for the College Football Playoff. A 10+ sack season from sophomore pass rusher Key will help the Tigers get to Atlanta.

Next: 19. Vayante Copeland.

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