Fansided

5 potential college football Cinderella stories in 2017

By Charles Rahrig V

Dec 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) throws the ball during 2nd half of The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Northwestern defeats Pittsburgh 31-24. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) throws the ball during 2nd half of The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Northwestern defeats Pittsburgh 31-24. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Florida Atlantic Owls

If there’s one team that could see a major turnaround in 2017, it’s the Florida Atlantic Owls. After a disastrous 2016 season that saw the team finish just 3-9, major changes were made to the program and Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was brought in as head coach.

Under Nick Saban, Kiffin really had a lot of time to learn and grow as a coach and maybe pick up on some lessons he didn’t necessarily have during his other stints at head coach. He’s also still very young by coaching standards and having been in a head coaching position before should serve him well.

He’s not going to have the players he did with the Crimson Tide, but he’s going to get the Owls’ offense turned around and should at least have them playing competitive. The first step for him will be settling on a quarterback.

The Owls aren’t wasting any time in spring as they look to either Jason Driskel or De’Andre Johnson to step up and take command of the offense. If he can get a quarterback he’s comfortable with, then it’s a start in the right direction. We saw what he was able to do with Jalen Hurts under center as a freshman.

Home/College Football