Fansided

30 college football players with big shoes to fill in 2017

By Brad Weiss

Apr 9, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) after faking the pass during the first quarter of the spring game at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) after faking the pass during the first quarter of the spring game at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans linebacker John Houston Jr. (10) stops USC Trojans wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (6) during the annual 2017 Spring Game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans linebacker John Houston Jr. (10) stops USC Trojans wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (6) during the annual 2017 Spring Game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
19

Michael Pittman

Wide Receiver, USC

The USC Trojans are back, and many believe they could have made some noise if they were selected to the College Football Playoff last season. After stumbling out of the gate, the team went with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and the rest was history. Inserting Darnold into the starting lineup also helped star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who re-established himself as one of the best in the country at the position.

In 2017, Smith-Schuster will be catching passes in the NFL, and Darnold will have to find a new WR1. We believe that player will be Michael Pittman, who has all the talent to be a breakout talent for the Trojans next season. Pittman can stretch the field, go over the middle, and looked very good in the Spring Game this past month.

If the name sounds familiar, its because he is the son of former NFL running back, Michael Pittman Sr. A Parade First-Team All-American, Pittman got his feet wet as a freshman last season, and will look to be a top option in the offense in 2017. Not only did Pittman do work on offense last year, but also on special teams, though he will likely just stick to wide receiver this season.

The Trojans have to be a favorite to go to the College Football Playoff this season, and quarterback Sam Darnold just may be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Pittman is going to be a big-time beneficiary of Darnold’s talent in 2017, and do not be surprised if he is one of the best wideouts in the Pac-12 by the time the season is over.

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