30 college football players with big shoes to fill in 2017

4

Isaiah Langley

Cornerback, USC

During his time on campus at USC, Adoree’ Jackson established himself as one of the more versatile players in college football. An incredible cornerback, Jackson finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in return yards, while also doing damage on the offensive side of the ball. He is going to be very hard to replace at all of those areas, but Isaiah Langley should do a nice job replacing him at corner.

Langley is an incredible defensive back, who does a fantastic job in coverage. He also has soft hands for someone who plays in the defensive backfield, and should do well in his new role in 2017. USC will going up against some of the best quarterbacks in the country next season, and having strong play from their cornerbacks is going to be crucial if they want to take over the Pac-12.

The Trojans finished the 2016 season as one of the hottest teams in college football, and come into 2017 with a quarterback who many believe will be the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the Pac-12 is a pass-happy league, and if the Trojans struggle against the pass, they are going to have a hard time winning their division. Jackson was a special player on and off the field for USC, though Langley may wind up being just as good a cornerback as he was during his time on campus.

Langley has had his share of problems since coming to USC, including being suspended for the team’s season opener against Alabama last season. He has to mature off the field, as he is too important to this team on it. If he dedicates himself to the team, he will be a solid player, but it remains to be seen if he is willing to do that.