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College Football Group of 5 Conferences preview 2017

By Nicholas Ian Allen

SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: Quinton Flowers (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: Quinton Flowers (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 5: SMU Mustangs wide receiver Courtland Sutton (16) (Photo by Mikel Galicia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 5: SMU Mustangs wide receiver Courtland Sutton (16) (Photo by Mikel Galicia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

G5 Breakout Star to Watch

WR Courtland Sutton, SMU

Casual college football fans may not know his name, but NFL scouts sure do. SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton caught 76 passes for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016. Sutton surpassed 100 yards five times last season, including a 162-yard effort in the season opener against North Texas when he caught three touchdowns, including an 88-yarder, and a 252-yard effort on a season-high 13 catches against USF.

The junior ranked third in the AAC and No. 12 in the nation in receiving yards per game (103.8), and also ranked third in the league and 64th nationally in yards per catch (16.39). Sutton’s production also came while working with what was expected to be a backup quarterback after preseason starter Matt Davis was lost to injury in the season opener. Ben Hicks started 11 games as a freshman in 2016 and is competing with Arkansas transfer Rafe Peavey for the starting job. Working with Davis in 2015, Sutton caught 49 passes for 862 yards and nine touchdowns.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Sutton has the frame of a pro wideout, and he has deceptive speed as well. ESPN’s Todd McShay listed Sutton as his No. 5 draft eligible receiver in the preseason, and Phil Steele lists Sutton third among pro prospects at the in his preseason magazine, and also anointed him a preseason Second Team All-American.

Not only does Sutton have the physical tools to succeed, he plays in an offense perfectly suited for his talent. SMU head coach Chad Morris has the Mustangs pointed in the right direction after improving from two wins in his first season to a 5-7 record last year. Under Morris’ direction, SMU averaged 273 yards passing per game last season.

  • AAC Breakout Performer: WR Courtland Sutton, SMU
  • C-USA Breakout Performer: QB Chase Litton, Marshall
  • G5 FBS Independents Breakout Performer: RB Darnell Woolfolk, Army West Point
  • MAC Breakout Performer: QB Shane Morris, Central Michigan
  • Mountain West Breakout Performer: RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
  • Sun Belt Conference Breakout Performer: QB Justice Hansen, Arkansas State