30 college football players with the biggest shoes to fill in 2018

Shoes to Fill: Justin Jackson

Like LSU, Northwestern was left our of our Way-Too-Early Top 25. Truthfully, the Wildcats might have been the bigger snub given the fact they won 10 games a year ago, welcome much more on offense, and play in a less competitive division in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

However, there are too many questions surrounding Northwestern to put them in the Top 25 at this stage of the offseason. One is whether or nor quarterback Clayton Thorson will overcome the serious knee injury he suffered in the Music City Bowl. But, more important is the need to replace Justin Jackson.

Very few players in the history of college football have gained 1,000 rushing yards in four separate seasons. Jackson was one, and he finished his Northwestern career with 5,440 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns. Last season, Jackson ran for 1,311 yards and 11 scores, surpassing 100 yards seven times. He did it on an average of 22.1 carries per game, which led the Big Ten.

Jackson will undoubtedly be missed, but the Wildcats should be in good hands with Jeremy Larkin, who gained 503 yards and five touchdowns on 84 carries backing up Jackson as a freshman last season. Larkin, a 5-foot-10, 194-pound Cincinnati native, picked up his first career 100-yard game in the bowl game. He needed only nine carries to accomplish it thanks in large part to a 64-yard run. And though he has only earned 10 carries in a game once in his career, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic Jackson can take over the heavy workload from Jackson as a sophomore.