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

Shoes to Fill: Calvin Ridley

He was often overlooked on a national level because he didn’t put up video game numbers in Alabama’s run-first offense, but Calvin Ridley was arguably the most talented receiver in the nation in 2017. As a junior, Ridley caught 63 passes (46 more than the No. 2 receiver on the roster), for 967 yards (703 more than the closest teammate) and five touchdowns. He left early for the NFL Draft after posting a three-year total of 224 receptions, 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns.

With Ridley gone, as well as Robert Foster, Cam Sims and Bo Scarbrough, the Crimson Tide must replace four of the top five targets from last season. And, while lesser known receivers will need to step up and play a bigger role in the Alabama offense in 2018, there are several talented options to choose from. Henry Ruggs III led the team with six touchdown catches as a true freshman, and DeVonta Smith caught three scoring strikes, including the winner in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

However, the most talented of the bunch, and the player who made the most consistent impact throughout the 2017 season is Jerry Jeudy. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Jeudy is built like a Ridley clone, and he proved to be a deep threat as a true freshman, much like Ridley in 2015. A five-star recruit ranked No. 21 overall and third among receivers in the 247Sports Composite last year, Jeudy averaged 18.9 yards per catch and scored two touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last year. He tied for third on the team with 14 receptions and finished second with 264 receiving yards. We can expect much more in 2018.