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15 college football teams losing the most talent in 2018

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to snap the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to snap the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: QB Baker Mayfield (6) of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after scoring a touchdown reception at the end of the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners on January 1, 2018, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: QB Baker Mayfield (6) of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after scoring a touchdown reception at the end of the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners on January 1, 2018, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
  • Early NFL Draft Entrants: 3 (DT Du’Vonta Lampkin, TE Mark Andrews, T Orlando Brown)
  • Starters Lost: 11 (5 Offense, 6 Defense)
  • Two-Deep Lost: 15 (8 Offense, 7 Defense)
  • Passing Yards Returning: 377 (7.5 percent)
  • Rushing Yards Returning: 2,177 (66.4 percent)
  • Receiving Yards Returning: 2,951 (58.3 percent)
  • Tackles Returning: 678 (55.1 percent)

Two teams on our list must replace Heisman Trophy winners, which is never an easy task. Baker Mayfield, who won college football’s highest individual honor last season in which he threw for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns, is one of the highest profiles losses of any team heading into 2018.

Mayfield had an incredible career with the Sooners, but he’s far from the only contributor the three-time defending Big 12 champs must replenish. Like Mayfield, left tackle Orlando Brown and tight end Mark Andrews were All-Americans in 2017. Unlike Mayfield, Brown and Andrews decided to jump to the NFL a year early. Defensive Du’Vonta Lampkin, a third-year sophomore, joined them in the early entry pool.

Oklahoma must a total of 11 starters and 15 players listed on the two-deep depth chart. Though lesser known role players from what was the best offense in the country, center Erick Wren, fullback Dimitri Flowers, backup offensive lineman Jonathan Alvarez and receiver Jeff Badet have all run out of eligibility and will be missed.

On defense, the Sooners will be without graduated leading tackler Emmanuel Beal and productive linebacker/defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, as well as starting defensive backs Steven Parker and Will Johnson, and defensive end D.J. Ward. Veteran reserve defensive back Jordan Thomas is also out of eligibility.

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