15 college football teams losing the most talent in 2018

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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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne (94) looks to make a tackle during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Early NFL Draft Entrants: 5 (RB Bo Scarbrough, WR Calvin Ridley, DT Da’Ron Payne, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Robbie Harrison)
Starters Lost: 14 (5 Offense, 9 Defense)
Two-Deep Lost: 16 (6 Offense, 10 Defense)
Passing Yards Returning: 2,708 (100 percent)
Rushing Yards Returning: 3,068 (83.3 percent)
Receiving Yards Returning: 1,256 (46.3 percent)
Tackles Returning:5 (40.7 percent)

Despite what will assuredly be an offseason that revolves around a pair of returning quarterbacks, Alabama must replace a lot of productive players from last year’s offense.

The receiving corps was one of the hardest hit units. Calvin Ridley needed just three seasons to break into the all-time top five in the SEC in career receptions (224). Ridley also left Tuscaloosa ranked in the top 20 in conference history with 2,781 receiving yards, and was on the receiving end of 19 touchdown passes. Senior receivers Robert Foster, Cam Sims and early NFL Draft entrant Bo Scarbrough (who ranked second on the team with 17 receptions and third with 596 rushing yards in 2017) are also gone.

The Crimson Tide must almost replace nearly 60 percent of its tackling production after losing nine starters from what was one of the most dominant units in the nation last year. Defensive backs Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne joined Ridley and Scarbrough in foregoing their senior seasons. Only two schools lost more players early to the draft.

With Harrison and Fitzpatrick opting to leave Tuscaloosa, Alabama must now replace its entire starting secondary. Thrown in linebackers Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton and defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and 10 of the team’s top 17 tacklers from last season are gone. The team returns just 52 percent its tackles for loss, 51.3 percent of its sacks and 36.8 percent of interceptions.

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