College football 2018: Top 30 breakout players to watch

Tua Tagovailoa was another player I bounced off a consigliere when putting this list together. In doing so, I started a running argument about whether Tua, with his play in the National Championship game alone, had been the ultimate breakout player of the 2017 season.

I believe the answer is no. He had one of the most memorable plays in recent memory in a game that will go down in history as one of the all-time great championships, but one memorable play or even one memorable game doesn’t mean he had a breakout season. Aaron Boone didn’t break out when he hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the 2005 ALCS and David Tyree didn’t break out with the helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII.

2018 is set up to be Tua’s breakout season. The only difference between him and most of the players on this list is that he’s already a household name.

Tua Tagovailoa was the number one dual-threat quarterback prospect in the nation in 2017 when he chose Alabama over offers from just about every other major program in college football. As he impressed in practice, especially as a passer, rumblings began about how soon he might see the field.

As a freshman last season, Tua appeared in seven regular season games and threw for 470 yards and eight touchdowns while completing just over 66 percent of his passes. Almost all of the playing time he was came in the second half with Alabama holding a 30 point lead. His first meaningful snaps came on the biggest stage in college football when Nick Saban put the ball in his hands for the second half against Georgia. He went 14-of-24 for 166 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which solidified his place in college football lore and ensured that he’ll never have to pay for a drink in Tuscaloosa as long as he lives.

Although Nick Saban hasn’t named a 2018 starter yet and both Tua and Jalen Hurts are likely to see playing time, Tua is the favorite to win the role as Alabama’s primary starter. As he does, watch out for a monster 2018 season and a serious passing attack to emerge alongside Alabama’s dominant run game and defense.