College Football: Most valuable player on every Top 25 team

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Jonah Williams (73) looks to make a block 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) /

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: RB Rodney Anderson (24) of the Oklahoma Sooners scores a touchdown on a 41 Yd run during the 2nd quarter of 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 Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

9. Oklahoma Sooners – Rodney Anderson, RB

The Sooners will have a tough time replicating last season’s success, as number one pick Baker Mayfield won’t be back in 2018.

In the Big 12, the name of the game is outscoring your opponents, and that starts with a quarterback who can spread it around. Unfortunately, it isn’t quite clear who the starter will be this season. Whoever suits up as the starter for Oklahoma, the inexperience will hurt him unless he has someone he can rely on.

That guy would be running back Rodney Anderson.

He looked brilliant in the 2017 campaign, racking up 1442 scrimmage yards on 205 touches. While he did average over six yards per carry on the ground, Anderson is also a threat in the passing game. He averaged 16.5 yards per catch in 2017, and his touches in the passing game should only rise this season. His numbers could see a rise in 2018 for a couple reasons.

First, Mayfield tested defenses deep all season, while their new guy will likely look to check-downs as a safety net. Second, losing Mark Andrews hurts, as he was a go-to guy for Mayfield on key downs. It is important for Oklahoma to have Anderson on the field all season, as he will quickly become a security blanket for their quarterback.