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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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Joe Jackson #99 of the Miami Hurricanes in action against the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 24, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

7. Miami Hurricanes – Joe Jackson, DE

The Hurricanes are another team with high hopes this fall. This team still has plenty of pieces to make a run on both sides of the ball. Senior quarterback Malik Rosier needs to step up and improve this season, and he will need help from his skill position guys.

However, their most valuable player doesn’t play offense. Miami is a team that prides itself on defense. Exhibit A of that is the turnover chain. Dominance on defense starts with creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks and being a problem against the run.

This is where Joe Jackson comes in for Miami, especially with the losses of Chad Thomas, Kendrick Norton, and R.J. McIntosh to the NFL. A lot falls on his shoulders this season, but his 10.5 tackles for loss and six and a half sacks show potential for a leap in his junior season.

Miami does have other studs on defense, especially on the back end, but a good pass rush helps makes the secondary, not the other way around. Losing Joe Jackson would leave the Hurricanes thin along the edge, and could cost them a chance for a playoff spot.