College Football: Most valuable player on every Top 25 team
1. Alabama Crimson Tide – Jonah Williams, OT
The Tide will be a big-time contender once again in 2018 and are coming off a National Championship. They continue to reload after consistently losing players every year to the NFL Draft.
This season will feel a little different for Alabama due to their quarterback competition. Jalen Hurts has been the guy, but Tua Tagovailoa took over in the second half of the championship game and led them to a win in overtime. While Tagovailoa looks like the guy going forward, Hurts could step in and be alright in a pinch, so the quarterback position isn’t the most valuable for Alabama.
When it comes to the defense, the Tide are always very deep at every position, so they don’t lose much if a top defensive player goes down. Shifting back to the offensive side of the ball, it’s always important to have a lineman who can lock down opposing pass rushers and pave the way for the running game to flourish.
This is where Jonah Williams comes in. Williams was fantastic last season at left tackle, and it will be important for him to stay healthy to protect their sophomore quarterback, especially in a conference as tough as the SEC. Offensive linemen are often overlooked, but it’s hard to overstate the value that Williams brings to the offense. Without him, the Tide may not be as efficient in 2018.