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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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – NOVEMBER 18: Nick Fitzgerald No. 7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes for a touchdown during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

21. Mississippi State Bulldogs – Nick Fitzgerald, QB

It’s crowded at the top of the SEC, but the Bulldogs of Mississippi State have enough to be in contention for the SEC West title. Their defense looked strong last season, and they boast a great and deep front heading into 2018. The offense will need to improve from last season, and they can’t afford to lose quarterback Nick Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald saw his passing yards, yards per attempt, and touchdown passes dip in 2017. He also threw more interceptions in his junior season than he did as a sophomore. As he enters his senior year, Fitzgerald has to be the guy the Bulldogs count on to win tough games. He is still a dual-threat player, accounting for over 900 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground last season.

Fitzgerald just needs to rebound as a passer to get this team where they want to be. That comes with making better decisions and improving through his progressions. It would be very difficult for Mississippi State to weather the storm if they lost a guy who accounted for 62 percent of their touchdowns in 2017.