Fansided

College football 2018: Biggest X-factor on every Top 25 team

By Derek Grochowski

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 25
Next

The x-factors for every preseason Top 25 team in college football this year, including last year’s secret weapon for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

It is a new season, one full of opportunity. In just a single week teams can climb to the top nation or collapse to mediocrity in college football. 2018 brings new teams, players and storylines into the spotlight.

Every team has players that are capable of taking a game over. These are the X-factors. Not to be confused with the best player on every team, although, that may be the case for some teams.

These are the x-factors for every Top 25 team, according to ESPN’s ranking.

COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 9: Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 9: Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

25. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina Gamecocks

It was a rollercoaster season for the South Carolina Gamecocks last season. Losses to Kentucky, Texas A&M, Georgia and Clemson left them with an 8-4 regular season record. It was the second season under head coach Will Muschamp and it was the first step forward for the program under him. The season ended on a high note when the Gamecocks beat the Michigan Wolverines in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Looking ahead to the 2018 season the Gamecocks schedule is full of the usual big names. They play Georgia in the second week of the season. Back to back tough tests are on the calendar in October when the Texas A&M and Tennessee come to South Carolina. The regular season will end with a game on the road at Clemson. Georgia will likely be the class of the SEC East this season but South Carolina can really push for the second or third spot and get into a top bowl game.

The Gamecocks lost a lot of firepower on defense. This year’s team will be young and there is not a lot of depth if the team runs into injury problems. The injection of youth into the lineup is what makes South Carolina so interesting this season. It is hard to pin down solid expectations on a young group and they are hard to predict. While a lot of attention will be put on the defense the real x-factor for the team is on the other side of the ball.

Deebo Samuel is due to break out this season if he can stay healthy. He missed the majority of the season with a broken leg and then a foot sprain. When he was on the field he was very effective, he had 15 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He was a threat on special teams as well, he had two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Add in a rushing touchdown and he was responsible for six touchdowns in three games.

The ground game will not be a huge factor this season. Yes, they are returning a bunch of juniors but none of them stood out last season. The offensive line struggled in run blocking and hasn’t gotten that much better. The Gamecocks will need to be effective in the air. Jake Bentley is back and more than capable of being a serviceable quarterback. He has all of the weapons around him to be effective. The biggest weapon of them all will be Deebo Samuel.