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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) /
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PROVO, UT – OCTOBER 6: Curtis Weaver #99 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates a play during their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 6, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
PROVO, UT – OCTOBER 6: Curtis Weaver #99 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates a play during their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 6, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

17. Curtis Weaver, Boise State Broncos

Leighton Vander Esch was one of the rising stars of college football last season. He led the Boise State Broncos defense last season. But he is gone and it is time for someone else to step in and take his place on the defense.

This year’s X Factor for the Broncos is Curtis Weaver. He finished a strong first season with 33 total tackles and 11 sacks from the hybrid defensive end and linebacker position. The Broncos were the class of the Mountain West last season and they are the program that should be every year. This year is no different, their expectations should be very high.

The entire defense is built really well around Weaver but he is their x-factor because he is their main pass rusher. The pass rush last year is what made the team so dominant. If his production drops off the entire defense will drop off. It may not be noticeable against weaker competition but it will definitely be exposed against the top teams.

Not only was Weaver’s 11 sacks good enough for the lead in the Mountain West conference he was tied for top 10 in all of the FBS. Only one of the players above him on that list is returning to college football this year. It was a great freshman season but the pressure will be much higher for his sophomore season.

Their one true test this season will be Oklahoma State and that is a team that lost a lot of its offensive firepower. Inside their conference, San Diego State is the closest competition that Boise State top in the conference, those two will face off on Oct. 6 in Boise State. The best time They have a chance to be the team that every year sparks the debate “can a team outside of the power five conferences make the playoff?”.