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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 31: Oregon Ducks Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the Redbox Bowl between the Michigan State Spartans and the Oregon Ducks at Levi’s Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 31: Oregon Ducks Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the Redbox Bowl between the Michigan State Spartans and the Oregon Ducks at Levi’s Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Dillon Mitchell, Jalen Jelks, Justin Hollins, Ugochukwu Amadi, Kaulana Apelu
  • Notable Returners: Justin Herbert, Travis Dye, Troy Dye, Jevon Holland, Jacob Breeland, C.J. Verdell, Thomas Graham Jr., Deommodore Lenoir
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 7th

Perhaps no NFL Draft decision in all of college football was as hugely important to a program as quarterback Justin Herbert’s choice to return to the Oregon Ducks for his final season playing at the Autzen Zoo. Herbert was regarded as perhaps the top quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft class if he had decided to forego his final season in Eugene, so having him back with the Ducks is going to be massively important for their offense.

Having said that, the Oregon offense didn’t come out of draft declarations completely unscathed. Herbert will no longer be throwing to wide receiver Dillon Mitchell, who was the leading pass-catcher for the Ducks last season. Those are big shoes to fill and it’s hard to say who will step up like no other wide receiver on the roster for 2019 posted more than 450 receiving yards last season.

On top of that, the Ducks are also entering the 2019 season without their best defensive player from a season ago, defensive end Jalen Jelks, who also declared for the NFL. Having said that, the Ducks are bringing in a top-10 recruiting class, one headlined by defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, one of the top overall prospects in the class and someone that could potentially step in and replace Jelks immediately on the Oregon defense.

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