Breakout player to watch on each Top 5 college football team in 2021

Look for these five players to break out these five college football blue-bloods in 2021.

With the 2020 college football season firmly in the books, we turn our attention ahead to 2021. While we have an idea about who the five best teams will be entering next season, we are always intrigued by the potential breakout stars of these collegiate juggernauts.

Again, this always comes back to recruitment. SEC powerhouses, along with the Clemson Tigers, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oklahoma Sooners just recruit at a level unlike the rest of college football. This is why these handful of teams routinely play in conference championships and end up making the College Football Playoff. Look for these breakout candidates to become 2021 stars.

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Breakout out candidates from top five college football teams

Ohio State defensive lineman Zach Harrison will be entering his true junior year in Columbus. That is usually the time and place when Buckeyes become blue-chip NFL Draft prospects. In Kerry Coombs’ defense, Harrison could be the next bonafide star pass-rusher to play in the Scarlet and Grey since Chase Young and the Bosa Brothers. This is what head coach Ryan Day is counting on.

Not since Aaron Murray was the Georgia Bulldogs quarterback has Dawg Nation been this high on its signal-caller. Redshirt junior JT Daniels shined in his four games as the starter last year. He brought a vertical passing game to a Georgia offense that was lacking it. His side of the ball returns all starters from the Peach Bowl, as well as every offensive contributor from that game.

Linebacker has been a key defensive position at Oklahoma throughout the Lincoln Riley era in Norman. With stars before him like Ogbonia Okoronkwo and Kenneth Murray, David Ugwoegbu is expected to be the next star of the Sooners defense. Assuming quarterback Spencer Rattler lives up to lofty expectations, 2021 might be the year Oklahoma ends up winning a playoff game.

Defensive back Malachi Moore will only be entering his true sophomore season with the Alabama Crimson Tide. However, that is usually when we start to take notice of the next star in the Alabama secondary. This is the position group that head coach Nick Saban cut his teeth refining. Look for Moore to make several dynamic plays in pass defense next season for Alabama.

Of course, the No. 1 guy to watch as a potential breakout candidate is Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. He started two games last season filling in for Heisman Trophy runner-up Trevor Lawrence as he battled COVID-19. Clemson should have plenty of talent around Uiagalelei to win the ACC yet again and vie for head coach Dabo Swinney’s third national championship next fall.

Overall, these are the five teams expected to vie for four playoff spots. While other teams like the Iowa State Cyclones, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Texas A&M Aggies will certainly be in line to get back to New Year’s Six bowls, they are not quite on the level of these five teams ahead of them heading into 2021. Again, these five contenders are loaded with stars all over the gridiron.

Which potential breakout star for 2021 are you the most excited about?

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