College football: Top 25 breakout players who will be household names in 2021

8. Arian Smith, WR, Georgia

JT Daniels himself could be considered a breakout candidate for Georgia in the 2021 college football season but I would reason that his four games to end last year were proof enough. But if there’s a downfield passing offense under Daniels that is elite and George Pickens misses a lot of time as he tries to come back from an ACL tear, sophomore Arian Smith could be a dynamic weapon for the Bulldogs.

If you’re not familiar with Smith, don’t be down on yourself as he’s played fewer than 10 snaps in his career. However, in that sample size, he showed off his wheels with a 55-yard catch and a 31-yard touchdown grab, good for his two career receptions. The sophomore has legitimate world-class speed on the field, though, which could be exactly what the doctor ordered to pair with Daniels in an explosive passing offense.

7. Greg Bell, RB, San Diego State

It’s been a wild ride up to the 2021 season for Greg Bell. He was slated to join San Diego State in 2017 but wasn’t eligible. That led him to the JuCo route and then to Nebraska, which was short-lived before he was back in the Aztecs’ sights. On top of that, he’s had some odd and unfortunate injury luck. But after a solid 113-carry, 637-yard, six-touchdown season last year, he could be ready to make a big name for himself.

Bell has a natural rushing ability that’s hard to miss as he finds the hole well or creates space and then hits his lane hard. Moreover, SDSU is no stranger to bell cow running backs putting up massive numbers, as Donnell Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny can attest to. Given all of that, things seem to be shaping up for Bell to finally put it all together.