ESPN: Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2017

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18395211/alabama-crimson-tide-florida-state-seminoles-headline-way-too-early-top-25-2017

Teams of note are below:

1. Alabama

2016 record: 14-1, 8-0 SEC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams

Key losses: TE O.J. Howard, DE Jonathan Allen, DE Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Tim Williams, LB Ryan Anderson, LB Reuben Foster, S Eddie Jackson

4. Penn State

 

2016 record: 11-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams

Key losses: C Brian Gaia, WR Chris Godwin, DE Evan Schwan, LB Brandon Bell, SS Malik Golden, OT Paris Palmer, DE Garrett Sickels

5. Clemson

 

2016 record: 14-1, 7-1 ACC
Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams

Key losses: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Mike Williams, WR Artavis Scott, C Jay Guillermo, TE Jordan Leggett, RB Wayne Gallman, DT Carlos Watkins, LB Ben Boulware, SS Jadar Johnson, CB Cordrea Tankersley

6. Ohio State

 

2016 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense, 0 special teams

Key losses: C Pat Elflein, CB Gareon Conley, RB Curtis Samuel, WR Noah Brown, S Malik Hooker, LB, Raekwon McMillan, P Cameron Johnston, K Tyler Durbin

9. Wisconsin

 

2016 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams

Key losses: WR Robert Wheelwright, , QB Bart Houston, RB Corey Clement, LB Vince Biegel, LB T.J. Watt, FS Leo Musso, CB Sojourn Shelton, K Andrew Endicott

12. Michigan

 

2016 record: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten
Returning starters: 4 offense, 1 defense, 0 special teams

Key losses: WR Amara Darboh, WR Jehu Chesson, OT Ben Braden, G Kyle Kalis, OT Erik Magnuson, TE Jake Butt, RB De'Veon Smith, LB/RB Jabrill Peppers, DE Chris Wormley, NT Matthew Godin, DT Ryan Glasgow, DE Taco Charlton, LB Ben Gedeon, CB Jourdan Lewis, SS Dymonte Thomas, FS Delano Hill, CB Channing Stribling

21. Florida

 

2016 record: 9-4, 6-2 SEC
Returning starters: 9 offense, 3 defense, 2 special teams

Key losses: NT Joey Ivie, DT Caleb Brantley, LB Daniel McMillian, LB Jarrad Davis, LB Alex Anzalone, CB Quincy Wilson, CB Teez Tabor, S Marcus Maye, DE Bryan Cox Jr., QB Austin Appleby, OT David Sharpe

 

ScruffyTheJanitor

January 10th, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^

They are loosing Paris Palmer! 

In all seriousness, PSU might be that good.I don't  know that Trace McSorely is quite good enough for a top-4 team though. Loosing Godwin and Sickles is goign to hurt. 

And man: they pollsters are giving Harbaugh tons of credit. We are loosing so much next year, I figured 18 would be our ceiling. 

 

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 10th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^

I'm really interested to see how they do. They were a good team this year by advanced stats. But they also has that crazy OSU win that they were out gained by a bunch and had fluky special team plays. And when hey we're winning down the stretch, it was a Charmin schedule. But good news for them is that thy get a Charmin schedule in 2017. UM and OSU in back to back weeks is tough, but they get a by before UM (of course) and miss UW. Schedule does not favor UM next year in comparison to PSU and OSU. However, still undecided on Franklin's HC ability in the long run, and McSorley is quite up and down.

Watching From Afar

January 10th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^

Their offense is "Barkley and Bombs." The Big Ten Championship game was a first half of failed bombs and Wisco corralling Barkley. The second half was Wisco misplaying arm-punts so badley they tripped over eachother and Barkley making some plays. Michigan matched up perfectly with them this year because Lewis and Stribling could be left alone to knock down the arm punts while Peppers and Co. could wrangle Barkely. Their biggest play was that wheel route that had Gedeon chasing Barkley. Outside of that, they literally threw 40 yard jump balls and hoped a Michigan DB screwed up and was called for PI. If a defense has decent corners and athletic linebackers, PSU can't beat them.

1 percent

January 10th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^

Inexperience in the secondary?

Well for one Jabrill will be at safety :)

Clark is back for year 6. Kinnel got a lot of play at S, if Brill comes back you're really only inexperienced at 1 cb spot.

That's holding out a lot of probably false hope with brill though

Watching From Afar

January 10th, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^

Clark coming back is fantastic, but there's a big drop off from Lewis to him. A #1 CB is needed, but I like the chances of Long or Hill getting there at some point (before Thomas). Slot CB is also a huge issue because Lewis would slide inside and let Watson/Hill play the boundary. Not sure who will take that spot in 3 wide situations. Also, losing Delano hurts. I was plesantly surprised with how well he did covering TEs all season. After the Colorado game I don't remember him getting beat more than 2 or 3 times. But hopefully Peppers (highly unlikely) or whoever plays SS can fill in as the drop off from Hill to a replacement seems smaller than Lewis to whoever.

Mr. Yost

January 10th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^

Couldn't agree more.

He may still have to play a little Viper against spread teams. But let him play safety for the most part if that's what it'll take to get him back. It's not like we've got anyone better back there.

I'd put him at Viper in obvious passing situations and bring on a coverage safety and put him at SS for every other down.

We are back

January 10th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^

12 is fair, maybe even a little high when you see 10 new defensive starters!! I believe in Harbaugh though so I guarantee Michigan will be in the thick of things again

1 percent

January 10th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^

Eh I mean Clark was a starter before he got hurt. Hurst would start about anywhere. Gary probably would have too. They are counting Jabrill out (probably a safe bet).

I'm not as worried about it because the backups and youth played a lot throughout the year.