Players making national names for themselves

Given Penn State’s departure of Theo Johnson and his seven touchdowns at the tight end spot, the Nittany Lions need Tyler Warren to star. He is ready for the challenge. Warren reached the end zone seven times in 2023 and with more targets during his final campaign, should be one of the Big Ten’s top players at the position. He graded out this spring as one of this offense’s best and quarterback Drew Allar mentioned Warren’s leadership skills publicly.

It’s an early projection, but pencil in Clemson freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. as a first-year starter ahead of the opener against Georgia. He caught a touchdown pass in Saturday’s spring game and displayed an ability to catch balls at their highest point as a freakish athlete. Continuing to add weight is the goal this summer for Wesco, who has already put on eight pounds in practice, according to Dabo Swinney.

South Carolina’s linebacker room received a major boost with the additions of transfers Bangally Kamara (Pitt) and Demetrius Knight Jr. (Charlotte), but the most consistent playmaker in the group is Bam Martin-Scott, sources said. The former JUCO transfer enters his fourth season with the Gamecocks and started three games last fall with 10 appearances. He became a factor down the stretch after defensive coordinator Clayton White moved to a 3-3-5 look, which appeared to be the sweet-spot scheme for Martin-Scott. He could be one of South Carolina’s most impactful defenders.

How many true freshmen across the SEC got first-team spring reps at cornerback? PJ Woodland is a rarity. The three-star signee from Hattiesburg, Miss. forced LSU’s staff to give him a closer look with the 1s, sources say, given last season’s struggles in the secondary. He’s exactly what new LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker wants on the outside — a speedy, physical player who can be trusted in coverage. Wide receiver Kyren Lacy and safety Major Burns are others enjoying the “best springs” or their respective careers in Baton Rouge.

USC’s starting group at linebacker is essentially set with Eric Gentry, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, and Mason Cobb, but four-star freshman Desman Stephens II from Michigan showed enough to be a contributing player — and perhaps have an even bigger role. New USC linebacker coach Matt Entz, who led North Dakota State each of the past five seasons, expects Stephens to be a productive asset and recently indicated that he’s noticed a smooth, on-field transition for his freshman.

There’s a reason why Jaishawn Barham rated at the gem level in the transfer portal. The former Maryland linebacker settled in nicely at Michigan at the center of the Wolverines’ new-look attack defensively. Sherrone Moore made talent acquisition at the linebacker position at priority this spring after losing starters Junior Colson and Michael Barrett to the NFL Draft and Barham’s going to help in that regard. Based on what he’s shown during practice, Barham is naturally instinctive and just the caliber of an elite player at the second level that the Wolverines have grown accustomed to in recent years.

Colbie Young is at Georgia with a point to prove. That’s how one source described the Miami transfer. He brings a physical, go-get-it presence to the Bulldogs that they’ve missed at the position in recent years and has already established himself as one of returning quarterback starter Carson Beck’s preferred targets. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound pass-catcher registered 47 receptions for 563 yards with five touchdowns last season. Young had 32 catches for 367 yards and five scores in 2022.

Jaylin Lucas has been an “electrifying playmaker” for the Seminoles and is expected to be a difference-maker in various spots, including leading the efforts in FSU’s return game. Over his first two seasons at Indiana, Lucas managed three touchdowns on special teams and six on offense. There’s a reason Mike Norvell called this year’s Seminoles team the fastest he’s had in Tallahassee and Lucas is one of those leading factors.

The defensive backfield needed to be addressed in the transfer portal and Jermod McCoy has been a headliner in Tennessee’s new-look secondary. He started five games as a freshman at Oregon State last season and chose the Vols over Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon and SMU in the portal. The Vols lost five of their top six corners to the NFL Draft or transfer portal and he’s a plug-and-play guy who impressed so far.

If Alabama’s season started next week, freshman safety Red Morgan would trot out there as the Crimson Tide’s sixth defensive back — possibly even fifth — as one source put it. He’s behind Keon Sabb and Malachi Moore in centerfield, but Morgan is ready to be impactful when given the opportunity this fall. DeVonta Smith is one returning defensive back that Morgan is going head to head with for snaps. The four-star from Phenix City isn’t as decorated as a few other first-year guys at the back end for the Crimson Tide, but looks ready to roll in the SEC and showed up in fantastic shape.