College Football: 10 predictions for the 2021 season
By John Blair
7. Nevada finishes in the top 15.
One of the most dynamic offenses in college football belongs to Nevada. The Wolfpack are lead by four plays on the offensive side of the ball who carry draftable grades going into the season in quarterback Carson Strong, wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Elijah Cooks, along with tight end Cole Turner.
While the team’s defense, is not up to the level the offense is, it did have one of the top five scoring defenses in the Mountain West Coast last year. The team’s dynamic offense and solid defense should be enough for them to beat Kansas State, California, and win the Mountian West this season.
8. Spencer Rattler will win the Heisman Trophy
Lincoln Riley has a knack for developing Heisman Trophy quarterbacks who go onto be the first pick in the NFL Draft, and Spencer Riley will be the next player to do this. Rattler had a rough start of the season last year including throwing three picks against Kansas State, but by the end of the season, he was one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
Now with a full year starting under his belt and being able to go through a regular offseason Rattler should be an even quarterback this year.
9. Derek Stingley Jr. will be the top defensive player drafted
Going into the season the race for the top defensive player in the 2022 NFL Draft is a two-man race between LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. However, if Stingley can become the ballhawk he was in 2019 when he picked off six passes and broke up a total of 21 passes it will be hard for any team not to make him the first defender off the board.
10. Texas A&M will get its ass kicked against Alabama
In May, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher made the statement that the Aggies would kick Alabama’s ass at a Houston Touchdown Club event. This is a pretty bold statement for a team he is 0-3 against including a 52-24 loss last year. His luck will likely not change on October 9th this season either, especially with Alabama having some great bulletin board material now.