Star power: The best offensive position group in each Power 5 league

Perhaps the most basic tenet of any sport: You must have good players to win. All the X’s and O’s in the world won’t matter if you don’t have the Jimmys and the Joes.

And when you have a bunch of talented Jimmys and Joes at one position or in one unit, all the better.

In that vein, here’s a look at the best offensive position group — backfield, line or receivers — in each Power 5 league. In addition, we’re spotlighting the best offensive unit overall in the Group of 5. Expect big things from all these groups this season.

ACC

Clemson wide receivers

The projected starters: Frank Ladson Jr., Joseph Ngata and Justyn Ross

The buzz on this unit: Ross (6 feet 4, 205 pounds) missed last season with a spinal issue that required surgery, but he recently was cleared to play. Early plans seem to be to use him in the slot, and that should terrify opposing coordinators (and linebackers and safeties, too). Ross had 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight TDs in 2019, and should be the go-to guy this season; he has first-team All-American talent. Ladson and Ngata haven’t quite met expectations, but both have big-time potential (and excellent size: Ladson is 6-3 and 205, and Ngata is 6-3 and 220). They combined for 25 receptions last season as reserves, but have the talent to serve as more-than-able complements to Ross. E.J. Williams provides excellent depth, and sophomore Ajou Ajou (it’s pronounced “uh-JOE uh-JOE”) has a ton of upside. (Ross and Williams attended the same high school: Central High in Phenix City, Ala., which is about 35 miles from Auburn’s campus.) And true freshman Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins (no relation) have received a ton of praise from Clemson coaches. This unit has big-time size, speed and strength. TEs Braden Galloway and Davis Allen are weapons, too.

BIG TEN

Ohio State wide receivers

The projected starters: Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The buzz: This is the best offensive position group in the nation. Olave and Wilson are the best duo in the nation; heck, they might be the two best receivers overall nationally. They have combined for 30 TDs in the past two seasons — and remember that Ohio State played just eight games last fall. Both can get deep, both are comfortable over the middle and both make acrobatic catches look mighty easy. Smith-Njigba, like Wilson a Texan, has a ton of potential. Given the other two starters, he will see a lot of single coverage this season and should feast. And the depth is incredible; a former No. 1-ranked receiver like Julian Fleming could start almost anywhere. There also are touted true freshmen Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. TE Jeremy Ruckert is a weapon, too — but, seriously, why throw to the tight end when there is so much talent on the outside?

BIG 12

Oklahoma backfield

The projected starters: QB Spencer Rattler and RB Kennedy Brooks (or will it be Eric Gray?)

The buzz on this unit: Rattler is a great fit in Lincoln Riley’s offense and should throw for 4,000 yards this season. He threw for 28 TDs and seven interceptions last season; expect 40 TDs this season and watch the picks total drop. Three of his seven interceptions came in one contest last season, the Game 2 loss to Kansas State. The Brooks-Gray tandem should be ultra-productive, as well. Gray has received a ton of attention after transferring from Tennessee, but don’t forget that Brooks is a two-time 1,000-yard rusher (he opted out last season) and one of the best big-play threats nationally. Brooks’ presence was one reason Trey Sermon left for Ohio State after the 2019 season. Gray rushed for 772 yards last season for a Vols offense whose passing attack can charitably be called “mediocre.” Think of what he can do when opposing defenses have to respect the pass. Gray also is a good receiver, and that facet of his game could play a big role this season.

PAC-12

Washington line

The projected starters: Ts Victor Curne and Jaxson Kirkland, Gs Ulomoo Ale and Henry Bainivalu, C Luke Wattenberg

The buzz on this unit: The starting five returns intact from an offense that ran the ball on 58 percent of its offensive snaps last season. Kirkland, heading into his fourth season as a starter, is one of the best linemen in the nation. He started at guard for two seasons, then moved to tackle last fall. He is a road-grader as a run blocker. The interior guys are mashers in the running game, too. Wattenberg started at guard for two seasons, then moved to center last fall. Depth is good, most notably with Nate Kalepo and Matteo Mele. These dudes are big: The average size of the aforementioned seven is 6-5 and 319. They’re also extremely experienced: This is Wattenberg’s sixth season, the fifth for Bainivalu and Kirkland and the fourth for Ale and Curne.

SEC

Ole Miss backfield

The projected starters: QB Matt Corral and RB Jerion Ealy

The buzz on this unit: Corral’s gunslinger mentality meshes extremely well with coach Lane Kiffin and coordinator Jeff Lebby, which makes him the best quarterback in the SEC. Thanks to a strong arm, Corral isn’t afraid to try any throw (more on that in a minute), and also has above-average mobility. He averaged 384.3 yards of total offense per game in 2020 and should be over 400 per game this season. The issue is interceptions; he takes unnecessary risks, but if he curbs that, the school’s single-season passing mark of 4,042 yards (by Chad Kelly in 2015) will fall. Ealy, meanwhile, has 1,000-yard potential. He also should be a bigger part of the passing attack this fall. It would be nice to see more big plays from him, though; cfbstats.com shows that he had just three runs of 20-plus yards last season and averaged a relatively modest 5.07 yards per carry. Ealy was one of 41 players last season with at least 140 carries and his per-carry average ranked 25^th. He was a big-play guy as a freshman in 2019. Backup RBs Snoop Conner and Henry Parrish are more than capable, too, with Conner a physical, between-the-tackles guy; those two combined for 684 yards and 10 TDs last season.

GROUP OF 5

Nevada receivers

The projected starters: Elijah Cooks, Romeo Doubs and Melquan Stovall

The buzz on this unit: Oh, my, Nevada’s passing attack has the potential to put up glorious numbers. Carson Strong might be the best Group of 5 quarterback out there, and he will have no shortage of targets. Doubs has good size (6-2, 200) and is a potential Day 2 NFL draft pick; he had 58 receptions for 1,002 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and nine TDs in nine games last season. Cooks (6-4, 215) missed last season with an injury, but was the Wolf Pack’s go-to guy in 2019 with 76 catches for 926 yards and eight TDs. Stovall is a possession receiver, and there is ample depth with Jamaal Bell, Justin Lockhart and deep threat Cory Horton. There’s also Cole Turner, one of the best receiving tight ends nationally; he is coming off a 49-catch, nine-TD season and is another guy who’s drawing NFL interest.

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