Teams who could surprise in 2021: Phil Steele Rankings

Sports are full of surprises. That’s part of the drama and the intrigue. We have teams who could surprise in every sport every year. That’s part of what makes sports fun.

One of the best parts of each college football season is trying to find the “sleeper” team or a team who could surprise in the upcoming year. Life is full of surprises and college football is no different.

Rankings can vary wildly from site to site; so today we’ve decided to look at the rankings of Phil Steele, as far as who he thinks are the teams who could surprise in 2021.

Who are they?

Let’s get into it. Below are the teams ranked 12-1.

12. Iowa Hawkeyes

Sophomore running back Tyler Goodson returns to spearhead the Hawkeyes offensive attack. He’s a very good all-purpose back. Last season he had 762 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He also had 39 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns in his first two seasons. Steele loves the Hawkeyes as a team that could surprise in 2021.

11. Oregon Ducks

Defensive end and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux projects to be a top 15 pick in the NFL Draft whenever he decides to go pro. He hasn’t been quite as dominant as you’d expect a no. 1 overall recruit to be but he’s still been really, really good. He’s a preseason first-team All-American selection for the 2021 season. Running back C.J. Verdell is a superstar when he’s healthy and there’s a number of other really talented weapons on offense for the Ducks.

Freshman quarterback Ty Thompson is the future for Oregon. He’s the first five-star quarterback to ever come to Eugene and that’s saying something. Dennis Dixon, Joey Harrington, and Justin Herbert are just a few of the elite signal-callers to suit up for the Ducks over the years. He looked like a freshman in the 2021 spring game. It might take a bit for him to develop but his talent is mesmerizing. He’ll compete for a backup spot in 2021 while Anthony Brown is the favorite to be the starter under center in 2021.

On defense, linebackers Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe are superstars in the making.

There is loads of talent on this Oregon roster and that’s a big reason why Steele thinks they are a team who could surprise in 2021.

10. Texas Christian Horned Frogs

Quarterback Max Duggan is one of the more electrifying players in college football. His stats won’t blow you away but some of his game film sure will. He ran for over 500 yards last season on the ground and he has been known to lay some punishing stiff arms in the open field.

His 46-yard touchdown run against Kansas State in 2019 is one of the better runs by any college football quarterback. He went into Marshawn Lynch mode as five Wildcat defenders could find no answer to bring him down. If you haven’t seen it yet, YouTube it. You won’t be disappointed.

9. Arizona State Sun Devils

Sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels is one of the more fascinating prospects in college football to watch run in the open field. He seems to have a clear idea of where he’s running when he takes off and he’s an incredibly smooth glider. He’s got a tall and lean frame and he’s one of the more graceful runners you will find at the quarterback position. He’s a huge reason why so many people are excited about the Sun Devils in 2021 and beyond.

As exciting as he is to watch as a runner, Daniels needs to be more accurate with the football through the air. In two of the Sun Devils’ four games last season, he completed 53 percent and 47 percent of his passes. That will need to be fixed if Arizona State wants to meet their high expectations for the 2021 campaign.

8. Penn State Nittany Lions

Safety Jaquan Brisker is one of the hardest-hitting and most talented coverage safeties in all of college football. He’s trained with future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald over the years in Pittsburgh. It’s clear his hard work has paid off. His game film speaks for itself and NFL scouts have taken notice.

He’ll likely be selected in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Mr. Brisker is definitely a reason the Nittany Lions are a team who could surprise in 2021.

7. Texas Longhorns

Quarterback Casey Thompson and running back Bijan Robinson are two huge reasons why Texas fans are downright giddy with excitement. This tantalizing tandem has the fanbase as excited as they’ve been in a really long time.

Robinson is 6-1, 215 pounds with a stutter step in the open field that will leave you shaking your head. He’s a legitimate Heisman candidate and has been dubbed “Little Ricky” ever since he suited up in Austin. The nickname is, of course, referring to former Longhorns legend Ricky Williams.

Robinson is one of the best running back prospects ever to suit up in Austin and the NFL will come calling soon enough. He’s just a sophomore. Fans should enjoy every moment of watching his breathtaking combination of size, speed, and power in the open field.

Thompson is no slouch either. He had a coming-out party in the Alamo Bowl against Colorado where he dropped dime after dime all over the field. He’s ridiculously accurate with the football through the air and is a dynamic runner in the open field. Thompson can throw on the move with ease and is excellent at improvising in the pocket to buy time.

Freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy recently earned a five-star rating from On3.com. Look for him to be an immediate superstar on offense for the ‘Horns. He’s drawn rave reviews in practices over the summer and his teammates gush about his talent.

These three phenoms are a huge reason why the Longhorns are a team who could surprise in 2021.

6. LSU TIGERS

Cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr. has been the best cornerback prospect in America since his high school days. He’s lived up to that lofty billing and then some. He’s a lock to be drafted in the top five of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Tigers pass defense in 2020 got absolutely blow-torched, ranking dead last in the country in yards allowed per game (323). Those numbers are mind-blowing considering LSU had two of the best defensive backs in college football. They also had problems stopping the run last year, too, getting shredded for over 300 rushing yards against Ole Miss. That’s not even mentioning the 265 rushing yards Alabama rolled up on the Tigers.

The good news for LSU fans is help is on the way on the defensive side of the ball. Incoming linebacker transfers Navonteque Strong and Mike Jones are just a few exciting pieces that will help this defense take a massive leap forward in 2021. Sophomore defensive back Eli Ricks is back after leading the team with four interceptions in 2020, including two pick-sixes.

The improvements made on the defensive side of the football are a huge reason why Steele thinks the Tigers are a team who could surprise in 2021.

5. Miami Hurricanes

The ‘Canes return dynamic dual-threat quarterback D’Eriq King and he’s undoubtedly one of the best at his position in the country. In 2020, he racked up over 3,000 all-purpose yards, including over 500 rushing yards. He’s an exceptional passer as well, throwing for over 2,600 yards, while tossing in 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions.   

The Hurricanes also return one of the fastest players in college football in Mr. Jaylan Knighton. Knighton torched the Louisville secondary to the tune of a 75-yard touchdown catch. His earth-shattering speed was on fine display with that catch and run in the open field.  

The excitement around this roster is warranted but they’ll need to cut down on the stupid defensive penalties if they wish to fulfill their potential.

The ‘Canes are still an excellent pick as a team who could surprise in 2021.

4. Utah Utes

Utah is bringing in a ton of talent from the transfer portal.

One of the prospects they’re bringing in is a former three-star quarterback prospect by the name of Charlie Brewer, one of the most decorated signal-callers in Baylor football history.

He became the second player in Baylor history to rack up over 10,000 all-purpose yards in his career. He’s also the third Baylor quarterback to ever rush for over 1,000 yards and 20 TDs in his career.

Another reason for excitement around the Utes is they return 86% of their roster from the 2020 season, ranking them eighth in that category. Linebacker Devin Lloyd was named to the All-Pac-12 first team in 2020. He led the team in tackles for the second season in a row.

Incoming transfer linebacker Josh Calvert figures to be a force on the defense as well.

Wide receiver Theo Howard is a transfer from Oklahoma and he’s got breathtaking ability. The kid should be an immediate superstar when paired with Charlie Brewer. Running back T.J. Pledger IV is a transfer from Oklahoma as well. The speedy tailback should do some serious damage for the Utes this year, too.

This roster is full of exciting and fascinating pieces, so it’s no secret why the Utes are a team who could surprise in 2021.

3. USC Trojans

Junior quarterback Kedon Slovis is a huge reason why people are so excited about the Trojans. He’s got great accuracy on the underneath routes and has the knack for making clutch throws late in games. PFF recently ranked him as the 10^th best quarterback in college football. Here’s PFF had to say:

“[Slovis] shattered expectations as a true freshman in 2019, earning an 80.8 passing grade and displaying precise accuracy. Still, Slovis often looked like a first-year player and made one or two head-scratching forced throws per game. He also struggled to hold onto the ball in collapsing pockets. Instead of taking that next step forward, he was the same player in 2020. He earned an 80.1 passing grade across six starts, which featured 13 turnover-worthy plays but top-notch accuracy underneath. Slovis isn’t in the elite tier yet, but he has the skill set to make the jump in 2021.”

Slovis lost stud wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to the NFL (Detroit Lions) but he does return most of his offensive line, which will help him a ton. Slovis had much better numbers in 2019 than in 2020 and many are thinking this is the year where he could put up big-time numbers under Trojan offensive coordinator Graham Harrell.

Another reason to get excited about the Trojans is defensive lineman Korey Foreman, the nation’s second-ranked overall recruit from the class of 2021, according to 247sports.com. Foreman is as advertised on tape and he’s virtually unblockable on every single snap. Look for him to make an instant impact.

Those two players are two of the biggest reasons the Trojans are being picked as a team who could surprise in 2021.

2. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin might have had a bad year by their program’s lofty standards in 2020 but 2021 brings new optimism and hope. The biggest reason is their incredibly stout run defense—which was one of the best in all of college football.

Their run defense ranked fifth in the country—allowing just 96 yards per game. They return eight starters back on defense and most importantly, star defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

He’s been one of the best young minds in college football for the past four seasons and his units have the impressive numbers to back it up. It’s only a matter of time before he takes a head coaching opportunity somewhere.

Quarterback Graham Mertz is one of the best quarterback prospects to call Wisconsin home since Russell Wilson. He could have gone to Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, nearly anywhere in the country, but he chose to sign with the Badgers. He looked incredible in their season opener in 2020, then got absolutely manhandled by Northwestern.

A lot of things were tough to evaluate about Mertz last season due to covid; so it’s exciting to get a full season of Mertz to get a more thorough evaluation of him as a prospect. Odds are he’s the real deal. We’ll find out in 2021, that’s for certain.

Wisconsin is definitely a team who could surprise in 2021.

1. Washington Huskies

Many might be surprised to see Washington at the top of this list. The Huskies’ pass defense was quietly one of the nation’s best in 2020. They only allowed 185 yards passing per outing, good enough for 13^th in the nation in that category.

The Huskies offensive line returns all five starters, the most heralded of which is Jaxson Kirkland. Kirkland is a four-year starter and was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection in 2020. He’s projected to be a top-15 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Huskies’ returning signal-caller is sophomore Dylan Morris, who posted good but not great numbers as a freshman. For the season he completed over 60% of his passes for 897 yards, while tossing in four touchdowns and three interceptions.