As reported by On3, ESPN has selected the top 25 players who “will determine the College Football Playoff race during the 2024 season.” ESPN did not use the term ‘game-changers’ but a player who will determine the chances of their teams to make the Playoffs cannot be anything but a game-changer.
Alabama Football has two players on the list, both in the top 10; Jalen Milroe at No. 4 and Kobe Prentice at No. 10. Quite a few Crimson Tide fans are pleasantly surprised that Prentice is included. As a freshman in the 2022 season, Prentice caught 31 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Less utilized in the 2023 season the output for Prentice dropped to 18 catches, but almost as many yards (314) and again two touchdowns.
Alabama fans know Prentice has the skills to produce bigger numbers in 2024. Prentice is expected to start along with Germie Bernard and Kendrick Law. Alabama’s wideout group is loaded with speedsters. Prentice may not be the fastest, but he has plenty of speed to sizzle as a regular starter in the ’24 season.
Jalen Milroe in ESPN’s Top Ten surprises no one. ESPN’s understated assessment of Milroe’s importance is “Milroe could develop further under the offensive-savvy DeBoer.” Players developing from season to season is the norm for college football. Even a marginally improved Milroe will cement the Crimson Tide as a national title contender.
ESPN Top 10 Playoff Impacters
- 1) Will Howard – Quarterback; Ohio State
- 2) Alex Orji – Quarterback; Michigan
- 3) Dillon Gabriel – Quarterback – Oregon
- 4) Jalen Milroe – Quarterback; Alabama
- 5) Drew Allar – Quarterback; Penn State
- 6) Jaxson Dart – Quarterback; Ole Miss
- 7) Garrett Nussmeier – Quarterback; LSU
- 8) Cam Ward – Quarterback; Miami
- 9) Donovan Edwards – Running Back; Michigan
- 10) Kobe Prentice – Wide Receiver; Alabama
- 12) Dillon Bell – Wide Receiver; Georgia
- 13) Walter Nolen – Defensive Tackle; Ole Miss
- 14) Isaiah Bond/Silas Bolden – Wide Receivers; Texas
- 15) Domani Jackson/DaShawn Jones – Cornerbacks; Alabama
- 17) Parker Brailsford – Center; Alabama
- 19) Graham Mertz – Quarterback; Florida
- 22) Luther Burden – Wide Receiver; Missouri
- 23) James Pearce – Defensive End; Tennessee
The ESPN list is interesting, though Alabama football fans will note that Zabien Brown has as much, or better chance to start at corner than DeShawn Jones.
