Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell lead college football breakout stars from first month
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If you’re reading this, you probably know all about Arch Manning.
His recruitment to No. 1 Texas. His uncles. His struggles as the starter. And his successes, including last month’s non-conference win against No. 6 Ohio State.
While Manning remains one of the biggest names in the Power Four and one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy, he’s facing a challenge from a pair of young SEC quarterbacks who went into September with barely a fraction of the national attention paid to Manning’s every move.
Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor and Alabama’s Keelon Russell have been two of this season’s breakout stars, bumping aside established Power Four starters to shape the chase for national hardware and the College Football Playoff.
Now nipping at Manning’s heels, Taylor and Russell lead USA TODAY Sports’ breakdown of the fastest risers from the opening month of the season:
QB Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State
Taylor has unbeaten Mississippi State up to No. 16 in the US LM Coaches Poll after posting Power Four wins against Minnesota, South Carolina and No. 25 Missouri. He’s thrown at least three touchdowns in every game, went for 360 yards in last weekend’s win against the Tigers, had 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions and is averaging 9.9 yards per attempt. The highest finish for the Heisman in MSU history was eighth in 2014 by former quarterback Dak Prescott.
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QB Keelon Russell, Alabama
Russell is starting to blossom just in time for the Crimson Tide, who have largely stayed under the radar in the SEC. He had two interceptions against Kentucky but has been a monster in wins against Florida State and South Carolina, going for a combined 685 yards on 12.1 yards per attempt with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
DL Xavier Lewis, North Carolina
The former walk-on surpassed expectations by playing in all but one game as a freshman last season but has exploded through three games, proving himself to be one of the most dominant interior defenders in the country and a nearly unstoppable pass-rush force. Lewis posted 17 tackles, 8½ for loss, and ranks second nationally with six sacks despite playing one fewer game than Colin Simmons and Princewill Umanmielen.
WR Jason Legree, Oregon State
Legree has been unstoppable as a three-star freshman who held just two Bowl Subdivision scholarships offers before being offered by Oregon State just before the early signing period in December. He’s had at least 100 receiving yards in each of his four games and is second nationally to Jeremiah Smith with 585 yards, while his 25.4 yards per grab leads all receivers with at least 15 receptions.
LB Riley Pettijohn, Ohio State
A linebacker corps that was a question mark heading into the year has become more of a sure thing thanks in part to what Pettijohn has done in a rotational role. Despite not starting and averaging about 35 snaps per game, the sophomore has posted 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception, making him one of the most impactful per-snap defenders in the Power Four.
DB Kingston Lopa, California
The 6-foot-5 Oregon transfer has led the Golden Bears in tackles in three of four games and leads the entire FBS with five interceptions. Three of those came in a win against Syracuse, earning him Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors. It’s been a bit of a frustrating start for the Tosh Lupoi era, but the defense has cleaned things up after an ugly start against No. 23 UCLA.
WR JJ Buchanan, Michigan
Buchanan has been by far the team’s most reliable offensive weapon. While the running game has sputtered and Bryce Underwood has failed to take the next step, the Utah transfer has posted 20 catches for 396 yards and four touchdowns – accounting for more than a third of the No. 24 Wolverines’ receptions, nearly half of their receiving yards and all but two of the team’s touchdowns.
RB Jamal Rule, Nebraska
A true freshman, Rule was hobbled by an injury and only managed four carries in Nebraska’s win against Michigan State to open Big Ten play in Week 4. He still leads the team with 333 rushing yards on 7.9 yards per carry after becoming the first Nebraska freshman to crack 100 yards in a season opener since 2004 and the sixth Big Ten freshman since 1995 to have multiple rushing scores and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
TE Matt Wagner, Boise State
Wagner played a big role in last year’s offense as a blocker and a receiver. He’s been an even bigger piece as the Broncos rocket to the front of the line in the Group of Six, posting 14 receptions for 157 yards and three scores after finishing sixth on the team with 24 catches for 251 yards a season ago. He had the best game of his career in last weekend’s 32-7 win against Western Michigan, setting new highs with seven grabs for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
CB John Nestor, Minnesota
Retaining Nestor for his senior season has helped Minnesota weather the loss of all-conference safety Koi Perich to the transfer portal after last season. After struggling to contain Kamario Taylor in the loss to Mississippi State, the Golden Gophers forced Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. into several costly mistakes in last weekend’s key road victory. Nestor’s interception near the end of the third quarter helped Minnesota clinch the win.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell lead college football breakout stars from first month
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