OFFENSE

QB: Trevone Boykin, TCU

There's no question about who the quarterback is in Fort Worth. After finishing fourth in last year's Heisman voting, Boykin could be in for an even bigger 2015 in his second season operating a spread offense. -- Jake Trotter

Watch: He can catch touchdowns too

RB: Nick Chubb, Georgia

We know what radio legend Larry Munson would have said had he seen Nick Chubb run over SEC defenses last year: "My god, a freshman!" Although Chubb spotted college football five weeks as Todd Gurley's backup, the rookie still finished in the top 20 nationally in total rushing yards (1,547). -- Alex Scarborough

Watch: First touchdown sets the tone

RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

The star of the postseason a year ago, the junior is poised to continue his rushing rampage as part of Ohio State's defense of its national title. Even better for the Buckeyes, he will start this season completely healthy. -- Austin Ward

Watch: Back-breaking 85-yarder against Alabama

WR: Tyler Boyd, Pitt

Last season, Boyd joined Larry Fitzgerald as the only players in school history to rack up more than 1,000 yards receiving twice. He finished 2014 with 78 catches for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns. -- Andrea Adelson

Watch: Boyd takes it to the house

WR: Rashard Higgins, Colorado State

While Kevin White and Amari Cooper argued over who the best wide receiver in college football was last year, Higgins quietly made his own case. All he did was lead the country in receiving yards (1,750) and receiving touchdowns (17). -- A.S.

Watch: Higgins goes deep

TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas

Henry is a rarity in today's game in that he's a tight end who plays with his hand in the dirt and can actually block. Even though he's stuck in an offense that doesn't throw the ball much, Henry has found a way to lead all SEC tight ends in receptions over the past two seasons. -- A.S.

Watch: Henry makes clutch catch

OT: Spencer Drango, Baylor

A consensus All-American, Drango is among the most accomplished returning offensive linemen in the country. With him manning left tackle, the Bears have led the nation in scoring in each of the past two seasons. -- J.T.

OG: Pat Elflein, Ohio State

In case there was any remaining doubt, Urban Meyer's spread attack relies on a powerful rushing attack and a dominant offensive line. A mauler such as Elflein on the interior is absolutely ideal for what the Buckeyes want to do with the football. -- A.W.

C: Max Tuerk, USC

One of the most versatile linemen in the country, Tuerk's 6-foot-6 height has allowed him to also see action at tackle and guard for the Trojans. The best fit for him this year is at center, where he'll captain a veteran USC front. -- David Lombardi

OG: Landon Turner, North Carolina

Turner goes into his fourth season as a starter at right guard for the Tar Heels and is hoping to build on the momentum he gained last season, when he graded out at 87 percent. He had five games with 10 or more knockdown blocks. -- A.A.

OT: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Barring injury or some other major setback, Tunsil -- a member of the Rebels' celebrated 2013 recruiting class -- is poised to go wire-to-wire as the nation's top offensive tackle coming out of high school and college. -- A.S.

Robert Nkemdiche has developed into a force on the Ole Miss defensive line. Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSE

DE: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

The dominant pass-rusher attracts plenty of extra attention from blockers, but typically the freakish junior just shrugs it off. Bosa will open the year on the bench, thanks to a one-game suspension, but expect him to unleash his pent-up frustration as soon as he returns. -- A.W.

Watch: Bosa ends Penn State game

Don't get caught up in the individual numbers. What the 6-foot-4, 312-pound defensive lineman lacks in sacks, he makes up in overall impact by stuffing running lanes and taking on multiple offensive linemen to free up Alabama's pass-rushers. -- A.S.

Watch: Robinson strips Arkansas' Collins

DT: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Good luck finding a more powerful, athletic 300-pounder in college football. The former high school running back and No. 1 overall recruit is a headache when lined up over center. -- A.S.

Watch: Nkemdiche gets to the QB

DE: Shawn Oakman, Baylor

At 6-foot-9, 275 pounds, Oakman is an athletic freak off the edge and a nightmare matchup for opposing tackles. The Baylor record holder for sacks in a season is virtually unblockable at full throttle. -- J.T.

Watch: Oakman sacks Cook in Cotton Bowl

LB: Scooby Wright III, Arizona

He's the nation's ultimate defensive statistical machine. Wright was the only player in the country to average more than two tackles for loss per game (29 total). He also led the way with 163 tackles and six forced fumbles. -- D.L.

Watch: Wright sacks, strips Mariota

The Pac-12's most versatile defender, Cravens shifted from safety to a hybrid linebacker role last year to shore up USC's defense. He is solid in pass coverage (three interceptions) and a missile in run support (17 tackles for loss). -- D.L.

Watch: Versatile Cravens scores on pick-six

LB: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Smith led the Irish last season in total tackles (112) and tackles for loss (9) while adding 3.5 sacks. If he is as good as expected this season, he could end up a top-10 draft pick. -- A.A.

Watch: Key pick in 2013 USC game

CB: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida

Hargreaves has been a star since his freshman season, when he came off the bench to start the final 10 games of the season and earned All-SEC honors. Last year was more of the same as he became an All-American. -- A.S.

Watch: Diving interception in end zone

S: Jeremy Cash, Duke

Cash returns as the leader of the Duke secondary, having made a huge impact after he transferred from Ohio State. Last season, he was the only defensive back with 100 or more tackles, 10 or more tackles for loss and five or more sacks. -- A.A.

Watch: Cash makes big play in backfield

S: Vonn Bell, Ohio State

A game-changer in the secondary, Bell's athleticism was perhaps the most critical part of Ohio State's dramatic defensive overhaul on the way to the national title. Now with another year under his belt, the junior is in line to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. -- A.W.

Watch: Game-changing pick against Alabama

CB: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech

Fuller has followed in the footsteps of his brothers at Virginia Tech and earned his reputation as a shutdown cornerback. In 2014, he tied for the ACC lead with 17 passes defended, despite playing all season with a broken wrist. -- A.A.

Watch: Pick-six against UNC

Adoree' Jackson excels in all three phases for USC. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State

In two seasons, Aguayo has scored 293 points and missed just four field goals (he is perfect on extra points). Aguayo already holds the single-season NCAA and ACC records for points by a kicker (157), which he set in 2013. -- A.A.

Watch: Automatic Aguayo

P: Tom Hackett, Utah

Hackett's booming leg averaged 46.7 yards per punt last year, easily the most of anyone used more than five times per game. Now he is looking to win a second consecutive Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter. -- D.L.

Watch: Best of Hackett

They're already talking about Jackson as a Heisman candidate, and his electrifying resume speaks for itself: He can take a kickoff to the house and punctuate it with a flip into the end zone, lock down a receiver at cornerback and flash sizzling potential at wide receiver. -- D.L.

Watch: Jackson flips into end zone