College football Freaks List 2023: Bruce Feldman’s rankings, with a true freshman at No. 1

I have been writing about the biggest Freaks in college football for almost 20 years. I never imagined back then that this is what I’d be best known for in my career, but it’s the thing I get asked about most. It’s a pet project that has grown and grown and grown, starting when I was at ESPN and moving with me from CBS to Fox Sports to Sports Illustrated and here to The Athletic.

The original idea was to spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs. At first, there were just 10 Freaks. Now, this has turned into something so much bigger, as I’ve expanded it to try to cover all of college football beyond FBS, with submissions from schools, coaches, teammates, parents, NFL scouts and agents.

1. Nyckoles Harbor, South Carolina, wide receiver

In two decades of doing this, I don’t think I’ve ever had a true freshman No. 1, but this player is different. At 6 feet 5, 243 pounds, the prized former five-star recruit is insanely fast. Videos of his high school races in which he roars past other speedsters that barely come up to his shoulders have gone viral.

Seeing Harbor in person last fall on his official visit to Michigan, I couldn’t believe just how big he actually was. He looked more like a young power forward than a potential future Olympic sprinter. The son of former U.S. national soccer team forward Jean Harbor put up some eye-catching track times in high school, clocking a 10.22-second 100-meter dash, a 6.64 in the 60 and a 20.63 in the 200. In training with the Gamecocks this summer, Harbor hit 22.9 miles per hour on the GPS.

Earlier this month, I asked one of his coaches at South Carolina, Jody Wright, who has coached in the NFL and with Alabama — where he worked with both Julio Jones and Derrick Henry — how he compares. “I would say a taller Julio with a Derrick Henry-type build is a great comparison,” Wright says. “He has the potential to develop into a mismatch nightmare with his size and speed.” Harbor is much taller and heavier than both former Alabama stars, and yet his 100 time in high school was almost a full second faster than both of theirs.

Head coach Shane Beamer has loved what he’s seen from Harbor so far. “Great kid. His speed is as advertised,” Beamer says of the Washington, D.C., native, who averaged almost 30 yards per catch in 2022 after notching 17 sacks in 2021. Beamer and his staff also have been impressed by Harbor’s toughness; he’s not one to shy away from contact.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, wide receiver

There isn’t a better player in college football right now, regardless of position. Last year, he caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. In five games against top-15 opponents (vs. No. 11 Utah in the Rose Bowl, No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 13 Penn State, No. 3 Michigan and No. 1 Georgia), he had 33 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-4, 208, the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver is remarkably gifted. He has everything. He’s very strong — he bench presses 380 pounds and did 20 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 500. He’s very explosive, having broad-jumped 10 feet 8, and he’s really sudden, having clocked a 3.94 in the shuttle and improved on his max velocity from last year, up to 23.5 MPH. Asked for what training result he’s most proud of, he says it’s his 5-10-5, given his height and weight, yet still can run a sub-4-second time.

He tells The Athletic he’ll run in the high 4.3s at the NFL Scouting Combine next spring.

“My diet has gotten pretty strict,” he says of the changes he’s made to keep sharpening his game. “I try not to eat too much sugar. I removed mostly dairy out of my diet. Just preparing myself to try and live that pro life and taking care of myself.”

3. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU, offensive lineman

Coaches have always been great resources for this project over the years. That said, it’s been awhile since I stared at a response as long as I did the one I received from BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick this month.

“Kingsley Suamataia is the most athletic and violent OL I’ve ever coached. More athletic than Garett Bolles when I was at Utah. More athletic than Blake Freeland,” he wrote.

Bolles was a first-round pick and has started all 82 games he’s played in the NFL, and the 6-8, 302-pound Freeland, BYU’s left tackle last year, lit up the combine last spring by running a 4.98 40, vertical-jumping 37 inches — a combine record for offensive tackles — and broad-jumping 10-0, which was 1 inch away from the combine record for that, too. More athletic than Freeland, especially in that Suamataia weighs 23 pounds more, seemed like a mouthful.

The 6-6, 325-pound Suamataia didn’t allow a sack last season, a run of 361 pass plays.

“Kingsley is off the charts,” BYU sports scientist Skyler Mayne says. “He’s faster than our linebackers. He’s just a Freak in the weight room. What makes it look different from Blake is that Kingsley just makes it look a little more effortless. Blake was a better jumper, but Kingsley was our fastest lineman by a good bit.”

According to Mayne, Suamataia hit 21.5 MPH last year as a 318-pound freshman. That’s really good for a 218-pounder, much less an athlete 100 pounds more than that.

“He’s so fluid and smooth,” Mayne says. “I think he could run in the 4.8s. He’s definitely a sub-5 guy (in the 40). He’s super explosive and can throw a ton of weight around. You watch him on the field throw a big defensive end around with one arm, and he doesn’t even break stride. If he wanted to be a tight end or fullback, because he’s so naturally gifted and has the agility, he could.”

4. Jordan Burch, Oregon, defensive lineman

The former five-star recruit left South Carolina after a breakout season, making 60 tackles (32 solo), 7.5 tackles for losses (TFLs), 3.5 sacks and deflecting three passes. The 6-6, 295-pound junior follows what has been an impressive run of Duck edge rushers. Even though Burch is almost 300 pounds, he’s hit almost 21 MPH on the GPS, going 20.85 and he’s vertical-jumped 34 inches. Burch also back-squatted 685 pounds and has done a sumo deadlift of 685.

5. Francis Mauigoa, Miami, offensive tackle

I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a coach make a case for a guy quite like Mario Cristobal did for his five-star freshman offensive lineman: “Greatest muscle density in Miami history.”

The Canes have had their share of Freaks over the years, and Cristobal has been around some elite big people in his playing and coaching career. The 6-6, 341-pound Mauigoa (pronounced Maui-noa) only has 20.9 percent body fat and has 270 pounds of lean body mass. His agility for that size is even more remarkable. His 1.72 10-yard split would’ve been the second-fastest time recorded for all 300-plus pound offensive linemen at the 2023 NFL combine — and the only guy who ran faster, BYU’s Freeland, was just 39 pounds lighter. Mauigoa’s jump power registered at 9,274 watts — the highest Miami has on record. His “jump momentum” is 462 kilogram-meter per second (kg.m/s) — also the highest Miami has on record. He bench pressed 425 pounds and front squatted 500, which is tops on the team.

6. Kris Jenkins, Michigan, defensive tackle

The Wolverines defensive line under Jim Harbaugh and strength coach Ben Herbert has been a gold mine for the Freaks List, and Jenkins is next in line. The former three-star recruit, the son of former NFL star Kris Jenkins, arrived in Ann Arbor at 257 pounds, and he played last season in the mid-280s. He made 54 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and had 20 QB pressures. According to PFF, he led all defensive linemen in the country in run stops. But people inside the Michigan program think he’s now ready to take a huge step forward as an impact guy. He’s up to 307 pounds and is more powerful and explosive than ever. He did 32 reps of 225 on the bench and did 760 pounds on the combo twist. Only last year’s top Freak, Mazi Smith, some 30 pounds heavier, did more slinging around 800 pounds.

Jenkins recently did a Turkish get-up with a 170-pound dumbbell — the heaviest Herbert has ever witnessed. Jenkins does pull-ups with a 100-pound weight strapped to his waist. He also moves incredibly well for being a 300-plus pounder, running a 7.16 3-cone, a 4.33 shuttle, broad-jumping 9-8 and vertical-jumping 34 inches.

Jenkins’ shuttle and 3-cone times are both almost two-tenths of a second faster than the quickest interior defensive lineman did at this year’s NFL combine. His broad jump would be tied for the best. His vertical jump would be second-best, and only Smith topped his number on the bench press.

“He’s the mutant of all mutants,” Harbaugh tells The Athletic. “He just keeps going and going. He’s No. 1 in our KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). He’s over 300. He’s the poster child for enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Watch him become a top-10 pick.”

7. Chris Braswell, Alabama, outside linebacker

The Crimson Tide’s biggest Freak — who vertical-jumped 38 1/2 inches at 243 pounds last year and squatted 705 — is now 13 pounds heavier, up to 256, but still has great burst, clocking 21.9 MPH on the GPS this year. Braswell, who had 4.5 TFLs, six QB hurries and three sacks in 2022, also bench-pressed 405 pounds and hang-cleans 405. Last season, he worked into the Tide’s rotation often in their “Cheetah” package, where he joined Will Anderson and Dallas Turner on the field to harass opposing quarterbacks. Now, with Anderson off to the NFL, expect Braswell to have a much bigger role in 2023.

8. Thor Griffith, Harvard, defensive tackle

A former state champion wrestler and youth hockey standout who once was a member of the Boston Jr. Bruins that played in the famed 2011 Brick Tournament, where almost half of the 2019 NHL first round squared off, Griffith has emerged as a dominant force for the Harvard defense. In 2022, he piled up 12 TFLs and five sacks. “We haven’t blocked him in like two years,” one Ivy League coach told The Athletic this month, on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons.

The 6-2, 320-pound powerhouse, who packed on 10 more pounds this offseason thanks to a diet, he says, of 6,000-8,000 calories a day, bench-pressed 225 pounds 45 times and improved his 40-time two-tenths of a second from a year ago, down to 4.95. His 10-yard split is 1.65 to go with a 4.57 pro shuttle time. To put that in perspective, Oklahoma’s Jalen Redmond, almost 30 pounds lighter, clocked the fastest time among defensive tackles at this year’s NFL combine, going 4.51 in the shuttle.

Thor says it was his dad’s idea to give him that name. “He’s big into comics, and I guess he had a little foresight too,” he says.

9. Chop Robinson, Penn State, defensive end

So the Nittany Lions have an incredibly explosive 250-pound guy with blazing speed, great strength and Freakish agility. Yeah, we remember a guy like that who came out of Happy Valley.

We’re not saying Chop can be another Micah Parsons, but he is still very special. He had 10 TFLs and 5.5 sacks last season, and will be even better this year. The 6-3, 254-pound junior is a little bigger than Parsons, and almost as fast. He clocked a 4.47 40 this offseason and ran a quicker shuttle, 4.22. He also broad-jumped 10-7 and bench-pressed 400 pounds.

10. Rylie Mills, Notre Dame, defensive lineman

The 6-5, 306-pound senior has the tools to be a disruptive force in 2023. Last year, Mills made 24 tackles, six TFLs and 3.5 sacks. He looks primed to take things up a notch based on his off-field work after packing on 14 more pounds. Mills benched 450 pounds, did 225 for 30 reps, squatted 635, but he’s also hit 20.64 MPH on the GPS (up from 19 MPH last year), vertical-jumped almost 33 inches and did 31 pull-ups.

Fighting Irish senior Rylie Mills rounds out the top 10 of the 2023 Freaks list. Photo: James Gilbert /Getty

11. Trevin Wallace, Kentucky, linebacker

This guy was a huge get for Kentucky out of Jesup, Ga. In 2021, he made the SEC’s All-Freshman team, and last year he posted 54 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and intercepted two passes. The former high school track star — who once jumped 23-4 1/4 inches to break a school record that stood for 44 years and also won the state weightlifting title with a 335-pound power clean — is now up to 242 pounds, but still runs 22 MPH on the GPS and vertical-jumps 38.5 inches. His power clean is now up to 380 and he squats almost 600.

12. Amorion Walker, Michigan, cornerback

A former three-star recruit from Louisiana, Walker played five games at wideout and one at defensive back as a true freshman in 2022, but he’s made an eye-catching transformation since arriving at Michigan at 156 pounds. Now, he’s 6-3 1/4, 180 pounds and has crazy athleticism. This offseason he blazed through the 3-cone drill in a stunning 6.10 seconds.

“It’s the fastest time I have ever seen and likely the fastest I will ever see,” strength coach Ben Herbert says. That time is almost a full half-second faster than the fastest time recorded at the combine last spring (Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 6.57). It would also blow away the combine record of 6.42 set 12 years ago by Oregon’s Jeff Maehl.

Walker’s 3.89 shuttle would’ve been tops at the combine as well. Smith-Njigba ran a 3.93 with Brandin Cooks’ 3.81 in 2014 the record. And there’s more: Walker vertical-jumped 42 1/2 inches. He did 11-4 in the broad jump and he clocked a 4.34 40, and he did it out of a two-point stance.

13. Devon Jackson, Oregon, linebacker

It’s not often when a Mike linebacker is the fastest guy on a college team, especially when that team is a top-10 caliber squad, but the redshirt freshman from Omaha, Neb., is that big of a Freak. Jackson is now 6-2, 228, 21 pounds up from the 207 he weighed when he arrived last year. He has run 23.55 MPH, edging out sophomore defensive back Khamari Terrell’s 23.47. Jackson vertical-jumped 39 inches this offseason, power-cleaned 335 and back-squatted 605. In 2022, he was on the field for nine snaps on defense and 40 snaps on special teams in five games. Expect him to have a much bigger impact in 2023.

14. Cooper DeJean, Iowa, defensive back

Safety? Corner? Linebacker? The 6-1, 210-pound junior can do it all for the ferocious Hawkeyes defense. DeJean exploded onto the Big Ten scene last year, setting an Iowa record with three pick sixes among his five interceptions last year. He also made 75 tackles and three TFLs. The former high school quarterback (who also lettered three times in basketball, track and baseball each) won the Iowa state long jump title (23-7 1/2 inches) and 100 meters (11.16) and has continued to get more explosive since he’s been in college.

This offseason, he spent a week with NFL combine trainer Jordan Luallen, who clocked DeJean at 0.92 in his flying 10s and had him at 2.39 in his 20-yard sprint out of a two-point stance. “His numbers were insane,” Luallen says. “He has the capability of breaking 4.3 (in the 40) at 210 pounds.”

Luallen has worked with a bunch of Freaky athletes who have gone on to the NFL. He says DeJean has a unique blend of a football freak with track skills. “His acceleration is incredibly fluid and super powerful. He’s the best athlete I’ve seen in person, pound for pound.”

15. Jordan van den Berg, Penn State, defensive lineman

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg was a competitive bodybuilder. His grandmother swam in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and held multiple South African swimming records. The 6-3, 304-pound sophomore made nine tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year and is an intriguing project. He puts up Freaky numbers in the weight room. This offseason, he benched 455, cleaned 380 and back-squatted 690, but it’s the combination of that strength with his agility numbers that forced his way onto this list. He was clocked at 4.74 in the 40 and his shuttle time of 4.20 might be even more impressive. He also vertical-jumped 31 inches and broad-jumped 9-2.

16. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, nose tackle

“The Godfather” is quite the character. He’s 6-1-ish and 323 pounds. He has size 18 shoes and size 11 hands. He emerged as a star last season in his debut for the Bearcats. His 94.7 percent run grade was the best, according to PFF, since Micah Parsons in 2019. Corleone was PFF’s highest rated defensive player last year, landing a spot on the AP’s third-team All-American squad — and as a backup nose tackle. Corleone made the most out of his snaps, piling up 44 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. His power is something special. He benches 485, squats 605 and deadlifts 700. He also can really move, clocking 18 MPH on the GPS and running a 4.68 pro shuttle. The only defensive tackle over 300 pounds at the combine with a faster shuttle this year was Wisconsin’s 309-pound Keeanu Benton, who ran a 4.65.

17. Maason Smith, LSU, defensive lineman

The Tigers have three legit Freaks in their D-line room. In defensive end Sai’vion Jones, they have a 6-5, 280-pounder who can run 20.5 MPH and jump to 11 feet in the air. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo is explosive enough to generate 3100 watts of peak power on the power clean, but the top Tiger is Smith, a former five-star recruit. A Freshman All-American in 2021 after making five TFLs and four sacks in 2021, Smith injured his knee in the first quarter of the 2022 season opener against Florida State and was out for the season, but he’s primed for a big comeback. Smith hit a high score in momentum as LSU gauges speed in relation to a player’s body weight of 1,124 kg.m/s. At 6-6, 315, Smith clocked 19.2 MPH, almost what he registered last year (19.5 MPH) even though he’s now 15 pounds bigger.

18. Byron Murphy II, Texas, defensive tackle

The Longhorns have gotten a lot better in the trenches on Steve Sarkisian’s watch, and the 6-1, 308-pounder is a good example why. The junior, who had 26 tackles and three TFLs last year, has been clocked at 18 MPH on the GPS, had a team-best 455-pound front squat, and power-cleaned 375 pounds. He could’ve gone heavier, but strength coach Torre Becton shut him down. Becton says Murphy could’ve gotten 500 on the front squat and 405 in the power clean.

19. Keli Lawson, Virginia Tech, linebacker

One of the gems of the Hokies’ 2021 signing class, Lawson flashed some of that potential in his debut season last fall, making 23 tackles and also had an interception. Tech is hoping he can take another big step in 2023. The 6-5, 220-pounder with an 82-inch wingspan’s athleticism is intriguing. This offseason, Lawson broad-jumped 11-2, hit 39 inches on the vertical and clocked a 4.6 40.

20. Sonny Styles, Ohio State, safety

The son of former Buckeye-turned-Super Bowl champ Lorenzo Styles is big enough to play defensive end at most schools. He had nine tackles and one TFL in 280 snaps in 2022 — the second-most snaps among all OSU true freshmen last season behind Caden Curry’s 300.

“Sonny is the next one,” says teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. “For one, he’s 18. Very young, but he’s really, really fast and probably just as strong as anyone in that weight room.”

Styles is 6-5, 228 pounds and broad-jumps 11 feet. He vertical-jumped 39 inches this offseason and squatted 600 pounds. He also ran the 40 in the high 4.4s and hit 22 MPH on the GPS. Remember his name this fall.

21. Carson Steele, UCLA, running back

He made the Freaks List last year before having a monster season for Ball State, rushing for 1,556 yards. Not bad for a guy who only had one FBS scholarship offer. The Bruins were elated to get him in the transfer portal. Steele, at 6-1, 233, has wowed his new teammates with his strength. He bench-pressed 450 pounds and squatted 685. His wheels have been impressive too, clocking 20.96 MPH and vertical-jumping 35 inches.

Steele, with his long flowing locks, looks like a fit in Hollywood. He also owns a pet alligator named Crocky-J.

“He’s a dawg,” says Bruins center Duke Clemens. “He’s huge. He’s like a bowling ball. I always see him in the weight room doing extra work after we’re done with our workouts. You know why he is the way he is. I’m excited for him this year. He definitely can plow some people. You’re gonna see that this year.”

22. Kolbey Taylor, Wyoming, cornerback

The Houston native finished his redshirt season for the Cowboys, making his first career start in their bowl game. With his size and explosiveness, he evokes visions of another Group of 5 Freaks List corner, Tariq Woolen. That’s a hefty comp, given how Woolen went on to tear up the NFL combine and had a monster rookie season for the Seahawks, but keep an eye on the 6-4, 190-pound Taylor. This offseason, he broad-jumped 11-2 and vertical-jumped 40 inches. Those are remarkable numbers, especially for a corner with that kind of frame.

“A light turned on this winter and I have not seen anyone make the changes he has made,” Wyoming defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel says. “He will have a rough patch or two early in the year as a new starter, but if he continues on the trajectory he is on, I could definitely see him being a drafted player in time.”

23. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, offensive tackle

The most highly touted offensive line prospect in the country is still only 20 years old. Fashanu was a three-star prospect out of high school, ranked only 45th among all offensive tackle recruits in the 2020 class. However, the towering 6-6, 320-pounder from Washington, D.C., had a terrific year on the field and an impressive one off it, running a 4.97 40 this offseason and had a 4.63 shuttle time. That 40 time would’ve tied for best at the NFL combine among all the offensive linemen there. Fashanu, who attributes his agility to all the time he spent playing basketball growing up, also bench-pressed 405 pounds, squatted 605 and power-cleaned 350 clean.

When he arrived at Penn State, Fashanu was 315 but told us “it was a bad 315,” and he’s since worked hard to lose the fat and build back up a better way.

“I just think generally I’ve gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” Fashanu says, “and that’s just a testament to Coach (Chuck) Losey and his strength staff. Having us do all the workouts for an exact reason. I give them all the credit in the world.”

Another Freaky thing about the Penn State star: Both his parents are 5-8. (He says his grandfather on his mom’s side was 6-3.)

24. Julius Welschof, Charlotte, defensive end

The former champion moguls skier from Germany — who first got our attention when we heard he could do backflips on his skis and walk 50 yards on his hands — made this list several times in his career at Michigan. This offseason he followed former Wolverines assistant Biff Poggi to Charlotte, and they’re both hoping he has a big finale in the AAC. The 6-6, 265-pound Welschof, who vertical-jumped 34 1/2 inches and had a 4.19 shuttle at Michigan, broad-jumped 10-4 this offseason and went over 21 MPH on the GPS.

25. Je’Quan Burton, Florida Atlantic, wide receiver

Tom Herman has an intriguing weapon for his new offense. Burton began his college career at Southern Illinois before going to Iowa Western Community College and eventually opting to bet on himself and walk on at FAU. That’s paid off well for him and the Owls. The 5-10, 187-pound Burton has been a playmaker in Boca, catching 60 passes for 1,000 yards the past two seasons, and could be a big-play man in 2023. Last year, he made his debut on the Freaks List after broad-jumping 11-5 and clocking a fully automated timed (FAT) 4.36 40. This offseason, Burton showed that he can absolutely fly, as you can see here, where he vertical-jumped 46.3 inches.

Don’t care about cheating the test, my guy was FLOATING!!! #jump pic.twitter.com/pOUrQkiKvW

— Joseph Guarascio (@CoachJoeyG) June 14, 2023

26. Jared Verse, FSU, edge rusher

He was one of the best portal additions in college football, coming from Albany to FSU, where he exploded onto the scene, making 12 TFLs, seven sacks, three QB hurries and blocked one field goal. He received the most All-ACC votes on defense, making first-team all-conference. In his 15 games with the Great Danes, Verse piled up 21.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks. We hear from NFL sources, Verse, an Ohio native, could’ve left Tallahassee after one season and been a first-rounder. But another year at FSU has enabled him to continue to develop, both physically and in his on-field skill set. At 6-3 1/2, 260 pounds, Verse power-cleans 360 pounds, squats 555 and benches 455, but he also has excellent burst, running 21.14 MPH in a game with a max acceleration of 5.85m/s with a max deceleration of -6.98m/s.

27. Payton Wilson, NC State, linebacker

A former standout lacrosse player and state champion wrestler, the 6-4, 235-pound senior is one of the best players in the country. He led the ACC in tackles in 2020, missed most of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury and then bounced back to make 82 tackles last season. Wilson has been clocked in the 40 at 4.49 and ran a 4.21 in the pro agility shuttle this offseason. He bench-pressed 390; vertical-jumped 35 1/2 inches and broad-jumped 9-8 1/2.

28. Johnny Wilson, FSU, wide receiver

This is one of the biggest wideouts in football, and he has proven to be one of the best big-play receivers in college football. In 2022, after transferring from Arizona State, he had 43 catches for 897 yards and five touchdowns. He led the ACC and was third in the nation with 22 catches of 20 yards or more. At almost 6 feet 7, 239 pounds, he has 36-inch arms, 10 1/4 inch hands and a standing reach of 8-10. He also has a 35.5 inch vertical and a 10-5 broad jump. In games, he’s topped out at 21.23 MPH with a max acceleration of 5.26 m/s and has a max deceleration of -7.21 m/s.

29. Tyler Owens, Texas Tech, defensive back

The former Texas Longhorn made some impact plays for the Red Raiders last year, forcing two fumbles and picking off a pass. He had an impressive showing in the TaxAct Texas Bowl, making a career-high six tackles to go along with his first career interception and a key forced fumble. Owens, 6-2, 205 pounds, is an eye-catching talent who vertical-jumped over 40 inches this offseason and also was running at more than 23 MPH in a game.

30. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, linebacker

He earned a spot on our top 100 last year and was having another terrific year before a Week 4 elbow injury ended his season. Dobbs suffered a dislocated elbow, which caused him to tear his forearm, UCL and triceps tendon, but his Freak athleticism probably helped him to recover in three months as opposed to the expected six-month time frame.

“I was able to return to all normal lifts at the end of January,” Dobbs says.

Since then, he’s improved on a lot of his previous bests. His 20-yard shuttle was a laser-timed 3.98 seconds. He vertical-jumped almost 39 inches. He ran a laser-timed 4.59 40 (it had been 4.65); did 315 pounds on the bench for 12 reps, squatted 595 pounds (up from 535) and cleaned 335 for four reps. His body fat also shrunk to 8.9 percent while weighing 237 pounds. The 6-foot linebacker with a 6-5 wingspan was ultra productive in 2021, making 137 tackles with 17.5 TFLs.

“I hope the three-month recovery and improvement in all those categories warrants a spot on the Freaks List for the 2023 season,” says Dobbs. It absolutely does.

31. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, running back

When legit coaches start comparing you to Adrian Peterson, you know you’ve got a special talent. Singleton came to State College with a ton of hype and has backed it all up, rushing for 1,061 yards and a Penn State freshman record 12 rushing touchdowns. At 228 pounds, Singleton ran a 4.39 40 this offseason and also had a 4.18 shuttle; a 10-0 broad but also power-cleaned 385 pounds and bench-pressed 425 bench.

32. Cam Hart, Notre Dame, cornerback

The 6-2 1/2, 204-pound Hart is a two-year starter for the Irish who made 25 tackles with three TFLs last year. Hart has great size for a corner, but also elite measurables. This offseason, the Baltimore native broad-jumped 11-2, vertical-jumped 38 inches and hit 23.01 MPH on the GPS — a big improvement from the 21.7 he was at last year. In addition, he squatted 505 pounds and did 40 pull-ups.

33. Malik Nabers, LSU, wide receiver

The Tigers keep cranking out spectacular wideouts and this room is still stocked with special talent. Chris Hilton clocked 23.7 MPH. Nabers erupted in 2022. The Citrus Bowl MVP, Nabers led the SEC in receptions with 72 and ranked No. 2 in the league in receiving yards with 1,017. The 6-0, 201-pound junior measured at 1.01 RSImod — reactive strength index modified. This essentially describes Nabers’ ability to complete his max vertical jump at a very fast rate, so along with having a vertical leap of almost 40 inches, he can reach that feat faster than anyone on the team. Nabers also produced 2700 watts peak power on power clean, which is remarkable for a skill player.

34. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin, running back

In his first two seasons of college football, Allen has rushed for more than 2,500 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. The 19-year-old running back is a repeat selection for the Freaks List. Last year he made it on the strength of his power-cleaning 406 pounds and clocking a 1.49 in his 10-yard split. He benched 365. Allen has bulked up 10 more pounds to 245 now.

“I’m bigger, but I am leaner now,” Allen says. “I went from 11 percent body fat to 8 percent this offseason. I’m definitely faster now.”

35. Myles Cole, Texas Tech, edge rusher

Last year, the Red Raiders had a Freaky, long defensive end in Tyree Wilson, who at 6-6, 271 pounds, with 35 5/8-inch arms, went No. 7 to the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the NFL Draft. Tech has another super long edge guy who is even bigger in the 6-6, 285-pound Cole, whose wingspan has measured at 86 inches. Cole’s numbers speed-wise would be right up there (if not slightly better) with Wilson’s from last year, according to Tech’s staff. Cole’s max speed is 20.3 MPH, and that’s an area he’s really improved upon since he got to Lubbock after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. Tech is hoping Cole (12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three quarterback hurries and a blocked kick) takes a big step forward for what should be a Top 25 squad.

Word inside the Tech program is Cole’s more fluid in space than Wilson and probably bends a little better than the first-rounder. There’s also not much difference in the two at the point of attack, but Wilson really played with an edge like he was The Guy, and that showed up on film. Still, the Red Raiders are excited about Cole’s development. They feel like he’s made light years of improvement.

36. Bub Means, Pitt, wide receiver

In 2019, he began his college career as a defensive back at Tennessee, then he transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he emerged as a big-play receiver. He transferred again, landing at Pitt, where he caught 27 passes for 401 yards (14.9-yard average) and two touchdowns. The former three-star recruit is now 6-2, 215 pounds and clocked a 4.36 40 this offseason. He vertical-jumped 39 inches and squatted over 500 pounds.

37. Chip Trayanum, Ohio State, running back

The versatile Buckeye made 13 tackles as a linebacker and then, when injury hit the OSU offense, shifted to running back and gained 83 of his 92 rushing yards in the Michigan game. The 5-11, 233-pound senior had run for 10 touchdowns in his two seasons as a power back at ASU before transferring to Columbus. Trayanum is a big, strong, explosive dude. He bench-pressed 415 and squatted 650 this offseason, but he also ran a 40 in the high 4.3s and had a max velocity of 22.2 MPH.

38. Zane Durant, Penn State, defensive lineman

Another short, super explosive Florida native who starred on the defensive line in the state of Pennsylvania – Pitt’s Calijah Kancey – made this list last year, and Durant, who had five tackles and a sack as a true freshman last year, evokes some of those visions. Durant is about 6-1, 284 pounds and clocked a 4.66 40 this offseason. Durant has generated some big buzz inside the Nittany Lions’ program and we can see why. He ran a 4.44 shuttle and broad-jumped 9-10 to go with a 425-pound bench. Big-time numbers all around, especially for someone who has only had one full year in a college weight program.

39. Armand Membou, Missouri, offensive lineman

The former four-star recruit started the last five games in 2022 as a true freshman for the Tigers and was really impressive. At 6-3, 320 pounds, Membou has only 18 percent body fat — a very low number for a young offensive lineman that big. Membou also moves exceptionally well for that size. He had an electronic 10-yard time of 1.63 and his 20 was 2.80. He also vertical-jumped 32 inches and squatted 600 pounds.

“I have not seen an athlete who moves 600 pounds as effortlessly as he does,” says Ryan Russell, the Tigers strength and conditioning coach. “His ability to transfer force efficiently is as good as I’ve seen from an offensive lineman.”

The son of immigrants from Cameroon, Membou dabbled in a lot of sports when he was younger, from soccer to track to wrestling to tennis. Mizzou is elated that he found football. “He’s really twitched up,” says Tigers offensive line coach Brandon Jones. “He’s strong. He’s lightning quick.”

40. Davin Vann, NC State, defensive end

In 2022, Vann had eight TFLs and 4.5 sacks, showcasing his great strength and explosiveness. The 6-2, 278-pound junior is a former state champion heavyweight wrestler, who also finished second in the state in the shot put and had the third-longest discus throw in the United State that same year. Vann bench-pressed 405 pounds and squatted 580. He’s also run a 4.79 40 and vertical-jumped 33 inches.

41. Branson Robinson, Georgia, running back

The Dawgs keep cranking out Freaky running backs, and the 5-10, 220-pound sophomore is one of the most powerful dudes in college football, pound for pound. His bench press this offseason went from 425 to 470 — insane numbers for a running back. He also squats 590 and power-cleaned 315. His broad jump is also elite at 10-7 and his vertical jump is 33 inches. Robinson gained 341 yards in his debut season and capped it off with two touchdown runs in the national title game romp over TCU.

42. Monaray Baldwin, Baylor, wide receiver

The tiny wideout kept coming up big for the Bears in 2022 as a sophomore. He led the team in receptions with 33 and in yards with 565 to go with four touchdowns. He hit 22.8 MPH on the GPS on a touchdown, which was the fastest a college player was clocked in-game in 2022. The 5-9, 164-pounder is also super strong, especially for that size, bench-pressing 405 pounds, squatting 550 and power-cleaning 300 pounds.

#CFB's Top 5 Fastest Ball Carriers from Week 5

1️⃣ BAY WR Monaray Baldwin (@Monaray2x) 22.8 mph@BUFootball | #SicEm pic.twitter.com/nLkbKkrbpi

— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) October 3, 2022

43. Abdul Carter, Penn State, linebacker

How special does Penn State think Carter is? They gave him No. 11 — the same number Micah Parsons and LaVar Arrington wore there. Carter flashed spectacular talent as a true freshman, making 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks and breaking up four passes. At 6-3, 250, Carter clocked a 4.48 40, had a 4.35 shuttle and broad-jumped 10-7. He also power-cleaned 350.

44. Javon Solomon, Troy, edge rusher

Coach Jon Sumrall turned the Trojans around in a hurry last year, and this is one of his stars. The 6-2, 250-pounder, once ranked a two-star prospect as the 258th best outside linebacker in 2019, Solomon made 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, had six QB hurries and 44 tackles in 2022. He also looks the part, bench-pressing 420 pounds; deadlifting 615, squatting 600 and has just 7 percent body fat. He also has excellent burst, topping out at 21.63 MPH.

45. Gabe Hall, Baylor, defensive end

The former standout high school shot putter was a big factor on the Bears’ top-10 team in 2021. Over the past two seasons, Hall has made 10.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs. The 6-6, 296-pound Texan bench-presses 500 pounds, squats 565, cleans 365 and did a 750-pound trap bar deadlift. He also has hit 19.9 MPH on the GPS.

46. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, cornerback

One of the country’s top defensive backs, the Florida native was a Walter Camp All-American last year who had four interceptions and two pick sixes in one game and set a Rockets season record with 20 pass breakups in 2022. At a sturdy 6-0, 200, Mitchell bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times, squatted 44 and had a top speed of 23.58 MPH on the GPS this summer. He also ran in the 40 in the 4.3s twice for NFL scouts this spring. Mitchell’s teammate, running back Jacquez Stuart, an alumnus of powerhouse Miami Northwest High who once won state titles in the 100-meter dash and the 4×100-meter relay, also nearly made this list. The 5-10, 180-pound Stuart hit 23.40 MPH this summer but also squatted 550 and did 17 reps of 225.

47. Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri State, wide receiver

A first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick in his first year at Southeast Missouri, the transfer from Iowa Western Community College had 61 catches for a team-best 984 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-2, 205-pound senior — who had no D-I offers out of high school — began his college career at D-II Central Missouri, where he tore his ACL. At SEMO, Flournoy had dazzled his coaches. He has a 3.9 GPA, and passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Justin Drudik says he’s the hardest worker he’s ever had.

“He’s going to climb up draft boards quickly,” he says. “Last season, scouts didn’t know about him because he got here the January before. Now, they know all about him and are coming to see him.”

Flournoy has elite athleticism. He vertical-jumps 41 inches, broad-jumped 10-10 1/2; has been laser-timed at 4.40 in the 40 with a 4.35 hand time. His shuttle time this offseason was 4.22 and his L-drill is 6.66, which is less than a tenth of a second off Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 6.57, which was the quickest time of anyone at the 2023 NFL combine. Flournoy also has bench-pressed 350 pounds, power-cleaned 325 and squatted 510.

48. Wesley Steiner, Auburn, linebacker

The 6-0, 247-pound senior has displayed remarkable strength long before he got to Auburn. At Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Ga., Steiner power-cleaned 405 pounds. He also was a two-time Georgia state champion in the discus and also wrestled and played basketball.

Steiner, who made 46 tackles last season, has run a 4.4 40 and clocked a 4.06 30 meter on the 1080 sprint machine.

49. Brock Bowers, Georgia, tight end

There are stronger and bigger tight ends, but none are more athletic, as evidenced by all the plays he makes for the Bulldogs. In 2022, the Napa, Calif., native had 63 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns, all team highs, but he also had 109 rushing yards on just nine carries. At 6-4, 240, Bowers can broad-jump 10-2, and his 36-inch vert would’ve tied for fourth-best among tight ends at the 2023 combine. His 40 time is somewhere in the 4.5s. Bowers also power-cleaned 355 pounds this offseason to go with a 485-pound squat and a 330-pound bench.

50. Alex Orji, Michigan, quarterback

There’s a bunch of other Wolverines we could’ve included in here in this spot: Blake Corum, who does 30 reps of 225 on the bench and also clocked a 6.39 3-cone and a 3.89 shuttle; Zak Zinter, who at 6-6, 325, vertical-jumped 33 inches and had a 4.44 shuttle; or Mike Sainristil, who had a 40-inch vertical and bounded up the reactive plyo stairs in 2.26 seconds, but Orji was who several teammates pointed to as their top Freak.

The 6-3, 237-pound sophomore quarterback ranks No. 1 on the team in its cumulative KPI score, which is made up of 48 Key Performance Indicators they use to track frame analysis: flexibility/mobility; strength/power; and agility/speed. Orji vertical-jumped 41 inches and did 2.34 in the reactive plyo stairs; broad-jumped 10-6; and did 3.97 in the shuttle and 6.65 in the 3-cone. On the field, the Texas native ran for two touchdowns and completed one pass in mop-up duty in 2022.

51. Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, defensive line

The Florida native has been very disruptive since he’s been a Duck but had his best season in 2022, making a career-high 9.5 TFLs. Oregon has a bunch of super strong dudes in the trenches on this defensive line. Casey Rogers, a Nebraska transfer, bench-presses 505 pounds and did a 365-pound split jerk this offseason and also power-cleaned 375 and back-squatted 765. Dorlus, a 6-3, 290-pounder, has similar power numbers to Burch — a 685-pound back squat, a 685-pound sumo deadlift and a 345-pound power clean. He’s also almost as fast, hitting 20.75 MPH on the GPS.

52. Logan Jones, Iowa, center

A former state champ in the shot put and discus in Iowa, Jones, a 6-3, 290-pound converted defensive lineman is high on the Hawkeyes’ lifting board with the second best hang-clean — behind Freaks alum Tristan Wirfs at 465 — and recently squatted 700 pounds to set the Iowa record. The Hawkeyes’ starting center also vertical —jumped 36 inches. He and teammate Gennings Dunker both broke the all-time Solon Beef Days hay bale toss record by going 14 feet. Dunker ultimately won with a throw of 14-6.

53. Brenden Rice, USC, wide receiver

The Trojans are loaded at wideout with Freak candidates. Quarterback Caleb Williams mentioned three guys when we talked about the biggest Freaks on the team, including freshman tight end Duce Robinson and receiver Zachariah Branch, at 5-10, 175 pounds, a Nevada state champ in the 100, 200 and long jump who also had the longest triple jump in the state.

“His speed and explosiveness and power is unique,” Williams says.

But the biggest Freak of the bunch is the one with the heftiest football bloodlines, Brenden Rice, son of the greatest receiver ever, Jerry Rice. The younger Rice, who had 39 catches for 611 yards (15.7-yard average) and four touchdowns in 2022, is 6-3, 215 pounds and hit 23 MPH on the GPS and had an impressive 1.43 10-yard split. This offseason, Rice also vertical-jumped 38 inches, did 17 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 525 for three reps.

54. Jordan Houston, NC State, running back

The Wolfpack’s leading rusher in 2022, Houston ran for a career-high 90 yards in their win over FSU. The 5-10, 190-pound senior has a 41 1/2-inch vertical and broad-jumps 10-10 1/2 inches. He’s timed 4.06 in the shuttle and 4.46 in the 40. He also squats 550, benches 365 and does 22 reps of 225.

55. Tyler Davis, Clemson, defensive tackle

The Tigers have had a great run of defensive linemen over the past decade. Davis, a second-team All-ACC selection as a true freshman in 2019 after making 51 tackles, nine TFLs and 5.5 sacks, doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s battled through injuries and has been overshadowed by players who were more hyped as recruits, but the 6-2, 302-pounder is a beast.

He’s a powerhouse on the field and in the weight room, where he bench-pressed 405 pounds, doing 30 reps of 225. He’s squatted 680, front-squatted 465, power-cleaned 350 and deadlifted 655. He also was timed this offseason at 4.95 in the 40. Another plus: the guy who is across from him every day at practice, center Will Putnam, is almost as strong, and could’ve been on this list too.

56. Savion Williams, TCU, wide receiver

We had Quentin Johnston on here last year, and Williams is the next Horned Frog Freak wideout. He’s bigger at 6-5, 215 pounds, and as Williams told me in January, “I’m faster than him. He’s got the jumping. I’ll give him that.”

Williams, though, jumps well too, having hit 10-6 on the broad jump and posted a 40-inch vertical. In 2022, Williams made 29 receptions for 392 yards and four touchdowns. The former high school quarterback has incredible arm strength. He can throw it farther than all the TCU QBs. “He threw it about 20 yards further — it was like every bit of 80 yards,” quarterback Chandler Morris says. “And with no warm-up. That’s just straight God-given, dude.”

57. Rome Odunze, Washington, wide receiver

The Pac-12 leader in receiving yards with 1,145 last year to go with 75 catches, Odunze, 6-2, 216 pounds, was a terrific high school sprinter at Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman who won the 4A state title in the 200 meters (21.25) and the 4×100 relay (41.36). This offseason, Odunze ran a 4.34 40, a 4.19 pro agility shuttle and also did 37.1 inches on the vertical and 10-1 in the broad jump. Offensive lineman Troy Fautana, at 6-4, 315, a 400-pound bencher who ran a 5.1 40 and vertical-jumped almost 30 1/2 inches, is another Husky who got strong consideration.

58. Elijah Chatman, SMU, defensive tackle

He’s not one of the bigger defensive tackles in FBS at 6-0, 278, but few are as strong. He’s bench-pressed 505 pounds and done 42 reps of 225, and the SMU staff thinks he’ll be around 45 the next time he tests. They say he does dumbbell rows with 185 pounds just for a challenge. Chatman, who made 39 tackles last year with four TFLs and three sacks, also vertical-jumped 32 inches, power-cleaned 365 and back-squatted 655.

59. Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest, defensive back

He seemed to be everywhere for the Wake defense in 2022, making 58 tackles with eight TFLs, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The 5-10, 205 junior is a 1,300-pound lifter (that includes his bench, squat and clean) and has vertical-jumped 36 1/2 inches this offseason. He also plays really, really fast, having hit 23 MPH on the GPS in a game.

60. Trebor Pena, Syracuse, wide receiver/kick returner/punt returner

The 6-0, 190-pound junior is one of the country’s top return men, entering this season ranked fifth among all active FBS players in career return average (27.0 yards per return). He led the ACC in kick returns and was third in punt return average in 2022. The New Jersey native squatted 550 pounds this offseason, did 19 reps on the bench of 225 and had a 40-inch vertical, which makes him the Orange’s top Freak, although young Kadin Bailey, a 224-pound sophomore linebacker who already does 23 reps at 225 and vertical-jumped 37 inches despite only one year in the SU strength program, is close behind him. Bailey, the son of Boss Bailey and nephew of UGA legend Champ Bailey, is a name to remember.

61. Brandon Coleman, TCU, offensive tackle

The 6-6, 320-pounder who was born in Virginia but grew up in Berlin, Germany, moved back to the U.S. in 2016. He has emerged as a top NFL prospect. He started 15 games at left tackle and was rated by PFF as the third-highest graded returning offensive lineman in the Big 12. Coleman, unrated by the recruiting sites coming out of high school, has an impressive 35-inch vertical jump and regularly runs 18 MPH. He squats 600 pounds, benches 400 and power-cleans 375.

62. Kyle Hergel, Boston College, offensive lineman

The Eagles’ offensive line was gutted last year by injuries, but it should be pretty nasty in 2023; this powerful Canadian should really help. He was an All-Sun Belt third team player for Texas State last year and also PFF All-Sun Belt first team pick. At 6-2 1/2, 315 pounds, he did a 756-pound box squat and could’ve done more with ease, his coaches say. He bench-pressed 478 and could do more in that, too. His NordBord Force Production score was 821.5 N of Force, which is 2.6 times his body weight. Anything over 2.0 is considered excellent. His Hatfield split squat is 445 pounds at .87 m/s that is 1.56x his body weight.

63. Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech, defensive tackle

A 6-0, 295-pound strong man who was once a nifty high school running back, now he’s got a 500-pound bench, a 700-pound squat, but he has been clocked at 18 miles per hour. That skill set has translated very well for the Red Raiders defense, where he made 50 tackles and 5.5 TFLs in 2022 and was graded out at 84.5 overall by PFF a year ago, making him the second-highest graded defensive tackle returning in the Big 12 and was easily Texas Tech’s highest-graded performer by PFF.

“He’s really light on his feet and plays extremely hard,” says Tech defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. “He can burst and go and moves well enough where he could probably play some goal-line fullback in some packages at the next level.”

64. Squirrel White, Tennessee, wide receiver

Love the name. Love the wheels. The 5-10, 165-pound sophomore, one of the fastest wide receivers in college football, is being counted on to fill former Vol blazer Jalin Hyatt’s role of lethal slot man. White has been clocked at 23.4 miles per hour velocity on the Catapult system and also has vertical-jumped 40.6 inches. When Hyatt opted out of the Orange Bowl, White had a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and one touchdown in the win over Clemson. And, no, Squirrel isn’t his given name. It’s Marquarius, but his great-grandmother called him “Squirrel” as an infant after he moved simultaneously with a squirrel in her garden.

65. Kenyatta Watson II, Georgia Tech, cornerback

The son of a former Boston College wide receiver by the same name who later played for the Dallas Cowboys, Kenyatta II began his college career at Texas and played two seasons at Texas, totally nine tackles with two passes broken up. The 6-1 1/2, 195-pound corner has vertical-jumped 45 inches and done 11-2 in the broad jump. This year, he ran 22.94 MPH.

“He is a real athletic Freak,” says Georgia Tech strength coach A.J. Artis. “He can run a 4.2 (40) and he squats 500 pounds.”

66. Sione Vaki, Utah, safety

The 6-0, 207-pound sophomore made 41 tackles with one forced fumble and three pass breakups last year. Vaki already can bench-press 400 pounds, squats 520 and vertical-jumps 39 inches. He did 10-5 1/2 in the broad jump. His teammates could tell he was a Freak almost from the moment he arrived there, they say.

“Right when he walked on campus, he was shaped like Hercules,” says Utah quarterback Cam Rising. “I thought he might be one of those muscle-bound guys who is a little stiff, but he’s special. That is a Freak right there. It’s like he was made in a factory. He’s a machine.”

67. Jalen White, Georgia Southern, running back

He was on pace to become a 1,000-yard rusher before tearing a ligament in his knee that caused him to miss the final two-plus games of the year. The 6-0, 215-pound senior, who once scored eight touchdowns in the first half of a high school game and holds the Alabama state record with 3,517 rushing yards (in just 11 games), is a strongman in the weight room, squatting 620 pounds, benching 360 and power-cleaning 350. He also vertical-jumped 40 inches and broad-jumped 10-4.

68. David Bailey, Stanford, outside linebacker

A big recruit who backed up his hype in his debut season with 46 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. The 6-3, 245-pound sophomore has hit 20.53 mph in 20 yards with a 5.5 meters/second peak acceleration. The economics major also had no trouble doing a 550-pound back squat this offseason.

“That dude is so fast and so explosive,” says Stanford inside linebacker Tristan Sinclair. “Whether he’s squatting 225 pounds or 500-plus, the tempo and the speed is identical. There is no strain in his face. It is pure power.”

69. Gabe Jacas, Illinois, edge

Jacas (pronounced with a silent j) is someone we’re going to be talking about a lot over the next few years. He just turned 19 in late May and has wowed folks inside the program in his first season. He came from Florida, where he was a state champion wrestler. In 2022, he made 35 tackles, five TFLs and four sacks. This Illini defense, even with all the studs they lost in the secondary to the NFL, still is loaded, especially in the front seven. Linebacker Seth Coleman, at 6-5, 250, is extremely long and agile and probably should be on here too.

Jacas has ridiculous strength and power, especially for a guy so young. The 6-3, 267-pounder bench-presses 285 for 22 reps. “He looks like he’s been lifting since middle school,” says Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. “He can do it all. Gabe is a dawg at wrestling. I tried to wrestle him. I wouldn’t advise it. He just wore me out. He is not to be messed with.”

Strength coach Tank Wright says Jacas’ intensity brings out the best in his teammates. “He’s the only guy I have ever seen get into a heated battle due to someone skipping him in line during a heavy resisted prowler push of 700-plus pounds,” Wright says.

70. Tommy Mellott, Montana State, quarterback

The Bobcats staff raves about him, like to the level you rarely hear coaches talk about a player. So let the gushing begin. MSU offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright: “He has a 4.0 in engineering, 6 percent body fat, a 39-inch vert, is 210 pounds. Smartest QB I have ever been around, 4.3 40-yard dash. Smartest human alive. Will be president of United States. Every father wants their daughter to date him. Every mother wants to adopt him. Every wife wants him to be their husband’s idol. Hardest worker in the room (this room includes Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter).”

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen: “He’s a Freak in every which way” — academically, in community service, in the weight room and on the field.

The 6-0, 209-pound Mellott, only entering his junior season, has 1,984 career rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He’s passed for almost 2,200 yards. His 5+10-yard fly time this summer was 1.16 seconds. For perspective, former MSU star Troy Andersen’s fastest was 1.22. Andersen, now with the Falcons, ran a 4.42 40 with a 1.51 10-yard split before going as a second-round pick.

71. Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, cornerback

The slightly bigger and slightly faster half of the Rattlers’ Freak Corner Combo, the 5-11, 190-pound Bohler is a preseason first-team All-SWAC selection after making 23 tackles with two interceptions in 2022. The transfer from Mercer clocked a 4.34 40, broad-jumped 10-11, did 4.18 in the pro agility and 7.02 in the L-drill. He also power-cleaned 335 and squatted 530.

72. Javan Morgan, Florida A&M, cornerback

The other half of the Rattlers’ Freak Corner Combo, Morgan is the slightly smaller, slightly quicker corner. In 2022, the 5-11, 185-pounder made second team All-SWAC after making four interceptions and was third on the team with 43 tackles. This offseason, Morgan clocked a 4.38 40-yard dash, had a 10-10 broad jump, a 40-inch vertical, a 4.12 pro agility time and did 6.95 in the L-drill. He also power-cleaned 335 and squatted 540.

73. Roman Wilson, Michigan, wide receiver

A former “Fastest Man” at The Opening as a high school recruit, having clocked a 4.37 40, the 6-0, 193-pound senior wows the coaches with his ability to accelerate, decelerate and control his body. This offseason, Wilson clocked a 4.33 40 out of a two-point stance; ran a sizzling 6.20 3-cone drill that was only upstaged by teammate Amorion Walker. But then again, Wilson topped everyone with a 3.77 shuttle time, and also had a terrific 10.76 60-yard shuttle and flew up the Wolverines’ reactive plyo stairs in 2.22 seconds, also best in the program. On the field, Wilson caught 25 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns and added two more rushing touchdowns.

74. Ty French, Gardner-Webb, defensive end

A two-time first-team All-Big South Conference player, Webb has 22.5 career tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 24 hurries in just 14 career games.

“Yes, he’s Freakish,” head coach Tre Lamb says. “He will probably play in the SEC after graduation in December. He’s 6-3 and 240 and runs incredibly well.” Lamb landed the Georgia native, who arrived at Gardner-Webb in the COVID-19 year at 6-1, 216 pounds. French, who has long arms and good burst, clocked a 4.57 40 this offseason, squatted 585, power-cleaned 365, benched 380 and vertical-jumped 35 inches.

75. Sundiata “Sunny” Anderson, Grambling, defensive end

The Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason defensive player of the year had 12.5 TFLs, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 10 games last season. Expect him to be an even bigger problem for opposing offenses — the 6-5 senior has bulked up from 234 pounds to 252. Anderson broad-jumped 10-3, vertical-jumped 36 inches and squatted 530.

76. David Walker, Central Arkansas, defensive end

One of three finalists last season for the Buck Buchanan Award, honoring the top defensive player in the FCS, Walker had 66 tackles, 21 TFLs and 12 sacks in 2022. The 6-2, 260-pound Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year runs the 40 in 4.65, vertical-jumped 36 inches and power-cleaned 374. He’s also squatted 615 pounds this offseason and benched 225 pounds for 24 reps.

77. Shad Banks Jr., TCU, linebacker

He might be the only linebacker in Power 5 — or maybe all of FBS — who is back deep returning kickoffs. He averaged 27 yards on three returns last season. And this is no small linebacker. Banks, who started two games at linebacker in 2022 and made a career-high 10 tackles against Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, is 6-1, 250 pounds, and a former two-time Junior Olympic national triple jump champion. He consistently runs 21 MPH and has been clocked at 4.4 in the 40. He also vertical-jumped 38 inches.

78. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati, defensive end

The Virginia transfer makes a great complement to “The Godfather” on and off the field. The 6-2, 303-pound Briggs, a former all-conference nose tackle, had 60 tackles last year with 4.5 TFLs and three sacks. Off the field, he’s married with two children and earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia in physics and music focus. He’s also a gifted singer (he’s a tenor) and plays numerous instruments, including piano, guitar, bass, drums, sax, flute, cello, violin, viola and harmonica.

And the reason why he’s listed here: Briggs is super strong. He squatted 700 pounds in high school and this offseason he deadlifted 655 and did 31 reps on the bench press at 225. He also has hit 18.6 MPH and clocked 4.89 in the pro shuttle.

And…🔷⚔️🔶
Congratulations to Jowon Briggs with his solo debut with the University Singers for Family Weekend. #HoosMasterPlan #GoHoos @UVAFootball @VirginiaSports @UVASAExperience pic.twitter.com/TXx13jDsoN

— Carla G. Williams (@ADWilliamsUVA) October 19, 2019

79. J.Michael Sturdivant, UCLA, wide receiver

The nephew of the late Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little was a high school standout in Texas in the sprints and jumps. As a freshman at Cal, he led the Bears with 65 receptions and seven touchdown catches and ranked second with 755 yards receiving. The 6-3, 206-pound sophomore is the most gifted wideout the Bruins have had in the Chip Kelly era. Sturdivant has topped out at 23.2 MPH and also bench-pressed close to 300 pounds and squatted almost 400 pounds this offseason.

80. Justin Blazek, Wisconsin-Platteville, defensive end

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the year after making 12 TFLs and nine sacks, Blazek, a mechanical engineering major, is one of the top pro prospects in D-III. The 6-4, 252-pound senior has a 6-10 wingspan and clocked a 4.30 shuttle time, hit 20.5 MPH on the GPS and has been clocked at an acceleration of 7.93 yd/s/s.

81. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky, wide receiver

One of the best-kept secrets in FBS football, this is a powerful, explosive playmaker for a very dynamic Hilltoppers attack. Last season, Corley made 101 catches for 1,295 yards and nine touchdowns, but where the former two-star recruit was most impressive is with the ball in his hands. He led the country in yards after the catch with 975 and in missed tackles forced with 40.

Year 1 to Year 4:

There’s a reason@CorleyMalachi is
UNTACKLEABLE on film…

☑️Elite Speed
☑️Destructive Physicality
☑️Driven to be #1#GoTops@WKUFootball @JimNagy_SB @BruceFeldmanCFB @PFF_College pic.twitter.com/jNfQcTubTe

— Jason Veltkamp (@JVstrength) July 12, 2023

Corley, who arrived at WKU in the summer of COVID-19 at 193 pounds, is up to 220 on his 5-11 frame, looking more like a running back than your typical receiver. He’s hit 23 MPH on the GPS and clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash. His 4.08 shuttle time and 355-pound bench also are excellent.

82. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame, defensive lineman

The Ohio State transfer, who had 11 TFLs and eight sacks in 45 games with the Buckeyes, should give the Irish D-line depth a big boost. The 6-4 1/2, 260-pounder broad-jumped 10-5 this offseason and vertical-jumped 35 inches. On the GPS, he hit 20.4 MPH. Even more impressive, Jean-Baptiste did 45 pull-ups.

83. Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas, wide receiver

A transfer from D-II Hillsdale College, where he was the Great Midwest American Conference offensive player of the year after catching 68 passes for 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns, the 6-4, 216-pound senior has impressed his new coaches. TeSlaa has displayed good strength for a wideout (a 315-pound bench) to go with terrific athleticism (38-inch vertical jump and a 10-5 broad jump) and excellent size and reliable hands.

84. PJ Jules, Southern Illinois, defensive back

A 6-1, 210-pound safety from Orlando who led his team in tackles (66) and PBUs (7) in 2022, Jules is one of the best players in FCS and a legit NFL prospect. This offseason, Jules squatted 610 pounds, benched 395 and also broad-jumped 10-7 and vertical-jumped 38 inches.

85. A.J. Woods, Pitt, cornerback

The 5-11, 195-pound senior led the Panthers with 13 pass breakups last year. He also made 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, and had one interception. Woods clocked a 4.28 40 this offseason and has run 23 MPH and vertical-jumped 36 inches. Woods joins Marquis Williams and M.J. Devonshire to give the Panthers a terrific cornerback group.

86. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M, offensive lineman

The Aggies went up to New Jersey and snagged the Garden State’s top prospect last year, and the 6-6, 320-pound strongman has folks inside the A&M program believing its best Freak is a true freshman. Bisontis already squats 670 pounds, bench-presses 445 and power-cleans 345. Before his senior year of high school, he deadlifted 615 pounds. He also could top out at 17 MPH. Aggies offensive line coach Steve Addazio was the first one to offer Bisontis back when he was a freshman and Addazio was the head coach at Boston College.

87. Jacob Monk, Duke, center

As a freshman in 2019, he started 12 games at offensive tackle. The past two seasons, he started every game for the Blue Devils at right guard, and in 2022, he made honorable mention All-ACC after taking over at center for a Blue Devils team that flourished under new head coach Mike Elko. The 6-3, 319-pound Monk, a team captain, has tremendous strength, power-cleaning 386 pounds, bench-pressing 445 and squatting 626, but he also moves really well going 1.78 second on his 10-yard split and vertical-jumping 30.5 inches.

88. Taylen Green, Boise State, quarterback

The Broncos got cranked up last year after he took over as their starting quarterback in Week 5. Green threw for more than 2,000 yards, completing 61 percent of his passes, and was responsible for 24 touchdowns (14 passing, 10 rushing). He then went on to earn Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP honors. He’s 6-6, 230 pounds, but can also hit almost 23 MPH on the GPS. In high school, Green was a 43-foot-5-inch triple jumper

89. Tejhaun Palmer, UAB, wide receiver

Blazer safety Keondre Swoopes, a two-time all-league player who squats almost 600 pounds and vertical-jumps 40 inches, could’ve been on here too, but we’ll go with the 6-2, 215-pound wideout who has hit 22.97 MPH, jumped 38 inches and been clocked at 4.47 in the 40. Palmer had 30 catches last season but is primed for a breakout year as UAB’s No. 1 option this fall.

According to the UAB staff, he has the team record for most high speed acceleration distance and is No. 1 in that category every single session on the GPS. He played in 23 college football games in 2021 because his JUCO program made it to the national title game in the spring and then he transferred to UAB, where he played in all 13 games in the fall.

90. Robert Horsey, Southern Utah, nose guard

The Thunderbirds have another defender who we almost had on here, outside linebacker Aubrey Nellems, a tackle machine who also squats 615, power-cleans 374 and has a 36-inch vertical, but it’s Horsey, a 6-3, 295-pound grad transfer from D-II Frostburg that gets this spot. He bench-pressed 405 pounds, squatted 650 and has run a 4.96 40 and vertical-jumped 30 inches. Horsey won’t just be one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the United Conference, but he’s also expected to play some H-back and tight end in short yardage/red zone situations this fall.

91. Gerry Bohanon, USF, quarterback

In five college seasons between Baylor and USF, Bohanon has thrown 26 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 15 touchdowns. The 6-3, 226-pound Arkansas native is one of the strongest quarterbacks in college football. Bulls strength coach George Courides says he is “by far the most athletic quarterback I’ve ever coached.” Bohanon is built like a tight end and runs like a wideout. He has clocked 21 MPH on the GPS, and in the weight room, his lower body strength is among the top three on the team. This offseason he squatted 550 pounds.

92. Landon Robinson, Navy, nose guard

A four-sport athlete in Ohio, Robinson played football, baseball, track and also excelled at wrestling. The 6-0, 278-pound sophomore has moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart and has bulked up from 245 pounds in January. He bench-presses 420 pounds, squats 600 and vertical-jumps 33 inches.

93. Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati, Star

The younger brother of Cincinnati star Ivan Pace played linebacker last season and now moves to the star position, which is something of a hybrid nickel/linebacker. Pace started eight games last season and ranked fifth on the Bearcats with 62 tackles. He also had five TFLs and blocked one kick. This followed a huge 2021, where he made 94 tackles with nine TFLs and a team-high four interceptions. The 6-2, 212-pound senior has very good speed, clocking 21.21 MPH with a speedy 1.51 10-yard split. He also bench-presses 340 pounds and can do 25 pull-ups.

94. De’Corian “JT” Clark, UTSA, wide receiver

Clark was a big weapon (51 receptions for 741 yards and eight touchdowns) for the loaded UTSA attack before a season-ending injury against UAB ended his year. But the 6-2 1/2, 214-pounder should have a bigger year this fall. Clark, who in high school jumped 24-8, hit 22.2 MPH on the GPS and clocked a 4.31 shuttle time. He also ran 4.49 in the 40, broad-jumped 10-1, vertical-jumped 35 inches and power-cleaned 345.

95. Deion Burks, Purdue, wide receiver

The Boilermakers had a few good candidates, including 203-pound defensive back Dillon Thieneman (22.3 MPH and three reps at 315 on the bench), but Burks is the Purdue player selected. The 5-9 3/4, 191-pounder, who had 15 catches for 149 yards last season, benched 350 pounds for three reps, hit almost 22.3 MPH on the GPS and did 27 reps with 115 pounds on a single arm press. He also squatted 450 pounds for three reps.

96. Nash Jones, Texas State, offensive tackle

The Bobcats have a couple of guys who also could’ve made this list. Defensive end Ben Bell, a 250-pound junior, vertical-jumps 34 1/2 inches, and speedy linebacker Brian Holloway also was in the mix, but we’re going with Jones, a 6-5, 320-pound transfer from Incarnate Word. Jones was a three-time All-Southland selection at UIW and starting left tackle last season for the nation’s highest scoring offense at the D-I level. He power-cleaned 385 this offseason, bench-pressed 425, broad-jumped 9-7 and vertical-jumped 30 1/2 inches.

97. Chidozie Nwankwo, Houston, defensive lineman

The Cougars keep producing Freaky defensive linemen, and the two-time state champion wrestler is the next one. At 5-11, 295, Nwankwo (36 tackles, 3.5 TFLs in 2022) cleans 345 pounds, squats 625 and bench-pressed 435. He’s also wowed teammates by pulling two 400-pound chains across the Elmer Redd Sports Performance Center on campus.

98. Chris Walker, Montana, offensive tackle

He began his college career at Nebraska in 2017 and eventually moved to the defensive line before transferring to Montana last year, starting 13 games at left tackle. Walker, at 6-6, 300 pounds, is expected to be a first-team All-Big Sky player this year and an NFL prospect. He bench-presses 445 pounds, power-cleans 335 and also vertical-jumped 28.5 inches. His feet are very impressive. This summer, he had a 10-yard split of 1.62 and 2.93 in the 20.

99. Jaylin Lucas, Indiana, running back/kick returner

The 18-year-old Louisiana native has brought some blazing speed to Bloomington. He gained 271 yards as a rusher, caught 16 passes and took two of 21 kickoffs back for touchdowns.

The 170-pounder with 4 percent body fat was clocked this offseason in the 40 at 4.29. His coaches see him as a Darren Sproles-type weapon. Lucas loves that comp as someone who grew up watching the former K-State star in the NFL, but he also sees De’Anthony Thomas in his game.

100. Trevor Williams, Sam Houston, linebacker

He has an amazing story. He’s a 5-9, 210-pound former walk-on who’s become a four-time team captain this year. He was a leader of the Bearkats’ 2020 national championship defense, making 15 TFLs that season. In his career, he’s made 260 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, seven sacks, one interception, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and had three fumble recoveries. He already has his MBA — he earned his undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship. Williams is here because he bench-presses (385 pounds) almost twice his body weight, power-cleans 345, squats 505 pounds, broad-jumps 9-10 and vertical-jumps 35 inches.

101. Tyrik “Neck” Mitchell, Southeastern Louisiana, nose guard

His name is Tyrik, but to everyone inside the SLU program, he’s “Neck,” because he has the thickest neck “and is just one big ball of muscle at 5-10, 295,” says strength and conditioning coach Kyle Vagher. Neck’s neck measures 21 inches, according to Vagher. In case you were wondering (and I was), Takeo Spikes’ neck also once measured 21 inches. Mitchell, who has 16 tackles and two TFLs last season, power-cleans 395 pounds, back-squats 565 and bench-presses 455.

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic: photos: David Rosenbaum, Carmen Mandate / Getty Images; courtesy of Harvard Athletics)