2012 College Football Ratings: Top 5 Comeback Players

2012 College Football Rankings: Top 5 Comeback Players: Injuries are an unfortunate part of football, but every year, several big names and key players miss all or most of the year because of them. Fortunately, medical advances have allowed players to recover from even the most-devastating injuries in a relative short amount of time. After the injury bug bit several star players in 2011, the list of candidates for the top comeback player is as loaded as it has been in recent memory. In fact, there are a few potential Heisman candidates and future first-round picks among the group. With that in mind, here is a look at the top Comeback Players for the upcoming college football season.

2012 College Football Ratings: Top 5 Comeback Players

1.      Marcus Lattimore, Running Back, South Carolina

After posting nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman, Lattimore had 818 yards and 10 scores in six games last year before injuring his knee. The workhorse back is expected to be ready for the start of the 2012 season, and after running around and through the stout defenses of the SEC in his first year and a half with the Gamecocks, he should pick up where he left off. While he might need a game or two to shake off the rust, any player that come into the toughest conference in the country and find the end zone 17 times as a freshman is just plain talented. Look for Lattimore to return to his role as the center of the South Carolina offense, and he could even make a run at the Heisman.

2.      Knile Davis, Running Back, Arkansas

His incredible 2010 campaign had expectations soaring for Davis, but an injury forced him to miss all of last season. With a full year to recover, he should be every bit the player that topped 1,300 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry in 2010. He closed that year with five straight 100-yard games, topping 150 yards three times. Playing for an already-loaded Arkansas offense, Davis should take some of the pressure off the passing game while enjoying the running lanes that the Razorbacks’ high-powered passing attack creates. Davis will be back with a vengeance in 2012, and he could be the missing piece to the puzzle for Arkansas.

3.      Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

Hunter got hurt after just two games last year, but he had already amassed 16 catches, 302 receiving yards and two touchdowns. As evidenced by his 22.4 career average yards per catch, he has more than enough speed to burn defenses deep down the field. Hunter’s 6-4 frame and leaping ability also allow him to make catches in traffic, making him a total matchup nightmare. He will reunite with fellow receiver Da’Rick Rogers this season, and the duo will instantly become one of the best in the country. If he stays healthy, Hunter could lead SEC receivers in most statistical categories.

4.      Ray Graham, Running Back, Pittsburgh

After taking over the starting job in 2010, Graham was challenging Montee Ball for the most rushing yards in the country last season when he got injured. Graham had 958 yards in six full games, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He has averaged at least 5.7 yards per carry in all three years at Pittsburgh, and while he is known as a power back, he has more than enough speed to break off huge runs at the college level. In four of his six games last year, Graham ripped off at least one run of more than 30 yards. All reports seem to indicate that he will be in the backfield to start the season, and he will immediately receive a heavy workload for the Pittsburgh offense. Graham was on pace for a 2,000-yard season last year so even if he is rusty, he should still have a monster year.

5.      Jeff Tuel, Quarterback, Washington State

After a decent 2010 campaign, a nagging collarbone injury basically cost Tuel all of last season. While it remains to be seen what his ceiling actually is, he has looked impressive in the spring running Mike Leach’s pass-happy offense. He is also the most-experienced option for the Cougars, making him the likely candidate to win the starting job. Leach’s system has made 4,000-yard passers out of players with a lot less talent than Tuel, and with solid targets to throw to, he should be in for a career year.

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