The 2023 college football season is nearly here.
And while most folks will be tuned into contests featuring top-25 teams — games with teams from power conferences like the SEC and Big Ten and matchups that include Heisman Trophy contenders — there’s plenty of reasons to watch the rest of the sport too. And we’re not just talking about the ACC, which is sure to be chaotic once again, or the impending new-look Big 12. We recommend that you consume the sport in-full, whole-hog style, from programs as small as Tulsa and Louisiana-Monroe to as big as Texas A&M and Ohio State.
What we’re really saying here is: Don’t ignore the Group of Five. Tons of fun football is being played in the Sun Belt, AAC, Mountain West, MAC and Conference USA. And there are some interesting personalities and cool uniforms too.
Here’s a handful of players from those conferences that you should make time to watch this year.
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1
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, QB
The three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year enters his fifth and final season of eligibility in Conway, South Carolina. The maestro with a mullet threw for 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns to just two interceptions last season, and he also rushed for 195 yards and six scores. McCall’s career passer efficiency rating of 186.8 is the third-best all-time in FBS, topped only by Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
The hurdle for McCall this year will be adjusting to a new offense. Former Coastal head coach Jamey Chadwell took his spread-out and tricked-out version of the triple option to Liberty, and Coastal tapped former N.C. State offensive coordinator Tim Beck to replace him. Beck brings a scheme that’s a bit more of a pro style with some wide zone and pistol sprinkled in. If McCall – who entertained the transfer portal last offseason but ultimately returned to Coastal – adjusts well and puts up big numbers again, the NFL Draft could be in his future.
Grayson McCall with an absolute dime ❄️ pic.twitter.com/dQ7hNr3Q7H
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) December 28, 2022
2
Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State, DE
Kamara is one of the most productive defensive players returning to the Mountain West this season. Last year, he tallied 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, the latter of which ranked fourth in the conference. Every player in the Mountain West that had more sacks than Kamara last season wound up with an NFL contract this year. With another solid year coming off the edge for the Rams, that could be in his future too.
One player who flashed a bunch Saturday against Michigan was Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara (#42). He shows a good first step here with an excellent swim move to win. pic.twitter.com/IzzUz3Q9sS
— Nick Price (checkmark) (@PriceCheck3) September 6, 2022
3
Christian Haynes, UConn, OL
If you catch yourself watching a UConn game this season, keep an eye on the trenches. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 313 pounds, Haynes is quick on his feet for his size and a certified people-mover. He often reaches the second level when run blocking and NFL scouts seem very interested in his potential; Pro Football Focus tabbed him as the seventh-best interior lineman entering this season. Last season, he became just the third UConn player ever in its FBS era to be named an All-American. He’s a big reason why the Huskies rushed for more than 200 yards in six games last season.
UConn guard Christian Haynes was dominant this season.
Led all FBS guards in @PFF pass-blocking grade and big-time blocks.
RG #64 here does a great job sealing off the NC State DL before tossing him aside.
Top-5 IOL heading into next year.pic.twitter.com/GAJ1GQsv7s
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 4, 2023
4
Jacob Busic, Navy, DE
Busic has been an anchor on the Navy defense for the past two seasons, starting 24 straight games at left defensive end. Last season, he had 38 tackles, 8.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage and six of which were sacks. Busic is a captain this year, made Phil Steele’s preseason All-AAC team and is on the watchlist for the Lombardi Award. He’ll be key to Navy having a strong a season under first-year head coach Brian Newberry.
5
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio, QB
Despite an ACL injury that cut his 2022 campaign short, Rourke still won the MAC Offensive Player of the Year last season after throwing for 3,257 yards and 25 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He also completed 69.1 percent of his passes last season, which led the MAC and was eighth in all of FBS. Like his older brother Nathan – currently rostered with the Jacksonville Jaguars after a breakout season CFL season – Kurtis Rourke could be the next MAC quarterback to play on Sundays. For now, he’s a big reason to tune into to weeknight MACtion.
6
Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State, K
The native of Chandler, Arizona, was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as a true freshman. He missed just two kicks all year, going 30-of-31 on extra points and 17-of-18 on field goals. The missed PAT was blocked and the missed field goal try was a 51-yarder. One of the kicks he made was a 56-yard field goal attempt at Texas State – it was the second-longest make in FBS last season and the second-longest connection by a kicker in Arkansas State history. And according to the sports information folks at Arkansas State, Zvada was the first kicker to go 4-for-4 on field goal tries against Ohio State since at least 2000.
Simply put: The kid has an incredible leg.
7
JeQuan Burton, FAU, WR
After stops at Southern Illinois and Iowa Western Community College, Burton landed at FAU in 2021 as a walk-on. Over the past two seasons, he’s hauled in 60 catches for 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns and also has been solid in the return game, where he averaged 19.5 yards per kick return. In a new conference and with a new head coach, this could be the year Burton breaks out. Also, this dude can absolutely fly; according to The Athletic, he runs a 4.36 40-yard dash.
TOUCHDOWN #FAU! Perry finds Je'Quan Burton on the 5⃣0⃣ YARD DEEP POST for the lead! LET'S GO 🦉pic.twitter.com/wTE8bWtL1d
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) October 30, 2022
8
Javon Solomon, Troy, DE
He’s been a star on Troy’s defense the past two seasons, piling up 24.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks. Solomon is a total menace as an edge rusher and already ranks 19th all-time in career sacks among Sun Belt players. Troy had the eighth-best scoring defense last season – allowing just 17.1 points per game – and Solomon’s presence was a major factor in that.
I'm convinced, @TroyTrojansFB's Javon Solomon has some of the FASTEST wins off the EDGE in all of college footballpic.twitter.com/VWJdIoldiF
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) July 13, 2023
9
Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss, RB
Southern Miss went 7-6 last season and won a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Frank Gore Jr. was a big reason why the Golden Eagles were successful, and it’s not hyperbole to say that he absolutely carried the offense. He was most effective as a bruising running back, totaling 1,382 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 totes for a 6.1 yards-per-carry average, but Gore also caught 19 passes for 219 yards and played some quarterback. And it wasn’t just a trick play here or there – Gore completed 7-of-14 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns.
Gore is must-watch this year. Last season, in the Lending Tree Bowl, he set the FBS record for the most rushing yards in a bowl game with 329 yards. Oh, and he threw an 18-yard touchdown pass.
FRANK GORE JR IS UP TO 329 YARDS & 3TD’s THIS IS NOT NORMAL!! pic.twitter.com/T1TVvx8HDz
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) December 18, 2022
