On3: The best quarterback/running back/wide receiver trios in college football in 2022

quote:

---

Today, we’re talking about triplets – specifically, the top 10 quarterback/running back/wide receiver trios in college football.

We’re not talking about the best quarterback, or the best wide receiver units, or the best quarterback/running back duo. Nor is it a simple measure of talent level. Instead, it’s a ranking of the quarterback/running back/wide receiver triumvirates we think will be extremely productive this fall.

We’re looking at offensive triplets today. Friday, we will look at top defensive triplets (lineman, linebacker and defensive back).

---

Full list 1-10:

10. Kentucky
9. Fresno St
8. Ole Miss
7. Tennessee
6. Oklahoma
5. Wake Forest (Pre Hartman being out)
4. Texas
3. Southern Cal
2. Alabama
1. Ohio St


10. Kentucky
The trio: QB Will Levis, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., WR Tayvion Robinson
The buzz: Levis, who began his career at Penn State, is getting a ton of preseason hype as a potential first-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft. He certainly has the physical traits: He is 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds, possesses a big arm and can run. But he needs to increase his production: In eight SEC games last season, he threw for more than 179 yards once. And while he threw 24 TD passes, he also threw 13 interceptions. Still, he has a high ceiling and gives UK a quarterback it can count on. If he’s eligible, Rodriguez gives UK one of the best running backs in the nation. He rushed for 1,379 yards last season and is 1,134 yards from becoming the leading career rusher in school history. Rodriguez is a physical runner with a burst: He has averaged an impressive 6.6 yards per carry on his 417 career attempts. Robinson arrived from Virginia Tech via the transfer portal. He led the Hokies in receptions last season with 44; he could double that this season, as well as match his career TD catch total with the Hokies (nine).


8. Ole Miss
The trio: QB Jaxson Dart, RB Zach Evans, WR Jonathan Mingo
The buzz: This is going off potential and not necessarily on-field production. Dart and Evans arrived via the portal: Dart from USC and Evans from TCU. Mingo played in just six games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury. And there’s a new offensive coordinator, too: Charlie Weis Jr. Can Weis (and coach Lane Kiffin) make sure all the new pieces fit together? Dart started twice and played in six games for USC last season, showing off a good arm and mobility (but also questionable decision-making, with five picks) as a true freshman. Evans is immensely talented; he has good speed and can run between the tackles. But for various reasons, he played in just 15 games in two seasons with the Horned Frogs. Mingo should be 100 percent and is primed for a big season. If these three reach their potential, Ole Miss could have a top-five offense nationally. If they don’t? Ole Miss could have one of the top five offenses in the SEC.


7. Tennessee
The trio: QB Hendon Hooker, RB Jabari Small, WR Cedric Tillman
The buzz: The Vols’ offense really got cranked up in the second half of the season – once Hooker, who had transferred from Virginia Tech, got truly comfortable in coach Josh Heupel’s scheme. Hooker threw for 2,945 yards, 31 TDs and just three interceptions; he also ran for 613 yards and five TDs. Small opened the season as a reserve, but he, too, came on strong down the stretch; he has 1,000-yard, 12-TD potential. Tillman is a legit deep threat who had 12 TD receptions last season; 10 of those came in the final seven games. He ended the season with four consecutive 100-yard games and had five such outings in the final six games.


2. Alabama
The trio: QB Bryce Young, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jermaine Burton
The buzz: Young is trying to become just the second player to win two Heismans. He threw for 4,872 yards and 47 TDs last season, his first working with OC Bill O’Brien. To reach those numbers again, he’ll need two transfers to come through. Gibbs arrives from Georgia Tech, Burton from Georgia. Both should put up much bigger numbers with the Tide than they did with their old teams. Gibbs rushed for a combined 1,206 yards and eight touchdowns in his two seasons at Tech; those totals are eminently reachable this season alone with the Tide. Gibbs has good speed and is an above-average receiver, and O’Brien can do more things with Gibbs than he could with Brian Robinson, last season’s feature back. Burton was underutilized with the Bulldogs, with just 53 receptions in two seasons despite being an integral part of the passing attack. As with Gibbs, it’s legitimate to think Burton will blow past that total this season. His ability to get deep (he averaged 19.2 yards on his 26 receptions last season) likely makes Young (and O’Brien) smile broadly.

On 3 Article