COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘18: 6 players starring for losing teams

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Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good.

Stars toiling on losing teams rarely get much recognition. They almost never win the big awards or get selected to the All-America teams. Time to give some love to those overlooked players whose teams did not reach the postseason last year and might have a hard time climbing back into it in 2018.

Marquise Copeland, DT, Cincinnati

The Bearcats are in the second year of a rebuild under coach Luke Fickell, who brought in the top-ranked recruiting class in the American Athletic Conference this year. Copeland was one of the few real keepers Fickell inherited and probably the team’s best player last year. The senior had 63 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2017. Undersized at 6-foot-2 and 282 pounds, Copeland could develop into an NFL draft pick.

Eric Dungey, QB, Syracuse

Dungey has been starting for the Orange since his freshman season. The problem is he has not been finishing the seasons healthy. When healthy, Dungey is a two-way threat with athleticism and size (6-4, 228) that could draw NFL attention. He enters 2018 as the only active quarterback in FBS with at least 6,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. The Orange have not been bowl-eligible since 2013. A full season for Dungey is a must for Syracuse to have any chance to get back, but just in case, best catch him in the regular season.

Joe Dineen, LB, Kansas

The fifth-year senior has played on teams that have won six games in four seasons. He also lost most of his 2016 season, when he was poised for a breakout as team captain, to hamstring injury. That big breakout came last season when Dineen led the nation in solo tackles per game (7.6) and set a school record with 25 tackles for loss. Yes, the Jayhawks’ defense spends a lot of time on the field and that inflates some stats. But Dineen had almost twice as many tackles as any other Kansas defender. Also, deserving of a shoutout on Kansas is defensive tackle Daniel Wise (16 tackles for loss and seven sacks), who is probably an even better pro prospect than Dineen.

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

The Bears managed just one victory in 2017, but Mims was a problem for opponents. He caught 61 passes for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns. His three-touchdown performance against Oklahoma gave the Sooners a legitimate scare. Mims was by far Baylor’s best receiver last season, but this year the Bears hope the return of senior Chris Platt from injury and the addition of Tennessee transfer Jalen Hurd, the running back-turned-receiver, gives them one of the best sets of pass-catchers in the Big 12.

Stanley Morgan Jr., WR, Nebraska

Cornhuskers fans are looking toward a hopeful future with new coach Scott Frost after going 4-8 last season under Mike Riley. There is much rebuilding to do, and Nebraska has a difficult schedule in 2018 with road games at Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin. A major turnaround would take a minor miracle by Frost. Morgan, though, should be one of the best receivers in the Big Ten as a senior. He caught 61 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.

Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee

Smith stepped into the Volunteers’ starting lineup last season as a freshman and played like a veteran. He started games at guard and tackle, and during an ugly year in Knoxville, Smith’s performance was a thing of beauty. The offseason provided a scare. He was treated for blood clots in his lungs. Cleared to play, Smith is a 6-foot-6, 320-pound building block for new coach Jeremy Pruitt.

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EXTRA POINT

Six more players to watch on teams that had losing records last season:

Trevon Brown, WR, East Carolina

Trevor Morris, LB, Rutgers

Steven Montez, QB, Colorado

Kyle Shurmur, QB, Vanderbilt

Lexington Thomas, RB, UNLV

Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at http://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen on https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/id1138957862?mt=2

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For more AP college football coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

FILE – In this Sept. 2, 2017 file photo Nebraska wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. (8) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas State in Lincoln, Neb. Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Cornhuskers fans are looking toward a hopeful future with new coach Scott Frost after going 4-8 last season under Mike Riley. There is much rebuilding to do and Nebraska has a difficult schedule in 2018 with road games at Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin. A major turnaround would take a minor miracle by Frost. Morgan, though, should be one of the best receivers in the Big Ten as a senior. He caught 61 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121141818-9c94ce02fa174c2285405848d92988cf.jpgFILE – In this Sept. 2, 2017 file photo Nebraska wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. (8) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas State in Lincoln, Neb. Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Cornhuskers fans are looking toward a hopeful future with new coach Scott Frost after going 4-8 last season under Mike Riley. There is much rebuilding to do and Nebraska has a difficult schedule in 2018 with road games at Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin. A major turnaround would take a minor miracle by Frost. Morgan, though, should be one of the best receivers in the Big Ten as a senior. He caught 61 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)

FILE – In this Nov. 11, 2017 file photo Syracuse’s Eric Dungey tosses the ball before an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Syracuse, N.Y. Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Dungey has been starting for the Orange since his freshman season. The problem is he has not been finishing the seasons healthy. When healthy Dungey is a two-way threat with athleticism and size (6-4, 228) that could draw NFL attention. He enters 2018 as the only active quarterback in FBS with at least 6,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi, file)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121141818-d8df3107a7034789a169e7e8a7fe440c.jpgFILE – In this Nov. 11, 2017 file photo Syracuse’s Eric Dungey tosses the ball before an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Syracuse, N.Y. Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Dungey has been starting for the Orange since his freshman season. The problem is he has not been finishing the seasons healthy. When healthy Dungey is a two-way threat with athleticism and size (6-4, 228) that could draw NFL attention. He enters 2018 as the only active quarterback in FBS with at least 6,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi, file)

FILE – In this July 16, 2018 file photo, Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. speaks during NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas.
Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Dineen has played on teams that have won six games in four seasons. He also lost most of his 2016 season, when he was poised for a breakout as team captain, to hamstring injury. That big breakout came last season when Dineen led the nation in solo tackles per game (7.6) and set a school record with 25 tackles for loss. (AP Photo/Cooper Neill, file)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121141818-887913b3d800424b829d16573412d7bf.jpgFILE – In this July 16, 2018 file photo, Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. speaks during NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas.
Football being, in many ways, the ultimate team game can make it difficult for good players to shine when the players around them are … not so good. Dineen has played on teams that have won six games in four seasons. He also lost most of his 2016 season, when he was poised for a breakout as team captain, to hamstring injury. That big breakout came last season when Dineen led the nation in solo tackles per game (7.6) and set a school record with 25 tackles for loss. (AP Photo/Cooper Neill, file)

By RALPH D. RUSSO

AP College Football Writer

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