Don’t call it a comeback. I been here for years. I’m rocking my peers, putting suckas in fear. Making the tears rain down like a monsoon. Making the bass go boom. Explosions. Overpowering. Over the competition, I’m towering. -LL Cool J
The comeback kids. The post-hype sleepers. Call them what you will, but here are some options with potential to be the next Kaleb Johnson, Nick Singleton, or Cade Klubnik. These players once showed us something, but, for one understandable reason or another, have fallen out of favor among the CFF community. They are cast asides now that can be had for next to nothing. Are you willing to buy the dip?
Noah Fifita – QB, Arizona
Fifita had a major letdown season once Jedd Fisch left for Seattle. Hiring an OC that hadn’t called plays in years, like Dino Babers, turned into an epic failure. He is now on to his third OC in as many seasons with former Marshall OC/QB coach, Seth Doege. Braylon Braxton was also coming off a poor season and had cycled through offensive coordinators before Doege was able to turn him into a solid option in their one season together at Marshall. Doege has given his public vote of confidence in Fifita, calling him the “best QB in the Big Twelve,” and said that he wants him to be more willing as a runner this season. Maybe Doege will be able to recreate the magic Fifita had as a freshman.
Kaidon Salter – QB, Colorado
Salt was quite the disaster last season. A QB43 finish is not the result you crave when you invest early first-round draft capital in someone. It was kind of doomed from the start, though. He wanted, and attempted, to leave Liberty, but it turns out those Jerry Falwell Jr. education credits don’t hold up well in the portal world. He seemed pretty checked out. The former Vols QB is now at Colorado and is battling a true freshman, Julian Lewis, to be the heir apparent to Shedeur. Despite the losses the Buffs suffered at WR, that room still looks pretty salty (see what I did there?) for the B12 level. The defense will remain sketchy, leading to shootout potential, and this staff has been quick to abandon the run. We know the talent is there with Salter, but is the system a fit?
Kaden Feagin – RB, Illinois
So much was expected from the beast of Champaign last season. However, this jumbo plane never got off the ground. A hip injury ended his season before we hit October, and it wasn’t going great for Feagin before the injury, with just one game over 70 yards (against Eastern Illinois). However, Josh McCray has moved on to UGA, and Illinois returns one of the best offensive lines in the country. There is experienced beef up front with all five starters returning with a total of 103 career starts. Illinois has OSU on the schedule, but they avoid Iowa, Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State. No, 6’3″ and 250 lbs. isn’t ideal for an RB with a lower body injury history, but there are some strong indicators of a bounce-back season should he stay healthy. He can generally be had around the 20th round of a 30-team bestball draft.
Johntay Cook – WR, Syracuse
Okay. Okay. I know. This list is getting just silly now. But hear me out. What if Fran Brown really loves a reclamation project and can do for Cook what he did for Kyle McCord? Cook is expected to start at the slot, next to Gill and Ross-Simmons on the outside. This is the spot that Trabor Pena occupied in 2024 to the tune of over 1000 yards and 10 TDs from scrimmage. Imagine saying a year ago that it is unfathomable to think former 5-star Johntay Cook can do what Trabor Pena did. Sure, it is unlikely. But most picks near the 20th round will be wasted. Why not waste one on an uber talent landing in the nation’s #2 passing offense last year that loses its top three pass catchers?
