After that, however, things get a little tougher. Ohio State's defense was dominant, and certainly Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs warranted lots of love. Miami's playoff run boosted the hype around players such as Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. And even if Texas Tech couldn't score in the playoff, no one could question the impact of that defense led by David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez.
The New England Patriots have had a season to remember so far, and that wouldn't be possible without the players and coaching staff being on the same page. We've seen some really fun storylines this year: the emergence of Kayshon Boutte, the resurrection of Stefon Diggs, and, of course, Drake Maye's MVP case. Defensively, Christian Gonzalez's continued dominance and the elite run defense have been notable.
It's not enough to simply list off King's stat line, which is impressive. To fully appreciate what he brings to Georgia Tech requires watching him play and the utter physicality and relentless drive he brings to every snap. Coach Brent Key joked King doesn't really get going until there's a little blood on his jersey, and that's probably about the highest compliment you can give him. -- Hale