5 bounce back candidates for the 2026 college football season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The 2025 college football season had its ups and downs, and some could argue that several key players did not live up to their expectations. However, ahead of the 2026 season, there is reason to believe that some of those key names will turn things around.
DJ Lagway, QB, Baylor
Lagway had a strong 2024 campaign as a true freshman, leading the Florida Gators to a 5-1 record in the six games that he started, leaving many optimistic about 2025. In return, he posted just under 2,300 passing yards, 17 total touchdowns, and 14 interceptions as the Gators finished 4-8.
Fast track to 2026, Lagway has transferred to his home state of Texas to play for the Baylor Bears, where he’s met with a fresh start and a new offense. Baylor brought six other offensive starters to surround Lagway, including former Gators tight end Tony Livingston, WR Dre’lon Miller from Colorado, and WR Gavin Freeman from Oklahoma State. Not to mention three new starters on the offensive line.
Some might argue that Lagway is taking a step back as far as the competition goes with a move from the SEC to the Big 12, which could open things up for him as well.
Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
As a true freshman in 2024, Williams led the Alabama Crimson Tide in receiving with 865 yards and 8 touchdowns, leaving many expecting an even bigger performance in 2025. Instead, he posted nearly 200 fewer yards (689) and half the touchdowns (4).
In 2025, it was Germie Bernard, who followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington, who led the team. Bernard is now off to the NFL and Alabama brought in only Noah Rogers from NC State at receiver from the transfer portal leaving plenty of unclaimed air yards for Coleman-Williams to pick up where he left off in 2024.
Makhi Hughes, RB, Houston
This bounce back is inevitable. Makhi Hughes was one of the most electrifying running backs in the country in 2023 and 2024, with Tulane posting over 1,370 yards in each of his first two seasons. He then transferred to Oregon, where he was buried on the depth chart behind Noah Whittington, Jordan Davidson, and Dierre Hill Jr. Hughes managed just 70 yards in one season in Eugene.
In 2026, he transferred to the Houston Cougars, where he is the projected starter on a team that is coming off 10 wins in 2025. They are also looking to fill the nearly 1,000-yard hole that Dean Connors left before transitioning to the NFL.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
It looked like LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina picked up their 2025 season right where they left off in 2024 after finishing 9-4. The Gamecocks started 2025 2-0 with Sellers totaling over 330 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions before completely flopping to a 2-8 record the rest of the way and finishing 4-8 on the season. Sellers himself finished with 2,47 yards, 18 total touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He was also sacked 42 times last season, which was the third most in the country.
Shane Beamer and the rest of the coaching staff answer by putting an emphasis on the offensive line, with three starters coming in, including Carter Miller, Emmanuel Kojo Poku, and Jacarrius Peak. All three of which allowed just five total sacks last season.
As for the receivers, Sellers can choose from two 500+ yard receivers in Nyck Harbor, who many in Columbia have high hopes for, and Purdue transfer, Nitro Tuggle.
Nic Anderson, WR, Kentucky
Anderson was one of the top receivers in the country in 2023 as a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma with 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. He didn’t play in 2024 due to injury before transferring to LSU in 2025, whose passing attack didn’t get going with only one player surpassing 500+ yards.
He’s since transferred to a new look Kentucky program that is expecting eight new starters on offense. Anderson has a chance to cement himself as the top receiver in an offense that will look to find its identity early.
