美联社在大学橄榄球赛季前夕发布了一份名单，展示了一批在实力较弱球队中表现出众的球员，其中阿肯色大学防守端锋Quincy Rhodes Jr.位列榜首[1]。Rhodes Jr.上赛季获得AP二阶全SEC荣誉，贡献8次抄截和15.5次后方损失球，创造了阿肯色自2015年以来的单赛季后方损失球纪录[1]。然而，他所在球队上赛季仅获得2胜10负的战绩，在SEC联赛中更是全负[1]。阿肯色防守单位的表现也令人担忧，允许的场均425.2码进攻和6.27码每次进攻均为SEC最差[1]。新任教练Ryan Silverfield评价Rhodes Jr.仍未充分发挥其潜力[1]。
除阿肯色外，美联社的名单还涵盖了其他弱队的优秀球员[1]。罗格斯大学被预测将在Big Ten联盟18支球队中排名第17位，但该校后卫KJ Duff上赛季完成60次接球、1084码进攻和7次达阵[1]，同校接收手Antwan Raymond则交出1241码和13次达阵的成绩[1]。此外，Danny Scudero上赛季的1297码接球码数领先FBS整体水平[1]。
As the college football season approaches, the Associated Press has identified several standout athletes performing for teams expected to finish near the bottom of their conferences. Leading the list is Quincy Rhodes Jr., the defensive end from the University of Arkansas, who earned AP second-team All-SEC honors despite his team's dismal 2-10 record last season [1]. Rhodes Jr. recorded 8 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, setting an Arkansas single-season record for the latter category since 2015 [1]. Despite these individual accomplishments, Arkansas' defense allowed 425.2 yards per play and 6.27 yards per play on average—both the worst marks in the SEC [1]. New head coach Ryan Silverfield has indicated that Rhodes Jr. has not yet reached his full potential [1].
The Arkansas defensive end is far from alone in excelling within underperforming programs. Rutgers, projected to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten, features receivers KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond, who combined for substantial production last season [1]. Duff caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Raymond accumulated 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns [1]. Colorado's Danny Scudero led FBS with 1,297 receiving yards, similarly representing quality talent on a team facing a challenging season ahead [1].