2020 Season Recap: Players Who Had A Breakthrough Season On Offense

College football player’s careers take different paths. Some arrive on campus and become instant stars while others take a more winding path into the spotlight. Every year new players finally breakthrough and reach stardom. Here is a look at the offensive players that enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020.

Zach Wilson – BYU

Wilson flashed his potential in 2019 but made too many mistakes to be among the best quarterbacks in the game. He was not considered a top draft prospect coming into the year and was nowhere near the household name he would become in 2020. Wilson averaged 7.5 yards per attempt and threw just 11 touchdowns against 9 interceptions in 2019, playing in just 9 games while his team went 7 – 6.

In 2020, Wilson showed maturity and progress that allowed him to tap into his physical abilities and reach his potential. In the season opener it was evident that he had matured as a quarterback and was comfortable in the offense. Wilson completed 13 of 18 passes for 232 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception in a 55 – 3 win over Navy. The performance would kick-start a season to remember for the BYU quarterback.

Wilson would go on to throw 33 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions in 12 games for the Cougars. He completed over 73 percent of his passes for the season and was over 70 percent in 9 of those 12 games. Wilson only failed to reach 8 yards per attempt once, against Western Kentucky and only had less than two toucdown passes in one game, against Coastal Carolina.

WIlson entered 2020 as a player who flashed potential and became a star that passed for 3,692 yards and led his team to an 11 – 1 season. He is almost sure to be a first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and leaves a legacy at BYU that will be hard to follow. No one in college football had a bigger rise to stardom than Zach WIlson did in 2020.

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Jarek Broussard – Colorado

Jarek Broussard did not have a single carry in 2019. He was not a highly touted recruit in the 2018 class when he signed with Colorado. In fact, he wasn’t even recruited as a running back, he was an undersized receiver from Texas. Broussard did not record a stat in his first two years on campus, no one outside the program could have predicted what was in store for Broussard in 2020.

The sophomore running back hit the ground running in the abbreviated 2020 Pac 12 season with a 3 touchdown, 187 yard performance against UCLA. Broussard ran for over 100 yards in the first four games of the season and never failed to reach 80 yards rushing in 2020. He became the lead back in the Colorado backfield and one of the best in the Pac 12.

For the season, Broussard ran for 895 yards and 5 touchdowns on 156 carries in 6 games. He led the Pac 12 in rushing yards and rushing yard per game, while finishing fourth in rushing touchdowns. He took advantage of the football season the Pac 12 finally decided to have and went from relative unknown to the best running back in the conference.

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Tyler Allgeier – BYU

Allgeier had not yet played a big role for BYU prior to 2020. In two seasons with the program he had carried the ball just 26 times. He did average 7 yards per carry in 2019, but few outside of Provo knew Allgeier was ready to be a college star in 2020. The thing is, Tyler Allgeier knew and he was ready to let the country know about it.

Like Wilson and the entire BYU team, Allgeier also used the Navy game as a launching pad for his 2020 season. The sophomore tailback ran for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries against the Midshipmen in a 55 – 3 win. Allgeier would continue to split carries most of the year but made the most of his touches. He only had more than 14 carries in three games but ran for over 100 yards in 6 of the 11 games he played in and scored a touchdown in all but one game.

Allgeier closed the season just as strong as he started, surpassing the 100 yard mark in his last four games. The bowl games against UCF was his busiest of the season, Allgeier received 19 carries and made them count with 173 rushing yards on the day. He averaged over 9 yards per carry in the blowout win for the Cougars.

For the season, Allgeier ran for 1,130 yards and 13 touchdowns on 150 carries in 11 games. He finished eighth in the country in rushing yards and his 7.53 yards per carry were third among players with at least 150 carries. Allgeier announced himself as a star in the backfield and though he played in the same backfield as Zach Wilson he made a name for himself as well.

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Cornell Powell – Clemson

Powell has been at Clemson since the 2016 season but had never been a featured receiver for the Tigers. Clemson has had a talented group of receivers annually and Powell had not yet cracked the rotation. 2019 was his best season prior to 2020, but with just 15 catches and 122 yards to his credit in his best season, Powell had a lot to prove in 2020.

At Clemson the standards are high at the receiver position but with Justyn Ross injured and out for the season there was a void on the outside for the Tigers. Over the first half of the year it did not look like Powell was ready to fill that void. He caught just two passes in five of the first six games and only scored two touchdowns during that stretch. Powell did not get off to a fast start, but he did save his best for last.

Over the second half of the season, Powell never failed to reach four catches in a game and had four 100 yard games in the last six of the season. He caught 5 touchdowns over that stretch and finished the season with a strong performance in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Though Clemson lost to Ohio State, Powell caught 8 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

In the end it was a very successful 2020 season for Cornell Powell. He caught 53 passes for 832 yards and 7 touchdowns. Powell starred for a playoff team and had his best games down the stretch run. It may have took four and a half years but Powell found his way at Clemson.

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Zay Flowers – Boston College

Flowers arrived at Boston College as part of the 2019 class and saw playing time as a true freshman. He caught 22 passes for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first year on campus. Flowers was not a highly touted prospect and few thought he was on the fast track to stardom. Of course, Flowers himself had big plans for the 2020 season.

Flowers started fast against Duke with a 162 yard performance to kickoff the season. He had a strong season becoming not only the Eagles’ most consistent receiver, but also their best big play threat in the passing game. Though Flowers is not a big receiver, his speed, toughness and hands allow him to be a number one option for Boston College.

Flowers had some ups and downs over the course of the season, but his best game came in his last outing of the season. Flowers caught 8 passes for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing the year on a high note and signalling to the rest of the conference that he is ready to take his game to another level in 2021.

For the 2020 season, Flowers caught 56 passes for 892 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a big play threat and forced defenses to account for him on every play and became the go-to receiver for Boston College. Flowers’ sophomore season was a coming out party and next year should bring even more excitement.

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Greg Dulcich – UCLA

Dulcich arrived at UCLA in 2018 and had not made much of a mark in his first two years on campus. He played in 14 games over the first two years of his career and caught just nine passes for 111 yards over those first two years. Dulcich picked up the pace significantly in 2020 and UCLA also showed signs of getting on track for the first time in Chip Kelly’s tenure.

Because the Pac 12 was the last conference to start their season, UCLA only played seven games in 2020. Dulcich wasted no time getting his 2020 started, catching 4 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Colorado. His best game of the season came in UCLA’s rivalry game against USC. In the shootout loss against the Trojans, Dulcich caught 8 passes for 167 yards and 1 touchdown.

Greg Dulcich emerged as a big time contributor for the Bruins in 2020. In UCLA’s seven games, he caught 26 passes for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns. While the season was short for UCLA, Dulcich made the most of it, going from relative unknown to leading the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2020.

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Nicholas Petit-Frere – Ohio State

Petit-Frere arrived at Ohio State with high expectations but had a difficult time cracking the rotation early in his career. In 2018 and 2019 he saw minimal playing time and watched as other players were called on when the offensive line needed a reserve to step in. Coming into 2020 there was a position battle at right tackle between Petit-Frere, Dawand Jones and five star recruit Paris Johnson Jr.

In a crazy off-season, Petit Frere beat out the challengers and won the right tackle job at Ohio State. Early in the year it was easy to see the improvements Petit-Frere had made in his game. His added strength and mass was noticeable, but he still had the quick feet and good balance that made him such an enticing prospect.

Petit-Frere excelled as a pass blocker. He did a good job of taking on both speed rushers and power rushers. It was a rarity to see Petit-Frere get beat and even when he did it was after a battle that gave Justin Fields time to get rid of the ball or escape the pocket. Petit Frere’s added bulk was also helpful in the running game. He helped pave the way for an Ohio State running attack that averaged 6 yards per carry and 256.9 yards per game. Petit-Frere went from question mark to one of the best tackles in college football this year and has a bright future in Columbus.

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Cole Banwart – Iowa

Banwart started a few games over the first four games of his career, but never became a consistent contributor for the Hawkeyes. He missed all but five games in the 2019 season and made just two starts during the season. Banwart had not played much coming into 2019 and was not expected to become one of the best guards in the country.

Of course, Iowa develops quality offensive lineman and Banwart was the next to step up and join the tradition. Banwart was healthy and started all eight games during the 2020 season. He was a good all around blocker who was equally effective handling interior pass rushers and at the point of attack in the run game. He was part of an offensive line that allowed just 11 sacks in those eight games, good for third in the Big Ten.

Banwart made several all conference teams in 2020 and earned a reputation as one of the best blockers in the country. He has proven himself to be a quality guard and will have a chance to prove himself in the NFL in 2021.

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Grant Gibson – NC State

Gibson started every game at center in 2019, but was new to the position and his inexperience showed at times. Switching positions is not easy, especially when changing from defense to offense. Gibson needed to get familiar with the position and trust his technique to be a good center in 2020.

In 2020, Gibson looked like a brand new player. It was easy to see that the experience at center had helped Gibson become comfortable at his new position and he was able to play up to his potential. Gibson showed the athleticism to play the center position but coupled it with the strength and power needed to move people on the interior.

North Carolina State had a bounce back season in 2020 and Gibson’s play at the tip of the spear was a key part of the resurgence. He was good in pass protection, picking up blitzes effectively and keeping bigger defensive tackles from pushing the pocket, but also did a good job of opening up running lanes for Zonovan Knight and company. Gibson will be a leader for the Wolf Pack in 2021 as the team looks to build on the successful 2020 season.

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