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Coach David Cutcliffe has done an excellent job bringing Duke football back to relevance, but NFL scouts are most interested in the work he's done with Jones, helping the Charlotte native reach his potential as he did Peyton and Eli Manning while coaching at Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively. Jones has a similar build to the Mannings but his superior athleticism was evident at Charlotte Latin High School, where he was a record-setting two-time all-state pick in football and a three-year basketball player. In fact, that athleticism runs in the family, as his brother plays basketball at Davidson and his sister played field hockey at that school, as well. Jones stepped into the spotlight at Duke as a redshirt freshman in 2016, starting all 12 games. The team's Most Valuable Player completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while also producing with his feet (141-486-3.5, seven TD). His numbers dipped a bit in his sophomore campaign (257-453-56.7, 2,691 yards, 14 TD, 11 INT, 161-518-3.2, seven TD), but he finished on a strong note by earning Quick Lane Bowl MVP honors (27-40, 252 yards, two TD) in his team's win over Northern Illinois. Jones started 11 games in 2018, missing two with a broken clavicle. He completed 60.5 percent of his passes (237-392) for 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on the year while rushing for 319 yards and three scores. He again starred in the team's bowl game, throwing for 423 yards and five touchdowns (with two interceptions) in their win over Temple.

Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brett Venables has recruited many top-level talents, but Lawrence may have been the most heralded of them all. He was a top-five recruit nationally and was chased by every blue-blood program in the country after being named the North Carolina state Player of the Year by the Associated Press (91 tackles, 21 for loss, 13 sacks) at Wake Forest High School in North Carolina. It did not take Lawrence long to find the field as a freshman, starting 11 of 15 games to become a Freshman All-American by multiple outlets, ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year, and second-team all-conference after posting 79 tackles, 9.5 for loss, seven sacks, and two blocked kicks. He excelled during the team's national championship run, recording two sacks against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game and four tackles against Alabama in the title game. While his snaps (438 vs. 643 as a freshman) and statistical production (39 tackles, three for loss, 2.5 sacks) were down in 2017, ACC coaches still voted Lawrence first-team all-conference. Lawrence was first-team All-ACC again as a junior, starting 13 games for the Tigers (44 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups). He missed the team's two playoff appearances, however, after testing positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug. Lawrence maintained that he did not knowingly ingest the substance.

Baker's game progressed each season for the Bulldogs, culminating with a senior season that saw him earn first-team Associated Press All-American honors and win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back. Baker was also a first-team All-SEC pick, starting 13 games and recording 40 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high 10 pass breakups. He was a second-team All-SEC selection his junior year, starting 14 of 15 games played, making 44 tackles, intercepting three passes, and breaking up nine more. One of those interceptions came against Alabama in the national championship game. As a sophomore, he announced himself a pro prospect by picking off two passes and breaking up five others while starting 7 of 12 games played (31 tackles, one sack). Baker was a three-star prospect and all-state track performer for Miami Northwestern before heading to Athens, and managed to play in 11 games as a true freshman (one tackle).

Ximines (pronounced zim-ah-nes) has been a force on the field for the Monarchs since his redshirt freshman season, leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks in each season. The North Carolina native started all 12 games in 2015 (32 tackles, 7.5 for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups). Ximines started 12 of 13 games in 2016, but only because he took a backseat to a senior on Senior Day. He had 42 stops, 11.5 for loss, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles that year. C-USA coaches finally recognized his play in 2017, voting him first-team all-conference after he racked up 44 tackles, 14 for loss, and a school-record 8.5 sacks. He forced four fumbles as a junior, which tied for second-most in the FBS. He ranked in the top 10 nationally in that category again in 2018, forcing four additional fumbles, while also finishing among the top players in the FBS with 18.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. The first-team all-conference selection started all 12 games as a senior.

Love grew up in the Chicago area, attending Notre Dame football games as a child with his father. At Nazareth Academy, he was a force on offense (104-1,067-10.3, 18 TD rushing; 29-662-22.8, 7 TD receiving) and defense (92 tackles, 15 for loss) for a team that won state titles his junior and senior seasons. It was a natural fit for him to sign with the Irish, who placed him into the starting line-up for the last eight games of his true freshman season (45 tackles, two for loss, one interceptions, three pass breakups in 12 games played). Love started all 13 games in 2017, ranked second in the FBS that year with a school-record 20 pass breakups. He was also credited with 68 tackles and three interceptions on the year, returning two of those picks for touchdowns (vs. Michigan State, N.C. State). Love was a finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2018 and an Associated Press first-team All-American after ranking in the top 10 nationally with 16 pass breakups. He totaled 63 stops, three for loss, one interception, and three fumble recoveries in 13 starts as a junior. He suffered a head injury in the Irish's playoff semifinal loss to Clemson.

Connelly worked his way up the depth chart over the past four years at Wisconsin, stepping in for injured senior Jack Cichy in 2017. The Minnesota native was named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a junior after leading the Badgers with 88 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks, and an interception in 14 games (six starts). He got the full-time gig in 2018, garnering third-team All-ACC honors with 89 tackles, 10 for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. He started 8 of 14 games played in 2016, piling up 59 stops, seven for loss, and an interception. Connelly contributed as a redshirt freshman, as well, making 15 tackles, one for loss, during the 2015 season. His cousin, Anders Lee, plays in the National Hockey League.

Auburn signed Slayton out of Norcross, Georgia, where he was an All-Region receiver and state sprint champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He used that speed as a redshirt freshman in 2016, starting 11 of 13 games played (15 catches, 292 yards, 19.5 average). Slayton showed his big-play wares as a sophomore, as well, starting nine times and catching 29 passes for 643 yards (22.2 average) and five touchdowns in 13 games. Though the Tigers didn't excel on offense consistently in 2018, Slayton produced when given the chance, grabbing 35 throws for 670 yards (19.1 average), tying for the team lead with five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts).

A two-sport star at Shawnee Heights High School in Topeka, Kansas, Ballentine flew under the radar a bit because he played football for just two seasons. However, he helped the track team's relay teams pick up a second-place finish at state as a junior (4x400) and a state title (4x100) his senior year. That athleticism has showed up during his career with the Icabods. He played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman (17 tackles) and then earned six starts in 12 games and honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2016 (65 tackles, with a team-high 10 on special teams and 6.5 for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups). MIAA coaches named him first-team all-conference in 2017, as the 12-game starter posted 54 tackles and seven pass breakups on the year. He also ranked fifth in Division II by averaging 30.6 yards per kick return (23-703). Ballentine had less success returning kicks in 2018 (24-463-19.8), but he was a terror on special teams with three blocked kicks and was still a first-team all-conference defender (50 tackles, three for loss, three INT, four PBU, two forced fumbles). He ran track for Washburn as well, and had a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the 2016 Kansas Relays.

"Big George" Asafo-Adjei (pronounced ah-SAH-fo ah-JAY) was born in the Bronx but played his final two years of high school football at Lakota West in Ohio. He was a four-star prospect when he signed with Kentucky (over Florida, Ohio State and others) after achieving all-state status on the football field and wrestling for one season. Asafo-Adjei enrolled a semester early in Lexington, which helped him earn the starting role at right tackle the first three games of his freshman year (he played in 11 games overall). He was a reserve in 12 games the following year before starting 8 of 13 contests at right tackle in 2017. He started 12 games at right tackle in 2018, missing one game due to injury.

It did not take long for Slayton to make his presence felt on the Orange defensive line, playing in all 12 games and starting five times as a true freshman in 2015 (22 tackles, six for loss, one sack). The Illinois native started all 12 games as a sophomore (three at end, nine at tackle), tying for the team lead with 10 tackles for loss (33 total tackles) and topping the squad with four sacks. Slayton again started every game for Syracuse as a junior, posting 28 tackles, 8.5 for loss, and a sack. He was an honorable mention All-ACC pick in 2018, starting all 13 games and making 24 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumbles.