Who's set to explode in 2005?

Editor: Nice Mention of Desean Jackson:

Eric Moneypenny / FOXSports.com We already know about college football's most dangerous game breakers. Players like USC's Reggie Bush, Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami's Devin Hester and LSU's Sklyer Green. But what other names are set to explode onto the national scene as one of 2005's dangerous game breakers?

WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue, So.
Bryant burst onto the national scene by getting brutally whacked by Michigan's Ernest Shazor in one of the most famous hits of last season. Bryant lost the ball, but not the title as one of the new generation of college football game breakers. Last season, Bryant caught 38 passes for 584 yards, numbers that should jump a great deal with star WR Taylor Stubblefield's departure. Bryant is a blazer that has reportedly clocked 4.3 and faster forty-yard times in high school, and should help QB Brandon Kirsch and the 2005 Boilermaker offense hum.

RB Michael Johnson, Virginia, Jr.
With Virginia's do-it-all back Alvin Pearman now in the NFL, it opens up a ton of touches for Michael Johnson, one of the ACC's speediest. As Pearman and Wali Lundy combined for more than 1,900 yards rushing, it was Johnson who made the most of his 63 carries, going for 381 yards (a 6.0 avg). It wouldn't be a shocker to see Johnson making some big plays in the return game either, as he averaged 23.6 yards per kick return last year, a number that should improve with a year's experience.

WR A.J. Bryant, Georgia, So.
Much like D.J. Shockley, Bryant came to Georgia as one of the nation's most highly touted and explosive high school quarterbacks (4.3 speed). Graduating high school early to participate in spring workouts with the Dawgs last season, Coach Richt moved Bryant to receiver where he battled injuries for most of his freshman season, finishing with a modest three catches for 58 yards (19.3 avg). However, with WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown cashing NFL paychecks instead of catching passes for UGA, the stage is set for Bryant to have a much bigger season.

RB Tyler Ebell, UTEP, Sr.
Most college football fans are aware of Ebell after he rushed for almost 1,500 yards in his first two seasons at UCLA, as well as nearly 4,500 yards in his senior year of high school, (a U.S. high school all-time season record). Now, he's set to finish out his college career with a productive season in UTEP's wide-open offense, giving coach Mike Price and QB Jordan Palmer a huge weapon to replace 1,000-yard rusher Howard Jackson.

RB Antone Smith, Florida State, Fr.
Regarded by many as the top high school back last season, Smith sports 4.3-speed. However, with other former prep wunderkinds Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker already in the fold down in Tallahassee, Bobby Bowden can afford to redshirt Smith. On video, the 5-foot-8, 190-pounder runs the ball a lot like Warrick Dunn, with that same great balance and cutting ability, and possibly a little more quickness. If Smith plays as a frosh, watch for him to make big plays in the return game and in and out of the backfield.

RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska, Fr.
Last season, Bill Callahan brought the West Coast offense to Lincoln. This season, he may have his first great West Coast back in true freshman Marlon Lucky from North Hollywood, California. The 5-11, 210-pound back, who was believed to be right with Antone Smith and Jonathan Stewart as one of the nation's top backs, has looked tremendous on tape and in this year's U.S. Army H.S. All-American Bowl. Lucky played in a spread offense in high school, which gave him the opportunity to display his receiving skills out of the backfield, something that will help bring that Husker offense to the next level in the coming couple years.

RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, Fr.
Upon signing with the Ducks, Mike Bellotti absolutely raved about Stewart, one of the most high-profile recruits to ever arrive in Eugene. With former BYU coach Gary Crowton running the offense, look for the 5-11, 220-pound back to get the ball all sorts of ways. He's more of a straight ahead runner than Lucky or Antone Smith, but on video he displayed some sick Chuck Foreman spin moves in traffic. As a pure running back, Stewart may classify the least as a "game breaker" compared to the other two freshman backs I've mentioned. But he's the most likely candidate of the three for Freshman All-America.

WR DeSean Jackson, California, Fr.
A 6-0, 175-pound, 4.4 blazer from storied Long Beach Poly High School., Jackson dominated the best high school players in the country in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this January, hauling in seven passes for 141 yards and taking home the game MVP honor (an award given to Ted Ginn the previous season). Jackson made a smart decision (no surprise from a guy with a 1280 SAT) by heading to Cal, where he can step in right away for the departed Geoff MacArthur in Coach Jeff Tedford's explosive passing attack. Look for Jackson and JUCO all-star Lavelle Hawkins to make huge plays and help break in Tedford's new prized pupil QB, Joe Ayoob.