From seventh-year QBs to a 6-foot-11 lineman: 10 college football players to know

The new college football season kicks off with four Week 0 games , headlined by No. 10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday.

Here are 10 compelling players to watch this season, from a pair of seventh-year QBs to a 29-year-old freshman wide receiver and ex-MLB prospect.

Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman: Bowman, 24, is entering his seventh year of college eligibility with the Cowboys, who have Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff aspirations.

In 2018 at Texas Tech, Bowman set the freshman record for passing yards per game (329.8). Bowman, who played for Michigan in 2021 and 2022, is one of the few active players left who played before the NCAA transfer portal existed.

Utah State QB Spencer Petras: He is entering his seventh year of college football with the Aggies. Petras, who will turn 25 in November, was a coaching assistant in 2023 at Iowa, where he also played quarterback, before transferring to Utah State for his final year of eligibility.

At Mountain West Conference media day in July, Petras' appearance did not go unnoticed online by humorous fans.

Notre Dame WR Jordan Faison: Dual-sport athletes are common in high school, but Faison took it to another level during his freshman year with the Fighting Irish. He may be the only player to earn Sun Bowl MVP honors and then win an NCAA lacrosse championship.

South Carolina WR Nyck Harbor: Another dual-sport athlete, Harbor qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic track and field trials, but skipped the event to focus on the upcoming football season. The sophomore's fastest time in the 200m sprint last season (20.20 seconds) would have been good for seventh place in the final at trials.

Arizona State WR Jake Smith: Smith started his college career at Texas, then transferred to USC in 2021, but didn't play because a hamstring injury forced him to miss the season. After transferring to Arizona State in 2023, he was barred from playing because of the NCAA's controversial double-transfer rule .

Several state politicians lobbied his case to no avail last year, but Smith, now a senior, will finally make his return in 2024.

"Talk about a guy who's endured," head coach Kenny Dillingham told Sports360 Arizona in July. "I think he's hungry to prove he's the Jake Smith that was a freshman All-American."

Kentucky WR Barion Brown: The sophomore returns to the Wildcats as the fastest player in all of college football this season. Brown, who was clocked at 22.6 mph during the 2023 season, will also serve as a kick returner.

Michigan DT Mason Graham: The reigning national champion enters his junior season as a preseason All-American selection with high expectations. Graham also wrestled for four years in high school and is only the second defensive tackle to be named Rose Bowl MVP .

Arkansas WR Monte Harrison: The 29-year-old is an incoming freshman — yes, that's right, a freshman. He was drafted in 2014 by the Milwaukee Brewers but only played parts of three seasons in the big leagues (2020-2022).

Believe it or not, Harrison was part of the trade that sent three-time All-Star Christian Yelich to Milwaukee from the Miami Marlins in 2018.

Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno: The native of Melbourne, Australia, played in the Victorian Premier League, a semi-pro soccer league, and is one of 69 Aussies kicking or punting in college football this season. The returning senior, named a preseason All-American, could become the third straight Melbourne native to win the Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football.

Georgia OT Jahzare Jackson: In July, the former basketball recruit committed to Georgia, but he could make an immediate impact. He stands 6-foot-11, only the second active player listed at that height in college football, and weighs roughly 350 pounds. Jackson was a former AAU teammate of Bronny James, LeBron's son.

“We have an expectation of he has to grow, get better and develop,” Kirby Smart said of the unpolished Jackson, per the Athen Banner-Herald .