A five-star recruit, Williams' work ethic and athleticism made him one of the most coveted high school players in the country after he finished his career at Folsom High School in California. Williams actually left Folsom early, enrolling at Alabama in January 2016 to get a jump start. The move paid off, as Williams earned the starting right tackle spot for all 15 games that season, as well as Freshman All-American honors and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman squad. Williams moved to the left tackle spot in 2017, taking over for Cam Robinson as the starter for all 14 games and receiving third-team All-American notice from the Associated Press and a first-team All-SEC nod in the Tide's national championship season. In 2018, he earned AP first-team All-American recognition. He was highly-decorated again after starting all 15 times at left tackle in 2018, earning a spot as a Outland Trophy finalist, receiving unanimous first-team All-American notice and repeating as a first-team All-SEC selection. Williams also won the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy for his efforts as a junior.

Sample saved his best season for last, garnering honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors by catching 25 passes for 252 yard (10.1 average) and three touchdowns for the Pac-12 champions. He struggled through a leg injury his junior year but continued to play, earning the Huskies' Don James Perseverance Award for his efforts. He caught seven passes for 84 yards on the year, starting 8 of 10 games played. It was the second time Sample had received a major postseason award from the team, as he was the recipient of the Tough Husky Award after his redshirt freshman season (5-45-9.0, two receiving TDs in 13 games with seven starts.) The former All-King County selection from Newport High School in Bellevue was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection after his sophomore campaign, when he caught nine passes for 106 yards (11.8 average).

Pratt only started one game in three years with the Wolfpack but played in all 39 games as a valued contributor. The former first-team All-State defensive back from North Carolina played free safety for his first two years, making 32 tackles and three pass breakups in 2014 and 32 tackles and an interception in 2015. He redshirted in 2016 after undergoing shoulder surgery and moved from safety to linebacker during that time; Pratt also changed his uniform number from 31 to 3 because he is one of three siblings. Part of a three-man rotation at linebacker in 2017, Pratt compiled 69 tackles, 5.5 for loss, two interceptions, and two pass breakups. He became a leader on defense as a senior, even earning first-team All-ACC honors by racking up 104 tackles, a team-high 10.5 for loss, while tying for the team lead with six sacks despite playing in 11 games (all starts). Pratt missed the regular-season finale with an ankle injury, then decided to sit out the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Finley was an all-state football and basketball player in the Phoenix area before signing with Boise State for the 2013 season. He redshirted that year and then played in five games as a reserve for the Broncos in 2014 (12-27-44.4, 161 yards, two TD, one INT). He played in three games in 2015 but redshirted with an ankle injury (46-70-65.7, 485 yards, one TD, four INT). Impressively, he earned his degree in just three years at BSU so he decided to transfer as Brett Rypien had taken the starting spot. Finley more than met expectations at N.C. State in 2016, starting all 13 games (243-402-60.4, 3,059 yards, 18 TD, eight INT). He took his game up a notch in 2017, becoming a Johnny Unitas Award finalist and third-team All-ACC pick. The Wolkpack's Co-MVP (312-479-65.1, 3,518 yards, 17 TD, six INT) as a junior, Finley threw 339 passes without an interception, second in school history to Russell Wilson's FBS record of 379. Finley was a first-team all-conference selection in 2018, completing 67.4 percent of his throws (326-484) for 3,928 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Wren was a four-star recruit and first-team all-state pick from St. Louis but struggled to make an impact through his first four years with the Sun Devils. He redshirted his first year on campus, then played in just four games the following year (one tackle for loss). Wren started once as a sophomore, making 16 stops, six for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups in 12 games. He had some productivity as a junior (21 tackles, three for loss, one interception), though he could only break into the starting lineup in three games despite his athleticism and large frame. Wren began disrupting plays more regularly as a 13-game starter in 2018, posting 43 tackles, 4.5 for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups to earn honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors.

Jordan's immediate playing time for the Buckeyes in 2016 made him the first freshman to start on the offensive line for the Buckeyes since Pro Football Hall of Famer Orlando Pace in 1994. It helped that he had enrolled a semester early as a four-star prospect and Detroit Free Press All-State pick from Canton, Michigan. Jordan garnered Freshman All-American honors started all 13 games at left guard in that initial season. Big Ten coaches voted him first-team all-conference the following year as he started all 14 contests at that left guard spot. Jordan moved to center for his junior season, and he earned a second-team all-conference nod for his play in 14 starts.

Williams was a star back at Houston's C.E. King High School, rushing for about 4,000 yards and over 40 touchdowns in his final two seasons there. That success put him in the top 10 for all-purpose running back recruits in the country and landed him many scholarship opportunities. Williams stayed in-state, and quickly became a difference-maker for the Aggies, becoming the first true freshman in program history to run for over 1,000 yards (1,057 on 156 carries, 6.8 per, eight touchdowns) while also catching 19 passes for 91 yards and returning five kickoffs for 82 yards (16.4 average) in 13 games (two starts). He contributed heavily again as a sophomore in 12 starts as a runner (173-798-4.6, eight touchdowns), receiver (20 catches, 192 yards, 9.6 average), and kickoff returner (six returns, 183 yards, 30.5 average). Williams broke out in a major way as a junior, earning first-team All-SEC and second-team Associated Press All-American honors by finishing in the top five nationally with 1,524 rushing yards and scoring 15 times on 252 carries (6.1 average). He also caught 27 passes for 278 yards (10.3 average) and a touchdown.

Davis has been motivated to excel since he was 12 years old, when a teacher told him he would be in jail or dead by age 18. He was a top-20 linebacker prospect nationally despite missing his senior year with a knee injury (135 tackles, six forced fumbles as a junior, also played baseball and basketball). Davis had five tackles in 12 games as a reserve in his redshirt freshman season. He was named a starter for all 13 games in 2016, and he responded with 63 tackles, seven for loss, and three pass breakups. He had 10 tackles, four for loss, in the Iron Bowl that year. He led the Tigers in tackles with 82 (10 in the SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia) in his junior campaign, racking up 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Davis was voted first-team All-SEC as a senior, once again topping his squad with 116 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. He also posted 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups.

Anderson showed great talent during his time with the Sooners but could not finish a season due to injuries. He broke his leg in the second game of the 2015 season, running the ball just once for 5 yards. In the spring of 2016, he suffered a fractured vertebra, missing the upcoming season. Anderson was healthy throughout his redshirt sophomore campaign, ending the year strong by leading the FBS in yards from scrimmage over the final seven weeks (all starts). He ran for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns on 188 carries (6.2 average) and caught 17 passes for 281 yards (16.5 average) and five more scores in 14 games, garnering second-team All-Big 12 honors. His 26 carries for 201 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson in the national semi-finals caused scouts to expect a big 2018 from the Katy, Texas native. However, Anderson again fell to injury in the second game of the year, this time his right knee gave out after he rushed 11 times for 119 yards and three scores over those two contests.

Brown came to SDSU as a wide receiver after earning All-Arizona honors at the position as a junior and senior. He split time between receiver and cornerback, however, during his 2014 redshirt season. Coaches stuck him on defense the following year in 11 games (one start, seven tackles, three pass breakups), and then he became a stalwart in the secondary in 2016 (13 starts, 40 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups). Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches named him first-team all-league in 2017 after he led the Jackrabbits with nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles, in addition to 72 tackles, three for loss, and three interceptions. Brown was a first-team all-conference pick again in 2018 while also garnering third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press. In 13 starts, he was credited with 29 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high 12 pass breakups.