Pittman racked up nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns (16 catches for 354 yards, five TDs in his final game) at Oaks Christian High School as a senior, earning USA Today All-California Offensive Player of the Year honors. He enrolled at USC in January 2016 and played in all 13 games as a reserve (6-82-13.7 receiving, 4-31-7.8 kick returns). He posted seven special teams tackles as a freshman. He garnered first-team All-Pac-12 accolades as a special-teamer (six tackles) while also starting six of 11 games played on offense (23-404-17.6, two TDs) as a sophomore despite missing time early in the year with a severe ankle sprain. Pittman was named honorable mention all-conference in 2018 after making 41 receptions for 758 yards (18.5 average) and six touchdowns. He missed two games with a shoulder injury and had surgery after the season. Pittman saved his best for last, finishing among the nationwide leaders with 101 receptions for 1,275 yards (12.6 average) and 11 scores in 13 starts. He received several honors for his play, including Biletnikoff Award finalist, second-team Associated Press All-American, and first-team All-Pac-12 status. His father was a running back at Fresno State played in the NFL for 11 seasons.

Wisconsin has picked up multiple top-notch running backs from New Jersey, including Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, Corey Clement, and Taylor. He was the South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year as a senior (2,815 yards) and then rode the Badgers' offensive line to second-team Associated Press All-American, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Doak Walker Award finalist honors as true freshman in 2017 (299 carries, 1,977 yards, 6.6 ypc, 13 touchdowns; eight receptions, 95 yards, 11.9 average in 14 games, 13 starts). Taylor won the Doak Walker Award in 2018, garnered unanimous first-team All-American honors, and was named first-team All-Big Ten (and conference Running Back of the Year). He led the FBS with 2,194 rushing yards (307 carries, 7.1 per, 16 touchdowns; eight receptions, 60 yards, 7.5 average) in 13 starts, and finished the year as the team's MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl in a win over Miami (205 yards, touchdown). Taylor's two-year rushing total was third-best in NCAA history, behind fellow star UW back Melvin Gordon and late-1990s Iowa State star Troy Davis. Taylor's speed on the field is evident but he also proved it on the track for the Badgers, running in the Penn Relays and Big Ten Championship meet in the spring of 2019. That quickness helped him reach the goal of back-to-back seasons with 2,000 rushing yards, something only he and Davis have achieved. Taylor won the Doak Walker Award again for his success in 2019, as well as first-team Associated Press All-American and Big Ten Running Back of the Year (and first-team all-conference) honors by gaining 2,003 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns on 320 carries (6.3 per). He also scored five times as a receiver during the season (26 receptions, 252 yards, 9.5 average).

Blackmon was a three-star recruit from Utah even though he broke his hand during his senior year, which cut down the scholarship offers. Signing on with his home-state school proved a wise move for both parties. Blackmon played safety in 2019, garnering second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 honors by starting 13 games, collecting 60 tackles, four for loss, a team-high four interceptions, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. His '19 campaign came to an end when he suffered a non-contact injury in the Pac-12 title game. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 accolades at cornerback as a sophomore and junior, starting all 27 games. Blackmon led the Utes with four interceptions in 2017 while also posting 48 tackles and six pass breakups. The following season, he again posted 48 stops, four for loss, an interception, and a team-high 10 pass breakups. Blackmon played in nine games as a reserve his true freshman season, making two tackles.

Eason was the top pro-style high school quarterback recruit coming out of Lake Stevens High School in the Seattle area. He was the 2015-16 National Gatorade Player of the Year and threw for over 10,000 career passing yards, and he eventually chose Georgia as his new home. As a true freshman, he grabbed the starting job in 12 of 13 games played, completing 204-of-370 throws (55.1 percent) for 2,430 yards and 16 scores with eight interceptions. Eason was the starter to begin the 2017 season, as well, but left the Bulldogs' opener with a left knee injury. Freshman Jake Fromm took over the starting duties for the rest of the year. Eason played in five games in total in 2018 (4 of 7, 57.1 percent completion rate, 28 yards passing), then decided to transfer back to his home state. He started all 13 games for the Huskies in 2019, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards and 23 TDs against eight INTs.

Pinter was a two-time All-State selection as a tight end/defender at South Bend's John Adams High School, but Notre Dame did not come calling for his services. He redshirted for Ball State in 2015 before starting five of 12 games played the following year at tight end (three receptions, 10 yards). Pinter started six of seven games played at tight end as a junior (six receptions, 46 yards, 7.7 average, one touchdown) but was injured on the first play of the game against Central Michigan and missed the rest of the year. Coaches moved Pinter to right tackle for 2018 and he played well enough to earn the team's Dave McClain Leadership Award, named after the former head coach at Ball State and Wisconsin who passed away from heart failure. He completed his career as a first-team All-MAC pick, team Most Outstanding Player, and 12-game starter on the right side.

Windsor garnered third-team All-Big Ten recognition despite average production (40 tackles, five for loss, 3.5 sacks in 13 starts) in 2019. He stepped into the starting lineup for the Nittany Lions as a junior in 2018, making enough plays in 12 games (39 tackles, 11 for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles) to receive honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from league coaches. The former all-state pick from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, had been a key backup for PSU the previous two seasons. He started once in 14 games played as a redshirt freshman (23 tackles, 1.5 for loss) and then contributed in all 13 games of the 2017 season (19 stops, two sacks, three fumble recoveries).

The San Diego native played in four games his true freshman year in Pullman, but a knee injury caused him to miss most of the season (2-19-9.5). Patmon became a top reserve contributor in all 13 games of his sophomore year (35-379-10.8), even starting against Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl. Healthy during his junior campaign, he led WSU with 816 receiving yards; he caught 61 passes on the year, averaging 13.5 yards per reception, and scoring five touchdowns. He played in all 13 games as a senior, starting four contests (58-762-13.1, eight TDs).

Jordan's brothers played in the trenches for the Wolverines before moving on to the NFL (Ryan on defense with the Bengals and Graham on offense with the Broncos). The youngest Glasgow's role with Michigan in his first three years was primarily a special-teams ace. He played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman (12 tackles) and as a sophomore (11 tackles), when he earned the team's Special Teams Player of the Year award. As a junior, however, the multi-time Academic All-District selection started twice at the Viper position while racking up 28 stops (three for loss, two losses) in 13 contests. Glasgow took over a permanent job in his senior season, racking up 89 tackles, seven for loss, with five sacks, two pass breakups and a blocked kick.