5 multi-position players who are changing the college game
The multi-position athlete is all the hype this year in college football.
Here are five players already proving themselves as two-way studs in the NCAA.
Myles Jack - LB/RB, UCLA
UCLA's versatile linebacker/running back Jack is no stranger to media attention: both USA Today and CBSSports already profiled the dual-threat player who was the Pac-12's 2013 defensive and offensive freshman of the year. Let that sink in.
This season, the sophomore already recorded 19 total tackles, two passes defended and one rushing touchdown. Last year, he put up the second-most tackles by a freshman in UCLA history (75) while leading the team in rushing scores (7).
Jack turned 19 last week and one unnamed NFL scout told USA Today that Jack is a better athlete than Oregon's Marcus Mariota, Stanford's Ty Montgomery and USC's Leonard Williams.
James Conner - RB/DE, Pittsburgh
James Conner used last winter's Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl as a chance to shine when he victimized Bowling Green's defense for 229 yards and a score, and was named the game's MVP.
This year the sophomore shows no signs of slowing down, amassing 367 yards and five touchdowns in the Panthers' first two games. He's carried the ball 50 times, more than a third of his entire carries last year.
He was originally recruited to play defensive end before he shined in his senior season of high school at running back.
Pittsburgh head coach Paul Chryst will likely throw Connor in on the defensive line on third downs. "(James) is just scratching the surface as far as what he can be," Chryst told the news outlet.
Scott Harding - P/WR/PR, Hawaii
Coming from a career in Aussie Rules Football in Brisbane, Australia, senior punter/receiver Scott Harding said: "When I played back home, you've got to be able to do everything." That includes kicking, catching and tackling.
The 28-year-old Harding was awarded Hawaii's team MVP honor last year after a 56-reception, 631-yard season.
"I definitely prefer being a receiver," he told USA Today. "But I love doing punt return — it is a huge adrenaline rush in my life… and punting is just really, really fun."
Kevin Pope - LB/RB, SMU
Described as a "flip-flopper," 22-year-old Kevin Pope has switched from offense to defense and back throughout his career at Southern Methodist.
The senior was recruited as a running back, but ended up playing the 2011 season at linebacker. Skip ahead to last season, when he registered 91 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also chipped in with 89 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Shaq Thompson - LB/RB, Washington
Junior linebacker Shaq Thompson racked up 78 tackles last year to go along with an 80-yard pick-six against Oregon State.
"If there is an opportunity for a really good, talented player to play on both sides of the ball, we're certainly willing to take it," linebackers coach Bob Gregory said prior to the season.
And they have: Thompson has already recorded 18 total tackles and 66 yards on the ground, including a 57-yard score last week against Eastern Washington.