How in the heck do you replace Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, Patrick Peterson, Jake Locker and Ryan Kerrigan?
Not only were these superstars high first round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft, but they are also nearly impossible to replace leaders, playmakers and game-changers.
No player was as important to his team as Cam Newton was to Auburn. Jake Locker was close, but he's on this list for a different reason.
Ryan Mallett was a production machine, and his arm could put the ball anywhere on the field at any given time. That doesn't come natural, doesn't come easy and his replacement will have to be stellar.
Patrick Peterson could do it all, literally everything, and his impact on the Tigers is arguably the toughest role to fill on this list.
As for Ryan Kerrgian, his intensity, motor and work ethic are things that few players in the college game possess. He was a leader, a playmaker and simply a great person to have in a locker room.
Again, these players aren't truly replaceable, but somebody has to try right?
Whoever ends up at quarterback for the Auburn Tigers won't be the man replacing Cam Newton, that will be on the legs of Michael Dyer.
The quarterback race for the Tigers includes Barrett Trotter, Clint Moseley and true freshman Kiehl Frazier. And scarily enough, it may be Frazier that wins the job. But while he'll be playing Cam's position, the offense will rely on the legs of Michael Dyer to carry them through SEC play this season. If he can't do that, the Tigers are in big, big trouble.
Then we have Ryan Mallett, whose replacement appears up to the task of filling Mallett's plus-sized shoes. Tyler Wilson has already had the opportunity to play quarterback for Arkansas and done fairly well at it. Albeit one game, Wilson threw for 332 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in a shootout loss to the eventual champion Auburn Tigers. He's considered a legitimate NFL prospect if he continues to develop.
Patrick Peterson's replacement isn't necessarily a replacement, he's his former running mate, but Morris Claiborne will now be the focal point of LSU's secondary. Claiborne recorded five interceptions a season ago alongside Peterson and now has to step up and be the man. The Tigers are one of the top five teams in the country and his play will have a major impact on how far they can go.
Jake Locker, who returned to Washington for his senior year, was a dominant force in the Husky locker room over the last four years. His presence alone will be sorely missed by everyone, including coach Steve Sarkisian, and his likely replacement will be third-year sophomore Keith Price, who looks to have positioned himself better than Nick Montana, son of the legendary Joe Montana. Both are young and have bright futures, but whoever ends up under center for the long-term has a long way to go to be the next Jake Locker.
And finally, there is hardly a shortage of defensive ends that come out of the high school ranks, but Ryan Kerrigan was a special player at Purdue. It seems that junior end Robert Maci, a 6'4", 236-pounder, will be given the daunting task of replacing the relentless Kerrigan. He saw increased playing time last season, but will be counted on this year to become a force.
None of these guys have it easy - it is never easy replacing a superstar - but these five will have to become players or their teams will suffer tremendously.
You can follow Wes O'Donnell on Twitter.
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