One play from the 1: Who you got?

ByESPN.COM
July 26, 2016, 9:40 AM

— -- With Mark Schlabach's most recent Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings as our guide, we have ranked everything from the weakest position groups to stand-up comedians. This week, we look at which players would get the call with the game on the line and the ball on the 1-yard line.

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide

Bo Scarbrough

Of course you want the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Bo Scarbrough going over the top, but the real question for Alabama is who will be his lead blocker? Continuing what has become a tradition of unique goal-line fullbacks that includes Jesse Williams and A'Shawn Robinson, don't be surprised if defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne, who is a rather nimble 319 pounds, takes the field in the Tide's jumbo package. -- Alex Scarborough

2. Clemson Tigers

Jordan Leggett

Odds are Dabo Swinney would make the call for Deshaun Watson. After all, how do you put the game in the hands of anyone other than your Heisman contender? But who would Watson look to if he decides to throw? Chalk this one up for tight end Jordan Leggett, who had a touchdown in five straight games at one point last season, finished the year with eight scores and was a finalist for the Mackey Award. --  David M. Hale

3.  Michigan Wolverines

Jake Butt

Maybe it's a bit unorthodox, but since when has that bothered Jim Harbaugh? The big, strong, athletic senior is one of the most valuable players on the roster, and Butt is surely more than capable of shifting from tight end, taking a handoff and bulldozing his way to the end zone. -- Austin Ward

4.  Florida State Seminoles

Dalvin Cook

Florida State was poor in short-yardage situations but through no fault of Cook. The junior has the wiggle and power to score at the goal line. A quarterback sneak might be effective with the bigger Sean Maguire, but with that position unsettled, it's best just to turn it over to the Heisman candidate. --  Jared Shanker

5. Oklahoma Sooners

Samaje Perine

Nobody in crimson and cream would think twice about putting the ball in the hands of Baker Mayfield in this situation. But that didn't work out so well for Pete Carroll. So it's pretty simple: Tell Mayfield to put the ball in the arms of Perine, and let the 235-pound running back do the rest. -- Brandon Chatmon

6. LSU Tigers

Leonard Fournette

For all his impressive stats last season, Fournette struggled in short-yardage situations. On runs on which he needed between 1 and 3 yards to convert, Fournette was successful just 52.9 percent of the time -- well below the Power 5 average of 66.9 -- according to ESPN Stats & Information. However, when you have the country's most dynamic running back in your backfield, you give him the ball and take your chances. -- David Ching

7. Stanford Cardinal

Daniel Marx

David Shaw had a favorite for this job last season, and it wasn't Christian McCaffrey. Remound Wright earned a heavy load at the goal line, so the Cardinal must replace his short yardage wizardry that led to 13 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Marx is a throwback fullback built like a bowling ball. -- David Lombardi

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Malik Zaire

In limited action, the world has gotten a glimpse of what Zaire is capable of. He is a unique, dual-threat lefty who might be as strong as he is speedy. It's no wonder the 225-pounder is the ultimate Irish trump card come red zone scenarios, and he is a great option to have at the goal line. -- Matt Fortuna

9.  Ohio State Buckeyes

J.T. Barrett

The junior quarterback started winning his job back last season, thanks in part to his willingness to come in as a red zone finisher. Even if Mike Weber and the young Buckeyes taking over in the backfield emerge to fill Ezekiel Elliott's shoes, with the game on the line, Barrett isn't likely to be denied. -- Ward

10. Tennessee Volunteers

Kahlil McKenzie

Yeah, Joshua Dobbs or Jalen Hurd would be the obvious offensive options at the 1-yard line, but if the game is on the line and you need a big body to plow through two lines, Tennessee should go with sophomore defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie. He's Tennessee's largest player at 6-foot-3, 344 pounds, and though he is still a work in progress as Tennessee's man in the middle, he would be a no-brainer for a goal-line score with the girth he carries. -- Edward Aschoff

11. USC Trojans

Ronald Jones II

Last season, Tre Madden's 220-pound frame made him a nice option to bull toward hard-earned yardage. He is gone, though, so the Trojans will have to sift through their stable of running backs for a short-yardage replacement cut from a smaller cloth. The natural choice is likely Ronald Jones II, but USC should be creative with its play call, as Jones' 195 pounds might not be best-suited for a simple plunge up the middle. -- Lombardi

12. Georgia Bulldogs

Nick Chubb

It doesn't matter how healthy Chubb is -- you want him on that line in crunch time. One of the strongest players in the league, Chubb could run through Superman if a touchdown were on the line. People might want to opt for a heavier option at the 1-yard line, but besides  Leonard Fournette, there is no running back better suited for a goal-line plunge. --  Aschoff

13. Ole Miss Rebels

Breeland Speaks

The Rebels are still trying to figure out who is going to be their consistent ground-and-pound running back. That said, Ole Miss should opt for an athletic, versatile, big body to carry the rock in this short-yard situation. Step on down, Breeland Speaks. The hefty (313 pounds) defensive tackle has resembled Robert Nkemdiche with his athleticism inside and could easily carry the ball in from a yard away. He has solid speed for a big guy and a little wiggle. Plus, he plays angry, and that's what you need this close to the end zone. --  Aschoff

14. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Mason Rudolph

Temptation to go with Barry J. Sanders exists, simply because his father scored 37 touchdowns in 1988. That must be good for something. The Stanford transfer rushed for four touchdowns last season, equal to the total of Chris Carson, the Cowboys' top returning rusher. Neither is an inspiring pick, though. OSU struggled mightily in the run game in 2015 and might not be improved enough this year to rely on a back in this spot. That means give it to Rudolph, the junior QB who's adequate on his feet and can find receivers James Washington or Marcell Ateman in tight spaces. -- Mitch Sherman

15.  Michigan State Spartans

LJ Scott

There is no need to mess around in East Lansing. Just give it to the big guy. The 6-foot, 238-pounder needed only one season to prove he has a nose for the end zone, as he led the Spartans with 11 touchdowns and promised even brighter things to come in his career. -- Ward

16. Washington Huskies

Lavon Coleman

Myles Gaskin was the Huskies' breakout star in 2010, but at 220 pounds, Coleman sports about 25 extra pounds of beef. We'd be comfortable with him throwing that size into a crowded goal-line situation, especially because Gaskin will likely shoulder a heavy workload between the 20s this season. A two-headed monster can be effective for Washington. -- Lombardi

17. Houston Cougars

Greg Ward Jr.

You want the ball in the quarterback's hands on the goal line. The running back group is unproven at this point, but in Ward, you have a known quantity. The senior quarterback rushed for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns while passing for 2,828 and 17 scores last season. Being able to rely on a quarterback who is dangerous both rushing and passing is what would make him so dangerous on the goal line. Let him do his thing and ring up six more points. --  Ching

18. North Carolina Tar Heels

Elijah Hood

This is an easy one, even if Larry Fedora made the wrong call in Week 1 last season. In that game against South Carolina, Hood ran for 138 yards but got just 13 carries, while QB Marquise Williams tossed three interceptions inside the Gamecocks' 25. Hood wouldn't be ignored again, however, and he finished the year with 17 touchdowns after serving as one of the most punishing backs in the country. --  Hale

19. Oregon Ducks

Royce Freeman

When it comes to this exercise, we can get creative with some teams -- but not with Oregon. The Ducks have their main man in Freeman, and his specialty -- despite his speed -- is bruising all over opponents. Freeman's 230-pound frame is not likely to be denied on the goal line. Give him the ball. -- Lombardi

20. TCU Horned Frogs

Kyle Hicks

The Frogs had a game-on-the-line scenario from the 2-yard line last season against Oklahoma and went to the air. It didn't work out. If that happens again this season, running back Kyle Hicks is likely getting the ball. Or maybe it's a QB keeper. Or perhaps Gary Patterson knows the D expects a run and fools them with a pass. It's a tough call. This is why he's the successful head coach and I'm not. -- Max Olson

21. Texas A&M Aggies

Daylon Mack

The Aggies have plenty of traditional choices, such as stout running back Keith Ford, dual-threat quarterback Trevor Knight and electric wideouts Christian Kirk, Speedy Noil and Ricky Seals-Jones. But my coworker Sam Khan Jr. offered an outside-the-box idea that might have some promise: What about defensive tackle Daylon Mack doing his best Refrigerator Perry impression? Even if he has never been a short-yardage back in college, the 335-pound Mack was in high school, and he was productive, with a total of 262 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. --  Ching

22. UCLA Bruins

Soso Jamabo

For the first time in several years, someone other than Paul Perkins will be the Bruins' featured man here. Jamabo is an exceptionally tall back -- he checks in at 6-foot-3 -- who is projected to step into Perkins' void after emerging from Texas as one of the nation's most prized recruits. If leveraged correctly, Jamabo's height can become an asset in a pressure-packed goal-line situation, especially if a score is a dive or reach away. -- Lombardi

23.  Iowa Hawkeyes

LeShun Daniels Jr.

Behind another stout offensive line that continues the program's rich blocking tradition, perhaps it doesn't make much difference who touches the football, as long as he is working behind those beefy Hawkeyes. But Daniels boasts some size and strength himself, and he's coming off an eight-touchdown season that qualifies him as a closer for Iowa. -- Ward

24. Miami Hurricanes

Gus Edwards

There's a reason Edwards has the nickname "The Bus." At 6-2, 240 pounds, Edwards has the ability to bull rush through a stacked line with defenders on his back. After missing last season with injury, there is little doubt he will be eager to get the ball in such a crucial situation and score. --  Andrea Adelson

25. Louisville Cardinals

Lamar Jackson

The sophomore proved to be a threat with both his arms and his legs last season, and he is only more dangerous now. The former track star will make defenders miss and will keep them guessing, as he is one of the nation's most valuable red zone commodities. --  Fortuna