Why aren't these players getting the ball more?
— -- Few things frustrate college football fans more than watching talent seemingly go to waste on Saturdays.
Whether it's a running back splitting carries with a lesser player or a tight end ignored in the pass game, every season produces players who aren't used enough. They're the antithesis of San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey (FBS-high 244 carries), East Carolina's Zay Jones (FBS-high 127 receptions) and Michigan's do-everything star,? Jabrill Peppers.
So who are college football's most underused players? ESPN.com gathered input from coaches, analysts and reporters to compile a list of 12.
Ohio State RB Curtis Samuel
2016 stats: 76 carries, 566 yards, five touchdowns; 52 receptions, 676 yards, five touchdowns; one punt return, minus-5 yards
Despite averaging 7.9 yards per rush and 13 yards per reception, Samuel has received more than 14 touches in just three of Ohio State's nine games this season. He has bolstered Ohio State's up-and-down passing game recently, recording six or more receptions in six of the last seven games. But he has only 14 carries in the last three games. A Big Ten coach called Samuel one of the most explosive players he has ever seen and compared him to former Florida star Percy Harvin, who starred in Urban Meyer's offense. "At times, they have underused him," a Big Ten observer said.
Tennessee RB Alvin Kamara
2016 stats: 64 rushes, 313 yards, three touchdowns; 22 receptions, 260 yards, three touchdowns; 18 punt returns, 184 yards; one kick return, 16 yards
A coach who recently faced Tennessee called Kamara a much scarier threat than Jalen Hurd, who began the season as the Vols' bell-cow back before transferring last week. Kamara puzzlingly logged only 22 carries in Tennessee's first four games. Hurd's injury last month finally gave Kamara increased opportunities, and he accounted for 288 all-purpose yards in a breakout performance against Texas A&M. But a knee injury has sidelined Kamara the past two weeks. When Kamara returns, Tennessee should capitalize on his versatility and unique explosiveness in space.
Alabama TE O.J. Howard
2016 stats: 23 receptions, 275 yards, two touchdowns
It has reached the point where media members can schedule their "Is O.J. Howard still on the team?" tweets before Alabama games. While it's tough to question offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin right now, the 6-foot-6, 251-pound Howard seems like a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field. Just ask Clemson, which Howard torched for 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the national title game in January. But this season, Howard has had less than three receptions in six of Alabama's nine games, and only one catch in three of the past four contests.
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley
2016 stats: 167 rushes for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns; 15 receptions, 257 yards, two touchdowns; one kick return, 17 yards
Barkley is the most visible weapon in Penn State's rejuvenated offense, but multiple coaches told ESPN.com on Sunday that the Lions star could be used even more. "Sometimes I don't understand why he doesn't get it every other play," a Big Ten defensive assistant said. "Stretches of the game, they forget about him." The sophomore has eclipsed 20 carries just twice this season despite averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. He has averaged more than 8 yards per carry in his past three games but didn't get more than 20 attempts in any of them. Barkley also showcased his receiving skills against Michigan (77 yards) and Purdue (70 yards) but has two or fewer receptions in seven games.
Florida State RB Dalvin Cook
2016 stats: 196 rushes for 1,134 yards and 12 touchdowns; 25 receptions, 388 yards, two touchdowns
Cook has many more touches than any player on this list, but some ACC assistants think Florida State doesn't use the junior enough, especially in the passing game. Although Cook already has more receptions this season than his first two with FSU, he has had two or fewer in all but one ACC game. Considered by many to be the nation's best perimeter runner, Cook had only 19 carries and two receptions against Clemson despite averaging 8.8 yards per touch.
Nebraska WR DeMornay Pierson-El
2016 stats: 10 receptions, 144 yards, one touchdown; nine rushes, 3 yards; 15 punt returns, 145 yards
After watching "DPE" finish second nationally in punt return average (17.5 yards) in 2014, Nebraska fans envisioned more touches for the speedster in space. But an awful leg/knee injury derailed Pierson-El's sophomore season, and he hasn't been a factor in Nebraska's passing game so far this fall. Pierson-El has one or zero receptions in seven of the Huskers' nine games this season. Nebraska is deep at receiver, but Pierson-El hasn't been featured much despite averaging 14.4 yards per reception.
Texas A&M TE Ricky Seals-Jones
2016 stats: 13 receptions, 220 yards, zero touchdowns
After collecting 94 receptions for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns the past two seasons, Seals-Jones seemed poised for a big year. But Texas A&M's offensive shift under new coordinator Noel Mazzone has reduced his role. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Kirk has accounted for more than one-third (61) of the Aggies' receptions this season, and Kirk and? Josh Reynolds have 55.5 percent of the team's total. Like Alabama's Howard, Seals-Jones is a huge target (6-5, 240 pounds) who averages 16.9 yards per catch. But he had more than three catches in just one game this season (he missed two games with an ankle injury).
Oklahoma TE Mark Andrews
2016 stats: 23 receptions, 359 yards, six touchdowns
Oklahoma's passing game essentially has become the Baker Mayfield- Dede Westbrook show, and it's hard to criticize after the past six games, in which Westbrook has 1,012 yards and 12 touchdowns. But defenses eventually will adjust to Westbrook, and Oklahoma will need to feature other players. Andrews has a career average of 16.1 yards per reception. He's a big weapon in the red zone -- 13 of his 41 career receptions (32 percent) have gone for touchdowns -- but could see a bigger role overall in the passing game.
USC RB Ronald Jones II
2016 stats: 100 carries, 679 yards, seven touchdowns; seven receptions, 62 yards, one touchdown
After he set USC's freshman rushing record and led the team in rushing last season, Jones didn't get many opportunities early this season while serving as senior Justin Davis' primary backup. He received just 7.7 carries per game during the first six games before Davis, who had outplayed him to that point, suffered an ankle injury. Jones since has capitalized, racking up 394 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the past two games. Some opposing coaches always viewed Jones as the more explosive rushing threat. It will be interesting to see how USC distributes carries with Davis expected to return to action this week at No. 5 Washington.
Pitt WR Quadree Henderson
2016 stats: 42 rushes, 383 yards, three touchdowns; 21 receptions, 231 yards, one touchdown; 22 kick returns, 743 yards, three touchdowns; 10 punt returns, 129 yards
Henderson wears a lot of hats for Pitt, but you have to wonder whether he could do even more for the offense. The sophomore may already be the nation's top return specialist, and he can be very effective on jet sweeps, averaging 9.1 yards per carry. While James Conner brings the thunder, Pitt could look for more ways to feature Henderson, who hasn't been as explosive as a pass-catcher but could blossom there with increased opportunities.
Florida TE DeAndre Goolsby
2016 stats: 28 receptions, 219 yards, one touchdown
Is it possible to call a player who recently led the Gators in receptions underused? Yes. Florida needs to feature the 6-4, 243-pound sophomore even more to spark its 69th-ranked passing game. An SEC defensive assistant said Goolsby creates mismatches in the middle of the field, but Florida doesn't check the ball down to him as much as it could. After a 13-catch stretch against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Goolsby has six receptions in Florida's past three games.
TCU WR KaVontae Turpin
2016 stats: 26 receptions, 284 yards; six carries, 75 yards; four punt returns, 115 yards, one touchdown; nine kick returns, 291 yards
A knee injury sidelined Turpin for four-plus games, but he had not received double-digit touches until Saturday at Baylor, where he racked up 89 yards on six receptions and four rushes. Turpin's size (5-9, 153 pounds) and Kyle Hicks' emergence at running back has limited the sophomore's role, but the team's all-purpose yards leader could spark an offense that has struggled with consistency at times this season. If coach Gary Patterson is fully confident in Turpin's health, he should give the sophomore more chances to change games down the stretch.
