A couple of notes: This isn’t best player or most important. As a list based on intrigue, it skews a bit toward youth and new players, but there will be plenty of established contributors, too.
The only scholarship player not considered for the list is defensive lineman Jahkeem Green, because at the outset of our countdown he is still in junior college and is only verbally committed to Nebraska.
If this list had started three weeks later than it did, Jurgens would still be near the top and freshman offensive lineman Ethan Piper would be on it, likely nearly as high.