CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.

College football, as always, is losing a ton of talent to the NFL Draft. So who will step in and replace these stars? Here’s Part Two of "Replacing the Stars," beginning with the question of who will replace the top cornerback in the NFL Draft.

RELATED: Part One of Replacing the Stars

The skinny: With Kristian Fulton surprising some with his return to Baton Rouge that only leaves one open corner spot for the Tigers. Most likely that spot will go to Kary Vincent Jr., who started seven games last season. While he definitely has the inside track, Kelvin Joseph also has the ability to make a push as a starter. And no cornerback competition at LSU will be complete in the foreseeable future without bringing up the No. 1 recruit in the country, Derek Stingley Jr. Look for him to earn immediate playing time, but with promising talent in front of him, it may be a bit premature to assume that he will be a starter from day one.

Farrell’s take: LSU is known as DBU for a reason, so it’s that next-man-up mentality that leads the way and there is plenty of talent ready to replace Williams. Vincent and Joseph have more experience, obviously, but Stingley Jr. is going to be a star sooner than later and will probably be the next great one for the Tigers. The depth here is impressive.

The skinny: This should be a relatively smooth transition for the Tide. It is true that Alex Leatherwood has mainly played guard during his time at Alabama, however he has moved over to tackle when called upon. During those appearances he has more than held his own, and more importantly, he possesses and the size and athleticism to excel at the position.

Farrell’s take: Williams, as a sure first-rounder, is a big loss but Alabama will be fine with Leatherwood, who is a former five-star. His upside is the same as Williams coming out of high school and now it’s his turn to shine. If he’s not a first-rounder down the line as well I’d be surprised.

The skinny: Replacing a team-leader, two time All-American and likely first-round NFL Draft pick won’t be easy for the Wolverines, but if anyone can find a way to make it work it will be defensive coordinator Don Brown. Leading the race is Josh Ross, who has played in 25 games, including an extensive role at outside linebacker during the 2018 season. His move to the middle shouldn’t be an issue. It will also help him that he will have Khaleke Hudson and Devin Gil on either side of him, two veterans who should be able to smooth over the transition.

Farrell’s take: There will be a drop-off at middle linebacker. How could there not be? But Ross has excellent potential. While he’s not quite as fast and explosive as Bush, he is a solid tackler and he is usually in good position. He’s ready for a leadership role and knows he has big shoes to fill, so he will step his game up to the next level.

The skinny: After not giving up a touchdown during the last two seasons, finding a legitimate replacement for Baker may prove to be very difficult. Possessing the most potential is Tyson Campbell, who played well for Baker when he decided to sit out the Sugar Bowl. He is still raw, but if he can begin to put it all together, the ceiling remains very high. If Campbell’s game does not improve quickly enough, the Bulldogs also have Eric Stokes, who actually beat out Campbell for the other corner spot last season. Both are destined to see plenty of playing time, but who starts will be determined during the spring and summer.

Farrell’s take: Campbell is a former five-star and has a high ceiling, so as he becomes more accustomed to college speed, watch out. He has a chance to be as good as Baker, and I think he’s faster at the same stage. Georgia just reloads at most positions under Kirby Smart and I think this is one of those occasions.

The skinny: Initially it seemed as though Tate Martell was destined to be the next quarterback in Columbus, but when Justin Fields decided to transfer from Georgia everything quickly turned upside-down. Fields’ arrival at Ohio State pushed Martell to Miami, and hence immediately began the Fields’ era. In his limited game experience with the Bulldogs, Fields showed more than enough to get people excited. Will that transition immediately translate to on-field success with the Buckeyes? It would be surprising if it didn’t.

Farrell’s take: Ryan Day knows how to work with quarterbacks, and Fields has a ton of talent so I think this is a great mix. He won’t hit the ground running as he still has a lot to learn, but he has so much skill around him he will be able to learn on the job. Dwayne Haskins was a pocket guy, but Fields brings the element of tucking and running, which could make him more dangerous down the line. That’s scary to think about.

The skinny: The Tigers were one of the winners of the grad-transfer lottery during the off-season when Kelly Bryant decided to take his talents from Clemson to Columbia. Replacing Lock will be no easy feat, but Missouri has put itself in a very good position to accomplish just that. Bryant brings plenty of experience, poise and leadership to the position, and he should more than hold his own with his arm and legs to help the Tigers’ offense move up-and-down the field in 2019.

Farrell’s take: Bryant is not the passer that Lock, is but he’s a leader and obviously much better with the ball in his hands running. If he can improve his consistency and accuracy as a passer and keep defenses off balance with his running ability, the Missouri offense will continue to be dangerous.

The skinny: Sometimes offensive linemen don’t get the credit they deserve until they’re gone, which may be the case with Taylor in Gainesville. He effectively anchored the right side of the line, making it a strong point of the offense. With that gone, who will step forward? Right now that is far from a certainty, but there are a few candidates. Texas transfer Jean Delance started four games in 2018 after sitting out 2017, while former JUCO player Noah Banks saw action in 12 games during his first season with the Gators. Both bring the experience that the coaching staff may be looking for at the position. If they look at younger options, the best one is shaping up to be Richard Gouraige, who may be the right tackle of the future. But will he be ready in 2019?

Farrell’s take: There will be a big drop-off from Taylor to the next man up because of how talented Taylor was and how underappreciated he was in the offense. Delance has excellent upside and Banks has talent as well, while Gouraige has the highest ceiling of the group. There will be some talent replacing Taylor, but I doubt they can reach his level of consistency. The good news? They don’t have to, as Taylor was nearly perfect and perfection is rare.

The skinny: The Rebels will have a great deal of turnover on their offensive unit in 2019, but likely nowhere more than wide receiver, where the loss of Metcalf and Brown will be immense. There are still plenty of question marks that need to be answered before Ole Miss plays its first game, but one player who looks ready to step up is Elijah Moore, who quietly had a promising 2018 season with 36 receptions for 398 yards and two touchdowns. Someone else at the position will also need to step up, but at least the Rebels look firm with Moore.

Farrell’s take: Moore has a lot of speed and plays very fast on the football field, so he could have a breakout year and be a dynamic receiver in the SEC. He’s not as big as Metcalf or Brown, but he might be better in space when it comes to making people miss. What he lacks in the strength those two brought to the table he makes up for in shiftiness after the catch and pure speed.

The skinny: Losing Sweat’s production will be a blow to the Bulldogs, but having Chauncey Rivers ready to become the full-time starter is a good situation to be in. Rivers initially signed with Georgia before going the JUCO route and then to Starkville. Many believed that he was good enough to be a starter on most teams last season, but most teams also didn’t have someone like Sweat as the dominating starter already in place. Rivers has the potential to explode this fall, which is what the Bulldogs are obviously hoping for.

Farrell’s take: Obviously, Mississippi State coaches up their defensive linemen, as evidenced by Sweat and Jeffery Simmons both being first-round projections by many. Rivers has an excellent chance to be the next one up. He’s not the freak athlete that Sweat is or as fast but he works well off contact and plays with power.

The skinny: As with Clelin Ferrell, the Tigers are replacing the heart-and-soul of their defensive with Lawrence and Wilkins. There is no easy fix for Clemson, but they do have young talent on their roster that should be able to develop quickly. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the two leading candidates to replace Lawrence and Wilkins are both missing spring practice due to injuries. Jordan Williams and Nyles Pinckney should be back healthy in time for summer camp, which should also give other players the opportunity to shine during the spring. Freshman Tyler Davis is one to watch.

Farrell’s take: Pinckney and Williams have talent, but watch out for Tyler Davis the true freshman as I think he has a chance to be the next great interior lineman for the Tigers. He’s athletic, he’s mature beyond his years and he has the strength to compete right away. No one will replace Lawrence and Wilkins together but I think Clemson could have a future first-rounder in Davis.