No. 22: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Previous ranking: NR
Making the case for Benjamin: He gave defenses headaches all season, and there was no better example than leading up to the ACC title game, when Duke coach David Cutcliffe conceded that the Blue Devils didn’t have anyone who matched up against the Noles’ 6-foot-5, 234 pound receiver. Cutcliffe was right, as Benjamin racked up 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Coastal Division champs. He started all 14 games and finished second on the team with 1,011 receiving yards and an ACC-best 15 touchdown receptions. One of his most memorable performances came against rival Florida, when he single-handedly outgained the Gators' offense (193 total yards) with 212 yards and three touchdowns.
He finished third in the ACC in yards-per-catch (18.7), and he forever will be remembered for his touchdown catch that gave the Noles a 34-31 win over Auburn in the VIZIO National Championship. With 13 seconds remaining, Benjamin’s 2-yard touchdown reception gave Florida State the lead and its first national title since 1999.
