Every year a college football player makes the leap from just another player to all-American. Here are some players who could become household names:

AMIR PINNIX, RB, Minnesota — Playing behind Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell last season, Pinnix didn't get many opportunities. Now Maroney is in the NFL and Russell has left school, so the 195-pound speedster becomes the latest go-to back for the Gophers, who love to run the ball.

JERMICHAEL FINLEY, TE, Texas — Finley might not start the season as the Longhorns' No. 1 tight end and replacement for the reliable David Thomas, but this redshirt freshman has wowed coaches in practice. Lucky for him, Texas likes to throw to the tight end.

ANTHONY GONZALEZ, WR, Ohio State — He was the No. 3 receiver behind Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr. last season. With Holmes in the NFL, Gonzalez, who Ohio State fans swear is as fast as Ginn, becomes at worst the No. 2 option.

GLENN DORSEY, CHARLES ALEXANDER AND MARLON FAVORITE, DTs, LSU — These three have the potential to take the sting out of the loss of Claude Wroten and Kyle Williams.