The Five Most Disappointing Players in College Football For 2010

Evan Royster (Penn State): Royster was supposed to be an elite running back. Not so much. Desperate for more explosion, the Nittany Lions have siphoned his carries, more than eleven only four times. His resurgence against Michigan and Northwestern boosted his aggregate numbers. In three games against Ohio State where PSU has made concerted efforts to run the ball, he has averaged 3.4 yards per carry, 2.9 in the past two games. A “fringe first-round prospect” last summer, he’s now a fringe draft prospect.

Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh): Lewis had 1,799 yards as a freshman. As a sophormore, he was the nation’s leading returning runner and a Heisman candidate. He never found his way this year. He has only 556 yards through eight games. He had 79 yards or more in each 2009 game. In 2010, he’s done it once. Last year, he had seven carries of 30 yards or longer. This year he has one, for 30 yards. Pitt’s offensive line is not as good, but that hasn’t stopped his teammate Ray Graham from splitting his carries and averaging 2.3 yards per rush more.

Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State): Pryor’s aggregate numbers are solid, but Ohio State has played the 85th ranked Sagarin schedule. He does not handle pressure. Against the two reputable defenses he’s faced, Miami and Wisconsin, he has completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Pryor has the surroundings to be great (a formidable offensive line and talent at skill positions) but he’s merely been pretty good and only against overmatched opposition. Whenever the Buckeyes have needed a spark to rouse them, it has been someone else.

[Photo via Getty]