Burns helped Fort Lauderdale's American Heritage High School win state titles as a sophomore and junior, and then was named a first-team Class 5A All-State pick his senior year (he had 28 sacks over his junior and senior seasons). The five-star recruit earned Freshman All-American honors from multiple outlets after leading all first-year players with 9.5 sacks (24 total tackles, 10.5 for loss) in 13 games as a reserve hybrid end/rush linebacker. Burns started all 13 games at defensive end in 2017, posting 48 stops, 13.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two blocked punts (tied for third in the FBS) for the Seminoles. His play against Clemson (4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks) got NFL scouts intrigued in his potential. Despite FSU's struggles in 2018, his play stood out enough that he earned first-team All-ACC notice from league coaches and media. He led his team with 15.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks among his 52 stops, while also breaking up three passes and forcing three fumbles.

Little and Oklahoma junior LT Bobby Evans (along with QB Kyler Murray) were on the same high school team in Allen, Texas, and both now have NFL futures. Little was a top five recruit regardless of position in 2016 and a second-team All-American after his senior season at Allen, which won a mythical national title in 2014. He was a Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman squad honoree in his first year on campus, playing in all 12 games and starting the final five games at left tackle. League coaches voted him second-team All-SEC after 12 starts at left tackle in 2017. He was a first-team all-conference selection his junior year after starting all 12 games at left tackle once again, fulfilling his promise as a top-level NFL prospect.

Grier was the Parade National High School Player of the Year in 2013 after throwing for 4,989 yards and a nation-best 77 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,251 yards and 13 scores. He played for his father, who was a backup quarterback at East Carolina and led Davidson Day School to multiple North Carolina state titles. Not surprisingly, Grier was highly-recruited, signing with Florida. He redshirted in 2014 and then started 5 of 6 games the following season, going 5-0 in those starts (106-161-65.8, 1,204 yards, 10 TD, three INT). He was suspended, however, for a year by the NCAA in October 2015, for taking a prohibited performance-enhancing supplement. While finishing out the suspension in 2016, Grier practiced with the Gators but wound up not playing at all during the year. Feeling unwanted by Florida coaches, he decided to transfer to West Virginia. Grier excelled in his first year with the Mountaineers, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and ranking fifth in the FBS in passing efficiency, eighth with 34 passing TDs, and eighth with 317.3 passing yards per game (3,490 total). He completed 64.4 percent of his passes (250-388) while throwing 12 interceptions on the year. Grier was in the Heisman Trophy conversation most of his senior year, finishing among the national leaders in pass efficiency (175.5), touchdown passes (37), passing yards (3,864), and completion percentage (67.0, on 266-397 passing). He started 11 games in 2018 on his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors but skipped the team's bowl game to prepare for the draft.

Miller was a five-star prospect and top-five linebacker recruit nationally coming out of Columbia, S.C., in 2014. The son of former NFL veteran linebacker Corey Miller was a Parade All-American and finalist for South Carolina's Mr. Football award as a senior. His career at Alabama has not been as productive as he would have hoped. Miller waited his turn for three seasons in the Tide's deep linebacking corps, redshirting in 2014, playing in 12 games as a reserve the following year, and securing 16 tackles (2.5 for loss, two sacks) in 15 games as a sophomore. He suffered a biceps injury in the 2017 season opener, missing 10 games but returned to play in four contests overall (six tackles, two for loss, sack). Miller only lined up with the starters in 4 of 14 games played in 2018 but was a regular contributor on defense in every contest (36 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 8.5 sacks, one pass breakup). He missed the national title game with a hamstring injury.

Scarlett had his share of issues while enrolled at Florida. He had a misdemeanor arrest for marijuana possession his freshman year that prevented him from playing in the team's bowl game against Michigan. Then he was part of a credit card fraud scandal along with several other teammates, losing the entire 2017 season to suspension. Scarlett leaves a positive impression on the field, however, when able to do so. He started 12 of 13 games in 2018, rushing for 776 yards and five scores on 131 carries (5.9 average) and catching 10 passes for 84 yards (8.4 average). He was named the Sun-Sentinel's Class 8A-7A-6A Offensive Player of the year after starring at Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas High School his senior year (143 carries, 1,124 yards, 24 touchdowns). In his first year with the Gators, Scarlett played in 10 games, starting once (34 carries, 181 yards, 5.3 average, one touchdown), and putting up 96 yards on nine carries against Georgia. He led Florida in rushing in 2016, covering 889 yards and scoring six times in 179 carries that season (4 catches, 23 receiving yards, 5.8 average).

Daley played his high school ball in the Gamecocks' back yard at Ridge View High School in Columbia. He began his post-secondary education at Georgia Military College, playing well enough to earn first-team All-American honors after his sophomore season. He stepped in pretty quickly at left tackle for USC in his first year with the team, starting 11 of 12 games played. Daley started 12 games at left tackle for the Gamecocks in 2018.

Godwin was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2016 Major League Baseball amateur draft but decided to continue his time with the Bulldogs instead of chasing baseball. He had been named the team's Co-Newcomer of the Year after the 2015 season (nine starts in 13 games; 35-379-10.8, two TD receiving; 4-58-14.5 punt returns). Godwin was also the TaxSlayer.com Bowl Most Valuable Player with four receptions for 34 yards and a score as a receiver and a 44-yard touchdown pass. He started just 4 of 13 games as a sophomore but was still productive (38-397-10.4). He was a starter as a junior (14 of 15 games played), grabbing 38 passes for 639 yards (16.8 average) and scoring six times, including a big-game effort in the SEC Championship Game against Auburn (5-48-1). Godwin's senior season was derailed by various leg injuries early on, but he came back to start 9 of 13 games played (23-385-16.7, three TD).