HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
[divider]RANKINGS: Top 100 Teams for 2018
TRIVIA: Daily FBS Trivia Question
MORE: Best FCS Player for Each Jersey Number[divider]
No. 84 Emanuel Hall
Missouri – WR
Emanuel Hall submitted his name to the NFL Draft Advisory Board but opted to return for his senior season. He's now the best No. 84 in college football and, alongside Drew Lock, forms one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the country.
Not many 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Not many receivers average 24.8 yards per catch. But as good as Emanuel Hall was last year for Lock and Missouri, this season could be a lot different for him.
"I think you’re going to see a different Emanuel. He sees the receiver he needs to be. He acknowledged his downfalls last year and he’s a changed guy," Lock said, referencing dropped passes and other mental mistakes.
Lock also added that new offensive coordinator has over 120 receiver routes, or 10 times more than the routes in former coordinator Josh Heupel's offense. So while Hall will still take the lid off the defense, don't expect another season with 40-yard catch after 40-yard catch.
“He’s got to sort of expand his route inventory,” Dooley said. "He certainly has big-time traits to beat people down the field, but once you do that, they can take that away. You have to be able to hurt them in other ways.”
