The 2017 FCS season showcased a ton of young talent in the level across all conferences, and sophomore players came up big all season and into the playoffs.
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Here's a look at some of the sophomores who impressed most in 2017 and who we expect to come back big in 2018. (Check out the HERO Sports 2017 FCS Sophomore All America Team for more impact sophomores)
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Riley Stapleton, WR — James Madison
After catching 19 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, Stapleton exploded for 428 yards on 23 catches in four playoff games. He finished second on the team with 42 total catches for 615 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.
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A.J. Hines, RB — Duquesne
The 2016 STATS Jerry Rice Award winner, Hines put forth his second-straight 1,000-yard season this year, totaling 1,038 yards on 182 carries, averaging 115.3 yards per game. He added another 108 yards through the air.
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Jahee Jackson, OL — James Madison
Jackson was a stable piece on a JMU offensive line that was hit with the injury bug in 2017. He started 13 games at right tackle as James Madison assembled one of the most formidable offenses in all of FCS play and earned a second-straight trip to Frisco.
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Elijah Bell, WR — North Carolina A&T
Bell was Lamar Raynard's favorite target this season, catching 64 passes for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per reception for the 12-0 Aggies. He caped the season with a 10-catch, 95-yard game in the Celebration Bowl.
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Chris Murray, QB — Montana State
Murray led the Bobcats through the air (1,597 yards, 15 touchdowns) and on the ground (191 carries, 1,216 yards, 10 TDs) in his first season as a full-time starter. He also caught a pass for a 15-yard touchdown.
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Jaison Williams, DE — Austin Peay
Williams was a wrecking ball n 2017, finishing the year with 12.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and 44 total tackles. He registered 13 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
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Christian Rozeboom, LB — South Dakota State
SDSU's leading tackle was a machine in 2017, totaling 127 stops (67 solo) with 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, 3 quarterback hurries, 4 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
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Marlon Bridges, S — Jacksonville State
Bridges racked up 81 tackles (38 solo) in 2017, adding 3 interceptions, 5 pass breakups and 8 passes defended, as well as 6 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and a blocked kick.
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Abu Daramy-Swaray, DB — Colgate
Daramy-Swaray put together a solid sophomore campaign with 51 tackles (40 solo), 2 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a blocked kick, and a sack.
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Devin Watson, DB — Wofford
Watson led Wofford with 4 interceptions in 2017, adding 55 tackles (39 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
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Jeremy Chinn, S — Southern Illinois
Chinn totaled 66 tackles (47 solo) for Southern Illinois this season, adding in 3 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss.
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Chase Vinatieri, K — South Dakota State
Vinatieri made 13 of 14 field goal attempts (92.9 percent) with a long of 55 on the season, adding 58 extra points on 62 tries (93.5 percent). He also scored a touchdown on the ground, making his season scoring total 103 points. He kicked off 96 times and recorded 40 touchbacks.
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Tyrie Adams, QB — Western Carolina
Adams competed 62 percent of his passes on the way to a 2,294-yard, 22-touchdown year, adding 746 yards (48 yards per carry) and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He threw for 191.2 yards per game and threw just 8 interceptions.
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Marquise Bridges, DB — North Dakota State
After transitioning from wide receiver to cornerback last year, Bridges found his way into the starting lineup by season's end because of injuries for the Bison. He made arguably the biggest play of his career – an interception near the goal line — in the FCS Championship, and finished the season with 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 6 passes defended and 3 interceptions.
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NEXT: NDSU's Jabril Cox Highlights Freshmen FCS Stars on the Rise
