20 College Football Players Who Got Way Too Much Hype

College football is all about hype. Five-star recruits get crowned kings before they’ve played a single snap, and one good game can launch a guy into Heisman conversations overnight.

But sometimes, the hype train flies off the rails. These are the players who were expected to change the game but never quite lived up to the hype, whether due to injuries or inconsistency.

20. Everett Golson

Notre Dame fans thought they had their next golden boy, but Golson’s career never really soared. He had flashes, but inconsistency and turnovers kept him grounded.

19. Jake Browning

He put up some wild numbers at Washington, but things always felt a little inflated. When it came time for the big games, he didn’t have that extra gear.

18. Kyle Allen

He had the look, the arm, and the recruiting stars, but the performance rarely followed. After bouncing around, it became clear he was more promise than production.

17. Blake Barnett

Alabama’s next QB sensation until he wasn’t. He transferred multiple times and never found a rhythm anywhere.

16. Gunner Kiel

With a name like that and five-star status, expectations were through the roof. He had moments at Cincinnati, but nothing close to what people expected.

15. Kenny Hill

After that one wild game against South Carolina, everyone lost their minds. But “Kenny Trill” faded quickly once defenses caught on.

14. De’Andre Johnson

A highly touted dual-threat QB who fizzled out after off-field issues and some tough breaks. The hype never matched the output.

13. Hunter Johnson

Clemson and Northwestern fans both hoped he’d be the guy. Unfortunately, his on-field results never lived up to the five-star ranking he received.

12. Ronald Johnson

USC wide receivers are usually electric, but Johnson never quite popped like fans hoped. He was decent, but far from the superstar he was hyped to be.

11. Chris Simms

He had the last name and the Texas spotlight, but his career never really hit elite status. Too many turnovers and too little magic in the big moments.

10. Max Browne

He waited patiently behind big names at USC, but once he got the chance, it never clicked. The hype far exceeded what happened.

9. James Blackman

Florida State fans kept waiting for him to take the next step, but it just didn’t happen. He had the tools, but the consistency wasn’t there.

8. Mitch Mustain

One of the biggest recruits of his era, Mustain looked like a can’t-miss. But he got buried on the depth chart and became more myth than legend.

7. Brandon Harris

LSU fans hoped he’d finally solve their QB struggles, but the offense remained stuck in neutral. The arm strength was there—the accuracy wasn’t.

6. John Brantley

Following Tim Tebow was always going to be tough, but Brantley wasn’t the answer. His time at Florida felt like a whole lot of “meh.”

5. Tate Martell

The internet loved him, recruiters raved, and the confidence was off the charts. However, all that hype ultimately led to a nomadic career with very little playing time.

4. DJ Uiagalelei

He had the size, the arm, and the Clemson pedigree, but the results were wildly underwhelming. After some rough years, the hype cooled fast.

3. Noel Devine

He was a viral sensation before the term “going viral” was coined, and expectations were sky-high. While he had some enjoyable moments at West Virginia, he never became the dominant force that fans had hoped for.

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2. Quinn Ewers

The mullet, the NIL deal, the reclassification—it was all a media frenzy. So far, the on-field play hasn’t matched the headlines.

Read More: 15 Heisman Hopefuls Who Believed Their Own Hype Way Too Soon

1. Jimmy Clausen

He rolled into Notre Dame in a stretch limo and declared himself the savior. But when the dust settled, his career felt more forgettable than legendary.

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