Utah State was the only FBS program to offer Love a scholarship despite his excellent play at Liberty High School in Bakersfield (2,148 yards, 24 passing touchdowns; 806 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns). He looked like a future NFL starter while earning second-team All-Mountain West honors for the Aggies in 2018. Love ranked eighth in the FBS with 32 touchdown passes in 13 starts (267 of 417, 64.0 completion percentage, school single-season record 3,567 yards, six interceptions). His statistical production declined in 2019, garnering just honorable mention All-MWC honors as he threw an FBS-high 17 interceptions on the year (293 of 473, 62.0 completion percentage, 3,402 yards, 20 touchdowns; 81 carries, 175 yards, 2.2 ypc). Love showed glimpses of his talent as a redshirt sophomore in 2017, starting six of 12 games played (129 of 235, 54.9 completion percentage, 1,631 yards, eight touchdowns, six interceptions). Love was cited for marijuana possession in December but the case was dismissed in January.

Algiers Jameal "AJ" William Dillon is the grandson of College Football Hall of famer Thom Gatewood, who was the first African-American team captain at Notre Dame. Dillon played for a former B.C. offensive lineman (Paul Zukauskas) at Lawrence Academy in Connecticut, and he decided to sign on with the Eagles. He played only four games due to injury his senior year of high school but still racked up more than 600 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dillon jumped into the fray at Chestnut Hill as a true freshman, winning ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American honors by ranking seventh in the FBS with 1,589 yards (300 carries, 5.3 ypc) and scoring 14 touchdowns in 13 games (four starts). He started 10 games in 2018, earning first-team all-conference accolades (227 carries, 1,108 yards, 4.9 ypc, 10 touchdowns; eight receptions, 41 yards, 5.1 average) and cutting his fumbles from four to one. Dillon was the team's bellcow again as a junior, finishing among the national leaders in carries (318), yards (1,685), and 14 touchdowns in 12 starts (13 receptions, 195 yards, 15.0 average, one touchdown). The 2019 third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC selection chose not to play in the team's bowl game to get ready for the draft.

Deguara (pronounced DUH-gwah-ruh) was only a two-star recruit despite leading his Folsom, California, high school to an undefeated season and a Division I state title as a senior, racking up 114 receptions for 1,671 yards and 24 touchdowns. A three-sport athlete (also played baseball and basketball) in high school, Deguara redshirted his first year with the Bearcats and then played in all 12 games on special teams and as a reserve (four receptions, 47 yards, 11.8 average). He played in just seven games as a reserve the next season (11 receptions, 98 yards, 8.9 average) before breaking out in 2018. Deguara started all 13 games as a junior, catching 38 passes for 468 yards (12.3 average) and five scores. American Athletic Conference coaches voted Deguara first-team all-league for his play in 14 starts as a senior (39 receptions, 504 yards, 12.9 average, seven touchdowns).

Martin earned first-team all-state and Minnesota Mr. Football finalist honors as a senior quarterback (877 passing yards) and defensive back (13 pass breakups) at Burnsville High School. He settled in at linebacker pretty quickly for the Gophers, however, starting once in 13 appearances as a true freshman (10 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception). Martin started nine of 12 games played in both his sophomore (42 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles) and junior (59 tackles, 3.5 for loss, two pass breakups) campaigns. He was suspended for the team's 2018 bowl game, though, as well as the 2019 season opener for violating team rules. Martin had a knee injury his senior year which limited him to eight games (seven starts), but he still managed to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors with 66 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Runyan is the son of the former Michigan star and NFL Pro Bowl right tackle of the same name. The older Runyan served in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms and is currently an NFL Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration. The younger Runyan appears to be headed for a long NFL career of his own. The Moorestown, New Jersey, native actually played his high school football at St. Joseph's in Pennsylvania, earning all-state notice his senior year. Michigan signed the legacy pick, though he had to wait through a redshirt season in 2015 and made only one appearance the following year. Runyan played in nine games as a sophomore, starting for the first time in the team's Outback Bowl appearance. He ascended to first-team All-Big Ten status in 2018, starting all 13 games at left tackle. Runyan did the same in 2019, again garnering first-team all-conference honors for the Wolverines.

Hanson has been on NFL scouts' radar since his redshirt freshman season. The four-star recruit from Eureka, California, took over the starting center job for the Ducks in 2016, earning his first of four straight honorable mention All-Pac-12 nods after starting all 12 games. He started all 13 games as a sophomore and 12 of 13 games in the 2018 campaign. He missed the first half of one contest because he drew a personal foul on a blind-side targeting call in the second half of their previous game against UCLA. Hanson started 12 games at center in 2019, missing two games due to injury.

Stepaniak was named the top offensive lineman in Ohio's Division III as a junior and senior but ended up crossing the border to play for the Hoosiers. He started two of 12 games played at right guard as a redshirt freshman. Stepaniak started six games at that spot as a sophomore but missed six other contests due to an injury. Back to full health in 2018, he started all 12 games at his right guard spot. Stepaniak was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick as a senior, starting 11 games (10 at right guard, one at left guard). He missed the team's bowl game due to injury.

Garvin was nicknamed "Spider" for his length and agility, both of which were on display regularly to Miami opponents in 2018. He started all 13 games that year, racking up 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks with 60 total stops. Garvin also broke up five passes and recovered two fumbles on the year. He made plays as a junior, starting 11 of 12 games played and posting 37 tackles, nine for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He decided to sit out the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. The four-star recruit from Lake Worth, Florida, contributed as a true freshman, recording nine tackles (three for loss, two sacks) in 13 appearances as a reserve.