Predicting the NFL's Breakout Sophomores of 2015 By Dan Hope , Featured Columnist May 18, 2015 
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Jadeveon Clowney and Carlos Hyde are among the second-year NFL players who should be poised for breakout seasons in 2015. From Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack, the 2014 NFL rookie class included no shortage of breakout stars.Even so, it’s likely that even more standouts will emerge from the class in 2015 as the selections and undrafted free agents of the 2014 draft move into their sophomore seasons.While the aforementioned young guns and some others proved to be unfazed by the transition to the NFL, most players—even those who are highly touted out of college—need at least one year to adjust before they hit their stride at the professional level.Including the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Houston Texans edge defender Jadeveon Clowney, there are a multitude of talents entering their second year who were underwhelming last season but have the potential to emerge as difference-makers now that they have had the opportunity to become accustomed to life in the NFL.None of the following players made the cut for my top 50 rookies of 2014 at the end of last season, but all of them have more talent than they were able to show in their rookie campaigns.While their rookie seasons were each disappointing for one reason or another—injuries, lack of playing time and/or simply needing to work on their game—there is reason to believe each of these players will become key contributors for their team in 2015.Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, Houston Texans
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY SportsThe most obvious choice for this list, former South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney, will try to prove in 2015 that he was a worthy top choice in last year’s draft. He played just four games in 2014.When Clowney is at his best, he is spectacular. A 6’5”, 266-pound edge player with rare explosiveness for his size, Clowney can blow up a play in the backfield in a flash. At South Carolina, he was routinely able to beat blockers with his quick, violent hands—he could overpower them, too—and also exhibited the speed to chase down smaller ball-carriers in pursuit.Unfortunately for Clowney, his rookie season was derailed by health issues. He battled multiple injuries in 2014 before his season officially ended in December when he had microfracture knee surgery.As USA Today’s Gary Mihoces noted in an article following Clowney’s injury, there’s no guarantee that Clowney will ever return to his predraft form. Historically, players who have undergone microfracture surgeries have been plagued with long-term injuries.With that said, even an 80-90 percent version of the old Clowney could still go on to be a highly productive NFL player. And if Clowney can return to his peak physical capability—a level at which he was absolutely dominant as a sophomore at South Carolina in 2012—he could give the Texans a second superstar for the edge of their defense, working in tandem with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.According to the team's official Twitter account, Texans general manager Rick Smith said last month that he has been “encouraged and impressed” with Clowney’s rehabilitation and expects him “to be a major contributor this year.”Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers 
With their second-round pick (No. 57 overall) in the 2014 draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Carlos Hyde to be the heir apparent to Frank Gore at the running back position.After the 49ers let Gore leave for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, Hyde will get his opportunity to shine in 2015.A big, bruising back at 6’0” and 235 pounds, Hyde will enable the 49ers to maintain the power-running presence that they had with Gore for the past decade.While Hyde is far likelier to run over a defender than run away from one, he has impressive agility for a back of his size and a good burst out of the backfield. In addition to being tough to stop between the tackles, he has also shown some ability as a pass-catching weapon on the perimeter.Hyde had a forgettable rookie season in which he only gained 401 yards from scrimmage, but that was largely because Gore continued to be the team’s bell cow. Additionally, he suffered an ankle injury in December that forced him out of San Francisco’s final two games of the year.Assuming Hyde can stay healthy this year, it should be his turn to get the lion’s share of the 49ers’ carries—just as Gore did for the past 10 years. The team signed veteran free agent Reggie Bush to a one-year contract and drafted South Carolina running back Mike Davis in the fourth round, but Bush projects as a third-down, change-of-pace back, while Davis should slot in as Hyde’s backup.When Hyde hit his stride during his final two seasons at Ohio State, he proved that he was a back who could take on a heavy workload and get stronger over the course of the game, always fighting his way for extra yardage.If he can bring those same qualities to the table in San Francisco this year, he could quickly emerge as one of the most productive backs in the NFL.Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
Rogelio Solis/Associated Press The 2014 NFL season was one of the best ever for rookie wide receivers—especially for those who were picked in the first round of last year’s draft.The first wideout selected, Sammy Watkins, had a productive year for the Buffalo Bills as he caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns. Three of the other four wide receivers chosen in Round 1—Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin—each had at least 68 receptions, 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns.Beckham, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, surpassed all of those totals in just 12 games.Because of Beckham, Evans, Benjamin and Watkins' success, the other wide receiver selected in Round 1—No. 20 overall pick Brandin Cooks—was overshadowed. But now that he is set to return to a New Orleans Saints team that traded away two of its top three receivers from last season, 2015 could be Cooks’ turn to break out.Cooks had a solid rookie season through 10 games, catching 53 passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing as a runner and punt returner. Through that point in the season, Cooks actually led all Saints wide receivers in receptions and targets.His rookie season became forgettable after he missed the Saints’ final six games of the year with a broken thumb. Assuming he stays healthy in 2015, however, Cooks should be in line to put up big numbers.New Orleans’ leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns from last season, tight end Jimmy Graham, was dealt to the Seattle Seahawks in early March. Days later, the Saints dealt their leader in receiving yards from last season, Kenny Stills, to the Miami Dolphins.Although the Saints are expected to run the ball more often this season given the players they traded and acquired (running back C.J. Spiller, center Max Unger, offensive tackle Andrus Peat), Cooks should have plenty of opportunities to utilize his 4.33-second 40-yard dash speed and outstanding lateral agility to make big plays.Cooks could easily be Drew Brees’ leading receiver in 2015 and notch a 1,000-yard receiving season of his own.Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports Upgrading to Jameis Winston from Josh McCown and Mike Glennon should make a big impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense in 2015, and it could enable tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins to have a breakout sophomore season.Seferian-Jenkins never hit his stride in his rookie season, catching only 21 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.He missed two games early in the season with a foot injury and was out for Tampa Bay’s final five games of the year with a back ailment.If Seferian-Jenkins can stay on the field and play up to his ability in 2015, he has the skill set to emerge as one of the NFL’s top tight ends. A 6’5”, 262-pound former basketball player, Seferian-Jenkins fits the modern prototype for the position and is a player who can both create mismatches over the middle as a receiver and be an effective in-line blocker.With two big, talented wide receivers on the outside in Vincent Jackson and fellow sophomore Mike Evans, Seferian-Jenkins should see plenty of one-on-one opportunities during which he can use his large frame to post up and win at the catch point. Unlike last season, he will have a quarterback who is unafraid to give his receivers contested-catch opportunities and can throw passes against coverage with great velocity.Seferian-Jenkins lacks the speed to be a deep threat, but he can offer significant value as a short-yardage and red-zone option as well as a player who can seal off defenders on the edge on running plays.Ryan Shazier, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images Like most of the other players on this list, Ryan Shazier looked as though he could be in line for a productive rookie season before injuries set him back.A preseason standout last summer, Shazier had 20 total tackles in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first three regular-season games. That was the same number of tackles he went on to have for the rest of the season, which included one playoff game.After missing four games with a knee injury, Shazier returned for just two games before being sidelined for four more with an ankle injury. Upon his return from the second injury, Shazier played in the Steelers’ last three regular-season games and their postseason game, but he did not get his starting inside linebacker spot back from Sean Spence.There is some reason to be concerned about Shazier’s durability going forward, as he had lingering injuries during his career at Ohio State and is undersized for a linebacker at 6'1" and 237 pounds. That lack of size also gives him some problems as a run defender, as he can be overwhelmed when he is engaged by a bigger blocker.Nonetheless, Shazier has star potential if he can stay on the field. The No. 15 overall pick in last year’s draft is a terrific athlete who can make tackles all over the field, blitzes with speed and is fluid when dropping back into coverage.The key for Shazier going into his sophomore season is to bulk up and add strength, which Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he expected the linebacker to do this offseason, according to ESPN.com’s Scott Brown.So long as he has done that, Shazier will be in a better position to stay healthy, hold up against blocks and take advantage of his potentially game-changing playmaking range.Jason Verrett, CB, San Diego Chargers
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesBefore he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in the middle of last season, Jason Verrett was already starting to establish himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable coverage cornerbacks.In truth, Verrett has not been fully healthy since 2012, as NFL Media’s Mike Huguenin reported that he played “much of the 2013 season”—his final year at TCU—with a torn labrum. He underwent surgery on the injury last spring but continued to have problems with his shoulder in his rookie season.Despite that, the No. 25 overall pick played 230 snaps last season. In coverage, he allowed just 14 receptions for 158 yards on 145 coverage snaps. Moreover, Verrett had an 80 percent success rate—which is on par with the likes of Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman—on qualifying coverage snaps last season, according to Bleacher Report’s Cian Fahey, who watched and evaluated all 230 of his snaps.At just 5’9” and 178 pounds, Verrett is small for an NFL cornerback, but that didn’t seem to give him much trouble on the snaps he did play last season. Physical despite his size, Verrett has quick feet and fluid hips, and he is a willing tackler who has shown in college—and briefly last season—that he can disrupt passes and make plays on the ball in the air.Considering how effective he was in coverage as a newcomer to the league, the only real question for Verrett is whether his shoulder can hold up. If it does, Verrett and Brandon Flowers should form one of the NFL’s top outside cornerback tandems—as they did for a few games last year—in 2015.Dominique Easley, DE/DT, New England Patriots
Steven Senne/Associated Press Watch a game from Florida’s 2012 season, and the first thing that should stand out to you about defensive lineman Dominique Easley is his explosiveness. Easley exhibited an outstanding burst off the snap, which—coupled with his ability to generate power and quick hands—enabled him to wreak havoc as a interior penetrator.That combination enticed the New England Patriots to draft Easley with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2014 draft, even though Easley was still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in September 2013.Although Easley was healthy enough to play 11 games in his rookie season, he never appeared to get back to 100 percent. In the 270 snaps he played before being shut down for the season, Easley was unable to play with the same athleticism that became his trademark at Florida.With another offseason to rehabilitate, Easley should be in better position to return to his pre-injury form. He told SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Zig Fracassi and Alex Marvez that he will be “fully ready for training camp” on Sunday.If he can do that, Easley should form a dynamic duo on the interior of New England’s defensive line with 2015 first-round pick Malcom Brown.The 6’2”, 290-pound sophomore, who can play both defensive tackle and defensive end in the Patriots’ hybrid defense, could be a perfect complement to Brown, a bigger run-stopper who can play nose tackle, and give New England an interior pass-rushing presence that it has lacked.Ra’Shede Hageman, DT/DE, Atlanta Falcons
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Ra’Shede Hageman only played sparingly as a rookie, seeing just 224 snaps and no more than 24 in any single game. However, he was going to be a long-term project no matter what team he went to, more likely to make a big impact in two or three years than as a rookie.As the Atlanta Falcons shake up their defense under new head coach Dan Quinn this season, Hageman should have a shot to emerge as a star.From a physical standpoint, Hageman has everything one can want in an NFL defensive lineman. At 6’6” and 318 pounds, Hageman is a former tight end who is light on his feet, explosive off the snap and powerful throughout his body.With that said, Hageman was more of a flash player than a consistent disruptor at Minnesota, so it was no surprise that the same continued to hold true for the No. 37 overall pick last season. He had his moments—he recorded 17 total tackles, one sack and three blocked kicks—but the explosive big man was mired as the fifth defensive tackle on the depth chart.Expect that to change in 2015. In his most recent depth chart projection, Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution projected that Hageman will be a starting defensive tackle for Atlanta in 2015, citing a quote from Quinn on the coach’s plan for the high-upside second-year player.“We’re going to feature (Hageman) as an inside 3-technique,” Quinn told Ledbetter, who noted that as the same position Tony McDaniel played when Quinn was the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator.Given his ability to penetrate with quickness, Hageman is a natural fit for the 3-technique role. Given his all-around athleticism and strength, though, Hageman also has the versatility to move all along the line, which could enable him to evolve into a similar player to Michael Bennett (Seattle Seahawks) on Quinn’s new team.Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Detroit Lions
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports If you’ve followed my work since last year’s draft, you might recall that I was a big believer in Kyle Van Noy—so much so that I projected him as a possible Defensive Rookie of the Year.However, he was another example of a rookie whose inaugural season was derailed by injuries. He spent the first eight weeks of the season on injured reserve with a return designation, then played just 51 snaps in the second half of the year.Projected to be the Detroit Lions’ starting strong-side linebacker going into the season, he lost that opportunity due to the injury. But now that Van Noy has a year of development under his belt, the No. 40 overall pick should be able to carve out a big role if he stays healthy.The Lions have not used a strong-side linebacker frequently in recent seasons, but that’s partially because they have not had a player who can play the multitude of roles Van Noy can. A natural mover on the football field, Van Noy is skillful as both a pass-rusher and in coverage, while he is also a rangy tackler in run defense.From a skill standpoint, Van Noy should be primed to excel and provide great versatility. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew acknowledged to DetroitLions.com's Tim Twentyman, however, that Van Noy needs to step up his game this summer:“ He can have a huge role if he has a great offseason and plays great. If he doesn’t have a great offseason, and doesn’t play great, then his role won’t be as big. I think a lot of times with young players, not him specifically, but they come from a place where they’ve been great players and super stars and then they come into a new team and now they have to work their way up and play special teams and do things they didn’t do in college.”Coupling that quote with Van Noy’s lack of playing time in 2014, there is some reason for Lions fans to be apprehensive about the team’s second-round investment last year.Take a look back at what he was able to do when he was at BYU, however, and there’s reason to believe Van Noy can take a leap forward and emerge as a star.Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Mike McGinnis/Getty ImagesMuch attention has been placed upon two offseason additions to the Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush this year, veteran free-agent signing Greg Hardy and second-round draft pick Randy Gregory, in part because both defensive ends come in with questionable pasts.But it could be last year’s second-round pick, Demarcus Lawrence, who ends up making the biggest spark on the edge of Dallas' defense this season.Continuing a common refrain throughout this slideshow, Lawrence’s rookie season was limited by injury. In his case, a broken right foot sent him to injured reserve with a return designation for the first eight games of the season.Upon his return, Lawrence only saw limited playing time (223 snaps in seven regular-season games) but started to make his impact felt in the postseason. He had one sack in each of Dallas’ two playoff games, including a game-sealing strip-sack in the Cowboys’ controversial win over the Detroit Lions.Like Hardy and Gregory, Lawrence is an explosive edge defender with the burst and bend to win as an outside speed rusher. He was raw from a technical standpoint coming out of Boise State, but the No. 34 overall pick has real potential to harass quarterbacks. He also provided adequate play against the run when he was on the field last season.Because Hardy is suspended for the first 10 games of the season and Gregory is a player who needs work both in the weight room and off the field, Lawrence projects to open the season as a starter opposite Jeremy Mincey at defensive end. According to Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, the team also plans to give Lawrence some situational opportunities to play as a 3-technique defensive tackle.