Claypool grew up in British Columbia and was not getting much attention from American colleges until he started posting highlights on Facebook. Eventually he became a top-20 receiver prospect and landed a spot in South Bend. Claypool actually had more special teams tackles (eight) than receptions (five catches, 81 yards, 16.2 average) in 12 games as a true freshman -- but that's a good thing for a young player making his mark. He started eight of 12 games played in 2017 (29 receptions, 402 yards, 13.9 average, two touchdowns) before lining up full-time with the starters as a junior (50 receptions, 639 yards, 12.8 average, four touchdowns in 13 games, 12 starts). Claypool became a household name in 13 starts during the 2019 campaign, as he was the team's leading receiver, grabbing 66 passes for 1,037 yards (15.7 per) and 13 touchdowns, which ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Highsmith was not highly recruited coming out of Wilmington, North Carolina, but he grew into a playmaker for the 49ers. In fact, he walked on at Charlotte, redshirting in 2015 before gaining playing time the next year (17 tackles, two for losses, one start in 12 games). While he was a reserve player in 2017, Highsmith received a scholarship before the season and made an impact on the field, recording 33 stops, five for losses, and two sacks as a pass rush specialist. His game matured in 2018, garnering first-team All-Conference USA accolades by posting 60 tackles, a school-record 17.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He repeated first-team All-C-USA notice and also was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press as a senior, finishing among the top five nationally with 21.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks (among his 75 total stops) in 13 starts.

Injuries have been the only thing holding McFarland back since his junior year of high school, when he was a second-team Washington Post All-Metro player at famed DeMatha Catholic. He missed his senior year with a broken leg, then had to redshirt his first year at Maryland (he chose the Terrapins over schools like Alabama and Miami to stay close to home) to continue his recovery. Healthy in 2018, McFarland was named second-team All-Big Ten and a Freshman All-American, rushing for 1,034 yards and four scores on 131 carries (7.9 per) in 12 games (five starts). He started seven of 11 games played in 2019, managing to score eight touchdowns on the ground (114 carries, 614 yards, 5.4 ypc) and one as a receiver (17 receptions, 126 yards, 7.4 average) despite a high-ankle sprain hindering his performance.

Dotson is a second-generation Ragin' Cajun, following in his father Kelcy's footsteps. His twin brother, Kelly, is a defensive end at Nicholls State. Two of his uncles, Alvin and Dennis McKinley, played in the NFL. Dotson started 12 of 13 games played at right guard as a redshirt freshman, landing a spot on the Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer team. He started all 26 games over the next two seasons at right guard, working his way up from the second-team all-conference squad in 2017 to the first team as a junior. He and teammate Robert Hunt dominated on the right side of the line in 2019, helping the Cajuns to an 11-3 record. He was named first-team Associated Press All-American as well as first-team All-SBC for his efforts in 14 starts.

Brooks was a very good high school player in Maryland before suffering major injuries in his senior year (he was still named Prince George 4A County Offensive Player of the Year), limiting college recruiters' interest. The Terrapins offered him just before signing day and haven't regretted it since. He played in six games as a reserve his true freshman season (five tackles), and then moved from linebacker to defensive back. It proved to be the right move, as Brooks was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick in 2017 (77 tackles, team-high 9.5 for loss, two interceptions). He was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior (68 stops, team-high 9.5 for loss, two pass breakups in 12 starts) and senior (team-high 87 tackles, 8.5 for loss, one interception, five pass breakups in 12 starts). Brooks' lone interception for the year was a game-clincher in the opener, a win over Texas that the team dedicated to the late offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who passed away after suffering heatstroke during a May 2018 workout.

Carlos and his twin brother, Khalil, have been a big part of the Huskers' defensive line the past four years. Carlos was the Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Blue Springs High in Missouri, and won state titles in the discus and shot put (beating Carlos in both events). He continued his track career into college, becoming an honorable mention All-American discus thrower for the Cornhuskers. On the football field, Davis started four of 13 games played in 2016 (24 tackles, five for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups). He started all 12 games as a sophomore (42 tackles, four for losses, 2.5 sacks) and began nine games as a junior (27 stops, three for loss in 12 games played), and 11 games as a senior (32 tackles, 4.5 for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups).