Everybody deserves a second chance.

The thing is, college football sometimes gives you a third, fourth, fifth and—thanks to the COVID era—a sixth.

As the 2024 college football season becomes a faint glimmer on the horizon and spring practice is in full swing, several players across the sport's landscape are down to their last opportunity to live up to the massive expectations that were set on them as prospects.

All of these guys were 247Sports composite 5-star prospects once upon a time. Since then, they've either failed to produce at all or haven't come near reaching the peak of production predicted for them.

One was once a sparkling, emerging weapon for a national championship contender, but he's looking for a fresh start after a miserable 2023 season.

All of them could use a jolt of positivity in production, and teams across the nation need them to. In some cases, a couple of teams have more than one player on this list, so they are really banking on tapping into that talent.

Let's take a look at some former top-tier prospects who need to make the most of these fleeting moments in the sun.

Marcel Brooks, TCU Linebacker

The first of two TCU players on this list, Marcel Brooks was once a promising LSU commitment who looked like he was going to be a big part of the Bayou Bengals' future.

Alas, he entered the transfer portal, and you've hardly heard of him since.

Now, the second-ranked outside linebacker in the 2019 class who hails from Flower Mound, Texas, is looking to make major waves in his home state to close his career. In four years, he's accumulated just 23 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Last year, he played in 10 games for coach Sonny Dykes' team and still failed to make much of an impact, despite the Horned Frogs not being anywhere near as deep and talented as they were when they finished national runner-up a couple seasons ago.

In his career, Brooks has moved from defense to wide receiver and back to defense, which wouldn't have been the prediction after he immediately saw action as a true freshman in Baton Rouge.

After battling injuries throughout his career, though, he is healthy this spring. With new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos in town, it's a fresh start, and he has talent and experience.

It could be the time for Brooks to break out in his final year.

Demarkcus Bowman, UCF Running Back

When Demarkcus Bowman committed to Clemson in the 2020 recruiting class, the compact running back was expected to be a force in Dabo Swinney's revamped offense in the near future.

Very quickly, though, he left South Carolina to head home to the Florida Gators in 2021. From there, he basically faded from the national spotlight and wound up at UCF to play for coach Gus Malzahn's Knights.

In three stops at three Power 5 programs, Bowman's best season produced just 81 rushing yards in 2021 on a 5.8 average as a Gator. Last year, he couldn't get any carries in UCF in its first year in the Big 12.

Now, it's now-or-never time for the runner.

At 5'10", 193 pounds, he is stout, compact, and he can fly. Before last season started, Malzahn told the Daytona Beach News-Journal's Chris Boyle: "He's a home run waiting to happen."

With elite running back RJ Harvey returning for another season, Bowman won't start. But he could provide some quality depth if he can live up to expectations.

Julian Fleming, Penn State Wide Receiver

Back in the 2022 football season, Julian Fleming gave us all a glance at what he can be in the right system with the right opportunities.

With C.J. Stroud throwing him the ball in a dynamic Ohio State offense that was without star pass-catcher Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Fleming emerged as a go-to weapon alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on his way to a 533-yard, six-touchdown campaign.

Buckeyes fans everywhere had reason to buzz about his final two seasons in Columbus.

Then, he fell off the map, dipping to a disappointing 26-catch, 270-yard campaign a year ago when the Buckeyes struggled in the passing game with Kyle McCord under center.

Now, the Pennsylvania native is heading home to play for Penn State for his final season and try to help a woebegone unit for James Franklin that was among the most disappointing in all of college football last year.

You wouldn't normally think injecting a player who had a disappointing 2023 season into a unit that had its share of struggles would be anything special, but the Nittany Lions have plenty of hope. Fleming is an NFL-caliber player and will get the opportunity to lead a room.

Considering he has yet to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards, a change of scenery should be exciting for all. If Drew Allar can just get him the ball, all will be OK.

Justin Flowe, Arizona Linebacker

Back when the Oregon Ducks and former coach Mario Cristobal brought in an elite duo of linebackers in Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe as part of the 2020 recruiting class, the sky was the limit for their defense.

Sewell went on to a superstar career in Eugene and then to the NFL. Cristobal left for Miami, but Flowe—once the No. 6 overall prospect in the country—dealt with an array of injuries that kept him from producing. The flashes he showed when healthy were impressive, though.

Then last year, he headed to the Arizona Wildcats where he was expected to lead the team. As they had a standout season, Flowe began to produce. But he still hadn't reached his maximum potential.

He's back for another try in Tucson this year, and this is his last ride with the 'Cats. Amassing 44 tackles, including two for a loss and a sack in 13 games was a decent start to his Arizona career, but he's capable of so much more. He logged just 14 snaps in the last five games after losing his starting job.

The sideline-to-sideline starter probably didn't quite trust his body a year ago after so many injuries, but he needs to let loose and break out this season if he's going to play on the next level.

With big things expected in the Big 12 from the Wildcats, Flowe could be a centerpiece who will battle to start at middle linebacker.

Korey Foreman, Fresno State Edge

Back in 2021, Korey Foreman could have played anywhere in the nation. The 5-star defensive lineman from Corona, California, was the No. 3-ranked overall player in the nation and the top-ranked player in some services.

Rather than head off, though, he decided to play at home for USC, and greatness was sure to follow, right?

However, it never played out the way he'd hoped.

Now, Foreman will hit the reset button at Fresno State, where he joins coach Jeff Tedford's program and hopes to resurrect his career and have NFL teams take notice and take a shot on his massive talent.

He remains a bit undersized coming off the edge, but he was beginning to see the light flicker a bit in 2021 and 2022. Then last year, he played in just three games with one tackle and used his redshirt. Now, he will have two seasons left as a Bulldog.

At 6'4", 235 pounds, he could stand up or put his hand down, but he must get more aggressive at the line of scrimmage and could probably play at 15-25 pounds heavier, if he can hold the weight.

Over his career, Foreman registered just 25 tackles with 2.5 sacks and an interception. Dropping down a bit in level of play, though, he could shine. The clock is ticking.

Tony Grimes, UNLV Cornerback

Back when Tony Grimes committed to Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels as part of the 2020 recruiting class, he represented the coach's ability to land elite players, and plenty of folks predicted greatness.

UNC consistently trotted out horrific defenses in Grimes' career, though. Then-secondary coach Dre Bly couldn't develop players, and he never became the elite, long-armed defender many expected when he was a 5-star and the No. 3-rated cornerback in his class.

Predictably, he was burned often by receivers as a freshman, but as he got older, he still struggled in coverage. Then he left Chapel Hill in the transfer portal before last season and wound up at Texas A&M, where he was never healthy enough to get on the field.

Now, as his college career winds down, Grimes has resurfaced at UNLV after originally committing to Michigan State. He will line up for coach Barry Odom and the Runnin' Rebels and try to be a huge impact player in his final year.

The former three-year starter may not belong on this list for some, considering he registered 97 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack, 20 pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble in his 37 games as a Tar Heel.

But he largely has failed to live up to his star ability. An NFL future still likely awaits, and this is another chance for him to be an all-conference-caliber player.

Nolan Rucci, Penn State Offensive Lineman

Penn State head coach James Franklin is known as being a terrific recruiter, but he could be nicknamed "Mr. Second Chance" for what he's doing in the transfer portal this year, giving guys on their last leg an opportunity to star.

First, it was Ohio State receiver Julian Fleming, and he also welcomes another former Big Ten star recruit into the fold in Happy Valley along the offensive front. That would be Nolan Rucci, who will also be coming home to complete his college career.

The Lititz, Pennsylvania native was a 6'8", 285-pound offensive tackle with all the tools, which is why he came out of the 2021 recruiting class ranked the No. 3 player at his position and the No. 17-ranked overall player.

Rather than play for the home-state Nittany Lions out of high school, Rucci headed to Camp Randall to play with his brother, Hayden. But his career never took off there.

Now, he'll play for the other school with family ties, where his father, Todd, played before going on to an eight-year NFL career, and his mother was an All-American field hockey player.

Rucci will battle with Drew Shelton for one of the two offensive tackle spots, and while the Lions can't expect him to fill the massive shoes of future first-round pick Olu Fashanu, he could help solidify a unit desperately needing it.

This is a perfect match and a gamble worth taking for Franklin.

Trey Sanders, TCU Running Back

If it seems like Trey Sanders makes this list every year, it's because he was such a highly rated recruit coming out of high school, and he has the type of story you just want to pull for.

Back in the 2019 recruiting class, the IMG Academy star was the No. 6-ranked overall player and the top-rated running back in the class. Not surprisingly, he wound up at Alabama to play for Nick Saban's powerhouse.

During his freshman year, he broke his foot and took a medical redshirt. Then in 2020, he carried the ball just 30 times for 134 before he was involved in a serious car accident during Bama's bye week. He wound up with internal injuries as well as a fractured pelvis, something that would put him in a wheelchair.

Sanders hasn't been the same since, but he is trying to recapture some of the magic playing for the TCU Horned Frogs, where he has one season of eligibility remaining.

With Emani Bailey off to the NFL draft, the experienced veteran leads a group of guys without many carries like Cam Cook, Trent Battle, Corey Wren and Nate Palmer. Following a 176-yard, six-touchdown performance in '23, this may be the year for more carries to lead the charge.

It's doubtful Sanders will be the workhorse in Sonny Dykes' offense, but he could be a big part of the running back room, which would be refreshing after a career that's seen him amass just 704 rushing yards, nine scores and never a season with more than 72 carries.

Keeshawn Silver, Kentucky Defensive Lineman

The Kentucky Wildcats need massive defensive tackle Keeshawn Silver to be more than just a rotational piece on a mid-tier SEC defense.

The 2024 season will go a long way in proving whether the former North Carolina Tar Heel will ever live up to the hype he generated as a 6'6", 275-pound prospect who was a 5-star and the No. 8-rated defensive tackle in the 2021 class.

Back then, Silver was a two-sport star who could have played college basketball, and that athleticism was exciting to behold. But it never translated on the field in Mack Brown's defenses, and after he left for Lexington before last season, he was just OK.

All the hype around the Wildcats defense will deservedly center on All-American defensive tackle Deone Walker, but Silver stepping up could go a long way in helping take some of the pressure off the Kentucky star.

During the 2023 season, the now-322-pound lineman finished with just 17 tackles, including two for a loss. That's much less production than coach Mark Stoops thought he'd get when he lured him from Chapel Hill.

After battling injuries a season ago, Walker is healthy and could be a big piece of the puzzle. It's something we've been looking for throughout his entire career, and he's fallen short so far. But there's a major opportunity right now for Silver to seize.

Sav'ell Smalls, Colorado Tight End

There's no bigger wild card on this list than Colorado edge-rusher-turned-tight end Sav'ell Smalls, who is just trying to find a way to fit in somewhere.

After a disappointing career at Washington ended, the former 5-star, top-30 player in the 2020 class who stayed close to his Burien, Washington home to play for the Huskies elected to transfer to Boulder.

But even on a defense that was truly awful in coach Deion Sanders' first season, Smalls couldn't really find a way into the rotation. Under then-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, he played in two games and registered four tackles.

So, Sanders is moving him to the offensive side of the ball where his 6'4", 260-pound frame and elite athleticism could benefit him and the Buffaloes. What if he really takes to this position and becomes another weapon for quarterback Shedeur Sanders?

Truly at this point of a college career that never took off, what could it hurt? Even if he's just a blocking tight end in Pat Shurmur's offense, it would be a chance for him to contribute.

With Michael Harrison following former offensive coordinator Sean Lewis to San Diego State, the Buffaloes have plenty of reps they need to fill at tight end along with Cincinnati transfer Chamon Metayer.

Xavian Sorey Jr., Arkansas Linebacker

If there's one position group nationally where a super-athletic player could get lost in the shuffle, the Georgia Bulldogs linebacker room would be at the top of the heap.

With the way coach Kirby Smart has stacked classes in Athens, there is player upon player who are elite talents ready to step onto the field as a second-level defender.

So, Xavian Sorey Jr. never quite produced for the Dawgs the way he'd hoped after coming to UGA in the 2021 class as the No. 2-rated outside linebacker and 26th-rated overall player in the class from IMG Academy.

Known for his elite speed, the 6'3", 224-pound linebacker finished his Georgia career with 24 tackles in three years, including 2.5 for a loss, a sack and an interception.

Rather than muddle his way through a loaded group again in 2024, he elected to head to Fayetteville, Arkansas and finish his career as a Razorback. Former UGA assistant and current Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman certainly needs difference-makers on that side of the ball.

Sorey has a couple of former Dawgs teammates already on the Arkansas roster, and the opportunity to play for defensive coordinator Travis Williams, who recruited him when he was in high school, was a big deal.

"Just seeing Coach T-Will, I haven't seen him since high school," Sorey told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Richard Davenport after his visit to Arkansas. "He recruited me heavy, so being around Coach T-Will, it was nice."

Brock Vandagriff, Kentucky Quarterback

If Keeshawn Silver has a bad season at Kentucky in 2024, the Wildcats will just have to find another guy to replace him. However, if Brock Vandagriff struggles, it's going to be a long, awful season in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky and coach Mark Stoops are banking on their second transfer quarterback in the past two years, but unlike last year's starter—former North Carolina State signal-caller Devin Leary—Vandagriff has limited college reps.

Still, the Georgia transfer is going to be handed the keys to the Wildcats with new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, who replaced Liam Coen after he left Kentucky for the second time in three years to go back to the NFL.

The Hamdan-Vandagriff experiment could be huge, and it could backfire. There's no question the quarterback is talented, a former 5-star from the 2021 class who was the fourth-rated player at his position and the No. 17 prospect overall.

Like Will Levis a few years ago, Vandagriff is a gamble. Levis was a career backup at Penn State before coming to Lexington and enjoyed a nice career that led to him being selected 33rd overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 draft. He threw for 5,232 yards, 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in two seasons.

As for Vandagriff, he's thrown just 21 passes (completing 12) in three years for 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With two seasons of eligibility left (like Levis had), the 'Cats are betting that he can be their guy. We'll find out very soon.