PFSN’s Top 100 College Football Players for 2025: Can Anyone Stop Ohio State Sensation Jeremiah Smith?

The wait is over. In less than seven days, the 2025 college football season will begin in Dublin, Ireland, with the historic Kansas State vs. Iowa State “Farmageddon” rivalry heralding the start of what should be an electric and unforgettable year. To celebrate, PFSN is revealing its top 100 college football players to watch in the 2025 campaign.

Below you’ll find what we consider to be the best 100 college football players in the nation. The list was carefully constructed using PFSN’s suite of positional metrics, while in-depth conversations helped weed out the anomalies and elevate the deserving. If your favorite player isn’t here, it’s likely because they haven’t proven their potential just yet. Perhaps they will in 2025.

100) Caleb Lomu | OT

Utah Utes

There is legitimate excitement about the 2025 Utah Utes offense following a brutal campaign a year ago. The arrival of a new coordinator and a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, Devon Dampier, has created buzz around the program. Still, potential success will come from a foundation of offensive line play, with Caleb Lomu forming one half of a brilliant bookend duo.

The 6’6″, 302-pound behemoth looks set to build on a redshirt-freshman campaign where he earned national recognition from some media outlets. In his debut season as a starter, he allowed pressure on 5.3% of his true dropback pass block reps, while establishing himself as a force in the ground game. He also gave up just two penalties last fall as an efficient and reliable lineman.

99) Bryce Foster | OL

Kansas Jayhawks

Despite missing most of the 2022 season with injury, Bryce Foster has established himself as one of the most experienced centers in college football, logging 40 starts across four seasons and two teams. A devastating multi-sport star in high school, he landed at Texas A&M, where he earned freshman honors, but is recognized here for his work in 2024 with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Foster enters the 2025 campaign on multiple watchlists, and it’s not hard to see why. The Jayhawks’ standout was a battering ram for a dominant campaign by Devin Neal, while establishing himself as a premier protector. He was one of just 16 players at the pivot not to allow a sack last fall and prevented pressure on 98.1% of his true dropback protection reps. Dominant.

98) Davison Igbinosun | CB

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced some of the most electric defensive backs in recent college football history. Now, Davison Igbinosun has the potential to be the next great one. He was comfortably the most penalized defensive back in the nation among players eligible for a PFSN College CB+ season grade, but if he can iron that element out of his game, the sky is the limit.

The Ohio State cornerback allowed two touchdowns on 60 targets while giving up just 0.9 yards per coverage snap. Opposition quarterbacks averaged a QB rating of just 69.3 when targeting Igbinosun, while he forced an incompletion on 16.7% of his targets. His interception against Penn State was a piece of college football theater that we need to see more of this fall.

97) Jason Henderson | LB

Old Dominion Monarchs

During his four seasons with the Old Dominion Monarchs, Jason Henderson has become synonymous with tackling expertise. He’s twice led the nation in assisted tackles (2022 and 2023) and has averaged 109.7 tackles per season, a remarkable feat made even more impressive by the fact he played just one game last fall due to injury.

He doesn’t just bolster statistics with meaningless downfield tackles, however. Henderson is a constant backfield enforcer with 34 tackles for loss during his career. A return to full health should ensure we see one final epic campaign from one of college football’s best. He has the college football career total tackles within his sight, and only a fool would bet against him.

96) Brent Austin | CB

California Golden Bears

If you’re looking for a player to establish themselves among the college football elite this fall, new California Golden Bears cornerback Brent Austin could well be your man. After 16 games with the James Madison Dukes in 2022 and 2023, he took his skills to the USF Bulls in 2024, where he started all 13 games, snagged two interceptions, and led the team with 10 breakups.

He’s a top-tier route-reader who comes downhill with dangerous intentions in all phases of the game. However, Austin isn’t reckless, missing a tackle on just 7.3% of his attempts to separate man from ball in the most violent manner. He gave up just one touchdown on 56 targets a year ago, forcing an incompletion on 23.2% and giving up a catch on just 41.1%.

95) Zane Durant | DT

Penn State Nittany Lions

At 6’1″ and 290 pounds, Zane Durant might not fit your made-in-a-lab idea of a dominant defensive tackle, but the Penn State product is pound-for-pound one of the most talented playmakers you’re likely to see this season. He enters his fourth season with the Nittany Lions, having enjoyed the best year of his career, and he has yet to reach the ceiling of how he can impact the game.

Durant had 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as part of a 42-tackle campaign from the heart of the Penn State line. With a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, who is capable of unlocking his explosive athleticism and raw power, the senior tackle has the potential to fly up this list of the top 100 college football players even faster than he gets out of his stance.

94) Henry Lutovsky | OL

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a rich heritage on the offensive line, and in 2025, they have three players among the best linemen in college football. At the head of this trio of terrors is right guard Henry Lutovsky. Although he saw early playing time in 2021, he’s slowly developed his skill set, finally establishing himself as a full-time starter and rewarding patience.

Lutovsky’s 91.1 PFSN College OL+ grade is one of the highest among returning guards, bolstered by not allowing a single sack in 2024. The Nebraska standout allowed pressure on 2.7% of his true dropback pass block reps, while preventing defenses from getting quick pressure on freshman Dylan Raiola. A refined combatant in the trenches, he allowed two penalties in 2024.

93) Lander Barton | LB

Utah Utes

Utah has a recent history of producing phenomenal linebackers who impact the game in all phases. Lander Barton fits that description perfectly and could have comfortably turned pro at the end of the 2024 campaign. Thankfully, for a Utes defense that was one of the best in the country a year ago, he’s back to continue his reign of terror for the 2025 college football season.

At 6’4″ and 236 pounds, Barton is a solid lump of clay at the linebacker position who will hit you in the mouth, hard. Yet, he has the athleticism and football smarts to be more than a one-dimensional downhill backer. His 75.6 opposing quarterback rating when targeted is one of the better markers among linebackers with 700+ snaps in 2024.

92) Kage Casey | OL

Boise State Broncos

An All-American by multiple outlets after he played a pivotal role in the success of the Boise State Broncos’ ground game in 2024, Kage Casey lands in the top 100 college football players for 2025. His return to the blue turf for the upcoming season should ensure continuity for an offense that is once again expected to be one of the very best at the Group of Five level.

Casey allowed pressure on just 1.1% of his true dropback pass block snaps in 2024, while only being penalised twice in 907 snaps, a phenomenal rate of success. The 6’5″, 311-pound fourth-year offensive tackle is one of the best pass protectors in the country and will lock down Maddux Madsen’s blindside and pave the way for a potential breakout season for Sire Gaines.

91) David Bailey | EDGE

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Texas Tech Red Raiders invested in the trenches this offseason, both in recruiting and the transfer portal. The acquisition of David Bailey from the Stanford Cardinal might be the best move they made. The explosive pass rusher had a career year in 2024, logging seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, and an eye-watering five forced fumbles.

As a result, he received an 82.3 PFSN College EDGE+ grade that makes him one of the top returning pass rushers in college football. Bailey boasts an elite first step and has the bend capacity to make offensive tackles look foolish. He already has some pass rush tools in his locker that should embarrass some Big 12 offensive tackles.

90) Jordan van den Berg | DT

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

A former South African youth rugby player who moved to America from Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 10, Jordan van den Berg is still developing as a defensive tackle. That in itself is a scary prospect for any college football offensive linemen as he prepares for his second season with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets after a second-team All-ACC campaign.

Van den Berg took the JUCO route with Iowa Western before spending three years with Penn State. In his Georgia Tech debut campaign, he weaponized his 6’3″, 300-pound frame at the line of scrimmage, resulting in five tackles for loss and a sack. He’s particularly impactful in the run game, ranking in the top 20 among defensive tackles with a 3.4% tackle for loss percentage.

89) Cayden Lee | WR

Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels have been a steady wide receiver factory since Lane Kiffin landed in Oxford. After a 2024 season where he tallied 874 yards and two touchdowns from just 57 catches, Cayden Lee is set to emerge as the next super talent from The Grove. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him handle the majority of the workload for the offense this fall.

A big-big play threat waiting to happen on every snap, Lee logged 20 catches of 20+ yards in 2024 and averaged 15.9 yards per catch for his career. As the Rebels transition to a new quarterback in Austin Simmons, Lee should provide the ultimate security blanket as a wide receiver who didn’t drop a single target last fall while recording an EPA per target of 0.87.

88) Logan Jones | OL

Iowa Hawkeyes

Is Logan Jones the next great Iowa Hawkeyes center? After arriving in 2020 as a two-way trench tyrannosaur at the high school level, he put in the hard work necessary to crack the defensive rotation. However, he made the transition to center in 2022 with immediate success. As a result, he’s been an All-Big Ten honoree for the past two seasons, with preseason accolades in 2025.

The 6’3″, 302-pound center echoes of former Iowa standout Tyler Linerbaum, with the explosive athleticism that allows him to get out ahead of the run game quickly. He’s strong and nasty, with the power to drive people out of the club. While he requires some protection refinement, he didn’t allow a sack last fall, contributing to a 93.0 PFSN College OL+ grade in 2024.

87) Isaac Brown | RB

Louisville Cardinals

Isaac Brown had a sensational first season with the Louisville Cardinals, rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. A combination of some stellar offensive line play and his ability to evade contact ensured that he averaged 3.1 yards per carry before taking a hit. Still, he also added 4.06 yards per carry after contact.

A true pace back, he uses his incredible speed to pull away from defenders once he’s absorbed contact, resulting in plays like a career-long 77-yard rush from last fall and powering a 44.8% elusive rate that ranked 14th in the country last year. Brown’s 49.1% offensive success rate was a top 25 mark, while he also contributed 0.92 yards per route run in the passing game.

86) Blake Horvath | QB

Navy Midshipmen

With his absurd athleticism and eye-popping arm talent for a service academy quarterback, Blake Horvath was one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch last fall while also being the propellant of the resurgence of the Navy Midshipmen football program.

Remove romance and subjectivity from the equation, and the numbers still concur that Horvath is one of the top returning college football quarterbacks.

The second-highest graded Navy quarterback since 2019 (Malcolm Perry, 81.9), no returning quarterback had more rushing yards than the talented option playmaker (1,246). Utah Ute dual-threat Devon Dampier was the only quarterback to have more rushing scores (17) amongst passers returning in 2025.

Horvath thrice ranked among the weekly top 10 with his single-game grades (against UAB, Memphis, and Army) and produced two top-50 games within the 2024 season. He recorded an 89.8 (B+) grade against the Blazers, the 17th-best performance by a quarterback last fall. Meanwhile, his 87.3 grade against Memphis ranked 36th throughout the 2024 campaign.

A man for the big moment, Horvath excelled in close games, leading all returning college football quarterbacks (who played a full season) in close game EPA (1.13).

The Navy quarterback was born with the clutch gene, leading all qualifying passers with a 2.26 clutch sum. With explosive athleticism and ice in his veins, Navy should be considered a force in the AAC once again this fall.

85) Gracen Halton | DT

Oklahoma Sooners

A former four-star recruit, the Oklahoma Sooners are just now starting to extract the potential out of Gracen Halton. After logging 30 tackles with six tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2024, he earned an 82.7 PFSN College DT+ grade that ranks among the best returning defensive tackles in the country for 2025. An explosive season could be incoming.

The 6’2″, 284-pound senior lineman plays with the quickness, speed, and pliability of a much smaller man, weaponized by a relentless motor that doesn’t quit until he’s nailed a man to the ground. Just ask Quinn Ewers. As a result, he boasts one of the best pressure percentages (13.1%) of any defensive tackle from the 2024 college football campaign.

84) Aamil Wagner | OL

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

After appearing as a reserve right tackle for the 2023 Joe Moore Award semifinalist Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive line, Aamil Wagner rose to the fore as a key component of a unit that powered a national championship game run. A 16-game starter last fall, he gave Riley Leonard time to work and helped open rushing lanes for Jeremiyah Love’s national emergence.

Against the backdrop of one of the hardest schedules in college football, Wagner allowed just three sacks all season, with a pressure rate of 7.1% on true dropback pass block reps. Having weaponized his athletic 6’6″, 300-pound frame against some of the nation’s top defensive talent, he’s set to continue the tradition of exceptional Notre Dame offensive linemen in 2025.

83) LT Overton | EDGE

Alabama Crimson Tide

With three sacks and six tackles for loss across two teams and three seasons, LT Overton doesn’t boast the stereotypical pass rush profile that you’d expect from a program that produces highly productive playmakers as a regular occurrence. However, you have to dig below basic statistics to understand why he can’t be ignored as one of the top college football players in 2025.

Overton recorded an 82.5 PFSN College EDGE+ grade last fall, good enough for 14th among returning pass rushers. In addition to putting pressure on the opposing quarterback on 16% of snaps, he also held teams to 1.75 yards gained per run. A versatile force, the 6’5″, 283-pound Alabama product played 26.7% of his snaps aligned as a defensive tackle.

82) Jaden Greathouse | WR

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Jaden Greathouse hasn’t been a statistical standout by any stretch of the imagination during his two seasons in South Bend, but that’s a product of the system rather than his skill set. His 81.7 PFSN College WR+ grade was a top 10 mark last season, and his 0.8 EPA per target from last fall is among the best among returning college football quarterbacks in 2025.

The true junior receiver showcased during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game that he can contest at the catch point and the agility, suddenness, and speed to add value after the catch. It’s unclear what the offense will look like this fall, but it should be tailored to Greathouse.

81) Diego Pavia | QB

Vanderbilt Commodores

After excelling for the New Mexico State Aggies in 2023, the nation was introduced to the talents of Diego Pavia in his debut season in the SEC with the Vanderbilt Commodores.

A gritty swashbuckler who is equally parts arm cannon and battering ram, the veteran JUCO product has gotten better with every passing season, which should be a terrifying prospect for defensive coordinators this season.

The most impressive thing about Pavia’s 80.1 PFSN College QB+ grade (B-) is that he matched his play from 2023 against elevated competition.

In both seasons, he received an unadjusted QB+ grade of 80.0, but the strength of schedule faced with the Aggies in CUSA saw his adjusted grade drop to 78.2 (C+). It’s a minor adjustment for competition quality, but it speaks to Pavia’s ability to play at any game level.

The Vanderbilt quarterback ranked in the weekly top five four times last season, a remarkable feat that demonstrates his talent. He also has five games within the top 100 performances from the past six seasons (for Vanderbilt and New Mexico State).

His most famous outing to date, the historic win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, earned a 90.5 (A-) grade that was the 13th-best game in 2024.

Pavia’s clutch sum and consistently high conversion rate on money downs contribute to his statistical success, providing a quantifiable measurement of the visual treat that is watching him pile through defenses for fun on a Saturday afternoon.

80) Trey Zuhn III | OL

Texas A&M Aggies

With a 90.6 PFSN College OL+ grade from the 2024 campaign and a spot on the All-SEC Third Team a year ago, Texas A&M Aggies offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III is comfortably one of the top returning linemen in college football this fall. After redshirting in 2021, he’s established himself as a cornerstone of the Aggies’ line, starting 37 games across the last three years.

The 6’6″, 319-pound left tackle needs some refinement in the ground game, but isn’t lacking for sheer nastiness when it matters. Meanwhile, he’s one of the top pass protectors in the country, giving up just one sack and a 4.4% pressure rate. With head coach Mike Elko discussing possibly using him at center during the offseason, Zuhn has potential versatility, too.

79) Eric Rivers | WR

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost some receiving talent to the transfer portal but landed one of the top playmakers in the country in Eric Rivers. He led CUSA in yards (1,172), yards per catch (18.9), and touchdowns (12) in a breakout season that resulted in the opportunity to suit up for an ACC outfit with the weapons to make a run at the conference championship game.

The 5’11”, 174-pound former FIU Golden Panther wins with an incredible release package, adds value after the catch, and is one of the most productive returning receivers in college football (97.7 yards per game, 12 touchdowns, 136.5 EPA), giving Haynes King an elite target.

78) Malik Rutherford | WR

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Do not adjust your sets, there really are two Georgia Tech wide receivers inside the top 100 college football players for 2025. Although the program lost Eric Singleton Jr. to the transfer portal, they were able to retain Malik Rutherford. According to the PFSN College WR+ metric, Rutherford was the better pass catcher at the program during the 2024 college football campaign.

Rutherford was King’s go-to guy last fall, leading the team with 62 receptions and turning those into 702 yards and three touchdowns. Of those, Rutherford contributed 469 yards after the catch, showcasing the creation capacity for a player with an 81.9 PFSN College WR+ grade. He was also one of just six players with 700+ receiving and 80+ rushing in 2024.

77) LaNorris Sellers | QB

South Carolina Gamecocks

LaNorris Sellers is one of the most exciting players at any position that you’ll see in college football this season. He could comfortably end up as the best quarterback in the country by the time the year is out. He’s a dangerous dual threat with the physical tools to dominate for the Gamecocks this fall.

If he plays more consistently, the most productive season of his career should lead to team success and individual accolades. Herein lies the problem. The South Carolina talent wouldn’t have qualified for our list of the top 100 college football players based on his 2024 grade alone. His 78.1 PFSN College QB+ grade ranked 51st among qualifying passers last fall.

His inclusion is based on projection and the flashes that we saw last fall. He isn’t a statistical standout, especially by more advanced metrics. Still, if there were a quarterback that you had to stake your mortgage on to put a team on his back and deliver this fall, it would likely be Sellers and his feats of escapology.

76) Carnell Tate | WR

Ohio State Buckeyes

Despite playing second fiddle to freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith and now-Tampa Bay Buccaneer Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was still able to rattle off 733 receiving yards and four touchdowns and record an 81.1 PFSN College WR+ grade. With greater opportunities in 2025, Tate can establish himself as a legitimate presence in college football.

The Ohio State standout produced some decent advanced numbers that speak to the impact he’s likely to make for the Buckeyes this fall. Tate averaged 2.01 yards per route run, secured 77.6% of his targets, and had an EPA per target of 0.72, just shy of teammate Smith. (0.79). He’s well-positioned for a 1,000+ yard season if he remains healthy through the year.

75) Luke Altmyer | QB

Illinois Fighting Illini

There are many reasons to be excited about Illinois Fighting Illini football this fall, and the return of starting quarterback Luke Altmyer is one of them. After a season where he helped the team to a first 10-win season since 2001, the former Ole Miss Rebels recruit turned his back on an NFL opportunity and extended his stay in Champagne as one of the top 25 returning college football quarterbacks.

Altmyer ranks second among returning Big Ten quarterbacks for offensive dropback EPA (67.9), offensive throw EPA (107.41), and rushing EPA (11.9). Meanwhile, no other Big Ten quarterback with over 150 passing attempts had a better touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.7), and only one other returning Big Ten quarterback outperformed his 9.6 air yards per attempt in 2024.

Altmyer’s passing stat line of 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns with 60.8% pass completion isn’t overly flashy, and he doesn’t receive the respect he deserves due to a lack of gaudy numbers. Subsequently, he doesn’t have any eye-popping single-game grades from last fall.

Yet, his star power lies with consistency, with four 80+ graded games last fall. Seven of his career outings have been a top-30 mark in their game week. The progression from a 68.2 grade against Purdue in 2023 to a career-high against the Boilermakers in 2024 was remarkable.

74) Ahmad Hardy | RB

Missouri Tigers

Ahmad Hardy led all freshmen running backs with 1,351 rushing yards for the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks last fall, parlaying that performance into a transfer portal opportunity with the Missouri Tigers. While he’s yet to prove himself at the SEC level, the young rusher has already established himself as one of the top 25 returning college football running backs for the 2025 season.

Hardy boasts impressive speed and agility to evade contact and can shake off the attentions of defenders, and even seeks out contact with a vicious stiff arm used to spurn defensive advances, resulting in 4.25 yards per carry after contact (14th in 2024). He wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game last fall, and improvement there could improve his grade in 2025.

73) Terrance Carter Jr. | TE

Texas Tech Red Raiders

After two seasons spent establishing himself as one of the top tight ends at the Group of Five level with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Terrance Carter Jr. returns to his home state and a Texas Tech Red Raiders team well-equipped to compete in the Big 12 this fall. He led all Sun Belt tight ends in receiving yards and receiving yards per game last fall, earning all-conference honors.

While his headline statistics were 689 receiving yards in 2024, Carter showcased his playmaking ability, as 404 of those came after the catch, fourth among all tight ends last fall. He ranks third among returning tight ends with 2.35 yards per route run last fall, while he allowed just one pressure across 31 pass-blocking reps to round out an 84.6 PFSN College TE+ grade.

72) Fernando Mendoza | QB

Indiana Hoosiers

Fernando Mendoza is starting to garner hype as a legitimate NFL Draft prospect. Yet, before we get carried away with his professional potential, we have a whole season of college football to enjoy his abilities. After impressing with the California Golden Bears last fall, Mendoza entered the transfer portal and landed with the quarterback-needy Indiana Hoosiers.

Former Hoosier quarterback Kurtis Rourke had the sixth-highest PFSN College QB+ grade (85.6) of the 2024 season, leaving substantially big boots to fill. Like his conference compatriot Luke Altmyer, Mendoza doesn’t have the flashiest of grades to hang his hat on, but has made a career out of consistently being able to carve open defenses.

Mendoza’s 92.66 dropback EPA would have ranked in the top five of Big Ten quarterbacks last fall.

His 125.43 offensive throw EPA would have ranked fourth, while his 21.14 scramble EPA would have led the conference. The former Cal quarterback took a lot of sacks in 2024 (9.4% sack rate), but behind an offensive line that landed some of the top portal linemen, he should have more time to unleash his natural arm talent.

71) Jack Endries | TE

Texas Longhorns

Jack Endries made an immediate impact for the California Golden Bears as a true freshman in 2023, earning national recognition and snagging 407 yards and two touchdowns. Last fall, he established himself as one of the top tight ends in the nation during the program’s first season in the ACC, earning an 84.72 PFSN College TE+ that ranks second among returning TEs.

Endries established himself as a versatile and dangerous route runner, ranking fourth among returning tight ends with 2.32 yards per route run in 2024, while his 0.86 EPA per target is one of the best in the country. Meanwhile, the new Texas tight end is also a capable and willing blocker who allowed just one pressure from 77 pass-blocking snaps.

70) Derrick Moore | EDGE

Michigan Wolverines

If you judge edge players solely on sacks, you’re probably not going to be super high on Michigan’s Derrick Moore. On a team that has featured productive juggernauts like Aidan Hutchinson, he’s never had more than five sacks in a single season, has just one forced fumble in three years, and his 14 career tackles for loss are fewer than 25 pass rushers tallied in 2024 alone.

Yet, when you throw on the tape and actually watch Moore go about his business, you understand why he should be viewed as one of the top college football players for 2025. The 6’3″, 256-pound pass rusher is one of the most ferocious playmakers you’ll see on Saturdays this fall, boasting insane power and relentless energy that resulted in a 14.9% pressure rate last season.

69) Thaddeus Dixon | CB

North Carolina Tar Heels

After beginning his career at Long Beach City College in 2021, Thaddeus Dixon made his way to the Washington Huskies, where he’s quietly established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the country. The next step on his journey sees him follow Steve Belichick to the North Carolina Tar Heels, where expectations are high heading into the 2025 college football season.

In a breakout season last fall, he allowed 24 receptions on 51 targets and two touchdowns, allowing 0.7 coverage yards per snap and an opposing quarterback rating of 65.7. Dixon is capable of making splash plays at the catch point and in the backfield, appearing like a rocket from the secondary and rarely failing to make contact. He’s the epitome of an impact maker.

68) Aaron Graves | DT

Iowa Hawkeyes

A legitimate two-player at the high school level, Aaron Graves has become one of the best defensive linemen in college football during his four seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 6’5″, 295-pound defensive tackle enjoyed a career year in 2024, leading the Big Ten with three forced fumbles while setting career highs for tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (six).

Graves’ 83.3 PFSN College DT+ grade is the third-highest marker among returning players at the position, and he’s set to build on last year’s performance this fall. Only one other player had more than the Hawkeyes’ standout last fall (12), showcasing disruptive capability with pure strength, a crippling punch, and a wrestler’s understanding of leverage (he’s a former wrestler).

67) Tomas Rimac | OL

Virginia Tech Hokies

If you don’t know the name Tomas Rimac, now is a good time to get him on your radar. The impressive guard earned honors in all three seasons with the West Virginia Mountaineers, culminating in an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for his underrated performances for a mediocre 2024 Mountaineers outfit. He transferred to the Virginia Tech Hokies for 2025.

Rimac will be tested by some of the ACC’s top defensive linemen (although he avoids Clemson) this fall. Still, there is every reason to believe he can pass with flying colors as a guard who is equally capable in run blocking and pass protection. He didn’t allow a single sack last season while ceding pressure on just 1.4% of his pass block reps, resulting in a 95.0 OL+ grade.

66) Kaytron Allen | RB

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions were delivered some good news as the NFL Draft deadline approached, as both of their dominant running backs opted to return to school for the 2025 campaign. While there is some debate as to who aids the offense the most, Kaytron Allen is the lower-graded of the “Thunder and Lightning” duo heading into the fall with an 84.1 PFSN College RB+ grade.

Allen rushed for 1,108 yards a year ago, leaning on a 40.9% elusive rate to power 3.24 yards after contact per carry. He also registered an offensive rush success rate (46.1%) that ranked inside the top 50 running backs in the country. While he is a factor in the passing game, with 422 career receiving yards and four scores, it’s one area that separates him from his teammate.

65) Sonny Styles | LB

Ohio State Buckeyes

A former defensive back who has established himself as one of the top college football players in the country since switching positions to linebacker, Sonny Styles was an underrated cog of the Ohio State run to the 2024 college football national title. He played inside linebacker far less than some of the names on this list (64.9%), but that speaks to his unique versatility.

Despite being over 6’4″ and 237 pounds, Styles boasts exceptional movement skills, allowing him to patrol all areas of the field. He’s growing into his role, but flashes devastating glimpses of being a dominant linebacker in 2025. His 87.8 PFSN College LB+ grade from 2024 ranked fourth among returning players at the position, bolstered by a 27.1% pressure rate.

64) Raion Strader | CB

Auburn Tigers

If you’re not familiar with Raion Strader’s game from his two seasons with the Miami RedHawks, you might be confused as to why the new Auburn Tigers cornerback is ranked among the top 100 college football players for 2025.

You should acquaint yourself with the junior defensive back’s talents because he’s about to emerge into the national consciousness in the SEC after two years of domination in the MAC.

Strader was a College Sports Network First Team All-American in 2024, following on from a 2023 campaign that earned him Freshman All-American honors. The former RedHawk led the nation with 18 pass breakups last fall, snagging two interceptions along the way.

He already has experience against Power Four opposition (Miami Hurricanes, 2023; Cincinnati Bearcats, 2023 and 2024; Northwestern Wildcats, 2024; Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 2024), so the transition to the SEC shouldn’t be an issue.

63) Caleb Tiernan | OL

Northwestern Wildcats

Measuring in at 6’7″ and 330 pounds with long, punishing limbs, Caleb Tiernan is one of the most imposing offensive tackles that you’ll see in college football this fall. Hidden from national attention by a difficult 2024 campaign, he quietly put together a campaign that earned him a 91.1 PFSN OL+ grade, one of the highest by any offensive lineman regardless of alignment.

Tiernan continues the Northwestern tradition of smart, technically refined pass blockers. He put his eye-catching hand placement and footwork to great use last fall, allowing just one true dropback sack while giving up pressure on 3.0% of his true dropback pass blocking reps. His ability to switch from finesse to ferociousness as a bulldozer in the ground game is frightening.

62) Jermod McCoy | CB

Tennessee Volunteers

After transferring from the Oregon State Beavers ahead of the 2024 campaign, Jermod McCoy had a season for the ages with the Tennessee Volunteers, earning national recognition and establishing himself as one of the best in the country. He suffered an ACL tear this offseason, which could limit his ceiling, but he’s a legitimate playmaker with the potential to be elite.

A physical ball hawk whose tape is littered with highlight reel plays, McCoy snagged four interceptions and nine breakups last season. The Tennessee standout forced an incompletion on 19.4% of his targets while restricting opposing quarterbacks to a 53.6 rating. His coverage skills are matched by his impact as a tackler, missing just 5.6% of his attempts last fall.

61) Suntarine Perkins | EDGE

Ole Miss Rebels

Suntarine Perkins followed up an impressive freshman campaign for the Ole Miss Rebels with a standout sophomore season where he tallied 14 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and one interception, setting the scene for a junior year that could establish him as one of the best defensive players in the country. His 83.2 PFSN College EDGE+ grade was a top 50 marker last fall.

A former five-star with an elite athletic profile, Perkins has established himself as a do-it-all defensive playmaker who is equally as comfortable using his excellent speed to missile into the backfield as an edge rusher as he is using his coverage skills and patience in a more traditional linebacker role. He caused pressure on 17.8% of his snaps as a dangerous weapon.

60) Makhi Hughes | RB

Oregon Ducks

Makhi Hughes announced his arrival on the college football scene in 2023 with an AAC-leading 1,378-yard campaign. The former Tulane Green Wave rusher followed up with a sensational sophomore campaign that yielded 1,401 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, doubling his scoring production from his opening campaign. Unsurprisingly, he earned a Power Four shot for 2025.

Hughes transferred to the Oregon Ducks this offseason, but what sort of weapon can fans expect? An electric runner with good long speed and exceptional contact balance, Hughes averaged 3.87 yards per carry after contact in 2024. He benefited from a substantial workload at Tulane, but also had a 43.7% rush success rate and was a dominant factor as a receiving back.

59) Darius Taylor | RB

Minnesota Golden Gophers

In two seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Darius Taylor has established himself as one of the best college football running backs, regardless of what measure you use. He’s a walking highlight reel, popping off big plays for fun, including an 80-yard rush as part of a 986-yard 2024 campaign.

A cursory glance at per-carry statistics won’t rate him highly, as he only averaged 4.8 yards per pop last fall. However, a staggering 81.5% of that per-carry contribution came after contact. Taylor averaged 3.91 yards per carry after contact a year ago, contributing to an average of 3.85 across his career. He has yet to fumble on over 340 carries.

Furthermore, Taylor emerged as a legitimate weapon in the passing game in 2024, snagging 54 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 1.52 yards per route run with a 54% pass success rate.

58) Cayden Green | OL

Missouri Tigers

Cayden Green established himself as a College Sports Network Freshman All-American in 2023 with the Oklahoma Sooners before transferring to the Missouri Tigers, where he excelled last fall. Comfortably one of the best offensive linemen in the country, he’s allowed just one sack in two seasons and allowed just a 2.8% pressure rate during his first season in the SEC.

In addition to his pass protection prowess, Green is a vicious mauler in the ground game who propels his 6’5″, 324-pound mass with devastating explosion to the second level, which should be a sight to behold with new running back Ahmad Hardy in the offense. He forms one of the top interior offensive line combinations with returning teammate Connor Tollison.

57) Max Klare | TE

Ohio State Buckeyes

Lost in a poor Purdue Boilermakers season was the emergence of tight end Max Klare as one of the top pass catchers in college football. He heads to the Ohio State Buckeyes this fall on the back of a 685-yard, four-touchdown campaign that showcased his incredible pass-catching and route-running capabilities.

Klare ranks second among returning tight ends with 2.40 yards per route run, which is hardly surprising when you flip on the tape and watch him duking defensive backs out of their skin with his sudden movement. Unsurprisingly, almost half of his production last fall (338 yards) came after the catch. He should be a valuable weapon as a big slot receiver for the Buckeyes.

56) Spencer Fano | OL

Utah Utes

A College Sports Network Freshman All-American at left tackle in 2023, Spencer Fano was the full-time starter at right tackle for Utah in 2024 and, despite some difficulties for the Utes offense, he continued to demonstrate why he’s one of the top offensive linemen in college football, earning a 90.6 PFSN OL+ grade that sits as one of the highest markers among returning linemen.

Despite having to protect several different quarterbacks with differing play styles, Fano only allowed one sack with a 4.9% true dropback pressure rate. In addition to his pass protection prowess, he’s a juggernaut of a run blocker. The Utah standout is an incredibly smooth mover with exceptional footwork who finishes with the type of nasty mentality that leaves a mark.

55) Aaron Anderson | WR

LSU Tigers

Can Aaron Anderson be the next great LSU Tigers receiver? There’s such a high bar to clear for anyone who follows in the wake of Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, et al., that the conversation almost feels unfair to the fourth-year pass catcher, who was a former five-star and spent a campaign with Alabama before arriving in Baton Rouge in 2023.

That said, the seeds of a stellar season have already been set after Anderson earned an 82.5 PFSN College WR+ grade last fall and is one of the top returning wide receivers in the country. He snagged 884 yards and five touchdowns while running 2.4 yards per route and using his speed and elusiveness to average 7.5 yards after contact. He should be the No. 1 target once more.

54) Kadyn Proctor | OT

Alabama Crimson Tide

After a rollercoaster recruitment journey, Kadyn Proctor has established himself as a force on the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line and one of the top linemen in college football. He made a huge leap last fall and enters 2025 looking to build on second-team All-SEC honors from his sophomore campaign.

A fixture on “Feldman’s Freaks List,” Proctor can reportedly propel his 366-pound frame 32 inches vertically with a 9’3″ broad jump. In addition to his explosive athleticism, Proctor is a weight-room warrior whose extreme lifting capability manifests itself with a solid anchor and devastating play strength on the field. He plays the game with pure disdain for his opponent.

53) Rocco Becht | QB

Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones made it back to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time since 2020, and one of the biggest reasons for that success was the play of quarterback Rocco Becht.

While he loses two of the game’s top wide receivers to the NFL, Becht is back in Ames for the 2025 season as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation and should power Iowa State to a title shot once more.

Watching the Cyclones last fall, you never got the impression they were out of the game with Becht under center, and the numbers behind his 81.0 PFSN College QB+ grade demonstrate why.

Few quarterbacks were better than the Iowa State passer under pressure in 2024, with his 0.0 pressured EPA per dropback ranking fourth among returning college football quarterbacks.

Becht ranked fourth for offensive dropback EPA (87.67) last fall among returning Big 12 quarterbacks. Showcasing his ability to grind out yardage in any way possible, he ranked second among returning quarterbacks for scramble EPA (24.72) and led the Big 12 in rushing EPA (24.9). Only Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby had more rushing touchdowns in the Big 12 a year ago.

For two seasons, Becht has been a high-level playmaker, earning a grade of 80.0 or higher in 30.8% of his career games.

52) Zakee Wheatley | SAF

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State and defensive playmakers go hand in hand, and in Zakee Wheatley, the Nittany Lions might have one of the very best safeties in the country. Entering his fifth year with the Big Ten program, he has established himself as a legitimate ball hawk who had a career-high three interceptions last fall, contributing to an 87.2 PFSN College SAF+ grade.

More than just a disruptor at the catch point, Wheatley has made his presence felt at all field levels during his college football career, registering his first sack last fall. He’s also been responsible for nine turnover plays (five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries). Separating the football from his opponent is second nature.

51) Cashius Howell | EDGE

Texas A&M Aggies

After dominating defenses in the Mid-American Conference for three years as a member of the Bowling Green Falcons, including leading the conference in sacks in 2023, Cashius Howell transferred to the Texas A&M Aggies and saw very little drop-off in performance despite the perceived step up to the SEC. His 85.2 PFSN College EDGE+ grade ranks sixth among returning pass rushers for the 2025 season.

In addition to nine tackles for loss and four sacks in his SEC debut, Howell snagged an interception, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble, demonstrating an ability to impact the game in all phases. No other returning edge player had more splash plays (nine) than Howell a year ago, and his twitch, power, and electric spin move make him a handful to contain.

50) Red Murdock | LB

Buffalo Bulls

The Buffalo Bulls boasted College Sports Network’s 2024 Linebacker of the Year, Shaun Dolac, who, with the second-best PFSN College LB+ grade of 2024, masked the accomplishments of teammate Red Murdock. Murdock is primed to receive more national attention in 2025 as he pursues the career record for forced fumbles currently held by another Bull, Khalil Mack.

Murdock tallied 156 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. No player in the country had more forced fumbles (seven) than the Buffalo linebacker, who hits with ferocity while demonstrating the ability to read the game at a high level. His 36.8% pressure rate was a top-30 mark among all linebackers a year ago.

49) Kevin Coleman Jr. | WR

Missouri Tigers

Kevin Coleman Jr. is on to his third FBS team in as many seasons after transferring from Louisville to Mississippi State and now to Missouri for the 2025 college football season. That might ordinarily be met with red flags, but the dangerous wide receiver appears just to be gaining strength at every step along a storied football journey that includes SWAC Freshman of the Year honors from his time at Jackson State.

After a campaign that saw him snag 74 receptions for 932 yards and six touchdowns, Coleman earned an 82.8 PFSN College WR+ grade that ranked 17th in the 2024 season and set the scene for his ascension as a top-tier pass catcher. He averaged 2.55 yards per route run last fall and had an EPA per target of 0.45, similar to former Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (0.49 in 2024).

48) Anthony Smith | EDGE

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Anthony Smith might be the epitome of an underrated college football pass rusher heading into the 2025 season. Despite tallying 43 tackles, 14 of which were for loss, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles, he was only considered an honorable mention by the Big Ten.

Smith’s 83.8 PFSN College EDGE+ grade from 2024 is top-15 among returning college football pass rushers. A truly versatile piece of the Minnesota Golden Gophers defense who played 61.8% of his snaps on the interior, he’s equally disruptive as a pass rusher and run defender. No player in college football was more effective at stopping the run than Smith in 2024.

47) Kevin Jennings | QB

SMU Mustangs

Although Preston Stone was expected to lead the SMU Mustangs into the ACC ahead of the season, Kevin Jennings ended up being the quarterback to lead the program back into the national spotlight.

Grabbing the starting job early in the season, his steady consistency in all facets and ability to turn a game on its head with his legs took the team to the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

Jennings is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback whose 8.5 yards per rush attempt last fall ranks fourth among all returning quarterbacks. His 150.9 passer efficiency rating is third among returning ACC quarterbacks who had at least 150 pass attempts in 2024, and Cade Klubnik is the only returning ACC passer with a higher dropback EPA than Jennings (107.55) in 2024.

A high-level performer across the season, Jennings logged six games with a PFSN College QB+ grade of 80.0 or higher. That consistency helped contribute to his 81.3 overall grade. However, he was no stranger to producing explosive displays of dominance.

The SMU quarterback logged the fifth-highest graded game in the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning a 91.8 (A-) grade. Jennings showcased his ability to perform in the face of pressure (1.45 pressured EPA per dropback), dismantled the Panthers’ defense in the final two minutes of the first half, and was unstoppable on money downs.

46) Iapani Laloulu | OL

Oregon Ducks

In his true freshman season, Iapani Laloulu showcased his versatility with snaps across all three interior positions. After locking down the starting center spot in the Fiesta Bowl annihilation of the Liberty Flames, he established himself as one of the top players at the pivot in 2024, earning conference recognition and a 91.9 PFSN College OL+ grade at center.

Laloulu didn’t give up a single sack last fall and allowed pressure on just 2.5% of his true dropback pass block reps. He stood firm when tasked with protecting for longer than three seconds, while his ability to propel his stout 6’2″, 329-pound frame into opponents in the ground game is a joy to behold. Dante Moore should relish playing behind the Polynesian powerhouse.

45) Malik Muhammad | CB

Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns had an elite secondary in 2024. While several of the players making up that unit are off to the NFL, an underrated element returns to Austin for the 2025 season. Malik Muhammad tallied eight pass breakups in his second season with the program and should be one of the lockdown cornerbacks to know this fall.

Muhammad earned an 85.7 PFSN College CB+ grade last fall despite a difficult outing in the playoffs that shouldn’t define how he’s viewed as a top 100 college football player, especially as he allowed just one touchdown all year. If the Texas standout can clean up his tackling form (14.3% missed tackles), he could be in for an eye-popping display for the SEC frontrunner.

44) Makai Lemon | WR

USC Trojans

The USC Trojans offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders a year ago, but Makai Lemon was still relatively productive and showcased the talent that has made him an early favorite among NFL draft analysts. His 764 yards, 14.7 yards per catch, and three touchdowns are nothing to sniff at, but the USC wide receiver could surpass that with a stable quarterback room.

Although Lemon didn’t earn a PFSN College WR+ grade last fall, he averaged more than 3 yards per route run, putting him in the illustrious company of pass catchers you’ll read about later in this article. His ability to dominate from the slot, plus his added special teams value as a returner with electric speed, make him one of the best players in college football.

43) Keldric Faulk | EDGE

Auburn Tigers

A 2023 true freshman for Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Tigers, Keldric Faulk immediately established himself as an impact player in the SEC, logging 35 tackles with four tackles for loss and a sack in his debut. Last season, he continued to develop into one of the most feared defenders in the country, producing 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and his first career forced fumble.

As such, Faulk enters the 2025 campaign among the top 100 college football players in the nation. At just 19, he’s already a technically refined pass rusher with a loaded toolbox to weaponize his natural athleticism and power. If he does a better job converting pressure (13.9% conversion) into splash plays (just one in 2024), he could reach All-America status.

42) Leonard Moore | CB

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The loss of Benjamin Morrison to injury could have derailed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s path to the playoffs last year. Still, true freshman Leonard Moore rose to the occasion in a euphoric fashion. While Xavier Watts led the team in interceptions, he snagged two picks and led the team with 11 pass breakups.

Teams trying to target their top receiver were stymied by his elite skill set. Nearly 18% of targets resulted in a forced incompletion, while opposing quarterbacks posted a 59.6 rating when targeting him. He was also penalized just once all year, helping power an 86.0 PFSN College CB+ grade that is one of the top returning marks.

41) Aiden Fisher | LB

Indiana Hoosiers

One of the top linebackers in the country, Aiden Fisher, earned a College Sports Network All-American honorable mention after making the transition from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten alongside former James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti. Fisher was unfazed by the jump from the Group of Five level to the Power Four and is back to frustrate offenses again in 2025.

Fisher tallied another six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while topping 100 tackles for the second straight season. He pressured the quarterback on 26.8% of his snaps last fall, wreaking havoc in opposing backfields. You don’t want to meet him in the alley.

40) Gabe Jacas | EDGE

Illinois Fighting Illini

The honors started piling up for Gabe Jacas in 2022 as the first-ever true freshman from the Illinois Fighting Illini to receive FWAA Freshman All-American recognition, and he’s only been on an upward trajectory ever since. He returns in 2025 as the second-most productive pass rusher in the Big Ten after logging eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his junior campaign.

No player in the Big Ten forced more fumbles last fall (three) than the Illinois outside linebacker, while his 16.4% defensive tackle percentage ranked seventh among all college football edge players in 2024. His relentless pursuit and elite ability to convert speed to power make Jacas one of the most entertaining pass rushers to watch in the 2025 season.

39) Darian Mensah | QB

Duke Blue Devils

Darian Mensah received lots of offseason attention with his big-money NIL deal to join the Duke Blue Devils. A well-known playmaker to Group of Five aficionados, but something of a stranger to the national spotlight, many Blue Devils fans want to know if their new quarterback is worth the $8 million deal doled out this offseason.

The short answer is yes. PFSN College QB+ provides an emphatic long answer.

Not only is Mensah one of the top returning college football quarterbacks, but he also ranked 19th among all eligible passers last fall. Former Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy ranked 107th with a 72.1 (C-) grade. The upgrade is substantial.

Murphy had one of the worst dropback EPAs (2.77) in the ACC for the Blue Devils last fall, ranking 18th in the conference. By contrast, Mensah had a dropback EPA of 123.8 in the American Athletic Conference. He also had an NCAA passer efficiency rating of 166.7, which would have been second only to Cam Ward in the ACC last fall.

Mensah averaged 10.7 air yards per pass attempt a year ago (Murphy averaged 9.2 air yards per attempt despite his reputation as a big-armed QB) while throwing a touchdown on 7.7% of his pass attempts.

The former Tulane quarterback was particularly impressive, throwing over the middle of the field, completing 83.3% of his midfield throws of 20-30 yards, and not throwing an interception in that range. Expect him to carve up some ACC defenses this fall.

38) Dillon Thieneman | SAF

Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks made one of the biggest splashes in the transfer portal this offseason, landing an impact-making playmaker who will shore up a defense that was savaged by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. Dillon Thieneman is an elite sideline-to-sideline safety who can come downhill and lay the boom with the best of them.

His sophomore campaign lacked some of the sizzle of a freshman season laden with honors and interceptions (six), but Thieneman is a sensational, special talent regardless. Although he didn’t snag an interception a year ago, the new Oregon safety forced an incompletion on 25.9% of his targets, a top 20 marker among all safeties last fall.

37) Haynes King | QB

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

A year after leading the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to their first AP Poll ranking since 2015 and leading the ACC with 72.9% pass completion, King returns to the program to help continue the upward trend under head coach Brent Key.

A low-risk passer who threw an interception on just 0.7% of his pass attempts, King is also a weapon on the ground who rushed for 587 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. Only three quarterbacks had more designed runs (114) than the Georgia Tech standout last season, who also provided value out of structure when scrambling.

You want your quarterback to have his best game in your biggest game, and for Georgia Tech fans, there aren’t many more significant games than the “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Unsurprisingly, that was King’s showcase outing, according to PFSN College QB+, earning an 84.5 (B) grade. That performance was his only top-100 appearance in the 2024 season.

King might have had one of the lowest air yards per attempt in the ACC (5.6) while relying heavily on his playmakers after the catch (6.8 yards), but he’s a gutsy field general who can turn it on when needed.

They might have lost to the Bulldogs last year, but it wouldn’t have been close without his clutch play. More performances like that could make Georgia Tech an ACC contender in 2025.

36) Eric O’Neill | EDGE

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

A College Sports Network First Team All-American after registering 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for the James Madison Dukes in 2024, Eric O’Neill is set to prove himself at the Big Ten level as part of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ transfer portal class. He’s also one of the highest-graded returning edge players, with an 85.1 PFSN College EDGE+ grade from last fall.

The 6’3”, 250-pound pass rusher is a furious ball of energy who has impressive power for his size to go with decent speed off the edge. He’s a relentless competitor who should thrive on the big stage. He converted pressure into production at a high clip last fall (22.0%) and is set to follow previous Sun Belt transfers who established themselves among the best in college football.

35) Cade Klubnik | QB

Clemson Tigers

Cade Klubnik helped power a Clemson Tigers resurgence last fall, guiding the program to the ACC title after a year’s hiatus from the championship game. While earning MVP honors in the win over the SMU Mustangs, he booked Dabo Swinney’s team a spot in the College Football Playoff.

A calm presence under center, he enters 2025 as a high-profile draft prospect and one of college football’s best.

Only two other returning college football quarterbacks had a better pressured EPA per dropback (0.1) than Klubnik last year, a significant component of his 82.2 (B-) QB+ grade. He didn’t produce any earth-shattering performances per our metric, but still had four games with an 80+ grade.

If it weren’t for the season-opening loss to Georgia (66.8, D grade), his overall grade for 2024 would be much higher.

Klubnik leads all returning passers after throwing 36 touchdowns in 2024. He also leads all returning ACC quarterbacks in total pass EPA (114.19), according to TruMedia. A big play threat waiting to happen, he tied for the ACC lead of plays over 50 yards last fall with seven and had 57 20+ yard plays, more than any quarterback returning to the conference in 2025.

King (7.0) was the only ACC quarterback with a better touchdown-to-interception rate than Klubnik (6.0) in 2024. Expect big things from the Clemson quarterback during his third season operating Garrett Riley’s offense, including a trip to New York in December if he continues his upward career trajectory.

34) Whit Weeks | LB

LSU Tigers

Expectations heading into the 2024 college football season centered around the LSU Tigers having one of the best linebackers in the country. While that ultimately came to pass, Whit Weeks and not Harold Perkins Jr. asserted themselves as the very best at the position as the season unfurled.

The true junior returns to Baton Rouge among the very best of the top 100 college football players for 2025.

Weeks’ season ended in tragedy with a dislocated ankle suffered in the Texas Bowl win over the Baylor Bears. Yet that shouldn’t overshadow a sensational sophomore campaign. He led the SEC with 61 solo tackles, tallied 10 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks, snagged an interception, and forced two fumbles.

His injury also shouldn’t prevent him from becoming the best linebacker in the country, fueled by his hair-on-fire energy. His 89.4 PFSN College LB+ grade is the third-best among all returning players at the position.

33) Jake Slaughter | OL

Florida Gators

While DJ Lagway is likely to attract the majority of the attention for the Florida Gators offense this season, his success won’t come without the high-level offensive line play that led Jake Slaughter to College Sports Network Second Team All-American honors in 2024. Some analysts presumed he’d declare for the NFL, but he’s back to brutalize defenses once again this fall.

The Florida center was credited with not giving up a single sack despite a torturous schedule. Meanwhile, he only allowed a 2.8% pressure rate on his true dropback pass block reps, boosting a 92.9 PFSN College OL+ grade. He’s been stellar as a protector, but Slaughter does his best work on the move as an athletic, technically refined, but violent mauler in the ground game.

32) Jalon Kilgore | CB

South Carolina Gamecocks

Jalon Kilgore burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2023, earning SEC All-Freshman honors from multiple media outlets, but more importantly, from the coaches who recognized that attempting to take advantage of the young DB was pure folly. The South Carolina standout continued to prove his dominance by tying the SEC lead with five interceptions in 2024.

Kilgore comes with boom or bust potential, allowing three touchdowns on 57 targets a year ago while often being overzealous and whiffing on tackles, resulting in a 17.6 missed tackle rate. However, those issues are all coachable, and South Carolina is banking on the upside and playmaking potential as it embarks on a potentially eye-catching 2025 campaign.

31) Michael Taaffe | SAF

Texas Longhorns

A villain in Tempe, Texas Longhorns safety Michael Taaffe nevertheless had a remarkable campaign leading the secondary for the first-time SEC outfit. His 88.6 PFSN College SAF+ grade from last fall ranks third among all returning safeties, boosted by a 22.9% forced incompletion rate and allowing just 0.5 yards per coverage snap and 9.5 yards per reception.

A force in all phases with his gung-ho hitting style coming downhill, paired with impressive coverage ability, he tallied six tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups on the way to earning College Sports Network First Team All-American honors. His return for 2025 is a major bonus for the Longhorns’ chances of returning to the playoffs.

30) Sam Leavitt | QB

Arizona State Sun Devils

While Cam Skattebo was the heart and soul of the Arizona State Sun Devils’ ascension into a national power last fall, quarterback Sam Leavitt deserves his flowers, too.

The former Michigan State Spartans transfer put on an impressive display of efficiency and consistency, while peppering in some of the most delightful throws we saw last year, routinely allowing his receivers to create after-the-catch yards. The result was one of the highest PFSN College QB+ grades among returning college football quarterbacks.

While he didn’t log a 90+ game (Leavitt’s best single game was an 87.1 grade against the Oklahoma State Cowboys), he tallied a grade of over 80 in six of the 12 games where he was eligible and recorded two games in the top 100 performances of the 2024 season (Oklahoma State and Iowa State).

Leavitt’s appeal comes from his ability to conjure high-level plays while being relatively turnover-averse. Last year, he led all Big 12 quarterbacks in touchdown-to-interception rate (4.0) while throwing an interception on just 1.7% of his 350 pass attempts.

Detractors of the Arizona State quarterback point to the Sun Devils’ reliance on former running back Skattebo, and there is some evidence from PFSN College QB+ that could cause some concern for the season ahead.

The only game without the star running back, Leavitt recorded a 78.3 (C+) grade in a narrow win. However, that was a middling grade relative to his entire body of work in the 2024 season.

29) Matayo Uiagalelei | EDGE

Oregon Ducks

Matayo Uiagalelei exploded onto the scene in his second college football campaign as a cornerstone of an Oregon defensive front that often looked dominant. The young pass rusher is a technically refined dynamo with eye-popping athletic traits and should be a frontrunner for multiple defensive awards if he continues his upward trajectory in 2025.

Uiagalelei led the Ducks with 13 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the country. He also did an exceptional job of converting pressure into production, with a 33.9% pressure conversion rate that ranked fourth in the nation last season.

28) Eli Stowers | TE

Vanderbilt Commodores

Very rarely have transitions from quarterback to tight end worked out as well as with Eli Stowers. The former New Mexico State Aggie made his way to the Vanderbilt Commodores alongside teammate Diego Pavia, and they have established themselves as one of the nation’s top offensive tandems for the 2025 college football campaign.

Stowers snagged 638 yards and five touchdowns last fall (both career highs), earning All-SEC honors and leading all returning tight ends in yards per route run (2.52), according to TruMedia. His 86.9 PFSN College TE+ grade leads all returning tight ends for the upcoming season, and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t establish himself as the best in the country this fall.

27) Sawyer Robertson | QB

Baylor Bears

If you’re looking for a dark horse Heisman Trophy contender among returning college football quarterbacks, look no further than Sawyer Robertson, the standout passer from the Baylor Bears.

He’s a pocket-passer-sized quarterback with the power and athleticism to pick up chunk plays on the ground, and he heads into the 2025 season after setting career highs across multiple standard metrics.

While his 82.9 PFSN College QB+ grade is good enough for fifth among returning college football quarterbacks, Robertson is riding a wave of momentum into the upcoming campaign.

Four of his five highest-graded games came down the stretch of last season, with his best performance (85.0, B grade) was in the regular season finale against a Kansas team on its own winning streak.

Aside from a pressured EPA per dropback of -0.11 (only seven quarterbacks last season had a positive EPA per dropback in 2024), Robertson graded positively across the individual data points that make up our metric.

Unsurprisingly, given his skill set, he was particularly impressive in offensive rush EPA (0.52 per rush) and scramble EPA (0.66 per scramble), while ranking ninth among returning quarterbacks in money-down conversion.

A strong-armed passer with a plethora of eye-popping throws on his tape, Robertson finished third in the Big 12 for air yards per attempt (9.1) among quarterbacks who completed more than 60% of their attempts in 2024.

He finished second last fall in Big 12 passer efficiency (153.1), and his 39.1% of throws resulting in a touchdown or first down outstripped all conference quarterbacks with more than 100 attempts. He’s a legitimate talent primed for big things this fall.

26) Jordyn Tyson | WR

Arizona State Sun Devils

A collarbone injury sustained in the regular season finale deprived the Arizona State Sun Devils of one of their greatest playmakers to end the 2024 season. Still, Jordyn Tyson appears to be fully healthy for the start of the season and is ready to dominate as one of the best receivers in the country.

In addition to 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns through 12 games, Tyson finished the year with three consecutive 100-yard games, showcasing his reliable hands and exceptional body control. As a result, he saw 113 targets (19th in the country) with a high percentage of red-zone opportunities. Expect the same, and perhaps more, in 2025.

25) Avieon Terrell | CB

Clemson Tigers

Avieon Terrell is set to follow in family footsteps as a Sunday starter (his brother is Atlanta Falcons and former Clemson standout A.J. Terrell). Still, he returns for the 2025 campaign. He’s more than a nostalgic trip down family-name memory lane, though. He’s the real deal at cornerback.

A high-level producer who tallied 12 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2024, Terrell is a game-changer in every facet, showcasing elite coverage skills while having the athleticism and physicality to impact the run game. He forced an incompletion on 20.6% of his targets last fall as a disruptive force.

24) Josh Hoover | QB

TCU Horned Frogs

While Josh Hoover might not move the needle as a dual threat who puts up video-game highlights with the ball in his hands, there aren’t many better pocket passers than the TCU quarterback heading into the 2025 season.

After finishing behind Shedeur Sanders in several metrics, such as yards per game and passing yards, Hoover is primed to lead the Big 12 this fall.

The highest-graded Big 12 quarterback by PFSN College QB+ grade, Hoover’s standout game actually came in a loss to UCF, where even his best efforts couldn’t overcome subpar defense.

The 87.2-graded outing was a top-50 single-game mark and was one of four games with an 80+ grade for the TCU standout. His grading was relatively consistent throughout the year.

If you want a quarterback to come up big for you, Hoover is your man. A significant part of his high grade is a clutch sum of 1.18, the fifth-highest among returning quarterbacks in 2025.

That was best showcased by his performance against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he dragged the Frogs back from a 17-point deficit, including throwing two fourth-quarter scores.

No returning quarterback in the Big 12 had a higher offensive dropback EPA (128.64) or offensive throw EPA (159.63) than Hoover last fall. Only one returning quarterback had a higher NCAA passer efficiency rating.

23) Olaivavega Ioane | OL

Penn State Nittany Lions

When you face Abdul Carter in practice every day, you have to develop your game quickly, and that has been the case for Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. After redshirting in 2022 and spot-starting in 2023, he emerged as one of the top guards in college football last fall, earning a 94.0 PFSN College OL+ grade and second-team All-Big Ten honors.

At 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Ioane is a demolition man in the heart of the line. He’s a massive challenge to navigate, and stepping into his territory is met with a jarring display of force, both in the ground game and as a protector, where he drops anchor like a seasoned sailor. He didn’t allow a single sack last fall and is another crucial Penn State cog.

22) Chandler Rivers | DB

Duke Blue Devils

Chandler Rivers might only be listed at 5’10”, but don’t overlook the Duke cornerback as one of the top players in the country. His résumé includes preseason All-America nods from multiple outlets to go with first-team All-ACC honors in 2024. Name a defensive watch list for 2025, and you’ll likely find him on it.

A cornerstone of the Duke defense for three years, he enters this season with 21 pass breakups, five interceptions, and two pick-sixes. Diving deeper, he allowed just 0.6 yards per coverage snap last year, forced an incompletion on 15.4% of his targets, and was a force in all phases with eight tackles for loss and a 5.9% missed-tackle rate.

21) Jeremiyah Love | RB

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

If you watched the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s march to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last fall and didn’t come away thinking Jeremiyah Love is one of the best running backs in the country, I don’t know what to tell you.

He boasts a rare combination of explosive, big-play ability and lower-body strength-fueled contact balance.

Love recorded some of the best yards after contact (4.39 per play), elusive rate (41.7%), and boom-or-bust rate (3.1%) numbers among all returning running backs in 2024. He’s also an adept pass catcher who averaged 1.47 yards per route run while contributing 237 yards and two touchdowns to the Notre Dame offense.

20) Drew Allar | QB

Penn State Nittany Lions

Drew Allar might be one of the most polarizing college quarterbacks we’ve seen in recent years.

Even Penn State Nittany Lions fans are divided in their opinion of the 6’5″, 236-pound senior passer, who opened his career by setting the FBS record for pass attempts without an interception but has never delivered the Big Ten or national title that fans crave.

Nonetheless, his decision to pass on the NFL for another season gives Penn State a legitimate Heisman Trophy frontrunner and a game-changer who ranks as the third-best returning quarterback in college football this fall.

While there are some head-scratching plays on his game film, Allar is deadly accurate and combines exciting arm talent with advanced pocket management.

Some Penn State fans are frustrated by Allar’s inability to win the Nittany Lions’ biggest games, and PFSN College QB+ supports that argument. He earned a 68.5 (D+) grade against Ohio State last fall, while the College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame earned him a 74.4 (C), his fourth-lowest grade of the year.

Still, Allar received a 92.2 (A) grade for his performance against Washington, the third-highest grade of the 2024 season and a top-50 mark since 2019. Seven of his games received a grade of 80 or higher, and four ranked within the top 100 performances of the year.

19) Jontez Williams | CB

Iowa State Cyclones

In his first season as a full-time starter for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jontez Williams earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. That should be considered the floor for the standout cornerback, who has the potential to establish himself as one of the best in the country this fall. The Cyclones lost talent to the NFL, but you’re unlikely to see a significant drop-off.

Williams is that rare breed wide receivers hate to face. A stellar athlete who can stick like glue, he’s a high-level processor with top-tier instincts who tracks the ball like a cat pouncing on a ball of yarn. Only one other returning cornerback allowed a lower opposing quarterback rating when targeted than Williams (19.6), and he allowed just one touchdown on 43 targets.

18) Jonah Coleman | RB

Washington Huskies

Consistently one of the best running backs in college football, Jonah Coleman has never averaged fewer than five yards per carry in a three-year career spanning two teams (Arizona Wildcats and Washington Huskies) and two conferences (Pac-12 and Big Ten). He enters the 2025 season off his first 1,000-yard season after setting a career-high 10 touchdowns.

Coleman ranked 13th among all eligible running backs with 4.34 yards after contact per rush, 16th in boom-or-bust rate (5.7%), and finished in the top 25 in pass success rate (56%), another testament to his consistent brilliance. Furthermore, he allowed just a 4% pressure rate on 7.8 pass-block snaps per game as one of the more heavily used protection backs in the country.

17) D’Angelo Ponds | CB

Indiana Hoosiers

Following a debut campaign with the James Madison Dukes that resulted in College Sports Network Freshman All-America honors in 2023, D’Angelo Ponds transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers and somehow upped his game with the transition to the Big Ten — his 88.4 PFSN College CB+ grade from 2024 ranks third among returning cornerbacks for 2025.

With 22 pass breakups and five interceptions over two seasons, throwing toward Ponds will sink your offense, while he’s capable of flooding the box and impacting the game behind the line of scrimmage. He allowed just one touchdown on 60 targets last season, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 49.5 rating.

16) Anthony Hill Jr. | LB

Texas Longhorns

The 2025 season is Anthony Hill Jr.’s third with the Texas Longhorns, and he’s only getting better. An early contributor in the Big 12 in 2023, he earned College Sports Network Second Team All-America honors in 2024 after leading the SEC with 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles, with 14 defensive splash plays resulting in a 90.4 PFSN College LB+ grade.

A force coming downhill, his ability to create pressure is the calling card of his game, causing pandemonium behind the line of scrimmage on 33.3% of his snaps last fall. For as good as he’s been so far, there is room for Hill to develop into an even more dominant playmaker. He missed 15.3% of his tackle attempts a year ago, and refinement there could increase his impact.

15) Dani Dennis-Sutton | EDGE

Penn State Nittany Lions

If it wasn’t for the performances of All-World pass rusher Abdul Carter, we’d be talking more about Dani Dennis-Sutton and his impact on the Penn State defense. He tallied 13 tackles for loss with 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning an 86.7 PFSN College EDGE+ grade that was a top-10 mark a year ago and the fifth-best among returning pass rushers in 2025.

His combination of first-step quickness, power, and pure fury makes him a dangerous pass rusher off the edge, but he’s also adept at dropping into coverage (just ask Riley Leonard!) and playing the run. With a solid secondary and a dangerous interior defensive line that warrants attention, Dennis-Sutton could have a career year with production to match his ability.

14) Ar’maj Reed-Adams | OL

Texas A&M Aggies

“I want to be the baddest man on the planet.”

It was a bold call from Ar’maj Reed-Adams at SEC Media Days, but after watching him terrorize both Big 12 and SEC defenses during his time at Kansas and Texas A&M, you can’t argue that the Aggies guard is attempting to live up to his aspirations. There aren’t many more vicious and relentless finishers among college football offensive linemen heading into the 2025 season.

Reed-Adams earned a 94.9 PFSN College OL+ grade last year after dominating as a pass blocker with his dominant blend of size, power, athleticism, and mauler mentality. He’s credited with giving up zero sacks while allowing pressure on just 3.3% of his true dropback pass-block reps. He was, however, one of the most penalized linemen in the country.

13) Garrett Nussmeier | QB

LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers have produced two of the best quarterbacks in college football since 2019. Could Garrett Nussmeier be next? The cannon-armed quarterback opted to return to Death Valley rather than declare for the draft and enters the upcoming season with the second-highest PFSN College QB+ grade among returning quarterbacks.

Nussmeier led the SEC with 535 pass attempts last season, tallying 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns as a high-volume juggernaut. However, his success goes beyond the traditional box score.

No other returning quarterback came close to Nussmeier’s performance on money downs last fall. He converted on third and fourth down on 49.7% of his attempts. Furthermore, no other SEC quarterback with more than 200 attempts picked up a first down or touchdown at a higher clip (37.2%) than the Tigers’ passer.

While viewed as a traditional pocket passer by most analysts, Nussmeier had a surprisingly large amount of success on both designed runs and scramble plays last fall. If he can cut down on turnover-worthy plays (he led the SEC in interceptions last year), Nussmeier could end 2025 as the highest graded passer by our metric.

12) Mikail Kamara | EDGE

Indiana Hoosiers

Following his transfer from the James Madison Dukes to the Indiana Hoosiers, Mikail Kamara established himself as one of the top pass rushers in the country. The first-year Hoosier earned College Sports Network First Team All-America honors after tallying 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles, and finishing with an 87.4 PFSN College EDGE+ grade.

Kamara routinely demonstrated that he belongs among the nation’s best, using his pass-rush toolbox to lead Indiana to one of the greatest seasons in program history. He was also impactful against the run, allowing just 1.23 yards gained per tackle. He’s set to dominate again in 2025.

11) Kyle Louis | LB

Pittsburgh Panthers

Kyle Louis experienced a breakout campaign at the heart of the Pittsburgh Panthers’ defense last season, finishing second on the team with 101 tackles in his third ACC campaign. He returns this fall as the highest-graded linebacker with a 92.4 PFSN College LB+ grade, setting the stage for a potentially dominant year.

Louis was one of the top coverage linebackers in the country in 2024, allowing an opposing quarterback rating of 56.0 on 51 targets. With 25.8% of his snaps resulting in pressure, he also lived in the opposing backfield. His all-encompassing skill set resulted in 15 splash plays and extended to special teams, where he blocked a kick and returned it for a score.

10) Koi Perich | DB

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Koi Perich was one of the best defensive playmakers in the Big Ten last fall, and he was just a true freshman. His five interceptions led the conference, and he picked off more passes than he allowed touchdowns, giving up zero scores on 18 targets during his debut season. Quarterbacks targeting him averaged a 28.7 rating.

While he was a dangerous coverage safety, Perich also forced a fumble and had three tackles for loss while contributing on special teams, showcasing his ability to be a high-level player wherever he lines up. The Minnesota safety is set to play more offensive snaps in 2025, making him the closest thing we have to Travis Hunter this season.

9) John Mateer | QB

Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense was a cause of consternation last season, so what better way to improve it than plucking the highest-graded returning college football quarterback from the transfer portal to pair him with his former offensive coordinator?

The partnership of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer was one of the most fun to watch last fall, but it was also one of the deadliest in the nation.

Mateer is a dual-threat gunslinger who plays the game with a red-hot fire inside him. His 139.77 dropback EPA and 165.53 throw EPA would both have ranked second in the SEC a year ago, while his 9.7 yards per attempt and 8.4% touchdowns per attempt also would have ranked highly in the conference.

Mateer’s standout performance of the 2024 season came against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, where he received an 88.0 grade that was the 29th highest of any quarterback last fall. He logged five games with an 80+ grade while only putting together one game with a grade below a C.

Although he thrived in a clean pocket, Mateer was good under pressure and is a constant threat on both designed runs and scramble plays.

Detractors might point to a vanilla schedule for the Washington State Cougars in 2024, but our metric is adjusted to account for the opposition defense ranking. He’ll face a tougher test in the SEC, but he’s set up to pass it with flying colors.

8) T.J. Parker | EDGE

Clemson Tigers

No returning edge players tallied more tackles for loss (19.5) than Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker in 2024, who also registered the ninth-most sacks in the nation as a dominant force on a historically elite unit. There is a reason the program is considered a potential national champion, and Parker is one of the catalysts for the next great Tigers defensive front.

Parker was the only player in college football to rank in the top 10 for tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles in 2024. He’s fast, agile, physical, and downright frightening to face if you’re an offensive lineman. His 87.6 PFSN College EDGE+ grade was the eighth highest last season, a top-50 mark since 2019, and ranks third among returning pass rushers in 2025.

7) Caleb Downs | SAF

Ohio State Buckeyes

Caleb Downs established himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in the country during a breakout freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023. One year later, he’s one of the best and most recognizable faces in the sport.

A transfer to Ohio State was mutually beneficial, as Downs developed his already impressive skill set under Jim Knowles and utilized his talent to drive the best defense in the country to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

For the second consecutive season, he tallied two interceptions while flashing his ability to impact the game in all phases with eight tackles for loss. A true force.

6) Dylan Stewart | EDGE

South Carolina Gamecocks

The College Sports Network Defensive Freshman of the Year, Dylan Stewart, put together one of the most dominant performances off the edge by a freshman that we’ve seen in recent history. While some consider Texas’ Simmons as the standout pass rusher heading into the 2025 campaign, the South Carolina Gamecocks standout had six more quarterback pressures than the illustrious Longhorn last season.

Stewart finished top 20 in the SEC with 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as South Carolina rolled out a phenomenal one-two punch off the edge. With teammate Kyle Kennard headed to the NFL, it’s the talented young Gamecock’s time to lead the defense of a team that could be one of the best in the country this season.

5) Nicholas Singleton | RB

Penn State Nittany Lions

After something of a sophomore slump in 2023, Nicholas Singleton underwent a triumphant return as a key part of a Penn State program that reached the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. The third-year back rushed for a career-high 1,099 yards, tallied 6.4 yards per carry, and picked up 375 yards and five scores as a trustworthy receiving target.

Give Singleton an inch, and with his explosiveness and long speed, he’ll take a mile. He added 3.54 yards after contact per carry in 2024, flashing his elusiveness (48.8% elusive rate) whenever the opportunity presented itself. He ranked eighth in the country for rush success rate (53.4%) and boom-or-bust rate (7.6%).

Meanwhile, his prowess as a receiver for quarterback Drew Allar resulted in a 57.7% pass success rate, within the top 20 among eligible college football running backs. Whether on the ground or through the air, Singleton’s contributions as he returns to Penn State in 2025 help drive expectations of another playoff push.

4) Ryan Williams | WR

Alabama Crimson Tide

Did you know Ryan Williams was 17 last season? It became a standing joke (and I’m fairly sure a challenge among commentary teams) to discuss the Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver’s young age last season. Still, the fact that he produced one of the most mesmerizing freshman receiving campaigns in program history at such a tender age was truly impressive.

Williams’ feats last fall were a highlight in a season that didn’t live up to Alabama’s expectations overall. Quarterback play was inconsistent, and the ground game was far from Alabama-esque, but the young receiver grabbed the team by the horns with some eye-opening performances.

He led all freshman wide receivers in the SEC with 865 yards, 18.02 yards per catch, and eight touchdowns with his incredible agility and after-the-catch ability.

3) Peter Woods | DT

Clemson Tigers

Name a better duo than elite defensive tackles and the Clemson Tigers … I’ll wait. Peter Woods is the latest monster on the ACC front-runner’s defensive front, and he’s back to assert his dominance in the college football world in 2025.

The 6’3”, 315-pound behemoth was a top-10 prospect coming out of high school, and he entered his junior season as a top-10 player in college football. Woods continued to elevate his game last fall, logging nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

Combining an impressive first step with devastating play strength and a motor as hot as the surface of the sun, the Clemson defensive tackle is as adept at getting after the passer as he is at stopping the run.

While he’s listed as a defensive tackle, he effortlessly played off the edge last season, which, at his size, is a wonder to behold.

2) Colin Simmons | EDGE

Texas Longhorns

There were times in 2024 when Colin Simmons looked like a seasoned veteran pass rusher, showcasing incredible power you’d expect from a junior with multiple years in a college football weight room.

He also demonstrated the maturity of an older player by playing his best football when the lights were brightest, fueling the Texas Longhorns’ progress to the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Simmons finished the year with the fifth-most sacks in the SEC (nine) and tied for third in the conference with 14 tackles for loss. Texas has been a high-level producer of defensive line talent in recent years, and the former five-star high school prospect might end up being the best they’ve ever had.

1) Jeremiah Smith | WR

Ohio State Buckeyes

Jeremiah Smith looked like a man among boys during the 2024 season, a remarkable feat as a true freshman establishing himself in an Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver room that is consistently the best in the country. Smith took home multiple honors and established himself as the best player in college football.

That Smith finished the season with the fourth-most receiving yards (1,315) and second-most receiving touchdowns (15) in the country is a testament to his dominance. No player in the country had more 50-plus-yard receptions last fall than the Ohio State receiver, despite opponents’ attempts to shut him down by any means possible.

More than a flashy box score, Smith showcased his reliability, credited with just one drop during his entire debut campaign. His EPA per target of 0.79 and 6.5 yards after the catch per reception are further evidence of his elite, unstoppable nature.

As long as Julian Sayin delivers the ball in the same zip code as his sophomore sensation this fall, the Buckeyes shouldn’t miss a beat from last year. Smith might be the closest thing to a pure wide receiver Heisman Trophy winner we’ve seen since 2020.