Top College Football Players: A Preseason Ranking and Analysis
Piecing together a list of the best players in college football before the season begins is no easy task. It requires a mix of information, reporting, and assumptions. While some choices are easy (Jeremiah Smith is good) and some projections are nearly universally agreed upon (Arch Manning), there are enough wild cards to ensure that, by season's end, this list will probably look at least a little silly. This article presents a comprehensive preseason ranking of college football's top players, acknowledging the inherent uncertainties and potential for surprises that make each season unique.
The Challenge of Preseason Rankings
Ranking college football players before the season starts is an inexact science. Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Alabama all start new QBs with little experience, so ranking those players near the top seems presumptuous. Odds are, though, at least a few will be Heisman Trophy contenders by season's end. Smith, Leonard Moore, and Ryan Williams quickly established themselves as stars during elite freshman campaigns in 2024, but it's a nearly impossible task to predict which first-year players will break out in 2025. This time a year ago, few people had pegged Sam Leavitt, LaNorris Sellers, or Blake Horvath as household names, but each proved to be among the best in the country by the conclusion of the campaign. Who will be this season's surprises? If we knew, it wouldn't be a surprise.
Methodology
Our top 100 players represent something of a compromise. Five of ESPN's college football experts (David Hale, Adam Rittenberg, Chris Low, Paolo Uggetti, and Bill Connelly) weighed in, each using some variation of hard data and educated guesswork to compile a list. They then debated, refined, and adjusted until coming to an agreement -- or, perhaps, just giving up -- on an official ranking. It might not be perfect, but that's the beauty of a new college football season: No matter what we expect in August, we'll look back later to find we hardly knew anything at all.
Top 100 Players: Ranked 100-76
Here's a look at players ranked from 100 to 76;
100. Elijhah Singleton, WR, Auburn: There's a reason new Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold said throwing the ball to Singleton was "like throwing routes on air." Singleton was one of the most coveted wideouts in the transfer portal after hauling in 104 passes for 1,468 yards with nine touchdowns in two seasons at Georgia Tech. The Atlanta native can flat-out fly. If Arnold adjusts to Hugh Freeze's offense effectively, the Tigers might have one of the top receiver trios in the SEC in Singleton, Wake Forest transfer Horatio Fields and sophomore Cam Coleman.
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99. Wesco, WR, Clemson: Wesco earned raves as a true freshman during camp last season, but he didn't get a real shot at serious playing time until Week 5 against Stanford, when he racked up 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. From there, he blossomed into one of Clemson's biggest threats on offense, racking up 36 catches for 574 yards from Week 5 on.
98. Jones, C, Iowa: The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Jones is the linchpin of the Hawkeyes' line who helped running back Kaleb Johnson have a breakout season in 2024. A converted defensive lineman, Jones has settled in well to the role and turned himself into one of the most consistent centers in the country.
97. Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt: In his first year in the SEC, Pavia led Vandy to its first bowl win in 11 years, its first win over Alabama in 40 years and its first win ever over a No. 1 team. He finished 2024 with 2,293 passing yards, 927 non-sack rushing yards and 28 combined touchdowns, and he enjoyed himself enough in the process that he sued for an extra year of eligibility -- and won. So, he's back!
96. Miller, OT, Clemson: One of the most consistent blockers in the country, Miller has been a fixture on Clemson's offensive line since he was a freshman, racking up 41 career starts. He allowed four sacks all season, never more than one in the same game.
95. Moss, RB, Texas A&M: Moss says he is 100 percent recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final four games of the 2024 season, and that's good news for the Aggies. Before going down, Moss ran for 765 yards with 10 touchdowns in nine games. He ranked second in the SEC with 6.3 yards per carry. With Rueben Owens II returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of 2024, the Aggies should have one of the better one-two punches in the FBS.
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94. Nwokobia, S, SMU: The heart and soul of SMU's defense, Nwokobia allowed just 75 yards, picked off three passes on 19 targets all season, while serving as a stalwart in run defense, racking up 100 tackles. More than just an on-field star, Nwokobia wears No. 23 for the Mustangs, an honor that goes to the player who best represents the leadership and fearlessness of SMU great Jerry Lavias, the first Black player in the old Southwest Conference.
93. Anderson, WR, LSU: The former Alabama transfer emerged as a star receiver for LSU last season, leading the team with 61 catches for 884 yards with five touchdowns. His biggest moment came late in the fourth quarter in the Tigers' 29-26 victory against Ole Miss on Oct. 12. He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-5 with 27 seconds remaining to force overtime. Anderson also had eight catches for 100 yards in a 44-31 win against Baylor in the Kinder's Texas Bowl.
92. Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech: Much is made of Tech's transfers this offseason, but the return of Rodriguez for his senior year might be the Red Raiders' most important defensive player. At 6-1, 235 pounds, Rodriguez is a formidable presence who was a first-team All-Big 12 honoree and was named preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this year.
91. Hardy, RB, Missouri: Here's a list of heavily used running backs (175 carries or more) who forced more missed tackles per touch than Hardy in 2024: [null]. As a freshman at the UL Monroe, Hardy bulled his way to 1,351 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, dodging tacklers well and running through them when necessary. Now the Oma, Mississippi, native moves to the SEC, where he will immediately become a feature back for a Mizzou team coming off of back-to-back 10-win seasons.
90. Murdock, LB, Buffalo: The school that produced Khalil Mack, and most recently Shaun Dolac, has another defender firmly on the national radar. Murdock had one of the more statistically dominant seasons in the country last fall, leading the FBS with seven forced fumbles, finishing second in tackles with 156 and 12th in tackles for loss with 16.5. After helping Buffalo to nine wins in coach Pete Lembo's first season, he's back to challenge for national honors.
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89. Becht, QB, Iowa State: Becht guided the Cyclones to a school-record 11 wins in 2024 and capped the season with an MVP performance in a 42-41 win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This season will be his third as Iowa State's starter, and he will enter the year with 6,690 career passing yards and 48 touchdown passes. He'll have a revamped receiving corps to work with, but his experience should keep the Cyclones among the favorites in the Big 12.
88. Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech: The day he committed to Georgia Tech after transferring from Middle Tennessee, Rutledge wrecked his truck and suffered a severe foot injury that nearly resulted in an amputation. Instead, he started every game for the Yellow Jackets, earned first-team All-ACC honors and proved to be one of the most formidable interior linemen in the country.
87. Brailsford, C, Alabama: Brailsford is the anchor of what could be a very good Alabama offensive line. After transferring from Washington, Brailsford had an 80.7 run-blocking grade, which ranked second among Power 4 centers, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He had 63 knockdown blocks and allowed only a half-sack.
86. Alford, DB, Arizona State: After stints at Texas and USC, Alford had a breakout season with the Sun Devils in 2024, playing a huge role in the upstart program's run to the College Football Playoff. According to ASU, he allowed just nine receptions in coverage while playing 522 snaps -- an incredible ratio that ranked among the very best defensive backs in the country.
85. Wheatley, LB, Penn State: Anyone who tracked Penn State's postseason run noticed Wheatley, who played his best during some of the team's biggest moments last season. He earned VRBO Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors against Boise State in the CFP quarterfinal after recording an interception and a fumble recovery. Wheatley then had an interception, a sack and 16 tackles against Notre Dame in Penn State's narrow loss in the CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
84. O'Neill, DE, Rutgers: One of Rutgers' biggest additions in the offseason, O'Neill comes from James Madison after a standout campaign with the Dukes. The 6-3, 255-pound end was a force to be reckoned with and set the pace for a stingy JMU defense that led the nation in turnover margins last year.
83. Coleman, RB, Washington: Many of the core players from Jedd Fisch's 10-win Arizona team in 2023 remained in Tucson, but Coleman followed his coach to Washington and maintained his success with a new team and in a new league. An honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2023, he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season at Washington, where he rushed for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite logging more than 19 carries only twice.
82. Ponds, CB, Indiana: After an impressive true freshman season at James Madison, Ponds joined coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as well as All-America recognition. He had two interceptions, including a 67-yard pick-six, against Washington and blocked a punt for a safety against Michigan State. His most productive games came against top competition, as he had three passes defended against Ohio State and an interception against Notre Dame.
81. Moore, DT, Michigan: After two straight seasons of consistent production for the Wolverines' defense, Moore heads into his senior season ready to once again be one of the key cogs in Wink Martindale's unit. At Big Ten media days, Moore made news by joking that Ohio State's title was not a "real win" because the Buckeyes didn't beat Michigan.
80. Bolden, S, Georgia: After playing in 14 games and starting two as a freshman, Bolden is being counted on to become a leader in Georgia's secondary. With safeties Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson departing for the NFL, the sophomore is now the Bulldogs' last line of defense. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after finishing fifth on the team with 59 tackles in 2024.
79. Johnson, QB, Kansas State: In his first season as a full-time starter at K-State, Johnson flashed glimpses of his dual-threat stardom, most notably against Oklahoma State, when he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, passing for 259 yards and running for 60 yards. A former national top-100 recruit and a Kansas native, he is driven to return the Wildcats to the top of the Big 12 and beyond.
78. Sarratt, WR, Indiana: Sarratt has produced everywhere he has been, from FCS Saint Francis to James Madison to Indiana, and played a big role in helping coach Cignetti flip the Hoosiers into an instant CFP contender in 2024. He finished sixth in the Big Ten in receiving yards in his debut season and third in yards per catch (18.1) but still chose to run it back for one more season with Cignetti rather than go pro.
77. Fisher, LB, Indiana: Heading into his senior season, Fisher has been a tackle machine for the Hoosiers and is set to be a crucial part of their defense yet again. The 6-1, 231-pound linebacker was a first-team All-American last year.
76. Knapp, OT, Notre Dame: After expected starter Charles Jagusah went down before the 2024 season, Notre Dame turned to Knapp, a true freshman, to anchor the line. All he did was help pave the way for a Notre Dame offense that ranked seventh nationally in rushing average, protect QB Riley Leonard's blind side while surrendering just three sacks, and help the Fighting Irish march to a national championship game appearance.
Top 100 Players: Ranked 75-51
75. Klare, TE, Ohio State: At 6-4 and 236 pounds, you won't miss Klare on the field, and for whoever does line up under center for the Buckeyes, Klare will quickly become a favorite target. The junior had a breakout season last year, and there's a sense that this season could be even bigger for the Purdue product.
74. Ioane, OG, Penn State: Ioane proved he was ready to play as a redshirt freshman with five starts at left guard in 2023, then took his game to another level last season as a 16-game starter who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He surrendered zero sacks over the course of the Nittany Lions' run to the CFP semifinals, according to ESPN Research, and finished with just eight pressures allowed and three penalties on the year while playing the most snaps (957) of any player in the Big Ten.
73. Scott, CB, Illinois: Scott was targeted more than any other defensive back in the Big Ten in his second year as a starter, according to TruMedia, and he fared well in allowing just 28 catches on 63 targets (44%) and 4.9 yards per target with the second-most interceptions in the conference. The first-team All-Big Ten performer will help lead an Illini squad with big-time expectations for 2025.
72. Durant, DT, Wisconsin: Durant isn't just going to be a space eater in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' scheme this fall. The two-year starter is a disruptor up front who has generated 26 pressures at defensive tackle over the past two seasons, most among all returning Big Ten linemen, according to ESPN Research.
71. Green, OG, Missouri: A former top-60 recruit and Under Armour All-American from Lee's Summit, Missouri, Green started as a true freshman at Oklahoma, then transferred to his home-state school in 2024. He was an immediate hit in Columbia, allowing just three pressures with five blown run blocks in 13 starts and 776 snaps. With a new quarterback and reasonably new skill corps, Mizzou will be leaning on Green and the interior line to establish efficiency in 2025.
70. Jennings, QB, SMU: After taking over as SMU's starter in Week 4, Jennings ignited the Mustangs' offense, leading them to a playoff berth. From Nov. 1 through the ACC championship game, Jennings proved to be one of the most explosive QBs in the country, accounting for more than 1,500 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, alongside an 81.4 Total QBR.
Other News and Notes
Beyond individual player rankings, several other storylines are emerging in the college football landscape.
- EA Sports College Football 25: The release of the new video game is generating excitement among players and fans. Initial impressions suggest it's an improvement over previous versions.
- Roster Turnover: Teams are experiencing significant roster changes, with a high number of new players joining programs. This influx of new talent makes it challenging to assess team strengths and weaknesses.
- Player Health and Safety: Concerns continue regarding player safety, particularly the worrisome trend of high school football players collapsing and dying during preseason practices.
- Alcohol Sales at Stadiums: The trend of selling beer and wine at college football stadiums is becoming increasingly common, with a majority of Power Five schools now offering alcohol sales in public areas.
- Unusual Backgrounds: Some players have unique backgrounds, such as Hidetora Hanada, a former sumo wrestler from Japan who is now pursuing a career in American football at Colorado State.
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