The Wyshynski Awards for the first quarter of the 2024-25 NHL season: Best, worst, embarrassments and trends
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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
The first quarter of the 2024-25 NHL season is in the books, having produced a few juggernaut teams counterbalanced by preseason favorites who have cratered early on — including the Boston Bruins, who fired coach Jim Montgomery after 20 games.
What can the best and worst from the first chunk of the schedule tell us about what’s yet to come this season?
Here are my NHL awards and superlatives for the first quarter of the season, from outstanding achievements to bitter disappointments to some unfathomable goalie gaffes.
The Jets aren’t lapping the field. The Minnesota Wild have caught up to them in the Presidents’ Trophy race. Teams like the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils are right in their rearview mirror. By the end of the quarter, Winnipeg was a lot like these other hot starters: Banking points early to decrease the pressure later in the season.
What separates the Jets from that pack is their utter dominance in banking those points. Through 24 games, Winnipeg was second in goals per game behind Washington, second in goals against per game and team save percentage behind Minnesota, with the second best power play behind New Jersey.
We went deep inside the numbers recently to figure out how Winnipeg became this early-season steamroller. Connor Hellebuyck is the most obvious advantage, not only in having the world’s best goaltender in the crease, but in what that does from a confidence perspective for everything else they’ve done. “Everybody knows if you don’t have goaltending, it makes for a long year. So Helly gives us that foundation,” head coach Scott Arniel said.
When Rick Bowness retired, Arniel moved up from associate coach and unlocked something in this group. Of course, it helps to have a receptive group. Back-to-back first-round exists — including one courtesy of the Colorado Avalanche last spring that left them motivated by their humiliation — can open a player’s mind to new possibilities.
If the Jets continue to play like this, their five-game playoff dismissal last postseason will also be the thing that keeps their egos in check. “It’s why we’re not over the top, living the high life right now, because we know what happened last year,” Arniel said.
There are a few smoldering piles of disaster that could have captured this dishonor.
The Edmonton Oilers lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and offered up an encore of disastrous goaltending and curious underperformance from key skaters. The Pittsburgh Penguins earned more questions about their core’s future than points in the standings. The Detroit Red Wings appear unable to make the leap to playoff contention even if you spotted them a trampoline. The Bruins are outside a playoff spot, playing poorly enough to encourage the panic-firing of coach Jim Montgomery by management.
But the Predators are a special kind of terrible.
This was a 99-point playoff team that augmented a talented roster with three stunning free-agent coups: Forward Jonathan Marchessault, a former Conn Smythe winner jettisoned by the Golden Knights; defenseman Brady Skjei of the Hurricanes; and most significantly Steven Stamkos, goal-scoring superstar from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
But there’s an alchemy to building a championship-caliber team, and the Predators have failed that chemistry test. That infusion of offense talent somehow led to a massive regression, to the point where Nashville was last in the NHL in goals per game (2.32) and in expected goals at 5-on-5.
Even as Nashville has picked up a few points in the standings, things are getting uglier. Stamkos, who had one goal in his first 10 games with Nashville and only seven goals in 24 games so far, recently called out his teammates’ effort during this offensive drought. “If you’re not scoring, what else are you doing out there? What else can you do to help your team win? I’ve just felt like, for whatever reason, in these stretches, we tend to go the other way,” he said to a collective yikes from outside observers.
But there’s still hope in NashVegas. After all, this was a team that made the playoffs on the strength of 18 straight games without a regulation loss. All they need to do is rebook U2 at Sphere and then not attend their concert as a form of penance. Easy stuff.
Minnesota coach John Hynes was recently asked what has driven Kirill Kaprizov to the best start of his five-year NHL career. “He loves the game,” he said. “He’s the first guy on, last guy off. Great practice player, unbelievable physical condition, coachable. Willing to get better and learn how he can do things better.”
Those kinds of players are always easy to celebrate, but in Kaprizov’s case that work ethic is attached to a player with 174 goals in his first 300 NHL games. Kirill The Thrill has been the rocket fuel for the Wild’s torrid start, playing well in all facets of the game as he lead the league in points.
Through 24 games, there was a 14-point gap between him and the next highest Minnesota scorer, Matt Boldy. That stat shouldn’t the sole harbinger of an MVP candidate … but it’s a very solid plank in his platform. He’s been delightfully dominant.
It brings us no joy to report that Connor Ingram, last season’s winner of the Masterton Trophy and general feel-good story with the Arizona Coyotes, landed in Salt Lake City with a thud. Through 13 games, Ingram was last in the NHL in goals saved above expected (minus-10.9, per Stathletes) and cost his team a league-worst 1.4 wins according to Evolving Hockey. His .871 save percentage was the worst among goalies with at least 13 appearances.
Again, he’s a likeable guy with an incredible backstory who just happened to be the worst goalie in the NHL statistically at the quarter mark. He’s been out recently with an upper-body injury. Here’s to Ingram turning his season around with the Hockey Club.
This goal by the Oilers defenseman had both the wizardry, and the distance traveled.
Bouchard collected the puck deep inside his own zone and then turns on the afterburners through the neutral zone to leave most of the Ottawa Senators in his wake. Thomas Chabot futilely attempt to defend him and gets toyed with, until Bouchard unleashes a pinpoint shot to complete this goal of the year candidate:
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Evan Bouchard submits his goal-of-the-year contender for Oilers
Evan Bouchard goes end-to-end before putting his shot in the top corner for an incredible solo goal for the Oilers.
It’s hard to imagine there’s another hat trick in NHL history that was completed this absurdly. Brayden Point’s third goal in a recent game against the Capitals was scored when goalie Charlie Lindgren put the puck into his own net.
OK, that description doesn’t do it justice. That happens all the time, with goalies accidentally nudging the puck over the line with their skates or misplaying the puck on a shot. Lindgren took the puck on his backhand, attempted to play it to the end boards and emphatically deposited this thing dead center into his net.
Point was the last Lightning player to have touched the puck before Lindgren was revealed as a possible double-agent, and was credited with the goal:
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This Charlie Lindgren own goal needs to be seen to be believed
Under no pressure, Charlie Lindgren somehow puts the puck into his own net to gift the Lightning a 4-3 lead over the Capitals.
Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been celebrated in many road arenas during his final tour in the NHL. But in a recent game in Edmonton, he decided to give Oilers star Leon Draisaitl the gift of a goal at the end of the season’s most bizarre sequence.
Draisaitl sent the puck from the opposite blue line and then watched it travel through the legs of a teammate and a Minnesota defender. The bounding puck found its way to Fleury, who tried to knock it away quickly with his paddle. Instead, the puck was already rolling through his five-hole before his stick was in motion. Fleury tumbled into his own net with the puck, having given up one of the biggest clunkers of his career.
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Marc-Andre Fleury concedes a shocker of a goal
Marc-Andre Fleury goes to make the easy pad save, but the puck sneaks past the pads and crawls into the goal.
“It was dumb. I should have just make sure I stopped it first,” Fleury said after the game, who shared that his Minnesota teammates made him feel better about the gaffe by joking about it. Eventually winning the game 5-3 helped ease the embarrassment, too.
Most remorseless decision
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong does cold and calculated better than anyone. Whether it’s letting a beloved veteran walk over contract conditions or cutting bait on a season because the team isn’t playing to playoff standards, warm and fuzzies have no home in the St. Louis front office.
Just ask Drew Bannister, who was given 22 games as head coach before the Blues dumped him for Jim Montgomery, five days after the Bruins had fired him. Bannister got his first NHL head coaching job after 54 games as interim coach last season. “Having a full training camp and two-year term to put his stamp on this team, we’re looking forward to that,” Armstrong said six months ago.
In fairness, Armstrong also said the team conducted a search before committing to Bannister: “You’re just looking, like: ‘Is there any better out there? Is there something different that we’re missing?”
There was something better out there. Problem was he was the Bruins coach.
And so Armstrong became the hockey embodiment of the Distracted Boyfriend meme. He made it clear that the only reason Bannister was out was because Monty was available, giving the former Blues assistant a five-year contract. Again, he’s a general manager that’s never met a callous decision he couldn’t make. And many times, they’ve worked out.
Worst coaching move
While Luke Richardson’s decision to make Taylor Hall a healthy scratch without nary a hint to the former league MVP that it was a possibility — something Richardson acknowledged should have happened — he wasn’t the coach that submitted the wrong starting lineup before the game to earn a minor penalty.
That would be Predators coach Andrew Brunette, who submitted a lineup with Steven Stamkos in the starting lineup but started the game with Filip Forsberg in his spot. Seattle Kraken coach Dan Bylsma’s staff noticed the error. Just 43 seconds into the game, the Kraken notified the referees of a violation of NHL Rule 7, which states “no change in the starting line-up of either team as indicated in the submitted line-up, or in the playing line-up on the ice, can be made unless reviewed and approved by the referee prior to the start of the game.”
Brunette told TNT that the No. 1 was accidentally added to Forsberg’s No. 9 to make Stamkos’s No. 91. This did not make things better.
Nashville killed off the Seattle power play, but lost the game 3-0. In what’s been an embarrassing season for the Predators, this was downright comical.
Best trade condition
The Wild saved David Jiricek from a life of driving between Columbus and AHL Cleveland in perpetuity by trading for the 21-year-old Blue Jackets defenseman on Nov. 30. Among the draft picks changing sides in the deal was the Wild’s 2025 first-round pick.
Wild GM Bill Guerin doesn’t just hand out first-round picks like food samples at Costco, so he made this a conditional pick: If Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft is one of the first five selections, the Wild will retain the pick, and transfer its 2026 first-round selection to the Blue Jackets.
Yes, that’s right: a team that was 16-4-4 on the night of the trade and tied for first overall in the NHL via points percentage wanted to ensure this Jiricek trade didn’t muck up their lottery odds if the bottom falls out on the season. You have to respect that level of underlying dread for an NHL franchise.
Biggest trend: Even-strength scoring
Scoring is actually down a tick from last season after 386 games, with 3.08 goals per game per team. That’s despite average save percentage hitting .900, which would be its lowest point since the 1995-96 season.
Where scoring is way up: even-strength play. The NHL reported that through the first quarter of the season, 77.6% of all goals were scored at evens. That’s the highest such rate in 51 seasons! One must go all the way back to 1972-73 (79%) to find the previous high mark.
This even-strength surge makes up for the fact that while power-play conversion rates remain quite high — tracking to be the fourth straight season over 20% — power play opportunities are down slightly. But again, it’s early.
Worst trend: Dismissing the Champs
In ESPN’s preseason predictions for the 2024-25 season, 11 experts picked the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, followed by the Stars (8), Bruins (1), Maple Leafs (1) and Rangers (1). That the Toronto Maple Leafs had more support as a potential champion than the Florida Panthers speaks volumes about the respect the reigning champions still don’t seem to garner.
Maybe it’s the idea that a team won’t make the Stanley Cup Final in three consecutive seasons, even though a team that plays in the Panthers’ home state just did that. Maybe the personnel losses, including standout defenseman Brandon Montour, were seen as too deleterious. Maybe we saw those videos of Cup celebrations at the Elbo Room and wondered if these guys would ever be steady on skates again.
Yet here’s Florida, chugging along at a .620 points percentage in the Atlantic. Sam Reinhart is having an MVP season (18 goals, 16 assists). Aleksander Barkov made up for missed time to injury with 24 points in 17 games. Matthew Tkachuk is nearly a point-per-game player for an offense that’s been in the top five.
They’re not perfect, ranking 25th in goals against per game thanks to below-replacement goaltending by Sergei Bobrovsky. But he’s the best example of “it’s all about the postseason,” which might be the mantra for a team that’s gone Super Saiyan in consecutive postseasons.
Anyway, the point here is that the defending champion doesn’t always get their flowers because the odds are long on a repeat. Despite, you know, it happening twice in the last decade.
What a time to be alive during Alex Ovechkin’s first 18 games of this season.
The Capitals star scored 15 goals for the fastest offensive start of his 20-year NHL career, shattering or threatening records for a 39-year-old player in the process. He was scoring goals in a variety of ways. He looked faster and more impactful than he did last season, and especially last postseason. Ovechkin moved to within 27 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time career mark (894) and in the process dramatically moved up his timeline for claiming the goal-scoring throne.
And then he broke his fibula. Scoreus interruptus.
The hockey world now waits to see if Ovechkin can continue his mastery on the other side of that injury. When he does return, Ovechkin will find a Capitals team that’s just kept rolling in his absence to the top of the Metro Division. That’s something Ovechkin wanted most during his goal-record chase: To play relevant, important hockey with a playoff-bound team. Not every star veteran can be so lucky. (Glances at Pittsburgh.)
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Ovechkin’s 2nd goal of the night gets him to 868
Alex Ovechkin nets his second goal of the game to put the Capitals up 4-1 over the Utah HC, and moves within 26 goals of tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
Most important document: “The Memo”
The New York Rangers were in a playoff spot at American Thanksgiving, and have a .587 points percentage through 23 games. But playing good isn’t playing great, and the latter is what a team needs to do when it’s chasing its first Stanley Cup since 1994.
GM Chris Drury decided to light a fire under his team by sending a memo to 31 other general managers letting them know that the Rangers were open for business on the trade market. He mentioned two players by name: Defenseman Jacob Trouba, which was no surprise given the team tried to trade him in the offseason; and winger Chris Kreider, who was a surprise given his 13 seasons with the franchise and 127 goals over the previous three seasons.
Whether Drury was seeking deals — difficult, considering six members of his group of veterans have trade protection — or looking to have that memo hit the media as a message to his team, the Rangers have yet to turn their play around, with a shakeup still looming.
Between “The Memo” and “The Letter” back in 2018, the Rangers have produced the most landscape-shifting documents by a New Yorker since Alexander Hamilton.
In fairness, GM Craig Conroy said this wasn’t going to be a rebuild but a retool for the Flames … even if a rebuild might have been the most effective path back to championship contention. For better or worse, he got what he was after with this Flames team. Calgary has a 25% chance of making the playoff cut and is in a wild-card spot in the West as of Dec. 1.
Their offense remains without much pop, ranking 28th in goals per game average and with no player with more than 15 points after 25 games. But Dustin Wolf has been a revelation in goal, with a .918 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average, saving 3.5 goals above expected per Stathletes while playing himself into Calder Trophy contention. Hot goalies, forever the antidote to tanking.
For two seasons, Necas had been the subject of trade rumors and questions about his offensive output, which tumbled from a career-high 71 points in 2022-23 to 53 points (and a minus-9) last season for the Carolina Hurricanes. He avoided arbitration with a two-year bridge deal worth $6.5 million annually against the cap.
GM Eric Tulsky didn’t really need any more evidence of his genius, but we can add “got one of the league’s best scorers at a discounted rate” to the list.
Necas, 26, has 37 points in 24 games, easily the best scoring pace of his career to lead the Hurricanes to near the top of the conference. Necas always had this kind of season in him. Carolina fans are relieved to finally see it happen — and happen in Raleigh.
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Martin Necas scores power-play goal vs. Stars
Martin Necas scores power-play goal vs. Stars
Is this a sophomore jinx, or the reality of playing for the current incarnation of the Chicago Blackhawks? Whatever the case, Bedard has been ineffective and frustrated in his second NHL campaign after winning the Calder Trophy last season.
He has four goals in 23 games after potting 22 goals in 68 games last season, and 17 points overall. Bedard’s defensive numbers have improved year over year, which was by design: Coach Luke Richardson moved him to the wing and had him playing with more defensively oriented linemates this season. But they need him to be Connor Bedard, not Connor Brown. Beyond his stat line, Bedard has clearly shown frustration about the way his season has played out, and what could be year-over-year regression for the Blackhawks.
Memo to Connor: Patience is a virtue in a total rebuild. Crosby had Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury with him the first time his Penguins made the postseason. Ovechkin had Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green as teammates when he made the playoffs for the first time. Granted, those examples were from when Bedard was around three years old, and our bones just turned into dust writing that.
Overwhelming offseason goalie acquisition: Anthony Stolarz
After posting impressive numbers as a backup goalie with Anaheim and Florida, with whom he won the Stanley Cup, Stolarz signed in Toronto as the latest attempted solution to their goaltending issues.
Through 13 games, he’s looked the part: 7-4-2, .921 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average. Stathletes has him with 3.6 goals saved above average. All that for $2.5 million against the salary cap.
Underwhelming offseason goalie acquisition: Jacob Markstrom
The Devils hit on most of their offseason additions. Brenden Dillon and Brett Pesce added veteran presence to their blue line. Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter have produced more offense than expected from depth forwards. But the centerpiece of their offseason resurrection plans hasn’t actualized quite yet.
Jacob Markstrom is 11-6-1 on the season. His .902 save percentage is just over league average. But his underlying numbers are rough: minus 6.6 goals saved above expected (Stathletes), underwater in save percentage above expected (MoneyPuck) and hasn’t added a win to the Devils in the standings (Evolving Hockey).
Again, it’s a little unfair when the bar is set at “positional savior” after poor goaltending subverted the Devils last season. There’s still plenty of time to find his footing in New Jersey, but at this point backup Jake Allen has had the better season among Devils goalies.
The first NHL Awards Watch of the season made it clear that the only thing keeping some voters from crowing Celebrini as the top rookie this season was the number of games he had played. He’s appeared in only 15 games through Saturday’s action but had scored eight goals and six assists in those games. Eventually, the sample size concern will give way to acknowledgment that Celebrini is a special player.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Sharks. Seeing Joe Thornton honored the other day conjured memories of this franchise’s glory years as a Stanley Cup contender, back when the Shark Tank would vibrate from the volume of its fans. San Jose might not create much chaos in the standings this season, but thanks to Celebrini, Will Smith and other players in the franchise’s next wave, the Sharks are fun again.
It’s been a while since San Jose gave the East Coast a reason to stay up late for home games. Celebrini is that reason.
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Macklin Celebrini lights the lamp for Sharks
Macklin Celebrini lights the lamp for Sharks
What’s next? Biggest storylines for next quarter of the season
1. Can the Bruins stabilize?
While Jim Montgomery appears to have the Blues pointed in the right direction, can the team that fired him find its footing under interim coach Joe Sacco? Results are mixed in the early going, but it’s clear GM Don Sweeney believes this roster can succeed based on the timing of the firing. Any turnaround needs goalie Jeremy Swayman to be at his best, and he’s finally finding his form after a disastrous first six weeks of the season.
2. The 4 Nations Face-Off Fallout.
This week, we’ll learn who made the cut for the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland for the first 4 Nations Face-Off tournament this February. There will be some surprises and some snubs. How will players react to missing the cut, especially with 2026 Olympic roster spots potentially on the line? Or, more to the point: How many young scorers will try and light up the Minnesota Wild because Team USA GM Bill Guerin left them off the national team roster?
3. Who is the best in the West?
As mentioned, the Jets aren’t alone at the top of the Western Conference, with the Wild and Golden Knights both within a reasonable distance of the lead. Vegas has gotten an MVP performance from Jack Eichel so far this season. Speaking of MVPs: Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid could power the Avalanche and Oilers back up the standings before the midpoint of the season. Are the Los Angeles Kings for real after a solid start? Can Dallas start playing like the Stanley Cup champ many expect them to become? What’s the Blues ceiling with Montgomery behind the bench?
The West is going to be wild.
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Ben Baby
CINCINNATI — A familiar face is headed back to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to join the Bengals in the same role, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Wednesday. The news comes two days after the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Golden, 55, spent the past three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. He replaces Lou Anarumo, who held the post for the past six seasons before he was fired after the Bengals missed the postseason.
This will be Golden’s second stint on Zac Taylor’s coaching staff. Before taking the job at Notre Dame, he was Cincinnati’s linebackers coach during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. During those years, Golden played an integral role in leading a defense that helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.
The Fighting Irish’s defense was a major reason why Notre Dame was a win away from its first national championship since 1988. Entering the CFP final against the Buckeyes, Notre Dame’s defense ranked fourth among Power 4 teams in points allowed per drive (1.21), according to ESPN Research.
He will be tasked with leading a Bengals defense that looks vastly different from just a couple of years ago. Staples from that Super Bowl team, including safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle DJ Reader, departed in free agency in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last season, Anarumo was tasked with balancing a group that featured aging veterans, injuries at key positions and inexperience at others.
Eventually, the defense figured things out during the Bengals’ five-game winning streak to close the regular season. But with Cincinnati missing the postseason for a second straight year, Taylor opted for a staff shake-up. Along with Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack and defensive line coach Marion Hobby were among those who were not retained.
On Monday, Cincinnati announced Scott Peters as Pollack’s replacement and Michael McCarthy as the assistant offensive line coach. Later in the day, Anarumo was hired as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator.
The Bengals will need to improve a unit that finished near the bottom of the league in several key categories. Last season, Cincinnati was 26th in points allowed per drive, 30th in defensive red zone efficiency and 30th in first downs allowed per game, according to ESPN Research.
Cincinnati is trying to build around star quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase as the team looks to end a two-year playoff drought. Burrow was named to his second Pro Bowl following a career year. Chase made his fourth Pro Bowl in as many NFL seasons and joined defensive end Trey Hendrickson as the team’s first All-Pro selections since 2015.
Ohio State‘s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game was the most-watched game of the season. However, it was a double-digit drop in viewers from last year.
ESPN announced Wednesday that the Buckeyes’ second national championship in the CFP era averaged 22.1 million viewers. It was the most-watched, non-NFL sporting event over the past year, but a 12% drop from the 25 million who tuned in for Michigan’s 34-13 victory over Washington in 2024.
It was the third-lowest audience of the 11 CFP title games, with all three occurring in the past five years. The audience peaked at 26.1 million viewers during the second quarter (8:30 to 8:45 p.m. ET) when the score was tied at 7.
Since Alabama’s 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in 2018, the past seven title games have had an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. Ohio State had a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter before Notre Dame rallied to get within one possession with five minutes remaining in the fourth.
Georgia’s 65-7 rout of TCU in 2023 was the least-viewed title game (17.2 million) followed by Alabama’s 52-24 win over Ohio State in 2021 (18.7 million). The first title game in 2015 — the Buckeyes’ 42-20 victory over Oregon — remains the most-watched college football game by viewers in the CFP era, according to Nielsen at 33.9 million.
This was the first year of the 12-team field. The first round averaged 10.6 million viewers with the quarterfinals at 16.9 million. The semifinals averaged 19.2 million, a 17% decline from last year. Both semifinal games in 2024 though were played on Jan. 1. Michigan’s OT victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl drew a bigger audience (27.7 million) than the Wolverines’ win in the title game.
CFP games ended up being nine of the 10 most-viewed this season. Georgia’s OT win over Texas in the SEC championship on ABC/ESPN was sixth at 16.6 million.
Ohio State won the national championship.
Ohio State had the most talented roster in the country.
The first is a fact. The second is, technically, an opinion — one shared by everyone on ESPN’s committee selecting the top 100 players of the 2024-25 season — but it’d be tough to come up with a compelling argument for someone else.
(ESPN’s selection committee included Bill Connelly, David Hale, Chris Low, Max Olson, Adam Rittenberg and Paolo Uggetti.)
Indeed, 10% of our top 100 list is Buckeyes, and that is probably too conservative a judgement of Ohio State’s roster. Our list doesn’t include Quinshon Judkins, despite his 121 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in the national title game. It doesn’t include Cody Simon or Sonny Styles, who both had more than 100 tackles this season, or Denzel Burke, who was one of the better DBs in the country, and it includes just one member of an offensive line that owned the postseason.
But ranking the top 100 players is no easy task, and frankly, we had to make some room for the rest of the country.
So Ohio State carved out a huge chunk of real estate, with Jeremiah Smith, Will Howard and Jack Sawyer among the players who used the playoff to climb the list, but the 90 other slots included a plethora of big names (17 quarterbacks) and lesser-known players who had impressive seasons (11 Group of 5 players). We prioritized players who proved their greatness over the full season, which meant some tough injury-related cuts such as Will Johnson and Benjamin Morrison, as well as shunning some clear-cut NFL prospects, such as Luther Burden III and Mykel Williams, who just didn’t put up the numbers in 2024 to warrant inclusion.
The result is a celebration of some of the most exciting players (Cam Ward and Travis Hunter), up-and-coming stars (Smith, Colin Simmons) and under-the-radar talents (Shaun Dolac, Desmond Reid). Read on and remember that if someone deserving didn’t make the cut, it’s Ohio State’s fault.
— David Hale
Jump to: 100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-1
LB, Clemson, Senior
Stats: 42 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10.5 TFLs
Preseason ranking: 15
Carter was Clemson’s most versatile defender and defensive leader in 2024. He finished with 82 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 8 QB hurries. Carter excelled as a pass rusher (13 pressures), a run defender (11 tackles for a loss or no gain on runs) and in pass defense, breaking up nine passes on 388 snaps in coverage. He finished his four-year stint at Clemson as one of the school’s most prolific defenders, racking up 231 career tackles. — Hale
WR, Ole Miss, Senior
Stats: 60 receptions, 1,030 yards, 7 TDs
Preseason ranking: 38
Harris was limited by a lingering groin injury this season, but when healthy, he was one of the most dynamic receivers in college football. The 6-3, 210-pound senior played in just eight games but still managed to lead Ole Miss with 60 catches and 1,030 receiving yards. Harris became just the sixth Ole Miss receiver in history to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. — Chris Low
OG, North Carolina, Senior
Stats: Allowed 3 pressures in 816 snaps, 4 blown run blocks
Preseason ranking: NR
The winner of the ACC’s top blocking award, Lampkin hardly looks the part of a star in the trenches, but he plays like a giant. Lampkin — 5-11, 290 pounds — arrived at UNC as a transfer from Coastal Carolina, and former head coach Mack Brown even admitted he doubted Lampkin could hold up against the bigger, stronger competition in the ACC. Not only did Lampkin hold his own, he thrived. Over 816 snaps at right guard, Lampkin allowed just three pressures and had just four blown run blocks, paving the way for a UNC offense that rushed for 182 yards per game and helped Omarion Hampton to become a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. — Hale
OT, Minnesota, Senior
Stats: 2% pressure percentage, 5th best among Big Ten OTs, min. 400 snaps
Preseason ranking: 59
There’s a reason Ersery is projected to be a potential first-round draft pick. Though there wasn’t much flashy about him or Minnesota this season, the Gophers’ offensive tackle was a reliable force all season long. At 6-6 and 330 pounds, Ersery’s mobility and ability to eliminate defenders, made him an easy All-Big Ten first team choice. — Paolo Uggetti
WR, Louisville, Senior
Stats: 61 receptions, 1,013 yards, 9 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Brooks arrived as a transfer from Alabama and immediately became Louisville’s most dangerous player in the passing game. He caught at least four passes for at least 70 yards in nine of his first 10 games, and he finished the year with 61 catches for 1,013 yards despite missing the bulk of the Cards’ final three contests. He was a big-play threat, with nine catches on throws 20 yards or more downfield, but also a physical runner who racked up the 11th-most yards after contact of any receiver in the country. — Hale
RB, Auburn, Senior
Stats: 187 carries, 1,201 yards, 8 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Hunter finished his career fourth all time among Auburn’s rushing leaders with 3,371 yards. The 5-10, 209-pound senior had a career-best 1,201 yards this season, which ranked second among all SEC players. Hunter rushed for 278 yards, the most by any FBS player on the season, in a 24-10 win over Kentucky on Oct. 27. He had 214 of those yards in the second half, which was a school record. — Low
RB, Pitt, Junior
Stats: 184 carries, 966 yards, 5 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
At 5-7, Reid was often dwarfed by the defenders tasked with bringing him down, but more often than not, he made them look foolish trying. Few players were as elusive in 2024, and few made a bigger all-around impact. Reid finished with 966 rushing yards, 579 receiving yards and 159 punt return yards, notching 10 total touchdowns — including at least one each rushing, receiving and on returns. How unlikely is that stat line? In the past 20 years, former Clemson great C.J. Spiller is the only other FBS player with a 900/500/150 yardage split and a touchdown in each category in the same season. — Hale
S, Texas, Senior
Stats: 41 solo tackles, 1 FF, 5 INTs, 6 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
A Clemson transfer who helped Texas improve from 116th in pass defense in 2023 to first in the regular season this year, he was a physical player whose big hits stopped runners cold. His interception in the second overtime against Arizona State clinched a CFP quarterfinal win for the Longhorns. He had career highs in every major category this year despite missing a game with injury, with 69 tackles, 11 passes defensed and 5 interceptions, which tied teammate Jahdae Barron for the SEC lead. — Dave Wilson
C, Florida, Junior
Stats: Played 800 snaps, pass-block grade of 83.9
Preseason ranking: NR
Florida’s offensive line improved steadily toward the latter part of the 2024 season when the Gators won their past four games, and Slaughter’s play in the interior of that line was a big reason why. A redshirt junior, Slaughter announced that he would return for the 2025 season after allowing just one sack and one quarterback hit this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. — Low
QB, Texas, Junior
Stats: 3,472 yards, 31 TDs, 12 INTs
Preseason ranking: 23
Ewers threw for 3,472 yards and 32 touchdowns to 12 interceptions this year, and he was the only quarterback in the country to lead his team to the CFP for the second straight year. He completed 65.8% of his passes. He averaged 241 passing yards per game, but 291 over the Longhorns’ four postseason games, including 358 against Georgia in the SEC championship game. — Wilson
RB, Texas Tech, Junior
Stats: 286 carries, 1,505 yards, 17 TDs
Preseason ranking: 37
Brooks became Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher (4,557) this season and was the only Power 4 running back to top 100 yards in every game he played in this year, finishing with 1,505 yards in 11 games. He was second in the Big 12 in rushing to UCF’s RJ Harvey and fifth in the FBS. Brooks scored 17 touchdowns, including three scores in three different games, including the regular-season finale against West Virginia when he had 188 rushing yards. His 23 career 100-yard games are the most in school history and fourth in Big 12 history behind Cedric Benson, Darren Sproles and Ricky Williams. — Wilson
WR, Arizona State, Sophomore
Stats: 75 receptions, 1,101 yards, 10 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
After an injury sidelined him for most of the 2023 season, Tyson returned to earn third-team AP All-America honors for the Sun Devils. He caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he was unavailable for ASU’s CFP quarterfinal game against Texas. — Kyle Bonagura
DT, Michigan, Junior
Stats: 18 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 5 PDs
Preseason ranking: 75
Grant teamed up with All-American Mason Graham to give Michigan the top defensive tackle combination in college football. He led Michigan with two fumble recoveries and ranked second on the team with five pass breakups, while adding 3 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3 quarterback hurries. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team AP All-America honors, and he had four tackles and a tackle for loss in Michigan’s 13-10 upset win over rival Ohio State on Nov. 30. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists Grant as the No. 19 overall prospect for the upcoming draft and the No. 4 draft-eligible defensive tackle prospect. — Jake Trotter
RB, Jacksonville State, Senior
Stats: 279 carries, 1,639 yards, 25 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Stewart thrived in Rich Rodriguez’s offense this season, totaling 1,638 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. He’s just the ninth player in the playoff era to top 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing in a season, joining the likes of Derrick Henry, James Conner and Melvin Gordon. Stewart had eight multi-touchdown games, eclipsed 200 yards on the ground three times and finished with the seventh-most rushing attempts in the country, despite getting just eight carries in the first two games of the season. — Hale
LB, Pitt, Sophomore
Stats: 45 solo tackles, 7 sacks, 1 FF, 4 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Arguably the most versatile linebacker in the country in 2024, Louis did it all for Pitt. Louis racked up 105 tackles, picked off four passes, forced a fumble, and had 15.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 27 pressures and 9 QB hurries. Louis and Utah’s Devin Lloyd, a 2021 consensus All-American, are the only two defenders in the past 10 years to rack up 100 tackles, 4 interceptions and 7 sacks in the same season. — Hale
WR, Maryland, Senior
Stats: 96 receptions, 1,124 yards, 9 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
On a team with mediocre QB play, Felton still managed to become one of the most reliable receivers in the country. He finished the season with 1,124 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns and 96 catches, tying Travis Hunter for the fourth most in college football. Felton had five 100-yard games and six games with at least nine catches. Felton racked up the fourth-most yards-after-catch in the country among wide receivers, and his 56 catches for a first down ranked third among wideouts. — Hale
QB, Navy, Junior
Stats: 1,353 yards, 13 TDs, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
The centerpiece to Navy’s offense in 2024, Horvath was a revelation. He was typically great in the option offense, rushing for 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he excelled as a passer, too, throwing for 1,353 yards and 13 scores with just four interceptions. — Hale
RB, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 144 carries, 1,016 yards, 10 TDs
Preseason ranking: 35
Despite splitting carries with Quinshon Judkins, Henderson had a huge senior season. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry, which leads all Power 4 running backs. Henderson also saved one of the best stretches of his career for Ohio State’s playoff run, totaling five touchdowns. He rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns. Has also added 284 receiving yards on 27 receptions and another touchdown. — Trotter
C, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 0.90% blown-block rate
Preseason ranking: NR
Though he missed Ohio State’s last two regular-season games with a ruptured Achilles tendon, McLaughlin was named a consensus All-American and won the Rimington Trophy, given to the most outstanding center in college football. McLaughlin, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama, became the fourth Ohio State center to win the Rimington. He anchored an offense up front that ranked second in the Big Ten with 37.2 points per game. — Trotter
DE, Oregon, Sophomore
Stats: 24 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT
Preseason ranking: NR
The flashes that Uiagalelei showed in his freshman season turned into him filling a major role on the Ducks’ defense during this year. The sophomore from California made his presence felt nearly every time he saw the field, wreaking havoc on quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and helping Oregon’s defense hold its own in the Big Ten. — Uggetti
RB, Penn State, Senior
Stats: 172 carries, 1,099 yards, 12 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Alongside Kaytron Allen, Singleton powered one of the top running back duos in college football. He ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 3.69 yards per carry after contact. He led the league among running backs with 375 receiving yards on 41 receptions. Though Penn State came up short in the Capital One Orange Bowl playoff semifinal, Singleton ended the year with 84 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Notre Dame. In total, he rushed for 1,099 yards with 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. — Trotter
WR, Iowa State, Senior
Stats: 87 receptions, 1,183 yards, 9 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Higgins was a third-team AP All-American after his performance for the Cyclones this season. He had 87 catches for 1,183 receiving yards, fourth most in the nation this season, along with nine touchdowns. He and teammate Jaylin Noel were the only pair nationally to each top 1,000 yards receiving. He had nine catches for 155 yards and a TD against Utah, one of his five 100-yard games this year. — Wilson
WR, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 81 receptions, 1,011 yards, 10 TDs
Preseason ranking: 28
Though often overshadowed by Jeremiah Smith, Egbuka has delivered a terrific final season in Columbus. A team captain, he posted a career-best 81 receptions to go along with 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he led the Buckeyes with 21 receptions, catching at least five passes in each of Ohio State’s four playoff wins to win the national championship. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Egbuka as the No. 4 receiver prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. — Trotter
WR, Washington State, Senior
Stats: 70 receptions, 1,189 yards, 14 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Williams turned in a monster final season for Washington State, catching 70 passes for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. It was the most prolific of his five-year career in which he finished with 248 catches with 3,608 yards and 29 touchdowns. — Bonagura
QB, Notre Dame, Senior
Stats: 2,861 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs
Preseason ranking: 82
After three offseason surgeries, Leonard started slowly in his 2024 campaign; three games into the season, he still hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass. But when things clicked for Leonard, it changed everything for Notre Dame. Leonard sparked the passing game, ran with an edge that few other QBs could rival, and Notre Dame began blowing out most opponents en route to a national title game appearance. Leonard’s true impact, however, is hard to capture with just numbers. His desire to win showed up routinely in big runs through defenders or must-have throws when the game was on the line, and that helped Notre Dame to its best season in more than 30 years. — Hale
LB, UNLV, Senior
Stats: 69 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Woodard raised his game this fall, earning All-America honors and leading his team in solo tackles, assisted tackles, tackles against the run, tackles for loss, run stops, fumble recoveries and even pass breakups. Nationally, he ranked fourth in tackles (135) and tied for ninth in tackles for loss (17, behind only Shaun Dolac among linebackers). He also improved his tackle success rate from 85% to 92% this fall. — Bill Connelly
WR, Texas, Junior
Stats: 58 receptions, 987 yards, 9 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Golden transferred to Texas after Dana Holgorsen was fired at Houston, and he became Texas’ most important receiver this season, including grabbing eight catches for 162 yards in the SEC championship game loss to Georgia. On the season, he finished with 58 catches for 982 yards and nine TDs, including a 28-yard touchdown on 4th-and-13 against Arizona State in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl to force a second overtime. — Wilson
LB, Indiana, Junior
Stats: 49 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Fisher played a key role in Indiana’s remarkable turnaround. Fisher earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the Hoosiers, as Indiana ranked second in the league in defensive EPA (expected points added), trailing only Ohio State. He had 14 tackles in Indiana’s 20-15 win over Michigan on Nov. 9, as the Hoosiers reached 10 wins for the first time in school history. He ranked third in the Big Ten with 118 tackles. — Trotter
DE, Texas A&M, Junior
Stats: 27 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF
Preseason ranking: 29
In his one season at Texas A&M after transferring from Purdue, Scourton led the Aggies with 14 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. He had 10 of his tackles for loss against SEC opponents, which ranked second in the league. The 6-4, 280-pound Scourton was a second-team Walter Camp All-America selection and finalist for the Lott IMPACT Award. — Low
WR, Alabama, Freshman
Stats: 48 receptions, 865 yards, 8 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Williams had an electrifying start to his true freshman season with six of his 10 touchdowns (eight receiving and two rushing) coming in his first five games, including the game winner against Georgia on a highlight-reel 75-yard play. The 6-foot, 175-pound Williams was a second-team All-American by the AFCA and unanimous Freshman All-American. He averaged 18 yards per catch. — Low
RB, UCF, Senior
Stats: 232 carries, 1,577 yards, 22 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Harvey wrapped up a brilliant UCF career with 1,577 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns in 2024. He finished his career with 3,792 yards rushing, 720 yards receiving and 47 touchdowns, to leave as one of the best players in school history. — Bonagura
QB, Vanderbilt, Senior
Stats: 2,293 yards, 20 TDs, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
One of the SEC’s most entertaining and impactful newcomers, Pavia helped guide Vanderbilt to its first winning season in 11 years. He energized Vanderbilt’s entire team after playing two seasons at New Mexico State and earned second-team All-SEC honors from the AP in his first season in the league. The 6-foot, 207-pound senior was granted an injunction by a judge after starting his career in junior college, which will allow him to return for the 2025 season. — Low
LB, Notre Dame, Senior
Stats: 55 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 5 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
Notre Dame’s all-time leader in games played and a longtime special teams standout, Kiser finally became a full-time starter in 2024 and thrived, leading the team in tackles, tackles against the run and forced fumbles. He lines up at ILB and OLB and sometimes in the slot, and he raised his coverage game in 2024 as well. His 90 tackles and 55 solo tackles were both career highs. — Connelly
DE, Boise State, Senior
Stats: 28 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks
Preseason ranking: NR
Though Jeanty gathered plenty of the shine for the Broncos this season, what Hassanein did on the defensive side of the ball should not go unnoticed. The senior built upon his breakout junior season and was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line alongside Jayden Virgin-Morgan. — Uggetti
S, South Carolina, Junior
Stats: 57 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 2 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Emmanwori was the leader in total tackles (88) on a South Carolina defense that finished 14th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.84). The 6-3, 227-pound junior was named a first-team All-American by the AP and Sporting News and was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks. He was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection and declared for the NFL draft after the Gamecocks’ bowl loss to Illinois. — Low
QB, South Carolina, Freshman
Stats: 2,534 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Sellers capped a stellar first year as South Carolina’s starting quarterback with a sensational performance in a 17-14 road win over rival Clemson in the regular-season finale. His 20-yard touchdown run with 1:08 to play won it for the Gamecocks. The 6-3, 242-pound redshirt freshman finished with 3,208 yards in total offense and accounted for 25 touchdowns (18 passing and seven rushing). — Low
LB, Iowa, Senior
Stats: 53 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 FFs, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Higgins earned unanimous All-American honors and was named the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. He finished second in the league with 120 tackles and four interceptions — no player in college football had more than 100 tackles with four picks. He topped the Big Ten with 120 tackles and a tackling rate of 92.3%. He also led the Hawkeyes with four interceptions and two forced fumbles. — Trotter
QB, Penn State, Junior
Stats: 3,327 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Allar took a big step in his second season as Penn State’s starter and first under coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who opened up the downfield passing game. The junior had 51 completions of 20 yards or more, up from 28 in 2023, and maintained his accuracy, completing 71.6% of his passes during the regular season and reaching 65% in all but two games. Allar’s 62.9 career completion percentage is first all time at Penn State, and he had multiple touchdown passes in seven games this past season. He must take the next step against elite Power 4 competition but will enter 2025 as one of the nation’s more accomplished QBs. His 3,327 passing yards rank third in Penn State single-season history. — Adam Rittenberg
DT, Notre Dame, Senior
Stats: 19 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks
Preseason ranking: NR
A five-year contributor from Lake Forest, Ill., Mills has been a steady star for three seasons. He helped to see the Fighting Irish through a run of injuries in 2024 and might have been the best player on the field in their first-round win over Indiana before suffering a season-ending injury of his own. More than a quarter of his tackles were at or behind the line in 2024. He had a team-best 7.5 sacks and 24 pressures this season (both career highs) despite lining up almost exclusively as a defensive tackle. — Connelly
OT, Oregon, Junior
Stats: 1.5% pressure pct., best among Big Ten OTs, min. 400 snaps
Preseason ranking: NR
Oregon’s offensive line got off to a rocky start this season, but once it found the right combination of players, the unit turned into one of the best in the country with the way it protected Dillon Gabriel, and it was anchored by Conerly. The left tackle from Seattle will surely be playing on Sundays in the near future. — Uggetti
S, Ohio State, Junior
Stats: 46 solo tackles, 3 FFs, 1 INT, 2 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Despite being overshadowed by fellow safety Caleb Downs, Ransom earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He also had one of the biggest plays in Ohio State’s semifinal win over Texas. On second-and-goal from the Ohio State 1-yard line, he dropped Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner for a 7-yard loss. That set the table for Jack Sawyer’s game-clinching forced fumble he returned for a touchdown. Ransom ranks fourth on the Buckeyes with 72 tackles to go along with a sack, an interception and two pass deflections. — Trotter
WR, UNLV, Senior
Stats: 79 receptions, 1,041 yards, 11 TDs
Preseason ranking: 79
After a slow start following his All-American campaign in 2023, White showed out once again, recording five 100-yard games and spearheading UNLV’s second straight MWC championship game appearance. He recorded his second straight 1,000-yard season, thanks in part to a three-week binge of 400 yards and five touchdowns against Fresno State, Syracuse and Utah State. And his 2,524 combined receiving yards in 2023-24 rank second to only Tetairoa McMillan. — Connelly
QB, Arizona State, Freshman
Stats: 2,885 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
The Michigan State transfer was a revelation in Tempe, where — with his arm and his legs — he helped guide the Sun Devils to the Big 12 title. With Leavitt in the lineup, ASU won 11 of its first 12 games before a double-overtime loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. He threw 24 touchdown passes and scored five on the ground. — Bonagura
QB, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 4,010 yards, 35 TDs, 10 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Howard saved the best stretch of his career for Ohio State’s playoff run. He has posted a QBR of 96.4 in the Buckeyes’ four playoff games, easily the best mark of any playoff passer. Howard has also brought an edge to the Buckeyes, with teammate Jack Sawyer calling him the “most resilient guy” he has ever met. Howard ranks second with a QBR of 89.6, trailing only Heisman finalist and potential No. 1 NFL draft pick, Cam Ward of Miami. Howard passed for 4,010 passing yards, 35 TDs with 10 INTs while completing 73.1% of his passes. He has also rushed for seven touchdowns. — Trotter
TE, Michigan, Junior
Stats: 56 receptions, 582 yards, 5 TDs
Preseason ranking: 26
Loveland sat out Michigan’s thrilling victories over USC and later Ohio State with injuries, but he still had a productive final season in Ann Arbor. Loveland ranked sixth among FBS tight ends with 58.2 receiving yards per game and led the Wolverines with 56 receptions for 582 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists Loveland as the No. 2 draft-eligible tight end and No. 21 overall player for the upcoming draft. — Trotter
DE, Indiana, Junior
Stats: 19 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
Kamara’s success in Bloomington didn’t come as a huge surprise. A second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2023, Kamara showed he not only could perform but also excel in the Big Ten, earning first-team all-league honors and becoming Indiana’s first AP All-America selection in a decade. His 10 sacks marked Indiana’s most since 2008, and he ranked in the top 15 nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss (15), while also recording team highs in quarterback hurries (6) and fumbles recovered (3). — Rittenberg
LB, Oklahoma, Senior
Stats: 44 solo tackles, 1 sack, 8 PDs
Preseason ranking: 32
Stutsman was the leader of an Oklahoma defense that was much improved this past season, climbing from 79th in total defense (389.4 yards) in the FBS in 2023 to 19th (318.2). The senior from Windermere, Florida, ranked fourth in the SEC with 9.1 tackles per game and sixth with 110 stops overall. In three seasons, Stutsman had 376 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 8 sacks and 3 interceptions. In 2024, Stutsman had 16 stops in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina and a career-high 19 tackles in a 30-23 loss at Missouri. — Mark Schlabach
QB, Clemson, Junior
Stats: 3,639 yards, 36 TDs, 6 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
After an uneven first two seasons at Clemson, Klubnik finally put it all together in 2024 and emerged as one of the best QBs in the country. Klubnik topped 4,000 yards of total offense and racked up 43 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions all season. His finish to 2024, however, might be the biggest reason for optimism moving forward. In his last three games, all vs. top-15 teams, he completed 62% of his throws for 878 yards with nine touchdowns. Klubnik likely enters 2025 as one of the favorites for the Heisman trophy. — Hale
OT, West Virginia, Senior
Stats: 0 QB hurries allowed, 0 sacks allowed in 34 of last 36 games
Preseason ranking: NR
Milum was named to multiple first-team All-America teams to become the 14th consensus All-American in West Virginia history. He did not allow a sack in 34 of his last 36 games, according to the school, and did not a allow a quarterback hurry in 2024. — Bonagura
CB, Indiana, Senior
Stats: 35 solo tackles, 3 INTs, 9 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Ponds was among the James Madison transfers who joined coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana, and he made an immediate impact there. He helped the Hoosiers rank No. 6 nationally in points allowed and No. 12 in pass efficiency defense, while earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. His 67-yard pick-six against Washington, with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in town, was among the more memorable plays of Indiana’s season. Ponds led the team in pass breakups (9) and finished second on the team in interceptions (3). He also blocked a punt at Michigan State that led to a Hoosiers safety. — Rittenberg
WR, Miami, Senior
Stats: 69 rec, 1,127 yards, 11 TDs
Preseason ranking: 66
At a school that has produced the likes of Michael Irvin, Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson, holding the all-time record for receiving yards is an impressive feat. That’s exactly what Restrepo accomplished in 2924, adding 1,127 yards to his career tally to finish with 2,573 — most in program history. Restrepo was the go-to target for Cam Ward, and he finished with 69 catches and 11 touchdowns — one of just three Power 4 receivers to tally a 60/1,100/11 line alongside Travis Hunter and Jeremiah Smith. — Hale
RB, SMU, Senior
Stats: 235 carries, 1,332 yards, 14 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
An underused receiver at Miami, Smith hit the transfer portal after 2023 in search of a fresh start. He found it with his former offensive coordinator — and current SMU head coach — Rhett Lashlee, who envisioned Smith as a tailback. The transition proved a stroke of brilliance, and Smith blossomed in the role, becoming one of the most explosive runners in the country. He had 10 games in 2024 in which he racked up at least 96 yards from scrimmage, and for the year, his 1,332 rushing yards ranked 15th nationally, his 1,659 scrimmage yards was ninth and his 18 scrimmage touchdowns ranked 13th. — Hale
LB, Alabama, Junior
Stats: 55 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT
Preseason ranking: NR
At 21 years old, Campbell is still developing as an off-the-ball linebacker. He made quite an impact for the Crimson Tide this past season, leading the team with 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. He also added 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. Campbell was at his best in the Tide’s 42-13 victory at LSU on Nov. 9, piling up 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. — Schlabach
OG, Alabama, Junior
Stats: 87 knockdown blocks, 0 sacks allowed
Preseason ranking: 31
Alabama fans couldn’t blame Booker for the Crimson Tide’s struggles on offense this past season. He recorded a team-high 87 knockdown blocks and didn’t allow a sack in 715 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, he surrendered only seven hurries and nine pressures. Booker, from New Haven, Connecticut, didn’t grade out below 89 this past season, per Alabama’s coaching staff. The physical run blocker gave up only one sack and nine pressures in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa. — Schlabach
DE, Clemson, Sophomore
Stats: 34 solo tackles, 11 sacks, 6 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
As good as any defender in the country over the second half of the season, Parker utterly dominated Clemson’s last six games on the D-line, in which he racked up 6 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles. For the season, Parker ranked third in the ACC in sacks (11), second in TFLs (19.5) and second nationally in forced fumbles with six. He did all of that despite Clemson’s defensive line turning in its worst season overall in more than a decade. Expect even bigger things in 2025 as the Tigers reload upfront, building around Parker and fellow D-lineman Peter Woods. — Hale
CB, Tennessee, Sophomore
Stats: 26 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
McCoy was a welcome addition for Tennessee’s defense after playing at Oregon State as a freshman in 2023. With McCoy locking down his side of the field, the Volunteers improved from 64th in the FBS in pass defense (221.5 yards) in 2023 to 29th (189.3) this past season. McCoy’s 13 passes defended were the most by a Vols defensive back since 2021, and his SEC-leading four interceptions were the most since 2019. Three of his four picks came inside the Tennessee 3-yard line. According to PFF, his 90.3 coverage grade ranked second in the SEC and fifth among FBS cornerbacks. — Schlabach
DE, Virginia Tech, Senior
Stats: 29 solo tackles, 16 sacks, 3 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
Powell-Ryland finished just a half-sack shy of Donovan Ezeiruaku’s Power 4 lead, but when he was on his game, there might not have been a better pass rusher in the country. Powell-Ryland had three different games with at least three sacks each — vs. Old Dominion, Boston College and Virginia — something no power conference defender had done since Missouri’s Michael Sam in 2013. Powell-Ryland’s 15.1% pressure rate ranked in the top 10 among Power 4 defenders, and he added three forced fumbles and a blocked punt for good measure. — Hale
CB, Cal, Senior
Stats: 33 solo tackles, 1 FF, 7 INTs, 8 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
The nation’s leader in interceptions with seven, Williams was the star of a Cal defense that was among the most underrated units in the country in 2024. Williams allowed completions on just 42.6% of his targets, and he posted an opponent QBR of just 27.5. His first half of the season was otherworldly, with interceptions in five of his first six games, and though he cooled in the second half as QBs shied away from him, his 16 passes defended led all Power 4 players. — Hale
LB, Buffalo, Senior
Stats: 81 solo tackles, 6 sacks, 5 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
After ranking second nationally in tackles in 2022 (147), Dolac returned from a 2023 injury to top himself. He led all of FBS with 168 tackles. Buffalo’s entire defense was designed to leverage ball carriers toward its linebackers, and Dolac vacuumed up nearly every tackle opportunity available. Dolac wasn’t just a tackling machine — he also ranked tied for sixth nationally with 18.5 TFLs. No linebacker had more. He’s a ball hawk, too! Dolac tied for fourth nationally with five interceptions. — Connelly
DE, Tennessee, Junior
Stats: 23 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF
Preseason ranking: 1
Pearce was one of the SEC’s most dominant pass rushers the past two seasons, helping the Volunteers reach the CFP in 2024. His 18.7% pressure rate was second-best among all defenders in the FBS this past season, leading to 7.5 sacks and 43 quarterback hurries. The former five-star prospect from Charlotte, North Carolina, had 71 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and three forced fumbles the past three seasons combined. He’s a projected first-round pick in the NFL draft. — Schlabach
OL, Georgia, Senior
Stats: 1 sack allowed, 500 snaps in 10 games
Preseason ranking: 17
It was probably no coincidence that Georgia’s offense found its footing once Ratledge returned to the lineup late in the season. He missed four games in 2024 after undergoing “tightrope” surgery for a high left ankle sprain. Easily recognized by his moustache and mullet, Ratledge was a mainstay up front for the Bulldogs. According to PFF, Ratledge allowed one sack in 500 snaps in 10 games in 2024. He had a PFF pass-blocking grade of at least 80.0 in each of the past three seasons and surrendered only 13 pressures in 1,016 pass-blocking snaps since 2021. — Schlabach
QB, Army, Senior
Stats: 41 total TDs, 2,666 total yards, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Army won the AAC in its first attempt, leaping from six wins to 12 in the process, and Daily’s presence in a redesigned, retro-fied offense was the driving force. He rushed for at least 110 yards 11 times and threw for 1,000 yards despite throwing fewer than eight passes per game. Despite changes in blocking rules that particularly limited option attacks, Army’s option ruled in 2024 because of Daily. He ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards (1,659) and led the nation in rushing touchdowns (32) as a quarterback. — Connelly
QB, Washington State, Sophomore
Stats: 3,139 yards, 29 TDs, 7 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Perhaps the best dual-threat quarterback in the country, Mateer did it all in his only season as Washington State’s starting quarterback. He threw for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and ran for another 826 with 15 touchdowns. He was among the most coveted players in the transfer portal before transferring to Oklahoma. — Bonagura
QB, Syracuse, Senior
Stats: 4,779 yards, 34 TDs, 12 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
Perhaps no one took advantage of his transfer move more last season than McCord, who left Ohio State for Syracuse and had the best season of his college career. In the Orange’s offense, McCord was able to not just throw the ball a lot (592 pass attempts!), but he was also able to show off his efficiency and arm talent. He threw for nearly 5,000 yards on his way to leading Syracuse to a 10-win season. — Uggetti
QB, Ole Miss, Senior
Stats: 4,279 yards, 29 TDs, 6 INTs
Preseason ranking: 41
Overshadowed by Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Georgia’s Carson Beck before the 2024 season, Dart proved to be the SEC’s most consistent quarterback this past season. Dart led the SEC and was third in the FBS with 329.2 passing yards per game. He completed 69.3% of his attempts and averaged an SEC-best 10.8 yards per attempt to go with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions. This past season, Dart set Ole Miss single-season records in total offense (4,774), passing yards (4,279) and passing efficiency (180.7), among others. — Schlabach
DE, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 35 solo tackles, 12.5 sacks, 2 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
A former top-five recruit with an incredible skill set, Tuimoloau had confounded many around Ohio State, because of inconsistent performances. But he saved his best for last, becoming one of the nation’s most disruptive pass rushers, especially during Ohio State’s CFP run. He recorded 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in wins against Tennessee, Oregon and Texas, and recorded 21.5 tackles for loss, third-most in all of college football. Tuimoloau earned All-Big Ten honors and has recorded half of his career sacks total this season (12.5). — Rittenberg
DE, Marshall, Sophomore
Stats: 38 solo tackles, 17 sacks, 3 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
A Virginia transfer, Green lit up in his redshirt freshman season — in the last five games of 2023, he produced 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks — and maintained that level through all of 2024. He had at least one tackle for loss in 11 games and at least two in six, and he earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors while leading a surprise conference title run. His 22.5 TFLs rank second in FBS, and it took Abdul Carter (23.5) 16 games to top what he did in 13. — Connelly
WR, Oregon, Senior
Stats: 83 rec, 898 yards, 10 TDs
Preseason ranking: 18
Despite missing two full games and dealing with an injury, Johnson had a proper follow-up to his 1,000-plus-yard season in 2023. The chemistry that Johnson had with Bo Nix is well-chronicled, but Johnson’s ability to step into the role of the Ducks’ No. 1 wideout and create an essential connection with Dillon Gabriel made him an integral part of Oregon’s potent offense. — Uggetti
OT, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 1 of 5 players in FBS with at least 250 snaps at both LT and LG
Preseason ranking: 57
Ohio State’s offensive line had a bumpy situation because of injuries, but things could have been significantly worse without Jackson’s versatility and talent. After earning All-Big Ten honors at guard in 2022 and 2023, Jackson shifted to left tackle midway through the season, as starter Josh Simmons and backup Zen Michalski both went down with injuries. Jackson went on to earn All-Big Ten honors again, consistently preventing sacks on quarterback Will Howard and helping the offense hit its stride for its national title run. — Rittenberg
DT, Oregon, Senior
Stats: 27 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 2 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
All season long, Harmon’s presence on the defensive side of the ball was something opposing teams had to worry about. Even if his numbers don’t necessarily pop like others, Harmon’s ability to disrupt at and through the line of scrimmage was an invaluable part of Oregon’s defensive strength. — Uggetti
LB, Texas, Sophomore
Stats: 59 solo tackles, 8 sacks, 4 FFs, 1 INT
Preseason ranking: 64
Hill led Texas in tackles for loss with 16.5, and he recorded 116 tackles and eight sacks. At 6-3 and 235 pounds, he played sideline to sideline, and most notable against Oklahoma, he had 11 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. Along with Collin Simmons, he will be the face of the Texas defense next season. — Wilson
S, Georgia, Junior
Stats: 77 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT, 3 PBUs
Preseason ranking: 10
Starks was the quarterback of Georgia’s secondary, and his versatility allowed his coaches to move him around a lot during the 2024 season. He led the Bulldogs with 77 tackles with one interception and three pass breakups this past season. Starks started 14 of 15 games as a freshman in 2022, when the Bulldogs won the second of their back-to-back national titles, and was a consensus All-American as a sophomore. — Schlabach
WR, Arizona, Junior
Stats: 84 rec, 1,319 yards, 8 TDs
Preseason ranking: 13
A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver, T-Mac was a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing season for Arizona. He caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards with eight touchdowns and was perhaps the most dangerous deep threat in the country. He turned in one of the best single-game performances of the season — regardless of position — when he caught 10 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the first game of the season. — Bonagura
RB, Notre Dame, Sophomore
Stats: 163 carries, 1,125 yards, 17 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
College football was loaded with incredible running backs in 2024, but Love might have been the flashiest. Give him a reason to hurdle someone, and he’ll do it. He might do it for no reason. Notre Dame’s offense was at its most dangerous when he was at his healthiest, but even with a bum knee, he made maybe the two most exciting plays in the CFP semifinals — a rugged short touchdown and a glorious, hurdle-aided two-yard gain. His 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana was the longest run of the CFP era and tied for the longest run in Notre Dame’s storied history. — Connelly
DT, Ole Miss, Junior
Stats: 26 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks
Preseason ranking: NR
A change of scenery was exactly what the former five-star prospect needed, as Nolen blossomed in his first season at Ole Miss in 2024. After barely scratching the surface of his talent in two seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen was the anchor of the No. 2 run defense (80.5 yards) in the FBS in his only season with the Rebels. He tied for the team lead with 14 tackles for loss and was fourth with 6.5 sacks. He is one of only 14 consensus All-Americans in school history. — Schlabach
QB, Indiana, Senior
Stats: 3,042 yards, 29 TDs, 5 INTs
Preseason ranking: NR
The Canadian who transferred from Ohio was a perfect fit to lead the offense and help Indiana to a historic season, culminating with a College Football Playoff appearance. Rourke had eight games with multiple touchdown passes, finishing with a single-season team record 29. He had only one multi-interception performance and set a team record for completion percentage (69.4), eclipsing 65% in seven consecutive games. Rourke also battled through a thumb injury on his throwing hand that required surgery and, as revealed after the season, a torn ACL in his right knee. — Rittenberg
WR, San José State, Senior
Stats: 104 receptions, 1,382 yards, 16 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
An SJSU lifer, Nash threw for 1,317 yards before moving to receiver in 2022. Then the damnedest thing happened: He became one of the better wideouts in the Mountain West in 2023, then became maybe the best receiver in the country in 2024. He won a triple crown of sorts, leading FBS wideouts in receptions (104), yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16). He did most of his damage out of the slot, catching 84 balls for 1,165 yards. (Those numbers were also first in FBS.) — Connelly
OT, LSU, Junior
Stats: Allowed 2 sacks, 5 QB hits, 11 pressures in 866 snaps
Preseason ranking: 6
The 6-6, 323-pound left tackle was a mainstay on LSU’s offensive line from the day he stepped foot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He started each of the 38 games in which he played, logging a total of 2,554 offensive snaps during his career. This past season, Campbell played every offensive snap in 11 of the Tigers’ 12 games. He surrendered two sacks and five quarterback hits all season, according to Pro Football Focus. — Schlabach
DE, Ohio State, Senior
Stats: 25 solo tackles, 9 sacks, 3 FFs, 1 INTs
Preseason ranking: 33
Sawyer delivered one of the iconic defensive plays in Ohio State history in the Buckeyes’ 28-14 victory over Texas in the playoff semifinal. The senior sacked quarterback Quinn Ewers, forcing a fumble that he then returned 83 yards for the game-clinching touchdown — the longest fumble return in Cotton Bowl and CFP history. Sawyer is a major reason the Buckeyes won their first national championship since 2014. He also became the first FBS player in a decade to record a sack with multiple pass breakups in three straight games, according to ESPN Research, all coming during Ohio State’s playoff run. — Trotter
RB, North Carolina, Junior
Stats: 281 carries, 1,660 yards, 15 TDs
Preseason ranking: 27
In any year that didn’t include Ashton Jeanty, Hampton’s production would’ve been considered a triumph. Despite North Carolina’s offense being in tatters for much of the season — including starting three different QBs — he was a star from the outset. After rushing for 1,500 yards in 2023, Hampton somehow improved on that tally without Drake Maye in the backfield with him in 2024. He finished the season with 1,660 rushing yards, the third most nationally, and was one of just three players in the country to finish with more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
QB, Colorado, Senior
Stats: 4,134 yards, 37 TDs, 10 INTs
Preseason ranking: 24
A possible No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, Sanders ranked fourth in the nation with 4,134 yards passing for an improved Colorado team that missed out on the Big 12 title game because of a tiebreaker. His 37 touchdowns passes ranked second — behind only Cam Ward — all of which came despite a porous offensive line that allowed him to be sacked more times than any quarterback in the country (42). — Bonagura
DE, Boston College, Senior
Stats: 37 solo tackles, 16.5 sacks, 3 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
Ezeiruaku entered 2023 with ample hype, and he was at times excellent, but the pressures rarely turned into sacks, as he finished with just two all season. In 2024, however, he got home as often as anyone. Ezeiruaku finished the season with a Power 4-best 16.5 sacks, adding 20.5 tackles for loss and 15 QB hurries. He had multiple sacks in six of his 12 games, including 3.5 in his BC finale against Pitt. — Hale
S, Ohio State, Sophomore
Stats: 48 solo tackles, 2 INTs, 6 PDs
Preseason ranking: 11
Downs was arguably the most significant transfer addition for Ohio State, which picked up a safety who started throughout his true freshman year for former Alabama coach Nick Saban. He became a consensus All-America selection in his first year as a Buckeye, while also earning the Big Ten’s defensive back of the year award. Downs delivered highlights almost every week, displaying advanced knowledge of the game for a younger player, as well as superior talent. He helped not only in pass coverage but as an effective run stopper, and his 79-yard punt return touchdown against Indiana created separation in an eventual blowout. He ranked third on the team with 81 total tackles. — Rittenberg
RB, Iowa, Junior
Stats: 240 carries, 1,537 yards, 21 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Johnson didn’t enter the season as Iowa’s starter, but he soon emerged as one of the nation’s best backs. He had 685 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in the first four games, averaged 5.6 yards per carry or better in the first nine games and reached the end zone at least once in the first 11 contests. Johnson was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and a second-team AP All-America selection. He set single-season team records for points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing touchdowns (21). — Rittenberg
RB, Tennessee, Junior
Stats: 258 carries, 1,491 yards, 22 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Sampson brought balance to Tennessee’s high-flying offense in 2024, setting school single-season records with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Volunteers to a spot in the College Football Playoff. Sampson, 5-11 and 201 pounds, ran for 2,492 yards with 35 touchdowns in three seasons. He was one of UT’s fastest players and was clocked at 22-23 mph on the Catapult system. — Schlabach
LB, Georgia, Junior
Stats: 38 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks
Preseason ranking: 67
Walker had to wait three seasons to crack Georgia’s starting lineup, but it was worth the wait for the inside linebacker. He captured the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in the FBS after leading the Bulldogs with 10.5 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with 6.5 sacks. He was a one-man wrecking crew in a 30-15 win at Texas on Oct. 19 with three sacks in the first half. — Schlabach
CB, Texas, Senior
Stats: 46 solo tackles, 5 INTs, 11 PDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Barron, a versatile corner who often moved around to match up with the opponents’ best receiver, won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. Barron tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions and helped limit Ohio State phenom Jeremiah Smith to one catch for 3 yards in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. He recorded 67 tackles and 11 passes broken up. — Wilson
CB, Notre Dame, Senior
Stats: 53 solo tackles, 1 FF, 6 INTs, 9 PDs
Preseason ranking: 52
A unanimous All-American in 2023 and a consensus All-American in 2024, Watts is the most decorated player for a gritty Notre Dame team that reached its first national title game since 1988. He lines up at safety, slot corner and linebacker, he’s a brilliant ball hawk, he’s good in coverage, and he might be even better in run support. Whatever Notre Dame needed, Watts delivered. — Connelly
TE, Bowling Green, Junior
Stats: 117 receptions, 1,555 yards, 10 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
Few players obliterate record books as much as Fannin did in 2024. He set the FBS record for receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in a season, topped 100 yards in a game eight times and seemingly saved his best performances for the biggest moments: He caught a combined 19 balls for 282 yards against Penn State and Texas A&M, and in his final game, the 68 Ventures Bowl, he caught 17 passes for 213 yards. Absurd numbers for a tight end. — Connelly
DT, Michigan, Junior
Stats: 24 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 TFLs
Preseason ranking: 2
After propelling Michigan to its first national title in 26 years, Graham produced a final season that cemented his legacy as one of the best and most beloved interior linemen in team history. He started all 12 regular-season games and had multiple tackles in all of them, including a career-high seven in Michigan’s upset of Ohio State, which marked its fourth consecutive win over its archrival. The 320-pound Graham headlined one of the nation’s stingiest run defenses and created nightmares for centers and guards trying to block him. — Rittenberg
DE, South Carolina, Senior
Stats: 20 solo tackles, 11.5 sacks, 3 FFs
Preseason ranking: NR
Kennard had quite an impact in his only season at South Carolina, leading the SEC in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (11.5) with three forced fumbles. His single-season sack total ranks second in school history behind Jadeveon Clowney’s 13 in 2012. The Georgia Tech transfer won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in the FBS, and he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches and the AP. — Schlabach
QB, Oregon, Senior
Stats: 3,857 yards, 30 TDs, 6 INTs
Preseason ranking: 16
Though the end to his long college career was not what Gabriel might have wanted, he once again changed teams and seamlessly fit in and helped author a high-powered offense. At Oregon, Gabriel arguably found the best version of himself, a combination of experience, production and winning while putting together his most efficient passing campaign of his career. It wasn’t a storybook finale, but it was a fitting way to cap off a unique career. — Uggetti
DE, Penn State, Junior
Stats: 43 solo tackles, 12 sacks, 2 FFs
Preseason ranking: 20
Carter wore the famed No. 11 jersey at Penn State and upheld its tradition of excellence. After playing linebacker for previous coordinator Manny Diaz, he shifted to defensive end under Tom Allen and became a dominant pass rusher with four multisack games and eight with at least one sack, and his 23.5 tackles for loss rank third in Penn State history. He was a consensus All-America selection and won the Big Ten’s awards for top defensive player and top defensive lineman. Carter returned from a shoulder injury to cause havoc against Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal. — Rittenberg
OT, Texas, Junior
Stats: 0.80% pressure pct., tied for third best among FBS OTs
Preseason ranking: 9
He is the first player in Texas history to win the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in the same season. He started 42 games, including 39 straight, at Texas after plugging in as a starter at left tackle as soon as he arrived on campus, and he was a leader on two CFP semifinal teams at left tackle. He allowed only one sack in 935 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. — Wilson
TE, Penn State, Junior
Stats: 104 receptions, 1,233 yards, 8 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
He not only delivered the best season for a Penn State tight end — and one of the best in CFB history — but expanded the imagination of what can be done at the position. He was the team’s most featured target in the passing game with 104 receptions and 1,233 receiving yards — the most ever by a tight end at Penn State and the Big Ten. He also added 218 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His performance at USC — 17 receptions, 224 yards, one touchdown — won’t soon be forgotten. Warren’s 104 catches more than tripled his total from the 2023 season (34). — Rittenberg
WR, Ohio State, Freshman
Stats: 76 receptions, 1,315 yards, 15 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
As Ohio State became the nation’s preeminent wide receiver program, no freshman entered his first season with as much buzz as Smith. His practice exploits were legendary, and Buckeyes fans and opposing teams found out why. Smith broke all of Cris Carter’s Ohio State freshman receiving records, and his 15 touchdowns and 1,315 receiving yards both rank in the top five for the school’s single-season rankings. He won Big Ten awards for top freshman and top receiver and Rose Bowl MVP honors with 187 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon, which marked only the fifth time a player has had 175 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a CFP game. — Rittenberg
RB, Arizona State, Senior
Stats: 293 carries, 1,1711 yards, 21 TDs
Preseason ranking: NR
The former Sacramento State running back just missed out on a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony by finishing fifth in the voting. A do-it-all back, Skattebo carried 293 yards for 1,711 yards with 21 touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes out of the backfield for 605 yards and three more scores. His play was the catalyst for ASU’s run to the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff, where it narrowly lost to Texas in the quarterfinals. — Bonagura
QB, Miami, Senior
Stats: 4,313 yards, 39 TDs, 7 INTs
Preseason ranking: 56
That Miami didn’t reach its ultimate aspirations is no fault of Ward’s. He was everything Hurricanes fans could’ve hoped for — and then some. Ward led the country in Total QBR (88.7), passing touchdowns (39) and completions of 20 yards or more (74). He had 11 touchdown throws that gave Miami a lead, but his defense couldn’t get off the field enough late in the season to give him the chances he needed to lead the Canes to the promised land. Nevertheless, Ward turned in one of the great QB seasons in recent memory. — Hale
RB, Boise State, Junior
Stats: 374 carries, 2,601 yards, 29 TDs
Preseason ranking: 25
The best running back season since Barry Sanders’ 1988 campaign belonged to Jeanty, who not only put up ridiculous numbers but took a simple run play and turned it into must-watch TV over and over again. Jeanty was, simply put, unstoppable, and his play carried Boise State to a playoff berth and one of the program’s best seasons in recent history. In any other year, he would have been the Heisman winner. — Uggetti
WR/CB, Colorado, Junior
Stats: 96 receptions, 1,258 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs
Preseason ranking: 3
A once-in-a-generation player, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy after playing full-time both ways — as a receiver and corner — for the Buffaloes as they won nine games. On offense, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns and was honored with the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver. On defense — the side on which he began his career — he was arguably the best cover corner in college football. It is an incredible combination that likely won’t be replicated for decades. — Bonagura
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