MLB Power Rankings: Can anyone pass the Yankees for our No. 1 spot?
Despite an injury scare that cost him three games over the weekend, Juan Soto has returned to the Yankees’ lineup — and his team is again No. 1 in our MLB Power Rankings.
Last week, New York pushed Philadelphia to No. 2. The Phillies remain in that spot, followed by the Orioles, Dodgers and Guardians — meaning no shake-up in this week’s top 5. Among the top 10, the Padres crack the list, dropping the Twins to No. 11. And just to save some of you a scroll, yes, the White Sox retain a firm grasp on No. 30.
Our expert panel has ranked every team in baseball based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Buster Olney, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Record: 49-21
Previous ranking: 1
Juan Soto’s three-game absence over the weekend exposed an uncomfortable reality: The Yankees’ lineup isn’t deep at the moment. Soto and Aaron Judge are arguably the two best hitters in the world. They’re also the team’s only regulars with an OPS higher than .779. The Yankees, as a result, scored four runs over 20 innings in their first two games without Soto before producing six in the series finale to avoid a sweep. Trent Grisham was the hero that night, silencing the doubters with a three-run home run. It made for a memorable moment and was the kind of contribution the Yankees need from the supporting cast to stay on top of the American League East with the Orioles right on their heels. — Castillo
Record: 46-21
Previous ranking: 2
J.T. Realmuto will miss about a month after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. That timetable sets up a possible return after the All-Star break, if everything goes well, and pushes backup Garrett Stubbs into the starting role. While Stubbs hit well as the backup in 2022, he has struggled at the plate the past two seasons — obviously in limited duty since Realmuto plays so often. Rafael Marchan, who played briefly for the Phillies in 2020 and 2021, was called up to back up Stubbs, and Marchan is a defense-first catcher. The Phillies’ offense already was struggling in June as compared to April and May, so without much offense expected now from their catchers, others will have to step up. — Schoenfield
Record: 45-22
Previous ranking: 3
Cedric Mullins is a beloved veteran in Baltimore. The center fielder was around for the lean years — before the franchise’s rebuild reached the contending phase last season. He peaked with a career year in 2021, when he represented a 52-win club at the All-Star Game. Three years later, he is playing his way out of the Orioles’ starting lineup. Mullins, 29, is slashing .182/.229/.321 with just 57 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Since May 1, he is 13-for-91 (.143) with a .388 OPS, 28 strikeouts, 4 walks and 4 extra-base hits. The Orioles’ lineup is more than deep enough to give Mullins time to rebound — no other regular has a wRC+ lower than 114 — but his struggles could eventually prompt a change in center field. — Castillo
Record: 42-27
Previous ranking: 4
In hopes of addressing a generally unproductive bottom half of the lineup, the Dodgers acquired super utility man Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, from the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The younger Biggio gives the Dodgers an extra left-handed bat, made necessary by the absence of third baseman Max Muncy, and some additional versatility against righties. Against lefties, though, it seems the Dodgers are going to continue to give opportunities to Chris Taylor, who is slashing only .100/.196/.111 in 103 plate appearances. One way or the other, the Dodgers are eventually going to have to figure out the Nos. 7 to 9 spots in their lineup. Yes, these are first-class problems. — Gonzalez
Record: 43-23
Previous ranking: 5
Jose Ramirez remains on a ridiculous RBI pace, with 62 through the team’s first 65 games. (He played in 64 of them.) That’s a 155-RBI pace over 162 games, with the most recent 150-RBI season coming from Alex Rodriguez with 156 for the Yankees in 2007. The last players with even 140 RBIs were Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard in 2009, each with 141. Ramirez obviously has been great with runners in scoring position, as 12 of his 18 home runs have come with runners on base. But it also helps that Cleveland has more of an old-school offense, without much power in the top two spots in the lineup, creating more RBI opportunities for him. — Schoenfield
Record: 40-28
Previous ranking: 6
Rhys Hoskins highlighted during a recent conversation the baseball intelligence of catcher William Contreras, who just keeps getting better and better and must be included in any discussion about who is the best catcher in baseball. Contreras’ rate of swinging at pitches outside the zone has dropped from 30.2% in 2021 to 24.1% in 2024. His rate of contact has increased, his wRC+ is at a career high and he is on a pace to accumulate more than 40 doubles and 20 homers. He has progressed from negative numbers in pitch framing to neutral. The Brewers have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball: Following the departure of manager Craig Counsell and the trade of Corbin Burnes, they are threatening to run away from other National League Central teams, and Contreras has played a major role in that. — Olney
Record: 39-30
Previous ranking: 8
The Royals have been pretty fortunate on the injury front this season, but no team gets through a campaign unscathed. Sure enough, Kansas City has started to lean on its Triple-A roster for reinforcements. Hunter Renfroe landed on the IL with a fractured left big toe after fouling off two pitches into the same spot on his foot in the same at-bat. Adam Frazier was placed on the bereavement list. Up from Omaha are outfielder Drew Waters and first baseman Nick Pratto, two hitters who were not so long ago viewed as long-term solutions for the big club. Strangely enough, Pratto’s first 2024 MLB appearance came on the mound. He threw a scoreless ninth against the Yankees in a New York runaway on Tuesday, the day he was recalled. He had yet to log an inning in the field or a plate appearance when he took to the mound. Bullpen depth? — Doolittle
Record: 35-30
Previous ranking: 7
The offensive struggles are teamwide, but let’s focus on Austin Riley. He has finished seventh, sixth and seventh in the MVP voting over the past three seasons while averaging 36 home runs and 99 RBIs. Entering Wednesday, however, Riley is hitting .225 with three home runs and has gone 21 games without a homer. He did miss 13 games in May with intercostal inflammation, so you have to factor that into his production, but his basic metrics in hard-hit rate, walk rate and strikeout rate are the same as last season. He is struggling against four-seam fastballs, hitting just .111 against them, although the new bat-tracking data shows him with elite bat speed (91st percentile). On the surface, it all looks fixable. — Schoenfield
Record: 40-30
Previous ranking: 9
As the Mariners wait to see what develops with Bryan Woo‘s latest arm trouble, we can pause to marvel at what the Seattle rotation has done since Woo returned from the IL on May 10. Led by his 1.07 ERA over six starts during that span, Seattle has topped the majors with 19 quality starts while posting a 3.38 ERA and a collective strikeout-to-walk ratio of right about 5-to-1. The Mariners have pushed their lead in the AL West to 6½ games over the defending champion Rangers during that time. So, Seattle has built up a little buffer, but you’d hate to see a disruption to the unit that has been the biggest driver of the M’s surge. — Doolittle
Record: 37-35
Previous ranking: 11
On May 25, Fernando Tatis Jr. homered but didn’t perform his patented stutter-step as he approached third base. Asked about it afterward, Tatis, who had been riding an 8 for 47 slump, told reporters he is “not swaggy right now.” Well, that just so happened to be the first of what became a 17-game hitting streak that didn’t end until Wednesday. During that stretch, Tatis slashed .400/.447/.686 with 10 extra-base hits. His OPS increased by 99 points, all the way up to .835, making him seem like a lock to start the All-Star Game for a National League team that looks quite thin in the outfield. So, yeah, it’s safe to say Tatis is “swaggy” again. — Gonzalez
Record: 36-32
Previous ranking: 10
Ryan Jeffers isn’t the flashiest name on the Twins’ roster, but he might be the player most deserving of All-Star recognition this season. The catcher/DH was a steady force while Minnesota dealt with injuries to key contributors over the season’s first two months. His 12 home runs are tied for second among qualified catchers. His 131 wRC+ is fifth. Salvador Perez and Adley Rutschman are virtual locks to make the AL All-Star team as catchers. The 27-year-old Jeffers could join them for the first time. — Castillo
Record: 34-34
Previous ranking: 13
The Red Sox are addicted to .500. They have been 24-24, 26-26, 27-27, 28-28, 29-29, 30-30, 31-31, 32-32, 33-33 and now 34-34 this season. Being that average is a minor feat considering all the injuries they have encountered. It also won’t be good enough to reach the postseason in a deep American League. The Red Sox will have to string together some wins at some point to remain in the wild-card race. Pitching hasn’t been the issue, as Boston’s 3.39 staff ERA is the fifth best in the majors. It’s on the offense to provide more consistency, with Triston Casas still out indefinitely. Then again, based on owner John Henry’s recent comments to The Financial Times, Red Sox fans probably shouldn’t expect more than average. — Castillo
Record: 32-35
Previous ranking: 12
The Rangers continue to tread water while waiting for their IL list to shrink. If all goes well (which hasn’t been the case often this season for Texas), by the time the Power Rankings are posted next week, all of Josh Jung, Max Scherzer, Jon Gray and Corey Seager could be back in the lineup. Texas will still be waiting on Tyler Mahle, Jacob deGrom and Evan Carter, among others, but it’s a start. With Seattle’s lead in the division growing and a rugged schedule ahead for Texas over the next three weeks, the defending champs need all the help they can get. — Doolittle
Record: 33-35
Previous ranking: 21
Cincinnati was viewed as a possible sleeper by a lot of talent evaluators in the last offseason because the Reds spent money in free agency to augment their young core — and so far, Cincinnati is hanging close to .500 despite some mediocrity from its newly signed veterans. Frankie Montas has a 4.55 ERA in 12 starts, averaging just 4⅓ innings per start, and Nick Martinez has a 4.50 ERA. Jeimer Candelario is batting .234 in his first 59 games, albeit with some power. The Reds have some hope for the remaining schedule because they’re likely to return a lot of injured players — but also because they can reasonably expect better performance from the free agent imports. — Olney
Record: 31-38
Previous ranking: 17
The Astros’ run prevention has trended gradually upward over the past month. While the offense remains above average in the scoring column, the trend on that side of the ball hasn’t been as sharp, especially for a team that needs to string together wins in a hurry. The shin bruise that sidelined Kyle Tucker didn’t help, but with the MVP contender nearing a return, this might be the last chance for Houston’s lineup to catch fire before hard decisions need to be made at the trade deadline. We haven’t seen Tucker, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez all clicking at the same time this season. If Houston is going to salvage anything out of 2024, that needs to happen very soon. — Doolittle
Record: 34-35
Previous ranking: 20
The Giants have navigated through a lot of injuries and inconsistency through the season’s first 2½ months, but their ace, Logan Webb, continues to be a constant. Webb limited the struggling Astros to three runs in six innings on Wednesday to put his ERA at 3.02 through his first 15 starts. The ground ball artist boasts the second-best home-run rate in the sport, allowing just four in 92⅓ innings. He is well on his way to crack his first All-Star Game after missing out on last year’s event because of his pitching schedule. — Gonzalez
Record: 32-36
Previous ranking: 15
The Diamondbacks got good news on the injury front Tuesday when they activated their every-day shortstop, Geraldo Perdomo, after he had missed more than two months with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Perdomo should bring more length to the D-backs’ lineup. But what they really need is better health in their rotation. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez — the top three members of their staff, essentially — remain on the IL. All three of them are in varying stages of their throwing programs, but only Gallen seems relatively close at the moment. And Jordan Montgomery‘s struggles are certainly not helping matters. — Gonzalez
Record: 32-35
Previous ranking: 14
The Tigers placed shortstop Javier Baez on the injured list Tuesday because of inflammation in his lumbar spine. Baez had been intermittently dealing with that condition since he joined the Tigers, and it seems as though the team is hoping an extended absence might alleviate the issue for good — and perhaps help his production. Baez, who was scheduled to see a back specialist in Florida, is slashing .183/.209/.247 this year and .223/.264/.344 since he joined the Tigers for the start of the 2022 season. The Tigers owe him another $74 million after 2024. They need to figure something out. — Gonzalez
Record: 33-35
Previous ranking: 22
The Blue Jays’ rotation has been a bright spot over the past month, but it took a hit last week when Alek Manoah was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The right-hander is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next week after making just five starts for Toronto. The Blue Jays don’t have an obvious replacement for Manoah — Yariel Rodríguez, who is on a rehab assignment, is the favorite — but they still employ a formidable group with Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Yusei Kikuchi. Those four will need to continue performing for the Blue Jays to make up ground in the standings. — Castillo
Record: 33-35
Previous ranking: 16
They are a mystery, with a slump that’s gone on long enough — following last year’s late-season collapse — that it’s hard to know exactly what the Cubs are or what they could be. On the morning of April 30, this team was 18-11, playing at a 100-win pace. Its performance since has been mind-bogglingly poor: The Cubs rank 27th in runs scored, and their team wRC+ is 91, even with the return of Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger to the lineup. They’ve won just 14 of their past 38 games, at a 59-win pace. All of this must be very confusing to a front office that will have to decide whether to upgrade or unload. — Olney
Record: 32-35
Previous ranking: 23
Imagine if Pittsburgh somehow finds a way into the NL playoffs. In a best-of-five series, what opposing team would want to see the starting trio of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones? The potential of this team is real — and so are its needs. The Pirates rank 20th in runs scored, and only one of their regulars, Nick Gonzales, sports an OPS over .800. If Pittsburgh gets some offense and follows a path similar to the 2023 Diamondbacks to get into the October dance, this would be a team nobody would want to face. — Olney
Record: 32-36
Previous ranking: 19
It’s been seven years since the Rays finished under .500, a noteworthy run given the payroll constraints imposed by ownership. So, it’s strange to see Tampa Bay struggling to this extent this deep into the season. The Rays haven’t been more than three games over .500 yet. They haven’t been over .500 in nearly a month. They’re in the AL East basement — after the Orioles completed a four-game sweep at The Trop — with a run differential that indicates they are worse than their 32-35 record. If that mediocrity continues, the Rays could become captivating subtractors at the trade deadline, dangling several players for playoff hopefuls. Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes and Brandon Lowe could all be available for teams looking for offense. Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam and Garrett Cleavinger could help bullpens. Aaron Civale could bolster a starting rotation. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the Rays pivot midseason. The question is how aggressively they would maneuver. — Castillo
Record: 32-34
Previous ranking: 18
St. Louis continues to climb back into relevance, and Masyn Winn is still leading the way. Like a lot of his MLB peers, Winn was a two-way player as an amateur, playing shortstop but also pitching. He recalled recently that at that time, he preferred working on the mound over playing shortstop because of the element of control. With his powerful arm, he could dominate a game from the mound in a way he could not in the infield. In the majors, he is quickly developing into one of the best young shortstops in baseball, more consistently putting the ball in play — and with authority. Over his past 29 games, Winn is batting .340 with a .500 slugging percentage. — Olney
Record: 32-35
Previous ranking: 24
The Nationals are still deciding whether they’ll be adders or subtractors at the trade deadline. They have time to see how things play out with the NL wild-card race so wide open, but why not just go for it? Or at least sit tight. It’s not like Dylan Floro or Jesse Winker are going to bring back a top prospect anyway. Realistically, this isn’t a playoff offense, and there’s a good chance the rotation has pitched over its head, as well; so, you don’t necessarily want to give up any prospects for what might be a futile run at the postseason. Sometimes, it’s better to do nothing. — Schoenfield
Record: 29-37
Previous ranking: 25
The Mets split their two games against the Phillies in London. New York lost 7-2 as Sean Manaea allowed six runs in 3⅔ innings. The Mets followed by winning 6-5 as catcher Luis Torrens turned a 2-3 game-ending double play with the bases loaded — stepping on home plate after Nick Castellanos hit a dribbler then firing to first base. They scored three in the top of the ninth in that game, with help from two walks, a hit batter and a passed ball that scored the sixth run. Of course, the Mets then returned to New York and promptly lost to the Marlins. Let the trade deadline rumors begin! — Schoenfield
Record: 26-41
Previous ranking: 27
Taylor Ward has emerged as one of the Angels’ most oft-mentioned trade candidates as the in-season transaction market begins to heat up. It’s not hard to envision Ward becoming an integral role player on a contender. While he has played left field almost exclusively the past couple of years, he can float between either corner outfield spot and in the past has even slid into center as a last resort. While not a strict platoon player, Ward has mashed lefties consistently over the past two years and would impact any club that needs help on the right side of the plate. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Ward has hit .283/.376/.468 against southpaws, including a .340/.393/.460 mark this season. — Doolittle
Record: 26-44
Previous ranking: 26
Oakland is a land of opportunity in baseball these days, and one player who has taken advantage of an extended shot in the bigs is rookie right-hander Joey Estes. Acquired in the trade that sent Matt Olson to Atlanta, Estes has pitched solidly or better in five of his six outings this season, the exception being a drubbing in Houston last month. Estes posted his best big league start to date on June 5, tossing a one-hit shutout over 6⅓ frames against AL West-leading Seattle. Estes has good control and a four-seamer/sweeper combo that might play well in a bullpen role if he doesn’t pan out as a starter. If Estes sticks, he would give Oakland a second contributor from the Olson trade, joining starting catcher Shea Langeliers. — Doolittle
Record: 24-44
Previous ranking: 28
We’re about a month away from the sport’s focus shifting to the trade deadline. And when it does, Cal Quantrill‘s name is certain to be among the most prominent. The Rockies acquired Quantrill in the middle of November, shortly after Cleveland designated him for assignment, and they have watched the 29-year-old right-hander pitch to a 3.30 ERA thanks to a resurgent month of May. Quantrill’s contract is relatively affordable and would be controllable through the 2025 season. Injuries to starting pitchers have been as prevalent as ever this year, and contending teams such as the Braves, Orioles and Brewers, just to name a few, will likely be aggressive on that front. A Quantrill trade could bring the Rockies a nice return if they entertain it. — Gonzalez
Record: 23-44
Previous ranking: 29
One bright spot lately has been closer Tanner Scott. Coming off a terrific 2023 season when he was one of the best lefty relievers in the game — 2.31 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 78 innings with just 24 walks — Scott reverted to his walk-prone ways early this season with 17 walks in his first 17 innings. After a two-inning save against the Mets on Tuesday, however, he has a 0.00 ERA over his past 16 outings, with the only two runs he has allowed coming via the automatic runner in extra innings. If he continues to throw enough strikes, he is going to be one of the most in-demand relievers at the trade deadline. — Schoenfield
Record: 17-52
Previous ranking: 30
Chris Getz, the White Sox’s general manager since August, is in the midst of what is apparently a long and arduous rebuild of a team that looked poised for a breakout just a couple of years ago, and his degree of aggressiveness will be tested over the next seven weeks. Some of his peers with other teams believe he is open-minded to anything and everything, so long as it positions the White Sox better for the future. “He’s not afraid to make a deal,” said one NL executive, citing the timing of the Dylan Cease trade with the Padres. And as bad as the White Sox have been this season, they have players drawing solid interest from other squads. — Olney
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
With schools playing as many as 16 games this season in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format, we waited a little longer than usual to unveil our 2024 ESPN All-America team.
Postseason performances should matter, especially when you’re talking about up to four games.
Headlining the team is Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who turned in All-America performances at three spots. (We limited him to one position on our list.) The receiver/cornerback was the cornerstone of a Colorado team that won nine games in 2024 after suffering through seven straight losing seasons.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts are the only repeat selections from last season. Ohio State and Texas each have three first-team selections to lead the way, and Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is the only true freshman on the team.
OFFENSE
Ward made the most of his one season at Miami after transferring from Washington State. A Heisman Trophy finalist, he tied for the FBS lead by accounting for 44 touchdowns (39 passing, 4 rushing and 1 receiving) on the ACC’s No. 1 offense and threw just seven interceptions in 454 pass attempts. Ward, who started his career in the FCS ranks at Incarnate Word, had 10 games with at least 300 passing yards and set a Miami record with 4,313 passing yards.
Second team: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
The mere fact that Jeanty made a run at Barry Sanders’ hallowed NCAA rushing record of 2,628 yards tells you everything you need to know about Jeanty’s 2024 season. He led the country with 2,601 rushing yards and scored 30 touchdowns. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Hunter, and defenses aligned to stop him all season. Even so, he entered the Fiesta Bowl with 1,882 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus, which was more than any other FBS player had in total rushing yards.
Second team: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Everybody in and around Arizona State’s program already knew Skattebo was an elite running back, but he showed the rest of the country in his two postseason outings. Skattebo finished second to Jeanty with 1,711 rushing yards and had 21 touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes, and in the Big 12 championship game win over Iowa State and playoff loss to Texas, he rolled up 450 all-purpose yards and accounted for six touchdowns, one a 42-yard pass in the Sun Devils’ double-overtime loss to Texas.
Second team: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who has been a head coach at the NFL and collegiate levels, said he has never had a receiver like Smith, with his blend of size, speed and ability to track the ball in tight coverage. A true freshman, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Smith was uncoverable in the Buckeyes’ first two playoff games, with four touchdown catches and 290 receiving yards. He’s tied for third nationally with 14 touchdown receptions and averages 17.3 yards per catch.
Second team: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Nash is the first San José State player to be named a consensus All-American. The 6-3, 195-pound redshirt senior became the fourth player in FBS history to earn the receiving triple crown in the regular season with 104 catches, 1,382 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches. Nash had 39 catches of 15 yards or longer, according to Pro Football Focus, and 71 catches resulting in a first down, leading the nation in both categories. He also threw two touchdown passes this season.
Second team: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
Warren came to Penn State as a quarterback, and that athleticism was on full display in his sensational redshirt senior season. He caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and 13 combined touchdowns (8receiving, 4 rushing and 1 passing). The 6-6, 261-pound Warren became the first tight end in Big Ten history to catch 100 passes in a season and won the John Mackey Award as the top tight end in college football.
Second team: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Despite a left ankle injury that sidelined him for the SEC championship game, Banks was the centerpiece of a Texas offensive line that paved the way for one of the most balanced offenses in the country. The Longhorns were one of six FBS teams to average more than 275 passing yards and 160 rushing yards per game. The 6-4, 320-pound junior won the Lombardi Award this season as the nation’s best collegiate lineman and has been a starter at left tackle since his true freshman season.
Second team: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Jackson’s versatility has been a huge part of Ohio State’s run to the national championship game. He returned for his senior season after earning All-Big Ten honors at left guard each of the previous two seasons. He continued his stellar play at guard through the first half of this season but moved to left tackle after Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Second team: Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
Florida’s offensive line improved steadily in the latter part of the 2024 season, when the Gators won their last four games, and Slaughter’s play was a big reason. A redshirt junior who has announced he will return for the 2025 season, Slaughter allowed just one sack and one quarterback hit in 728 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Cooper Mays, Tennessee
Booker was a powerful blocker in the run game during all three of his seasons at Alabama and was a two-year starter at left guard. He also started one game this season at left tackle. Booker recorded a team-high 87 knockdown blocks and didn’t allow a sack in 715 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He declared for the NFL draft following the Crimson Tide’s bowl game.
Second team: Bill Katsigiannis, Army
From the time he stepped foot on campus, Campbell was a fixture on LSU’s offensive line at left tackle, and this season, he played every offensive snap (866) in 11 of LSU’s 12 games. Campbell shared the Jacobs Trophy as the SEC’s top blocker with Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. Campbell is headed to the NFL after three seasons in Baton Rouge and is rated as the No. 2 tackle in the draft by ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
Second team: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
It might be a while before college football sees another iron man like Hunter, who played a staggering 1,440 snaps this season. In addition to playing more than 650 snaps on both offense and defense, he even played some on special teams — talk about an all-purpose player! Hunter tied for fourth nationally with 96 catches and ranked second with 15 touchdown receptions in winning the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver and led Colorado on defense with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Second team: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
DEFENSE
Carter played through a painful shoulder injury in Penn State’s playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame and still managed a sack. He led all FBS players with 23.5 tackles for loss, including 12 sacks. The 6-3, 252-pound junior moved from linebacker to edge rusher this season and established himself as one of the most dynamic defenders in the country. He had four games with multiple sacks and is projected to be one of the top defenders taken in the 2025 NFL draft.
Second team: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
The defensive front was Michigan’s strength, and it was dominant in the upset win over Ohio State in the regular-season finale. Graham was the rock of that unit and a disrupter in the interior against both the run and pass. He had 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 26 pressures and is headed to the NFL, where he’s projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper to be the top defensive tackle taken in the 2025 draft.
Second team: Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
After transferring from Texas A&M, Nolen had his best season at Ole Miss. He’s big (6-3, 305 pounds) and has great burst. Nolen led all SEC defenders with 12 tackles for loss in league games and is the kind of interior pass rusher all defenses covet. And as a run stopper, he was ranked second among all interior defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Ezeiruaku blossomed as a senior and leaves BC as one of the top defensive players in school history. At 6-2 and 247 pounds, Ezeiruaka was a pass-rushing dynamo with 16.5 sacks to rank second among FBS players. He was third nationally with 20.5 tackles for loss en route to winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and the Ted Hendricks Award as college football’s top defensive end.
Second team: Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
The Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker, Walker is the third Georgia player to win the award since 2017. He’s a fierce tackler wherever he lines up and led the Bulldogs with 10.5 tackles for loss. Walker played more snaps at inside linebacker than he did rushing the passer, but he still finished with 34 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
One of the best stories in college football, Dolac started his career at Buffalo as a walk-on, then missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury before transferring to Utah State for a semester and going through spring practice. But he knew he belonged closer to home and returned to Buffalo to have a huge senior season. He led the nation with 168 total tackles and led all linebackers with 18.5 tackles for loss to go along with five interceptions.
Second team: Jay Higgins, Iowa
The epitome of a do-it-all linebacker, Hill went from being one of the best true freshmen in 2023 to one of the best defenders in the country this season. And, yes, he has another season remaining at Texas. The 6-3, 235-pound sophomore led the Longhorns with 113 total tackles and tied for fourth among FBS linebackers with 16.5 tackles for loss. He also had four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Second team: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Barron was already widely viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in college football but only raised his stock in helping limit Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith to one catch for 3 yards in the Longhorns’ playoff semifinal loss at the Cotton Bowl. Barron, a 5-11, 200-pound redshirt senior, was the Thorpe Award winner as the best defensive back in college football and tied for the team lead in a talented secondary with five interceptions.
Second team: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
In his second season at Cal after transferring from UNLV, Williams led all FBS players with seven interceptions and tied for third with 16 passes defended. He finished his college career with 14 interceptions and scored touchdowns this season on an 80-yard kickoff return in the opener against UC Davis and a 40-yard interception return against Cam Ward and Miami in a 39-38 loss to the Hurricanes.
Second team: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Watts has been everything you could ask for in the back end of the Notre Dame defense. He erases mistakes, makes big plays in big moments and raises the game of everybody around him. The 6-foot, 203-pound redshirt senior leads all FBS safeties with six interceptions and is second on his team with 74 total tackles. He has 13 interceptions over his past two seasons and will go down as one of the best safeties in Notre Dame history.
Second team: Malaki Starks, Georgia
There’s no shortage of talent on the Ohio State defense, and adding Downs in the transfer portal helped spur the Buckeyes to the national championship game. He has uncanny instincts and is a force against both the run and pass. The 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore was a Thorpe Award finalist after earning Shaun Alexander Award honors as the national freshman of the year in his first season at Alabama. Downs ranks third on his team with 76 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss, and has two interceptions.
Second team: Michael Taaffe, Texas
SPECIAL TEAMS
Zvada came to Ann Arbor by way of Arkansas State and kicked his way into Michigan history in just one season. His winning 21-yard field goal in the final minute gave the Wolverines their fourth straight victory over rival Ohio State, and he was money all season for the Maize and Blue. Zvada was 21-of-22 on field goal attempts and made all seven of his tries from 50 yards or longer.
Second team: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
The Trojans led the country in net punting, and Czaplicki’s ability to keep opposing offenses backed up against their own goal line was a big part of USC’s improvement on defense. Czaplicki, the Ray Guy award winner as the nation’s best punter, averaged 47.8 yards per punt, and opponents returned only 13 of his kicks. He had just one touchback all season, and 25 of his 43 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Second team: Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
Shanks did a little bit of everything for UAB. The redshirt freshman led the nation in punt return yards (329) and punt return average (20.6), and he returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 58-yarder against Tulsa; he accounted for 311 all-purpose yards and four TDs in the game. Shanks also tied for the team lead with 62 catches and racked up 656 receiving yards to go with six touchdown receptions.
Second team: Rayshawn Pleasant, Tulane
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