• Jayden Daniels leads the way: The Heisman Trophy winner was PFF’s No. 1 player from the 2023 season.
• Laiatu Latu sits at No. 2: The UCLA edge defender broke the Power Five record with a 96.3 grade this season.
• Michigan paces the field: Unsurprisingly, the reigning national champions have the most players on this list (nine).
Estimated Reading Time: 28 minutes
Now that the college football season has concluded, it’s time to go over the best players from the year. Here is the PFF College 101, highlighting the 101 best players from the 2023 college football season.
This ranking is based on various factors, including PFF grades and other stats available only to PFF+ subscribers. Please note that the players’ NFL potential doesn’t factor into this ranking.
101. S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy-winning Watts led the country with seven interceptions and posted a solid 75.1 coverage grade in 2023. His best game, by far, came against USC when he picked off Caleb Williams twice and posted a career-high 88.1 run-defense grade. He’ll return to school in 2024, along with several other key Notre Dame starters, to lead a potentially elite defense.
100. TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas Longhorns
Sanders’ 682 receiving yards in 2023 ranked third among all tight ends in college football. Twenty-two of his catches went for 15-plus yards, tied for the most among FBS tight ends. While Sanders could stand to improve as a run blocker, his receiving ability and athleticism make him one of the top tight ends in the 2024 NFL Draft.
99. WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU Tigers
Thomas’ 17 touchdowns in 2023 led all wide receivers as he emerged as a legitimate second threat for LSU alongside Malik Nabers. Thomas’ route tree isn’t as dynamic as Nabers’, but he was equally as explosive down the field. His 99.9 deep receiving grade tied for the national lead, as did his 12 touchdowns on deep targets.
98. CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State Seminoles
Jones was the star of one of college football’s best secondaries in 2023. His 90.1 PFF grade ranked fifth among all cornerbacks, and he allowed only a 25.3 passer rating when targeted, placing fourth in the FBS at the position.
97. S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa’s cornerbacks get the headlines, but the Hawkeyes have an excellent safety in Xavier Nwankpa. He ranked eighth in the nation in overall grade and led all safeties in PFF WAR in 2023. Nwankpa plays several roles for Iowa, having logged at least 200 snaps in the box, in the slot and at free safety.
96. EDGE Jalen Green, James Madison Dukes
Despite missing time due to a knee injury, Green led the nation in sacks (18) through nine games. His 19.6% pressure rate in 2023 placed eighth among FBS edge defenders.
95. EDGE Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina Tar Heels
Rucker finished the 2023 regular season leading the ACC in pressures. That helped him earn an outstanding 88.9 pass-rush grade through the postseason. With Jared Verse departing to the NFL, Rucker is arguably the best pass rusher returning to the ACC next season.
94. WR Ricky White, UNLV Rebels
White’s 90.6 grade in 2023 ranked third among all receivers in college football. His 1,487 receiving yards also placed third, trailing only Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze, who make up two of the top 10 players on this list.
93. EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama Crimson Tide
Braswell led the SEC in pressures (56) this past season. He posted a near-identical stat line to teammate Dallas Turner, who will likely be a first-round pick. Braswell’s 18.2% pass-rush win rate beat out players like Bralen Trice and Ashton Gillotte. Braswell may be an underrated selection come draft weekend.
92. RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty Flames
Cooley’s 92.7 grade ranked third among FBS running backs this past year, trailing only Ashton Jeanty and Audric Estime. He ended the year with the seventh-most rushing yards (1,404) and the sixth-most rushing touchdowns (16) in college football.
91. DI Kris Jenkins, Michigan Wolverines
Jenkins paired with Mason Graham to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in 2023 and briefly into 2024. While Graham was a menace rushing the passer, Jenkins made his mark in the run game, posting an excellent 82.3 run-defense grade for the season. Two of his best games were in the College Football Playoff against Alabama and Washington.
90. C Drake Nugent, Michigan Wolverines
Nugent ended the season as the most valuable center in college football, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. The Stanford transfer was one of only six Power Five centers to earn 75.0-plus grades in both pass protection and run blocking.
89. OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas Longhorns
Banks, proving elite in pass protection all season, posted an 80.0-plus pass-blocking grade in nine of his 14 games. His season-long 86.8 pass-blocking grade ranked eighth in college football, and he owned the top mark from Week 8 onward. Banks enters 2024 as the best returning pass protector in college football.
88. WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Restrepo dominated from the slot in 2023, and his 89.0 receiving grade was a top-15 mark among all receivers in the nation. Fifty-three of his receptions went for a first down or a touchdown, tied for seventh among Power Five receivers.
87. CB Josh Wallace, Michigan Wolverines
The third of Michigan’s triumvirate of excellent cornerbacks, Wallace didn’t record an interception this season, but he also had only one game where he allowed more than 30 yards in coverage. From Week 10 onward, Wallace led the Wolverines with an 80.6 coverage grade.
86. S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State Beavers
Oladapo’s 88.3 grade this year ranked fifth among college football safeties. He also paced the Power Five with a 91.3 run-defense grade. Oladapo was named a PFF first-team All-American for his efforts in 2023.
85. WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina Gamecocks
Legette finished the 2023 regular season with 1,255 receiving yards, the seventh most in the FBS. His size and speed made him an explosive downfield threat. On throws targeted 10 or more yards downfield, Legette’s 97.7 receiving grade led all FBS wide receivers. He was South Carolina’s clear top option, with no other Gamecocks wide receiver recording 300 receiving yards.
84. CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia Bulldogs
Opposing quarterbacks failed to find much success when targeting Lassiter this past year. He allowed only 0.35 yards per coverage snap, the fourth-lowest mark among college football cornerbacks. He also let up a low 38.5% completion rate, ranking eighth in the FBS.
83. RB Kimani Vidal, Troy Trojans
Vidal racked up the second-most rushing yards, the second-most yards after contact and the second-most forced missed tackles in college football in 2023. He tied for sixth with an elite 93.2 rushing grade and tallied more than 200 yards in three different games, including the Sun Belt Championship against Appalachian State. Vidal owns the fourth-highest rushing grade in the FBS over the past two years.
82. DI Aeneas Peebles, Duke Blue Devils
Peebles flashed dominance in the middle of Duke’s defensive line, with his 90.1 pass-rushing grade in 2023 trailing only Texas’ Byron Murphy II among FBS interior defensive linemen. Peebles placed fifth among that same group with a 16.2% pass-rush win rate. He is taking his talents to Virginia Tech for 2024.
81. RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Monangai finished second in the Power Five in overall grade, behind Notre Dame’s Audric Estime. He ranked in the top 10 in the FBS in rushing grade, yards after contact and forced missed tackles. Monangai’s physical running style was the biggest reason the Scarlet Knights enjoyed their first winning season since 2014.
80. S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State Nittany Lions
Winston’s 89.2 overall grade this past season ranked third among college football safeties. The true sophomore’s 90.6 run-defense mark placed third in the FBS at his position, and he allowed only 0.47 yards per coverage snap. While safety is arguably the most loaded position in college football next year, Winston is still one of the top returners.
79. S Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin Badgers
Another outstanding Big Ten safety, Wohler ranked second in the country in overall grade and coverage grade this past season. His versatility and aggressiveness enabled him to finish fourth in stops (37), which are tackles that constitute a “failure” for the offense. He also racked up 10 pressures — including two sacks — as a blitzer. Wohler is as dynamic as any safety in college football.
78. WR Tez Johnson, Oregon Ducks
Johnson joined quarterback Bo Nix, his adopted brother, at Oregon this season. The two of them picked right up where they left off in their backyard. The Troy transfer led the Power Five with 727 yards after the catch this season, and his 3.45 yards per route run trailed only LSU’s Malik Nabers. While Nix is off to the NFL, Johnson remains in Eugene, Oregon, and will be one of college football’s top receivers in 2024.
77. QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss Rebels
One of the nation’s premier play-action passers, Dart earned an elite 91.3 play-action passing grade in 2023, ranking fifth in the FBS. The athletic passer will have huge expectations heading into the 2024 season. The top question will be whether Dart can step up on the biggest stages. Losses to Alabama and Georgia were the only 2023 games in which he didn’t throw a touchdown.
76. LB Michael Barrett, Michigan Wolverines
Barrett was the unsung hero of Michigan’s defense this past season. His 84.3 grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five linebackers, while his 92.3 pass-rushing grade ranked second in the nation at his position. He also posted a strong 23.2% pass-rush win rate, placing fifth among FBS linebackers.
75. G Christian Haynes, Connecticut Huskies
Haynes took a slight step back after an unreal 2022 but still finished this past season as one of just four guards with 80.0-plus run-blocking and pass-blocking grades. He allowed just 12 pressures all season, five of which were to James Madison’s incredible front. Haynes will be an intriguing sleeper in the 2024 NFL Draft.
74. OT Patrick Paul, Houston Cougars
Simply put, pass rushers weren’t getting past Paul this year. His 91.5 pass-blocking grade led all FBS tackles in 2023, while his 1.9% pressure rate allowed ranked fifth.
73. EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah Utes
Elliss finished second in the Pac-12 with 13 sacks and third with a 90.1 pass-rush grade. He was outstanding in conference action, posting multiple pressures in all seven games he played in. That run included four straight outings with multiple sacks. His motor off the edge embodied everything Utah’s defense stands for.
72. CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan Wolverines
Sainristil constantly made plays for Michigan during its national championship run. His six interceptions were the second most among college football cornerbacks, and his 76.6 coverage grade at slot cornerback was a top-10 mark in the nation.
71. G Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Jurgens came out of nowhere to lead all FBS guards in run-blocking grade (86.4) in 2023. His previous career-high run-blocking mark was 65.6 in 2021. He also had a third consecutive solid pass-protecting season, allowing just seven pressures and posting an 81.2 pass-blocking grade.
70. LB Jay Higgins, Iowa Hawkeyes
Higgins was the most valuable linebacker in the nation this year, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. He ranked fourth among all linebackers in the nation in both overall grade (89.6) and coverage grade (90.8) in 2023.
69. G Clay Webb, Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Webb finished the 2023 season with the highest overall grade among guards. He was the only guard in college football to earn 85.0-plus grades in run blocking and pass protection. Webb allowed just two pressures all season while serving as an ultra-physical presence in the run game. He proved himself against non-Conference USA competition, posting a solid 71.6 grade against South Carolina.
68. LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Kiser earned a 90.3 grade in 2023 to rank second among college football linebackers. He was the only FBS linebacker who finished in the top 10 for both run-defense grade and coverage grade this year. He’ll be a leader on a stacked Notre Dame defense in 2024.
67. S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue Boilermakers
Thieneman had a spectacular freshman year at Purdue, leading all safeties in overall grade and collecting six interceptions. Despite his primary role as the deep middle safety, Thieneman managed to also produce an elite 90.2 run-defense grade. He has excellent range and hands and should continue to produce at a high level for years to come.
66. RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Brooks ranked fourth among all college football running backs with 1,547 rushing yards and 998 yards after contact this past season. He led the nation with 96 forced missed tackles on the ground. He returns to Texas Tech as one of the top running backs in college football next season.
65. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos
Jeanty finished the year with an absurd 94.6 rushing grade, carrying Boise State to a conference title in the process. He placed inside the top five in yards after contact and missed tackles forced. Jeanty’s 96.5 rushing grade over the past two seasons is the best mark in the country.
64. CB Quincy Riley, Louisville Cardinals
Riley was a lockdown cornerback for the Cardinals this past season, posting a sixth-ranked 36.5% completion rate allowed. He surrendered only a 37.2 passer rating when targeted, placing eighth among FBS cornerbacks.
63. S Malaki Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
Starks made significant progress in his second year at Georgia. He led all SEC safeties with in run-defense grade (84.8) while picking off three passes and breaking up seven others. He’ll continue to be an anchor in Kirby Smart’s secondary for at least one more season.
62. RB Bucky Irving, Oregon Ducks
The do-it-all Irving led all Power Five running backs with 395 receiving yards while posting the fifth-best forced missed tackle rate on the ground (37%).
61. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes
Hunter may be the best athlete in college football. He finished second on his team in offensive grade and first in defensive grade while playing 1,044 combined snaps in just nine games. Hunter still has plenty of room for improvement, and it will be interesting to see if he leans toward one side of the ball next season. Either way, he brings rare versatility.
60. QB Jordan Travis, Florida State Seminoles
Travis’ final college season ended tragically. His broken leg in the penultimate game of the regular season was ultimately what kept undefeated Florida State out of the College Football Playoff. Justified or not, it shows how important Travis was to the program. His 83.5 passing grade this season ranked 18th among all college football quarterbacks.
59. TE Ben Sinnott, Kansas State Wildcats
Sinnott’s 82.0 overall grade placed him third among Power Five tight ends, and he finished the regular season as the Power Five leader in receiving yards at the position. He completed the year by torching Iowa State for 10 catches, 136 yards and a touchdown.
58. RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas Longhorns
Brooks looked like one of the best backs in the country before a torn ACL ended his season after 10 games. He forced a missed tackle on 34% of his attempts this past season, the 10th-highest rate among FBS running backs.
57. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes
Forgotten amid Colorado’s struggles in conference play was the excellent year Shedeur Sanders put together. He earned the eighth-best passing grade in the nation and posted a turnover-worthy play rate identical to that of LSU’s Jayden Daniels. He has a stable of weapons to work with next season. If the Buffaloes construct a serviceable offensive line, they could be dangerous with Sanders at the helm.
56. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa Hawkeyes
Quarterbacks recorded just a 37.8 passer rating when targeting DeJean this past season. For reference, spiking the ball on every play would net a 39.6 passer rating. Expect to hear DeJean’s name called within the first 20 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.
55. CB Will Johnson, Michigan Wolverines
Johnson was excellent for the Wolverines, allowing just 17 catches and a 29.1 passer rating into his coverage across 12 games. He also hauled in four interceptions, including a massive one against Ohio State. Johnson is college football's top returning cornerback in 2024.
54. WR Troy Franklin, Oregon Ducks
Franklin’s 1,383 receiving yards this season were the sixth most in college football. while his 14 receiving touchdowns tied for third. He generated a 147.8 passer rating when targeted, the fifth-highest mark in the country.
53. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats
Nobody was better down the stretch than McMillan, who finished his season with four straight 100-yard games. From Week 6 onward, he racked up the third-most yards in college football while posting an elite 90.8 receiving grade. With a body type and play style similar to that of Mike Evans, McMillan could contend for the Biletnikoff Award in 2024.
52. OT Will Campbell, LSU Tigers
Campbell earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets as a true freshman in 2022, trailing only Peter Skoronski — who is now in the NFL — among Power Five offensive tackles. This past year, Campbell’s 84.9 run-blocking grade ranked fifth among all tackles in college football. He also didn’t allow a sack on his 470 pass-blocking snaps. Campbell returns to Baton Rouge in 2024 as the best offensive lineman in college football.
51. OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State Nittany Lions
Fashanu isn’t an elite run blocker, but he is a premier pass protector. His 88.4 pass-blocking grade in 2023 ranked fourth in the FBS, as he allowed just 10 pressures all season. He played the most pass-blocking snaps in the country without allowing a hit or a sack.
50. OT JC Latham, Alabama Crimson Tide
Latham followed up a stellar sophomore season with an even better junior campaign. His 83.3 grade this past year trailed only Taliese Fuaga among FBS right tackles. Latham was also the only right tackle in college football who placed in the top five in both pass-blocking and run-blocking grades.
49. OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona Wildcats
Morgan finished the season with the sixth-best overall grade and the seventh-best pass-blocking grade among qualified tackles. He was remarkable after tearing his ACL in November of 2022. After an understandably slow start to 2023, Morgan allowed six pressures and posted an 88.3 pass-blocking grade in his final seven games.
48. LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson Tigers
Trotter was named a PFF second-team All-American. The only other Power Five linebacker who earned 75.0-plus grades as a run defender, a pass rusher and in coverage this season was Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper.
47. CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri Tigers
Another headliner in the Missouri turnaround, Abrams-Draine finished second among SEC cornerbacks in PFF coverage grade (88.9) and pass breakups (11). He allowed just 24 receptions and a 54.7 passer rating in 2023. He and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. headlined a cornerback room that ranked ninth in the country in coverage grade.
46. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama Crimson Tide
After a shaky start to 2023 that led to his benching in Week 3, Milroe turned into one of the nation’s best quarterbacks down the stretch. His 88.0 grade from Week 4 onward tied for eighth among college football signal-callers. His 9.2% big-time throw rate this year placed second among FBS quarterbacks, while his 35 runs of 10-plus yards ranked fourth.
45. RB Blake Corum, Michigan Wolverines
Corum wasn’t as efficient in 2023 as he was in 2022, but he still managed 1,245 rushing yards and an FBS-leading 27 rushing touchdowns. His incredible run in overtime against Alabama will live in Michigan lore. He overcame a torn ACL and some offensive line struggles and continued to be the engine of the Wolverines’ offense.
44. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo Rockets
For the second straight season, Mitchell led all cornerbacks in the nation in PFF grade. His 95.1 grade since 2022 is more than three points higher than the next-closest FBS cornerback. Mitchell’s 17 forced incompletions this year tied for the second most at the position.
43. OT Javon Foster, Missouri Tigers
Foster’s 84.8 overall grade in 2023 finished behind only Joe Alt and Taliese Fuaga — two projected top 2024 NFL Draft picks. His 86.5 run-blocking grade tied with Alt for second, and he allowed just one sack all season. Foster has now been a consistent performer for three years and was the best player on a criminally underrated Missouri offensive line this past season.
42. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma Sooners
Gabriel’s 91.7 grade this season trailed only LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Oregon’s Bo Nix among FBS quarterbacks. Ironically, Gabriel is replacing Nix as Oregon’s starting signal-caller next season.
41. EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State Seminoles
Verse was even more dominant and consistent than in his stellar 2022 campaign. He racked up 62 pressures on his way to an elite 90.8 pass-rush grade. His best work came when the Seminoles needed it most. In his last two games, against Florida and Louisville, Verse produced a combined 18 pressures and six sacks.
40. EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama Crimson Tide
While it’s nearly impossible to fill the shoes of a player like Will Anderson Jr., Turner did an admirable job this past season. His 19.6% pressure rate ranked ninth among college football edge defenders. Expect to hear Turner’s name called early in the 2024 NFL Draft.
39. EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville Cardinals
Gillotte was a driving force behind Louisville’s resurgence. He produced a team-leading 58 pressures and nine sacks. Gillotte joined UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer as the only Power Five edge players to post 80.0-plus grades as a run defender and a pass rusher in 2023. Tennessee transfer Tyler Baron will join forces with Gillotte next season to form what could be the best edge duo in the ACC.
38. LB Payton Wilson, NC State Wolfpack
Wilson won the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2023, given to the best defender in college football. His 89.7 overall grade ranked third among linebackers, while his 90.4 coverage grade tied for fifth. His three interceptions were tied for the second most among FBS linebackers this past season.
37. QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Wolverines
McCarthy was a consistent performer this year outside of a tough game at Maryland. His 90.8 overall grade ranked 10th in the country, and his 80% adjusted completion percentage placed fourth. He didn’t throw at a high volume, but he was efficient and played clean football, tossing just one interception after Week 3.
36. RB Cody Schrader, Missouri Tigers
Schrader won the Burlsworth Trophy this past season as the best former walk-on in college football. The former D-II Truman State running back rushed for 1,611 yards in 2023, the third most in the country. His 851 yards after contact ranked 10th in the FBS.
35. EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State Nittany Lions
Robinson battled through injuries but finished with a 92.3 pass-rush grade in 2023, ranking fourth among qualified edge defenders. It was his second straight year of earning a 92.0-plus mark. Since the start of 2022, only UCLA’s Laiatu Latu recorded a better pass-rush grade.
34. EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Buckeyes
Sawyer was the only edge defender in college football to earn 85.0-plus grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender in 2023. His 86.6 run-defense grade ranked third among college football edge defenders.
33. WR Malik Washington, Virginia Cavaliers
Washington’s 111 receptions led the country, and his 92.4 receiving grade finished second, behind LSU star Malik Nabers. He tied for the national lead with a 99.9 grade on intermediate targets and forced an FBS-leading 35 missed tackles. Despite his 5-foot-8 frame, Washington ripped through opposing defenses with running back-esque aggression all season.
32. LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M Aggies
Cooper paced all college football linebackers in PFF grade (90.8) this past season. He earned an 85.0-plus mark in every defensive aspect: run defense, pass rushing and coverage. No other linebacker in college football earned even an 80.0-plus grade in all three areas.
31. EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Volunteers
Pearce stuffed the stat sheet in 2023 with 52 pressures, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick-six. All of that led to a 92.4 pass-rush grade, which trailed only UCLA’s Laiatu Latu among Power Five edge defenders. Pearce’s underlying metrics support his production, and he is college football’s top returning edge rusher in 2024.
30. DI Howard Cross III, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Cross finished as the third-highest-graded interior defensive lineman in college football this past season (90.1). He was one of four FBS defensive tackles to earn 80.0-plus grades as a pass rusher and a run defender. His 29 run-defense stops tied for second among that group, as well. He returns to South Bend in 2024 as a top-two interior defensive lineman in the nation, at worst.
29. S Caleb Downs, Alabama Crimson Tide
Downs was sensational in his freshman season, leading Alabama with an 88.9 coverage grade while playing the most snaps on the team. His coverage grade ranked fifth among qualified safeties. His transfer to Ohio State may give the Buckeyes the best defense in the nation in 2024.
28. CB Sebastian Castro, Iowa Hawkeyes
Castro was named a PFF first-team All-American this season after leading the nation with 19 coverage stops. His six tackles for loss or no gain placed third among all college football cornerbacks.
27. RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Tar Heels
Hampton bulldozed his way to 1,500 rushing yards and a 90.6 rushing grade in his first year as a starter. He also ran for an FBS-leading 1,072 yards after contact and forced 67 missed tackles. With Drake Maye departing for the NFL, Hampton will be expected to produce in a similar fashion for the Tar Heels next season.
26. DI Byron Murphy II, Texas Longhorns
T’Vondre Sweat wasn’t the only star interior defensive lineman for the Longhorns this season. He was the only defensive tackle in the nation who earned a higher grade than Murphy (91.1) in 2023. While Sweat dominated in the run game, Murphy excelled as a pass rusher. He led all FBS interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win rate (20.2%) and pressure rate (17%) this past year.
25. G Cooper Beebe, Kansas State Wildcats
Beebe put together a third straight excellent season for the Wildcats, leading all left guards in pass-blocking grade (90.4). Beebe allowed just nine pressures across 456 pass-blocking snaps, and his 91.8 pass-blocking grade over the past three seasons leads all FBS guards.
24. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nubin ranked first college football safeties in PFF overall grade (89.7) this past season. On 20 targets into his coverage, he snagged nearly as many interceptions (five) as he surrendered catches (six). Nubin’s 30% completion rate allowed also paced all FBS safeties, as well.
23. QB Caleb Williams, USC Trojans
Williams didn’t match his 2022 production, but he still threw 30 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 2023. He led the nation with a 94.3 clean-pocket grade but struggled with ball security when under pressure. Regardless, Williams was still one of college football’s most explosive playmakers.
22. QB Drake Maye, North Carolina Tar Heels
While many may classify 2023 as a “down” season for the projected top-two pick, Maye was still one of the nation’s best signal-callers as a junior. Only three college football quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 in both big-time throw rate and turnover-worthy play rate in 2023: Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr. and Maye. His 34 big-time throws trailed only Penix among FBS passers.
21. DI Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois Fighting Illini
Newton engineered a second straight stellar season in Champaign. His 43 regular-season pressures tied for the Power Five lead. He also proved incredibly durable, leading all defensive tackles with 749 snaps played during the regular season. Over the past two seasons, Newton is the only Power Five defensive tackle with run-defense and pass-rush grades that top 90.0.
20. WR Luther Burden III, Missouri Tigers
For those in search of the next Deebo Samuel, look no further. Burden is a monster with the ball in his hands. The true sophomore’s 725 yards after the catch were the third most in college football this past season, while his 314 receiving yards after contact were the fourth most. He also led the Power Five with a 32.7% target rate and will enter the 2024 season as the best receiver in the country.
19. CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama Crimson Tide
While opposing offenses avoided Kool-Aid McKinstry, they targeted Terrion Arnold often. Arnold generally won the battle. He led the Crimson Tide with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2023. Perhaps equally impressive is the fact that he ranked third in the nation with a 90.5 run-defense grade. Arnold’s well-rounded play style may have vaulted him into first-round consideration.
18. DI Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines
Graham was simply unblockable in the two biggest games of the season. Against Alabama and Washington in the College Football Playoff, the sophomore posted an 85.1 overall grade and a 91.0 run-defense grade. His 90.0 overall grade on the season ranked fourth among college football interior defenders. He enters next season as arguably the best defensive tackle in college football.
17. C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon Ducks
Powers-Johnson, the Rimington Trophy winner, led all centers in PFF overall grade (84.3) in 2023. He allowed just one pressure across 497 pass-blocking snaps. His consistency spearheaded a Ducks offensive line that led the nation in pass-blocking grade by a wide margin and allowed quarterback Bo Nix to have a Heisman-caliber season.
16. RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Estime’s 94.2 grade this past year led all Power Five running backs. He is a big, bruising back at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds. He recorded 892 rushing yards after contact, the seventh most in the nation.
15. OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State Beavers
Fuaga easily led the nation with a 90.9 run-blocking grade. He also allowed just 12 pressures, including zero sacks, en route to a solid 79.9 pass-blocking grade. Fuaga was the best player on the highest-graded offensive line in the Power Five, and he likely played his way into a first-round selection in this year’s draft.
14. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama Crimson Tide
“Uneventful” is one way to describe McKinstry’s tape from this past year. Quarterbacks knew better than to look his way, and he was targeted on just 8.5% of his coverage snaps, the lowest rate in the country among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps. McKinstry forced more incompletions (10) than he allowed first downs plus touchdowns (nine) in 2023.
13. EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington Huskies
Trice’s 80 quarterback pressures led the nation. It wasn’t all volume, either, as his 90.8 pass-rush grade tied with Florida State’s Jared Verse, among others, for 11th in the country. He meant as much to his team as any player in the country. Washington did not have another player with 30 quarterback pressures.
12. QB Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs
While Beck didn’t win a national championship like his predecessor, Stetson Bennett IV, one can argue that Georgia still upgraded under center this season. Beck’s 90.8 passing grade trailed only Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix among Power Five quarterbacks in 2023. He’ll try to bring the Bulldogs their third national title in four years next season as the best returning quarterback in college football.
11. RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Gordon didn’t see significant action until Week 4 but proceeded to almost singlehandedly carry his team to the Big 12 title game. He led the nation with 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on his way to winning the Doak Walker Award. Gordon’s explosiveness was his biggest asset, as he led the Power Five in 10-plus-yard runs.
10. TE Brock Bowers, Georgia Bulldogs
Bowers won the John Mackey Award again this season, given to the best tight end in college football. In doing so, he became the first two-time winner of the award in its 24-year history. Despite missing three games due to injury/opt-out, he led all FBS tight ends with 486 yards after the catch. With his collegiate career now finished, it’s time to recognize Bowers as the greatest tight end in college football history.
9. DI T’Vondre Sweat, Texas Longhorns
Sweat led all defensive tackles in overall grade, run-defense grade and PFF WAR. He was the biggest reason Texas ranked sixth in the nation in run-defense grade. He also posted an 85.3 pass-rush grade — a top-10 mark at the position. Quarterback Quinn Ewers and the offense garnered most of the spotlight, but Sweat was the Longhorns’ best player.
8. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
After being snubbed for the Biletnikoff Award last season, Harrison took home the honor this year. His 3.44 yards per route run mark ranked third among Power Five receivers in 2023, and he tied for third among FBS receivers with 14 receiving touchdowns.
7. WR Rome Odunze, Washington Huskies
Odunze was spectacular all season, topping 80 receiving yards in all but one game and posting at least 100 in 10 outings. He was easily the nation’s best receiver in contested situations, hauling in 21 of his 28 contested targets. Playing on a unit loaded with talented skill players, Odunze was the best of the bunch.
6. OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
After leading all FBS offensive tackles in overall grade as a sophomore, Alt was the only tackle in the country to post 85.0-plus grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker this season. His 91.2 pass-blocking grade ranked second among FBS tackles.
5. WR Malik Nabers, LSU Tigers
Statistically, Nabers was the best receiver in college football this past year. He finished the year with an FBS-leading 93.1 receiving grade. He led the nation in receiving yards during the regular season, and only teammate Brian Thomas Jr. tallied more receiving touchdowns. Nabers’ 99.9 deep receiving grade also tied for the top mark in the country.
4. QB Bo Nix, Oregon Ducks
Nix has come a long way from his lackluster years at Auburn. His 92.7 passing grade this past season led the nation. He also paced the FBS in turnover-worthy play rate (1%) and adjusted completion percentage (85.4%).
3. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington Huskies
Despite a lackluster performance against Michigan, Penix, the Heisman runner-up, left his final mark on college football with an outstanding season in which he led the nation with 43 big-time throws. He was also the nation’s premier play-action passer, posting a 93.0 passing grade on such plays.
2. EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins
Latu’s 96.3 grade led all of college football this season and was the highest mark by a Power Five player since PFF began charting college football in 2014.
Highest-graded Seasons by a Power Five Player | Since 2014
| Name | Position | School | Season | PFF Grade |
| Laiatu Latu | EDGE | UCLA | 2023 | 96.3 |
| Blake Corum | RB | Michigan | 2022 | 96.2 |
| Kyle Pitts | TE | Florida | 2020 | 96.0 |
| Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State | 2019 | 96.0 |
| Quinnen Williams | DI | Alabama | 2018 | 96.0 |
Latu led all Power Five edge defenders in pass-rush win rate (27%) and pressure rate (21.4%) this season.
1. QB Jayden Daniels, LSU Tigers
Daniels led all quarterbacks with a 94.7 overall grade during a stellar Heisman-winning campaign. It was the highest quarterback grade since Mac Jones posted a 95.8 mark in 2020. Daniels nearly tripled his big-time throw rate from 2022 and finished his college career with the highest rushing grade by a Power Five quarterback in PFF history.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.