College Football: Best offensive, defensive player in every conference

College Sports

add

• Ohio State will feature Big Ten stars on both sides of the ball: Jeremiah Smith is the conference’s premier offensive player, while Caleb Downs leads the way on defense.

• Clemson leads the way in the ACC: Quarterback Cade Klubnik and interior defender Peter Woods are set to be top 2026 NFL Draft picks when all is said and done.

• Subscribe to PFF+: Get access to player grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy football rankings, all of the PFF fantasy draft research tools and more!

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Every conference in college football features stars who will likely lead teams toward the top of their respective standings. As such, we’ll identify the best offensive and defensive player in every conference heading into the 2025 season.

SEC

Offense: Florida C Jake Slaughter

Slaughter was the only Power Four center to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker in 2024. His 85.8 PFF overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, allowing him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.

Defense: Texas EDGE Colin Simmons

Simmons was a top-15 overall recruit and has somehow already exceeded expectations. The Texas native was the sixth-most-valuable edge defender in college football in 2024, according to PFF WAA. He trailed only Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau in that metric. Simmons ended up winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, given to the best true freshman in college football.

His 18.6% pressure rate was a top-15 mark in the nation, and he contributed in the run game to the tune of a 73.4 PFF grade. Simmons’ elite combination of bend and advanced pass-rushing moves is reminiscent of Von Miller. 

Most Pressures Among 2024 SEC Edge Defenders

Big Ten

Offense: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Smith was the most valuable receiver in college football in 2024, according to PFF WAA. His 89.8 PFF receiving grade ranked third and is more than four points higher than any other returning wideout. He also led the Power Four with 15 receiving touchdowns while trailing only Tetairoa McMillan, a top-10 NFL draft pick, in receiving yards (1,311).

Smith is an athletic freak at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with an incredibly refined skill set for someone who turned 19 years old in November. 

Defense: Ohio State S Caleb Downs

Downs, who transferred from Alabama last offseason, has been the most valuable safety in college football over the past two seasons, according to PFF WAA. His 91.7 PFF overall grade in that span ranks second among FBS safeties, and his 91.2 PFF coverage grade places third. Downs is also a fantastic run defender, leading all players on this list in run-defense stops (35) and PFF run-defense grade (88.5) since 2023.

Big 12

Offense: Utah T Spencer Fano

Fano’s 93.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 led all FBS tackles. His run-game dominance fueled that ranking, as his 93.6 PFF run-blocking grade was the best in the country by more than three points. Fano also finished as the second-most-valuable Power Four tackle, according to PFF WAA, trailing only top-10 NFL draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr.

In pass protection, Fano logged a top-30 PFF grade among Power Four tackles (79.5). While some length concerns could lead him inside to guard in the NFL, he is still an elite athlete with dominant tape as just a true sophomore.

Defense: Kansas State LB Austin Romaine

Romaine was the highest-graded linebacker in the Power Four last season, posting a 91.0 overall mark as just a true sophomore.

That grade was powered by a 90.7 PFF run-defense grade — third best among Power Four linebackers — and 43 run stops, the fourth most in that group. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Romaine fits the mold of a true Mike linebacker and excels at slipping blocks before linemen can get a clean shot on him.

ACC

Offense: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik

There may not have been a more improved quarterback in college football this past season than Klubnik. After placing 102nd among FBS signal-callers in 2023 with a 63.9 PFF passing grade, he ranked fifth in 2024 (87.7). Only Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders threw more touchdowns than the junior (36). Klubnik also ranked fifth in big-time throws (28). 

Defense: Clemson DI Peter Woods

Woods spent most of his sophomore season playing out of position at edge defender, yet he still earned an impressive 83.3 PFF overall grade. Over his first two years of college football, he is both the highest-graded and most valuable returning Power Four defensive tackle, according to PFF WAA.

Woods leads all returning Power Four interior defenders in PFF run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023. His combination of power and agility, at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, makes him a nightmarish matchup for opposing offensive linemen.

American

Offense: Navy FB Eli Heidenreich

Heidenreich has done it all for the Midshipmen over the past two seasons. He’s averaged 7.2 yards per carry while racking up more than 1,000 receiving yards since the start of 2023. He’s been elite from a grading perspective, as well, earning an 87.6 PFF rushing grade and a 93.7 PFF receiving grade over the past two seasons.

Heidenreich’s presence alongside fellow seniors Blake Horvath and Alex Tecza is one of the biggest reasons Navy is a favorite to win the AAC.

Defense: Tulane DI Santana Hopper

Hopper spent the past couple of years dominating the Sun Belt at Appalachian State. Over the past two seasons, he’s earned an outstanding 89.9 PFF overall grade while racking up 47 pressures and 11 sacks.

In 2024, Hopper earned the sixth-best PFF pass-rush grade in college football while trailing only Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott in pass-rush win rate (18.4%).

Mountain West

Offense: Boise State T Kage Casey

Casey had already proved his worth as a run blocker in 2023, but it’s his incredible improvement in pass protection that made him one of college football’s best offensive linemen in 2024. Casey earned an 86.9 PFF pass-blocking grade last season — better than a 40-point improvement from 2023. His six pressures allowed were tied for the fewest by any offensive tackle with at least 300 pass-blocking reps.

Defense: Air Force DI Payton Zdroik

Zdroik has been dominating at Air Force for three seasons, boasting an elite 91.1 PFF overall grade for his career. He is the only returning FBS defensive tackle who has earned at least an 80.0 PFF overall grade in each of the past three seasons. He became a pass-rushing force last season, tying Derrick Harmon and Aeneas Peebles for the national lead with a 91.2 true PFF pass-rush grade.

MAC

Offense: Ohio QB Parker Navarro

Navarro’s emergence late last season spurred Ohio to its first MAC championship since 1968. His 81.4 PFF overall grade topped the conference and ranked 36th in the FBS. His exploits as a runner were a major factor in his success, as he ranked among the top five FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and explosive runs. If Navarro continues to develop as a passer, he could lead the Bobcats to a second straight conference title.

Parker Navarro’s Career PFF Grades

Defense: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Toledo is building a tradition of excellent secondary play, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is carrying the torch into 2025. Despite missing the Rockets’ final five games in 2024 due to injury, he recorded an excellent 83.6 PFF overall grade. He does a fantastic job of making plays on the ball, having intercepted three passes and forced nine fumbles over the past three seasons.

Sun Belt

Offense: South Alabama RB Kentrel Bullock

Bullock formed one half of a terrific running back tandem with Fluff Bothwell last season. Bothwell transferred to Mississippi State, so Bullock has a chance to seize a majority of the rushing work this season. Across 235 carries since the start of 2023, Bullock has earned an 89.8 PFF rushing grade while breaking 85 tackles and ripping off 47 explosive runs. He could quietly finish this season as one of the nation’s 20 leaders in rushing yards if given the lion’s share of the carries.

Defense: Southern Miss CB Josh Moten

Moten was the highest-graded cornerback in the nation last season. His five interceptions and six pass breakups fueled that, as he led the FBS with a 91.5 PFF coverage grade. That incredible effort helped Marshall to its first conference championship since 2014. Instead of transferring to a bigger program, Moten followed head coach Charles Huff and several of his teammates to Southern Miss in an attempt to revive the program.

Conference USA

Offense: Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor

Conference USA doesn’t feature a ton of dynamic playmakers returning in 2025, leaving the door open for Abilene Christian transfer Maverick McIvor to make waves at Western Kentucky. McIvor set a career high and ranked fifth in the FCS last season with a 90.5 PFF passing grade. He has also made 55 big-time throws over the past three seasons, the ninth most in the FCS, which should make him a good fit in the Hilltoppers’ traditionally high-flying offense.

Defense: Florida International CB Brian Blades II

Florida International won only four games last season, but that certainly wasn’t due to coverage ineptitude. The team tied for seventh in the nation in PFF coverage grade (90.2). Blades was at the forefront, setting a career high with an 83.2 coverage grade that ranked among the top 30 qualified cornerbacks in the nation. He has also collected 13 pass breakups over the past two seasons.

This news was originally published on this post .

Tagged as:
College

Share on

email

Previous

trending_flat

Berger: The penalty shootout specialist who has overcome the odds

News Story

Next

La gran diferencia en McLaren que puede definir el Mundial

GP Belgica