PFF 2025 All-America Team: Jeremiah Smith, Jacob Rodriguez and more

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• Fernando Mendoza leads the way: The Indiana quarterback is our All-American quarterback.

• Jacob Rodriguez leads the defense: The Texas Tech linebacker has the highest PFF grade among all players in the nation.

• Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season.

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Now that we’ve entered the postseason of college football, it’s time to recognize the top players from this year.

Here’s PFF’s All-America Team for the 2025 season.

Quarterback: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza led Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record, which included a Big Ten Championship and the first No. 1 ranking in program history. The California transfer’s 33 touchdown passes lead the FBS, while his 126.7 passer rating is second.

Mendoza saved his best for last, posting a career-high 92.3 PFF grade against top-ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. He will likely be Indiana’s first ever Heisman Trophy winner.

Running Back: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Love entered the season as the best running back in college football and has been exactly that this year. His 92.9 PFF grade leads all FBS tailbacks, while his 39 explosive runs are tied for third. Love is also third among FBS backs with 1,652 total yards from scrimmage.

Wide Receiver: Makai Lemon, USC

Lemon’s 90.4 PFF grade leads all FBS wide receivers this season, while his 1,156 receiving yards were the most among Power Four wideouts. His 20 forced missed tackles tied for sixth among all wide receivers in the nation, and he caught 10 of his 15 contested targets despite only being 5-foot-11, 195 pounds.

Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Smith entered his sophomore season as PFF’s top overall player in the country following a historic true freshman campaign. He was once again one of the best receivers in America as a sophomore, as his 89.8 PFF receiving grade and 11 receiving touchdowns were each fifth in the FBS. Smith was also third in the Power Four with 1,086 receiving yards.

Tight End: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Like Love, Stowers entered the year as the top player at his position and proved why this season. His 769 receiving yards are 75 more than any other tight end in the nation, while his 81.9 PFF grade is third in the FBS. The former four-star quarterback recruit also led the country with 377 yards after the catch and has been Diego Pavia’s most trusted weapon ever since their days at New Mexico State.

Flex: Malachi Toney, Miami (FL)

Toney is the best true freshman in college football this year. His 90.3 PFF grade trailed only Makai Lemon among FBS wideouts, and he is also the second-most-valuable, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.

Toney doesn’t have a single drop on 84 catchable targets and leads the Power Four with 623 yards after the catch. If that’s not enough, he also has two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

Left Tackle: Carter Smith, Indiana

Smith is the most valuable left tackle in America, according to our wins above average metric. The redshirt junior’s 93.9 PFF pass-blocking grade is second among FBS tackles, as he hasn’t allowed a sack or hit on 372 pass-blocking snaps yet. Smith’s 81.1 PFF run-blocking grade is also 12th among all offensive tackles in the country. 

Left Guard: Beau Stephens, Iowa

Stephens leads all Power Four guards with an 88.3 PFF grade on the season. His 92.9 PFF pass-blocking grade is the best among all guards in America, with no sacks or hits allowed — and only three pressures surrendered all season. The redshirt senior’s 85.6 PFF run-blocking grade is also third among all FBS guards. 

Center: Logan Jones, Iowa

Jones was the Power Four’s highest-graded center last season, earning an 83.6 mark. His 84.0 PFF grade this year is the best in the nation by nearly two points. Jones is the only center in America who has top-five marks as a pass-blocker (second) and run-blocker (third).

Right Guard: Kade Pieper, Iowa

Pieper completes the clean sweep for Iowa’s interior offensive line, as his 82.7 grade leads all FBS right guards. The redshirt sophomore is also the only right guard in the nation with 80.0-plus grades as a run- and pass-blocker. He hasn’t allowed a sack on 293 pass-blocking snaps this year.

Right Tackle: Keagen Trost, Missouri

Trost took over Missouri’s right tackle position from a top-10 pick in Armand Membou, and he’s been similarly dominant as the current New York Jet. The Wake Forest transfer’s 91.3 PFF grade is 2.6 points higher than any other offensive lineman in college football right now. His 90.5 PFF run-blocking grade is also easily the best in the nation, and he’s only surrendered nine pressures on 386 pass-blocking snaps.

Interior Defender: A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech

While not as heralded as teammates David Bailey and Romello Height, Holmes was also a superstar for the Red Raiders’ defensive line. The Houston transfer’s 34 pressures are tied for the most among Power Four defensive tackles, while his 88.3 PFF run-defense grade is tied for second in the nation.

Interior Defender: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

McDonald doesn’t add much as a pass rusher, but he’s still a projected first-round pick because of how dominant he is as a run defender. His 92.3 PFF run-defense grade is four points higher than any other interior defender in college football, while his 30 defensive stops are second in the Power Four. McDonald’s 89.3 overall grade is also the best in the nation for his position. 

Edge Defender: David Bailey, Texas Tech

Bailey is the most productive pass-rusher in college football, leading the nation with 14 sacks and 74 pressures so far. The projected top-20 pick’s 93.6 PFF pass-rush grade is also tied for the best in America, while his 35 defensive stops are tied for fourth among Power Four edge defenders.

Edge Defender: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)

Bain is one of the top candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for how dominant he has been as a junior. His 93.0 grade is tied with Bailey for the best among all edge defenders, and he’s the only Power Four edge rusher with top-10 grades as both a run defender and pass rusher.

Linebacker: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Rodriguez isn’t just the highest-graded defender in college football: He’s the highest-graded player in college football. Rodriguez’s 95.3 PFF run-defense grade and 93.0 PFF coverage grade also lead all defensive players, as do his seven forced fumbles. The former walk-on also paces all FBS linebackers with four interceptions, while his 65 defensive stops are tied for the most in the Power Four.

Linebacker: Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Styles will likely be a first-round pick in April for how good he’s been in the middle of Ohio State’s defense. His 89.0 PFF grade is second among Power Four linebackers. Amazingly, Styles has not missed a single tackle on 86 attempts and is tied for third in the Power Four with an 87.7 PFF coverage grade.

Cornerback: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame

After a stellar true freshman season, Moore entered his sophomore campaign as the PFF’s top-ranked cornerback in America and further showed why this year. His 92.0 grade is tied for the best among all corners in the country and leads all Power Four defensive backs. Moore’s five interceptions are tied for the most in the nation, and he’s only allowed a 45.9 passer rating into his coverage.

Cornerback: Mansoor Delane, LSU

Delane has been lockdown in coverage this year for the Tigers. The Virginia Tech transfer is third among FBS corners with a 91.0 PFF grade, and has only given up a 37.1% completion rate into his coverage (seventh). Delane’s 26.7 passer rating allowed is also the best mark among Power Four cornerbacks.

Safety: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

McNeil-Warren has been terrific over the last three years for the Rockets and will likely be a top-50 pick because of it. His 92.4 PFF grade this season is the best among all FBS safeties by over two points. McNeil-Warren is the only safety in the country with 90.0-plus grades in run defense and in coverage.

Safety: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC

Fitzgerald has been a ballhawk this year for the Trojans. He leads the Power Four with a 90.0 PFF grade, while his five interceptions are tied for fourth among all defensive players. 

Flex: Chris Johnson, San Diego State

Johnson paces all FBS cornerbacks with a 92.8 PFF coverage grade on the season. His 16.1 passer rating allowed is also the best in the nation, as he has four interceptions and only a 41.9% catch rate allowed.

Kicker: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma

Sandell is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever charted for a kicker. His 97.8 PFF kicking grade would be the single-season PFF record if it stands. The UTSA transfer has made all 32 of his extra points and 23 of his 24 field goal attempts this year. Unbelievably, he has drilled all seven of his attempts from 50-plus yards. 

Punter: Billy Gowers, Hawaii

Gowers’ 93.6 PFF punting grade is the best in America. Over half of his 47 punts have landed inside the 20-yard line, and his average hang time of 4.24 seconds is currently fifth.

Return Specialist: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

Wetjen’s 90.3 return grade leads all Power Four players. The wide receiver has four total return touchdowns, one on a kickoff and three off of punts. If he brings another back to the house in Iowa’s bowl game, that would tie the all-time record for most return touchdowns in a season.

Special Teamer: Micah Gifford, Baylor

Gifford’s 90.9 PFF special teams grade is second among all players in the country. The Baylor safety has six solo tackles on special teams.

Long Snapper: Jovoni Borbon, UMass

UMass may have been the only winless team in college football this season, but the Minutemen can at least hang their hat on having a first-team All-American at long snapper. Borbon’s 81.9 grade leads all FBS long snappers, as he’s only recorded two bad snaps on 101 attempts.

This news was originally published on this post .

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