College football is back, but is going to look a lot different in 2024.
Amid roster restructuring, coaching changes, conference realignment and the implementation of the 12-team College Football Playoff format — only an elite few student-athletes will serarate themselves from the rest of their peers during the throughout the year.
Before the new season kicks off, CBS has revealed the playmakers they believe to be the Top 25 players in college football this fall:
1. CB Travis Hunter – Colorado
The best two-way player in America, and arguably the best overall is Colorado‘s Travis Hunter, according to CBS. He’ll play wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffs in 2024 — and if his 2023 season is anything to go by, the Big 12 will have their hands combating Hunter’s dynamic style this fall.
The former consensus five-star recruit saw the field a total of 1,102 snaps, including 475 on offense, 631 on defense, and 32 on special teams during his first season in Boulder. He brought home the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player, and the Georgia native was also named first team All-American from numerous outlets across the country. Similar success is expected during his junior season.
2. EDGE James Pearce Jr. – Tennessee
Six of Tennessee‘s top eight tacklers on the defensive line from 2023 will return to the program in 2024. Anchored by James Pearce — who tied the SEC lead for sacks with 10 — he is expected to continue his success.
In his previous two seasons at Tennessee, Pearce has played in 13 total games. During that playing time, he’s made 33 total tackles, 16.5 of which were tackles for a loss, and 12 of which were sacks. He also has an interception, two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher will look to terrorize offensive lines throughout the SEC in 2024.
3. DT Mason Graham – Michigan
Michigan‘s defense is expected to hold strong once again in 2024, and anchoring the effort along the defensive front will be defensive lineman Mason Graham.
As a sophom*ore in 2023, Graham compiled 36 tackles including 7.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks with three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery while starting all 13 games for the Wolverines. His efforts earned him second-team All-American status last season.
4. QB Shedeur Sanders – Colorado
In 2023, Shedeur Sanders put his ability to throw the ball on display for Colorado after completing 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns compared to only three interceptions. Those numbers came after his offensive line struggled to keep him upright as the Buffs dropped eight of their last night games of the season.
Colorado has made an effort this offseason to improve its offensive line and wide receiving rooms to help aid Sanders en route to what many believe to be a first-round NFL Draft selection in 2025.
5. WR Luther Burden III – Missuori
Last season was Luther Burden’s breakout campaign for Missouri. He finished with 86 catches, 1,212 yards, nine touchdowns and 14.1 yards per catch. As freshman, he scored six touchdowns in a much smaller sample size, catching 38 passes for 329 yards.
Arguably the most dynamic playmaker in the SEC this season, the Tigers have a legitimate shot at making the College Football Playoff — and Burden’s presence is necessary to that effort.
6. OT Will Campbell – LSU
On the field, Will Campbell is expected to be a major factor on the offensive line while manning the left tackle position for the LSU Tigers. Of course, that comes after earning First Team All-SEC honors as a Joe Moore Award finalist. Teaming up with Emery Jones at the tackle spot, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier figures to be one of the best protected quarterbacks in the country next season.
Campbell is also one of four returning starters from last season’s offensive line that helped lead quarterback Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy. Guards Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier also return to help protect Nussmeier and aid in LSU’s rushing attack. Campbell is expected to be at the forefront of that effort.
7. QB Jalen Milroe – Alabama
Alabama will look quite different following Nick Saban’s retirement and subsequent hire of new head coach Kalen DeBoer. However, Jalen Milroe remains a constant from last season, remaining as DeBoer’s guy under center for the 2024 season.
Milroe finished last year with 2,718 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He was also a significant threat on the ground, finishing the season with 468 rushing yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns on the ground. That type of dual-threat ability bodes well for DeBoer’s fast-paced offense.
8. QB Carson Beck – Georgia
Carson Beck threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions for Georgia in 2023. If he wasn’t comfortable then — the Bulldogs could take the new-look SEC by storm this coming season. After all, many way-too-early mocks have Beck as one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2025 NFL Draft for a reason.
Based on the Bulldogs’ spring game performance, Georgia’s offense may reflect that projection this season. 14 different wide receivers had three or more touches during the game, in part leading to Beck throwing for over 300 yards during the contest. He’s fully expected to lead Georgia — the preseason No. 1 team in America — to national championship contention in 2024.
9. RB Ollie Gordon II – Oklahoma State
Oklahoma Staterallied back from a bumpy start to the season last year, andOllie Gordonwas the breakout star the Cowboys needed as they rattled off a run to the Big 12 Championship. He became the first Oklahoma State running back to ever win theDoak Walker Award, and he found himself in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting.
Gordon rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Those were the most and second-most respectively in those statistics in the nation. That averages out to 6.1 yards per carry and 123.7 per game as he looks to contend for the Heisman Trophy again in 2024.
10. OT Kelvin Banks – Texas
One of three Texas Longhorns to crack CBS’ top 25, Kelvin Banks was recently named to the AP preseason All-America first team ahead of the 2024 season.
Banks has started all 27 games he has appeared in since arriving on campus before the 2022 season. PFF graded Banks — a second-team All-American selection last year — at 76.5 overall, including an 86.8 grade in pass blocking, and 70.0 in run blocking. The blocking grade was good for No. 11 among all FBS tackles in 2023.
11. CB Will Johnson – Michigan
12. RB Quinshon Judkins – Ohio State
13. WR Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona
14. WR Isaiah Bond – Texas
15. QB Quinn Ewers – Texas
16. EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. – LSU
17. EDGE Abdul Carter – Penn State
18. DB Malaki Starks – Georgia
19. S Caleb Downs – Ohio State
20. QB Dillon Gabriel – Oregon
21. LB Jay Higgins – Iowa
22. WR Evan Stewart – Oregon
23. WR Tre Harris – Ole Miss
24. LB Barrett Carter – Clemson
25. CB Benjamin Morrison – Notre Dame
