ESPN ranks the Top 25 players in college football for 2024 season

The 2024 college football season is just around the corner. With that, ESPN decided to rank some of the best players in all of college football and came up with a list of the 25 best in the game.

There are plenty of big names in college football this year but things like the race for the Heisman Trophy do seem wide open. So, finding the next group to compete for that type of honor is going to be interesting to watch throughout the season. It also can make a list like this a challenge. So, ESPN used several college football experts who considered past success, future expectations, recruiting pedigree, and draft stock to determine this list.

With all of that in mind, here is ESPN’s ranking for the Top 25 players in college football ahead of the 2024 season:

1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. seems primed for a fantastic third season in Knoxville after breaking out in 2023. With that, ESPN has him ranked as the best player in college football entering 2024. With that comes lofty expectations but he seems primed to live up to them.

Last season, Pearce put up monster numbers with 28 total tackles, 14.5 of which were for a loss and 10 were sacks. He also had an interception and two forced fumbles. Combine those numbers with his ideal size and athleticism and it looks like he could be in for another incredible season.

2. Mason Graham, Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines are dealing with plenty of turnover. However, defensive lineman Mason Graham is returning and he looks like he’s one of the best players in all of college football. An anchor on the interior of the defensive line, Graham can be a force against both the run and the pass as offensive linemen struggle to slow his attack.

Last season, Graham was a second-team All-American. He had 36 total tackles with 7.5 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks. He also forced a fumble. Now, he brings experience to a team that’s going to have high expectations.

3. Travis Hunter, Colorado

Colorado’s Travis Hunter is one of the most unique players in all of college football. He plays both offense and defense, as a wide receiver and a cornerback, and he does both of them very well. Naturally, that also makes him one of the best players in the entire game.

The 2023 season was Hunter’s first at Colorado. He played nine games, missing time due to an injury, and had 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he had 30 total tackles, three interceptions, and five passes defended. The Buffaloes will be relying on him to stay healthy to take the step forward they want to during the 2024 season.

4. Will Johnson, Michigan

Another key returning member of the Michigan defense is cornerback Will Johnson. The top-rated player in EA College Football 25, Johnson comes in fourth overall in the ESPN Top 25 players in college football for the 2024 season. That’s with good reason too, as how successful the Wolverines defense is in 2024 will largely come down to his play.

An All-Big Ten selection, Johnson had 27 total tackles last season. He also had four interceptions and four passes defended. Those are all numbers that he’ll work to build on and potentially become the first defensive back selected in next year’s NFL Draft.

5. Luther Burden III, Missouri

There are big expectations for the Missouri Tigers this season. A big part of why is all the talent that they return on offense, especially Luther Burden at wide receiver. After all, he’s already proven that he’s one of the best players in all of college football.

In 13 games last season, Burden made 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Throughout his time at Missouri, he’s also proved that he is capable of running the ball too. He’s going to be someone the Tigers rely on and expect to have a massive 2024 season.

6. Will Campbell, LSU

Will Campbell, a junior offensive lineman for the LSU Tigers, comes in at sixth on ESPN’s list of the best players in college football. He does so while playing tackle, one of the most important positions on a team, even if it’s difficult to quantify that impact statistically.

LSU has one of the best offensive tackle tandems in the country and Campbell is a massive part of that. 2024 will be his third season as a starter for the Tigers and he’s coming off a first-team All-SEC selection last year. Now, it looks like he’s ready to establish himself as the top offensive lineman in the country.

7. Carson Beck, Georgia

The highest-ranked quarterback that ESPN has on its list of the best college football players in 2024 is Carson Beck of Georgia. That, probably, shouldn’t be a surprise given that there are expectations Beck will compete for the Heisman Trophy while leading the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff. He also brings experience after an excellent 2023 campaign.

In 2023, which was Beck’s first season as the starter, he played in 14 games and completed 72.4 percent of passes for 3,3941 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, Georgia came up short, losing the SEC Championship Game and missing the Playoff. Now, all of that is motivation for this season.

8. Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II broke onto the scene with a massive 2023 season that included nine games where he ran for 100 or more yards and two games where he ran for better than 200 yards. When it was all said and done, Gordon had 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, making him one of college football’s best running backs.

The Cowboys are hoping to compete at the top of the Big 12 in 2024. To do that, they’ll need to have Gordon put together another excellent season. If he’s able to do that, then winning the conference and going to the Playoff is on the table.

9. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. has been phenomenal in his career. Now, ESPN is recognizing him as one of college football’s best players. In particular, he’s been excellent in pass protection, only allowing one sack in 550 pass blocking situations last season.

Primarily a left tackle, Banks was named an All-American last season. That’s after he earned Freshman All-American honors the year before. With 27 college starts under his belt, it’s safe to say that expectations are high for Banks in his junior season at Texas.

10. Malaki Starks, Georgia

A second Georgia Bulldog in ESPN’s top-10 players for the 2024 college football season, it’s no surprise to see Malaki Starks here. Now a junior, he’s been consistently starting since his freshman season. Along the way, he earned an All-American selection and was named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the country’s top defender.

Starks had 52 total tackles last season and three interceptions to go with seven passes defended. Those are already massive numbers for any defensive back but he’s also someone who is capable of adding to those numbers as the centerpiece of head coach Kirby Smart‘s defense.

ESPN’s 11-25 players for the 2024 college football season

11. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
12. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
13. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
14. Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
15. Barrett Carter, Clemson
16. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
17. Tate Ratledge, Georgia
18. Tez Johnson, Oregon
19. Sebastian Castro, Iowa
20. Abdul Carter, Penn State
21. Deone Walker, Kentucky
22. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
23. Quinn Ewers, Texas
24. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
25. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

As is the case every season, there are going to be players who break out and nobody saw coming. It’s one of the exciting things about watching college football. For now, however, these are some of the biggest name players to keep an eye on going into Week 0 and beyond.