PFF ranks Top 25 college football players in 2023

College football, for all of the realignment drama, has no shortage of electric, enthralling talents across the sport in 2023. As the season creeps closer, PFF took a crack at ranking the Top 50 players in college football in 2023.

There are some obvious names and teams represented throughout the list with a few unexpected or under-the-radar picks — including an under-the-radar defender in the Top 10. And reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams topping the list is sure to led to some debate.

Check out who cracked the Top 10 in the PFF Top 50 below with Nos. 11 and beyond below.

1. Caleb Williams, quarterback, USC

Pretty much any of the top three on this list could’ve landed at No. 1, but being the reigning Heisman winner gives Williams the nod. One of the most transcendent, exciting players to watch in college football, Williams and USC are pushing for a College Football Playoff berth in 2023.

And with Williams at the helm, it’s more than a realistic goal. USC got to the brink last year and if Williams has another Heisman-caliber season, the Trojans should be right back in the thick of the national conversation.

2. Brock Bowers, tight end, Georgia

There’s a case to be made for Bowers to top this list. He’s been a punishing offensive weapon for Georgia from pretty much the moment he arrived on campus and has been integral to winning back-to-back national championships.

Now a junior, Bowers will likely be the go-to in the Georgia offense with a chance to be a true Heisman contender at the tight end position. That’s what 1989 all purpose yards and 24 touchdowns in 29 career games can do.

3. Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver, Ohio State

Many NFL draft analysts remarked that had he been available in the 2023 NFL Draft, Harrison would’ve been the top wideout taken without breaking a sweat. That remains the case for the 2024 NFL Draft, where he has a very strong chance to be the first non-quarterback selected.

In his first full season in 2022, Harrison caught 77 passes for 1236 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’ll have to do it with a new quarterback in 2023, but he will still be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.

4. Blake Corum, running back, Michigan

Corum might be in the NFL right now if not for a late-season knee injury that required a surgical repair. And while they lost Corum for the tail end of 2022, Michigan coaches and teammates are surely giddy to return one of the most productive running backs in college football and a potential 2022 Heisman finalist prior to his injury.

Corum rushed for 1463 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games last year, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’ll again share the backfield with Donovan Edwards as the Wolverines run out a fearsome rushing attack.

5. Joe Alt, offensive tackle, Notre Dame

Another college football season, another Notre Dame offensive lineman coveted by the NFL. Alt is the latest in a long line of Notre Dame linemen to become a dominant force at the college level.

Alt will anchor the offensive line as Notre Dame retools the offense with transfer quarterback Sam Hartman. The 2022 first-team All-American has 21 starts in 26 career games after earning a starting spot as a true freshman in 2021.

6. Drake Maye, quarterback, North Carolina

While he comes in at No. 6 on the PFF Top 50, Maye could very well be the top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft — it will likely be him or Williams in some order as the top two picks. With a blend of size, arm talent and athleticism that NFL evaluators love, Maye tore it up for the Tar Heels in his first full year starting in 2022.

Maye threw for more than 4000 yards and had 38 passing touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He added seven more touchdowns on the ground, too. The biggest question for Maye entering 2023 is how he and the UNC offense look after coordinator Phil Longo left in the offseason.

7. Kool-Aid McKinstry, cornerback, Alabama

McKinstry has been a mainstay in the Alabama secondary for years and now, as a junior on the precipice of the NFL, the cornerback is poised for a dominant season. He may also continue to play a role on special teams a returner, too, a role he is dangerous in.

McKinstry doesn’t have eye-popping interception numbers, just two in his career. But in 2022, he had 15 passes defensed to go with a takeaway. It’s probably best for most opposing offenses to not test his side of the field.

8. Jer’Zhan Newton, defensive tackle, Illinois

Newton isn’t as flashy as other players on this list but he’s just as dominant and a key cog to Illinois having such a stingy defense. In large part because of Newton and his ability to wreak havoc up front, the Illini had the top scoring defense in the country.

Illinois gave up a paltry 12.77 points per game in 2022, the only squad giving up fewer than 13 points a contest. With Newton back anchoring the middle of the defensive front, Illinois should again be a stingy team to score on.

9. Jordan Travis, quarterback, Florida State

Travis enjoyed a career renaissance year in 2022, playing a full slate for the first time. He set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns while leading the Seminoles to a 10-3 record and a bowl win.

Back for his sixth year of college at the helm of a loaded Florida State team, Travis and the Seminoles will try to break through the ceiling and win the ACC and make the college football playoff. Another transcendent year from Travis would likely help them do just that.

10. Jared Verse, defensive end, Florida State

Verse was a highly sought-after transfer in the 2022 cycle and quickly showed why when he got on the field for Florida State. Verse terrorized opposing tackles and quarterbacks in pure pass rush situations.

He recorded nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 12 games. Many expected him to turn pro as he was a likely Top 20 draft selection, but Verse is back for another season of high-level production for the Seminoles.

Players 11-25 in the PFF Top 50

11. Kalen King, cornerback, Penn State
12. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., linebacker, Clemson
13. Harold Perkins, linebacker, LSU
14. Olu Fashanu, offensive tackle, Penn State
15. Bralen Trice, defensive end, Washington
16. Cooper Beebe, guard, Kansas State
17. Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver, Ohio State
18. Michael Penix Jr., quarterback, Washington
19. Chop Robinson, defensive end, Penn State
20. Tommy Eichenberg, linebacker, Ohio State
21. Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan
22. Quinshon Judkins, running back, Ole Miss
23. Cooper DeJean, cornerback, Iowa
24. Calen Bullock, safety, USC
25. Kamren Kinchens, safety, Miami

You can find the rest of the PFF Top 50 here and start honing the argument for why a certain player is under- or over-ranked until the games get started later this month and new data points start rolling in.