The Top 25 most impactful players of the 2024 season: Defensive players headline rankings

The 2024 season is nearly here. Rejoice! With Week 0 just around the corner, I’ve spent the last several days unveiling my Top 10 most impactful players from each Core Four conference (plus Notre Dame). 

The SEC

The Big Ten

The ACC/Notre Dame

The Big 12

To conclude the series, I’ve cobbled together my Top 25 most impactful players in the country for the 2024 season. If whittling the leagues down to just 10 guys was difficult, this proved to be quite the daunting challenge, too. 

These rankings are always subjective, but particularly so this fall in a season that doesn’t feature any Heisman Trophy frontrunners or a ton of established superstars. 

But that’s why these exercises are fun. 

This year’s Top 25 impact players is illuminating because it’s heavily slanted toward SEC and Big Ten players and is defensive-heavy in the Top 10 (seven selections). 

So with that, read, react and debate away. 

My Top 25 most impactful players for the 2024 season:

Honorable Mention: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia; EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville; WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State; EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M; QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; EDGE Patrick Payton, Florida State; EDGE EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami; RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State; OG Tyler Booker, Alabama; OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia

25. RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Hampton was the workhorse tailback of the ACC in 2023, leading the league in touches, total yards (1,726), rushing yards, and total touchdowns (16). He had seven games with over 112 yards and was the only tailback in the conference to average over 100 yards per game all season — this all in an offense designed specifically around the talents of quarterback Drake Maye. Well, Maye is off to the NFL, so it’s Hampton’s show now, and UNC’s hopes this fall could hinge on how much the Tar Heels can lean on their junior ‘back.

24. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

The lone Big Ten quarterback on my list is a newcomer to his third league in four years. Gabriel lit up the AAC and Big 12, with the southpaw leading Oklahoma to a 10-win season last year by posting top numbers in the conference in yards, completion percentage and touchdowns. He’s a hand-glove-fit in Will Stein’s RPO-heavy offense and should flourish being surrounded by an elite set of playmakers (again apologies to Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson) and a beefy offensive line. He’s the Heisman Trophy favorite, and it’s easy to see why that’s the case.

23. TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

The Wolverines have four players on my Top 10 list, which is why I’m selling the narrative of the decline of Maize & Blue in 2024. With Brock Bowers off to the NFL, Loveland is arguably the best tight end in college football now. The junior is a ruthlessly efficient route runner and pass-catcher. Last season, he finished No. 2 on the team in yards per catch (14.4), receiving yards (649) and touchdowns (four). Whoever starts at quarterback for Michigan is going to lean on Loveland as a main security blanket this fall.

22. CB Sebastian Castro, Iowa

The Hawkeyes saw Cooper DeJean head off to the NFL, yet they still boast one of the top secondaries in the nation this fall thanks to the likes of one of the better nickel/star ‘backs Sebastian Castro. The senior is excellent against both the run and pass. Per On3’s Clark Brooks, his 54 “impact plays” were the most among any Core 4 defender last season. Castro sports the best-returning coverage grade per PFF, too. With all the great players in the Big Ten, Castro may get lost in the cornfields, but the dude is legit awesome.

21. EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

Last season, Carter was the guy for the Nittany Lions’ Top-5 unit, playing the most snaps on the team and finishing with 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a pick. And yet, it was a bit of a letdown from a terrific freshman year. He outgrew his inside linebacker role (he’s now 250 pounds), so he transitioned to end this offseason. Good call. Carter is a devil as a rusher, recording 28 pressures in 2023 — despite rushing the passer on only 33% of PSU’s defensive snaps. Now that’s his full-time role. Look out. 

20. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

While there’s plenty of other hot air around Colorado’s program, Sanders proved it wasn’t all talk about him being an instant threat as a P5 starting quarterback. He certainly struggled with pressure and pocket awareness at times (nation-high 49 sacks), but he was deadly accurate (70% completion) and took care of the football (27 touchdowns to just three picks). The Buffs don’t lack weapons on the perimeter, so if Deion Sanders has truly upgraded his son’s protection, Shedeur could be in store for a showcase season as top 2025 NFL Draft pick. 

19. EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

Tuimoloau opted to return to Columbus rather than entering the NFL Draft, giving the Buckeyes one of the most experienced edge rushers in the country this fall. Despite recording career highs in tackles and sacks last season, the former 5-star was actually more consistent and disruptive overall as a sophomore in 2022. I mean he single-handedly beat Penn State that year. Based on reports out of Ohio State this offseason, I’m betting on more reliable play from JTT — and likely a career-year in his swan song season.

18. DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

There’s a reason why Grant ranks No. 3 on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List in 2024: He’s a 6-4, 350-pound beast who is fast enough to run down Penn State tailback Kaytron Allen in the open field. Along with Graham, Grant anchored Michigan’s front seven in 2023, recording 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and 29 tackles. He was disruptive with his hands, too, with six pass-breakups at the LOS and a pick.

17. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama 

Milroe has “lead the SEC in total touchdowns” ability — particularly operating Kalen DeBoer’s offense. After struggling badly against Texas and getting benched versus USF, Milroe rebounded to lead the Tide to the SEC title. If he can limit the sacks, Milroe may rush for close to 1,000 yards this season — in addition to throwing bombs to the likes of Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. 

16. QB Quinn Ewers, Texas

Ewers has the most pure arm talent in the SEC, capable of making off-platform throws and downfield shots. He improved his accuracy tremendously in his second season as Texas’ starter (58% to 69%). If he can stay healthy and live up to his top-ranked recruit billing, he should seriously contend for the Heisman Trophy this fall. Ewers’ biggest challenge is establishing chemistry with a completely new cast of weapons.  

15. CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

Morrison is in the conversation with Michigan’s Will Johnson, Oregon’s Jabbar Muhammed and Ohio State’s Denzel Burke for the No. 1 corner in the country. As a freshman, all Morrison did was intercept six passes (tied for the most among all power programs). While he wasn’t targeted as much as a sophomore, the former top recruit still had three picks and another 10 PBUs. He’s a ball-hawking defensive back just as reliable in press coverage as drop-zone.

14. DL Howard Cross, Notre Dame

The Irish’s hoss in the middle graded out as the best returning defensive lineman (edge or interior) in college football in 2023, per PFF, essentially playing as well as eventual Round 1 pick Byron Murphy of Texas. Cross isn’t the biggest dude (6-0, 285 pounds), but he plays very similarly to former Georgia and NFL All-Pro Geno Atkins — a super disruptive and explosive interior rusher (39 pressures last season) and a valuable run defender. 

13. WR Terairoa McMillan, Arizona

McMillian is a 6-5, 210-pound T-Rex with octopus arms. He swallows up everything with maybe the best catch-radius and pure hands in the country. He never drops passes (lowest rate nationally) was second to only Rome Odunze for contested catches last season (17). McMillian has a mind-meld chemistry with quarterback Noah Fifita, who he’s played with since middle school. Overall, he finished with 90 catches for 1,400 yards and 10 scores, giving the Wildcats the best X-receiver in the country. 

12. RB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State

Despite not taking over the RB1 reigns until Week 4, Gordon, the Doak Walker Award winner, led the nation in rushing with over 1,700 yards. He scored 21 touchdowns (second-most in the country), and had nine games with at least 118 yards. Gordon is a balanced, physical runner who can churn out first downs but also hit the gas and create chunk plays (21 runs over 20 yards, most in the nation).

11. LT Kelvin Banks, Texas

The Longhorns’ left tackle had the highest pass-blocking grade among all power conference tackles, per On3’s Clark Brooks. He allowed just a single sack in 2023, and will again be responsible for protecting Quinn Ewers’ blindside. He stands to be the first Texas OL drafted in the first round since Mike Williams in 2002. 

10. DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Downs essentially flashed All-American skills on Day 1 at Alabama, as the freshman 5-star became the leader of the Tide’s defense in 2023. He led the team with 107 tackles — a first in school history. He had 16 coverage stops, including a pair of picks. Downs is in the conversation for the most valuable transfer in the 2024 cycle — a legit X-factor in the national title race. 

9. QB Carson Beck, Georgia 

My highest-ranked QB in the SEC, Beck is a sharpshooter (74% completion) who could put up even better numbers (nearly 4,000 yards, 28 total touchdowns) in Year 2 of Mike Bobo’s system. He’s 13-1 as a starter and is eyeing a ring of his own as the QB1 for the national title favorites.

8. DT Deone Walker, Kentucky

The Cats’ No. 0 is a freakish 350 pound-tackle with twinkle-toes. Walker is a big, ole’ dancing bear who mauls guards with power and quickness — especially as a pass rusher (7.5 sacks). He lives in the backfield (team-high 12.5 tackles for loss), and Kentucky did an excellent job to keep him in Lexington this off season.

7. DB Malaki Starks, Georgia

Starks is the Everything Man for the Bulldogs’ defense, offering sticky coverage skills (17 passes broken up), playmaking ability (three interceptions) and elite open-field tackling (highest run-grade among all SEC safeties, per PFF). He’s a true centerfield safety who is a ball-hawking threat every time he’s challenged. 

6. WR Luther Burden, Missouri

Could the Tigers’ junior wideout be the most electric playmaker in college football in 2024? I think so. Burden flourished lining up in the slot last season, torching defenses via screens, jet sweeps and nine-routes. He is a YAC monster, with 710 of his 1,200 yards coming after the catch.

5. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado 

Is he a corner, a receiver or both at the next level? It doesn’t right now. In college, Hunter is simply a DUDE. He makes plays on all three phases for the Buffs and averaged over 100 snaps in the games he was healthy in 2023. He’s a dangerous receiver, but he’s even more impressive as a corner where he has innate instincts, elite body control and a wideout’s hands.

4. LT Will Campbell, LSU

The 6-6, 325-pound junior stands to be in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, as Campbell is arguably the top left tackle playing on Saturdays. A starter since Day 1 as a freshman, Campbell has developed from a former blue-chip recruit to the anchor of LSU’s terrific offensive line.

3. EDGE James Pearce, Tennessee

Pearce is a menace off the edge, and might have the quickest get-off of any pass rusher in the SEC. He tied for the league lead in sacks with 10.0 and had 53 pressures in his 460 snaps. He’s a future Top 10 pick with game-wrecker potential. Pearce could be the key to Tennessee’s hopes of making a run to the CFP.

2. DT Mason Graham, Michigan

The All-Big Ten tackle is among the most disruptive interior linemen in all of college football, grading out as the fourth-most valuable tackle in the sport as a sophomore, per PFF. Graham finished the year with 18 hurries, four sacks and seven quarterback hits to lead Michigan in total pressures on the title team. With even more help off the edge this season (Josaiah Stewart is back, Derrick Moore should have a bigger role), Graham could see another uptick in production in his final season in Ann Arbor. Crazy.

1. DB Will Johnson, Michigan

Johnson has fully lived up to his 5-star billing, quickly developing into a lockdown corner for one of the best defenses in the nation over the last two years. In Michigan’s run to the national title, Johnson had four interceptions (including a pick-six) and eight PBUs. He’s a surefire Day 1 NFL Draft pick and is a major reason why the Wolverines’ defense should see much of a drop-off in 2024.