• Jeremiyah Love tops the record: Notre Dame’s sophomore working again is the highest-graded participant in Monday’s nationwide title recreation.
• Jack Sawyer leads the way in which for Ohio State: The senior edge defender has been a star pass-rusher and run defender for the Buckeyes.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
On Monday evening, Notre Dame and Ohio State play for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes wanted some star gamers to get thus far. With that in thoughts, listed below are the ten highest-graded gamers within the nationwide title recreation.
1. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: 91.6 PFF Overall Grade
Love’s 91.6 PFF total grade this season trailed solely Ashton Jeanty and Cam Skattebo amongst FBS working backs. The true sophomore ranked second to solely Jeanty in pressured missed sort out fee runs (39%). Love will probably enter 2025 as the very best working again in school soccer.
2. EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State: 91.2
The hero within the Cotton Bowl has been stellar all through his Ohio State profession, however he saved his greatest for final this season. Sawyer posted 85.0-plus PFF grades as each a pass-rusher and run defender for the second straight season, the one edge defender within the nation to perform that feat. His 58 quarterback pressures type a top-10 mark amongst all school soccer edge defenders.
3. LB Cody Simon, Ohio State: 89.7
Simon is a wonderful downhill linebacker in Ohio State’s protection. He ranks third amongst FBS linebackers in PFF run-defense grade (90.4), whereas his 5 sacks tie him for fourth. The graduate scholar is not any slouch in protection, both, posting a 76.3 PFF grade.
4. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State: 89.3
Downs has been essentially the most helpful security in school soccer this season, in response to PFF’s wins above common metric. He was one in all three FBS safeties with 85.0-plus grades in protection and run protection. He’ll probably enter his junior yr as the very best defensive participant within the nation.
5. WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: 89.2
Downs would’ve been the very best total participant in school soccer getting into subsequent season if it wasn’t for his phenom teammate. Smith led all large receivers in PFF’s wins above common metric as only a true freshman, and his 14 receiving touchdowns tied for essentially the most amongst Power Four receivers.
6. CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame: 88.9
Smith isn’t the one true freshman within the nationwide title recreation who has loved a terrific first season. Moore’s 83.8 man-coverage grade ranked third amongst all school soccer cornerbacks, one spot forward of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The former three-star recruit completed because the third-most helpful cornerback within the nation, in response to PFF’s wins above common metric.
7. RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State: 87.5
Judkins’ 87.5 PFF total grade was a top-15 mark amongst FBS working backs this season. The Ole Miss switch rushed for 12 touchdowns, a top-25 mark within the nation. The junior is especially efficient in a zone scheme, posting an 85.8 PFF dashing grade on such performs (thirteenth).
8. RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State: 87.3
Judkins’ backfield mate was additionally incredible this yr. Henderson ranked third amongst FBS tailbacks in yards per carry (7.2), whereas his 4.6 yards after contact per try common ranked fourth. The senior was an excellent receiving again, with 281 receiving yards on the season.
9. S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame: 87.2
There merely isn’t a greater ballhawk in school soccer than Watts. His 13 interceptions over the previous two years are 4 greater than any participant within the nation. The senior grew right into a much better run defender and tackler, enhancing his PFF run-defense grade by greater than 15 factors from final season.
10. EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State: 86.4
Tuimoloau was probably the greatest run-defending edge defenders in school soccer this yr. The senior ranked seventh amongst all edge defenders in PFF run-defense grade (87.5), and his 11 tackles for loss or no achieve tied for the seventh most amongst Power Four edge defenders.