- Ohio State will function Big Ten stars on each side of the ball: Jeremiah Smith is the convention’s premier offensive participant, whereas Caleb Downs leads the best way on protection.
- Clemson leads the best way within the ACC: Quarterback Cade Klubnik and inside defender Peter Woods are set to be high 2026 NFL Draft picks when all is claimed and finished.
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Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
Every convention in school soccer options stars who will probably lead groups towards the highest of their respective standings. As such, we’ll determine the very best offensive and defensive participant in each convention heading into the 2025 season.
SEC
Offense: Florida C Jake Slaughter
Slaughter was the one Power Four middle to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as a go blocker and a run blocker in 2024. His 85.8 PFF total grade since 2023 trails solely Jackson Powers-Johnson amongst Power Four facilities. He strikes very nicely at 6-foot-4 and 308 kilos, permitting him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.
Defense: Texas EDGE Colin Simmons
Simmons was a top-15 total recruit and has someway already exceeded expectations. The Texas native was the sixth-most-valuable edge defender in school soccer in 2024, in line with PFF WAA. He trailed solely Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau in that metric. Simmons ended up successful the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, given to the very best true freshman in school soccer.
His 18.6% stress price was a top-15 mark within the nation, and he contributed within the run sport to the tune of a 73.4 PFF grade. Simmons’ elite mixture of bend and superior pass-rushing strikes is harking back to Von Miller.
Most Pressures Among 2024 SEC Edge Defenders
Big Ten
Offense: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
Smith was probably the most invaluable receiver in school soccer in 2024, in line with PFF WAA. His 89.8 PFF receiving grade ranked third and is greater than 4 factors increased than another returning wideout. He additionally led the Power Four with 15 receiving touchdowns whereas trailing solely Tetairoa McMillan, a top-10 NFL draft decide, in receiving yards (1,311).
Smith is an athletic freak at 6-foot-3 and 215 kilos with an extremely refined talent set for somebody who turned 19 years previous in November.
Defense: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Downs, who transferred from Alabama final offseason, has been probably the most invaluable security in school soccer over the previous two seasons, in line with PFF WAA. His 91.7 PFF total grade in that span ranks second amongst FBS safeties, and his 91.2 PFF protection grade locations third. Downs can also be a incredible run defender, main all gamers on this listing in run-defense stops (35) and PFF run-defense grade (88.5) since 2023.
Big 12
Offense: Utah T Spencer Fano
Fano’s 93.0 PFF total grade in 2024 led all FBS tackles. His run-game dominance fueled that rating, as his 93.6 PFF run-blocking grade was the very best within the nation by greater than three factors. Fano additionally completed because the second-most-valuable Power Four sort out, in line with PFF WAA, trailing solely top-10 NFL draft decide Kelvin Banks Jr.
In go safety, Fano logged a top-30 PFF grade amongst Power Four tackles (79.5). While some size issues may lead him inside to protect within the NFL, he’s nonetheless an elite athlete with dominant tape as only a true sophomore.
Defense: Kansas State LB Austin Romaine
Romaine was the highest-graded linebacker within the Power Four final season, posting a 91.0 total mark as only a true sophomore.
That grade was powered by a 90.7 PFF run-defense grade — third finest amongst Power Four linebackers — and 43 run stops, the fourth most in that group. At 6-foot-2 and 242 kilos, Romaine matches the mould of a real Mike linebacker and excels at slipping blocks earlier than linemen can get a clear shot on him.
ACC
Offense: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik
There might not have been a extra improved quarterback in school soccer this previous season than Klubnik. After inserting 102nd amongst FBS signal-callers in 2023 with a 63.9 PFF passing grade, he ranked fifth in 2024 (87.7). Only Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders threw extra touchdowns than the junior (36). Klubnik additionally ranked fifth in big-time throws (28).
Defense: Clemson DI Peter Woods
Woods spent most of his sophomore season taking part in out of place at edge defender, but he nonetheless earned a powerful 83.3 PFF total grade. Over his first two years of faculty soccer, he’s each the highest-graded and most useful returning Power Four defensive sort out, in line with PFF WAA.
Woods leads all returning Power Four inside defenders in PFF run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win price (14.9%) since 2023. His mixture of energy and agility, at 6-foot-3 and 315 kilos, makes him a nightmarish matchup for opposing offensive linemen.
American
Offense: Navy FB Eli Heidenreich
Heidenreich has finished all of it for the Midshipmen over the previous two seasons. He’s averaged 7.2 yards per carry whereas racking up greater than 1,000 receiving yards because the begin of 2023. He’s been elite from a grading perspective, as nicely, incomes an 87.6 PFF speeding grade and a 93.7 PFF receiving grade over the previous two seasons.
Heidenreich’s presence alongside fellow seniors Blake Horvath and Alex Tecza is among the greatest causes Navy is a favourite to win the AAC.
Defense: Tulane DI Santana Hopper
Hopper spent the previous couple of years dominating the Sun Belt at Appalachian State. Over the previous two seasons, he’s earned an impressive 89.9 PFF total grade whereas racking up 47 pressures and 11 sacks.
In 2024, Hopper earned the sixth-best PFF pass-rush grade in school soccer whereas trailing solely Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott in pass-rush win price (18.4%).
Mountain West
Offense: Boise State T Kage Casey
Casey had already proved his price as a run blocker in 2023, however it’s his unbelievable enchancment in go safety that made him one among school soccer’s finest offensive linemen in 2024. Casey earned an 86.9 PFF pass-blocking grade final season — higher than a 40-point enchancment from 2023. His six pressures allowed had been tied for the fewest by any offensive sort out with not less than 300 pass-blocking reps.
Defense: Air Force DI Payton Zdroik
Zdroik has been dominating at Air Force for 3 seasons, boasting an elite 91.1 PFF total grade for his profession. He is the one returning FBS defensive sort out who has earned not less than an 80.0 PFF total grade in every of the previous three seasons. He turned a pass-rushing pressure final season, tying Derrick Harmon and Aeneas Peebles for the nationwide lead with a 91.2 true PFF pass-rush grade.
MAC
Offense: Ohio QB Parker Navarro
Navarro’s emergence late final season spurred Ohio to its first MAC championship since 1968. His 81.4 PFF total grade topped the convention and ranked thirty sixth within the FBS. His exploits as a runner had been a significant factor in his success, as he ranked among the many high 5 FBS quarterbacks in speeding yards, speeding touchdowns and explosive runs. If Navarro continues to develop as a passer, he may lead the Bobcats to a second straight convention title.
Parker Navarro’s Career PFF Grades
Defense: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Toledo is constructing a practice of wonderful secondary play, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is carrying the torch into 2025. Despite lacking the Rockets’ remaining 5 video games in 2024 as a result of harm, he recorded a superb 83.6 PFF total grade. He does a incredible job of constructing performs on the ball, having intercepted three passes and compelled 9 fumbles over the previous three seasons.
Sun Belt
Offense: South Alabama RB Kentrel Bullock
Bullock fashioned one half of a terrific operating again tandem with Fluff Bothwell final season. Bothwell transferred to Mississippi State, so Bullock has an opportunity to grab a majority of the speeding work this season. Across 235 carries because the begin of 2023, Bullock has earned an 89.8 PFF speeding grade whereas breaking 85 tackles and ripping off 47 explosive runs. He might quietly end this season as one of many nation’s 20 leaders in speeding yards if given the lion’s share of the carries.
Defense: Southern Miss CB Josh Moten
Moten was the highest-graded cornerback within the nation final season. His 5 interceptions and 6 go breakups fueled that, as he led the FBS with a 91.5 PFF protection grade. That unbelievable effort helped Marshall to its first convention championship since 2014. Instead of transferring to a much bigger program, Moten adopted head coach Charles Huff and a number of other of his teammates to Southern Miss in an try to revive this system.
Conference USA
Offense: Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor
Conference USA doesn’t function a ton of dynamic playmakers returning in 2025, leaving the door open for Abilene Christian switch Maverick McIvor to make waves at Western Kentucky. McIvor set a profession excessive and ranked fifth within the FCS final season with a 90.5 PFF passing grade. He has additionally made 55 big-time throws over the previous three seasons, the ninth most within the FCS, which ought to make him a great match within the Hilltoppers’ historically high-flying offense.
Defense: Florida International CB Brian Blades II
Florida International gained solely 4 video games final season, however that definitely wasn’t as a result of protection ineptitude. The group tied for seventh within the nation in PFF protection grade (90.2). Blades was on the forefront, setting a profession excessive with an 83.2 protection grade that ranked among the many high 30 certified cornerbacks within the nation. He has additionally collected 13 go breakups over the previous two seasons.