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NFL Draft 2026 Center Rankings

The game of football is often decided in the trenches on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. One position that often stands out is the center who stands as the unseen general; reading defenses, commanding protections, and setting the tone for every snap. In 2025, no position better encapsulates the sport’s blue-collar toughness and football intelligence than center. As you start to look around at the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 rankings, each of these centers stand out while helping their team’s perform at the highest level. 

A position that is often overlooked and under appreciated, maintains balnce and success of their respective teams offensive performance. A split-second of miscommunication can unravel an entire drive, yet week after week, the nation’s best centers make it look effortless. They don’t chase headlines or padding stats; they build the foundation for every offensive success story. The list of talented centers is long this center headlined by a group of players chasing home the Rimington Award handed out to the nation’s best center.

A group that includes Logan Jones of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Jake Slaughter of the Florida Gators, Lapani Laloulu of the Oregon Ducks, Connor Lew of the Auburn Tigers, and Carson Hinzman of the Ohio State Buckeyes. From veteran maulers in the Big Ten to emerging stars in the SEC, the center position has arguably never been stronger across the NCAA landscape.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Connor Tollison

School: Missouri Tigers

NFL Draft Status: NFL DRaft

The game of football is built around many individuals coming together to build a strong team on both sides of the football. One of those individuals is the Missouri Tigers center Connor Tollison who just missed landing among the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 rankings list.

After a strong 2024 College Football season and being lost to a knee injury, Tollison has bounced back as strong this season emerging as one of the top overall centers in college and a potential 2026 NFL Draft pick. His football IQ is evident when identifying blitzes and adjusting pre-snap calls.

Though he fell just short of the top 10, Tollison’s consistent play and toughness make him one of college football’s most dependable interior linemen.

Bryce Foster

School: Kansas Jayhawks

NFL Draft Saytatus: NFL Draft

A second talented center to just miss landing on the list of the best centers in college football, is the Kansas Jayhawks senior Bryce Foster.

After starting his career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Foster capped off a stellar final season while helping to anchor down the Kansas Jayhawks offensive line. The 6’5”, 310-pound anchor redefined Kansas’ power-run identity, consistently generating movement off the line and creating clean interior lanes for the running backs. Foster’s lower-body strength and leverage have made him a problem for Big 12 defensive tackles all season.

His ability to maintain balance while handling twists and stunts has also stabilized a young offensive line. His blend of experience and power makes him one of the Big 12’s top leaders in the trenches.

Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 Rankings

10. Joshua Bates

School: SMU Mustangs

NFL Draft Status:

Closing out the 10 best centers landing among the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 rankings list Joshua Bates.

After spending his first two seasons playing for the Oklahoma Sooners, Bates made the transition into the SMU Mustangs offensive line while quickly helping the Mustangs emerge as a perennially playoff caliber team. Bates’ snap speed and accuracy have kept the offense humming under pressure, especially in uptempo stretches where precision matters most.

He’s been instrumental in SMU’s elite red-zone efficiency, often setting the tone with clean reach blocks on inside zones. Through Week 15, Bates looks every bit the part of a pro-ready technician; powerful, disciplined, and relentless.

9. Luke Petibon

School: Florida State Seminoles

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

A name that has gone under the radar among the top centers in college football has been Luke Petibon of the Florida State Seminoles.

Despite the ups and downs of the Seminoles during the 2025 season, Petibon was one of the consistent forces on the line each week while finishing the season ninth in total offensive yards per game (472.10 while averaging 33 points per game. A cerebral center with NFL potential, Petibon has been the glue between a veteran quarterback and an explosive backfield.

His communication and control at the line of scrimmage are second to none in the ACC, ensuring smooth protection calls against exotic defensive looks. Petibon’s athleticism allows him to climb to the second level effectively, erasing linebackers and keeping run plays alive. The talented center continues to move up the list of the potential top centers entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

8. Pat Coogan

School: Indiana Hoosiers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

When you look at the top story lines in all of college football it is hard to look past the success the Indiana Hoosiers has had all season in route to 12 straight wins and a trip to the Big Ten Championship game.

Over that 12 game winning streak, the Hoosiers have ranked among the best offensive teams in the country, with their offensive line ranking as one of the top overall units in the country. One of those talented offensive lineman is senior center Pat Coogan who has been fundamentally strong all season.

The six foot five inch 311 pound center displayed power and poise since converting to center last season making him one of the league’s toughest interior blockers. He uses heavy hands and a strong base to absorb bull rushes, and his leverage on inside runs consistently opens lanes for Indiana’s running attack.

With excellent communication skills and natural leadership, Coogan has helped solidify the Hoosiers offensive line play while helping the team develop into a National Title contender.

7. Parker Brailsford

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Each season one college football team ranking among the best in the country is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

A program filled with a storied history of recruiting and developing NFL caliber talent, continued that trend during the 2025 NFL Season. One of those players who should hear his name early during the 2026 NFL Draft is center Parker Brailsford. Brailsford has been an anchor on the Crimson TIde offensive line all season while helping the team reach the SEC Championship game.

Since arriving with the Crimson Tide last season, Brailsford has ranked among the best interior offensive lineman in the game. Brailsford excels in lateral mobility and hand placement, routinely sealing defenders in the zone game while keeping the pocket stable against elite SEC edge pressures. His balance and footwork allow him to recover even when initially beaten, a rare skill at the college level.

Alabama’s offensive efficiency in big games owes plenty to Brailsford’s calm command and ability to keep the interior clean.

6. Bruce Mitchell

School: BYU 

NFL Draft Status: Undecided

After starting his career on the defensive side of the ball before switching to offensive tackle/guard last season, Bruce Mitchell made the transition to center with no issues this season.

The talented offensive lineman delivered powerful play up front both in passing and running situations all season for the BYU Cougars. With one year of eligibility left, a decision to return for his senior season could land Mitchell among the top centers entering the 2026 NCAA Football season.

Mitchell’s ability to redirect defensive linemen has been a cornerstone for Cougars balanced offense, and his communication in identifying blitzes against top defenses has been superb.

5. Carson Hinzman

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Rounding out the Top 5 centers on the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football rankings list is the Ohio State Buckeyes Carson Hinzman.

The talented six foot five inch 305 pound junior center has been the anchor up front for the Buckeyes all season while helping to build one if not the best offensive lines in the nation. Ohio State’s balanced attack flourishes because of his intelligence, technique, and steadiness in high-pressure moments. Hinzman demonstrates elite leverage and flexibility, keeping his pads low while mirroring strong interior defenders. His reach blocks on wide zone runs and ability to handle delayed stunts are textbook examples of center play fundamentals.

In short-yardage situations, Hinzman bulldozes defenders, showcasing a mean streak that defines great linemen. Ohio State’s rushing dominance and pass efficiency through Week 15 trace directly back to Hinzman’s performance and his commanding presence in the middle.

4. Connor Lew

School: Auburn Tigers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

One name making the rounds among the list of the best centers this season is the Auburn Tigers junior Connor Lew.

Lew, who has one year of eligibility left if he decides to return for his senior season, put together another strong season for the Tigers before tearing his ACL in a loss to the Missouri TIgers back in mid October. Despite being lost for the entire season, the talented TIgers center displayed his true potential before going down for the season.

Over the course of the first six plus games, Lew utilized strong leverage and advanced awareness to spearhead Auburn’s physical run game. His grip strength and flexibility make him tough to dislodge in one-on-one battles, while his quickness off the snap has neutralized some of the league’s best nose tackles. Lew also brings a high football IQ, consistently identifying defensive fronts and ensuring linemates are aligned correctly.

Had it not been for the injury, the Tigers center may have found his name atop the list of the top centers this season. Nonetheless Lew is expected to be one of the top centers drafted if he elects for the 2026 NFL Draft. 

3. Iapani Laloulu

School: Oregon Ducks

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Since arriving as a freshman in Eugene with the Oregon Ducks, Lapani Laloulu has slowly transitioned into the heart of Oregon’s offensive identity.

The Ducks’ zone-heavy system demands agility and awareness, both of which Laloulu excels in. His ability to reach wide techniques and climb to the second level gives Oregon unmatched versatility in its rushing attack. The junior also handles interior power moves with ease thanks to an incredibly strong lower body and balanced stance.

Laloulu consistently executes combo blocks with precision, opening massive lanes in Oregon’s fast-paced schemes. While others may have bigger names, few centers impact their offense’s rhythm more than Laloulu, who embodies the Ducks’ high-tempo DNA every snap on each snap.

2. Jake Slaughter

School: Florida Gators

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Just missing the top spot among the best centers in college, Jake Slaughter has put together a storied collegiate career while developing into a true NFL talented center.

Despite the struggles of the Florida Gators over the years, Slaughter has been a true work horse and anchor on the offensive line over the past two seasons. The talented senior displayed athleticism, strength and power all season. His powerful hands and low center of gravity have allowed him to erase SEC interior defenders all fall.

In both gap and zone concepts, Slaughter’s technique shines, rarely losing leverage and often finishing blocks deep into the second level. Florida’s rushing attack vaulted near the top of the SEC largely due to his dominance. Beyond the physical, Slaughter’s understanding of pressure schemes and protection adjustments has elevated Florida’s offensive cohesion, making him a top-two center nationally through Week 15 and one of the top NFL Draft prospects entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

1. Logan Jones

School: Iowa Hawkeyes

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Atop the list of centers landing on the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2025 rankings list is the Iowa Hawkeyes Logan Jones.

Jones, who was named as the Big Ten top center as well as a finalist for the Outland Trophy as well as a potential finalist for the Rimington Trophy, is as good as any center in the country. No player better represents the blend of toughness, consistency, and leadership at center than Jones. Jones possesses exceptional leverage, quickness off the snap, and sheer power in close quarters. He anchors an Iowa run game that ranks among the Big Ten’s best and provides unwavering reliability in pass protection.

His communication and awareness ensure flawless execution against twists and blitzes, key to Iowa’s methodical offensive success. Jones’ film screams pro-ready, fundamentally sound, physically relentless, and always one step ahead mentally. He’s the gold standard for collegiate centers this season.

How would you rank the Best College Football Centers in the 2025-2026 NCAA season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings