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Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2024-2025 Rankings | NFL Draft Rankings

Ranking the best centers in College Football for the 2023 NCAA season as Sedrick Van Pran of the Georgia Bulldogs leads the way

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By Sunday Umoh | January 19, 2025

The final few games of the 2024-2025 NCAA season have arrived as the 2025 College Football Playoffs look to crown the next National Championship. As the season comes to an end on what was an astonishing season the focus now turns to which players put together the best seasons on the football field, which players prepared themselves for another great college football season during the 2025-2026 College Football season as well as which players propelled their draft stock for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. One of those positions we will start to take a look at is the center position which is currently led by Ohio State Buckeyes star Seth McLaughlin who lands atop the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024 Rankings list.

McLaughlin, who started his first four seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, transferred into the Buckeyes for another season as a graduate student.

The move paid off for not only the Buckeyes but for McLaughlin as well as he took home the Rimington Trophy awarded to the best center in college football, was named to the All-American team while also helping the Buckeyes for most of the season before suffering an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season.

Joining McLaughlin among the best centers in football include Cooper Mays of the Tennessee Volunteers, Jared Wilson of the Georgia Bulldogs, Jonah Monheim of the USC Trojans, and Jake Majors of the Texas Longhorns.

Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024-2025 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Parker Brailsford

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

NFL Draft Status: Returning to School

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Alabama Crimson Tide sophomore center Parker Brailsford.

After starting his career with the Washington Huskies last year and earning Second-Team All-Pac 12 honors, Brailsford elected to transfer to the Crimson Tide to fill the void left by Seth McLaughlin who departed for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Brailsford showcased tremendous run blocking skills as well as both speed and quickness to dominate on the offensive line all season.

While the season may be a down season for the Crimson Tide after failing to make it to the College Football Playoffs, the team still found a way to average 33.8 points per game to go along with 410.2 yards of offense and 173.8 rushing yards per game. 

Jakai Clark

School: SMU Mustangs

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Anytime a surprising team lands among the top teams in college football like the SMU Mustangs, the opportunity for some lesser-known stars to become big time stars. That is the case with the team’s starting senior center Jakai Clark who helped the Mustangs to an 11-3 overall record and third place finish within the ACC conference as well as a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

Clark, who transferred in for his final season with the Mustang helped the team average 429.5 yards of offense per game to go along with 36.5 points scored. The Mustangs center used both strong pass blocking and run blocking skills along with size and strength to help anchor the line for the Mustangs.

While Clark has room to improve his overall success was as good as nearly every top performing center in college football. The strong play by the former Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman also landed him his first Second-Team All-ACC selection.

Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2024-2025 Rankings

10. Brady Small

School: Army Black Knights

NFL Draft Status: Returning to School

Sliding in at number 10 among the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Army Black Knights redshirt junior center Brady Small. Small continues to develop as one of the top centers in college football while using strength and leverage to help anchor down the middle of the Black Knights offensive line.

The same Black Knights offense that led all of college football in rushing yards per game while averaging 300.5 yards per game on the ground and 31.1 points per game.

Even more impressive was the team’s 12 wins including a win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Independence Bowl to set a team record for wins in a season. The success of the team and the strong play of Small earned him consideration for the Rimington Trophy. 

9. Drew Kendall

School: Boston College Eagles

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

While the 2024-2025 NCAA Football season is coming close to being over, the hype around college football continues as the next step of careers for many of the games top stars is set to begin with the NFL Draft.

One of those players who is expected to make that jump is talented center Drew Kendall who capped off a strong collegiate career for the Boston College Eagles. Kendall, whose father played both in college as well as with the Philadelphia Eagles, ranked among the leaders at the center position both in run and pass blocking situations while also allowing just one sack over the course of the entire season.

With the strong play of Kendall, the Eagles averaged 28.2 points per game as well as 166.4 rushing yards per game helping him earn First-Team All-ACC honors in his final season.

8. Jacob Gardner

School: Colorado State Rams

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Another talented center that wrapped up stellar senior season while showcasing his potential as a center at the NFL level is the Colorado State Rams center Jacob Gardner.

Gardner sat in the middle of a Rams offensive line that allowed just 10 sacks all season while also helping the teams rushing attack jump from 92.8 yards per game during the 2023-2024 NCAA Football season to 168.2 yards per game during the 2024-2025 NCAA Football season.

The success and improvement of the entire Rams offense was led by Gardner who brought experience, size, strength and strong understanding of the game to the Rams line. Gardner, who is coming off his final season for the Rams ranked among the highest centers in pass blocking while taking home First-Team All-Mount West honors.

7. Jacob Gideon

School: Western Michigan Broncos

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Typically, players from smaller D1 programs like the Western Michigan Broncos go under the radar for fans as well as the top awards list, however that isn’t the case for Jacob Gideon.

Gideon became the schools first player to be named to a high honor football award after being listed as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy handed to the top center in college football. The senior center helped the Broncos lead the MAC conference’s top offenses that averaged 370 total yards of offense including 184.1 rushing yards per game.

In addition to that success the Broncos have produced two 1,000 yard running backs over the previous three seasons with Gideon anchoring down the position.

The strong play at center also landed Gideon his second consecutive First-Team All-MAC selection as well as Second-Team All-American honors from the Sporting News. Gideon has ideal size and strength to move on to the NFL during the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

6. Jake Slaughter

School: Florida Gators 

NFL Draft Status: Returning to School

Possibly one of the best under the radar centers in College Football, Jake Slaughter of the Florida Gators ranks among the best centers in college football.

The redshirt junior of the Gators is coming off a season earning All-American First-Team selection from the AP while also earning multiple accolades from other media outlets including First-Team All-American honor from Pro Football Focus.

Despite failing to be named to the All-SEC by coaches or as a finalist for the Rimington Award list, Slaughter all around play on the field ranked among the best including ranking among the best overall blockers both in run and passing blocking situations.

The Gators center used his size and football IQ to help dominate opponents from point of contact while helping to solidify the play of both guards on each play.

5. Jake Majors

School: Texas Longhorns

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Rounding out the Top 5 centers on the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Texas Longhorns center Jake Majors. While statistics are not there for offensive lineman, it is easy to see the dominance Majors brought to the center position but more importantly to the success the Longhorns had on offense all season.

The Longhorns finished the season averaging 437.4 yards of total offense per game while averaging 278.8 passing yards per game and 33 points scored per game while making a National Championship run into the 2025 College Football Playoffs.

As the season ended for the Longhorns and Majors, a new beginning will begin as Majors has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. In addition to the team success Majors was named as a selection to the Third-Team All-SEC team.

4. Jonah Monheim

School: USC Trojans

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

As you start to look at game film and play of the top centers in college football it is hard to look past Jonah Monheim of the USC Trojans. Monheim who had been an anchor on the Trojans line including playing both left and right tackle as well as right guard also showcased during his final season the ability to dominate at the center position.

Like the other top centers above him, Monheim is expected to be a popular name during the 2025 NFL Draft while also being selected to play in the 2025 Senior Bowl. Monheim used his length and size to help the Trojans offense both on the ground as well as through the air.

Overall, the Trojans finished the season averaging 437.2 yards of offense as well as the 10th most passing yards per game (291.9) during the 2024-2025 NCAA Football season.

3. Jared Wilson

School: Georgia Bulldogs 

NFL Draft Status: NFL

Year over year the Georgia Bulldogs continue to find talented players through recruiting while turning them into high caliber players who have found success at the NFL level.

One of those next players looking to make the jump is redshirt junior center Jared Wilson who has elected to not return to the Bulldogs for a chance to fight for a National Championship and enter the 2025 NFL Draft.

After spending his first few seasons at the left and right guard positions, Wilson made the jump to center this season and never looked back taking home a Second-Team All-SEC selection.

The Bulldogs center showcased great athleticism all season while using his size and power to help both in the run and passing blocking schemes all season while the team averaged 405.4 yards per game of offense helping him earn a First-Team All-SEC selection.

2. Cooper Mays

School: Tennessee Volunteers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Another dominant center from the 2024-2025 NCAA College Football season is the Tennessee Volunteers senior center Cooper Mays. Mays, who was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy ranked among the best centers in college football while improving his overall draft status for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Mays alongside top overall center Seth McLaughlin are expected to be two popular names among teams looking to improve at the center position during the 2025 NFL Draft. While it is hard to look at stats for offensive lineman, it is hard to look past Mays’ strong presence in the middle of the Volunteers line while dominating opposing players in the middle of the football field.

In addition to being a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, the Volunteers center was named as a First-Team All-American as well as First-Team All-SEC selection. With Mays at center the Volunteers finished the season 15th in total yards per game (447) and ninth in rushing yards per game (225.8) while playing in a talented SEC Conference.

1. Seth McLaughlin

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

In at number one on the Top 10 College Football Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Ohio State Buckeyes center Seth McLaughlin. McLaughlin had been stellar to start the season over 10 starts with the team before being shut down with an Achilles injury.

Despite not finishing the season the former Alabama Crimson Tide center showcased his dominance in a very athletic Buckeyes run offense that features a wide range of schemes built around the running game to include pin-pull gap principle as well as zone run schemes.

Using his big body, strength and length McLaughlin dominated the position helping him take home the Rimington Trophy Award handed to the best center despite finishing the season or playing within the College Football Playoffs.

As the Buckeyes look to take home the National Championship, McLaughlin will be cheering on his team from the sidelines while also turning his attention to the 2025 NFL Draft as he is expected to be the first center drafted.

How would you rank the Best College Football Centers in the 2024-2025 NCAA season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings

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