Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 | NFL Draft 2024 Rankings

Updating the best College Football Player Rankings midway this 2023-2024 NCAA Football season as Michael Penix Jr. leads the way

By admin | May 3, 2024

Top College Football Players 2023 Rankings

The atmosphere and the game of college football continues to evolve from one NCAA football to the next. As the game continues to evolve so does the player playing the game of football and the dynamic playmaking abilities they bring to the field each season. This includes the top college football players who suited up during the 2023 NCAA Football season including many of the future top NFL Draft picks during the 2024 NFL Draft. As you look at the best players in college football an extensive list of stars deserve a spot among the Top 10 Best College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 however only 10 can land among the list.

One of those players well deserving is the LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels who took home the 2023 Heisman Trophy Award. Daniels put together a brilliant regular season on the football field while leading the Tigers to an 10-3 record during the regular season.

Joining Daniels among the best football players in college football includes Michael Penix Jr of the Washington Huskies, Marvin Harrison Jr of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Bo Nix of the Oregon Ducks, Blake Corum of the Michigan Wolverines, Laiatu Latu of the UCLA Bruins, Malik Nabers of the LSU Tigers, and Ollie Gordon II of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best College Football Players 2023 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Rome Odunze

School: Washington Huskies

Position: Wide Receiver

Previous Ranking: Unranked

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

The crop of wide receivers around college football during the 2023-2024 NCAA Football season is as deep as it has been over the past few seasons.

One of those stud wide receivers is Rome Odunze. He was a key part of the success of the Washington Huskies including helping the team make a run to the National Championship Game.

Over the course of the Huskies 14-1 season, Odunze posted 14 games with at least five catches. This is while adding 10 100 yard receiving games and five games with two touchdown catches. The Huskies receiver set career highs in receptions (92), receiving yards (1,640), receiving touchdowns (13), and average yard per catch (17.8).

Caleb Williams

School: USC Trojans

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 2

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

Just missing the Top 10 Best College Football Players 2023 Rankings list is the USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams. While his 2024 NFL Draft status has him ranked as the top overall pick, Williams overall 2023 NCAA Football performance failed to live up to his performance from his Heisman Trophy winning season.

Nonetheless, Williams still put together a strong regular season posting his second straight season as the starting quarterback throwing just five interceptions while attempting at least 380 pass attempts.

Overall, Williams completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards to go along with 30 touchdowns. Despite seeing a drop in passing yards, the potential first pick of the draft increased his passing completion percentage as well as average yards per pass while throwing the ball 112 fewer times.

Top 10 College Football Player Rankings

10. Billy Bowman

School: Oklahoma Sooners

Position: Defensive Back

Previous Ranking: Unranked

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

Coming in at number 10 on the Top College Football Players 2023 Rankings list is the Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman. The Sooners playmaking defensive back was as good as any defensive back in the country while finishing second in the country with six interceptions on the season.

In addition to posting six interceptions, Bowman led all of college football with three interceptions returned for a touchdown. The Sooners star also added 37 tackles and four passes defended across the season.

9. Ollie Gordon II

School: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Position: Running Back

Previous Ranking: 6

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

What a college football season Ollie Gordon II of the Oklahoma State Cowboys put together as one of the top running backs in the country.

Gordon II, who was coming off a strong rookie freshman season, finished the regular season ranked first in the country while posting a league leading 1,732 rushing yards.

In addition, Gordon II added 330 yards on 39 catches bringing his total yard mark to 2,062 yards while also adding 21 rushing touchdowns to go along with one touchdown reception. The 21 rushing touchdowns ranked 2^nd in the nation trailing only Blake Corum of the Michigan Wolverines.

8. Xavier Watts

School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Position: Safety

Previous Ranking: 7

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

As you start to look around at the top playmaking defensive players in the country it is hard to look past Xavier Watts of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Watts, who ranks among the top safeties in college football is set to be one of the top defensive players drafted during the 2024 NFL Draft if he elects to leave school for the NFL.

In the end Watts finished the regular season posting a career high seven interceptions while leading the nation. The 5 foot 11 inch safety also added a career high 52 tackles to go along with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four passes defensed.

The safety’s top performance came back in a key 48-20 win over the USC Trojans posting seven tackles to go along with one forced fumble, one pass defensed and two interceptions.

7. Blake Corum

School: Michigan Wolverines

Position: Running Back

Previous Ranking: Unranked

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

Capping off an incredible 2023 NCAA Football season, Blake Corum helped pace the Michigan Wolverines to an incredible 15-0 record including winning the National Championship.

The senior running back capped off his second straight season posting at least 1,200 yards finishing with 1,245 yards on 258 carries. The Wolverines running back was a game changer on the offensive side of the ball while ranking among the best red zone threats while finishing the season 27 rushing touchdowns to go along with one touchdown reception.

The latest breakout performance came in the team’s National Championship win as Corum showcased his talents on the biggest stage in football finishing with 134 yards with two touchdown runs.

6. Malik Nabers

School: LSU Tigers

Position: Wide Receiver

Previous Ranking: 3

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

All eyes will be on the 2024 NFL wide receiver draft class, a class that is loaded with talent including Malik Nabers of the LSU Tigers. Nabers is coming off an incredible 2023 NCAA Football season posting 1,569 yards with 14 touchdowns while posting 89 total catches.

Nabers, who has declared for the draft, was as unstoppable as any receiver in the country. This is while finishing ranked 2^nd in the country in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdown receptions.

Over the course of the regular season the Tigers receiver posted nine games with at least 100 yards while posting at least two touchdowns in five different games.

5. Laiatu Latu

School: UCLA Bruins

Position: Defensive End

Previous Ranking: 4

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

Rounding out the top five college football players landing on the Top 10 Best College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 list is the UCLA Bruins Laiatu Latu. As the college football offensive game play continues to evolve the ability to get after the quarterback is a must.

One of those players that showcased his ability to get after the quarterback all season was Latu. He capped off his senior season with his second straight season posting at least 10 sacks. The Bruins star defender set a career high with 13 sacks to go along with 49 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

4. Bo Nix

School: NC State Wolfpack

Position: LineBacker

Previous Ranking: Unranked

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

The quarterback position is arguably the most prominent position in all of college football. One that can make or break a team’s success. As you start to look around at the top stars of college football many of the top players on the field each played the position including Bo Nix.

Nix, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist finished the season as one of only two quarterbacks to top the 4,000 yard mark. The other quarterback being Michael Penix Jr of the Washington Huskies. Nix capped off the season throwing for 4,508 yards while completing 77.4 percent of his passes with 45 touchdowns.

However, even more impressive was Nix’s ability to protect the ball. He threw just three interceptions over 470 pass attempts during the regular season.

3. Michael Penix Jr.

School: Washington Huskies

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 1

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

The crazy run of the Washington Huskies came to an end with a disappointing loss to the Michigan Wolverines during the National Championship Game.

Nonetheless it is hard to look past the success of the Huskies all season long including the play of Michael Penix Jr who elevated his overall status among the best players in college football as well as his overall draft status.

The Huskies quarterback posted a league leading 4,903 yards passing while throwing 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Over the course of the season Penix Jr posted four 400 yard passing performances to go along with six 300 yard passing games to help the Huskies finish with a 14-1 record.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr.

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

Position: Wide Receiver

Previous Ranking: 5

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

All you have to do is look at the highlight reel and production of Marvin Harrison Jr to realize how great the Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver is. Despite facing double coverage across the regular season, the Buckeyes wide receiver was nearly unstoppable while being a key weapon within the team’s passing attack.

An attack that was starting new with a fresh quarterback and with a new identity. None of that slowed down Harrison Jr who posted his second straight 1,200 yard receiving season while tying his career high with 14 touchdown receptions.

More impressive was Harrison’s streak of at least one touchdown in eight straight games including three straight double digit touchdown games.

1. Jayden Daniels

School: LSU Tigers

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 10

NFL Draft Status: 2024 NFL Draft

In at number one on the College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 list is Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers who was as impressive on paper as any player on either side of the football.

While the heated debate over who should have won the Heisman Trophy will continue, Daniels overall play on the field warranted the award. He played in arguably the most difficult conference in college football featuring some of the top ranked defenses.

The Tigers dual threat quarterback finished the season throwing for 3,812 yards. This is while also adding 40 touchdown passes to just four interceptions.

In addition, Daniels also added 1,134 rushing yards bringing his total to 4,946 yards as well as 10 rushing touchdowns. The Tigers quarterback posted seven 300 yard passing games during the season as well as four 100 yard rushing performances.

How would you rank these College Football Players in the 2023-2024 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings