Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024

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

By admin | August 15, 2023

Top College Football Players 2023 Rankings

The football talent at the collegiate level is at an all time high as the landscape of college football is loaded with talented football players. As you start to look around the 2023-2024 NCAA Football statistics, the leader boards are loaded with talented football players building strong resumes to be the next top draft pick selected during the NFL Draft. One of those players who stands out as one of the top college football players this season is the Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr who lands atop the Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024.

Penix Jr, who elected to return for another college football season for the Huskies, made the right call as he was elevated to the potential best quarterback in the class while also playing himself into consideration for the Heisman Trophy Award.

As Penix Jr has the Washington Huskies fighting for one of the four College Football Playoff sports, other top football players are also putting together strong seasons. Joining the Huskies quarterback among the list includes quarterback Caleb Williams, wide receivers Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr, and defensive end Laiatu Latu.

Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024:

Honorable Mention

Omarion Hampton

School: North Carolina Tar Heels

Position: Running Back

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 list is the North Carolina Tar Heels sophomore running back. Hampton, who put together a solid freshman season last year has taken over the bulk of the workload for the Tar Heels this season.

Over 175 carries, the Tar Heels running back has averaged 6.1 yards per carry while racking up 1,067 yards. In addition, Hampton has found the end zone 12 times on the as well as one time through the air as a receiver.

Over his last four games, Hampton has been as hot as any running back in the nation, racking up at least 112 yards in each game with five touchdowns over the four game stretch.

Maxwell Hairston

School: Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Defensive Back

Previous Ranking: 4

A second sophomore making a big time splash this season on the football field is the Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Maxwell Hairston. Hairston, who enters mid-November tied for second with five interceptions, has been a stud in the secondary while shutting down opposing receivers for most of the season.

While Hairston has been out since mid-October his overall play this season was too good to look past. In all Hairston racked up 54 tackles to go along with one forced fumble, five interceptions, three passes defended, and two interceptions returned for a touchdown while playing in just five total games this season.

Top 10 College Football Player Rankings

10. Jayden Daniels

School: LSU Tigers

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 8

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 list is the LSU Tigers senior quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels, who is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks selected during the 2024 NFL Draft, has put together a remarkable season for the Tigers while posting a 93.1 QBR mark.

On the season Daniels has guided the Tigers to an 6-3 record while keeping them alive within the SEC conference for most of the season. Despite being knocked out of the Tigers 42-28 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Daniels still managed to post his eight straight game with at least two touchdowns.

Overall Daniels has been as accurate as nearly any quarterback ranking 7^th in college football while completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 2,792 yards with 27 touchdown passes.

9. Payton Wilson

School: NC State Wolfpack

Position: LineBacker

Previous Ranking: Unranked

One defensive player that has been all over the field this season is the NC State Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson. Wilson who is in his final season with the Wolfpack has topped the 100 tackle mark for the second time over past four seasons while on pace to break his previous mark of 108 tackles set back during the 2020 NCAA Football season.

In addition to being all over the field on tackles, Wilson has also played solid in passing situations posting five passes defenses and recording two interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown.

In addition, Wilson has added four sacks needing just one additional sack to set a career high. The veteran Wolfpack linebacker has been as consistent of a play maker as any on the defensive side of the football this season.

8. Shedeur Sanders

School: Colorado Buffaloes

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 3

The quarterback position has been a hot commodity this season with a long list of talented quarterbacks putting together big seasons. One of those quarterbacks is the Colorado Buffaloes junior quarterback Shedeur Sanders who is also the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

In nine games this season Sanders has thrown for 2,882 yards while completing 70.1 percent of his passes on the season. Over that stretch Sanders has thrown for 24 touchdown passes to just three interceptions while also adding three touchdown runs on the season.

The Buffaloes junior quarterback is on pace to top the 3,000 yard mark for the third straight season while also potentially reaching 30 touchdowns for the third straight season.

7. Xavier Watts

School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Position: Safety

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another defensive player making headlines this season is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior safety Xavier Watts. Watts, who entered the season with zero career interceptions over his first two college football seasons, has turned it on during the 2023-2024 NCAA Football season while posting a league leading seven interceptions to start the season.

In addition to his ability to find the football Watts has been brilliant against the run this season while also contributing all over the defensive side of the football. Watts has racked up 42 tackles on the season to go along with four passes defended and one forced fumble.

6. Ollie Gordon II

School: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Position: Running Back

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Headlining the top running back in college football is the Oklahoma State Cowboys sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II. The standout second year running back has put together one of the best overall seasons in college football this year while reaching 1,224 yards over his first nine games while also adding 12 rushing touchdowns.

The production doesn’t halt there as the Cowboys running back has also been a key part of the team’s passing attack pulling in 22 catches for 219 total yards while also adding one touchdown catch.

With a few games remaining on the season, Gordon currently leads all running backs in yards while also ranking second in touchdown receptions.

5. Marvin Harrison Jr.

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

Position: Wide Receiver

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NCAA College Football Players 2023-2024 Rankings list is the Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison Jr who is the son of former NFL Hall of Fame Marvin Harrison, has been on the radar of NFL teams since arriving with the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes receiver has been on a tear for most of the season posting six 100 plus yard receiving games as well as three games with at least two touchdowns.

Overall, on the year, Harrison Jr is averaging 17.6 yards per reception over his first 52 catches on the season while adding 10 touchdown receptions. Even more impressive has been his performance despite being double covered at times this season.

4. Laiatu Latu

School: UCLA Bruins

Position: Defensive End

Previous Ranking: Unranked

When you start to look at some of the premier pass rush specialists in the country, one name that comes to mind is the UCLA Bruins defensive end Laiatu Latu.

The senior defensive lineman and defensive end posted his second straight season with double digit sacks while setting a career high this season with 11 sacks to start the season.

In addition to getting after the quarterback, Latu has posted one pass defense, one interception, and two forced fumbles to go along with 32 total tackles this season.

3. Malik Nabers

School: LSU Tigers

Position: Wide Receiver

Previous Ranking: 6

Over the past few seasons, the hype around the wide receiver continues to grow while teams at the level look for the next premier passing weapon. One of those weapons who is putting together a stellar 2023-2024 NCAA Football season is the LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers, who lists at just six feet, has been a key weapon for Jayden Daniels all season while racking up 1,152 receiving yards on 66 catches this season.

Malik Nabers, who has not officially topped the 1,000 yard mark in back to back seasons, has also added a career high 10 touchdown receptions this season.

Nabers’ latest big game came in the team’s 42-28 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide where the Tigers receiver pulled in 10 catches for 171 yards and one touchdown reception. Overall, this season Nabers has six games with at least 100 yards and one game with 239 receiving yards.

2. Caleb Williams

School: USC Trojans

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 2

When it comes to the top two players in college football, each is well deserving of the top spot while each playing the quarterback position. Unfortunately, only one can land at number one with Caleb Williams sliding in at number two.

The USC Trojans quarterback has been strong all season however, the struggles of the USC Trojans line that has allowed him to be sacked 26 times season has limited his production at times.

Nonetheless despite being under pressure, Williams has thrown for 2,958 yards on the season to go along with 28 touchdown passes to just four interceptions. On top of that production Williams has added 146 yards on the ground a career high 10 rushing touchdowns this season.

1. Michael Penix Jr.

School: Washington Huskies

Position: Quarterback

Previous Ranking: 1

In at number one on the Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2023-2024 list is the Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix Jr who is currently in the running for the Heisman Trophy leads the nation in passing yards (3201) while throwing for 26 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.

In addition to his strong passing numbers the Huskies have yet to be beaten through the teams first nine games this season. On the season Penix Jr has seven games with at least 300 yards including three contests with at least 400 yards passing. In addition, the Huskies quarterback has thrown at least three touchdown passes in six of the team’s first nine games this season.

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