Jeremiah Smith (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
With the beginning of the 2025 college football season today, we look at the best returning player at each position!
Best Quarterback – Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Senior
With a lot of great quarterbacks returning, it was tough to pick the best one. Klubnik’s 2024 stats make the decision. He was 308 of 486 for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to only six interceptions. What sets him apart is his ability to also threaten with his fee. He had 119 carries for 463 yards and seven touchdowns rushing. This is the best Clemson team post-Trevor Lawrence, and Klubnik is why. After winning the ACC and making the 12-team playoff in 2024, big things are expected from Clemson and Klubnik this season.
Best Running Back – Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, Junior
Love was a big part of why the Fighting Irish played for a national title after losing to NIU last year. Love had 163 rushes for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also proved to be a threat in the passing game with 28 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Love is only going to be better this year as the best running back in the nation, and he will be a featured as Notre Dame starts a new quarterback. Over 2,000 total yards and over 25 total touchdowns and another playoff berth are likely for Love and Notre Dame.
Best Wide Receiver – Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Sophomore
There was no doubt who would take this spot. Smith is the best player in college football and already one of the GOATs at WRU. Smith will face triple coverage this year, but I still expect him to match his 2024 stats. He had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 16 total touchdowns and should do so again. Whether he wins the Heisman or wins back-to-back for Ohio State or not, Smith will prove again why he’s the best in college football.
Best Tight End – Matt Lauter, Boise State, Senior.
Matt Lauter is going to have plenty of chances to prove why he’s the nation’s best tight end this season. With Ashton Jeanty gone to the NFL, Boise State will pass more with quarterback Maddux Madsen. Every quarterback loves a go-to guy, and one who had 47 catches for 619 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Best Offensive Tackle – Spencer Fano, Utah, Junior
Devon Dampier is thrilled to have the best offensive tackle in the nation protecting him. It must have crossed his mind when deciding where to go after transferring. Fano will be big part of Dampier and Utah’s success this season.
Best Offensive Guard – Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, Junior
This guy can move and hit hard. Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, and Nicholas Singleton love to have this force of nature in the trenches. He’s one of many key players who look to have Penn State playing the best they’ve played in the last ten seasons.
Best Center – Carson Hinzman, Ohio State, Senior
Hinzman started 12 games for the Buckeyes in 2023 and was easily one of the best and most important players responsible for the Buckeyes’ 2024 National Title. When Ohio State lost a first-round draft pick at offensive tackle and the best center in college football, it was Carson Hinzman who came off the bench and made it so the Buckeyes didn’t miss a beat in the trenches as they won the whole thing.
Best Defensive End – TJ Parker, Clemson, Junior
Another Clemson star, Parker, has a tremendous ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. In 2024, Parker had 57 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, forced six fumbles, and recovered two of them. Whether he’s repeating those ridiculous numbers or eating up multiple blockers, Parker will have Clemson’s defense playing at a high level and wrecking the ACC in 2025.
Best Defensive Tackle – Zane Durant, Penn State, Senior
Another key component of why Penn State is looking so good going into the 2025 season. Durant had 42 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and three sacks as Penn State went 13-3 last year and was one of the last four teams standing. The best defensive tackle in college football has Penn State fans excited to run it back.
Best Linebacker – Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, Junior
Hill was just a tackling and play-making machine for Texas in 2024 and looks only to play better, which is scary to offenses trying to score on the Longhorns. The best linebacker returning to football this year had 113 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, an interception, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovered.
Best Safety – Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Junior
Ohio State fans are thrilled to get Downs for one more season. Big Ten offenses are not. The best safety and the best defender in college football will run it back one more time for the Buckeyes. Downs had 82 tackles last year, eight tackles for a loss, a pair of interceptions, six pass deflections, and, most importantly, never allowed a touchdown in 16 games of national championship football.
Best Cornerback – Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, Sophomore
It’s ridiculous what this young man did as a freshman. He was very much like Jeremiah Smith, but on defense. The Irish don’t get to the national championship game without him. He had 48 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and two fumbles forced for Notre Dame.
Best Kicker – Will Ferrin, BYU, Senior
Ferrin had ice in his veins for BYU in 2024 and looks to pick up where he left off. He was sharpshooting 24 of 27 on field goals, 41 of 41 on points after touchdown, and scored 113 points of BYU’s points as the Cougars went 11-2.
Best Punter – Palmer Williams, Baylor, Sophomore
Another phenomenal freshman, the Big 12’s best, was a true weapon for Baylor and Dave Aranda last season. He had 43 punts for 2,122 yards, averaging 49.3 yards per punt.
Best Returner – Keelan Marion, Miami, Senior
Marion was a Swiss Army knife for BYU in 2024. He was a key reason why BYU had the best special teams unit in America, and they were the difference in at least three games for the Cougars. He had 24 catches for 346 yards and a touchdown, he also had 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and he returned 18 kicks for 472 yards and two touchdowns.
Klubnik, Love, and Smith are easily Heisman contenders. Downs is if he has a great year returning punts and maybe scoring off of some turnovers. Arch Manning’s name will be in the Heisman Watch all year, too (especially if he wins in Columbus). Carson Beck will look to duplicate Cam Ward’s success in Miami, and if he does, he’ll be in the Heisman race. Penn State’s Cerberus of Allen, Singleton, and Allar will make noise in chasing the most prestigious individual trophy in sports. Plenty of great players from great teams will have their say in 2025!
