2025 SEC Preseason Top 25 Players: Arch Manning, Superstar Quarterbacks, Stars to Watch

Originally posted on College Football News | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 5:01 AM ET

Every year we do our 25 Best SEC Players thing going into the season, and every year, you could probably take 25 players we didn’t include and be closer to the pin.

No, we won’t be cute and push for someone other than 16 Texas as the best of a loaded lot of offensive stars. However, when it comes to quarterbacks, no pushback if you want to argue for Sellers, or Nussmeier, or Mateer, or Lagway, or Pavia or …

And the defensive side is even harder. Yes, we’re totally aware we left off your favorite edge rusher, and probably a defensive back or three, but as always, we’ll adjust throughout the season and in the end. But for now, the 25 best SEC football players going into the season are …

2025 CFN College Football Preview: Best SEC Players

2025 CFN Preseason SEC Offensive Player of the Year

Arch Manning, QB Soph. Texas
Yeah, okay, let’s buy into the hype. Forgetting for a moment that the excitement comes from his performances against UTSA, ULM, and a miserable Mississippi State team, it’s all there. The talent, the athleticism, the demeanor, and the stars to work with - he’s going to be worth it.

And if he’s not all that and a bag of whatever chips the Mannings are hocking? There are plenty of other SEC quarterbacks who’ll be deep in the mix for the Player of the Year honors.

- 2025 CFN All-SEC Teams
- Every SEC Team Preview, Predictions

2025 CFN Preseason SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Anthony Hill Jr., LB Jr. Texas
We’re not supposed to say this out loud, but … at the moment, Arch Manning might not be the Longhorns’ best pro prospect. (Okay, of course he is, but until there’s a bigger body of work, it’s the guy on the defensive side.)

Hill is a central-casting linebacker who can play anywhere. He dominated last season with 113 tackles, 13 sacks, and 25 tackles for loss with four forced fumbles, and he’s about to do all that again.

2025 CFN Preseason SEC Top 25 Players

1. Anthony Hill Jr., LB Jr. Texas
2. Arch Manning, QB Soph. Texas
3. LaNorris Sellers, QB Soph. South Carolina
4. Kaydyn Proctor, OT Jr. Alabama
5. Christian Miller, DT Jr. Georgia
6. Deonte Lawson, LB Sr. Alabama
7. John Mateer, QB Sr. Oklahoma
8. Garrett Nussmeier, QB Sr. LSU
9. Kendrick Faulk, DE Jr. Auburn
10. Colin Simmons, EDGE Soph. Texas

11. Diego Pavia, QB Sr. Vanderbilt
12. Ryan Williams, WR Soph. Alabama
13. Tyreak Sapp, DE Sr. Florida
14. Malik Muhammad, CB Jr. Texas
15. CJ Allen, LB Jr. Georgia
16. Tim Keenan, DT Sr. Alabama
17. Jermod McCoy, CB Jr. Tennessee
18. LT Overton, DE Sr. Alabama
19. Jalon Kilgore, S Jr. South Carolina
20. Michael Taaffe, S Sr. Texas

21. DJ Lagway, QB Soph. Florida
22. Cayden Green, OG Jr. Missouri
23. Joshua Josephs, EDGE Sr. Tennessee
24. R Mason Thomas, DE Sr. Oklahoma
25. Patrick Payton, EDGE Sr. LSU

- Every SEC Team Preview, Predictions

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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