College football 2025: 25 Group of Five players to watch

Part of the Maxwell Award watch list, Barnett is coming off a breakout season of 2024, when he threw for 2,598 yards with 26 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also ran for more than 400 yards with seven touchdowns on the ground last season. Barnett is certainly fun to watch. Check him out when JMU eyes an upset at Louisville on Sept. 5.

A steady defensive presence for the Flames, Bazile has totaled more than 100 tackles over the past two seasons. In 2023, Bazile led the team with 10 1/2 sacks for loss. And, though his production in that department dropped to 4 1/2 in 2024, Bazile remains one of the best defenders in Conference USA, with plenty of upside.  

Casey is on the watch lists for both the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy entering the 2025 season. At 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, Casey continues to get better and improve his stock for when it's time for the professional ranks to come calling. The Broncos have some notable skill talent, Casey could be the Mountain West's best offensive lineman. 

Ohio State and Notre Dame might have more high-profile quarterback competitions, but don't sleep on this one. With new coach Dan Mullen looking to keep the momentum building at UNLV, transfers Colandrea (Virginia) and Orji (Michigan) both have the potential to be a factor this season. The Rebels again are expected to challenge for the Mountain West Conference title, and quarterback play could be the key to the level of success achieved. 

It's a definite that Fields found a home at Louisiana Tech. After stops at South Carolina and LSU, Fields unleashed the potential that college football fans, in the know, were waiting to see. In 2024, he recorded 71 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, and two forced fumbles. That's all a big reason Fields was named the 2025 Conference USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Finn's college career began in 2019 at Toledo, where he was the starter for three seasons (2021-'23) and threw for more than 7,000 yards with 63 touchdowns. Then last season, he got his shot at the big time after transferring to Baylor. But, he played just three games and applied for a medical hardship waiver. It was granted, and this season Finn is back in the MAC at Miami for his seventh season of college football.

Henderson should not have trouble focusing in 2025 after a knee issue limited him to one game in 2024. Back from his redshirt season, Henderson will try to regain the defensive dominance he showed while leading the nation with 182 tackles in 2022 and totaling 170 in '23. Henderson, an All-American performer from various media outlets during his career, is 138 tackles shy of the FBS record of 577.

Overshadowed by Army quarterback Bryson Daily for most of 2024, Horvath officially made a name for himself when he outplayed his rival while rushing for 196 yards and two touchdowns during Navy's 31-13 upset of Army. This season, the service academy football spotlight belongs to Horvath. The Midshipmen's undisputed leader looks to build on the 1,353 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and 1,246 rushing yards, along with 17 scores, he posted last season.

In two seasons at San Jose State, Latu has recorded 114 total tackles, including 12 for loss. He's the anchor of a Spartans defense that needs to be better after allowing 31 or more points seven times. If San Jose State's fortunes don't improve on that side of the ball, at least the active Latu should make his presence felt in a positive way.

A first-team All-Mountain West performer in 2024, Lauter is looking to build on that breakout season, where he had 47 receptions for 619 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, Lauter has the potential to be effective at the next level. First, he'll try to help the Broncos make a return run to the College Football Playoff. 

It's been quite the journey for Lewis. He threw for more than 1,540 yards for Colorado (pre-Shedeur) in 2021, then the last two seasons he was the man at Nevada. In 2024, Lewis completed 67.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,290 yards and 16 touchdowns, and also ran for more than 700. That opened the door for Lewis to take over the quarterback reins at Memphis, which has high expectations in the American Athletic Conference for 2025.

A proven winner and perhaps the best offensive player in all the Group of Five, Madsen is back and ready to help continue Boise State's national success. He's 13-2 as a starter, and totaled 4,252 yards with 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 24 games spanning three college seasons. Madsen threw for a Mountain West-best 3,018 yards with 23 of those touchdown passes in 2024.

One of the most instinctive defenders in FBS. Murdock ranked second in the country with 156 tackles in 2024. If that was not enough, the first-team All-Mid-American Conference pick added 16 1/2 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a school-record seven force fumbles -- which also led the nation. Murdock was named MVP of last season's Bahamas Bowl, where he posted 13 tackles (three for loss), an interception, and a touchdown in Buffalo's win over Liberty.  

McCown started his college career at Colorado, then transferred to San Antonio. After a bit of a wait, he took over the starting quarterback job in 2024. The result was a 3,424-yard passing performance, plus 25 touchdowns. McCown, who also made things happen with his legs (340 rushing yards) is one of many talented quarterbacks in the American Athletic Conference -- as we've seen.

Ohio is the reigning Mid-American Conference champion, and has a rather decent shot at repeating thanks to the return of Navarro. A year, he completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,423 yards and also ran for 1,054 and a hefty 18 touchdowns. The Bobcats might not be as talented as last season, from an established sense, but Navarro's presence is a huge factor.

Speaking of talented quarterbacks in the AAC. Tulane lost a good one when Darian Mensah transferred to Duke, but Retzlaff could end up being the conference's best signal-caller. Now, as of mid-August, Retzlaff had not officially won the Green Wave job, but the guy threw for nearly 3,000 yards, with 20 touchdowns, and scored six times on the ground for BYU last season. He could be even better in 2025.

One of the nation's top interior defensive linemen, regardless of conference. Robinson was a beast in 2024 for the Midshipmen, totaling 61 tackles, including 5 1/2 for loss, four sacks, seven hurries and even forced two fumbles. He truly made a name for himself in Navy's upset of Army by recording 13 sacks and running a fake punt 29 yards. Robinson was named to the Lombardi Award watch list.

It was a big deal when Rucker announced he could be back at Arkansas State in 2025. In 44 career games for the Red Wolves, Rucker has caught 180 passes for more than 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's coming off his best season, posting 69 of those receptions for 1,053 yards in 2024. Rucker is also working with a pretty good quarterback in Jaylen Raynor. 

Army needs to do some retooling following a successful 2024, but Small might be the team's best overall player. And, at a position that anchors the offensive line, which should be among the team's strengths. On the watch list for the prestigious Rimington Trophy for a second straight campaign, Small has started 26 consecutive games dating back to his freshman year. 

Smith has seen action in just 12 games the last two seasons with two different schools -- Georgia and Purdue. A touted recruit by the Bulldogs, Smith has been a favored redshirt during his college career. However, he enters this year at Memphis as one of the most intriguing players within the Group of Five. Maybe because he's caught 12 career passes for 185 yards. 

Yes, this is the same Trayanum who was supposed to be a star at Arizona State. Or Ohio State? Or Kentucky. In his fourth school since his college career began in 2020, Trayanum has rushed for 1,258 yards and 13 touchdowns in 37 games over five seasons. At this point, we don't know what to make of Trayanum, but there is potential to shine in the MAC.

A first-team All-Mountain West Conference performer in 2024, Virgin-Morgan le the Broncos with 10 sacks and 15 1/2 tackles for loss. Boise State's offense got plenty of attention during the program's run to the College Football Playoff last season, but if it's to do it again, Virgin-Morgan and the defense must be at its best.

Another star, regardless of conference affiliation. For those who have not seen White play, he's as disruptive as they come. In 2024, White led the Mountain West with 12 1/2 sacks and 18 1/2 tackles for loss, while also ranking among the national leaders in both categories. Simply put, White is a stud, and opposing blockers might have an even tougher time stopping him in 2025.

Looking for an under-the-radar talent to keep an eye on in 2025? Williams might be the guy. Over the last two seasons, the 6-6, 260-pound Williams recorded 10 sacks, including 6 1/2 last season for a stingy Huskies defense. That unit should again be the strength of NIU in 2025, with the active Williams leading the way.