The top 50 players in college football for 2018

Akers was a silver lining in what was a horrible 2017 for Florida State. He broke Dalvin Cook's freshman rookie record for rushing yards in a season at FSU despite a shaky offense. New head coach Willie Taggart features the running game, so Akers could really shine in 2018. 

The last time we saw Anderson, he was carving up the vaunted Georgia defense for 201 yards and two touchdowns. The Big 12, for the most part, doesn't have a defense as talented as Georgia's, and he may be relied on more heavily with Baker Mayfield now a Cleveland Brown. 

Baker is an outstanding cover corner and one of the reasons the Bulldogs' defense was so good in 2017. A lot of those guys are gone, so it is up to players like Baker to continue to be leaders for the youngsters ascending to starter status. With Baker able to stick to the opponent's best receiver, it helps relieve stresses on a young, albeit talented, Dawgs defense. 

Bosa may not end up with the monster Buckeyes career his older brother Joey had, but he has matched his disruptive nature as one of the best defensive linemen in the nation. He led Ohio State in tackles and tackles for loss last season despite not being a full-time starter. He will be a major factor in the Buckeyes' chances for a playoff spot. 

Ole Miss is under a postseason ban, but that won't stop this offense from being explosive. Brown gained over 1,200 yards receiving and scored 11 touchdowns last season as part of one of the nation's best receiving corps. In his first game of 2017, he set the Rebels' single-game receiving yards mark. What makes him different is the yards he gains after the catch. Brown is a highlight waiting to happen.

Brown is a huge 6-5, 325-pound defensive tackle who stuffs the run and is athletic enough to get into the backfield and pile up tackles for loss. If he continues to build on the improvements he made during his sophomore year, this junior could become a top-10 pick in next year's draft.  

The Pac-12 has had a lot of turnover from last year (five new head coaches, new quarterbacks in key places), but Browning is still there. Two years after finishing sixth in the Heisman balloting, he's back for his senior season. His yardage and touchdown passes dropped sharply last year, but his completion percentage got better and his QB rating didn't drop too much. Browning is a key reason why the Huskies are a preseason Pac-12 favorite. 

Michigan returns its usual stellar defense, and Bush may be the best player on that unit. He does have a smaller frame but uses his speed and savvy to bring down ball carriers. Bush led the Wolverines in tackles last season, which landed him on the All-American Second Team. His father was an NFL safety for the Falcons, Rams and Browns. 

Davis is an unreal talent who may best be remembered for his interception against Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. On a defensive front with guys who are playing on Sundays, he led the bunch in sacks last season. His most notable sack was in the season opener against Florida State just days after being hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his leg. He's a massive 6-7 lineman who can see over most blockers.

Let's be honest: Dillon was a huge reason why Boston College turned its season around from another lost year to a bowl bid. He was outstanding over the last half of the season, highlighted by a 272-yard, four-touchdown effort against Louisville. And he was only a freshman. This year, he has the starting job from the jump, and if he develops any sort of ability to perform in the passing game (he had no receptions all season), he will be a true gem.

Dobbins was electric as a freshman, rushing for over 1,400 yards. He took advantage of injuries to incumbent Mike Weber to set Ohio State's freshman rushing record. Weber is back and healthy, so Dobbins may not get as many opportunities as he did in 2017. But the two should form a lethal duo that will be leaned on heavily as the Buckeyes have questions at quarterback. 

Last year, Fant led all tight ends in the country with 11 touchdowns, a school record. Despite his success, he is basically an unknown to the casual fan, but scouts are intrigued with his size, athleticism and nose for the end zone. 

Clemson's defensive line is full of stars, but Ferrell arguably put up the best 2017 of any of them. He led the team in sacks and tackles for loss in 2017 and stunned many by returning for his redshirt junior season. With the gang back together, the Tigers look to frustrate ACC offenses and win another conference title. 

Finley has his top three receivers returning and could very well be the best quarterback in the ACC. The Wolfpack have a knack for churning out pro-style quarterbacks (one week last year, NC State had four former QBs starting in the NFL), and Finley could be the next one. He's got the arm and the intelligence to have a big season.

Fitzgerald is a unique talent. He passed and rushed for 100 yards each six different times last season. Under new head coach Joe Moorhead and a rebuilt receiving corps, much is expected of Fitzgerald and his ability to create for himself and others. With the defense unable to stack the line, look for a huge year from the senior quarterback.

Fromm was the story in Athens last year when he took over the starting quarterback gig and led the Bulldogs to overtime of the College Football Playoff Championship Game. He was solid but had the advantage of an experienced, potent rushing attack. That's mostly gone now so a lot is expected from Fromm, especially with freshman phenom Justin Fields waiting in the wings. 

The Wolverines boast one of the top defenses in the country, and Gary is a huge reason why. The unanimous No. 1 recruit in 2016, Gary was named to the All-Big Ten team by the coaches as a sophomore. He is tough to keep out of the backfield despite being the main focus of opposing offenses. 

Gaskin has racked up 4,055 rushing yards in his career and could end the season as the Huskies' all-time leading rusher. He already holds the school's records for rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns and returns to Seattle as the main offensive focus. 

Gay won the 2017 Lou Groza Award as college football's top kicker. Last year, he made 30-of-34 field goals (including 5-of-6 from 50 yards and beyond) and all 40 of his PATs. He was a consensus All-American last year and a favorite to repeat as the top kicker in the nation. 

West Virginia's offense is one of the most lethal in the Big 12, and Grier will be running it once again. In his first season in Morgantown, the Florida transfer threw for 3,490 yards and 34 TDs before breaking his finger and missing the final regular-season game and the Heart of Dallas Bowl. He could be a Heisman contender if he can lead West Virginia to nine or 10 wins. 

The quarterback situation will be the hot topic for Bama's offense, but both guys will surely rely on Harris to be their rock. Harris has rushed for at least 1,000 yards the last two seasons and found the end zone 11 times in 2017. The Crimson Tide's backfield is loaded, but the senior Harris is the most reliable. 

While most of the attention paid to the Sun Devils this season will be on their new head coach Herm Edwards, the real story is receiver N'Keal Harry. The junior has tremendous size (6-4, 216 pounds) and has been solid since arriving on campus with 140 receptions, 1,801 yards and 13 receiving TDs in his career. Scouts love his size and skill, and he's ready for a breakout season.

Herbert missed time last season with a broken collarbone. When he played, the Ducks went 6-1, and the offense averaged over 52 points per game. But Oregon averaged just 15 points and went 1-4 in the games he missed. 

Oklahoma State loves to score, and with Mason Rudolph and James Washington now in the NFL, Hill will be expected to shoulder more of the load — even after leading the Big 12 in rushing yards and touchdowns last year. He doesn't just grind yards but pops off huge gains and could be a Heisman sleeper.

You may not have heard or seen much of Johnson thus far, but that is about to change. Last season, he led the MAC in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown grabs, with eight of his 14 scores coming in the Bulls' final three games. 

The Turnover Chain had a life of its own in 2017, and no one wore it more than safety Jaquan Johnson. Johnson led the Hurricanes with four picks and recovered two fumbles to wear the chain six times last season. He wasn't just a guy who made only the big plays — he led the U in tackles as well. 

Lawrence is an intimidating presence on that Clemson defensive line. As the quarterback sets up behind center and looks to see how he can keep Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins off his back, he sees this athletic 340-pound man packed in a 6-4 frame. He may not wow you with his stat line as the other Tigers on the line get the shine, but if you watch Clemson play this year, you will see Lawrence's impact on the game. 

When you think of all the great quarterbacks of 2017, Lock probably got lost in the mix. All he's done is lead the SEC in passing yards the past two seasons and last year set the league record for touchdown passes in a single season. He came back to Mizzou and retains pretty much everyone aside from wide receiver J'Mon Moore (which is a big loss). The Tigers dug out of a huge hole to make a bowl game last year, so maybe Lock and Missouri can keep the momentum going. 

Love had a fantastic 2017 season taking over for Christian McCaffrey. He ran for over 2,000 yards, winning the Doak Walker Award, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Award and was a unanimous All-American. He's back for his senior season, and he'll be healthy and running behind a very experienced line.

There may not have been anyone whose great season was overshadowed quite like McSorley's last season. He has set several Penn State passing records over the past two seasons, but Saquan Barkley's greatness put McSorley on the back burner. This year Barkley is gone, so we get to find out if McSorley can truly carry the offense or if he was successful because of the running threat. 

Milton gets somewhat lost when remembering UCF's magical 2017 season. He was among the national leaders in passing yards and passing touchdowns and won the AAC Offensive Player of the Year Award. His head coach is gone, but new coach Josh Heupel did wonders for Drew Lock at Missouri. You can't expect UCF to repeat last year's undefeated season, but Milton may get even better.

Montgomery was electric last year. He finished third in the Big 12 in rushing (1,146 yards) and ran in 11 touchdowns. He was also a fine receiver (36 receptions for 296 yards) and outstanding at breaking tackles. He did cool off in the second half of the season — all three touchdowns he scored in the Cyclones' final seven games came in a loss to Oklahoma State. 

Oliver has been a stud since his first college game when he terrorized Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield two seasons ago. He has since won the Outland Trophy and has become the most feared lineman in the nation. The junior has already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft (he did so before the 2018 draft) and could very well be the top overall pick. 

Pollard is a do-everything guy for Memphis. His next kick return for a touchdown will be his seventh, tying an FBS record, and he led the nation in return average last year. He's the Tigers' top returning receiver, and he also is dangerous from the backfield. Memphis' high-octane offense will use Pollard in a variety of ways to utilize his speed and elusiveness.

Quarterman has started all 26 games since he arrived at the U. He was second on the Hurricanes in tackles and added 2.5 sacks, and he is a leader on one of the best defenses in the nation. Shaq and the defense had Miami on the brink of a playoff berth until the Canes crashed down to earth at the end of the season. Maybe another Shaq can bring another championship to Miami this season.

The first three games of Samuel's junior year were sensational. He began the season returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and also caught two TD passes against NC State. The next week he returned another kickoff for a score and rushed for another touchdown against Missouri. The following week against Kentucky, he caught a 68-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage. Unfortunately, he broke his leg later in that game and missed the rest of the season. There may not be a bigger playmaker than Samuel — provided he can stay healthy.

Before he got to West Virginia, Sills was best known as committing to USC in seventh grade. He played his freshman year for the Mountaineers as a QB before transferring to El Camino College. Sills returned to Morgantown, accepting his role as a receiver, and blossomed. He tied Memphis' Anthony Miller for the national lead with 18 TD receptions in 2017.

Simmons is a terror who can play both inside and at the end of the defensive line. At either place, he has an outstanding ability to pressure the quarterback and disrupt plays. He's so versatile that he's even blocked kicks and scored a touchdown. 

Singletary had a huge sophomore season. He rushed for over 1,900 yards and led the nation with 32 rushing TDs. He was the Conference USA Player of the Year, and with Lane Kiffin settling in nicely at Florida Atlantic, he could explode for another great campaign. He could even garner a few Heisman votes. 

Smith has gotten better every year since joining the Trojans. One of the Pac-12's top tacklers, Smith will be tasked with leading a defense that lost several players to the NFL as well as a team that lost its quarterback and top rusher. He is intelligent and a guy who works on reading offenses and getting everyone up to speed on what's going on. In a transition season, Smith's knowledge will be key for USC to get back to the Pac-12 title game. 

Stidham returns to Auburn (a rarity that the Tigers have the same starter in consecutive seasons) ready to build on his 3,100-yard season in which the school won the SEC West. There will be more of a load on Stidham's shoulders after the Tigers lost a lot of their elite rushing attack. He's got the arm and the experience to make a huge jump up the quarterback ladder. 

The Bulldogs employed a three-headed running game last season, but only one of those heads remains. Swift was more of an all-purpose back who was able to break off big runs and was difficult to bring down in space. This year, he is the wily vet (who will have freshman Zamir White as his backup), and Kirby Smart will still rely on the run. 

Tagovailoa is a legend from just one half (and an overtime) of football. His performance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game has not only put the Crimson Tide in one of the most interesting quarterback battles this season, but it's even put Heisman buzz onto the sophomore from Hawaii. 

Tate took over as the starting quarterback midseason, and all he did was rush for a QB-record 327 yards against Colorado. That began a four-game stretch in which he was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after each game. Now he'll be the starter heading into the season and will be coached by Kevin Sumlin, who once had Johnny Manziel.  

Taylor didn't have the fanfare of some of the other freshmen running backs in 2017, but he exploded for the Badgers and had one of the best rushing seasons for a program that's had some great backs. He rushed for 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns, with his yardage breaking Adrian Peterson's freshman record.

Florida State certainly had a poor season last year, but Taylor was one of the best defensive backs in the country. He did not allow a touchdown during the regular season. Some of that was because quarterbacks didn't throw his way, making him a true lockdown corner.

White, a junior, is projected to be a high first-round draft pick next spring. The inside linebacker is fast enough to cover sideline to sideline as well as put pressure on the quarterback. (He recorded 4.5 sacks last season.) He has come a long way after a couple of arrests during high school to become one of the premier defensive players in the nation.

Yeah, another Clemson lineman. Clemson's defensive front is loaded, but Wilkins may be the most dangerous. He is not only a dominant defensive lineman — he is so versatile too. The Tigers can line him up inside or outside, and he is one of the best in the nation at blocking field goals and is even used on fake punts.

Williams follows a long line of outstanding defensive backs that LSU has produced. As a redshirt freshman last season, Williams led the SEC with six interceptions and has earned a reputation as a ball hawk. (He was also among the leaders in passes defended in 2017.) Those numbers could go down next year as opposing quarterbacks may stay away from his side of the field.

No matter who Nick Saban decides will be his quarterback in 2018, both know they will have one of the best offensive linemen blocking for them. Jonah Williams will be one of the first offensive linemen off the board at the 2019 NFL Draft. What will be interesting is if Williams will be moved to right tackle if the left-handed Tua Tagovailoa wins the starting QB gig.