The top 300 most impactful college football players of the regular season

On3 imageby:On3 Staff Report12/20/21

Here are our updated rankings of the 300 most impactful players in college football.

This is not an NFL draft hot board nor simply a list of the 300 most talented players. Talent certainly is considered, but there are numerous variables and emphasis is placed on players having the most notable on-field impact; that is one reason it is skill position-heavy. The rankings are fluid and changed weekly during the regular season.

One note: Players who suffered season-ending injuries during the season are not listed (that means that, among others, USC WR Drake London, Texas RB Bijan Robinson and Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton are not listed). And one other note: No bowl games have been taken into account yet; that will come in our final impactful players ranking of the season, after the national championship game.

The rankings of the most impactful players are done by On3’s Mike Huguenin, Charles Power and Matt Zenitz.

PlayerSchoolGrade
1. QB Bryce YoungAlabama99
2. EDGE Aidan HutchinsonMichigan99
3. QB Kenny PickettPitt99
4. EDGE Will Anderson Jr.Alabama99
5. RB Kenneth Walker IIIMichigan State99
6. QB C.J. StroudOhio State99
7. EDGE Kayvon ThibodeauxOregon98
8. QB Matt CorralOle Miss98
9. LB Nakobe DeanGeorgia98
10. LB Devin LloydUtah98
11. LB Leo ChenalWisconsin98
12. WR Jameson WilliamsAlabama98
13. C Tyler LinderbaumIowa98
14. WR Garrett WilsonOhio State98
15. WR Jordan AddisonPitt98
16. CB Ahmad GardnerCincinnati97
17. TE Brock BowersGeorgia97
18. QB Desmond RidderCincinnati97
19. CB Andrew Booth Jr.Clemson97
20. WR Jahan DotsonPenn State97
21. DL Jordan DavisGeorgia97
22. WR Chris OlaveOhio State97
23. RB Abram SmithBaylor96
24. LB Jack CampbellIowa96
25. DL Arnold EbiketiePenn State96
26. CB Roger McCrearyAuburn96
27. WR David BellPurdue96
28. LB Malcolm RodriguezOklahoma State96
29. DL DeMarvin LealTexas A&M96
30. EDGE Jermaine JohnsonFlorida State95
31. OT Evan NealAlabama95
32. TE Michael MayerNotre Dame95
33. RB Hassan HaskinsMichigan95
34. QB Sam HartmanWake Forest95
34. RB Jerome FordCincinnati95
36. RB Braelon AllenWisconsin95
37. RB Breece HallIowa State95
38. OT Ikem EkwonuNC State95
39. WR Jaxon Smith-NjigbaOhio State95
40. OT Nicholas Petit-FrereOhio State95
41. RB Tyler AllgeierBYU94
42. S Jalen PitreBaylor94
43. S Jaquan BriskerPenn State94
44. QB Brennan ArmstrongVirginia94
45. LB David OjaboMichigan94
46. S Verone McKinleyOregon94
47. RB TreVeyon HendersonOhio State94
48. DL Devonte WyattGeorgia94
49. EDGE George KarlaftisPurdue94
50. EDGE Will McDonaldIowa State94
Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
PlayerSchoolGrade
51. WR Treylon BurksArkansas94
52. QB Sam HowellNorth Carolina93
53. QB Bailey ZappeWestern Kentucky93
54. LB Noah SewellOregon93
55. LB James SkalskiClemson93
56. DL Jalen CarterGeorgia93
57. WR Josh DownsNorth Carolina93
58. LB Zakoby McClainAuburn93
59. RB Sean TuckerSyracuse93
60. RB Deuce VaughnKansas State93
61. QB Hendon HookerTennessee92
62. EDGE Cameron ThomasSan Diego State92
63. WR Xavier WorthyTexas92
64. QB Caleb WilliamsOklahoma92
65. WR Wan’Dale RobinsonKentucky92
66. CB Riley MossIowa92
67. EDGE Isaiah FoskeyNotre Dame92
68. RB B.J. BaylorOregon State92
69. DL Dante StillsWest Virginia92
70. LB Mike RoseIowa State92
71. LB Channing TindallGeorgia92
72. RB Jaylen WarrenOklahoma State92
73. QB Devin LearyNC State92
74. EDGE Sam WilliamsOle Miss92
75. LB Micah McFaddenIndiana91
76. S Tanner IngleNC State91
77. WR Jerreth SternsWestern Kentucky91
78. RB Tyler BadieMissouri91
79. TE Trey McBrideColorado State91
80. S Jaylan FosterSouth Carolina91
81. QB Carson StrongNevada91
82. WR John MetchieAlabama91
83. LB Avery RobertsOregon State91
84. DL Haskell GarrettOhio State91
85. QB Malik CunninghamLouisville91
86. CB Marcus JonesHouston91
87. CB Trent McDuffieWashington91
89. RB Brian Robinson Jr.Alabama91
90. QB Will RogersMississippi State91
91. RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.Kentucky91
92. LB Drake ThomasNC State91
93. EDGE Nik BonittoOklahoma90
94. S Jordan BattleAlabama90
95. LB J.D. BertrandNotre Dame90
96. QB Malik WillisLiberty90
97. QB Tanner MordecaiSMU90
98. WR A.T. PerryWake Forest90
99. EDGE Josh PaschalKentucky90
100. CB Mykael WrightOregon90
college-football-top-300-most-impactful-players-pre-bowl-edition
Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PlayerSchoolGrade
101. QB Jake HaenerFresno State90
102. RB Sincere McCormickUTSA89
103. QB Grayson McCallCoastal Carolina89
104. RB Isaiah SpillerTexas A&M89
105. WR Dontayvion WicksVirginia89
106. LB Damone ClarkLSU89
107. WR Nathaniel DellHouston89
108. RB Zach CharbonnetUCLA89
109. LB Darrian BeaversCincinnati89
110. LB Jack SanbornWisconsin89
111. CB Derion KendrickGeorgia89
112. LB Bumper PoolArkansas89
113. S Daxton HillMichigan89
114. RB Rachaad WhiteArizona State89
115. S Dane BeltonIowa89
116. OL Kenyon GreenTexas A&M89
117. RB Mataeo DurantDuke88
118. WR Charleston RamboMiami88
119. WR Jalen TolbertSouth Alabama88
120. G Zion JohnsonBoston College88
121. DL Phidarian MathisAlabama88
122. WR Xavier HutchinsonIowa State88
123. DL Logan HallHouston88
124. LB Darien ButlerArizona State88
125. WR Mekai PolkMississippi State88
126. WR Calvin AustinMemphis88
127. OT Darian KinnardKentucky88
128. QB Dorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLA87
129. LB Josh RossMichigan87
130. TE Charlie KolarIowa State87
131. TE Jalen WydermyerTexas A&M87
132. OT Charles CrossMississippi State87
133. CB Trevius Hodges-TomlinsonTCU87
134. TE Isaiah LikelyCoastal Carolina87
135. EDGE Myles MurphyClemson87
136. S Ronnie HickmanOhio State87
137. EDGE Kingsley EnagbareSouth Carolina86
138. WR Dontario DrummondOle Miss86
139. RB Blake CorumMichigan86
140. EDGE Felix Anudike-UzomahKansas State86
141. WR Danny GraySMU86
142. LB Christian HarrisAlabama86
143. WR Jaquarii RobersonWake Forest86
144. LB Olakunle FatukasiRutgers86
145. TE Cole TurnerNevada86
146. RB Lew Nichols IIICentral Michigan86
147. DL Zach CarterFlorida86
148. OT Jamaree SalyerGeorgia86
149. WR Romeo DoubsNevada86
150. S Lewis CineGeorgia86
college-football-top-300-most-impactful-players-pre-bowl-edition
Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
PlayerSchoolGrade
151. RB Travis DyeOregon86
152. QB K.J. JeffersonArkansas86
153. RB Kennedy BrooksOklahoma85
154. CB Matt HankinsIowa85
155. WR Skyy MooreWestern Michigan85
156. WR Kyle PhilipsUCLA85
157. QB Tyler Van DykeMiami85
158. LB Chad MumaWyoming85
159. WR Jacob CowingUTEP85
160. LB Nate LandmanColorado85
161. C Alec LindstromBoston College85
162. LB Quay WalkerGeorgia85
163. RB Kyren WilliamsNotre Dame85
164. EDGE Myjai SandersCincinnati85
165. QB Sean CliffordPenn State85
166. C Luke FortnerKentucky85
167. S Antonio JohnsonTexas A&M85
168. DE Jacub PanasiukMichigan State85
169. LB Ellis BrooksPenn State85
170. LB D’Marco JacksonAppalachian State85
171. TE Sam LaPortaIowa85
172. RB Brad RobertsAir Force85
173. WR Khalil ShakirBoise State85
174. WR Tyquan ThorntonBaylor84
175. S Yusuf CorkerKentucky84
176. G Javion CohenAlabama84
177. CB Joey Porter Jr.Penn State84
178. CB Denzel BurkeOhio State84
179. QB Aidan O’ConnellPurdue84
180. CB Jermaine WallerVirginia Tech84
181. DL Jayden PeevyTexas A&M84
182. CB Damarion WilliamsHouston84
183. CB Emmanuel ForbesMississippi State84
184. EDGE Nolan SmithGeorgia84
185. DL Perrion WinfreyOklahoma84
186. WR Jalen CropperFresno State84
187. QB Payton ThorneMichigan State84
188. WR Zakhari FranklinUTSA84
189. RB Tank BigsbyAuburn84
190. G Thayer MunfordOhio State84
191. LB Henry To’oTo’oAlabama84
192. RB Greg BellSan Diego State84
193. RB Leddie BrownWest Virginia84
194. OT Sean RhyanUCLA84
195. QB Taulia TagovailoaMaryland84
196. DL Curtis BrooksCincinnati84
197. LB Chance CampbellOle Miss84
198. QB Cameron RisingUtah84
199. LB Terrel BernardBaylor84
200. EDGE Collin OliverOklahoma State84
Utah RB Tavion Thomas (Bryan Byerly/Utah Athletics)
PlayerSchoolGrade
201. EDGE Isaiah ThomasOklahoma84
202. LB Brandon SmithPenn State84
203. G T.J. BassOregon83
204. RB Tavion ThomasUtah83
205. S Reed BlankenshipMiddle Tennessee83
206. OT Bernhard RaimannCentral Michigan83
207. S Kerby JosephIllinois83
208. EDGE Micheal ClemonsTexas A&M83
209. S Sean MahoneWest Virginia83
210. TE Brant KuitheUtah83
211. QB Adrian MartinezNebraska83
212. WR Jaivon HeilighCoastal Carolina83
213. LB JoJo DomannNebraska83
214. OT Connor GalvinBaylor83
215. CB Montaric BrownArkansas83
216. CB Kyler GordonWashington83
217. EDGE Derick HallAuburn83
218. CB Mario GoodrichClemson83
219. DE Mika TafuaUtah83
220. CB Kaiir ElamFlorida83
221. CB Kyu Blu KellyStanford83
222. S J.L. SkinnerBoise State83
223. S Ji’Ayir BrownPenn State83
224. QB Jayden de LauraWashington State83
225. WR Jayden ReedMichigan State83
226. WR Corey SuttonAppalachian State83
227. WR Josh JohnsonTulsa83
228. LB Yasir AbdullahLouisville83
229. EDGE Boye MafeMinnesota83
230. DE Cody RoscoeSyracuse83
231. QB Brock PurdyIowa State83
232. EDGE Josaiah StewartCoastal Carolina83
233. CB Kei’Trel ClarkLouisville82
234. CB Cam Taylor-BrittNebraska82
235. WR Travell HarrisWashington State82
236. QB Jaren HallBYU82
237. CB Alontae TayorTennessee82
238. QB Chase GarbersCalifornia82
239. DL Colby WoodenAuburn82
240. C Ricky StrombergArkansas82
241. EDGE B.J. OjulariLSU82
242. DL Tuli TuipulotuUSC82
243. LB Chris BerginNorthwestern82
244. DL Thomas BookerStanford82
245. EDGE Tyree JohnsonTexas A&M82
246. CB Ja’Quan McMillianEast Carolina82
247. TE TE Peyton HendershotIndiana82
248. RB Jashaun CorbinFlorida State82
249. WR Jack SorensonMiami (Ohio)82
250. LB Jeremy BanksTennessee82
college-football-top-300-most-impactful-players-pre-bowl-edition
NC State WR Emeka Emezie (Courtesy of NC State Athletics)
PlayerSchoolGrade
251. QB Anthony BrownOregon82
252. S Xavier HendersonMichigan State82
253. RB Pat Garwo IIIBoston College82
254. DE Matt HenningsenWisconsin82
255. WR Rakim JarrettMaryland82
256. S Brad HawkinsMichigan82
257. WR Emeka EmezieNC State82
258. LB Mikel JonesSyracuse81
259. RB Rasheen AliMarshall81
260. RB Ty ChandlerNorth Carolina81
261. TE Greg DulcichUCLA81
262. LB DeMarvion OvershownTexas81
263. CB Jalyn Armour-DavisAlabama 81
264. QB Frank HarrisUTSA81
265. CB Martin EmersonMississippi State81
266. QB Seth HeniganMemphis81
267. TE Jelani WoodsVirginia81
268. EDGE Andre Carter IIArmy81
269. LB Baylon SpectorClemson81
270. EDGE Zach HarrisonOhio State81
271. LB Josh Chandler-SemedoWest Virginia81
272. LB Vince SanfordAir Force81
273. TE Marshon FordLouisville82
274. S Scott NelsonWisconsin81
275. S Demani RichardsonTexas A&M81
276. LB Jaylan AlexanderPurdue81
277. RB Tyler GoodsonIowa81
278. S Brandon JosephNorthwestern81
279. LB DeAndre SquareKentucky81
280. WR Mitchell TinsleyWestern Kentucky81
281. RB Devon AchaneTexas A&M81
282. WR Billy Kemp IVVirginia80
283. WR Calvin Jackson Jr.Washington State80
284. TE Sean DykesMemphis80
285. C Nick Ford Jr.Utah80
286. DL Ron Stone Jr.Washington State80
287. Payne DurhamPurdue80
288. C Nathan EldridgeOregon State 80
289. DT Siaki IkaBaylor80
290. TE Derrick Deese Jr.San Jose State80
291. WR Dante CephasKent State80
292. RB Keaontay IngramUSC80
293. LB Justin RiceUtah State80
294. S Trenton ThompsonSan Diego State80
295. DE Ali FayadWestern Michigan80
296. EDGE Javon SolomonTroy80
297. DL Calijah KanceyPitt80
298. QB Max JohnsonLSU80
299. QB Logan BonnerUtah State80
300. S Elijah HicksCalifornia80