From Ohio State's freakish wideout Jeremiah Smith to Texas edge-rusher Colin Simmons, these are the names to know on both sides of the ball before the 2025 college football season kicks off.
If you're going to dominate a conference, it starts with game-changers on both sides of the ball.
Ahead of the 2025 college football season, Pro Football Focus broke down the top offensive and defensive players in each Power 4 league conference by production and projection.
These are the engines of entire programs that are difference makers come Saturday.
SEC
🧱 Offense: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
Don’t let the position fool you. Slaughter is one of the most complete centers in the country. He posted elite 80+ PFF grades in both run and pass blocking last season, making him the anchor Florida needs to steady its offense. Slaughter’s 85.8 overall PFF grade since 2023 ranks second among Power 4 centers.
🐂 Defense: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
The former top-15 recruit is already drawing Von Miller comparisons. Simmons wreaked havoc off the edge with an 18.6% pressure rate and was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year. He’s explosive, versatile, and just getting started in his second season.
Big Ten
🔥 Offense: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Smith is a problem, plain and simple. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he blends elite size with polished route-running and rare body control. He led Power 4 receivers with 15 touchdowns and ranked third nationally in PFF receiving grade (89.8). The sky’s the limit for this wideout.
🛡️ Defense: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs was already a standout at Alabama. Now he’s the Big Ten’s best defender. His elite coverage in both coverage and run support, makes him one of the most valuable safeties in college football per PFF. He tallied 35 run stops and hasn’t missed a beat since transferring.
Big 12
🪨 Offense: Spencer Fano, T, Utah
Fano is a stud, he was the highest-graded tackle in the entire FBS last year. His 93.6 PFF run-blocking grade and 93.0 overall mark are elite numbers. He might end up sliding inside at the next level, but for now, he’s a dominant left tackle anchoring Utah’s line.
🔒 Defense: Austin Romaine, LB, Kansas State
A true tackling talent with instincts that none have seen before,, Romaine was the top-graded linebacker in the Power 4 last season. He finished with 43 run stops and a 90.7 run-defense grade. Classic downhill thumper who’s quickly becoming a household name around the conference.
ACC
🚀 Offense: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Klubnik’s glow-up in 2024 was remarkable. After a rough 2023 campaign that saw him rank 102nd in these PFF rankings. He rebounded with 36 touchdowns and finished with the fifth-best PFF passing grade in the country. If he continues on this trajectory, Clemson is back in the driver’s seat come this season.
💪 Defense: Peter Woods, DI, Clemson
He's been moved around to the edge at times, but Woods’ bread and butter is on the inside. He dominated opposing guards, having the highest-graded returning Power 4 DT. Woods leads all interior defenders in run-defense grade (89.7%) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023.
These guys aren't just conference standouts they are someone you need to gameplan for regardless.
From Caleb Downs’ do-it-all dominance to Jeremiah Smith’s touchdown factory, each of these players brings something different to the field. They're the ones who will define the 2025 season.
Category: General Sports
