College football's highest-rated players in 2025 at every position

These returning college football stars are the best players at their respective positions heading into the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus.

James Parks | Mar 14, 2025

An early preview of the best college football players returning to the field at every position in the 2025 season. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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As it does every year, college football is saying adios to another class of elite, blue-chip players on both sides of the ball.

But the cupboards aren’t exactly empty when looking over the remaining talent across the country heading into the 2025 season.

And not all of those returning players are created equally, when looking over who is considered the most important at every position, according to the most recent Pro Football Focus grades.

Predictably, it’s national title hopefuls like Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson who dominate those player rankings, and it’s those big-time stars who will likely play an outsized role in what teams play themselves into the national championship picture.

Let’s take a look at the highest-graded returning player at every position in college football in the Power Four ranks, according to PFF.

QB: Cade Klubnik

Where he plays: Clemson

PFF grade: 89.3

Need to know: Klubnik is coming off his best season in a Clemson uniform, scoring 36 touchdowns while handing over just 4 interceptions, but he needs to perform better going against superior defenses and after losing lead back Phil Mafah.

RB: Jeremiyah Love

Where he plays: Notre Dame

PFF grade: 91.0

Need to know: Love was integral to the Irish offense during its run up to the national title game, eclipsing 1,000 yards and scoring 16 times, and he should put up even better numbers this year as he returns to full health.

WR: Jeremiah Smith

Where he plays: Ohio State

PFF grade: 89.7

Need to know: Smith is the most important returning player on Ohio State’s entire roster and arguably the best player in college football, but the Buckeyes need to ensure there’s enough around him this fall with big departures at quarterback and tailback after their national title run.

TE: Tanner Koziol

Where he plays: Wisconsin

PFF grade: 87.9

Need to know: The ex-Ball State contributor transferred to the Badgers this offseason as a badly-needed passing target for this offense, standing at 6-foot-7 and scoring 8 times while covering over 800 yards a year ago.

OT: Spencer Fano

Where he plays: Utah

PFF grade: 92.8

Need to know: Fano was PFF’s highest-rated offensive tackle at the end of this past season and is a reigning All-America selection and has started all but one of his 25 career games, but the Utes are revamping their offense with a new play-caller and quarterback.

OG: Ar’maj Reed-Adams

Where he plays: Texas A&M

PFF grade: 82.4

Need to know: A&M’s blue-chip guard could have bolted for the NFL Draft this year, but elected to return to the Aggies for the 2025 season, giving the SEC hopefuls an experienced foundational piece at right guard on a line returning all its starters.

C: Jake Slaughter

Where he plays: Florida

PFF grade: 83.9

Need to know: Billy Napier got a reprieve after a strong finish to the 2024 season, and the Gators’ head coach has a critical piece standing in front of his young quarterback, as Slaughter allowed all of 1 sack on over 400 snaps in pass protection last fall.

Edge: David Bailey

Where he plays: Stanford

PFF grade: 90.9

Need to know: Few players made as much of an impression in such a short time, leading the Cardinal with 8 negative plays, 8 hurries, 7 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles in just two starts.

DL: Tim Keenan

Where he plays: Alabama

PFF grade: 86.2

Need to know: Keenan returns as a third-year starter in the middle of Alabama’s defensive line and as one of the team’s most experienced players at any position, racking up 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this past season.

LB: Austin Romaine

Where he plays: Kansas State

PFF grade: 91.0

Need to know: A former three-star prospect, Romaine elbowed his way to the top of the Wildcats’ leaderboard on defense with 96 tackles last season and returns as one of a very short list of the most impactful defensive players in the Big 12.

CB: Chandler Rivers

Where he plays: Duke

PFF grade: 90.7

Need to know: Duke’s only All-American selection in football last season, Rivers intercepted three passes and broke up nine more and announced his intention to return to the Blue Devils to finish his senior effort in 2025.

S: Terry Moore