Chris Low
The team that won the 2024 national championship, Ohio State, is atop ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2025 season.
Not surprisingly, our 2025 Way-Too-Early All-America team is dotted with players returning for the Buckeyes, including receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Other familiar faces made the cut, but it’s always fun at this time of the year to examine the next wave of rising stars.
The transfer portal makes this exercise a bit tricky, with so many players landing in new places, but we reached out to college coaches, NFL scouts and other reporters for input. To be clear, this is not a list of the returning players with the best statistics, nor a selection of the top NFL draft prospects. It’s a list of those players projected to be the most impactful at their positions in 2025. A year ago, we hit on 18 players who were on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early team and wound up earning first- or second-team honors on our postseason All-America team.
Clemson and Ohio State lead the way, with three first-team selections each.
OFFENSE
Klubnik showed tremendous growth a year ago and put up sensational numbers. One of two FBS quarterbacks with more than 3,600 passing yards and 400 rushing yards in 2024, he accounted for 43 touchdowns (36 passing, 7 rushing). Now, as he enters his fourth season at Clemson with 28 starts under his belt — and all his top receivers returning — the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior is poised for his best performance yet.
Second team: Arch Manning, Texas
Love epitomized Notre Dame’s march to the national championship game last season. He weathered injuries, especially in the postseason, but never quit fighting. With an offseason to return to health, Love is poised to be one of the most productive running backs in college football. He scored 19 touchdowns a year ago and was a nightmare to tackle, whether he was running through defenders, dashing past them or hurdling over them.
Second team: Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Double Trouble will return next season to fuel Penn State’s running game. Not only is the 6-foot, 226-pound Singleton coming back for his senior year, so is Allen. They will again share the load, and Singleton is easily one of the most versatile running backs in the country. He rushed for 1,099 yards a year ago and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. He was third on Penn State with 41 catches and accounted for 17 touchdowns (12 rushing, 5 receiving).
Second team: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
If he were eligible, Smith might be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. His offensive coordinator at Ohio State, Chip Kelly, said it best: You just don’t see guys with Smith’s size (6-3, 225), speed and ability to go up and get the ball. Smith was dynamic as a true freshman, especially in the Buckeyes’ dash to the CFP title. He finished the year with 15 touchdown catches and averaged 17.3 yards per reception.
Second team: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Williams didn’t finish his freshman season the way he started it, but still proved to be one of the most explosive players in the nation. He had five touchdown catches in his first four games, including the game winner against Georgia, and finished the season with 10 touchdowns (8 receiving, 2 rushing). Williams averaged 18 yards per catch and tied for fourth nationally with five receptions of 50-plus yards. Look for even more big plays in 2025.
Second team: Nic Anderson, LSU
Transfers played a key role in Ohio State’s 2024 national championship, and the Buckeyes hope Klare can make a similar impact in 2025 after transferring from Purdue. The 6-4, 240-pound Klare was one of the country’s most productive tight ends last season, racking up 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll be invaluable in helping the Buckeyes finish drives. He had 33 catches for first downs last season.
Second team: Oscar Delp, Georgia
When Mauigoa came to Miami, he was billed as the premier offensive line prospect in the country. Now entering his junior season, Mauigoa is primed for an All-America season after showing flashes of his immense talent since he started all 13 games as a freshman for the Hurricanes. The 6-6, 320-pound Mauigoa was a second-team All-ACC selection last season and has a chance to be one of the top tackles taken in the 2026 NFL draft.
Second team: Kage Casey, Boise State
An absolute mauler as a blocker, the 6-4, 350-pound Ioane blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s best interior offensive linemen last season. And with Ioane back, along with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen at running back, the Nittany Lions should have one of the top rushing attacks in college football. Ioane’s quickness for someone his size is something to see.
Second team: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
One of the best pieces of news for Billy Napier this offseason was Slaughter’s announcement that he was returning for another season. It’s equally good news for Florida quarterback DJ Lagway to have Slaughter back in the middle of the Gators’ offensive line. Slaughter was one of the best centers in the country in 2024, and his experience, toughness and versatility will serve the Gators well in 2025.
Second team: Brady Small, Army
In his first season at Missouri after transferring from Oklahoma, Green entrenched himself as the Tigers’ starting left guard. He was limited to six snaps in the Alabama game after injuring an ankle, but had a strong finish to the season. The 6-5, 320-pound Green can also play tackle, but the plan is to leave him at guard, where he and center Connor Tollison will form one of the better interior combinations in the country.
Second team: Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
Fano made major strides from his freshman to sophomore season, so retaining him was a coup for the Utes. The 6-6, 302-pound Fano enters his junior season as one of the most experienced tackles in the sport. He has 24 career starts, 11 at left tackle and 13 at right tackle. His run-blocking grade leads all returning tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and Fano didn’t allow a sack last season after the opening week.
Second team: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Reid made an immediate impact in his first season at Pittsburgh after transferring from Western Carolina. The quintessential all-purpose running back, Reid scored touchdowns three ways (4 rushing, 5 receiving and 1 on a punt return). He’s only 5-8 and 175 pounds, but as Clemson’s Dabo Swinney said, Reid is an “absolute rocket.” He averaged 154.9 all-purpose yards per game a year ago, the most among all returning players, and Pitt will look to get him the ball even more in 2025.
Second team: Isaac Brown, Louisville
DEFENSE
The scary part for opposing offensive linemen is that Parker hasn’t come close to reaching his full potential despite recording 32 tackles for loss (16.5 sacks) over his first two seasons at Clemson. The 6-3, 265-pound Parker is another in a long line of talented defensive linemen for the Tigers. He finished with 11 sacks and a school-record six forced fumbles last season, and his production soared after a bout with migraine headaches earlier in the year.
Second team: Colin Simmons, Texas
Clemson should have a dominant defensive line next season, with Parker, Woods and Stephiylan Green all returning. The 6-3, 315-pound Woods spent time at both end and tackle last season as a true sophomore but is best suited to play inside, where he’s a force against the run and versatile enough to also rush the passer. Woods had 8.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks, last year.
Second team: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Overton is one of those rare players with the size (6-5, 285) to handle the hybrid bandit position, which is part defensive lineman and part edge rusher, for the Crimson Tide. Overton started his career at Texas A&M before transferring to Alabama. This will be his second season in Kane Wommack’s defense, and after recording 42 total tackles and a team-leading nine quarterback hurries a year ago, Overton is in line for a big senior campaign.
Second team: Zane Durant, Penn State
Stewart came to South Carolina as a five-star recruit last year and played like it in a terrific freshman season that saw him rack up 10.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, and force three fumbles. The 6-6, 248-pound Stewart is a blur coming off the edge and returns as one of the top pass rushers in college football, especially with a year of experience in the SEC and more familiarity with how offenses will try to block him.
Second team: Mikail Kamara, Indiana
Texas will again be supremely talented on defense despite losing some key players, and the heartbeat of that unit will be the 6-3, 235-pound Hill, who returns for his third season as a starter. One of the country’s most well-rounded linebackers, Hill tied for fourth among FBS linebackers last season with 16.5 tackles for loss, and he also forced four fumbles. When a big play needs to be made on defense, Hill is usually the one making it.
Second team: Gabe Jacas, Illinois
One of college football’s top breakout players a year ago, Louis returns for his redshirt junior season as one of the most disruptive defenders in the country. He had 101 total tackles, including 15.5 for loss and seven sacks. He had four interceptions, returning one 59 yards for a touchdown in a 41-13 win over Syracuse and notching another that sealed a 38-34 win over rival West Virginia. Louis has shown many times he can make big plays.
Second team: CJ Allen, Georgia
Few defenders will be more valuable to their teams in 2025 than Perkins, who is an edge rusher/defensive end/outside linebacker all wrapped into one. A five-star recruit, Perkins keeps getting better as he enters his junior season. He’s undersized (215 pounds), but a dynamo when it comes to making big plays. He tied for the team lead last season with 14 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks. Perkins had shoulder surgery in January but is expected back in time for the season.
Second team: Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Tennessee struck it rich in the transfer portal when it brought in McCoy from Oregon State last season. He was an instant difference-maker for the Vols, who finished seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.1 points per game) and allowed just 11 touchdown passes in 13 games. McCoy tied for the team lead with four interceptions. The only question is how quickly he will recover after having surgery in January for a torn ACL suffered while training at home.
Second team: Chandler Rivers, Duke
Moore is a prime example of why Notre Dame should continue to thrive under Marcus Freeman, who has been able to stockpile promising young talent. Moore was the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and started in 10 games. He has tremendous speed and the instincts to go with it. He led Notre Dame with 11 pass breakups and had two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Second team: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
For two years, Downs has been one of the best safeties in America. He followed up a stellar freshman season at Alabama with an even better sophomore season at Ohio State on a defense that spearheaded the Buckeyes’ run to the national championship. Downs is everything a coach would want in a safety. He was third on Ohio State with 81 tackles, 7.5 of them for loss, and had two interceptions. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.
Second team: Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Moore didn’t play a down last season for Michigan after suffering a noncontact ACL tear in spring practice, but he was still named a captain, an indication of what he means to the Wolverines. Moore announced last month that he would return for his senior season after earning All-Big Ten honors in both 2022 and 2023. He has made 27 starts going back to his freshman season and has the experience and versatility to shore up any defense.
Second team: Michael Taaffe, Texas
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Wolverines’ special teams got a huge boost when Zvada decided to return for his senior season. His ability to make long field goals is an offense’s best friend. Zvada was 7-of-7 on attempts of 50 yards or longer a year ago and was 21-of-22 overall. His 95.5% conversion rate set a school record, and no field goal was bigger than his 21-yarder to beat Ohio State with 45 seconds to play.
Second team: Will Ferrin, BYU
Thorson is recovering from December knee surgery on his non-kicking leg after getting injured in the SEC championship game. He’s a big part of setting the table for Georgia’s defense, as 22 of his 42 punts last season were downed inside the 20-yard line and 14 more were fair-caught. A Ray Guy Award finalist last season as the top punter in the nation, the Aussie returns for his fourth season as the Bulldogs’ punter.
Second team: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Brown transferred to LSU in the offseason after rolling up 3,273 all-purpose yards at Kentucky over the past three seasons. He’s the Wildcats’ recordholder for career kickoff return average (30.3 yards) and leads active players nationally with five kickoff returns for touchdowns, the most of any player in SEC history. Brown has elite speed and will also factor prominently at receiver for LSU.
Second team: Kam Shanks, UAB
