✔️College Football Coaches Pick The Best Players

[HacheMan]

College football coaches pick the top players from the Power 5​

ESPN PLUS $ MATERIAL

Awards season has arrived in college football. This week is all about league awards, while next week broadens the scope to the national level, culminating with the Heisman Trophy presentation Dec. 10 in New York.

By now, the conferences have announced their individual honors and all-league teams, which are usually selected by a combination of head coach and media voting. But there are many other coaches who have scouted players and/or faced them, and whose opinions resonate on the best they saw.

I reached out to more than 45 head coaches and coordinators in the Power 5 conferences and posed a simple question: Who are the best players in your league this season? The responses ranged from the expected to the surprising. Outside of the Big 12, non-round robin schedules prevented coaches from evaluating certain players, but the pool of responders had enough overall representation.

In typical coach fashion, many listed jersey numbers, not names, in their responses. Some also listed small groups of players who stood out most to them.

Here are the biggest takeaways, broken down by league.

ACC​

Zay Flowers jumps out​

Boston College slumped to 3-9, enduring a surge of key injuries from the preseason all the way through the fall. But wide receiver Zay Flowers was a major bright spot, recording career highs in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,077) and receiving touchdowns (12).

He had 51 more catches and 689 more yards than any other Eagles player.

"Best skill player in the league, it's not even close," a defensive coordinator said.

A head coach compared the 5-foot-10, 172-pound Flowers to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the six-time Pro Bowl selection.

Drake Maye is the league's best QB​

No league entered the season with a more impressive group of returning quarterbacks than the ACC. Ten teams returned quarterbacks with starting experience, some of whom held records like Wake Forest's Sam Hartman, Virginia's Brennan Armstrong and Louisville's Malik Cunningham.

But in the end, a first-year starter with 10 career pass attempts before the season emerged as the class of the conference. Drake Maye helped UNC to the ACC championship game and passed for 3,847 yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. He worked his way onto the Heisman radar before the Tar Heels struggled down the stretch.

Multiple head coaches and defensive coordinators listed Maye as the league's top quarterback. Hartman and Cunningham also generated some responses.

Miami defenders impress coaches​

Few saw Miami going 5-7 in coach Mario Cristobal's first season, but the team struggled on both sides of the ball and never won more than two games in a row. There are clearly roster issues to sort out, but Cristobal didn't inherit a total mess, either.

Several ACC coaches recognized Miami's talent on defense, mentioning defensive end Akheem Mesidor, safety Kamren Kinchens and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Mesidor led the team in sacks (7) and tied for the team lead in both tackles for loss (10.5) and forced fumbles (2). Kinchens tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions and also led Miami with 59 tackles. Stevenson had two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

Best of the rest​

Other players named by ACC coaches included Clemson running back Will Shipley, who has 1,092 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns entering the league title game, while adding 30 receptions.

"So tough," a defensive coordinator said. "... A big, physical kid who can catch the football."

Syracuse running back Sean Tucker and Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey also were mentioned.

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BIG TEN​

Marvin Harrison Jr. an overwhelming pick for POY​

Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the season as the Heisman favorite, and has remained among the top contenders. He put up strong passing numbers -- 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, six interceptions -- and led a potent Ohio State offense. But Big Ten coaches and coordinators had a near consensus on the league's best player: Stroud's teammate, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Although Ohio State entered the season with the nation's best receiving corps, top target Jaxon Smith-Njigba injured his hamstring in the opener and has barely played since. Harrison, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., stepped up with 72 receptions for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has six 100-yard receiving performances and only two games with fewer than five catches.

"He's unbelievable," a Big Ten coach said. "He may be the best one they've ever had. He's just so big and he catches everything. His ball skills are ridiculous."

A Big Ten defensive coordinator added that Harrison is the league's best player "by far."

Coaches also praised Stroud, but no one impressed them more than Harrison.

Who is the Big Ten's best running back?​

No league produced a better collection of running backs than the Big Ten this season. Entering championship weekend, Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim and Illinois' Chase Brown rank No. 2 and No. 4 in the FBS in rushing. Michigan's Blake Corum has received the most national attention, eclipsing 100 rushing yards in every Big Ten game before a knee injury limited him to two carries in last week's win over Ohio State.

Big Ten coaches and coordinators mentioned all three players in their responses, but differed on who is the league's best. A defensive coordinator said Brown was the best back he saw "without question." Others mentioned Ibrahim, who returned from a ruptured Achilles' tendon in the 2021 opener to eclipse 100 rushing yards in all but one game. Corum also drew praise, as one Big Ten coach said, "He has that ability to make you miss in the hole, he's so strong. [After Harrison], he's the next player that dominates."

Best of the rest​

Michigan's offensive line jumped out to coaches for the second straight year. One defensive coordinator listed Wolverines center Olu Oluwatimi, a transfer from Virginia, as the best player he saw all season, edging out Harrison. Another defensive coordinator mentioned Wolverines tackle Karsen Barnhart.

Defensive standouts mentioned by coaches included Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison and Northwestern defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore. Porter had 11 pass breakups for Penn State, while Campbell led Iowa with 118 tackles and added two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a safety.

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BIG 12​

Bijan Robinson gets the nod​

Texas will not win the Big 12, but the Longhorns roster is generally regarded as the most talented in the league. The team's biggest star, running back Bijan Robinson, received the most responses as the Big 12's best overall player.

Robinson, a projected top 10 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth nationally in rushing yards (1,580), eclipsing 100 yards in nine of his previous 10 games. He has 18 rushing touchdowns and 314 receiving yards.

"There's no doubt Bijan is the best running back we've faced," a defensive coordinator said.

"A special talent," added an offensive assistant.

TCU quarterback Max Duggan also drew strong reviews after guiding his team to a 12-0 regular season and a spot in this week's Big 12 title game. Duggan, who started the previous two years but didn't win an offseason quarterback competition, has 3,070 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

"He does so much stuff that doesn't show up in the stats," a Big 12 head coach said.

Several coaches mentioned Duggan's top pass-catching target, wideout Quentin Johnston, who has 764 receiving yards and five touchdowns entering the league title game.

"He's different," an offensive coordinator said.

Tyree Wilson headlines defensive standouts​

Big 12 coaches had more variety in their responses about defensive players, but Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson generated the most praise. Like Robinson, Wilson is projected as a high draft pick from 2023, as ESPN's experts list him as the No. 2 end prospect.

Wilson recorded career highs in sacks (7), tackles for loss (14) and total tackles (61) before sustaining a foot injury Nov. 12 that ended his season and started his NFL draft preparation.

But coaches also listed other defensive linemen, including Baylor tackle Siaki Ika, West Virginia end Dante Stills, Iowa State end Will McDonald IV, Kansas State end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas end Lonnie Phelps and Texas defensive tackles Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn.

"They're not flashy but they really can wreck the game," an offensive coordinator said.

Best of the rest​

Coaches really like Kansas State's overall team and individual players. The Wildcats' offensive backfield of running back Deuce Vaughn and quarterback Will Howard drew praise from several coaches. Vaughn, who eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards and had at least 40 receptions for the second straight year, is "something else, a ball-playing dude," a defensive coordinator said. In addition to Anudike-Uzomah, one offensive coordinator brought up cornerback Julius Brents, who has three interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss.

"He's a corner who looks like an outside linebacker," the coach said.

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[HacheMan]

PAC-12​

The Caleb Williams-Michael Penix Jr. QB debate​

USC's Caleb Williams was the most talked-about transfer of the past offseason -- leaving Oklahoma for the Trojans -- and he has delivered for his new team. Williams has USC on the cusp of its first CFP appearance, and enters Friday's Pac-12 championship game as the clear favorite for the Heisman Trophy. He has passed for 3,712 yards with 34 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

But do coaches think he's the best player in the Pac-12? Some certainly do.

"USC would be nothing without Caleb Williams," a coach said.

But Williams wasn't the only quarterback who appeared in responses. Utah's Cam Rising, Arizona's Jayden de Laura, UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Oregon's Bo Nix received votes, and several coaches thought Washington's Michael Penix Jr. posed a greater challenge than Williams. Penix, the transfer from Indiana, leads the nation in passing yards (4,354) with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

"Hands down, he was the best," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "There's no way you could disguise a coverage to get him off his read. If a corner flashes a shoulder one way, he's taking his read. I'd rather face Caleb than this kid. You can get Caleb rattled."

Other coaches leaned toward Williams. A defensive backs coach said, "Doesn't have as big an arm as Penix, but he's so accurate and makes plays everywhere."

There also was praise for players like de Laura, the Washington State transfer who passed for 3,685 yards with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"Elusiveness is elite, throwing on the move is special," a Pac-12 coordinator said. "He can change the game by himself."

Defensive players getting some love​

The coaches had some love for Pac-12 defenders, including USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu and UCLA outside linebacker Laiatu Latu, who combined for 22 sacks, 31 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles.

"As sudden and powerful as any edge rusher we saw," an offensive coordinator said of Latu.

Several coaches also mentioned Oregon defensive end Brandon Dorlus, who led the team with nine tackles for loss. Oregon State had one of the league's most improved defenses, and coaches mentioned cornerback Rejzohn Wright ("The most physical corner we saw," an offensive coordinator said) and inside linebacker Omar Speights, who led the team with 77 tackles.

Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley had 106 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.

"A very good athlete with great length and more than willing to play physical," a coach said.

Best of the rest​

The Pac-12 is an offense-driven league this season, even beyond the quarterbacks. Coaches listed several non-quarterbacks among the league's best players they saw. Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid and UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet were mentioned by several coaches.

USC wide receiver Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner at Pitt, appeared in some responses, but coaches liked Trojans teammate Mario Williams just as much or more. Oregon running back Bucky Irving was "lightning in a bottle," according to a coordinator, while Oregon State running back Damien Martinez also stood out.

Coaches mentioned Arizona wide receivers Jacob Cowing and Dorian Singer, who both eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards and combined for 151 receptions. They also brought up Washington wide receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, who had nearly identical stats and each eclipsed 1,000 yards.

"Just a special, special player," a defensive coordinator said of McMillan.

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SEC​

Georgia, Tennessee headline SEC standouts​

After Georgia's first national title in 41 years, the spotlight continued to be on the SEC East for much of the season. Georgia continued to win, and Tennessee broke through behind an incredible offense. SEC coaches recognized players on both teams. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and quarterback Stetson Bennett were listed on several responses.

"Bowers is a special player, he's different," a defensive coordinator said. "Stetson never gets enough credit. That kid has been so efficient in what he does."

Tennessee's top passing combination of quarterback Hendon Hooker (3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions) and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt also had recognition. Hooker, in particular, stood out to opposing coaches, as a defensive coordinator said he "has to be tough and manage all the QB run game for when things break down."

An SEC coach said Hyatt and Vols linebacker Jeremy Banks "play at a different speed." Banks also drew praise from several offensive coordinators.

Other players mentioned include Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young, Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright, Georgia tackle Broderick Jones, Tennessee returner Dee Williams and Tennessee center Cooper Mays.

"Super savvy," a defensive coordinator said of Mays. "He's as good of a center as there is in our league."

An offensive assistant said Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, a projected top-5 pick in the NFL draft, dominates games "when he wants to play hard."

Achane, Judkins impress coaches​

Not surprisingly, several coaches included reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young from Alabama among their top players. But other offensive stars jumped out, including Texas A&M running back/kick returner Devon Achane and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins.

Achane was the biggest bright spot in a disappointing Texas A&M season, rushing for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns, while catching 36 passes and averaging 28.4 yards per kickoff return with a touchdown.

"You didn't want to let him get in space because he's so fast," a defensive coordinator said.

"He's legit, legit," another defensive coordinator added.

An ESPN three-star recruit, Judkins did not receive nearly as much attention before the season as fellow Ole Miss running back Zach Evans, the TCU transfer and former top-20 recruit. But Judkins emerged as one of the nation's best young stars, rushing for 1,476 yards and 16 touchdowns and getting increasingly more carries than Evans.

"How hard he ran and behind his pads, you felt him," a defensive coordinator said. "He's a violent runner."

Best of the rest​

In addition to Judkins, a defensive coordinator mentioned Florida's Trevor Etienne as one of the SEC's best young stars. Other offensive players mentioned include Arkansas running back Raheim Sanders, Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence, Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Georgia tight end Darnell Washington.

Not surprisingly, coaches mentioned Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., the projected No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft. Anderson has 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Alabama's other primary pass-rusher, Dallas Turner, also drew praise, as did defensive pairings from Arkansas (linebackers Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool), Mississippi State (cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and linebacker Tyrus Wheat), Texas A&M (linemen Walter Nolen and McKinnley Jackson) and Auburn (edge rusher Derick Hall and linebacker Owen Pappoe).

An SEC coach praised Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and Missouri's Tyrone Hopper, "the most instinctive LB we saw."

 

[MagiCap]

I'm just not sure Bryce Young will make a good NFL qb.

 

[MAGAking1]

I'm just not sure Bryce Young will make a good NFL qb.

Why not?

 

[HacheMan]

I'm just not sure Bryce Young will make a good NFL qb.

We will see. LiL bigger than Kyler Murray