Sportskeeda College Football Top 50: Who are the best college football players heading into the 2021-22 season?

Modified Jul 06, 2021 19:20 GMT

Sportskeeda's College Football Top 50: 11-20

#11 DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M Aggies

DeMarvin Leal had his best college football season in 2020. He recorded 18 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception last year. The junior defensive lineman uses all of his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame to his advantage when rushing the passer.

#12 Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M Aggies

It's not uncommon for tight ends to come close to cracking the top ten of the college football player rankings. Jalen Wydermyer is currently the best tight end heading into the 2021-22 college football season. Wydermyer has caught 78 passes for 953 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in the past two seasons.

#13 Drake Jackson, Edge, USC Trojans

The Pac-12 has the top two defensive pass rushers heading into the 2021-22 season. Drake Jackson had a down year in 2020, but his freshman year separated him from everyone else. Jackson registered 26 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks during the 2020 season.

#14 Christian Harris, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Christian Harris has put together two great seasons at Alabama. Harris has registered 79 solo tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one interception from his linebacker position. The junior linebacker will lead a talented Alabama defense as they chase a second straight national championship.

#15 Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State Cyclones

Breece Hall is the first running back to check into the top 50 college football players list. Hall is the only returning college football player who had Heisman Trophy votes in 2020. The third-year running back enters the 2021-22 college football season with 2,469 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on 465 attempts.

Breece Hall among returning power-five RBs last season:💨 21 TDs (1st)💨 79 first down runs (1st)💨 63 forced missed tackles (1st)💨 38 runs of 15+ yards (1st) pic.twitter.com/HAwODfgqi1
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 24, 2021

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#16 Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State may have many questions surrounding their quarterback position entering the 2021-22 college football season, but its offensive line will be a massive strength. Thayer Munford will lead the way for the Buckeyes on offense. He will check in as the second-best offensive tackle in college football.

#17 Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson Tigers

Justyn Ross is coming off a scary spinal injury that many believed would end his college football career. Before suffering the injury, Ross was one of the top wide receivers for the Tigers.

In his freshman and sophomore seasons, Ross caught 112 passes for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns for Clemson. When he's healthy, he's one of the best receivers in the country.

Justyn Ross is going to put on a show this season🔥🤫(via @CSWOFFICIAL) pic.twitter.com/IfLPBW4h3x
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 18, 2021

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#18 Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Jobe is another athlete who has stayed at Alabama for more than three seasons. The senior cornerback has improved in every season that he's played under Nick Saban. Jobe has registered 67 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception for the Crimson Tides defense.

#19 Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

If one player made a massive leap from his freshman to sophomore season, it's Brandon Joseph. The Northwestern safety went from four solo tackles in 2019 to 26 solo tackles in 2020. His most significant improvement was his six interceptions during the 2020 season, after not recording a single interception in 2019.

#20 Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

Garrett Wilson is the second-best wide receiver on the Ohio State Buckeyes roster heading into the 2021-22 college football season. Wilson has had a lot of success since joining the Buckeyes in 2019. The junior wide receiver has caught 73 passes for 1,155 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.