• Cam Ward back in the top slot: The Hurricanes staged a remarkable comeback late in the evening and Ward’s impressive performance took center stage.
• Eli Stowers leads Alabama’s Vanderbilt rout: The highest-rated tight end in the Power Four had six catches for 113 yards to help then-No. 1 Crimson Tide.
• Unleash your benefits with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our seasonal fantasy tools, including weekly ratings, WR/CB Matchup Schedules, weekly forecasts, Launch and squat optimizer and much more. Register now!
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
DEFENDER
Fourth force: Cam WardMiami Hurricanes – 92.3
Cam Ward staged an incredible comeback last Saturday against Cal, throwing for a season-high 437 yards and two scores. PFF’s 84.3 passing grade in that contest was enough to give Ward the edge as the highest-rated Power Four QB at the moment. His 2,219 passing yards and 20 touchdowns rank first among all QBs, and his 17 big catches trail only Kyle McCord.
Group of Five: Blake HorvathNavy midshipmen – 93.2
Horvath posted another game with over 100 yards rushing and throwing. He is one of the few defensemen in the country to post such numbers in multiple games this season. Navy is 5-0 for the first time in a long time thanks to Horvath, whose 93.1 run percentage tops all quarterbacks in college football.
90 YARD QB TOUCHDOWN!
Blake Horvath has 416 total yards and 6 touchdowns.@NavyFB pic.twitter.com/28kQIFHhMm
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 21, 2024
RUNNING BACK
Fourth force: Brashard SmithSMU Mustangs, 93.4
Smith held a season-high 52 yards last Saturday, but still managed to gain 42 of those yards after contact. However, he continued his perfect receiving record, catching all 15 of his targets this year. His 91.3 receiving grade is the highest in the country among Power Four running backs.
Group of Five: Ashton GintyBoise State Broncos, 96.7
Jeanty is the current Heisman betting favorite, and deservedly so. He leads the nation in rushing yards (1,031), rushing touchdowns (16) and forced fumbles (49). The 99.8 run grade is the highest PFF has ever seen from a linebacker.
WIDE RECEIVER
Fourth force: Or FeltonMaryland Terrapins – 91.1
Felton was injured last week and left the game early, so he only had 38 total yards. But he still managed to catch all five of his targets and earned a 76.3 grade for the game. Felton actually leads the nation in rating with a 91.9 grade as he has yet to miss a goal.
Group of Five: Nick NashSan Jose State Spartans – 89.9
Nash has caught a touchdown in all five games this season, for a total of nine on the year to lead the FBS. Nine is the same number of contested catches Nash has made this season while leading the FBS.
TIGHT END
Fourth force: Eli StowersVanderbilt Commodores – 86.7
Stowers was named PFF Offensive Player of the Week following a big game against Alabama in which the Commodores pulled off a historic upset. He was perfect from a receiving standpoint, catching all six of his targets and picking up six first downs en route to a 93.9 PFF receiving grade. His 113 yards accounted for nearly half of Vanderbilt’s passing yards in the game, with 79 coming after the catch.
Group of Five: Harold Fannin Jr.Bowling Green Falcons – 95.5
Fannin continues to put up video game-like numbers in his fourth straight game with over 130 yards. He has nearly 300 more receiving yards than the next-ranking tight end and eight more tackles for loss than Stowers, who ranks second at the position.
Harold Fannin Jr. yesterday:
9 rec, 135 yards + rushed 31 yards for a touchdown on 4th and 2 to win the game.
All as a 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end.
He’s the best player I’ve ever seen in a Bowling Green uniform, and it’s not even close. pic.twitter.com/TdCyHmk7Ne
— John Rich (@JohnRichTV) October 6, 2024
UPCOMING APPROACH
Power Four: Wyatt MilumWest Virginia Mountaineers – 90.9
Milum remains perfect this year from a pass blocking standpoint with a 100% pass blocking efficiency rate as he hasn’t allowed a single pressure. There are only five tackles left in college football who still have a perfect pass-blocking percentage.
Group of Five: Lucas ScottArmy of Black Knights, 87.2
Although Army throws the ball much less than West Virginia, Scott is still one of the five tackles with a perfect pass-blocking percentage. It just involves a lot less blocking passes, but it still makes a difference. Scott’s main strength is his shot blocking, which is ideal for Army’s offense. His 82.7 run blocking rate ranks fifth at his position.
COMING SECURITY
Power Four: Willie LampkinNorth Carolina Tar Heels – 84.6
Despite five pressures and three quarterback hits, Lampkin has yet to give up a sack this year to put his pass-blocking efficiency rating at 98.9. He also ranks second among defensive backs in run blocking with 87.5.
Group of Five: Paolo GennarelliArmy of Black Knights – 85.8
Another Army offensive lineman tops this list, and it shouldn’t come as a complete shock. Gennarelli hasn’t allowed a single pressure in 30 opportunities all year, and his 84.8 run block rate (over a significant 215 snaps) ranks fourth among all defenders.
CENTER
Power Four: Connor TollisonMissouri Tigers – 82.1
While Tollison under center has been one of the few bright spots in Missouri’s offense, he had his worst game Saturday, giving up his first sack of the season on three pressures. Overall, he continues to produce fantastic numbers with a 98.7 pass blocking efficiency rating. But now Tollison may have to become a more vocal leader to help get the Tigers team back on track.
Group of Five: Jacob GardnerColorado State Rams – 84.7
Gardner is only as strong as his line center position. He is the only center in the FBS with run blocking and pass blocking grades above 80.0.
INTERNAL PROTECTION
Fourth force: Vernon BroughtonTexas Longhorns – 87.7
Texas was just getting a bye, but the last time we saw Broughton against Mississippi State, he had an impressive game. The Longhorns had two pressures, four tackles and a forced fumble. Broughton has also never missed a tackle. Broughton is doing his best to take the place of T’Vondre Suat and Byron Murphy II in this Texas front seven from last year and holds his own with an 84.6 passer grade.
Texas this year doesn’t offer the same firepower at DT as last year, but Vernon Broughton (45) is one of three guys who can disrupt games. Especially in running: pic.twitter.com/kYY78fk1rw
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) October 10, 2024
Group of Five: Peyton ZdrojkAir Force Falcons – 91.9
Zdrojk maintains his status as the country’s best defender. In five games, he tallied 12 pressures, 11 defensive stops and one forced fumble. He has an elite grade of 90.5 or better in both run and pass defense.
EDGE DEFENDER
Power Four: Josiah StewartMichigan Wolverines – 93.9
Stewart returned to action against Washington and recorded his second straight game with a 90.0+ grade. He doubled his production against the Huskies this season from last year’s championship game, this time collecting four pressures and a sack.
Group of Five: Mike GreenMarshall Thundering Herd – 88.5
Green was a monster in terms of on-field performance. His eight sacks and 20 defensive stops rank in the top three among all cornerbacks, and his 23 pressures put him in the top 10 in those stats.
HALF BACKER
Power Four: Jay HigginsIowa Hawkeyes – 91.5
Higgins has been elite when returning to coverage this season, producing two interceptions and another pass breakup. A similar performance continued against Ohio State, where he passed for just six yards the entire game to earn a 93.3 coverage grade for the day. Higgins even forced a fumble on freshman sensation Jeremy Smith. He now has a season coverage rating of 94.0, the highest of any defenseman at any position.
Ladies and gentlemen, the nation’s best MLB player: Jay Higgins
pic.twitter.com/Xq4mOvDVIA— Streameast News Network (@StreameastNews) October 5, 2024
Group of Five: Sean DolakBuffalo Bulls – 88.0
Dolac leaves but still leads all midfielders in tackles (56) and defensive tackles (36). It shows how amazing he has been on the field this year. His overall tackling grade is 88.5, which ranks sixth among linebackers.
Cornerback
Power Four: Jade BarronTexas Longhorns – 88.2
Barron played running back for Texas’ secondary this season. much improved as a whole. The Longhorns’ coverage rating as a team is 93.3, which is the highest in the FBS. Barron is extremely consistent and versatile for a DB, currently earning a PFF grade of over 80.0 in coverage, tackling and defense.
Group of Five: Christian BodnarFlame of Freedom – 89.3
Bodnar could very well help the Flames to a second straight undefeated regular season. He’s certainly contributing, having only allowed 45 yards on six catches so far. In 99 frames of coverage, he broke up two passes and deflected another. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 26.7 every time they throw to Bodnar.
SAFETY
Power Four: Robert Spears-JenningsOklahoma Sooners – 87.2
It could be argued that Oklahoma’s defense, especially its secondary, is the only reason the Sooners haven’t lost more than one game. Spears-Jennings had a fantastic performance at all three levels, posting a PFF grade of 80.0 in every single defensive category.
Group of Five: Lane III’s AppealNavy midshipmen – 84.4
Navy had yet to lose, and Lane was the main reason for the defense. His 89.6 coverage grade ranks third among qualifying backs as Lane gave up just seven catches for 113 yards on 18 targets. However, he struggled in Week 6 against Air Force, missing 50 yards in coverage and missing a tackle.
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