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Top 10 Returning College Football Players (Non-QB).

Written by

Sean McKenzie

in

A collage of various college football team logos displayed in a grid format.

With the 2025-26 college football season starting in just under 100 days; I thought we should look and talk about the best returning players in the sport.

This list does not include quarterbacks. Yes, it’s the most important position. There will be a sperate list for that.

Y’all know me, so let’s get right into it.

  1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State.
    A college football player wearing a red jersey with the number 4 celebrates in the end zone, holding a football aloft, with a cheering crowd in the background.

    2024 stats – 76 receptions, for 1,315 yards, with 15 TDs.

    Smith broke multiple records at Ohio State in his freshman season with ease. He was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and was a First-Team All-American.

    The crazy thing is that the 6’3″, 215 lbs sophomore, still has 2 years of college football to play. He was unguardable last season and will continue to improve under OC/WR coach Brian Hartline.

    Smith could walk into the NFL and be WR1 for most teams today. He has the size, speed, and hands to dominate the game for the next decade.

    2, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State.

    Ohio State football player celebrating during a game, dressed in a red jersey with the number 2, while fans in the background cheer.

    2024 stats – 81 total tackles, .5 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 PDs, 1 Punt Return TD.

    The 6’0″, 205 lbs junior can do everything on defense. He can come down and play in the box. He’s an excellent blitzer, hitting the gaps with speed. He can deliver big hits. He can drop back and play the deep safety. He can come up and play in the slot. He does it all.

    He adds additional value in the return game, as evidenced by his punt return touchdown against Indiana.

    As a sophomore last season, he won Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Award. He was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, and the Nagurski Award. He was also named a unanimous first team All-American.

    3. Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas

    A Texas Longhorns football player celebrates on the field, wearing a white jersey with 'TEXAS' across the front. The player appears to be in action during a game, surrounded by teammates and opponents in the background.

    2024 stats – 113 total tackles, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 PD.

    The 6’3″, 235 lbs junior was a second-team All-American last season. He has the speed and burst to beat the offensive tackle off the snap and is able to drop back in coverage. He goes for the football, evidenced by his 4 forced fumbles.

    4. Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama.

    Wide receiver from Alabama making a catch in a football game, defended by an opposing player.

    2024 stats – 48 receptions, for 865 yards, with 8 TDs.

    The 6’0″, 185 lbs Williams started his freshman season very strong, scoring a touchdown in his first five games. The first thing that comes to mind when talking about him is SPEEEEEEDDDD.

    Williams is very fast, and if you don’t get hands on him at the line of scrimmage, you’re eating dust and seeing his numbers.

    He faded in the second half of last season. Teams figured out that he can be bullied on the LOS and be taken out of the play because of his small size.

    I think that changes this season, and he’ll be better using his hands of the snap. He was first-team All-SEC and Freshman All-American.

    5. Jeremiyah Love, HB, Notre Dame.

    A Notre Dame football player in a navy blue jersey and gold pants runs with the ball during a game. There's a crowd in the background, and team members are visible on the sidelines.

    2024 stats – 163 carries, for 1,125 yards, with 17 TDs. 28 receptions for 237 yards, with 2 TDs.

    The 6’0″, 212 lbs junior is the best running back in the country, especially when he’s healthy. All those numbers you see above and the highlights on YouTube, he did all that while battling a number of injuries.

    He has the speed to score from anywhere on the field. The power to break tackles and run between the lines. He has the hands to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s improved his pass blocking and blitz pickup as he’s progressed in his time in South Bend.

    Fighting Irish OC Mike Denbrock even said that he was going to “deploy Love in the slot this season”, showing the he can be a playmaker anywhere.

    6. T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson.

    A Clemson football coach speaks to a player wearing an orange jersey with the number 12 during a practice or game. In the background, additional teammates are visible in orange uniforms.

    2024 stats – 57 total tackles, 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 PD.

    The 6’3″, 265 lbs junior set a new school record for forced fumbles and had the most sacks in a season for Clemson, since 2018. He has good burst at the snap, and he’s always looking for the football.

    Even if the offensive tackle gets his hands inside on him, Parker still has the strength to force him into the pocket and force the quarterback to get out of his rhythm.

    Parker was the only FBS player in 2024 to finish in the Top 10 nationally in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles.

    7. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech.

    A college football player wearing a red uniform with 'Red Raiders' on the chest, running on the field with a focused expression.

    2024 stats – 127 total tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 4 PD, 1 Defensive TD.

    The 6’1″, 230 lbs senior is a tackling machine. He has the speed to play sideline-to-sideline. He has the strength to take on DT (see Iowa State game), and the toughness to take on the strongest of HBs at the LOS (see the hit on Arizona State HB Cam Skattebo).

    He has great hand usage, to get off of blockers and make the tackle. He wraps up and doesn’t let go.

    He was named Captain as a junior and has the complete trust of his teammates and coaches.

    8. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State.

    A football player wearing a blue and white uniform with the number 33, running on the field during a game at Penn State, showcasing his athleticism and readiness for action.

    2024 stats – 42 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 3 PD.

    The 6’5″, 265 lbs, senior has ideal size and length at the position. He has the burst to win off the edge and strength to bull rush through the offensive tackles body.

    He more than held his own, playing opposite of #3 draft pick Abdul Carter last season.

    He played his best football in the college football playoffs, getting 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and an INT in those 3 games.

    With new DC Jim Knowles now running the defense, he’ll have even more opportunities to make his mark this upcoming season.

    9. Matayo Uiagalelei, OLB/EDGE, Oregon.

    An Oregon football player in a green uniform tackles an opposing player in a yellow uniform during a game.

    2024 stats – 38 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 1 PD.

    The 6’5″, 270 lbs junior led the Big Ten in sacks last season. He had at least one sack in nine straight games. He’s a straight pass rushing LB.

    He’s not going to go out there and keep up with TEs on verts and crosses.

    He’s going to give you strength, effort, a relentless motor, and more often than not, he wins his matchups.

    10. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson.

    Clemson football player wearing an orange jersey with the number 11, standing on the field during a game.

    2024 stats – 26 total tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 QB hurries.

    The 6’3″, 315 lbs junior is the best DT in America, and possibly the best overall defensive lineman in college football.

    That’s right, I said it.

    Woods has the strength and speed inside, to demand double teams on every play. You absolutely cannot have him one on one. What makes him even better, is that he can kick out and not only play DE but play it well.

    He can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4, and be just as productive in both schemes.

    He plays his best games, against the best teams (see Georgia and Texas games) last season.

    Putting my “fan cap” on, I’d LOVE to see him in my Cleveland Browns Orange next season.

    A close-up of the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy on the football field, with empty stadium seats in the background under clear blue skies.

    There you go, the 10 best non-QB returning players for the upcoming college football season.

    Do you agree or disagree?

    Who would put in or take out?

    Let me know.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Follow me on X (Twitter) at JoeAmerican6771 and allsportsfancom.

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, athlonsports, on3, 247sports, clutchpoints, tigernet,texasfootball, clemsontigers, cnn.

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