With Georgia's big win in the College Football Playoff, the 2021 college football season has come to a close. But it's never too soon to look ahead to next season. We're into the beginning stages of the pre-draft process for 2022, and Monday saw the deadline for underclassmen to declare for this year's draft pass. That leaves us with a clear picture of who will be returning to school for another season.
Following that Georgia-Alabama title game, ESPN's Mark Schlabach released his way-too-early top 25 teams for the 2022 season. The top school isn't a new one, as Alabama leads the way at this point. Likewise, the top names on that roster won't surprise either. We've all seen what Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. can do on a football field.
But beyond that, the top NFL prospects aren't necessarily as clear for every top-25 team. Who are the prospects who could lead each team through the 2022 season and then occupy high spots on 2023 NFL draft boards? Let's take a closer look at some players who could be key contributors on those top-25 teams while also improving their draft stock for the 2023 cycle.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Quarterback Bryce Young
After one of the best quarterback seasons in recent history, the Heisman Trophy winner will be among the leaders to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. His 87.6 Total QBR ranked second in the nation in 2021, and he threw 47 touchdown passes while leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship game.
Edge defender Will Anderson Jr.
If he were draft eligible this year, Anderson would have been the clear-cut top prospect in this 2022 class. But he'll have to wait a year. Anderson had 17.5 sacks last season and joins Young as prospects who will be in contention for the top overall selection in 2023.
Others to watch: The Crimson Tide once again took full advantage of the transfer portal, adding former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks and Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs to their roster. Both have the potential to finish atop their respective positional draft rankings next year.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Quarterback C.J. Stroud
Stroud had a shaky start to the 2021 season, but he continued to get better as the year progressed and he blossomed at the Rose Bowl (six touchdown passes). All eyes will be on him as he enters his second season as a full-time starter.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Ohio State has turned into a receiver factory, and Smith-Njigba was arguably the best one on the team this past season despite being only a sophomore. A record-breaking Rose Bowl performance (15 catches for 347 yards and three TDs) has placed him in the WR1 slot entering the 2022 season and set him up to possibly be the first receiver off the board in 2023.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter
Despite playing on a loaded defense, Carter stood out on a down-to-down basis, even if he didn't always show up on the stat sheet. A quick and strong player at the point of attack -- 12 tackles for loss in 2021 -- he has the potential to be a top-10 pick next year.
4. Texas A&M Aggies
Running back Devon Achane
Achane is 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, but he was one of the most explosive players in the country in 2021, averaging 7.0 yards on his 130 carries. He is a dynamic athlete who has spent time at both running back and on the perimeter as a receiving threat. And with him expected to take over the starting running back role for the Aggies, he's a breakout candidate to watch.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Center/guard Olusegun Oluwatimi
Taking advantage of the transfer portal, the Wolverines were able to add Oluwatimi this offseason. The former Virginia interior lineman was among the three finalists for the Rimington Award (best center in college football) and is a strong player along the inside. According to PFF grades, Oluwatimi had the third-best run block grade for a center in 2021.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Tight end Michael Mayer
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Mayer, who's built like a brick house, is a versatile tight end who can have an impact in both the passing and running game. He has the potential to make it five consecutive years that a Notre Dame tight end has been drafted -- but he could be the first of the bunch to be a first-rounder. He caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.
7. Utah Utes
Cornerback Clark Phillips III
A natural playmaker on the ball, Phillips ended the season tied for the Pac-12 lead in passes defended (13). A quick-footed and physical corner, he could see a significant rise up draft boards with a repeat season. In 2021, he totaled 61 tackles and two interceptions.
8. NC State Wolfpack
Defensive tackle Cory Durden
Since transferring from Florida State (2021), Durden has been a rock solid option for the Wolfpack along the interior. He has shown much more energy as a pass-rusher to complement an already consistent skill set as a run defender. Durden returned for his senior season and has become one of the leaders on the Wolfpack defense.
9. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Quarterback Spencer Sanders
Sanders has an electric arm -- and he has grown comfortable in coach Mike Gundy's Air Raid system -- but he still needs to show consistency. He has thrown 31 interceptions in 35 career games at Oklahoma State. Sanders has another opportunity to bundle all of his traits together and engineer a high-powered offense in 2022.
Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders fires a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tay Martin in the final minute of the first half.
10. Michigan State Spartans
Wide receiver Jayden Reed
At 6-foot and 185 pounds, Reed is a reliable receiving threat who experienced a breakout season as the Spartans' go-to option. He caught 59 passes for 1,026 yards -- averaging 17.4 yards per reception -- with 10 touchdowns, including two punts returned for touchdowns. He has consistent hands as a receiver and dynamic ability as a return specialist, and he could enjoy an even more productive 2022 season.
11. Clemson Tigers
Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee
The former No. 1-ranked recruit looked the part as a freshman (2020), but he tore his ACL only four games into the 2021 season. If able to regain his previous form, Bresee is a surefire first-round pick.
12. Oregon Ducks
Linebacker Noah Sewell
Sewell, who had 114 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 2021, will step into a leader role in a new scheme next season. An extremely physical and instinctive player, he has the attributes of a first-round player at linebacker. And yes, his brother is offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who went to the Lions at No. 7 overall in last year's draft.
13. Houston Cougars
Offensive tackle Patrick Paul
This is a bit of a projection, but in talking to a few people within the program, there's a lot of excitement about Paul. He is lean and raw at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, and he's a name to keep an eye on for the Cougars.
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Quarterback Sam Hartman
Hartman, who threw 39 touchpasses and 14 interceptions in 2021, has mastered the nuances of a Wake Forest scheme that has some unconventional principles. He is a decisive passer and a threat to gain some yards on the ground (he had 11 rushing scores), and he's aiming to help the Demon Deacons return to the ACC title game. He's likely a Day 3 pick right now, but he could rise.
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
Cornerback Riley Moss
Moss is back for his super senior season after being one of the biggest playmakers on the Hawkeyes' defense last year. He had four interceptions -- including two pick-sixes -- last season. His return to Iowa was a surprise, but showing that he's fully healed from a knee injury that sidelined him for three games could help improve his draft stock for next year.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
Safety Jalen Catalon
Catalon received a lot of notoriety coming into this past season, but he took a step back in 2021. He still needs to improve his tackling consistency, but he has the potential to regain form and finish as one of the best safeties in the country.
17. Oklahoma Sooners
Wide receiver Marvin Mims
Mims is explosive -- he averaged 22.0 yards per catch last season -- and a speedy downfield threat. Now draft-eligible, he has a chance to be one of the top-ranked receiving threats in the country if he can build off his production from last season.
18. BYU Cougars
Quarterback Jaren Hall
Filling the shoes of a top-two pick is never easy, but Hall confidently did that as a first-year starter in replacing Zach Wilson, finishing 2021 with 20 touchdown passes and five picks while completing 63.9% of his throws. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Hall is a solidly built passer who can also be incorporated into the QB-designed run game. He could be a Day 2 pick in 2023 if he keeps improving.
Jaren Hall throws a stellar 41-yard pass to Keanu Hill for the BYU touchdown.
19. Cincinnati Bearcats
Tight end Josh Whyle
Whyle is a 6-foot-6 tight end with strong hands, and being able to catch passes out of the strike zone has become his specialty. He caught 26 passes for 332 yards with six touchdowns in 2021. As the Bearcats turn the page on offense, Whyle occupies one of the few positions that will be steady.
20. Baylor Bears
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika
The centerpiece of Dave Aranda's attacking defense, Ika, a former LSU transfer, is a player I expect to gain significant traction as a potential Day 2 pick next season. At 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds, Ika is a 0-technique for teams that run a 3-4 scheme.
21. Kentucky Wildcats
Quarterback Will Levis
Levis, a graduate transfer from Penn State, brought stability to the Wildcats' offense in 2021. He proved to be a strong decision-maker for an offense that incorporates a mixture of schemes, tossing 24 touchdown passes and 13 picks while rushing for nine more scores. Levis now has another year to unlock the next stage of his development. He played his way into being a potential Day 2 pick next year.
22. USC Trojans
Defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu
There aren't many programs in the country that have had a more eventful offseason than the Trojans, but Tuipulotu remains as a key part of the defense. He uses his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame well, and showcases an intriguing blend of strength, length and determination to get to the ball. I think he could make a quick rise during the fall.
23. Ole Miss Rebels
Offensive tackle Nick Broeker
After flirting with declaring for the 2022 draft, Broeker announced he would return for his senior season. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, he has been a consistent left tackle since arriving in Oxford in 2019. Some believe he could be an even better guard at the next level.
24. Wisconsin Badgers
Center Joe Tippmann
Tippmann is likely the next in line to come out of a program with a long lineage of NFL offensive linemen. He proved his worth as a first-year starter at center, and entering his junior season, he's expected to lead another promising unit.
25. South Carolina Gamecocks
Quarterback Spencer Rattler
All eyes will be on Rattler's fresh start to see how he handles the SEC after his transfer from Oklahoma. Once seen as a potential candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2022 -- Mel Kiper ranked him No. 1 overall on a preseason Big Board -- he now has an opportunity to thrive with the Gamecocks and improve his draft stock for 2023. He took a step down from 2020 to 2021, going from throwing for over 3,000 passing yards with 28 touchdowns to 1,483 yards and just 11 touchdowns and being benched late in the season.
Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens
The final name that I wanted to include is Pickens, a highly touted recruit who finished last season strong. If he's able to improve his consistency, he has the potential to be a top-75 pick in the future.