Ranking the top 25 players in college football: 25-21
A new college football season means a new list of game-changing players looking to make their mark on the national landscape.
The NFL draft always takes its share of elite talent from the college level, but make no mistake, this year's preseason top 25 is littered with impact players all over the field.
Ranking the top 25 players in college football: 20-16
Ranking the top 25 players in college football: 15-11
Ranking the top 25 players in college football: 10-6
Ranking the top 25 players in college football: 5-1
theScore's top 25 players in college football list was voted on by Michael Amato, Dane Belbeck, Alex Chippin, and Dylan Perego.
25. Luke Falk - QB, Washington State
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Falk gets lost in the shuffle when it comes to discussing the nation's top quarterbacks, and some may say that his success at Washington State is entirely because of the Cougars' Air Raid offense. The bottom line, however, is that the man under center needs to deliver, and 9,029 passing yards and 76 touchdowns over the last two seasons would fit the bill for just about any Power 5 football coach.
24. Mason Rudolph - QB, Oklahoma State
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Oklahoma State has finished tied for second place in the Big 12 for the last two seasons, and a lot of that has to do with Rudolph's high-powered arsenal. Back-to-back 10-win seasons and a victory in last year's Alamo Bowl have been nice feathers in Rudolph's cap, but an upset of in-state rival Oklahoma would go a long way to putting the finishing touches on a respectable collegiate career.
23. Jake Browning - QB, Washington
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Aerial assaults may not be the forte of Washington's starting quarterback, but Browning was proficient at keeping the ball out of defenders' hands last season, throwing just seven interceptions compared to 42 touchdown passes prior to the College Football Playoff. The soon-to-be junior may not have the raw passing ability of some of his counterparts, but winning is winning, and Browning could be set to do a lot of that again this year.
22. Tarvarus McFadden - CB, Florida State
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Last year put McFadden on the radar of opposing quarterbacks, as he tied for the top spot in the nation with eight interceptions, an accomplishment that helped him to be named first-team All-ACC. Florida State is seen as a significant College Football Playoff contender this season, and having a game-changing talent like McFadden in the secondary will make the Seminoles tough to beat.
21. Azeem Victor - LB, Washington
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Victor was a powerful force for Washington until a broken leg cost him the final five games of the season, but a return to full health will mean that opposing offenses will have quite the handful coming at them on a consistent basis. When it comes to linebackers in 2017, Victor is right there with the best of them, and Washington's hopes of returning to the CFP in consecutive seasons will fall largely on its defense and what players like Victor will be able to contribute.