Ranking the top 50 players in college football: 10-1
theScore's top 50 players in college football list was voted on by Mike Alessandrini, Dane Belbeck, Alex Chippin, Mike Dickson, and Michael McClymont.
The NFL draft snagged some talent and graduation took a toll, but college football is never short on stars.
Let us finish the countdown of the nation's 50 brightest stars entering the 2018 season.
50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1
10. QB Trace McSorley - Penn State
With Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, and DaeSean Hamilton now gone to the NFL, it's McSorley's show at Penn State this season. The talented quarterback has thrived on run-pass options with the Nittany Lions, but with offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead now the head coach at Mississippi State, it's all on McSorley to keep things rolling in Happy Valley. After a season with 37 total touchdowns, we like his chances to do so.
9. DE Clelin Ferrell - Clemson
He may not get the most publicity of the vaunted Clemson defensive line, but Ferrell is arguably the best pass-rusher on the Tigers front. With 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last season, he established himself as a force in the ACC and shocked many by opting to return for a fourth year at Clemson. Expect big things from the 6-foot-5, 265-pound standout.
8. DT Rashan Gary - Michigan
Gary went to Michigan as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory, and the stud defensive tackle has proven to be worthy of such anticipation through two years of action. He piled up 5.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season, wreaking havoc on defenses every time he took the field. With another year in coordinator Don Brown's scheme, expect Gary to soar up draft boards.
7. QB Will Grier - West Virginia
After sitting out the 2016 campaign due to his transfer from Florida, Grier wasted no time last season announcing he was one of the top quarterbacks in the country. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder tossed 34 touchdowns for West Virginia last season, connecting with David Sills on 18 of them. His favorite receiver is back for the 2018 campaign, so expect more magic between the duo as Grier works his way into Heisman consideration.
6. QB Khalil Tate - Arizona
Tate may not be the best quarterback in the country but he's certainly the most electric. It took four weeks for Arizona to get the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder into the lineup, but when Tate got his chance, he took the college football world by storm with the scariest dual-threat skills in the land. Tate broke the FBS record with 327 rushing yards in Week 5 against Colorado, and would finish the season with a whopping 1,353 yards and 12 scores on the ground. He also added 1,289 yards and nine touchdowns through the air, proving unguardable at times. How he will produce without Rich Rodriguez calling the plays remains to be seen, but Kevin Sumlin has shown in the past he has no problem building an offense around a dynamic dual-threat option.
5. RB Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin
It's tough to make a bigger impact in a freshman season than Taylor did at Wisconsin last year. The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder tallied over 200 yards three times and finished with a whopping 1,847 yards on the ground. Expect more of the same from Taylor this season as the Badgers return one of the best offensive lines in the country, as well as quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Wisconsin faces tough road trips to Penn State and Michigan this year, but Taylor could very well be a Heisman finalist if he can repeat last season's success.
4. DT Christian Wilkins - Clemson
Wilkins is a two-time All-American who made the shocking decision to return to Clemson for his final season instead of opting for the NFL draft. With the entire Tigers defensive line deciding to do the same, expect another dominant season from the tackle. Wilkins posted 55 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks last season, regularly commanding double teams which freed up his teammates. Barring something unforeseen, expect the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder to parlay his final collegiate campaign into an early first-round selection in the 2019 draft.
3. RB Bryce Love - Stanford
If production from the backfield is what you're looking for, Love is as good as it gets in college football. The 5-10, 200-pounder averaged an absurd 8.3 yards per carry last season, piling up a total of 1,973 despite missing a game due to injury. He's another player who could have jumped to the NFL but decided to return for his final collegiate season at Stanford. That news must have head coach David Shaw thrilled, as Love is set for another stat-stuffing season, provided he can stay healthy. He finished second in the Heisman voting last year, and with the other finalists all in the NFL now, don't be shocked if he's holding the prestigious trophy in December.
2. DT Ed Oliver - Houston
Oliver was a highly touted recruit who opted to stay home at Houston, and he wasted no time showing his potential in his first collegiate game. The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder posted seven tackles and two sacks in a huge upset over Oklahoma. He's now sitting at 39.5 tackles for loss in just 25 career games and has proven virtually unblockable in one-on-one situations. With opposing offenses scheming to stop him, Oliver's numbers could dip slightly in 2018, but there's no doubt he's as disruptive a defensive player as there is in the nation.
1. DE Nick Bosa - Ohio State
Joey Bosa was among the best defensive college players in recent memory, posting a whopping 13.5 sacks in his sophomore year at Ohio State before heading to the NFL after three seasons with the Buckeyes. That context really brings weight to the comments he recently made about his younger brother, Nick.
"He's an absolute monster," the elder Bosa told the NFL Network. "I think he's light years ahead of any spot I ever got to in college."
The younger Bosa has posted 13.5 sacks through his first two years and is poised for a massive year in what will likely be his final season with the Buckeyes. He's our No. 1 player in the country heading into the 2018 campaign and is a very strong bet to be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft.