- Garrett Nussmeier leads the offense: The LSU signal-caller is the best quarterback in the SEC.
- The two best edge defenders in America play in the SEC: Rising sophomores Colin Simmons and Dylan Stewart aren’t just the best edge rushers in the conference, they’re the best in the entire country.
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With the 2025 college football season under a month away, here’s a look at PFF’s preseason All-SEC team.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: C Jake Slaughter, Florida
Slaughter was the only Power Four center to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker in 2024. Even more impressive is that he faced a murderer’s row of defensive tackles, including Walter Nolen, Alfred Collins, Shemar Turner, Deone Walker, Omarr Norman-Lott and Joshua Farmer — all of whom were selected in the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Slaughter’s 85.8 PFF overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, allowing him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas
Simmons was a top-15 overall recruit and has somehow already exceeded expectations. The Texas native was the sixth-most-valuable edge defender in college football in 2024, according to PFF WAA. He trailed only Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau in that metric. Simmons ended up winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, given to the best true freshman in America.
His 18.6% pressure rate was a top-15 mark in the nation, and he contributed in the run game to the tune of a 73.4 PFF grade. Simmons’ elite combination of bend and advanced pass-rushing moves is reminiscent of Von Miller.
