• Vanderbilt‘s pass game looks dynamic: Quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers have begun the 2025 season as the highest-graded players at their positions.

• J’Dan Burnett has been a force: The Tulsa edge defender is the highest-graded defensive player in the FBS.

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Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

QUARTERBACK

Diego Pavia has picked up right where he left off last season with this high-powered Vanderbilt offense. Currently posting a 92.4 PFF passing grade on 48 dropbacks, Pavia has six big-time throws to his name and five touchdowns. He’s also continued his threat in the run game with over 100 yards on the ground on 18 carries. Overall, Pavia is one of the most exciting players to watch in the country. 

Evan Simon is putting up video game numbers through two games, averaging 12.1 yards per pass on an 87.9% adjusted completion percentage. Last Saturday, he posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating against Howard. Simon’s 8.6% big-time throw rate ranks just outside the top ten in the nation, while his 92.7 PFF passing grade slots second. 

RUNNING BACK

Isaac Brown was held in check by James Madison last Friday night until the fourth quarter, where he broke out for a 78-yard touchdown that was crucial to the Cardinals’ victory. In that contest, 77 of his 104 yards came after contact. On the season, Brown is averaging 12.8 yards per carry with a 91.5 PFF rushing grade.

Group of Five: Tae Meadows, Troy Titans – 85.6

The junior running back has been waiting a few years to break out for the Titans, and so far he’s done just that in 2025. Meadows nearly ran for 200 yards in Troy’s first game, when he earned an 89.1 overall PFF grade for the day. Last Saturday vs. Clemson, he came back down to Earth but still ran for 76 total yards and broke three tackles along the way against an elite run defense (86.3 team PFF run-defense grade). 

WIDE RECEIVER

There’s a reason Makai Lemon is soaring up draft boards everywhere. The current PFF WR2 prospect is third in overall receiving yards (248) and second in PFF receiving grade (89.9). Lemon has established an elite connection with quarterback Jayden Maivia thus far through two games, as Maiava recorded a perfect passer rating when throwing to Lemon.

Devin Voisin is now in his seventh year of college football and is having his best season by far. Last Saturday, he put up 152 receiving yards, establishing a career high while earning an 89.9 overall PFF grade. His 89.4 PFF receiving grade is highest in the Group of Five currently.

TIGHT END

Along with Pavia, Eli Stowers is also picking up right where he left off in 2024 as arguably the nation’s best tight end. Through two games, he’s caught all eight of his targets for 115 yards and a touchdown. Right now on the PFF big board, Stowers ranks as TE5. That ranking may move even higher, as he is still only in his third full season playing the position.

Group of Five: Peter Clarke, Temple Owls – 98.9

Peter Clarke still possesses the highest PFF grade of any player in the country right now at 98.9. He remained perfect from a receiving standpoint last weekend, catching both of his targets for 34 yards, and is still posting a 158.3 passer rating when being targeted. The Temple tight end and quarterback are both the highest-graded players at their respective positions in the Group of Five.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Power Four: Spencer Fano, Utah Utes – 86.5

Spencer Fano may be a top-10 pick when it’s all said and done, and he’s showing why in his 2025 tape. On 129 pass-blocking snaps, he has yet to allow a single pressure on Devon Dampier. Fano is currently the fifth overall player on the PFF Big Board.

Group of Five: Ben Murawski, UConn Huskies – 89.9

Ben Murawski has been the nation’s best run-blocking tackle thus far, leading all linemen in that category with a 91.8 grade. His dominance in the ground game has been vital to UConn’s offense, which has been one of the best rushing teams in college football  at an 82.4 team PFF rushing grade. 

OFFENSIVE GUARD

Beau Stevens continues to dominate for a stout Iowa offensive line, which ranks fourth as a team in PFF run-blocking grade (83.8). However, Stevens has really made his mark in pass protection with an 88.0 grade in that category with no pressures given up yet. 

Group of Five: Shadre Hurst, Tulane Green Wave – 83.4

Shadre Hurst is coming off an incredible game, where he finished with a 95.1 overall PFF grade on 73 blocking snaps. He ended the day with a perfect 100% pass-blocking efficiency rate and also scored a 95.7 grade in run-blocking. Hurst is in for his biggest challenge yet coming up this weekend vs Duke. 

CENTER

The chart below is all you need to know about Jake Slaughter’s dominance as a lineman and how he’s only getting better. 

Group of Five: Jacob Spomer, Fresno State Bulldogs – 81.4

Fresno State has had the luxury of playing three games so far, and Spomer has been great in all of them, only allowing one pressure on 172 total snaps. That gives the fourth-year starter a 99.4 pass-blocking efficiency rate. 

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Power Four: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State Buckeyes – 91.8

The Ohio State defensive line has not missed a beat since losing several contributors to the NFL last season. It is clear that this program just reloads arguably better than anyone in college football. McDonald is the latest Buckeye defensive tackle to make a name for himself, as his 93.6 PFF run-defense grade is the highest at the position. If OSU’s defensive line remains this strong all year, the Buckeyes will be in a great position to repeat as national champs.

Damonte Smith is currently leading all interior defenders in pressures and hurries with 11 and eight of them, respectively. He has gotten home to the quarterback twice, which has earned him a near-elite 89.5 PFF pass-rushing grade — which is outstanding for a defensive tackle. 

EDGE DEFENDER

Power Four: Reuben Bain Jr, Miami FL Hurricanes – 94.7

Reuben Bain Jr. has been one of the best players in all of college football in 2025 and is looking like a top-10 pick. He currently sits at 10th overall on the PFF Big Board, in part due to a 91.8 PFF pass-rushing grade. His dominance vs Notre Dame’s offensive line was needed in that victory, as he posted four pressures, five tackles and once forced fumble. 

J’Dan Burnett earned Edge Defender of the Week honors for the Group of Five due to his 97.5 overall PFF grade last Saturday vs New Mexico State. In that contest, he racked up three pressures, two run stops, a sack and one forced fumble. This makes Burnett the highest-graded defensive player at any position in the FBS.

LINEBACKER

Jacob Rodriguez earned last week’s run defender of the week plaudits with a 98.7 PFF grade against the run, tallying six tackles, five run stops and a fumble. His 96.7 PFF run-defense grade is unsurprisingly leading the nation at the moment.

Brayden Johnson has recorded a 90.0-plus PFF grade in each of his first two games this season. He’s been especially dominant against the pass, dropping back into coverage with a 90.4 grade in that category while hauling in one interception and breaking up another pass.

CORNERBACK

Power Four: Jackson Bennee, Utah Utes – 89.9

Jackson Bennee is the latest Utah standout corner who’s off to a tremendous start in 2025. In Week 2 vs. Cal Poly, Bennee secured a 91.1 overall PFF grade with two pass breakups and one interception.

The DII Washburn transfer held his own against Clemson last Saturday, only giving three total yards in coverage all game. It was a much bigger challenge for White than in Week 1, but he fared well, finishing with a solid 72.9 PFF coverage grade vs the Tigers. Moreover, his 90.2 PFF coverage grade is the highest among all cornerbacks.

SAFETY

Power Four: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC Trojans – 92.4

Bishop Fitzgerald did not perform quite as well in Week 2 as he did the previous week, but he still boasts a 92.4 PFF grade on the season. After playing 62 snaps in USC’s second game, he did allow two touchdowns, but that contest was still a blowout win for the Trojans. However, Fitzgerald did tally six total tackles that day, bumping his season tackling grade up to an outstanding 86.9 mark.

Group of Five: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets – 92.2

The latest star Toledo DB is already getting the attention of draft scouts everywhere through two weeks of his play. McNeil-Warren recorded his first pick-six of the season last week on his way to an 89.3 PFF coverage grade. A 92.2 overall PFF grade will certainly have you moving up NFL boards.