B/R CFB 250: New Series Ranks College Football's Best Players

The goal of the B/R CFB 250 was quite simple: to identify the 250 best players in college football right now and provide detailed analysis of each player for the folks who enjoy the game.

The execution, however, was quite complex.

Each position received criteria by which skills would be assessed. We then scored each player and rescored—out of a possible 100 points—based on our watching and rewatching tapes of multiple games throughout the season.

The CFB 250 is the latest Bleacher Report signature series taking this approach to ranking today's best athletes. Previous examples include the B/R NFL 1,000 and the MLB 500.

In the case of the CFB 250, given the breadth and depth of the college game across the nation, offensive systems and the level of competition had to be taken into account. We also only took into account the 2013 season. Past accomplishments and potential future accomplishments, including projections for the 2014 NFL draft, were not taken into account.

However, we did have Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller contribute a draft projection for each player, so that you could see how we think the player's college skills will translate to the pros.

Participation was key for making the CFB 250. Those who were injured and failed to play in at least six games, such as Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley and Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez, were not eligible to be ranked.

In recent weeks, we've rolled out our rankings one position at a time, finishing with the overall Top 250. (We know which player is No. 1, but it's not a quarterback and we’re not telling.)

Here are links to the positional rankings that have been released:

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Tackles

Centers and Guards

4-3 Defensive Ends

Outside Linebackers

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Inside Linebackers

3-4 Defensive Ends

Dual-Threat Quarterbacks

Defensive Tackles

Hybrid Linebackers

Pocket Quarterbacks

Where ties occurred—and there were certainly plenty of them—the tiebreaker was which player we would rather have on our roster. There were some surprises and some names that simply did not quite make the lists.

We embrace the discussion and debate this series has surely sparked.