Top 15 CFB Players You'll Fall in Love with in 2023
Part of the inherent love for college football is latching onto players you love to pull for, whether they're on your favorite teams or not.
Even if you hate a team—and we all have those we despise, whether it be our rivals or teams we just love to see lose, no matter what—it's rare you have supreme dislike for a college football player. They're just kids, right?
Everybody has an appreciation for the stars of the game, but it's some of the new ones coming into their own who we get passionate about and identify with as we share their journey.
Who all fell in love with Max Duggan's feel-good story after he went from being benched early in the year to a Heisman Trophy finalist? When Tulane's Tyjae Spears was running all over USC, it was a win for the little guy everywhere. Seeing North Carolina's Drake Maye go from no-name redshirt freshman to pinball-wizard passing numbers was remarkable.
So, who are some of the candidates to catapult onto our radars in 2023, going from players on the fringe of success to those who we root for every Saturday? Here is a list to watch.
Drew Allar, Penn State Quarterback
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Sean Clifford rode off into the Penn State sunset in a Rose Bowl win over Utah. While it was great to see a maligned player cap off a terrific final season to be remembered the right way as a Nittany Lion, it's hard not to be excited about the future.
The "future" is Drew Allar, and he's a 6'5", 242-pound Ohio native who is coming to a living room near you next year as the orchestra director for coach James Franklin's talented squad.
Get your popcorn ready. Allar has a big-time arm, is a great athlete for his size and is ready to live up to his former billing as a top-tier prospect.
From a talent perspective, it's been years since Penn State had a player of Allar's ilk. He can do things most others can't, which is why the thought of him spearheading an offense with Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and a stable of talented pass-catchers is tantalizing.
First thing's first, Allar has to beat out Beau Pribula, but it would be a stunner if he didn't win the gig.
"In a perfect world, you'd love to have a little bit more experience and a little bit more age in that room," Franklin told On3's Peter Warren. "But at the end of the day, it's about talent, and I think we're talented in that room."
Nobody has more of that than Allar.
Luther Burden III, Missouri Wide Receiver
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In a world where players enter the transfer portal at the snap of a finger, it was a major victory for a middling SEC program like Missouri to keep Luther Burden III from exploring his options.
You can bet coach Eli Drinkwitz will build off the second half of the 2022 season trend where he got the true freshman a bunch more touches. Simply put, the Tigers don't have anybody on the roster as talented as Burden, and he needs the ball.
That's especially the case with Dominic Lovett off to finish his career at Georgia, and Mizzou will look to Burden to carry the offense's burden in '23, no matter if it's Brady Cook or somebody else who gets him the ball.
A season ago, the former 5-star talent from St. Louis caught 45 passes for 375 yards and six touchdowns, and he added 18 carries for 88 yards and a pair of additional touchdowns.
This season, Mizzou needs a signal-caller to stretch the field a little more and send the 5'11", 215-pound Burden deep to make plays downfield. No matter where he lines up, Burden is capable of some explosive production.
It really depends on how much the Tigers win whether you get to see Burden play on a weekly basis, but he's going to be one of the best players on a team with plenty to prove.
Will Johnson, Michigan Cornerback
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It didn't take long for Michigan true freshman Will Johnson to get on the field in 2022, and while you may not know the name, opposing offensive coordinators certainly did.
The 6'2", 194-pound cornerback has shutdown ability and can match up with anybody in the nation, which is a big reason he was a freshman All-American.
In 14 games (five starts), he had 27 total tackles, three interceptions and three more pass breakups. He has the potential to be the best player on the defense in '23.
With D.J. Turner and Gemon Green off to the NFL, it's a near-guarantee Johnson will not only start but likely star for Michigan.
The Detroit native told MLive.com's Aaron McMann his goal while in Ann Arbor is to ultimately win the Jim Thorpe Award, the honor bestowed upon the nation's top defensive back.
Michigan has a rich history with the award, and Johnson could fast-track to it. Last year was just a start, and he is well on his way; this season could be another huge step forward, and it wouldn't surprise the confident and talented player, who foresaw his '22 success.
"I think I exceeded some people's expectations," he told McMann, "but I think I did what I thought would do."
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Riley Leonard, Duke Quarterback
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If you were just perusing the statistics and college football standings at the end of the 2022 season, you were probably stunned when you got to the ACC to see the success of the Duke Blue Devils.
It isn't basketball, after all.
But first-year coach Mike Elko led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record after taking over for David Cutcliffe, and if it wasn't for the brilliant work of Sonny Dykes in his first season at TCU, you'd better believe Elko would have received plenty of consideration for national coach of the year.
The catalyst on the team was dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard, a 6'4", 212-pound Alabama native who was a terrific high school athlete but not recruited much by SEC programs.
Instead, he went to the ACC, and his athleticism has translated to him being one of the most exciting, off-the-radar prospects in the sport. His secrecy won't last long.
A season ago, Leonard threw for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 699 more yards and 13 scores. Those numbers are incredible for a kid playing his first full year as a starter, and it makes you wonder why he didn't get more publicity.
If he keeps developing, Leonard could be special.
Dasan McCullough, Oklahoma Outside Linebacker
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Nobody paid much attention to the Indiana Hoosiers football program in 2022 because, quite frankly, the team hasn't been much of a threat to anybody the past couple of seasons.
What you may have failed to realize, though, is they had one of the most exciting, young defenders in the nation in Dasan McCullough.
But the edge-rusher/outside linebacker probably got sick of losing and decided to head to another program known for competing for championships, even though it was down too in '22. That would be the Oklahoma Sooners, who struggled under first-year coach Brent Venables.
The longtime Sooners and Clemson defensive coordinator is a known developer of elite talent on that side of the ball, and he is also a relentless recruiter. Some of the major wins on the trail and in the portal should go a long way in turning around the nation's No. 122-ranked defense.
McCullough is the biggest piece of that puzzle. The 6'5", 230-pound player can line up with his hand down or on the second level. A year ago in Bloomington, he finished with 49 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, and four sacks.
He can do everything on the field, including run down receivers and runners with his blazing speed for his size. Look for Venables to have a blast moving him around.
McCullough has the ability to be an All-American and to help turn around OU's defense.
Joe Milton III, Tennessee Quarterback
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There's no better developer of quarterbacks in the college game right now that Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, and his 2023 weapon has a more advanced skill set than perhaps any signal-caller in the country.
The biggest question—that hasn't been answered in five years of his college career—is whether Joe Milton III can maximize that limitless talent.
He won the starting job at Michigan in 2020 only to lose it and ultimately transfer to Rocky Top, where he started the '21 season as the Vols' first-string signal-caller.
However, he underachieved again to begin the season, got hurt and gave way to Hendon Hooker, whose brilliance helped turn around the program.
Now Hooker is gone, and Milton stuck around to wait his turn. After Hooker's season-ending knee injury in the loss to South Carolina, Milton performed admirably in terrible weather conditions in a win over Vanderbilt and then was terrific in the Orange Bowl win over Clemson.
He's ready, and with a 6'5", 245-pound frame and the athleticism to weave away from traffic and pick up yardage with his long strides, Milton could ride a huge final season to being a first-round draft pick. He is also a charismatic person the cameras love.
By the way, he arguably has the best collegiate arm in memory, right up there if not better than those of Matthew Stafford, John Elway and Justin Herbert.
Everything is there for Milton to be elite, and Heupel rarely has a season without a star quarterback. All the pieces are there; if he can only put it all together.
Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin Quarterback
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Tanner Mordecai is back in the Power Five for his final chance at major college football.
By now, everybody should at least be familiar with the name. Though he never could get traction in three seasons and 12 games at Oklahoma from 2018 to '20, he transferred to SMU where he thrived in the offenses of Sonny Dykes and Rhett Lashlee the past two years.
Mordecai was one of the best Group of Five players in the nation the past couple of seasons, throwing for 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. But if you're a college football elitist, you may not know much about him.
You'll learn in '23, as he will team with new offensive coordinator Phil Longo on first-year Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell's Badgers team to try to turn around that proud program in Camp Randall.
Nobody is used to seeing Wisconsin put up video-game offensive numbers, but the Longo-Mordecai combo has as much potential to do exciting things as any. The pieces are in place to—here's a bold prediction—lead the Badgers to a TCU-esque turnaround.
Hear me out: There's no questioning Wisconsin's usual defensive prowess, running back Braelon Allen is a star-in-the-making, and adding Mordecai could be the key ingredient.
Look for the Badgers to be back in Big Ten contention in '23, and Mordecai will be beloved by everyone if they are.
Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Edge
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Anybody who follows recruiting knows about Harold Perkins Jr., a former 5-star prospect who was coveted by essentially everybody in the nation.
The 6'2", 220-pound outside linebacker chose the LSU Tigers, and as a true freshman in 2022, he was one of the most explosive playmakers on defense in the nation. The only reason you may not have heard of him is he was a first-year player.
The Cypress, Texas, resident, who moved with his family from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, showed out last year, finishing an impressive first season with 72 tackles, including 13 for loss, 7.5 sacks and an interception.
Few freshmen have had that kind of impact. With Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. off to the NFL, Perkins could become not only the best defender in the SEC but the nation.
Perkins' trainer Robby Green told The Athletic's Brody Miller just how much of a household name Perkins is becoming. Even NFL All-Pro Von Miller knows his name, and soon everybody will.
"As soon as I mentioned Harold Perkins' name, he knew who he was," Green said of Miller. "He's excited to work with Harold Perkins."
With guys like Oregon State transfer Omar Speights around him, Perkins is only going to improve. He's going to be one of the biggest stars in college football in '23, so get ready to hear his name called a lot in LSU games and awards ceremonies.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas Tight End
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When Ja'Tavion Sanders came out of elite football powerhouse Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, in the 2021 recruiting class, there was no question about his ability.
The only decision was what position he was going to play as a Texas Longhorn.
Either he was going to get after quarterbacks as an edge-rusher, or he was going to catch passes from them as a force at tight end. As it turns out, the 6'4", 242-pound athlete was far too talented to keep off the field as an offensive player.
So, tight end it was, and the rest is history. Now, in what almost certainly will be his final season in Austin before heading to the NFL, Sanders is set to have a massive season catching passes from either Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning.
A season ago as a true sophomore, Sanders had 54 catches for 613 yards and five touchdowns.
Not only is Sanders a huge player, he has soft hands, big-time speed for his size and can do it all. Everybody talks about Brock Bowers, but in Steve Sarkisian's offense, Sanders can be one of the top playmakers at his position in the country.
He's the total package for NFL teams. Look for him to build on his sophomore season, gain even more confidence and be a primary target in '23.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Quarterback
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Everybody is talking about Deion "Prime" Sanders landing Cormani McClain in the 2023 recruiting class to go along with the elite pull from last year's class (Travis Hunter), who is transferring with him from Jackson State.
Not enough folks are talking about Shedeur Sanders.
This isn't some kind of nepotism deal. While it's doubtful his numbers from the FCS program—71 completion percentage, 3,732 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, six interceptions and six more rushing scores—end up as good in the Pac-12, he is superbly talented.
The 6'2", 215-pound signal-caller was outstanding a season ago at Jackson State, leading 247Sports' Mariah Guzman to say he should be a Heisman Trophy contender.
That's a bit of a stretch considering the competition the Tigers played. Now that he's a Buffalo, Sanders will be pitted against much more talented players. Can he produce at the same level?
Even if he doesn't, he still has the skill set to be a quality player in the Pac-12, and he's better than anything we saw in Boulder a season ago. The younger Sanders is charismatic like his father, and he could quickly become the student-athlete face of the program.
You know he's going to get publicity, and the guess here is he lives up to expectations and has a nice season after taking a little while to get started.
Carson Steele, UCLA Running Back
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You don't know Carson Steele's name, but you will.
The former Ball State running back burst onto the scene in 2021 as a freshman with 891 yards, and, a season ago, he was one of the nation's most productive rushers with 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
Since he was playing in the MAC, though, you hardly ever heard the 6'1", 215-pound Greenwood, Indiana, native's name.
Now he's plying his trade under the bright lights of Hollywood, deciding to continue his collegiate career with the UCLA Bruins. With Zach Charbonnet off to the NFL, Steele should be the bell cow in that offense.
If you consider he could team with fellow MAC transfer Collin Schlee or true freshman phenom Dante Moore in the offensive backfield, the Bruins are poised to have a big final season in the Pac-12 before heading to the Big Ten.
Raymond Lucas Jr. of 247Sports rates Steele as the No. 12-ranked returning running back, and he could surge even higher than that.
As the Daily Journal's Mike Beas noted, Steele just looks like he belongs in Cali with his surfer shoulders and long, wavy blond hair.
"Personality-wise, it just kind of fit me," Steele said. "You either take your chance, or you lose your opportunity."
Bucky Irving, Oregon Running Back
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Oregon's high-flying offense is going to go as senior quarterback Bo Nix goes in 2023, but he is going to be far from doing everything by himself.
On top of an explosive wide receiving corps, Nix also gets a strong, versatile group of running backs behind him that may be among the best in the nation.
Even with last year's offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham off to be the head coach at Arizona State, Will Stein enters from the same post at UTSA and will inherit a group of star runners, led by Mar'Keise "Bucky" Irving.
The former Minnesota Golden Gophers running back got off to a slow start a season ago but surged late, winding up with 1,058 rushing yards and five scores, going for nearly seven yards per carry. When you consider he was in a backfield with Noah Whittington, that's high production.
In the bowl win over North Carolina, he tied his season high with 149 rushing yards, so that could be a catalyst for the '23 season.
He is a big, powerful runner with the burst to get to the next level, and he is going to be the primary runner in a deep backfield in Eugene.
He edged out rival Oregon State running back Damien Martinez to be on this list, so the state of Oregon could wind up having a couple of the top running backs in the nation during the season.
Jared Verse, Florida State Defensive End
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A season ago, Jared Verse chose the Florida State Seminoles and longtime defensive line coach Odell Haggins over Tennessee and another veteran D-line coach in Rodney Garner.
Making the jump from FCS team Albany after a monstrous freshman season, Verse wanted somewhere where he could develop and become a household name.
He went a long way toward accomplishing that with the Seminoles, becoming the most disruptive force on the defense of one of the nation's hottest programs at the end of the year.
The 'Noles received big news when Verse elected to bypass the NFL and come back to Tallahassee for another season, giving Haggins and coach Mike Norvell a potentially lethal weapon coming off the edge.
"Obviously, the money is a big factor in it. But my biggest factor was, 'What can I improve on?'" Verse told ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson. "I just have to look at myself and say, 'OK, every day, I've still got a lot to improve on. I've still got a lot to be better at.'
"I did what was best for me, and what was best for me was coming back and competing with my team."
The 6'4", 251-pound defensive end finished the year with 48 tackles, including 17 for loss, and nine sacks, and he is as talented as any player at his position in the nation.
Despite being a projected first-round pick, Verse is returning and could be the catalyst for a major run in the ACC, especially considering the underrated pickup of fellow edge-rusher Gilber Edmond (South Carolina) from the portal to help take some of the pressure off Verse.
Treshaun Ward, Kansas State Running Back
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It's a Florida State flavor during this portion of the story, but while the last slide focused on a player who was coming back to the Seminoles in Jared Verse, this one highlights a guy who is leaving.
Treshaun Ward has major upside, and with the emergence of Trey Benson in Tallahassee and the short shelf life of running backs, the 5'10", 189-pound sophomore from Plant City, Florida, decided he'd seek a clearer path to playing time elsewhere.
The road he chose led straight to the "Little Apple" of Manhattan, Kansas, and he is a perfect fit for coach Chris Klieman and the Big 12 champion Kansas State Wildcats. They are losing all-world running back Deuce Vaughn to the NFL, and Ward is the perfect replacement.
In the past two seasons with the Seminoles, he ran for 1,143 total yards and more than six yards per carry. He also scored 11 rushing touchdowns, and while he wasn't a big receiving threat in '22, he showed his ability to excel there in '21 with 22 catches for 167 yards and another score.
Ward should be the clear RB1 in Manhattan, and with the type of numbers Vaughn posted, it's not out of the question for him to blow up and be one of the top portal newcomers in the Big 12 next season.
Why are you going to fall in love with Ward? Simply put, he's a success story. He carved a big role with Florida State despite being a former walk-on. Now, he has parlayed that success into what is almost certain to be a starting role and the opportunity to put up numbers.
This is the type of story we all pull for.
Antonio Williams, Clemson Wide Receiver
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Get ready for the Clemson offensive turnaround.
If the Tigers are ever going to get back to competing for national championships under coach Dabo Swinney, they had to fix the offense. Welcome to a major overhaul.
Not only did Clemson swap signal-callers, dropping DJ Uiagalelei (who transferred to Oregon State) for Cade Klubnik, but they also fired offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter and replaced him with TCU's up-and-comer Garrett Riley.
He's going to make everything click, and the Tigers have plenty of weapons just waiting to be utilized. Everybody talks about running back Will Shipley thriving under Riley (and they should), but receiver Antonio Williams is going to make one of the biggest leaps.
As a true freshman receiver in 2022 out of Dutch Fork, South Carolina, and the No. 61-ranked overall prospect in the nation, Williams excelled, catching 56 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns.
The 5'11", 190-pound pass-catcher could wind up coming out of nowhere (on the national radar) to have a huge season. After all, Riley turned some no-name receivers into big producers with the Horned Frogs to go along with star Quentin Johnston.
Williams was a major recruiting win who had a nice first year in an offense that was devoid of big-time playmakers. Now that the Tigers have an ascending coordinator and quarterback, the pulse of the offense could beat stronger.
This could be a breakout year for the receiver.
All stats courtesy of cfbstats and Sports Reference. Player rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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