Top Seniors at Each Position Heading into the 2023 College Football Season
Although most of college football's best players head to the NFL as soon as possible, a small group of star performers return for their senior year.
For most of the players we're about to highlight, a professional future is still a real possibility. But they've all decided that one more season in college—though not necessarily their last, given the 2020 eligibility pause—is the best choice for their football careers.
And we're thrilled about the chance to keep watching them excel on Saturdays in the fall.
Class standing is based on the school's official roster. Both fourth-year seniors and redshirt seniors were considered.
DE/Edge: Laiatu Latu
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Laiatu Latu debuted for Washington in 2019, but a neck injury cost him two seasons and almost ended his football career.
However, he returned as a surprise star of UCLA's defense last year. Latu posted 12.5 tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks—both team-high marks—on his way to securing first-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
"It had been a long time since I've been out of the game," he told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. "I love being here in the facility every day. I love being here with the dudes that I get to play with. I'm just trying to get better and go as far as we can with this team."
Latu totaled 36 tackles and also forced three fumbles in 2022.
Honorable mention: Grayson Murphy, UCLA
UCLA has a loaded group of edge-rushers coming back in 2023. Even behind, Latu, the Bruins return twins Gabriel and Grayson Murphy. The latter collected 14.5 tackles for loss at North Texas in 2021 and notched nine TFLs with five sacks for UCLA last season.
IDL: Tyler Davis, Clemson
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Tyler Davis wasted no time making an impact at Clemson, providing 10 tackles for loss as a true freshman in 2019. It seemed he'd become one of the many three-and-done players from the ACC powerhouse.
Injuries, though, have thrown a wrench in the lineman's career. But he's kept on producing anyway.
Entering his fifth season, Davis has amassed 111 tackles with 27 stops for loss and 16.5 sacks. He's a three-time All-ACC selection who probably could've been a Day 2 selection in the 2023 NFL draft.
Davis will instead anchor a Clemson defense that should again be among the nation's stingiest units.
Honorable mention: Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Kris Jenkins didn't attract much attention because of his role, but the space-eating lineman certainly would have deserved it. He tallied 54 takedowns with 3.5 tackles for loss while doing the unglamorous work of plugging run lanes and occupying blockers in the middle.
LB: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
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The second level of Ohio State's defense is full of experience.
After making 64 tackles with 6.5 for loss in 2021, Tommy Eichenberg nearly doubled his contributions last season. He racked up 120 takedowns and 12 TFLs, adding three pass breakups and a pick-six.
Eichenberg received second-team AP All-America honors but decided to stay in Columbus for another year.
Once he recovers from hand surgeries, Eichenberg will partner with fellow senior Steele Chambers to lead the OSU defense.
Honorable mention: Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Cedric Gray tore up the box score in 2022, ranking third nationally with 146 total tackles. The linebacker also posted 12 stops for loss, forced three fumbles and snagged two interceptions.
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CB: Storm Duck, Penn State
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Storm Duck is a standout player readying for his Nittany Lions debut after playing the last four seasons at North Carolina.
Duck put together a superb 2022 campaign with 46 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions, earning second-team All-ACC recognition.
He has since transferred to Penn State and is the likely replacement for Joey Porter Jr., a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Duck and Kalen King should form another terrific one-two punch for a secondary that ranked fifth in yards allowed per pass in 2022.
Honorable mention: Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
Dwight McGlothern is also a transfer, though his departure from LSU happened before the 2022 season. He fit in nicely with the Razorbacks, providing 52 tackles with 10 pass breakups and four interceptions.
S: Demani Richardson, Texas A&M
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Demani Richardson is on the verge of becoming a great topic for Texas A&M football trivia in about a decade.
Provided he stays healthy, Richardson will complete his fifth season as a starter in 2023. He's appeared in 44 games and registered 246 career tackles, adding five takeaways and four forced fumbles.
Last year specifically, he served as a team captain and paced the defense with 74 tackles. Richardson also scored two touchdowns, both of which helped the Aggies earn their only two victories in SEC games.
Honorable mention: Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
Kenny Logan Jr. has experienced the low of a winless season and the high of Kansas' surge to its first bowl in 15 years. He's back for a final campaign in Lawrence after surpassing the 100-tackle mark for the second consecutive season with 106 in 2022.
OT: Graham Barton, Duke
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Since becoming a starter as a freshman midway through the 2020 season, Graham Barton hasn't exited the lineup.
He shifted from center to left tackle prior to the 2021 campaign and commanded first-team All-ACC honors in 2022. Barton played a key part of Duke shaking three straight losing seasons and finishing this past season with a 9-4 record.
That excellent year has led to early accolades for Barton, a member of the Walter Camp Preseason All-America team.
Honorable mention: Javon Foster, Missouri
Javon Foster has quietly excelled the last two seasons at Missouri. He entered 2022 with the highest run-blocking grade for returning SEC tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Foster enters the 2023 season with 26 starts at left tackle.
IOL: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
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TCU will be remembered for its unexpected run to a national championship appearance in 2022. Don't forget, however, that Kansas State defeated TCU and took home a Big 12 title.
And the Wildcats can partially thank Cooper Beebe for that.
Following a terrific year as K-State's left tackle in 2021, he moved inside to left guard and flat-out dominated. Beebe finished the year as a second-team AP All-America selection and, like Clemson's Tyler Davis, probably could've been a Day 2 draft pick had he pursued the NFL in 2023.
Honorable mention: Zak Zinter, Michigan
Michigan has leaned on a powerful offensive line to reach the College Football Playoff in each of the last two seasons. Zak Zinter was a key contributor in both years, starting at right guard for the Big Ten champs.
TE: Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford
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Shocker: Stanford has another quality tight end.
The pipeline at the position has continued with Benjamin Yurosek, who paced the Cardinal in receiving yards (658) two years ago. He then grabbed 49 passes for 445 yards last season.
Most impressively, according to Pro Football Focus, Yurosek led all tight ends for most targets (65) without a drop.
Stanford has to break in a new quarterback after Tanner McKee headed to the NFL. No matter who's throwing the ball, however, Yurosek will be a reliable target in first-year coach Troy Taylor's updated offense.
Honorable mention: Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss
Memphis' loss is Ole Miss' gain. Caden Prieskorn reeled in 48 passes for 602 yards and seven touchdowns last year, landing second-team All-AAC honors. He transferred to the SEC program this offseason.
WR: Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina
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Given the appeal of the pros, it's logical that a majority of college football's best wideouts are sophomores and juniors. Top NFL-eligible receivers tend to declare for the draft.
South Carolina isn't complaining, though.
Two years ago, Antwane Wells Jr. garnered FCS All-American status at James Madison. He joined the SEC program for the 2022 season and settled in nicely, putting up 68 receptions for 928 yards and six touchdowns.
Wells has a great opportunity to build his draft perception as South Carolina tries to narrow the gap with Georgia in the SEC East.
Honorable mention: Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech
Ali Jennings played two seasons at West Virginia before emerging as Old Dominion's top receiver. He caught 116 passes for 2,025 yards and 14 touchdowns in two years with ODU, and Jennings will complete his college career as Virginia Tech's presumed key target in 2023.
RB: Blake Corum, Michigan
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Considering how well he played in 2022, Michigan back Blake Corum absolutely could have headed to the NFL. That outcome felt even more likely after his late-season knee injury, too.
Corum had other plans, and the reigning Big Ten champions are thrilled about it.
Before that injury, Corum was firmly on the Heisman Trophy radar. He scored at least once in all of his 11 healthy appearances, ending the season with 19 total touchdowns. He scampered for 1,463 yards—the 11th-most in the country—and added 11 receptions.
Corum and Donovan Edwards can easily be labeled one of the nation's top backfield tandems.
Honorable mention: Miyan Williams, Ohio State
Though he has eligibility remaining, Miyan Williams is classified as a senior by the school. But since he rushed for 825 yards and 14 scores in 2022, Williams might be playing his final year anyway. TreVeyon Henderson and Williams give the Big Ten another stellar duo of running backs.
QB: Bo Nix, Oregon
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What a difference a change of scenery can make.
After a decent freshman year at Auburn, Bo Nix didn't come close to reaching his potential the next two seasons. He left the Plains for Oregon, reuniting with coordinator Kenny Dillingham and becoming an absolute star.
Nix unleashed his upside with the Ducks, throwing for 3,593 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He rushed for 510 yards and 14 scores, even catching one touchdown, too. Similar to Corum, Nix had Heisman potential until an ankle injury slowed him in November.
Dillingham's departure for the Arizona State head coaching job complicates Nix's outlook, but he's earned the benefit of the doubt with new coordinator Will Stein.
Honorable mention: Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Copy and paste Nix's situation for Michael Penix Jr., who left Indiana to join former coordinator Kalen DeBoer at Washington. Together, they sparked an amazing turnaround and guided the Huskies to 11 wins. Penix ranked second nationally with 4,641 passing yards and tossed 31 touchdowns to just eight interceptions.
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