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Baton Rouge

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The Insider Guide to Visiting LSU

Louisiana State University is Located in the heart of Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Capital City. Cheering on the LSU Tigers isn’t just a Saturday tradition in the fall, it’s a way of life that brings our city together year round. Baton Rouge is not your typical “college town,” it’s a place for students to grow outside of their studies and immerse themselves in a region rich in culture and  history – it’s no wonder that so many choose to make it their permanent home. Our small businesses and city residents warmly welcome LSU students and their families to come and experience our great city, and TSG Baton Rouge is eager to help you live like a local during your visit! Continue reading to see where we recommend visitors eat, play and stay in Baton Rouge, as well as some helpful tips to navigate Game Day. 

LSU TAILGATING TIPS:

LSU’s entire athletic department is recognized as leaders in their respective categories, but the LSU football team in particular is known to draw enormous crowds year after year. On game day eve, private tailgaters and local establishments begin setting up their areas all around LSU’s campus to create one of the most unique and well-sourced tailgate experiences offered in the world of college athletics. 

LSU’s tickets can only be purchased digitally, and we recommend getting yours well in advance if possible. You can purchase tickets here , and to get up to speed on general game day information, like parking and rules for tailgating, here .  

Even if you’re not operating your own tailgate or attending someone else’s, we recommend arriving a few hours ahead of the game to soak up all the sights and game day traditions. You can meet Mike the Tiger (LSU’s mascot and actual tiger) who lives in a beautifully designed habitat on campus located on North Stadium Drive (visitors are allowed every day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.). “Victory Hill March” is another must-do on game day. A couple of hours prior to game time, fans will crowd around the barricades in preparation of this pregame tradition. Beginning at the Greek Amphitheater, fans cheer on LSU’s Golden Band, Golden Girls, football team, and the coaches and staff as they all march down Victory Hill.

For a unique experience and opportunity to see more of LSU’s beautiful campus, we recommend booking a PedalPub Game Day tour. A certified pilot will guide you around campus while you pedal, sing and dance along the way with up to 16 friends. More info HERE . 

WHERE TO STAY

Lod Cook . This boutique hotel is located on the edge of the LSU campus on the scenic University Lake. It is Baton Rouge’s only independently owned and operated hotel and conference center and the only one wholly owned and operated by an alumni association. 

Watermark . The Watermark Hotel offers beautiful views of the Mighty Mississippi River and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown near several bars and restaurants. This historic building previously operated as a bank and now functions as Baton Rouge’s most luxurious hotel. 

The Renaissance Hotel . Seamlessly blending Southern hospitality, upscale decor, and plenty of amenities, The Renaissance Hotel is a fantastic hotel with easy access to anywhere in and around Baton Rouge. 

The St. Francisville Inn . If you have time to do a little venturing out, we highly recommend visiting St. Francisville. Located about 40 minutes outside of Baton Rouge, this quaint town offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The St. Francisville Inn is a boutique hotel that exudes southern charm. Whether your party is taking a day-trip or staying the night, we definitely recommend visiting the Inn to enjoy a drink or sit-down meal at The Saint, their delicious restaurant & bar located inside the main house. 

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

Coffee / Breakfast

Highland Coffee . Located on the edge of LSU’s campus, you can enjoy a cup of coffee while hearing the Memorial Tower chime. 

The Vintage . Located downtown just a couple blocks from the Watermark, the vibes at The Vintage are just right. Start with mimosas or coffee (or both!) and an order of beignets is a must. 

Louie’s Cafe . Located just one block from campus, Louie’s offers a full breakfast menu and a killer Bloody Mary. This classic diner has been an LSU tradition since 1941!

Lunch / Dinner

The Chimes . This restaurant and tap room has been a Baton Rouge and LSU tradition for over 25 years. When the weather is nice, we love sitting outside on their newly constructed patio upstairs. 

DiGiulio Brothers Italian Cafe . A Baton Rouge staple since 1987, Digiulio Brothers is everything you want in a local, family-owned establishment. From Incredible Italian fare to the quaint ambiance, we can’t recommend this restaurant enough! 

Superior Bar & Grill. Superior Grill has consistently been rated as one of Louisiana’s best Mexican restaurants since 1983. Famous for their sizzling fajitas and Superior margaritas, you’ll find many locals dining and drinking here for both home and away games. 

Supper Club . If you’re looking for a unique, upscale dining experience, Supper Club is unlike anything else in town. The cocktails, dishes, and swanky environment will blow you away!   Reservations are required, so be sure to book in advance. 

WHERE TO SHOP

No trip is ever complete without local shopping, and Baton Rouge is filled to the brim with excellent boutiques. Located near campus on the corner of Perkins and Acadian you’ll find two of our favorite shops: The Keeping Room and Edit by LBP . The Keeping Room offers stationery, home decor, party necessities, gifts, etc., and right next door you’ll find Edit by LBP – a women’s clothing boutique carrying some of our favorite brands like Rhode, Loeffler Randall, Veronica Beard, ALC, Cult Gaia and more. Corporate Blvd. is another area we highly recommend visiting for some of the best shopping in town. These shops are all within minutes of each other and offer something for everyone. Women’s clothing boutiques: Aria , LOVE , NK  

  The Queen Bee is an interior/gift shop offering novelty items, fine paper products and more. For the guys, Carriages Fine Clothier has LSU apparel popular brands like Peter Millar, Citizen, Stenstroms, Martin Dingman and more. Checkout our Baton Rouge Shopping Guide for a full list of Baton Rouge’s best boutiques!

NOTABLE EXPERIENCES & ACTIVITIES

St. Francisville. Located just 30 min. outside of Baton Rouge, St. Francisville is a small, picturesque town with many local shops and boutiques to explore. The St. Francisville Inn is a Boutique Bed & Breakfast located in the heart of downtown, and an absolute must-stop destination when visiting St. Francisville. If time allows, we suggest booking a room so you can fully immerse yourself in the slow, southern lifestyle of this charming region. Located inside the main house of The Inn is their restaurant + bar The Saint , rated one of the best dining experiences in all of Louisiana and recently named as one of America’s top 100 restaurants. There are several boutiques in the downtown area worth exploring, Sage Hill , NK St. Francisville , The Corbel and Barlow Fashion are a few of our favorites! There is even a free trolly available for visitors to utilize in order to easily bounce around from shop to shop.

Bites and Boards . A locally owned business dedicated to perfecting the art of cheese! Schedule your own private experience or join one of their weekly offered classes and learn how to make beautiful grazing boards.

The Tipsy Librarian . A private cocktail experience where you learn to make elevated craft cocktails from a former librarian who now specializes in the art of mixology. This bespoke cocktail class can accommodate up to 20 people.

GEAUX & ENJOY

LSU helps provide for the city in numerous ways with the places it has to offer on and off campus. For our nature lovers there is the Burden Garden Center , an extension of the LSU Agriculture Center, which houses brilliant flowers, wildlife, and birds. The LSU Observatory is a place where you can enjoy a movie under the stars or take a look at the constellations through a telescope. To beat the Louisiana heat, take a stroll through the LSU Art Museum downtown. 

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Visit the College of Art & Design

The best way to experience the College of Art & Design is to see it for yourself. We encourage interested students to visit the campus and meet the director of your program of interest.

If you would like to set up an in-person or virtual visit, contact us. Tours can be arranged by contacting your program(s) of interest via the contact information below. Administrators within those departments are eager to assist you in coordinating your visit.

LSU offers many opportunities for prospective students to experience campus life, as well, both onsite and online. Many students will join a campus tour in the morning and schedule a visit with the college in the afternoon or the reverse. Campus tours are offered daily and a virtual tour is available. Visit LSU Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Campus Map + Directions

LSU welcomes more than one million visitors every year, and most of those visitors arrive via the interstate system. The directions below offer the easiest routes to the campus from the interstate. We recommend that you stop by the Visitor Information Center to obtain detailed campus directions, a parking permit, and parking instructions upon your arrival. The Visitors Information Center is located at the corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive.

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College of Engineering

Plan a Visit | LSU College of Engineering

Plan a Visit

Register to Visit in Person

We offer 10:00 a.m. and 1:00  p.m. tours Mondays through Fridays. Tours are led by our Chevron Engineering Ambassadors who are current LSU College of Engineering students. Our ambassadors share their student experience with you, as well as showcase Patrick F. Taylor Hall. We offer a limited number of guests to attend tours on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Tour availability will end in May and resume after Labor Day. If you would like to make an appointment to plan a visit, please contact Raynesha Ducksworth at [email protected].

Watch our College of Engineering Tour Video

This five-minute YouTube video showcases our 400,000 square-foot building in action.

PFT Self-Guided Tour

This tool allows you to view pictures and read/listen to information about some of the most exciting and unique spaces in Patrick F. Taylor Hall.

Overview Sheets

These sheets provides helpful information about the College of Engineering as a whole.

Program-Specific Information

This page provides information specific to each of our majors within the College of Engineering.

We look forward to being in touch soon! In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions or need any additional information. Please contact Recruiting and Outreach Assistant Manager Raynesha Ducksworth at [email protected] .

Geaux Engineering!

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College of Agriculture Visit Registration

Instructions.

Thank you for your interest in visiting the LSU College of Agriculture! 

Use the arrow icons on the calendar below to change the months. Select an available date, and click the tour name to register. You'll select your preferred tour time on the registration form. Please contact [email protected] if you have any further questions.

Campus Visit Options

College of Ag Tours  includes a meeting with a Student Services staff member, a meeting with a faculty member in the major of interest, and a tour of the College of Agriculture with a Les Voyageur (Student Ambassador).  A few days after registering, you will receive an email with a personalized itinerary outlining your visit in detail.

Virtual Visit Options

Virtual Tours , which will include visits with a representative from the Dean's office, a current LSU College of Agriculture student, and a faculty member within your academic interest. The visit should last between 1-2 hours via Zoom. Further instructions and a link to the virtual meeting will be emailed to you once we finalize your itinerary.

2025 RB JT Lindsey recaps commitment to LSU

Not even 48-hours removed from an offer he was waiting for, Rivals three-star running back JT Lindsey was at track practice at Alexandria Senior High School on Thursday talking with his track coaches about the LSU offer he received on Tuesday, then it hit him.

At that moment, standing there next to Alexandria's head track coach Sedarrin Freeman discussing the offer, he realized LSU was where he wanted to be.

Lindsey called LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson and informed him of his desire to commit to the in-state Tigers, but he wanted to do it in person during LSU's spring game on Saturday.

Lindsey was one of several coveted prospects in attendance for LSU's National L Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium and he would get his opportunity to sit down with LSU head coach Brian Kelly prior to LSU's spring game where he let Kelly know that he was announcing his commitment to the Tigers.

"I grew up in the boot and all I know is LSU football," Lindsey told Rivals.com following his decision to commit to LSU on Saturday. "I grew up around it, the culture, the fans I just decided it was the best spot for me."

Beyond the culture and the fans, the family atmosphere around the LSU football program helped seal the deal for Lindsey's decision.

"LSU is more of a family for me," he added. "They have the best coaching staff in college football, they produce the best people in college football and there's just a whole lot of tradition over there."

During his visit Lindsey got to experience all the typical to-do's during an unofficial visit. He took a golf cart tour and got to check out some of the culinary hot spots around campus before returning to Tiger Stadium to watch his future team compete in the 2024 Spring Game.

He got to experience the sidelines of Tiger Stadium before being ushered to the stands where he took in the rest of LSU's spring game evaluating the improvement he saw on the field.

"Defense got way better than last year," he said enthusiastically. "I feel like they're playing way more aggressive and playing a lot more as a team."

As far as what's next for the rising 2025 prospect, Lindsey won't be taking any other visits anywhere else and is shutting his recruitment down.

"I know where my home is," he said with confidence.

"I'm just looking forward to building better relationships with everyone on the coaching staff and taking more visits and building relationships with the people already on the team," he added.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound speedster is also planning to try out for LSU's track team when he arrives on campus, so add his name to a growing list of a track stars playing football for LSU.

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Three Observations: The Takeaways From LSU Football's Spring Game

Garrett Nussmeier and Co. hit the field to showcase the new-look offense in Tiger Stadium, LSU wraps up spring camp.

• Author: Zack Nagy

In this story:

LSU wrapped up spring football on Saturday after the Bayou Bengals participated in their annual L-Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium.

For Brian Kelly and his staff, it gave this program an opportunity to see the growth they have made over the last few weeks along with the non-negotiable improvements that must be critiqued before September's season opener against USC.

LSU will prepare for summer workouts before Fall Camp kicks off in August for this program to put the final touches on rotations and schemes.

During Saturday's Spring Game, there were significant takeaways from both sides of the ball, but Garrett Nussmeier's dominance with the the new-look offense was certainly impressive.

There Observations from Saturday's Spring Game:

Gabriel Reliford Dominates

The glaring takeaway from Saturday's spring game was the impressive performance from early-enrollee defensive lineman Gabriel Reliford. The youngster shined with the second-team, and although he didn't face LSU's first-team tackles in Will Campbell and Emery Jones, it was a big-time showing for him.

Reliford ended the day with a pair of sacks and several quarterback hurries for the LSU defense and proved he can be a key piece to this defense as an EDGE this fall. This offseason, Reliford was a guy who had question marks on whether he'd be an interior piece of defensive end, and it's now clear where he belongs: rushing the passer on the outside. The speed an twitchiness spoke for itself.

Rickie Collins is the QB2

Collins took the lead in the backup quarterback race on Saturday after outplaying Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann with the second team. The redshirt freshman looked solid on Saturday and utilized his athleticism to his advantage.

For Swann, he struggled. It was glaring how off he was on his throws and didn't look as comfortable as Collins in the pocket. A player still learning the scheme, he'll utilize this offseason in a big way, but it's evident here that Collins took the lead for the backup spot behind Garrett Nussmeier.

Nussmeier Balled, CJ Daniels Impresses

Redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will handle QB1 duties this fall with an embarrassment of riches in his arsenal, including Liberty transfer wide receiver CJ Daniels. The first-year Tiger flaunted his elite playmaking ability, route-running and more on Saturday. A player who has been rolling with the second-team, he'll be a starter by the fall alongside Kyren Lacy.

Lacy looked the part, Aaron Anderson showed his speed and Shelton Sampson Jr. was certainly targeted a few times. Nussmeier will be able to pick and choose who he wants on Saturdays. It'll be interesting to see what LSU does with Chris Hilton Jr. He had an eye-opening drop during the Spring Game and it'll be of significant intrigue to see if he's rolling with the 1's during Fall Camp in August.

Honorable Mention: The Defense Needs Work

From busted coverage to gaps in the defensive line, it's clear there is work to be done on defense and Brian Kelly is aware of that after providing his thoughts following the game.

On the defense... "I know the basic tenets of defense relative to the believability, the energy, the want to, all of those things are gonna be there which are important as a foundation. Then we gotta execute. We need to get some help at defensive tackle, which we will, we're addressing it and then figure out what our corner situation is going to be," Kelly said. "I think we answer those two, I think this defense will be a solid defense." 

On the busted coverages... "We can't let the ball over the top of our head. We had coverage mistakes and those can't continue to happen. One of them was cover two and we're in cover three and we're playing cover two. You can't have those kind of mistakes, they're unacceptable and that's gonna cost you a chance to be on the field. Then we just got flat out, out run for the football. We were in the coverage where we're supposed to be over the top and got beat in those situations," Kelly said. 

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.

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College Football Top 100 Players of 2024: SEC crowds top 10, Colorado star at No. 1 in spring rankings

Former all-american and first-round nfl draft pick blake brockermeyer evaluates and ranks the top 100 players entering this season.

We are in the thick of it on the college football calendar. Spring football is finished for some teams and will wrap up in the next couple of weeks for others. The transfer portal opens April 16. The NFL Draft , our final goodbye to the college football stars of the last few seasons, looms. 

There's a sense of change in the air (and angst, for a lot of coaches and NIL collectives) . It was in that spirit that we decided it was time to do some spring cleaning of the final 2023 rankings of the top 101 players in college football. A majority of those players, including nine of the top 10, are off to the NFL . 

It's time for a new era. Here's our spring version of the top 100 college football players for the 2024 season. For the preseason lists, I keep things to a tidy top 100. Somebody will earn that 101st spot by midseason. 

Top 100 college football players entering 2024 season

1. colorado cb travis hunter.

Former No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter leads my list as the top overall player in the country entering the 2024 season. He is a generational player and, if he took fewer snaps offensively at wide receiver, would be even more effective for Colorado's defense. Hunter missed a handful of games after taking a cheap shot in the Colorado State game and still notched 1,044 snaps. He had seven games with more than 100 snaps, doing so as a two-way player. That is more than two seasons worth of reps for the typical defender. 

A silky-smooth corner, Hunter is excellent in press coverage. In a Cover 2 scheme, he has the ability to undercut routes and make plays on the ball. Hunter has excellent hands and will sacrifice his body to make plays. He has fluid hips that allow him to trail his primary receiver, adjust to a ball thrown in his area and get involved for a PBU. Hunter shows an excellent ability to understand and match offensive patterns, as well as the make-up speed to catch up and make plays on a ball where he is slightly beaten. How will his two-way timeshare look this fall? And could it possibly continue in the NFL ? 

2. Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr . 

Pearce led the SEC in sacks with 10 for his second season at Tennessee, adding 53 pressures. There are makings of a dominant pass-rusher here and Pearce has the ability to be a top-10 pick. His film is a blast. Pearce routinely abuses offensive tackles with a mixture of speed, power and nice inside moves. There are so many instances where Pearce reverse-pancakes offensive tackles into the quarterback, and a handful of them are for sacks. That is every offensive lineman's worst nightmare and the ultimate embarrassment for a highlight reel. Stay tuned for a huge season in Knoxville.

3. Michigan DT Mason Graham

Graham was a disruptive presence in 2023, especially when it counted against the toughest competition. I fell in love with his game during Michigan's home stretch. He finished the year with 30 generated pressures and had 7.5 TFLs. Graham excels at penetration and disruption and is at his best when he's moving and stunting. He has a great feel for recognizing offensive blocking schemes and can slip a block with some wiggle as well. Graham was a key portal retention player for Michigan's new-ish coaching staff. 

4. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Sanders is my current pick to go first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's also, in my opinion, the best quarterback in college football entering the 2024 season. Sanders has an excellent arm to make all the throws necessary and is an extremely accurate passer both in the pocket and on the move. Sanders does a great job keeping his eyes downfield to go through his progressions and make the high percentage completion despite the constant pressure he was under all season. Sanders threw for almost 300 yards a game and only had three interceptions in 430 attempts completing 69% of his passes while suffering 21 drops by his receivers. Sanders is an excellent post-snap processor as well and extends the plays to give his guys an extra second or two to find green grass.

5. Missouri WR Luther Burden

Burden's a dynamic playmaker and a blast to watch because Missouri makes a point of force-feeding him to get multiple touches per game. Burden of course is a playmaker as a traditional wideout and Missouri will travel him all over the field to try to create space and matchups. Burden is a physical receiver and is tough to tackle in the open field. He can also beat you for a contested catch and get to top speed after the catch quickly. There's some Deebo Samuel here. Burden is tracking to be top-10 pick in 2025. 

6. LSU OT Will Campbell

The top offensive tackle in the country, Campbell has excellent technique as a pass protector and does a nice job getting to the proper spot in protection with square shoulders. Campbell is generally a two-hand puncher, which can lead to problems if done exclusively, but generally stones his opponents and has excellent feet to recover if he slightly gets beat. He has strong hands and grip strength and if he's able to get them on defenders, it's over. 

7. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

Milroe resurrected his career and Alabama's title hopes last season with some incredible performances in his first season as a starter. Milroe only threw three interceptions after a rough showing vs.  Texas  game, amassing over 2,700 yards passing and 23 touchdown passes with 468 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Milroe is expected to be a weapon in Kalen DeBoer's wide-open offense and would no doubt love to lead the country in passing like  Michael Penix Jr . did under DeBoer. 

8. Georgia QB Carson Beck

Beck was deadly-accurate in his first year as a starter, passer hitting over 74% of his passes for over 3,700 yards and 22 touchdowns. Beck sees the field and delivers the ball with anticipation really well on the short and intermediate routes but can improve on his deep ball accuracy. Beck is not known for being a runner but can move the chains when needed in order to move the chains. Don't be surprised if the year ends with Beck winning the Heisman Trophy and a loaded Georgia again playing for the national championship. 

9. Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II

Gordon gets my nod as the top returning back after an incredible 2023 season where he almost single-handedly carried the Cowboys to a Big 12 Championship Game appearance. Gordon is a complete back with power, speed, and vision. Gordon had 46 explosive runs last year and averaged 3.8 yards per carry after contact. 

10. Kelvin Banks OT Texas

Banks has had a solid sophomore year and is still on pace to be one of the better tackles in the country but showed a few cracks with added responsibility and a target on him after an incredible freshman year. Still, Banks allowed only one sack and 14 total pressures in 2023 and has what it takes to be one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's tracking to be a first-round pick; Texas has not had an offensive lineman selected in that round since 2002. 

11. Michigan CB Will Johnson

Big-time No. 1 type of cornerback with range and the ability to match up vs. a No. 1 receiver. Johnson was a force last season in the playoffs when it mattered the most and will be a top draft pick after the season. Johnson has excelled in both zone and press coverage and has not only fluid hips but the ability to play the ball in the air as well as anyone in the country. 

12. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins

Judkins was Ole Miss's most critical piece of an explosive offense and figures to be the bell cow for another loaded offense in Columbus. Sources I've talked to say he is turning heads early and often as he is not only a nice blend of speed and power but is also being used in the passing game.

13. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder was a nightmare matchup out West as McMillian torched defenders for 93 catches for over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns. McMillian excelled in contested catches and had 63 grabs go for a first down or longer and only two drops. McMillian has the ability to win vs. press and the speed to separate and box out with his huge catch radius. He should expect a ton of attention this season as he should be one of the first receivers off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

14. Texas WR Isaiah Bond

Texas landed one of the best wide receivers in the country after losing big time playmakers Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy . Bond is a playmaker — an excellent route runner with the track speed ability to take the top off a defense. In many ways, he's a fusion of Mitchell and Worthy. Bond led Alabama and was at his best in the clutch. He'll be WR1 for Quinn Ewers and they'll depart for the NFL together in 2025. 

15. Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Ewers took his game to another level in 2023. There are no excuses, with a loaded offense around him, to not have one of the best seasons in the country in 2024. Ewers has all the traits you want as a quarterback as a pure drop back passer with a cannon for an arm and the ability to make the off-platform throws. I'd like to see him more consistently hit the tight windows. Could be the most important player in college football with all eyes on him as Texas enters the SEC. 

16. LSU EDGE Harold Perkins Jr .

Perkins is one of the nation's most dynamic players. LSU misused him most of last season and it cost the defensive staff their jobs. It was a wasted year playing in the box for somebody who should be wreaking havoc on the edge. This is a contract year for somebody who draws Micah Parsons comps. 

17. Penn State EDGE/LB Abdul Carter

Can I go with back-to-back Micah Parsons comps? Abdul Carter fits the bill, too, down to the No. 11 uniform. Carter had a great start to his career with excellent production in his first two seasons at Happy Valley and is making the switch to the edge this season. Carter is a dynamic, twitched-up force who is likely to have a lot of success making the move. James Franklin has called Carter "freakishly strong, " so you can expect he will have the ability to rush speed to power. He should have a great season in Tom Allen 's attacking defensive scheme. 

18. Georgia DB Malachi Starks

A unique talent in the secondary because of his ability to not only play center field but match up in man coverage, Starks is routinely glued to his opponent and does a nice job of playing the receiver's hands when they touch the ball to dislodge it. The ball has to be thrown perfectly in order for it to be caught.

As a true center fielder in Georgia's two-high look, Starks is a menace.

19. Ohio State S Caleb Downs

Alabama's loss is Ohio State's gain. Downs was a rare true freshman starter from the day he stepped on campus for the Crimson Tide and is already considered one of the best players in college football. Downs is not only an excellent all-around player both in coverage and in the box in run support, but plays with a ultra high intelligence. Downs will make an instant impact on a loaded Ohio State defense and figures to make an even bigger jump after a year of starting. 

20. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel

The talented delivered in a huge way in 2023, getting the Sooners back to their winning ways before departing to Eugene. Gabriel is an excellent deep-ball thrower that uses his legs when needed to move the chains. Gabriel threw for over 3,600 yards and 30 touchdowns this season and rushed for 373 and 12 touchdowns. Big pickup for the Ducks; they have weapons for Gabriel to throw to and he has a vast amount of experience and game reps to pick apart secondaries. 

21. Iowa LB Jay Higgins

Higgins is an extremely productive player who has a nose for the ball and seems to be involved on almost every tackle. He led the country last season with 171 tackles in his first season as a true starter, including 18 against Penn State .

A good athlete who seems to always be in the right spot and is a sure tackler, Higgins only missed seven attempts on the season. He is solid in coverage as well.

22. Oregon WR Evan Stewart

Evan Stewart is an exceptional athlete with a ridiculous ceiling. He needs a lot more targets than what he received his first two seasons at Texas A&M , which is why he found his way to Eugene this offseason. The stats won't blow you away, but the tape shows Stewart's ceiling as a homerun hitter and excellent route runner. Expect a drama-free contract year from Stewart. 

23. Ole Miss WR Tre Harris

Harris was one of the best receivers in the country in his first year, racking up 54 catches for 985 yards and eight touchdowns. Harris is a bigger body at receiver that is an excellent route runner and has the ability to make the dynamic plays both on the outside and in the slot. Harris plays like a veteran and has the speed to separate on an Ole Miss offense that looks like it will be dynamic and a title contender in 2024.  

24. Clemson LB Barrett Carter

A versatile three-down 'backer who likes to play in the opponent's backfield, Barrett is an explosive and high-ceiling talent who has enormous potential and upside as a former 5-star recruit. A converted high school safety prospect, Carter has the ability to match up vs. tight ends and backs in coverage and did not allow a touchdown last season. He missed too many tackles, 12, last season in the box and can do a better job of finishing in the run game. Cleaning that up is likely a big reason he returned for his senior season. Jeremiah Trotter Jr . is gone, now it's Carter's turn to be the star of Clemon's defense. 

25. Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison

Morrison is one of the best returning corners in the country. He's great in zone but excels in press coverage. Why? Morrison is not only excellent in matching routes and playing the ball in the air but does a nice job using the sideline as an extra defender. The three touchdowns he gave up last year were all in the lower red zone on scrambles where the play got extended. 

26. Michigan TE Colston Loveland

Loveland is a true height, weight, speed tight end who shows an excellent awareness to be able to find green grass and read the defensive's leverage on the short to intermediate route. Loveland tracks the ball well and despite dropping a handful of catchable balls, shows the ability to routinely catch the ball away from his body and high-point contested balls in traffic. Loveland is a fluid runner with the ball in his hands and has adequate speed to make the explosive plays.

27. Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen

Ole Miss got one of the most coveted defensive prospects available at a position of need, beefing up the interior of their defense. A former top recruit, Nolen is a special player when he puts it all together and has shown flashes of dominance, especially against the run. Expect him to be one of the first defensive linemen off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft if he stays healthy. 

28. Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman

Stutsman flirted with going to the NFL but will be back and looking to improve even further on a very productive season: 100 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He's perfect for Brent Venables. Stutsman is an excellent box backer who has the ability to roam sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage, only allowing 21 catches for 242 yards. Oklahoma is glad to have him ahead of a brutal SEC schedule.

29. Alabama OG Tyler Booker

Booker is a powerful and explosive run blocker who plays with great leverage and hand placement. When Booker is able to get in his run fits with his hands clamped on defenders, it's over. Booker is a good pass blocker as well but that's an area he can definitely improve on. 

30. Miami QB Cameron Ward

Ward is an intriguing prospect that will have a chance to shine on a bigger platform. And for Miami, it's another chance to really get right at the quarterback spot after the D'Eriq King and Tyler Van Dyke eras fizzled out. Ward flourished in Wazzu's spread as a dual-threat throwing for over 3,700 yards and 25 touchdown passes while running for another eight touchdowns. Ward needs to protect the football better but will have the best supporting cast around him he's had in his career. 

31. Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell

Unless you're addicted to MACtion, you don't know about Howell, but the Bowling Green transfer has some ridiculous tape. Howell is explosive and has a nice toolbox of speed and counter moves to go along with a relentless motor. He will see a major uptick in competition but with Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner taking the majority of the attention, expect Howell to become a household name soon enough. 

32. Oregon CB Jabbar Muhammad

Muhammad capitalized on a big season at Washington and will take over Kyree Jackson's spot at rival Oregon for his last season. Muhammad only allowed two touchdowns and added two interceptions last season and fills a position of need in Oregon's title hopes in 2024. Muhammad excels in zone coverage but has the ability to play man and does a nice job locating the ball in the air and swiping it away when his receiver extends. Get your popcorn ready for when the Ducks host Ohio State. 

33. Miami DL Rueben Bain Jr .

Hurricane Bain lived up to the hype we saw last spring and had a fantastic freshman campaign. Bain had 12.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and was one of the most productive freshmen in the country. Bain is a powerful rusher that rarely wins on his first move but plays with a relentless effort. 

33. USC WR/KR Zachariah Branch

Branch is a difference-maker for the Trojans and someone who could take it to the house at any moment. I'm excited to see how he develops in Year 2, but he'll miss Caleb Williams and he also is hoping for a better bill of health than a year ago. Branch made the most noise as a freshman as a return specialist, earning All-American honors, and taking almost 800 yards of returns and two touchdowns. Branch figures to be a bigger part offensively in 2024; his 31 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns don't feel indicative of his impact. 

34. Florida State EDGE Patrick Payton

There was a bit of drama, but Payton is staying in Tallahassee, where he will see much more attention on the edge with Jarred Verse off to the NFL. Payton has excellent length and get-off and does a nice job not only getting to the quarterback but recognizing blocks. Payton can bend around the edge and can go speed to power with a nice long-arm as well. FSU is definitely glad to have one of the best edge-rushers on its roster this season. 

35. Arizona QB Noah Fifita

The 5-11 Fifita burst onto the national scene in a big way in 2023. Thrust into action because of an injury to established starter Jayden de laura , Fifita made the job his. Fiftia throws his receivers open on the short/intermediate game as well as anyone. He throws the ball on the move well and can use his feet to scramble when needed, but he is generally not looking to run. Will that feature come in time? 

36. Oregon DT Jamaree Caldwell

Caldwell is going to be a huge piece for Oregon this season as not only a physical presence at the point but also as a dynamic rusher from the interior. Caldwell has more twitch than given credit for and plays extremely hard for a big man. Excellent hands that can shock and shed offensive linemen. This is the type of midway monster Dan Lanning coached at Georgia. 

37. Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer

Sawyer had his best season as a pass rusher in 2023, racking up eight sacks and 38 pressures, but is better against the run. Sawyer has great play recognition and excellent motor; you rarely see him take a play off. He's a real difference-maker in the run game and Ohio State is thrilled the former 5-star stayed true to his word and returned to school, even after a three-sack performance in the Cotton Bowl. 

38. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka

This guy would be WR1 on 99.9% of teams but OSU keeps bringing in the top talent in the country that takes away some of his touches. We figured Egbuka would finally get to be WR1 this fall, but the early returns on No. 1 recruit Jeremiah Smith have been so terrific that perhaps he'll nab this spot by fall camp. Anyway, back to Egbuka: He's versatile enough to play anywhere on the field, is an excellent route-runner and causes damage in the open field, despite lacking elite speed. 

39. Kentucky DT Deone Walker

The All-SEC defensive tackle is a presence in the middle and has tons of game experience, starting 25 of the last 26 for the Wildcats. Walker is surprisingly quick and athletic in condensed spaces and has a knack for finding the football while he's being double teamed. His road to 7.5 sacks last season was paved by power first, counters and hand-swipes second. Opponents want nothing to do with him, I promise you that. There are some T'Vondre Sweat vibes here. 

40. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai

I'm not sleeping on Rutgers and you shouldn't, either. Especially when it comes to running backs. Monangai is the next big-time ball-carrier out of Piscataway. He led the Big Ten in rushing last season, averaged over five yards a carry last season and scored eight touchdowns. He's a receiving threat, too. The 5-9 Monangai is certainly not a big back but runs with power and is quite explosive. 

41. Wisconsin CB Ricardo Hallman

Hallman was a ballhawk for the Badgers last year, picking off seven balls (and dropping another two). Hallman is excellent at matching routes in zone and undercutting a ball thrown late. He plays almost like a free safety and can read the quarterback's eyes as well as anyone. Hallman has excellent speed and can take it to the house if he has some green grass ahead of him. 

42. Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton

Scourton was a force at Purdue last year and now he's off to Aggieland to help new coach Mike Elko recreate the Wrecking Crew. Scourton abuses offensive tackles with one of the best spin moves in the nation and plays with an excellent motor. He is sudden on the edge and stunts well inside. And he can demolish zone-reads. Scourton should flourish with the noisy home field advantage at Kyle Field but needs to elevate his pass-rush moves beyond a spin. 

43. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty is a powerhouse back for the Broncos, averaging six-plus yards a carry and rushing for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Jeanty is also excellent in the screen and quick game as a receiver. Jeanty has great patience in tight spaces and can jump-cut it back the other way for big gainers. He also has the power to break arm tackles and can stiff arm you in space. His size and his ability to hold up in protection is really his only knock at the next level. 

44. Notre Dame DB Xavier Watts

Watts took home the Nagurski Award as the nation's best defender, leading the country with seven interceptions. His biggest plays (47 tackles, 11 PBUs) tended to come in the clutch, too. Watts is one of two Notre Dame defensive backs in my top 50 rankings. 

45. Kentucky WR Barion Brown

Brown an explosive playmaker in multiple phases for the Wildcats. Brown doubles as a returner and has the ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball, scoring three touchdowns on returns last year. Brown's only knock is he suffered six drops last year and lost two fumbles. Has the ability to be one of the top receivers in the country but needs the ball more. 

46. Ole Miss EDGE Princely Umanmielen

Part of Ole Miss' No. 1 portal haul, Umanmielen is one of the more interesting players to keep an eye on this offseason. His position coach, Randall Joyner, is one of the best developers in the game. Umanmielen is already a talented pass rusher who had seven sacks and generated 50 pressures last season at Florida . Princely has an elite get-off and bend and could be a difference maker in Ole Miss's loaded defense. His biggest areas of improvement are more consistency in his run defense and a better motor. Expect him to have a huge season and if he puts it all together could be a first-rounder in 2025.  

47. LSU TE Mason Taylor

Taylor had a disappointing sophomore campaign after lighting it up his freshman season and beating Alabama at the buzzer. My excuse? Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr . gobbled up Taylor's opportunities. I bet we see a big bounceback campaign. Taylor has soft hands, understands where the sticks are and has a nice field awareness. 

48. Utah QB Cam Rising

Rising is entering his 10th 7th season of college football. After taking 2023 off to rehab his knee, I hope you didn't forget about Rising, who will be 25-years-old when the season starts. The Utes might be my preseason pick to win the Big 12 and make the playoff and that's thanks to Rising's winning pedigree and playmaking ability. Rising excels on the intermediate routes and places the ball with precision both in the pocket and on the move. He's a wizard with his feet. 

49. Missouri QB Brady Cook

Cook shows elite command of Eli Drinkwitz's offense, always checking into the right play. From there, he makes the right reads, throws the ball on time, layers it into tight spots — and can get it to any spot on the field. The veteran has come a long way. 

50. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson

When healthy, he's a problem for opposing defenses. TreVeyon Henderson is a fluid back with great vision and amazing speed that makes him a home-run hitter as both a runner and a receiver. We never thought he'd be somebody's RB2 in college football, but the timeshare with portal addition Quinshon Judkins should do wonders for his durability. This will be one of the best thunder-and-lightning combinations we've seen in recent memory. 

51. Kansas RB Devin Neal

Neal is a silky-smooth back who excels in Kansas's wide variety of ways to create space. Neal is the total package of speed, quickness, and power and has excellent vision. When he sticks his foot in the ground, he'll make you look silly. A future NFL stud. 

52. TCU WR Savion Williams

Williams is criminally underrated. It may be because he's underused. The jumbo receiver has a ton of talent but only caught 41 passes last season. way under the radar receiver that is vastly underused for his ability despite hauling in 41 balls. I think Williams is a first-round talent: He has the speed, great length and is not scared to make contested catches in the middle of the field. 

53. Michigan DT Kenneth Grant

Grant is a force in the middle of Michigan defense. The big man plays with fanatical effort, holding offensive linemen at the point of attack and disrupting the backfield (five TFL, 3.5 sacks in 2023). Grant and Mason Graham will be a nightmare in the trenches. 

54. Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks

Brooks is on track to break the all-time rushing record at Texas Tech this season. He's been a workhorse for the Red Raiders, rushing for over 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Over 1,000 of those yards came after contact. Brooks is a poised runner that lets his blocks set up and then makes an enormous amount of tacklers bounce off his powerful lower half. He's pretty explosive, too. Brooks will be a force at the next level as a cold-weather back.

55. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart

Dart's numbers don't tell the entire story, even though they are still pretty good, as he is the lifeblood of the Ole Miss offense. Dart threw for over 3,300 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding another 389 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Dart shows excellent intangibles, leadership and command of Lane Kiffin's offense. 

56. NC State WR Kevin Concepcion

The rising sophomore is an all-around talent who can beat you in a bunch of ways, but mainly as a receiver. Concepcion rushed for over 300 yards at 7.8 per carry and caught 71 balls and 10 touchdowns for the season. The true freshman lit up the ACC and did most of his damage on the intermediate part of the field but has the speed to make the explosive catches as well. In his second year of college football, I'm positioning Concepcion as a top-10 receiver in the country. 

57. Ole Miss TE Caden Prieskorn

A transfer from Memphis , Prieskorn came on in the second half of the season and became a favorite target of Jaxson Dart. Prieskorn has soft hands and is a great red zone threat and a chain-mover in the short and intermediate parts of the field. He'll be in the conversation for TE1 come the 2025 NFL Draft. 

58. North Carolina EDGE Kaimon Rucker

Rucker is somewhat undersized but doesn't let that keep him from the quarterback (8.5 sacks, 15 TFL in 2023). He plays with a demonic edge and is a great team leader. North Carolina has plenty of raw talent on defense, but Rucker is one of the few who has put it all together. 

59. Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner

Turner has primarily played the edge but has the versatility to kick inside and projects there as a pro. One of a handful of Aggies on this list, Turner has excellent power and can also turn the edge to get home. He plays the run well with violent hands and physicality. 

60. LSU OT Emery Jones

Jones is a prototype right tackle and along with Will Campbell forms one of the best tackle combos in the country. Jones is thick and explosive. He has excellent feet — he gets to his spot in pass protection — and also has excellent power, which is an asset in the run game. He could have a dominant season. 

61. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo

Restrepo is a dependable and reliable slot receiver who owns the intermediate part of the field and is a hands catcher. Restrepo lacks game-breaking speed but seems to always be open and can make plays with the ball in his hands. He'll be a favorite target of new Miami quarterback Cameron Ward.

62. Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor

Height, weight, speed receiver who torched most of the the Pac-12's best corners last year including my No. 1 player in the country, Travis Hunter. Ayomanor has excellent hands and can beat you in any area of the field and has the ability to take it to the house after the catch. Excellent at the contested catches as well. 

63. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton

Hampton led the ACC with almost six yards a touch en route to a 1,500-yard, 15-touchdowns season. The bruising back added another 30 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown. Hampton had 36 explosive runs and excels in the zone scheme where he can cut back at the lineman's heels. Excellent feet and tough to arm tackle. An area for improvement? He had three fumbles last season.

64. Georgia OG Tate Ratledge

Ratledge was excellent in both phases last year and kept Carson Beck clean all season, not allowing a sack and very few pressures. He's a mauler who finishes off blocks in the run game. 

65. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels

Daniels has been a part of KU's climb to respectability under coach Lance Leipold. A breakout season in 2022 earned him preseason all-conference honors, but most of 2023 was ruined by a back injury. The dual-threat playmaker rebuffed portal poachers and is ready to remind everybody he's among the best in the business. 

66. Oregon WR Tez Johnson

Washington had a big season in Eugene, racking up 86 catches for almost 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. The explosive slot is an excellent route runner and a problem with the ball in his hand after the catch. He had 28 explosive catches last season. 

67. UCF QB KJ Jefferson

I'm still high on Jefferson. He's a nightmare to tackle as a runner and is an underrated passer, steadily improving his passing mechanics over the last few years. When given time, he throws dots. Jefferson had very little time to throw last year ( Arkansas gave up 42 sacks) and his numbers were down, but he's still a player. UCF and coach Gus Malzahn will be a great fit for Jefferson. 

68. Iowa TE Luke Lachey

Lachey is one of the better in-line tight ends in the game, we just haven't seen much of it as he's coming off a shortened season where an injury held him to three contests. Lachey is a plus-blocker who can hold his own in the zone and gap schemes and is a large target to work the middle of the field in the passing game. Tight End U needs Lachey healthy. If he is, he will be a huge part of Iowa's success. 

69. Louisville EDGE Tyler Baron

A portal snag from Tennessee, Baron was one of the best "gets" of the offseason. He mostly played out of position at Tennessee as a 4i but should flourish on the edge opposite Ashton Gillette. Baron is extremely physical vs. the run and can win quickly with a twitchy first step. 

70. Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr .

Conerly, a former 5-star prospect, was excellent in his first season as a full-time starter, yielding one sack and 17 pressures playing the blindside and protecting Bo Nix . Conerly has excellent feet and does a nice job mixing up his hands when he punches. Despite lacking the ideal length for tackle, Conerly will have a shot at getting drafted high after the season and could be a candidate to kick inside to guard in the NFL. 

71. Minnesota RB Darius Taylor

Taylor was one of the best backs in the country last year but missed six games due to injury and only got one carry in the opener. He still racked up 800 yards and five touchdowns and had four games where he rushed for over 100 yards. Not a burner but a patient and methodical back who will body-blow you and wait for his opportunity for an explosive run. 

72. Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams

Georgia's most gifted pass-rusher generated 27 pressures and 4.5 sacks last year. Don't focus on the numbers, as UGA loves to rotate its defensive linemen and the former 5-star recruit has natural pass rush ability and some length off the edge. Williams hits tackles with an excellent long-arm and can win inside as a defensive tackle in some of UGA's third-down packages, too.  

73. Alabama S Malachi Moore

A Tuscaloosa mainstay at this point, Moore is a leader and high-IQ player who's mostly played nickel at Alabama but is expected to move to strong safety this season. That's a nice fit for him. He's excellent in run support and routinely blows up blockers on bubble screens. Moore is solid in coverage as well and does a nice job of playing the ball in the air on contested catches. 

74. Georgia TE/WR Dillon Bell

Bell is a swiss-army knife of a player and exactly what the NFL is looking for as a hybrid tight end. Bell threw for a touchdown pass, rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 29 passes for 355 and two touchdowns. Bell can beat you a ton of different ways from the screen game to the short to intermediate zones. 

75. Texas RB CJ Baxter

The No. 1 RB signee in 2023's class, Baxter began last as the starting running back but kept getting dinged up … and then Jonathon Brooks went off. After Brooks was lost for the season against TCU , Baxter stepped back in and was a big factor in Texas's two-headed monster of a rushing attack ( Jaydon Blue being the other) en route to a Playoff appearance. The former 5-star is a giant back with speed and power, with some slight shades of former Texas great Cedric Benson. 

76. Colorado EDGE BJ Green II

The No. 7-ranked defensive lineman in 247Sports' transfer portal rankings, Green played on the edge at Arizona State but built more like a hybrid defensive tackle at 6-1, 270 pounds. Green plays with a relentless motor and is twitchy with some natural pass-rush ability. Colorado's defense needs him to be a force in 2024. 

77. Clemson DL T.J. Parker

A top-50 recruit, Parker flashed on film as a freshman and delivered in the stat sheet, generating 5.5 sacks and 37 pressures.  Parker wins with an explosive first step and has the power to work through tackles and finish at the quarterback. He's solid against the run, too. 

78. Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton

A powerful edge rusher with a variety of moves and the versatility to play inside as well. Dennis-Sutton has a nice motor and works the offensive linemen's edges well and can convert with power. Nice length and get-off; a nasty tandem lined up opposite Adbul Carter. I'm high on Penn State's defensive front.

79. Alabama OG Jaeden Roberts

This guy is an amazing story. Roberts went from third string Alabama to one of the top three guards in the country in just half a season. Roberts is freaky strong and can manhandle defensive tackles. He got better as the year progressed and has the ability to be a special player with more experience and game reps. 

80. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke

I'm not sure if Denzel Burke is a superstar, which is where he looked to be headed after his freshman campaign, but he put together a bounce-back junior season. He's a nice piece on a really stingy Ohio State defense that plays well together as a unit. Burke had one interception and defended 10 passes with nine passes broken up for the Buckeyes. Can give up too much cushion at times and needs to be more of a playmaker on their backend. Better in zone coverage than man. 

81. Louisville EDGE Ashton Gillotte

The twitchy Gillotte had an impressive season, leading the ACC with 11 sacks and adding 14.5 TFL's, He also generated 65 total pressures and was a thorn in the side against every team he faced. A little undersized but a natural rusher. Louisville has a terrific pair of edges in Gillotte and Barron. paired with Tyler Baron is going to be a nightmare in the ACC. 

82. Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott

Norman-Lott does not get enough love. A transfer from Arizona State last offseason, Norman-Lott has serious power and the ability to cave the pocket. He's a great mover who does a nice job reading where the slide is in pass protection to defeat the double team. Norman-Lott and James Pearce Jr. should be a headache for opposing offensive linemen in the SEC this year. 

83. Alabama LB Deontae Lawson

Lawson is an excellent run-stuffing box 'backer. He was dinged up by the middle of the season, which affected his ability to run full speed. He was still productive — 5.5 TFL, three sacks and four PBUs — but is in store for a national breakout this fall. 

84. Texas EDGE Trey Moore

Moore was a man amongst boys at UTSA , setting the school record for sacks with 14 and earning AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. His traits, which I think are rare, will be tested in the SEC. Moore has quick hands and is sudden off the edge. He is undersized but utilizes speed and spin moves as well as a nice inside counter to affect the quarterback. Will need to prove he can hold up vs. the run consistently or Texas could use him exclusively as a pass rush specialist. The Longhorns spent a few seasons without an elite pass-rusher but suddenly have a pretty nice room, which is now headlined by Moore. 

85. Florida QB Graham Mertz

Yep. I'm a believer in Mertz . Don't forget he profiled as an elite prospect out of high school. A change of scenery, from Madison to Gainesville, did him well in 2023. He was consistent, completing 73% of his passes for the season for 2,900 yards, and took care of the football, throwing just three picks. Florida has an unbelievably difficult schedule ahead and Mertz's favorite target Ricky Pearsall is off to the NFL. Mertz can really silence the doubters if he delivers a good season in what will be choppy waters.

86. Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson

A ballyhooed high school prospect, Jackson benefited from a change of scenery, transferring from LSU to Arkansas a few seasons ago. His return for a final year was big for the Hogs. Jackson is extremely long at 6-7, but I think he has the versatility to move inside at the next level, where he could be an extremely disruptive pocket-crushing force. He's still a little raw, but let's see what pass-rushing moves he comes out of the offseason with.  

87. SMU EDGE Elijah Roberts

Roberts is a productive, power-rushing edge who can get things done inside, too. Roberts 10 sacks and generated 73 pressures last year in the AAC. Has nice power and uses his hands well to work punchers hands off him. Will see a major uptick in talent in ACC as SMU hops up a level.

88. UNLV WR Ricky White

White dominated the Mountain West, catching 88 balls for almost 1,500 yards and eight touchdowns. Fifty-four of those were for a first down and he had 32 explosive catches. 

89. Notre Dame EDGE R.J Oben

Oben arrives from Duke this offseason. He's got a lot of experience with him and profiles as a very useful, high-motor player for Notre Dame. Oben is an active rusher with a nice outside swat and spin move and some really nice counters as a rusher. Oben does not play with much power but pursues the ball on every snap. 

90. UCLA WR J. Michael Sturdivant

A fluid playmaker and route runner who's got game breaking speed to boot. Sturdivant is sudden and shity and can stop and start and locate the ball. Sturdivant has excellent hands and always works back to the ball when he can. UCLA needs to feed the young man (only 36 receptions a season ago). 

91. Ohio State OC Seth McLaughlin

McLaughlin was an excellent blocker over the last few seasons at Alabama but decided a change of scenery was best for him after having some snapping issues with Jalen Milroe. McLaughlin plays with a high IQ and does a nice job sorting through the protections to get everyone on the same page. Excellent in both run and pass protection. 

92. Oklahoma State EDGE Collin Oliver

Oliver hasn't put up the numbers like he did as a freshman all-american but is still a productive and disruptive force off the edge. His six sacks in 2023 don't tell the whole story as he generated 40 pressures. Oliver is undersized but is sudden and can beat you with speed from the edge. 

93. Cal RB Jaydn Ott

Ott is an explosive runner who led the Pac-12 last year with 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground and chipped in 30 receptions for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns in the air. Ott has great vision and can excel both inside the box and has the ability to bounce it out and the speed to take it to the house. A lot of ACC fans will be frustrated watching their defenses try to corral him this fall.

94. Notre Dame DT Howard Cross III

Cross showed his stuff in helping Notre Dame close out a tight road win at Duke last season. Clutch player who's disruptive along the interior. Cross notched 64 tackles last year, including six TFLs and 45 generated pressure. He excels in movement and has a great get-off and understanding of offensive line blocking schemes. 

95. Colorado State WR Tory Horton

Horton has great length, speed, production and excels as a punt returner, too. Horton caught 98 balls for over 1,100 yards and had eight touchdowns for the season. Horton had 18 explosive catches for the year but is almost exclusively used in the short-to-intermediate quick game, where he moves the chains as well as anyone. Don't see the game-breaking speed here but he's a nice security blanket.

96. Iowa State RB Abu Sama III

Another star back for the Cyclones. Sama made the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team after finishing the season on a heater including 276 yards in his first career start against Kansas State — a fun, memorable game in the snow. Sama averaged 7.3 yards a carry and scored six touchdowns on the ground for the Cyclones. Sama is also a receiving threat and showed some willingness to be a solid blocker in pass protection. 

97. Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

It's always tough to throw a true freshman tackle out to the wolves, but the benefits and reps will pay off this season. Mauigoa has some technical issues to clean up but showed he can hold up as a right tackle. He's a powerful blocker when he gets his paws on you and a bright future in Year 2. The No. 6-ranked recruit in the 2023 class is easily on his way to meeting the hype. 

98. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard

Leonard is a dual-threat quarterback who's better than you think (the three passing TDs in 2023 were a matter of injury and circumstance, not skill). He has a bigger spotlight on him after transferring from Duke to Notre Dame. Leonard was beat up for almost half of the season and was probably a better runner than passer when he played. He's poised for a big season if he can stay healthy. 

99. West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum

Milum was a dependable blind side blocker for the Mountaineers in 2023, yielding nine pressures and zero sacks. He's a solid run blocker as well. Another good season could be his last in Morgantown. 

100. Florida State QB DJ Uiagalelei

I suppose you could say I'm back on the DJU bandwagon. Uiagalelei had an bounceback season at Oregon State and was one of the hottest quarterback names in the portal. He threw for 21 touchdowns and only seven interceptions and while his accuracy and consistency are still not where it needs to be, it has improved from his Clemson days. Uiagalelei has a huge frame and can move the chains with his powerful legs. Now he gets to play with the most talent he's ever had — and under the guide of one of the best play-callers in the game, Mike Norvell.

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