Ranking the top 50 players in college football: 50-41
theScore's top 50 players in college football list was voted on by Mike Alessandrini, Dane Belbeck, Alex Chippin, Mike Dickson, and Michael McClymont.
Graduations and early entries into the 2018 NFL Draft swiped many of the household names from college football, so it's time to get acquainted with a new slew of stars.
Ranking the top 50 players in college football:
50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1
50. WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown - Oklahoma
Brown emerged as the Sooners' top receiver during his freshman year, piling up a team-high 981 yards with six touchdowns. An offseason spent in the weight room should help the wiry wideout become even more dangerous in Year 2.
49. RB Justice Hill - Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State could be forced to run the ball more this year given its quarterback situation, and that's not a bad thing. The dynamic Hill has turned in back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in both. He's one of the top rushers in the Big 12.
48. RB AJ Dillon - Boston College
Dillon became the first Golden Eagle to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in rushing since 2014 by posting 1,432 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman, en route to ACC Rookie of the Year honors. If he can make himself an asset in the passing game, Dillon will become one of the country's top tailbacks.
47. LB T.J. Edwards - Wisconsin
Wisconsin never seems to run out of great linebackers and the return of Edwards ensures that will remain the case in 2018. The fourth-year starter is coming off a junior campaign in which he notched 75 tackles, including 11 for loss, and was named a finalist for the Butkus Award.
46. LB Mack Wilson - Alabama
Wilson ended the 2017 season on a high note, racking up 18 tackles and an interception in Alabama's two playoff games. The junior is poised to become a full-time starter in 2018, and he possesses all the physical tools necessary to become the Crimson Tide's next signature linebacker.
45. QB Nick Fitzgerald - Mississippi State
Like Dak Prescott before him, Fitzgerald has provided Mississsippi State with steady quarterback play throughout his career despite a lack of NFL-caliber talent around him. His numbers aren't as impressive as some of the nation's other top pivots, but he's still one of the better signal-callers in the country.
44. OT Greg Little - Ole Miss
Little came to Ole Miss in 2016 as a five-star recruit and he's lived up to the hype thus far. He's one of the top left tackle prospects eligible for the 2019 NFL Draft, and should be even tougher to get around off the edge after he spent the offseason shedding some excess weight.
43. QB Shea Patterson - Michigan
After two solid campaigns at Ole Miss, Patterson will look to break out at Michigan. The Wolverines haven't had a quarterback nearly as talented as Patterson since the arrival of coach Jim Harbaugh, who identified the former five-star prospect as the missing piece to the school's national title aspirations.
42. DT CeCe Jefferson - Florida
Florida's defense has thinned out considerably over the last couple of seasons but it still has Jefferson, one of the nation's best interior defensive linemen. The third-year standout led the Gators last year with 13.5 tackles for loss, and also collected 4.5 sacks.
41. RB Rodney Anderson - Oklahoma
Anderson produced 100 yards rushing or more in five of his last seven contests to end the 2017 season. His ability to run between the tackles, bounce to the outside, and make plays in the passing game has the Oklahoma star in the preseason conversation for Heisman Trophy candidates.
Ranking the top 50 players in college football:
50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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