The 2021-22 College Football Playoff picture is set, with Alabama taking on Cincinnati and Michigan facing off against Georgia. Players from those squads litter the top of the highest-graded player rankings. A player from each of Georgia, Alabama and Michigan finished at the top of a defensive position ranking this season, and the Crimson Tide's Bryce Young took home the honors at quarterback, too.
Here are the top-graded players after the 2021 college football regular season.
Editor's Note: Any mention of all-time rankings refers to non-bowl and non-playoff games in the PFF College era (2014-)
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Quarterback
Power Five: Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide | 92.9
After a close win against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, it looked as though Young's chances to finish as the highest-graded Power Five quarterback were lost. However, a huge game in the SEC Championship changed all of that. Even with Kenny Pickett‘s impressive showing down the road in the Charlotte in the ACC Championship, Young still beats him for the top spot by a minuscule .1 grade point.
Highest-Graded Power Five QB Seasons | Since 2014
Player, Team, Year | Season PFF Grade* |
1. Mac Jones, Alabama (2020) | 95.3 |
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (2017) | 95.2 |
3. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (2018) | 94.7 |
4. Joe Burrow, LSU (2019) | 94.3 |
5. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (2016) | 93.4 |
T6. Bryce Young, Alabama (2021) | 92.9 |
T6. Marcus Mariota, Oregon (2014) | 92.9 |
*All Grades through Conference Championship Week
Group of Five: Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 91.2
It certainly wasn’t the season the Chanticleers expected, as they lost two games — one without McCall. The quarterback was excellent and has been excellent over the course of the past two seasons, putting him in rarified air among Group of Five quarterbacks all-time.
The entire country just saw this throw and catch from Grayson McCall to Jaivon Heiligh.
My goodness. pic.twitter.com/QbazdZksyS
— Scott Watkins (@scottwatkinsTU) October 20, 2021
Running Back
Power Five: Dameon Pierce, Florida Gators | 92.2
Pierce just barely beats out the Michigan Wolverine duo of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum, finishing sixth all-time in the PFF era:
Highest-Graded Power Five RB Seasons | Since 2014
Player, Team, Year | Season PFF Grade* |
1. Javonte Williams, North Carolina (2020) | 94.3 |
2. Ronald Jones, USC (2017) | 93.3 |
3. James Conner, Pittsburgh (2014) | 92.8 |
4. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky (2020) | 92.5 |
5. Nick Chubb, Georgia (2017) | 92.3 |
6. Dameon Pierce, Florida (2021) | 92.2 |
*All Grades through Conference Championship Week
Group of Five: Tyler Allgeier, BYU Cougars | 88.4
Allgeier was one of college football's best running backs in 2020, and although he endured a slow start to his 2021 campaign, he quickly zoomed past the competition to take the top spot. Back-to-back huge seasons for Allgeier will make him a hot commodity in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Tyler Allgeier zooms down the sideline for BYU touchdown ⚡️ #CFBpic.twitter.com/wxp7eGy88h
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 2, 2021
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Wide Receiver
Power Five: Drake London, USC Trojans | 91.3
London never got a chance to improve on his 91.3 mark after suffering a season-ending ankle fracture in late October. Regardless, he'll likely be a high draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after leading college football in contested catches (19) despite all the missed time.
Highest-Graded Power Five WR Seasons | Since 2014
Player, Team, Year | Season PFF Grade* |
T7. Tee Higgins, Clemson (2019) | 91.6 |
T7. Austin Carr, Northwestern (2016) | 91.6 |
T7. Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma (2015) | 91.6 |
10. Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma (2016) | 91.5 |
11. Drake London, USC (2021) | 91.3 |
*All Grades through Conference Championship Week
Group of Five: Skyy Moore, Western Michigan | 91.6
Moore skyyrocketed up the rankings over the past few weeks while trying to match former teammate D’Wayne Eskridge’s 2020 season (86.9). Western Michigan is becoming the Group of Five’s WRU.
Oh my. What a grab, Skyy Moore.
TD @WMU_Football! pic.twitter.com/vSG5qSxhiz
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 2, 2021
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