• Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan: He remains the highest-graded player in the country, with a 95.3 mark.
• California running back Jaydn Ott: The true freshman is now the highest-graded running back in the country after a record-99.1 grade against Arizona.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 mins
We’re about one-third of the way through the 2022 college football season. Let’s take a look at the highest-graded player at each position from the Power Five and Group of Five after Week 4.
Quarterback
Power Five: Tanner Morgan, Minnesota Golden Gophers | 95.3
Next up: Jordan Travis, Florida State Seminoles | 92.2
Tanner Morgan was the highest-graded Power Five quarterback before this weekend, but that was against the easiest schedule in the country, per PFF’s power rankings. He proved that was no fluke, posting a 92.9 grade in a blowout win over Michigan State — his highest in a game since 2019.
He’s now graded out above 85.0 in every game he’s played, the only quarterback in the country to do so. If he keeps up this level of play, he can be Minnesota’s first Heisman winner since 1941, when Bruce Smith took home the stiff-arm trophy. He’ll look to continue his Heisman campaign at home against Purdue this week.
Tanner Morgan is having a Kenny Pickett-esque breakout this season.
He has a 95.3 @PFF grade so far this season, best among all players in the country.
If he keeps this up, the sixth-year senior could become Minnesota’s first Heisman winner since 1941.pic.twitter.com/o1DjfycZth
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) September 25, 2022
Group of Five: Todd Centeio, James Madison Dukes | 94.0
Next up: Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois Huskies | 91.0
Todd Centeio and James Madison ruined Appalachian State’s chances of entering the AP poll with a 32-28 upset win on Saturday. Centeio finished with an impressive 81.6 grade, which is still his lowest by over eight points this season.
The Colorado State transfer now has a 10.8% big-time throw rate this season, the second-highest among FBS quarterbacks. He also has just one turnover-worthy play in three games. This week, the Dukes look to remain unbeaten at home against Texas State.
Running Back
Power Five: Jaydn Ott, California Golden Bears | 91.8
Next up: Henry Parrish Jr., Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 87.9
Jaydn Ott made history on Saturday. The true freshman(!) recorded a 99.1 grade(!!) against Arizona, the highest in a game by a Power Five running back since PFF began charting college football in 2014.
Highest single-game grades by FBS running backs in PFF College Era (Since 2014)
Player | School | Opponent | Year | Week | Grade |
Kareem Hunt | Toledo | Western Michigan | 2016 | 13 | 99.9 |
Jaydn Ott | California | Arizona | 2022 | 4 | 99.1 |
Leonard Fournette | LSU | Auburn | 2015 | 3 | 95.7 |
Against the Wildcats, Ott ran for 264 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries, averaging nearly 15 yards per attempt. He also forced 12 missed tackles on those carries and racked up 132 yards after contact. He’ll try to continue making history against Washington State this weekend.
Group of Five: CJ Beasley, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 82.7
Next up: Carson Steele, Ball State Cardinals | 81.9
CJ Beasley has been an all-around stud for Coastal Carolina. He’s the only Group of Five back with 75.0-plus grades as both a runner and receiver. He and the Chanticleers look to remain unbeaten against Georgia Southern on Saturday.
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