Sportskeeda College Football Top 50: Who are the best college football players heading into the 2021-22 season?

Sportskeeda's College Football top 50 players: 1-10

Oklahoma Sooners QB Spencer Rattler

#1 Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

College football's top quarterback resides in Oklahoma. Spencer Rattler is projected to be the best quarterback heading into the 2021-22 season. Rattler is coming off his best season, a year in which he completed 67.5% of his passes for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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#2 Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU Tigers

Derek Stingley Jr. was part of the 2019 LSU Tigers defense that won the national championship. As a freshman, Stingley recorded 31 solo tackles and six interceptions. The junior cornerback will look to replicate his freshman season in 2021.

Derek Stingley Jr. is must-watch TV pic.twitter.com/t8G1Ahf033

— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 5, 2021

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#3 Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina Tar Heels

Statistically, Sam Howell is the best quarterback in college football today. The Tar Heels junior quarterback has thrown for 7,227 passing yards, 68 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in two seasons. Howell's junior year will be a pivotal one even for NFL scouts, considering North Carolina lost both its top running backs to the draft.

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#4 Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa Hawkeyes

Tyler Linderbaum is the most impressive offensive lineman in the top 50. Linderbaum made the transition from defensive tackle to offensive center two years ago. Since making the move, he has developed into the best offensive lineman in college football.

Oregon Ducks edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux

#5 Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon Ducks

Kayvon Thibodeaux has been the backbone of the Oregon Ducks defensive line for the last two seasons. The junior pass rusher has tallied 49 solo tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks for the Ducks defense. Thibodeaux's biggest strength is his ability to keep his motor running the entire game.

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#6 Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Kyle Hamilton is the most complete safety in college football heading into the 2021-22 season. Hamilton may even be one of the best safeties in recent years in college football. The 6-foot-4, 221-pound safety possesses a 42-inch vertical leap, and Hamilton can defend both rushing and passing exceptionally well for his position.

Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton is the best safety in his class😤 pic.twitter.com/rI9PWFrpGb

— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 13, 2021

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#7 Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

Chris Olave was a top-five wide receiver after the 2020-2021 college football season. When he announced that he was returning for his senior season at Ohio State, Olave quickly became a top wide receiver prospect. The young wideout will have a new quarterback in 2021, which will allow him to prove why he's the best wide receiver in 2021.

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#8 Evan Neal, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide

The 2021-22 NFL Draft class is one of the weaker offensive tackle drafts in recent years. Evan Neal, though, is a massive human being standing 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, and has all the tools to be a successful offensive tackle in the NFL. He is entering the 2021-22 college football season as the best offensive tackle.

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#9 Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida Gators

Kaiir Elam registered 28 solo tackles and two interceptions in 2020. His most prolific stat is the 11 pass deflections he racked up last year. Elam enters his junior season at Florida, coming off an outstanding 2020 season.

College Football QB Malik Willis

#10 Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Flames

Willis has a lot of Lamar Jackson in him. Scouts are overlooking the Liberty quarterback just as they did Jackson. Malik Willis flashed a lot of potential in his first year at Liberty, throwing for 2,250 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also added 944 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 141 rushes.