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: 31-40

Miami (FLA) QB D'Eriq King

#31 D'Eriq King, QB, Miami Hurricanes

D'Eriq King could get lost in the shuffle of talented college football quarterbacks. The Hurricanes QB will look to build off his 2,686 passing yards and 23 touchdown season from 2020. King will have to work harder to stand out, with Spencer Rattler, Sam Howell, Malik Willis, and Kedon Slovis overshadowing him.

Can a fully healthy D'Eriq King take down Bama in WK1? pic.twitter.com/yOFv5YaLlS

— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 29, 2021

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#32 Jordan Battle, S, Alabama Crimson Tide

Jordan Battle enters the 2021-2022 college football season as the third-best safety behind Kyle Hamilton and Bubba Bolden. Battle will enter his third season at Alabama with 59 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. The junior safety has also recorded a defensive touchdown over the past two seasons.

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#33 George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue Boilermakers

George Karlaftis is a key player and can be the best defensive player on the Purdue depth chart. The third-year edge rusher enters the 2021-2022 college football season as a top NFL draft prospect. Karlaftis had a successful freshman season where he posted 30 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

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#34 Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati Bearcats

Statistically, Ahmad Gardner ranks among the best cornerbacks in college football. The junior cornerback enters the 2021-2022 college football season with 40 solo tackles, six interceptions and two touchdowns. Gardner has posted three interceptions in each of the last two seasons.

Michigan Edge Aidan Hutchinson

#35 Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan Wolverines

Like other Michigan defensive athletes, Aidan Hutchinson will want to erase the 2020 college football season from memory. Hutchinson enters the 2021 season as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. The senior edge rusher heads into the season with 49 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

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#36 Brenton Cox, LB, Florida Gators

Brenton Cox is coming off a successful 2020 college football season in which he registered 21 solo tackles, ten tackles for los, and 3.5 sacks from his linebacker position in 2020. The junior linebacker will look to lead the Florida Gators' defense again in 2021.

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#37 Jarrett Patterson, OL, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Jarrett Patterson joins a group of successful offensive linemen from Notre Dame. Patterson was on the Outland Trophy watch list in 2020 and was one of Phil Steele's Honorable Mention All-Americans. The senior offensive lineman will be a crucial piece of the Fighting Irish's offensive line in 2021.

Most positively graded plays among offensive linemen (power five):1. Cole Bentley, Lousiville2. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame2. Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/ACgtGj6rrx

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 2, 2020

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#38 Sevyn Banks, CB, Ohio State Buckeyes

Sevyn Banks is one of the players on the top 50 list who could improve his ranking dramatically in 2021. Banks has a lot to prove in the 2021-2022 college football season.

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#39 George Pickens, WR, Georgia Bulldogs

George Pickens suffered a severe ACL injury during the Bulldogs' spring practices. Pickens was one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country, but it will be a challenging climb for him after missing the majority of the upcoming season. The junior wide receiver can only hope that scouts look at his previous two seasons, where he caught 85 passes for 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Iowa State QB Brock Purdy

#40 Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State Cyclones

Brock Purdy may be the most interesting college football quarterback heading into the 2021 season. Purdy is a timing QB and has a lot of the same qualities as Kirk Cousins. The senior quarterback will get a lot of help from his running back, Breece Hall, but if the Cyclones want him to succeed in 2021, they have to remain on schedule.