Continuing their top-10 rankings for various positions in college football, voters seemed to have just as much trouble finding separation between the candidates at defensive back as they did at receiver, who plays against defender.
This was the closest race to date, with a tie at the top broken based on the number of first-place votes each of the two candidates received from ESPN reporters. This puts Georgia's Malachi Starks ahead of Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter for No. 1 and also on the top 10 receiver list.
The results we gathered didn't end there. In fact, the player with the most first-place votes was Michigan's Will Johnson, No. 3 overall, with five players finishing first in at least one vote.
Points are allocated based on reporters' votes, with 10 points deducted for 1st place, 9 points for 2nd place, and 1 point for 10th place.
The results are as follows.
Previous top 10 list: Receiver | Running Back | Quarterback | Pass Rusher
Statistics for 2023: 3 interceptions, 7 passes defensed, 52 tackles
point: 67 (2 first place votes)
From the first time Starks took the field for the Bulldogs, there was a sense that the five-star safety was different. In the first quarter of his first collegiate game on September 3, 2022, Starks intercepted a deep pass from Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. He lofted the ball high and brought it in despite falling backwards and Georgia won 49-3. Starks led the Bulldogs to their second consecutive CFP national championship and was named a freshman All-American.
Starks was even better last season. He totaled 52 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups and was named a consensus All-American, ranking sixth among Power 5 safeties, according to Pro Football Focus. With safeties Tykie Smith and Javon Bullard leaving for the NFL Draft, Starks will play an even more prominent role on the back end of Georgia's defense this season. He could become the Bulldogs' first two-time All-American safety since John Little in 1985-86. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. — mark schlabach
Statistics for 2023: 3 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, 31 tackles
point: 67 people (no first place vote)
When Deion Sanders talked about Louis Vuitton bringing to Colorado, Hunter was one of the players he mentioned, and it was no surprise. Although he was the best player in the country to see snaps on both offense and defense, Hunter's best plays in 2023 came on the defensive end, including a spectacular interception in the season opener against TCU.
He regularly followed his opponent's best receivers and recorded three interceptions on the season, second most among corners in the Pac-12. He also had 31 total tackles, two of which were for loss, and had five passes defensed. If Colorado State makes another leap forward in 2024, Hunter will be a big reason why. — harry lyles jr.
Statistics for 2023: 4 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 27 tackles
point: 60 (3 votes for 1st place)
One of coach Jim Harbaugh's brighter recent recruits, Johnson quickly lived up to the blue-chip hype, posting a completion percentage of just 44%, a QBR of 11.9 in coverage, and a spot on the Wolverines' 2022 CFP team. played an important role for. In 2023, the University of Michigan and Johnson University raised their respective games. He allowed just a 42% success rate and 4.3 QBR as the Wolverines won the national title as the No. 1 defense by SP+.
Almost everything is changing at Michigan in 2024 — Sherone Moore replaces Harbaugh as head coach, Wink Martindale replaces Jesse Minter as defensive coordinator, and the starters on offense and defense are combined. Only about 5 people will return. But the secondary that Johnson joins will automatically be one of the best in the nation, especially with the veteran safety help he deserves. So, that's something the Wolverines can count on. — bill connelly
Statistics for 2023: 2 interceptions, 3 passes defended, 107 tackles
point: 53 (2 first place votes)
There's a reason Downs received over 100 phone calls after announcing he was transferring from Alabama. Downs was the nation's best freshman safety a year ago, a five-star recruit in the class of 2023 who was worth his down payment in his only season with the Tide. Downs became the first freshman to lead the team in tackles, recording 107 tackles and adding two interceptions along the way, earning him Freshman All-America honors.
He chose to transfer after Nick Saban retired and said choosing Ohio State over Georgia “was the best decision for me.” Downs joins a veteran defense that includes returning starters Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimorow, Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom. Ohio State already ranks in the top 10 nationally in pass defense without him. His arrival will only strengthen an already strong group. — andrea adelson
Statistics for 2023: 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 31 tackles
point: 48 (1 first place vote)
Morrison shares the defensive backfield with 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner safety Xavier Watts, but his ceiling may be higher, both in college and as an NFL Draft prospect. He had a breakout season as a freshman in 2022, recording six interceptions, which was seventh in the nation and the most by a Notre Dame player since 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te'o. It became a record. While Watts had the more gaudy interception numbers last season, Morrison had a very strong encore and led the team with 10 pass breakups. He also added three interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss, showing improvement against the run.
A sound tackler who can mark an opponent's top receiver, Morrison was a Thorpe Award semifinalist. The son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison could be one of the first defensive players taken in the 2025 draft if he maintains his trajectory as a ball-running cornerback. — Adam Rittenberg
Statistics for 2023: 1 interception, 8 passes defensed, 24 tackles
point: 37
Burke was an All-American as a freshman in 2021 and a full-time starter at Ohio State a year later. He has started 24 consecutive games at corner for the Buckeyes and has been exceptional at the job.
As a junior in 2023, he finished seventh in the Big Ten in completion percentage (38.5%), gave up just 0.88 yards per snap in coverage, allowed just one touchdown throw, and completed nine passes. He broke down and recorded one interception. — David Hale
Statistics for 2023: 7 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 52 tackles
point: 34 (1 first place vote)
Truth be told, Watts might be a little lower on this list considering everything he accomplished last season and the potential for even more in 2024. Watts, who won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's best defensive player, was the unanimous winner of all awards. The 2023 American led the nation with seven interceptions while recording 52 tackles, four pass breakups, 11 passes defensed and a forced fumble return for a touchdown.
Watts could have turned pro, but decided to return to school for one more season and join a group of veterans looking to make the playoffs. He quickly established himself as the best safety in the country. Watts started his career as a wide receiver, but switched positions at the end of 2022 and emerged as a starting safety. adelson
Statistics for 2023: 3 interceptions, 8 passes defensed, 67 tackles.
point: twenty two
When the offense is struggling to reach double-digit points, it's nice to have a shutdown corner on the other side of the ball. Iowa State was lucky to get two. Cooper DeJean was seen as the bigger star in 2023, but Sebastian Castro did everything he could to help the Hawkeyes' defense and blossomed into a true star.
In coverage, he was the best in the nation, allowing just 0.41 yards per coverage snap, which ranks as the third-best mark among returning cornerbacks in 2024. He allowed opposing QBs to complete only 37.5% of his passes to him and only 3.3% of his passes. He gained yards per target and in his eight PBUs he picked off one pass. However, he was also one of the most consistent tacklers at the position, scoring 67 takedowns, routinely disrupting the backfield, and making eight tackles for loss. — Hale
Statistics for 2023: 0 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 42 tackles
point: 16
After years of relying on dominant defenders, Clemson's defense took a strange turn in 2023. The Tigers' run defense was good, not great, but their pass defense was nearly impossible to beat. The main reason was Mukuha. He obliterated half the field on every play. In 10 games, his players were targeted just 27 times and he caught just eight balls for 85 yards. This allows him just 0.27 yards per coverage snap. He gave up one 20-yard completion all year, but only 21 yards.
Now, he's back in his hometown of Austin, where he should form one of the most physical and dominant cornerback tandems in the country with Jahde Barron and Terrence Brooks. He can play wide or in the slot and could be a big difference-maker for the Texas defense. — connelly
Statistics for 2023: 3 interceptions, 14 passes defensed, 46 tackles
point: 16
One of the most coveted cornerbacks in the transfer portal, Muhammad gives Dan Lanning's defense another weapon. He started his career at Oklahoma State and spent last season at Washington, starting all 15 games and recording 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, 16 passes defended and three interceptions. . That was good enough for Muhammad's second team to earn All-Pac-12 honors.
The addition of Muhammad, a 2022 All-Big 12 selection, is big for Oregon, which revamped its secondary this offseason. An even bigger deal could be taking him away from Washington after Karen DeBoer left for Alabama, as both the Ducks and Huskies prepare to move to the Big Ten in 2024. Lyles
Also accepting votes: Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma (14). Fentrell Cypress II, Florida State (14) Quincy Riley, Louisville (8); Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M (8); Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech (6); Hunter Waller, Wisconsin (6); Iowa Bo Freiler, State (5); Jordan Hancock, Ohio State (4); Deshaun Pace, UCF (3); Rod Moore, Michigan (3); Jarde Barron, Texas (2); Kevin Winston Jr. , Pennsylvania State University (2)
