- Zachariah Branch wows in his first game at Georgia: The USC transfer secured a 91.6 overall PFF grade, racking up 95 yards on only three receptions.
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren shines against Kentucky: The Toledo safety amassed eight tackles and a forced fumble during the highest-graded game of his career.
- Subscribe to PFF+: It’s quick and easy. You’ll unlock industry-leading rankings, unlimited Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator use, the PFF Live Draft Assistant and our weekly Start/Sit Optimizer. It’s time to win.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
QUARTERBACK
Power Four: Nicco Marchiol, West Virginia Mountaineers – 94.8
Nicco Morchiol has been waiting in the wings for four years at West Virginia, working his way up to finally being the starting quarterback this year. In his 2025 debut, he did not disappoint, recording a 95.4 PFF passing grade on a 94.7 adjusted completion percentage with two big-time throws. He also added a touchdown on the ground with 63 rushing yards to help the Mountaineers cruise to a 45-3 victory.
Group of Five: Anthony Colandrea, UNLV Rebels – 92.5
The Virginia transfer has shone for the Rebels so far through two games, making UNLV a formidable College Football Playoff contender in the Group of Five. Colandrea has had the benefit of playing twice already but has been dominant both times, posting 86.0-plus overall PFF grades in each outing. He’s currently second in the nation in big-time throws with six.
RUNNING BACK
Power Four: Isaac Brown, Louisville Cardinals – 95.3
There was no running back who was more efficient in Week 1 than Brown, who barely got tackled. On only six carries, Brown was able to pick up 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns, with 71 of those yards coming after contact. That performance earned Brown an elite 94.4 PFF rushing grade for the day.
Group of Five: Lincoln Pare, Texas State – 88.7
Pare was dominant on the ground last Saturday, running for 167 yards on only 12 attempts. Averaging 13.9 yards per carry was enough to churn out an 88.1 PFF rushing grade. Pare added a touchdown while breaking six tackles throughout the game, leading the Bobcats to a blowout win.
WIDE RECEIVER
Power Four: Zachariah Branch, Georgia Bulldogs – 91.6
The USC transfer didn’t waste any time making an impact at Georgia. Branch is one of the most electrifying players in college football, and he displayed it by posting a 90.2 PFF receiving grade in Week 1. He nearly gained 100 yards on only three catches to average 31.7 yards per reception. This might be the dynamic receiver that Georgia was missing last year — and if that’s the case, the Bulldogs are just as fearsome.
Group of Five: Wyatt Young, North Texas – 90.8
Young had a stellar day on Saturday, tallying four receptions for 97 yards. All four of his catches picked up first downs, and two of them went for touchdowns to earn an 89.3 PFF receiving grade. When targeting Young, North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
TIGHT END
Power Four: Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss – 84.3
Ole Miss scored 63 points last week vs. Georgia State, with tight end Daq-Quan Wright contributing one score to that. Wright was the team’s second-leading pass-catcher, accruing 78 yards on four catches to finish with a team-high 87.7 PFF receiving grade. Wright is poised to step up and be a big part of the Rebels’ offense this season.
Group of Five: Peter Clarke, Temple Owls – 99.1
Clarke currently possesses the highest PFF grade of any player in the country right now at 99.1. That is one of the highest grades we’ve seen in a game, which came as no surprise. Clarke was perfect from a receiving standpoint with a 158.3 passer rating when targeted. The sophomore also caught all four of his targets to pick up 85 yards and two touchdowns, notching a 96.0 PFF receiving grade.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Power Four: Austin Barber, Florida Gators – 91.3
This Florida offensive line could be one of the best in the nation this season, and the group showed why in Week 1. Barber is a four-year veteran starter at Florida who has only gotten better at left tackle. On Saturday against Long Island, he gave up no pressures to earn an 85.4 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Group of Five: Nathan Elwood, Air Force Falcons – 91.6
With the triple-option offense Air Force runs, it’s crucial to have stout tackles paving the way in the run game. Elwood did just that last week with an 89.8 PFF run-blocking grade for the Falcons in a game in which they compiled 271 rushing yards during an easy win.
OFFENSIVE GUARD
Power Four: Beau Stevens, Iowa Hawkeyes – 91.6
The Iowa Hawkeyes earned PFF’s Offensive Line of the Week Honors in Week 1, and Stevens was a big reason why. On 57 snaps, Stevens did not allow a single pressure on his way to an 83.6 PFF pass-blocking grade. As a five-man unit, Iowa’s OL combined for a dominant 97.5 overall offensive grade.
Group of Five: Jay Mickle, Louisiana Monroe Warhawks – 84.2
Mickle was honored as the nation’s right guard of the week in Week 1 because of his stellar play. Louisiana Monroe’s play-calling was super balanced on Saturday, with 31 runs and 30 passes. Mickle was equally balanced as a blocker in both settings, posting an 84.7 PFF run-blocking grade to an 85.9 PFF pass-blocking grade.
CENTER
Power Four: Jake Slaughter, Florida Gators – 91.5
There’s a reason Jake Slaughter has been getting NFL Draft hype for two years now. He is widely regarded as college football’s best center heading into the season and proved it in Week 1 with the highest grade at the position. Slaughter only surrendered one sack in all of 2024 and is seemingly already following suit this season.
Group of Five: Elijah Fisher, Louisiana Monroe Warhawks – 91.3
The Warhawks’ offensive line performed exceptionally well in Week 1, with two of their five starters being the top-graded players at their respective positions. Fisher was actually highest on his own team with a 91.3 overall mark. He allowed only pressure of the game but still secured an 89.8 PFF run-blocking grade.
INTERIOR DEFENDER
Power Four: Grady Kelly, Michigan State Spartans – 93.0
Kelly was a huge factor in multiple facets of defense last week for the Spartans, recording two pressures, one run stop and even a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. All told, Kelly earned a 90.7 PFF pass-rushing grade against Western Michigan.
Group of Five: Jelani Davis, Kent State Golden Flashes – 93.3
Kent State won its first game since Sept. 16, 2023, last Saturday, and Davis was a contributing reason why. Merrimack struggled to block him all game, as Davis generated a sack, two quarterback hits and four pressures along the way to a 91.5 PFF pass-rushing grade.
EDGE DEFENDER
Power Four: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State Nittany Lions – 96.3
Dennis-Sutton did not have to play long to earn an elite 97.3 PFF run-defense grade on Saturday. On just 14 run-defense snaps, he tallied two tackles, both of which resulted in a loss of yardage for the offense. He also didn’t receive a single negative grade in the run game, and his average depth of tackle was an impressive three yards behind the line of scrimmage. With Abdul Carter off to the NFL, it is now Dennis-Sutton’s time to shine in State College.
Group of Five: Harper Holloman, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – 94.5
Holloman has had the luxury of playing two full games thus far, and he currently leads the nation in pressures (nine) and hurries (seven). Harper played much better in WKU’s second game of the season, where he earned a 97.3 PFF grade courtesy of five pressures and a sack.
LINEBACKER
Power Four: Jeremiah Beasley, Missouri Tigers – 91.7
Beasley is looking to break out this season for the Tigers, and the sophomore got off to a great start in Week 1. He was an absolute menace defending against the run with four tackles, two run stops and one forced fumble for the day. Likewise, his 92.9 PFF coverage grade also currently leads all linebackers.
Group of Five: Johnny Chaney Jr., FIU Panthers – 92.1
Chaney Jr. was a tackling machine for FIU in its first contest, recording eight total and only missing one attempt. That performance granted Chaney an elite 96.4 PFF run-defense grade. He also broke up one pass in coverage for the day while only allowing 11 total yards on nine targets.
CORNERBACK
Power Four: Zelmar Veddar, Houston Cougars – 90.4
The Cougar defense blanked the Stephen F. Austin offense last Saturday, thanks in large part to Houston’s dominant secondary. Veddar was the star corner of the day, compiling an elite 90.2 PFF coverage grade. Veddar recorded two pass breakups as well as two tackles in the game.
Group of Five: Jaquez White, Troy Trojans – 90.0
The Division-II Washburn transfer showed no growing pains moving up to DI in his season debut. It was about as great a performance as you could have in your first game as a Division-I corner, as White finished with an outstanding 90.4 PFF coverage grade. That is what one interception, one pass breakup and eight tackles will get you.
SAFETY
Power Four: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC Trojans – 96.5
Fitzgerald’s play in Week 1 could be a harbinger this season for the Trojans’ secondary, which was outstanding in Week 1. Fitzgerald was the highest-graded defensive back on the team with a 95.4 PFF coverage grade. He was targeted three times in coverage, which did not go well for the Missouri State offense. Fitzgerald permitted only a 2.8 passer rating into his coverage.
Group of Five: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets – 91.1
It feels like the Rockets always have stellar defensive backs year after year, and McNeil-Warren is the next one up. He’s posted two full seasons with 83.0-plus PFF grades, which shows how consistent of a player McNeil-Warren is. Saturday was actually the highest-graded game of his career at a 91.1 mark. McNeil-Warren pitched a shutout coverage while racking up eight tackles and a forced fumble. This performance is even more impressive considering that it came against an SEC opponent in Kentucky.
© 2026 PFF - all rights reserved.