Highest-graded players at every position through Week 11 of the 2021 college football season

We continue to see significant movement at the top of the highest-graded player rankings late in the college football season. While just two weeks separate us from postseason play, there is still room for late-comers to climb to the top of the rankings.

This week, we’ll look at the top-graded players as well as who could end up leading the country by the end of the year in each category.

Here are the highest-graded Power Five and Group of Five players at every position through Week 11.

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Quarterback 

Power Five: Caleb Williams, Oklahoma Sooners | 93.3

Williams still leads the country through Week 11, but his benching against Baylor — leading to Spencer Rattler‘s return — means it's possible he doesn’t get enough snaps over the rest of the season to maintain his spot.

Alabama’s Bryce Young is the third-highest-graded quarterback — and the most intriguing of those vying for the No. 1 spot, given that it's his first year as a starter. Other contenders include No. 2 Kenny Pickett, No. 4 Sam Hartman, No. 5 Malik Cunningham and No. 6 Brennan Armstrong.

Group of Five: Malik Willis, Liberty Flames | 91.9

It was a slow start for Kent State’s Dustin Crum, as the Flashes opened their season with three Power Five opponents on the road. Since then, he’s been on a tear, sitting just .9 grading points back of Willis. In second place is Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall, who has flirted with the top spot in the past. Without McCall this past week, the Chanticleers lost to Georgia State, further proving their mullet-wearing quarterback’s worth.

Running Back

Power Five: Dameon Pierce, Florida Gators | 91.7

Pierce has rocketed up the rankings, finally landing at No. 1 this week, but two Pac-12 runners are also worth discussing. In second place, Arizona State’s Rachaad White is just .2 grading points away from Pierce, and Tavion Thomas of the red hot Utah Utes is just .4 points away. Potential Heisman front-runner Kenneth Walker III sits at fifth and could make his charge to the top of the rankings in the coming weeks.    

Group of Five: DeWayne McBride, UAB Blazers | 88.9

McBride is on top for the first time this season playing in UAB’s outside zone-heavy scheme but will feel pressure from Memphis’ Rodrigues Clark and BYU‘s Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier hasn’t quite gotten the attention he received last season when BYU pummeled almost everyone in its path, but he has been just as good. He has played more snaps combined than the two players in front of him, so while McBride and Clark have been efficient, Allgeier’s workload could eventually pave the way for him to take over the top spot.     

Wide Receiver

Power Five: Drake London, USC Trojans | 91.3

London is still the only Power Five receiver with a 90.0-plus grade on the season. It’s going to be hard for anyone this late in the year to catch him, especially with the big receiver being out for the rest of the campaign.

Among the contenders to take over the top spot are Ohio State‘s “third” receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (87.1), who ranks third in the Power Five, and Virginia’s Keytaon Thompson, who is a stat-sheet stuffer at sixth. Thompson, a former quarterback, has 77.0-plus grades in rushing, receiving, pass blocking and run blocking.

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Group of Five: Brandon Lewis, Air Force Falcons | 92.6

Two service academy receivers are in the top five in Lewis from Air Force and Isaiah Alston from Army. Both benefit from living in a triple-option world, leading to good looks in coverage. Coastal Carolina’s Jaivon Heiligh, in fifth place, has been at the top of these rankings before and gets similar coverages stemming from the Chanticleers' triple-option usage, as well. Liberty’s Demario Douglas and UTEP’s Jacob Cowing round out the top five.

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