PFF Top 101 Players of 2023: Xavier at #97, Jay Higgins at #70, Cooper at #56, Castro at #28

[ichawk24]

Only players #20 to #101 released so far.

97. S XAVIER NWANKPA, IOWA HAWKEYES
Iowa’s cornerbacks get the headlines, but the Hawkeyes have an excellent safety in Xavier Nwankpa. He ranked eighth in the nation in overall grade and led all safeties in PFF WAR in 2023. Nwankpa plays several roles for Iowa, having logged at least 200 snaps in the box, in the slot and at free safety.

70. LB JAY HIGGINS, IOWA HAWKEYES
Higgins was the most valuable linebacker in the nation this year, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. He ranked fourth among all linebackers in the nation in both overall grade (89.6) and coverage grade (90.8) in 2023.

56. CB COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA HAWKEYES​

Quarterbacks recorded just a 37.8 passer rating when targeting DeJean this past season. For reference, spiking the ball on every play would net a 39.6 passer rating. Expect to hear DeJean’s name called within the first 20 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

PFF College 101: The 101 best players in college football in 2023 | College Football | PFF

The 2023-2024 college football season featured star players across the nation. Here were PFF's 101 best players from the past year.

www.pff.com

 

[hawkosx]

69 rated higher than Higgins. Okaay

 

[millah_22]

69 rated higher than Higgins. Okaay

It will be interesting to see if the higher rankings/grades are offense heavy. They have him at 70, but as the 4th best LB in terms of their grading, which is fair. Being within 10 of Bucky Irving, Tahj Brooks, Travis Hunter, a few others, like.. these are some good players. They aren't just putting 69 scrubs in front of him.

Seeing X on the list is good. Wonder how many safeties show up on the list. So far we've seen 7.

 

[diggetydug]

It will be interesting to see if the higher rankings/grades are offense heavy. They have him at 70, but as the 4th best LB in terms of their grading, which is fair. Being within 10 of Bucky Irving, Tahj Brooks, Travis Hunter, a few others, like.. these are some good players. They aren't just putting 69 scrubs in front of him.

Seeing X on the list is good. Wonder how many safeties show up on the list. So far we've seen 7.

The funny thing is the fans that say X is a bust or doesn’t do anything because they do not hear his named called constantly are just way off base. When you are not hearing your safeties name that is a very good thing. Either the line is eating things up, the backers are eating things up or they are playing away from him because of his skill. X is a damn fine safety that is meeting all expectations as far as I am concerned.

 

[millah_22]

The funny thing is the fans that say X is a bust or doesn’t do anything because they do not hear his named called constantly are just way off base. When you are not hearing your safeties name that is a very good thing. Either the line is eating things up, the backers are eating things up or they are playing away from him because of his skill. X is a damn fine safety that is meeting all expectations as far as I am concerned.

Especially after only his first full season of playing.

 

[jonesy5960]

Especially after only his first full season of playing half of it with a broken hand in a cast.

FIFY...

 

[ichawk24]

Players #20 thru #59 added:

56. CB COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA HAWKEYES​

Quarterbacks recorded just a 37.8 passer rating when targeting DeJean this past season. For reference, spiking the ball on every play would net a 39.6 passer rating. Expect to hear DeJean’s name called within the first 20 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

 

[Bro D]

Castro being left off is a crime

 

[Greenway4Prez]

The funny thing is the fans that say X is a bust or doesn’t do anything because they do not hear his named called constantly are just way off base. When you are not hearing your safeties name that is a very good thing. Either the line is eating things up, the backers are eating things up or they are playing away from him because of his skill. X is a damn fine safety that is meeting all expectations as far as I am concerned.

X is damn good, and he will get a lot of buzz from draftniks this upcoming season. Kyle Hamilton 2.0

 

[BonzoFury]

X's rating seem more anticipatory. He's been solid but not spectacular. You think of the guys in a TOP 100 list as standing out...like Castro.

 

[ItsAllBallBearingsNowadays]

Castro being left off is a crime

Did everyone miss this?

28. CB SEBASTIAN CASTRO, IOWA HAWKEYES​

Castro was named a PFF first-team All-American this season after leading the nation with 19 coverage stops. His six tackles for loss or no gain placed third among all college football cornerbacks.

 

[pink shizzle]

Castro being left off is a crime

You think of the guys in a TOP 100 list as standing out...like Castro.

Castro comes in at #28 🙂

 

[millah_22]

Players #20 thru #59 added:

56. CB COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA HAWKEYES​

Quarterbacks recorded just a 37.8 passer rating when targeting DeJean this past season. For reference, spiking the ball on every play would net a 39.6 passer rating. Expect to hear DeJean’s name called within the first 20 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

would have been higher if he played last 4 games.

 

[Bullethawk31]

X's rating seem more anticipatory. He's been solid but not spectacular. You think of the guys in a TOP 100 list as standing out...like Castro.

It's literally based off of high level metrics nothing subjective

 

[Bro D]

Castro comes in at #28 🙂

Was gonna say. I got some shit for saying he was our best player last year

 

[millah_22]

Pretty fair top 20. Happy to see Fuaga get a good ranking. That dude was lock down this year.