The transfer portal dominates the headlines in college football these days but that makes it even more important when players decide to return to their program. These are the players that stayed and most impacted the college football futures odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Returning Players in CFB
I have already written a list of my top 15 quarterbacks in college football so this is going to be a non-quarterback list. Also, I could easily just make a list of the best players in college football but I wanted to highlight some players that had real opportunities to transfer or go to the NFL and elected to stay and make a massive impact on their team.
BOISE STATE: RB Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty is one of the best running backs in college football but is still relatively unknown because he plays in the Mountain West conference. Jeanty ran for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to winning the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year last season. Jeanty apparently had huge sums of NIL money thrown at him from P4 programs but elected to stay at Boise State.
Boise State is now the favorite to win the Mountain West and has the best odds to make the College Football Playoff for a Group of Five school. So, Jeanty’s loyalty could be rewarded with a CFP berth.
COLORADO: WR/CB Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter has become a well-known name in college football because of the attention around the Colorado program. I don’t expect Colorado to be very successful this year but Travis Hunter is an absolute monster.
He does have some big NIL deals and great exposure thanks to his head coach, but Hunter could have transferred to basically any program in America to compete for a title. However, Hunter stayed at Colorado and is expected to play a massive role on both sides of the ball.
GEORGIA: S Malaki Starks
Malaki Starks is one of the best players in all of college football. Starks was a Bronko Nagurski Award finalist last season and a consensus All-American, making him one of the five best defensive players in college football.
Georgia ended up having multiple players from their secondary transfer away this offseason but Starks is remaining to be the cornerstone of Kirby Smart’s defense. Starks will play a massive part in Georgia’s hunt for another national title.
OREGON: WR Tez Johnson
Tez Johnson was the #2 receiver at Oregon last year behind Troy Franklin, although he put up massive numbers. Johnson had the chance to head to the NFL alongside Franklin but elected to return to Oregon.
Alongside transfer WR Evan Stewart, Johnson will look to make Oregon one of the best offenses in the country.
PENN STATE: DE Abdul Carter
Abdul Carter had a breakout sophomore season in 2023 and will now look to cement himself as a top defensive player in the country. Carter had a nearly 25% pressure rate on his pass rush attempts last season.
As a result of his pressure success rate, James Franklin is moving Carter from LB to DE. As a true pass-rusher this season, Carter should be one of the most dominant forces in college football.
TEXAS TECH: RB Tahj Brooks
Tahj Brooks is another under-the-radar name because he doesn’t play for a top-tier program. That being said, Brooks is one of the best backs in the country. There was speculation Brooks would head to the NFL this offseason but he decided to return and try to become Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher.
He ran for over 1,500 yards in 2023 and needs just over 1,100 to break the program’s all-time rushing record. Texas Tech hopes to be a dark-horse to compete in the new-look Big 12 and Brooks will play a massive part in that quest.
MICHIGAN: RB Donovan Edwards
Donovan Edwards has a lot of weight on his shoulders this season. Last year, Blake Corum cemented himself as the go-to running back for Jim Harbaugh. However, Edwards was the star of the Michigan offense in their National Championship Game win over Washington.
Now with Blake Corum, JJ McCarthy, Jim Harbaugh and so many other Michigan players off to the NFL, Sherrone Moore will be relying on Donovan Edwards to be the dominant back for this offense. New QB Alex Orji still has a lot of question marks around his passing ability so this will likely be a run-heavy offense to start the season.
USC: WR Zachariah Branch
There was some speculation that Zachariah Branch could transfer after Caleb Williams left for the NFL, but early in the spring Branch confirmed he would be staying at USC. Branch is one of the most dynamic players in college football. He is incredibly fast, a great route runner and can line up just about anywhere.
New USC QB Miller Moss will heavily rely on Branch to make magic happen as he eases into his new role. USC is a real playoff contender this season if their defense can improve and Branch could be the x-factor to get them there.
NOTRE DAME: CB Benjamin Morrison
Notre Dame is favored to make the College Football Playoff this season and it all starts on defense for the Irish. Benjamin Morrison is hoping to be the leader of that defense as he heads into his junior year. Morrison started as a true freshman but really emerged as a star last season.
Morrison did have an offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to return soon. If he can totally lockdown opposing WR1s then Notre Dame is a legitimate contender this season.
TENNESSEE: DE James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr. has the chance to be the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is still relatively inexperienced but every time he touches the field he causes havoc on opposing offensive lines. Pearce is the best pure pass rusher in college football and will look to prove it over the course of a season in 2024.
Tennessee has a favorable schedule that sets them up with a chance to make the College Football Playoff. With QB Nico Iamaleava on one side of the ball and Pearce on the other, this team could have a magical season if everything clicks.
MISSOURI: WR Luther Burden III
Luther Burden III is the favorite to win the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best wide receiver in college football, this season. Burden broke out last season with over 1,200 receiving yards, good enough for second-team All-American honors.
Missouri has high hopes in the first season of the 12-team playoff but to replicate last year’s success they need Burden to be just as good, if not better. Burden could easily be a top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if he has another monster season.
Place your College Football bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is blakekrass) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
