As spring football fills the air, the anticipation for the upcoming season is palpable. While some colleges are wrapping up their spring practices, others are gearing up for the action. With some highly touted college football players entering the NFL Draft, scheduled to commence on April 25, the focus now shifts to the remaining players returning for another season in college. So, who’s the top player entering the 2024 college football season? The excitement is building.

Deion Sanders has previously presumed that his star QB son, Shedeur Sanders, and his valuable two-way weapon, Travis Hunter, would be among the top four players entering the 2025 NFL Draft. He ranks his son at No. 1 while he also said Hunter couldn’t potentially go beyond No. 4. However, when it comes to them entering the 2024 season, a major sports outlet ranks them otherwise.

Travis Hunter ranks in the top 1 in the Top 100 college football in 2024

According to CBS Sports’ latest ranking of the Top 100 college football players entering the 2024 season, Colorado earns the top spot, with CB Travis Hunter taking the lead. The Paul Hornung Award winner, who made a name for himself in his debut season in Colorado, is truly a generational player. Despite missing a few games early on in the season due to a lacerated liver injury, he still managed to record an impressive 1,044 snaps. His two-way play was a sight, with 100+ snaps in seven games. On defense, he secured 566 snaps while recording 436 snaps on offense. These achievements are nothing short of remarkable. 

Hunter even contributed 30 snaps on special teams. As someone who finished with 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns despite missing three games, it’s not surprising how he ended up on the top of CBS Sports’ ranking. But his phenomenal performance last season stole the spotlight from Shedeur Sanders, who ranks Top 4 on the CBS Sports list.

Shedeur Sanders is the No. 4 on the CBS Sports ranking

While Shedeur Sanders may not be the No. 1 player off the board, he’s still the No. 1 QB entering the 2024 season. The No. 2 and 3 spots were filled by Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. and Michigan DT Mason Graham, respectively. He’s also CBS Sports’ choice as the first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, a testament to his excellent arm strength and accuracy both on the move and in the pocket. His potential is undeniable, and it’s a source of hope for his fans.

He was under constant pressure throughout last season and ended up with 52 sacks. But he still delivered by completing 69% of his passes and recorded 3,230 yards with three interceptions in 430 attempts. Now that the Buffs offensive line underwent a major change in the offseason, this season could be a game-changer for Shedeur Sanders.