CBS: College Football's Top 150 Players of 2025 (81. Anthony Smith; 94. Darius Taylor; 124. Koi Perich)

[BleedGopher]

Per Blake:

81. Anthony Smith | DL | Minnesota​

Long, athletic edge with the frame to slide inside. Wins with hand usage, leverage and strength. Disruptive vs. both the run and pass. Has speed-to-power ability and the versatility to rush from multiple alignments. Future likely at DT.

94. Darius Taylor | RB | Minnesota​

Quietly one of the most productive backs in the country when healthy. Nearly 1,000 rushing yards, 10 TDs, plus 54 catches for 350 yards and 2 more scores. Racked up 805 yards after contact and 27 explosive plays. Vision, patience, and cutback ability are top tier.

124. Koi Perich | S | Minnesota​

One of the best freshman safeties in the country. Didn't allow a TD in coverage, led the Big Ten with 5 INTs, and added 8 PBUs. Instinctive, physical, and dangerous as a blitzer. Also returns punts. Total package with high football IQ and playmaking flair.

College Football's Top 150 Players of 2025: The definitive spring rankings, led by Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith

A year after pegging the Heisman winner, former All-American and first-round NFL Draft pick Blake Brockermeyer scouts and ranks the top 150 players 2025

www.cbssports.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Anthony Smith, D. Eastern and Jaxon Howard are going to be really fun to watch this year.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

No way is Perich that low.

 

[MNVCGUY]

No way is Perich that low.

I wouldn't get hung up on the numbers next to the names. Just nice to see 3 Gophers being viewed as some of the best in college football.

No way to really accurately rank players 1-whatever in something like this when guys play different positions and against different competition levels.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

No way is Perich that low.

I would say I doubt that Smith is a better player than Perich. He's good, but Perich is special. Taylor has parts of 2 great seasons but needs to stay healthy. I would guess if he would have been 100% his first two years he would be a top 3-5 RB in the nation right now.

 

[boozer]

I would say I doubt that Smith is a better player than Perich. He's good, but Perich is special. Taylor has parts of 2 great seasons but needs to stay healthy. I would guess if he would have been 100% his first two years he would be a top 3-5 RB in the nation right now.

Smith is the best “looks scary coming off the bus” guy on the team tho. dude’s a freak body.

 

[atsgopher]

#116 is Phillip Daniels….. they tampered, I adjudicate them guilty, give OSU the death penalty.

In lieu of that, we will except their starting WRs and TE.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

I wouldn't get hung up on the numbers next to the names. Just nice to see 3 Gophers being viewed as some of the best in college football.

No way to really accurately rank players 1-whatever in something like this when guys play different positions and against different competition levels.

I'm not getting hung up on these off-season rankings, but many are comparing Koi with Travis Hunter. Unless the writer isn't paying attention, I'm not sure how he isn't the top Gopher on this list at least.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Per Blake:

81. Anthony Smith | DL | Minnesota​

Long, athletic edge with the frame to slide inside. Wins with hand usage, leverage and strength. Disruptive vs. both the run and pass. Has speed-to-power ability and the versatility to rush from multiple alignments. Future likely at DT.

94. Darius Taylor | RB | Minnesota​

Quietly one of the most productive backs in the country when healthy. Nearly 1,000 rushing yards, 10 TDs, plus 54 catches for 350 yards and 2 more scores. Racked up 805 yards after contact and 27 explosive plays. Vision, patience, and cutback ability are top tier.

124. Koi Perich | S | Minnesota​

One of the best freshman safeties in the country. Didn't allow a TD in coverage, led the Big Ten with 5 INTs, and added 8 PBUs. Instinctive, physical, and dangerous as a blitzer. Also returns punts. Total package with high football IQ and playmaking flair.

College Football's Top 150 Players of 2025: The definitive spring rankings, led by Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith

A year after pegging the Heisman winner, former All-American and first-round NFL Draft pick Blake Brockermeyer scouts and ranks the top 150 players 2025

www.cbssports.com

Go Gophers!!

ONE of the best fr safeties?

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

ONE of the best fr safeties?

I know right! I wonder who he thinks were better safeties as a freshman last year. There were probably a handful of safeties overall better than Koi.

Edit: I can see an argument for having KJ Bolden (UGA) ahead of Koi. I don't think much separates them personally. Also, not a lot of safeties on this list, but he does love the QBs.

 

[btowngopher]

#116 is Phillip Daniels….. they tampered, I adjudicate them guilty, give OSU the death penalty.

In lieu of that, we will except their starting WRs and TE.

Phillip Daniels ranked ahead of Perich? How is Daniels even ranked?

 

[SeaBee_Gopher]

Phillip Daniels ranked ahead of Perich? How is Daniels even ranked?

Daniels plays for Ohio State