Top Sophomore at Each Position Heading into the 2023 College Football Season

A number of college football teams have started spring practices during the month of March. As teams begin their preparations for the 2023 season, plenty of freshmen who had big seasons in 2022 are looking to make an even bigger jump during their sophomore years.

Let's take a look at the top returning sophomores at each position.

All the players on this list were impressive in 2022, but some were more productive than others. The less productive ones were somewhat limited by a lack of reps and will benefit from having the depth chart open up above them.

We also highlighted an honorable mention when one felt warranted.

Author's note: Redshirt sophomores and true sophomores are included in this list.

Georgia's Mykel Williams made a name for himself as a true freshman last season. He finished with 28 total tackles, including 6.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, the latter of which led the team.

Per Pro Football Focus, his run-defense grade of 75.9 was first among freshman defensive ends. The outlet also ranks Williams as the fifth-best returning edge defender in the nation for 2023.

He had his best game last season against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl semifinal. Williams finished with a season-high four solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack of C.J. Stroud.

"It's very hard for a young player to do what Mykel's doing," Georgia co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said of Williams in February. "Tremendous future as a player, a guy that's got huge upside. Again, very humble, very coachable, takes coaching very well, understands those things you've got to do in order to be successful."

Williams should play a huge role in Georgia's defense in 2023.

Honorable mention: Wyoming DE Braden Siders

In 2022, Siders had seven sacks and 44 total tackles, including a team-high 13.5 for loss.

Dontay Corleone had a breakout season as a redshirt freshman in 2022. The Bearcats defensive lineman finished with 45 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss, and three sacks. He also forced and recovered two fumbles for Cincy's defense.

His best performance came during the Bearcats' win over Navy. Corleone accounted for 11 total tackles, including two solo stops. He said after the game that he benefited from playing against a triple-option scheme in high school.

"It's awesome," Corleone told reporters. "I have a big advantage over it because I went against it my whole high school career, so it was a big week for me."

Per Pro Football Focus, the Bearcats defensive lineman had an overall 93.8 grade, which was first among all FBS defenders. He also had the highest run-defense grade (94.7) since Micah Parsons in 2019.

We'll see how Corleone performs in 2023 under new defensive coordinator Bryan Brown. Brown was hired by new Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield in December.

As a true freshman last season, LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. proved he is going to be a star on the Tigers defense for the next couple of years, at least. Perkins finished third on the team in total tackles, accounting for 72 total stops. He also had 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, an interception and four forced fumbles.

His best game of the season came against Arkansas, as Perkins finished with three sacks, two forced fumbles and eight total tackles. The linebacker also made a game-sealing play late. Arkansas had the ball with less than two minutes left and a chance to score, but Perkins forced his second fumble of the day, stripping quarterback Cade Fortin.

By far the most impressive fact about Perkins' performance that day was that the linebacker put up those numbers while dealing with the flu.

"He got sick before the game," Brian Kelly told reporters after the game. "He threw up as we were going into our team meeting."

The week prior, LSU upset Alabama. Perkins finished with eight total tackles, one pass defended and a sack on Bryce Young. He had 10 total tackles and a forced fumble against Georgia in the SEC title game.

As LSU has started spring practice, Perkins has been working at inside linebacker alongside Oregon State transfer Omar Speights. Speights, who has 304 tackles during his collegiate career, paired with Perkins should make the Tigers defense even more daunting this fall.

Honorable mention: Penn State LB Abdul Carter

Playing on a talented Nittany Lions defense last season, Carter led the team with 6.5 sacks and had 36 solo stops.

Malaki Starks is expected to have yet another huge role on Georgia's defense in 2023. As the Dawgs look to three-peat as national champions, the defense will benefit from having Starks back, who led the team with 847 snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus.

The safety finished third on the team in tackles with 68 and also recorded two interceptions and seven passes defended. The first interception of his Georgia career came early during the Dawgs' Week 1 game against Oregon:

But Starks was also excellent at defending the run on the Dawgs' top-ranked rush defense. He had a 72.1 run-defense grade per PFF, which ranked third among Power Five true freshman safeties.

Georgia will have to replace a number of starters on defense from last season, including fellow safety Christopher Smith, cornerback Kelee Ringo and defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Having an experienced safety like Starks to lead the secondary in 2023 will be key for the unit to reload.

Will Johnson was Michigan's highest-rated recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite, and he didn't disappoint during his freshman season. The Wolverines cornerback tallied 27 total tackles, three interceptions and three passes defended.

Per Pro Football Focus, Johnson finished first in the Power Five nationally with a 91.1 grade while in man coverage.

"I wouldn't say I surprised myself," Johnson told 247Sports of his 2022 season in January. "I was given an opportunity so I took advantage of it."

As Michigan has started spring football this month, Johnson has not been practicing. There's no official confirmation from the school as to the specific reason, but it's something to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses. The Wolverines are slated to have their spring scrimmage on April 1.

Honorable mention: Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison

Morrison led Notre Dame with six interceptions last season, and his 29.2 passer rating allowed ranked third among Power Five corners, per Pro Football Focus.

As Texas looks to become a Big 12 contender in 2023, the offense will need to take a big step forward. To help with that will be Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr., who started in all 13 games as a true freshman at left tackle in 2022.

By the end of last season, Banks held the longest streak among Power Five offensive tackles without allowing a quarterback pressure, per Hook'em Headlines. He also finished sixth among Power Five offensive tackles with a 3.5 percent pressure rate allowed on true passing plays, according to Pro Football Focus.

As Banks enters the 2023 season, the offensive tackle is reportedly taking more of a leadership role. Via Hook'em Headlines:

According to a report from Horns247 on Feb. 9 (paid content), Banks has 'attacked winter conditioning with the same intensity he attacked opposing defensive linemen.' This report also notes that Banks has become one of the most noticeable Longhorns players right away this offseason. He is reportedly turning into a 'leader by example,' which is evident in terms of the impact he's had on some of his teammates in winter workouts.

Texas will get back starting quarterback Quinn Ewers in 2023 and welcome true freshman Arch Manning. Also returning are leading receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. With Banks leading the pass protection, there's no question that the Longhorns' passing attack should be elevated in 2023.

Honorable mention: LSU's Will Campbell

Campbell gave up pressure on just 2.7 percent of pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

LSU tight end Mason Taylor had no problems finding his role within the Tigers offense as a true freshman last season. He finished third on the team in receptions (38) and receiving yards (414) and had three touchdowns.

His best performance came during LSU's bowl game against Purdue, as he accounted for five catches, 88 yards and a touchdown. He had a huge moment during LSU's upset victory over Alabama earlier in the season—Taylor caught the pass from Jayden Daniels on the game-winning two-point conversion.

"Definitely when I caught that last one, I mean that place was rocking," Taylor told reporters after the game. "I couldn't hear anything and my legs kinda got numb, but it was definitely a great experience and a great atmosphere."

Taylor caught a touchdown pass from Daniels late in the fourth quarter of that game, too.

With Daniels returning under center for LSU, the expectations for the Tigers should be high. Taylor will likely see an increased role in the offense, as receivers Kayshon Boutte and Jaray Jenkins are headed to the NFL. Although Taylor missed spring football due to offseason shoulder surgery, Kelly told Wilson Alexander of the Advocate he should be back for LSU's summer workouts.

Honorable mention: North Texas TE Var'keyes Gumms

Per North Texas, Gumms finished 15th nationally in receiving yards among all tight ends last season.

Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan looks primed for a breakout season as a sophomore in 2023. Last year as a true freshman, McMillan finished 14th in the Pac-12 in receiving yards, with 702—the most for any true freshman in the country, per Pro Football Focus—and eight touchdowns.

His eight scores also tied for third in the conference, alongside USC's Jordan Addison and Utah's Dalton Kincaid. He had his best game of the season against Washington, finishing with a career-high seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

It looks like McMillan is on track to become a much more explosive receiver in 2023. Earlier this month, the receiver told reporters he's running as fast as 22 miles per hour. Per NFL Next Gen Stats (via Tucson.com), the fastest a ball-carrier ran in a 2022 NFL game was 22.11 mph (Parris Campbell).

"Just seeing his improvement from the first day that he got here and how much stronger and how much bigger he's gotten is really crazy," third-year safety Isaiah Taylor told reporters earlier this month. "Y'all might not be able to see it, but it's honestly insane how much stronger, how much faster, how much more explosive. I think he'll have a big jump this year."

The other reason McMillan is expected to have an even bigger 2023 season? Arizona's leading receiver from last year, Dorian Singer, has since transferred to USC. That leaves a lot more reps up for grabs for McMillan and his teammate, senior wideout Jacob Cowing.

We'll see if McMillan can help third-year head coach Jedd Fisch earn his first season above .500 at Arizona in 2023.

Honorable mention: Clemson WR Antonio Williams

The wideout led Clemson's receiving corps with 604 receiving yards and had four touchdowns last season.

Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins didn't look like a true freshman last season. He finished seventh nationally in rushing yards with 1,565 and had 16 rushing touchdowns. He led the SEC with an average of 120.4 rushing yards per game, too.

He took home the conference's Freshman of the Year Award, in addition to breaking Ole Miss' single-season records for rushing yards and touchdowns. He surpassed former Rebels running back Kayo Dottley, who finished with 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns in 1949.

His best game last season came in a 42-27 loss to Arkansas. Judkins finished with a career-high 214 rushing yards and a score.

Although Judkins has solidified himself as the No. 1 running back heading into 2023, the Rebels have an interesting quarterback battle.

Head coach Lane Kiffin added Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders from the transfer portal as well as LSU's Walker Howard. Ole Miss' starter from last season, Jaxson Dart, is still on campus as well. Judkins had just 15 catches for 132 yards last season, and it would benefit the Rebels to get him more involved in the passing game.

Honorable mention: Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton

Singleton became just the second Penn State freshman to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground during his first season in Happy Valley, joining Saquon Barkley.

The Tar Heels signal-caller had a truly breakout season as a redshirt freshman in 2022. Maye finished first nationally in total offensive yards, accounting for 5,019, and added 45 total touchdowns. He threw for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He is already climbing up the UNC record books, too—he broke the school's single-season record for passing yards, previously held by Mitch Trubisky, and tied the program's single-season record for passing touchdowns. Unsurprisingly, he was named ACC Player of the Year and the FWAA's National Freshman of the Year.

There is plenty of hype surrounding Maye, who helped lead UNC to its first ACC title game since 2015. But the signal-caller will have to deal with some changes from last season. His leading receivers in Josh Downs and Antoine Green are headed to the NFL. He also has a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey who spent 2022 at UCF. But it sounds like Lindsey's offense is similar to what the Tar Heels ran last season.

"I think the main thing is he's keeping a lot of stuff the same," Maye said of Lindsey earlier this month. "He's not mixing up a lot of communication, not giving us like a whole new playbook. He's keeping a lot of the passing game stuff the same. And then doing the things he knows and what he's done in the past in the run game."

We'll see if Maye can put up more big numbers in 2023 under a new offensive coordinator.

Honorable mention: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik

DJ Uiagalelei has transferred to Oregon State, so the job is fully Klubnik's. He has big expectations under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley for 2023.