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Best D2 Football Players In 2024. Here's The Top 100

Best D2 Football Players In 2024. Here's The Top 100

Division II football is underway for the 2024 season. We've compiled a list of the D2 college football players that you need to watch. Here's the top 100.

Sep 11, 2024 by Briar Napier
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With nearly every Division 2 football program having kicked off their 2024 season, the college football landscape is starting to take shape. 

But with so many teams in Division 2 football, who should you watch? And who are the star players?

We’ve compiled an extensive list of 100 standout players to keep an eye on this season, including a top-25 ranking of the elite performers. 

Included in the list are players from current D2 powerhouses like Harding, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Colorado Mines, and Kutztown, but there is also a health helping of underdog schools. 

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Best Players In Division 2 College Football

Players No. 100-26 (By Position)

Quarterbacks (QB)

  • Avery Moore, Grand Valley State
  • Jack Strand, Minnesota State Moorhead
  • Dustin Noller, Limestone
  • Gavin Sukup, Indianapolis
  • Carson Gulker, Ferris State
  • Kyle Walljasper, Minnesota Duluth
  • Judd Novak, Kutztown

Running Backs (RB)

  • Braden Jay, Harding
  • Jada Byers, Virginia Union
  • Idris Lawrence, Slippery Rock
  • Marcellous Hawkins, Central Missouri
  • Kelvin Smith, Delta State
  • Tyler Flanagan, Central Washington
  • Myren Harris, Davenport
  • Malakai Brown, Shepherd
  • Jariq Scales, Southern Arkansas

Wide Receivers (WR)

  • Tyler Kahmann, Emporia State
  • Gage Florence, Minnesota State Moorhead
  • Rashawn Harvey, Slippery Rock
  • Malachi Langley, Lincoln (Pennsylvania)
  • Eric Willis III, California (Pennsylvania)
  • Jeremiah Cooley, UT Permian Basin
  • Kyle Nott, Grand Valley State
  • Preston Smith, Davenport
  • Jack Pospisil, Central Missouri
  • Yogi Flager Jr., McKendree
  • Jeremiah Taylor, Shepherd
  • Kendrick Watkins-Hogue, Wayne State (Nebraska)
  • Kurtis Ravenel Jr., Kutztown
  • Darrell Johnson, Grand Valley State
  • Reggie Retzlaff, CSU Pueblo

Tight Ends (TE)

  • Eddie Burgess, Upper Iowa
  • Travaunta Abner, Miles
  • Mark Leonard, Sioux Falls
  • Deontay Campbell, Missouri Southern State

Offensive Linemen (OL)

  • Ty Lucas, Shepherd
  • Nic Van de Graaf, Colorado School of Mines
  • Marshall Foerner, Minnesota State
  • Donovan McCollister, Charleston (West Virginia)
  • Bryce George, Ferris State
  • Jake Gannon, Bemidji State
  • Noah Plsek, Angelo State
  • Lawrence Hattar, Ferris State
  • CJ James, Augustana
  • Jett Janssen, Wayne State (Nebraska)
  • Colton Grier, Southern Arkansas
  • Michael Todd, Fayetteville State
  • Adam Kase, Kutztown
  • Maximus Johnson, UT Permian Basin
  • Darius McDuffie, Winston-Salem State

Defensive Linemen (DL)

  • Isaac Anderson, Virginia Union
  • Hunter O’Connor, Chadron State
  • Marcus Hansen, Bemidji State
  • Geemontae Peck, Davenport
  • Wesley Coleman, Harding
  • Vershaud Richardson, Arkansas Tech
  • Jake Fisher, Northwest Missouri State
  • Koffi Gbekle, Concordia St. Paul
  • Aaron Miller, Benedict
  • Traevon Mitchell, West Florida

Linebackers (LB)

  • Alex Kowalczyk, Wayne State (Nebraska)
  • Ralph Ortiz, West Florida
  • Mekhi Brown, Carson-Newman
  • JT Cavender, West Texas A&M
  • Mitch Larkin, Northern Michigan
  • John Johnson, Fort Hays State
  • Dexter Larsen, Wayne State (Nebraska)
  • Cam Hollobaugh, Walsh

Defensive Backs (DB)

  • Giye Jenkins, New Haven
  • Josh Stokes, Slippery Rock
  • Major Williams, Carson-Newman
  • Josiah Johnson, Ouachita Baptist
  • Donovan Barnes, West Florida
  • Jackson Zimmerman, Colorado School of Mines
  • Khai West, Minnesota State

Top 25 Division 2 College Football Players

Here's the list.

  1. Zach Zebrowski, QB, Central Missouri
    • Reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner who lit D-II up for 5,157 yards and 61 scores through the air in his first season as a transfer from FCS Southern Illinois
  1. Tanner Volk, DB, Central Washington
    • The first junior ever to win Cliff Harris Award after posting a nation-leading 13 interceptions and 124 total tackles for the quarterfinalist Wildcats
  1. Max McLeod, WR, Colorado School of Mines
    • Nation’s receiving king after a monster 1,656 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Orediggers. Important season ahead without former QB John Matocha
  1. Marquise Fleming, DL, Wingate
    • Reigning national sack leader (14) who additionally had 22.5 tackles for loss. Last season’s SAC and Super Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year
  1. Micah Cretsinger, LB, Saginaw Valley State
    • Do-it-all AP and AFCA First Team All-American had 100 tackles and eight interceptions, including four for touchdowns to tie the all-time D-II single-season record
  1. Andre Jefferson, DL, Lenoir-Rhyne
    • He posted his second straight 13-sack campaign and bumped up his tackles for loss total to a career-high 24 a season ago, which also tied for the national lead
  1. Garrett Cox, LB, Indiana (Pennsylvania)
    • Formerly at Millersville, Cox transferred to IUP in the offseason after being an AFCA First Team All-American thanks to his 114-tackle, 7.5-sack effort in 2023
  1. Sammy Edwards, QB, Valdosta State
    • Finished third in Harlon Hill Trophy voting and was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year after tossing for 4,223 yards and 34 touchdowns in the first year as a starter
  1. Daniel Bone III, DB, Colorado State Pueblo
    • Multiple-time All-American is back with the ThunderWolves after 89 tackles and seven interceptions over the past two seasons
  1. Blake Delacruz, RB, Harding
    • The focal point of the Bisons’ record-crushing flexbone offense rushed for 1,508 yards and 21 touchdowns as Harding scampered to the national championship
  1. Mikael King, DB, Tuskegee
    • One of the best HBCU players at any level, the converted wide receiver picked off six passes for the Golden Tigers and was an AFCA First Team All-American
  1. Kendel Givens, RB, Ouachita Baptist
    • Only unanimous First Team selection in the loaded Great American Conference last season; OBU’s all-time leader in rush touchdowns had 1,227 yards and 21 scores
  1. Gabe Clark, OL, Central Missouri
    • A vital part of the unit which protected award-winning QB Zach Zebrowski and created big holes for 1,000-yard tailback (and 2024 returner) Marcellous Hawkins
  1. Maven Kretche, DL, Minnesota State
    • Massive 6-foot-6 Maverick had 10.5 sacks and was a AFCA Second Team All-American as well as a Super Region 4 First Team selection
  1. Melvin Smith, DB, Southern Arkansas
    • Picked off four balls and defended 24 more while also returning kicks. One of the few D-II names selected to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watch List
  1. Sam Pitz, TE, Minnesota Duluth
    • Only caught 25 passes in 2023, but nine of them were for touchdowns as he was a First Team NSIC and Super Region 4 player a season ago
  1. Jamae Blank, DL, UNC Pembroke
    • Chowan transfer erupted in his new spot last season, garnering 21.5 tackles for loss with 12.5 sacks to become one of the country’s most feared defensive ends
  1. Gabe Brown, OL, Grand Valley State
    • Reliable protector of now-gone GLIAC Player of the Year Cade Peterson as he helped the Lakers churn out electric scoring marks of 43.8 points per game
  1. Andrew Pitts, DB, Angelo State
    • Former LSC Defensive Back of the Year and All-American had a bit of a down year after a seven-pick 2022, but he still intercepted four passes and returned a punt for a TD
  1. Brayden Long, QB, Slippery Rock
    • Harlon Hill Trophy finalist was Super Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year after 35 scores; will have big additions from the portal in Idris Lawrence and Rashawn Harvey
  1. DeAree Rogers, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
    • Then-freshman became a lethal return man for the Bears with three punts taken to the house; also caught 53 balls for 690 yards and six touchdowns
  1. Peyton Buckley, DB, Augustana
    • Career-high 78 tackles (7.5 for loss) to earn himself All-America honors from both the AP and the AFCA, additionally recording three interceptions in the process with it
  1. Gary Lewis, DL, Henderson State
    • Cliff Harris Award finalist; was AFCA Second Team All-American with 30 total tackles (eight for loss) and 7.5 sacks, including a strip sack to upset rival Ouachita Baptist
  1. Slade Edwards, OL, Central Washington
    • Helped create gaps for LSC Offensive Back of the Year Tyler Flanagan to run through and kept QB Kennedy McGill protected during CWU’s historic playoff run
  1. Jack Barkley, LB, Pittsburg State
    • Sixth-year senior led the Gorillas with 95 tackles with 11 for loss as he earned Second Team All-America nods from both the AP, D2CCA and Don Hansen

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