Welcome to Glass Slipper! Clayton Kershaw’s still got it; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Saturday next week.

We’re seven days away from paradise. Let’s predict which college football players will be named first-team AP All-Americans in December.

Offense

Quarterback: DJ Lagway (Florida)

It’s unadulterated LagwayMania in Gainesville, and I totally get it. I’ve never seen a true freshman throw the deep ball like No. 2 did in 2024.

I sincerely believe that DJ is headed to the Heisman ceremony.

Running Backs: Makhi Hughes (Oregon), RB Jonah Coleman (Washington)

Two Big Ten backs beat out Jeremiyah Love, and neither reside in Happy Valley. Hughes has the luxury of operating behind an elite offensive line, and feels like a lock for 1,500 rushing yards. Coleman’s group up front is weaker, but I like that he has four top-14 matchups on the schedule. A couple of memorable performances, and he’s firmly in the mix here.

Wide Receivers: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Junior Vandeross III (Toledo)

It’s Jeremiah Smith versus the field for the Biketnikoff this year. Plain and simple.

Tyson exploded into an elite threat last fall, but the way he competes as a blocker is what truly made me fall in love. Star wideouts can get away with taking plays off in the run game; the ones who fling their body into the fray on each down anyway have earned my respect.

Only five individuals at the position logged more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns than Junior Vandeross III in 2024. With Jerjuan Newton out of the picture, those numbers are about to ascend into the stratosphere. Vandeross is smaller than me, and no one in the MAC can stay with him.

Tight End: Justin Joly (NC State)

There’s a certain serenity about watching this man rumble down the field with the ball in his hands. In a rather weak crop of collegiate tight ends, Joly is one of the few that I like a lot.

Center: Jake Slaughter (Florida)

Slaughter wasn’t even named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy last season, and I personally would’ve voted for him as my winner. The Gators’ beloved leader will leave no doubt this time.

Guards: Ar’maj Reed-Adams (Texas A&M), Giovanni El-Hadi (Michigan)

Countless massive high school prospects have committed to the Aggies in recent years, yet arguably the best player on the entire squad is a former three-star that transferred in from Kansas. Meanwhile, I think El-Hadi is severely underappreciated. He really impressed me in his first campaign as a full-time starter, and now gets to flip back to his preferred left side.

Tackles: Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Jordan Seaton (Colorado)

Proctor was a mammoth recruit, looked promising as a freshman, broke out in Year 2, and is now prepared to put the finishing touches on his top-10 draft stock. Seaton is on a completely identical path. Although I wish the Buffs’ big left tackle was donning Scarlet and Gray, I’m happy to see his development.

All-Purpose: Zachariah Branch (Georgia)

Branch had two return touchdowns on the résumé by halftime of his third college football game. Opponents wisely stopped giving him chances, but I see a few prideful coaches in the SEC - I’m staring right at Lane Kiffin - that might try to test him.

Zach will create special-teams magic in a big moment; combine it with 1,000 yards from scrimmage, and this spot is locked up.

Kicker: Dominic Zvada (Michigan)

I’d be pretty startled if this ends up being anyone else, quite frankly. I literally root for this dude to miss every single kick, and it flat-out does not happen.

Defense

Edge Rushers: Colin Simmons (Texas), Dylan Stewart (South Carolina)

A pair of impossibly-gifted kids, who each looked nothing short of terrifying in Year 1. Colin got to nine sacks in just 472 snaps. Dylan had 51 pressures in 11 contests. Both of them have Pro Bowls in their future.

Interior Linemen: Zane Durant (Penn State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)

Can I lob up an Aaron Donald comparison without everyone getting mad at me? No, I’m not saying that Zane Durant is going to claim three Defensive Player of the Year awards someday. But the undersized frame, boundless effort, and freakish suddenness? It all reminds me of one guy.

I’m extremely high on this Texas Tech squad, after some fantastic work in the transfer portal. Among the major additions is Hunter, who will finally get some well-earned national recognition.

Linebackers: Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), CJ Allen (Georgia), Sammy Brown (Clemson)

I just imagined a world in which this trio played on the same team together, and it was almost too glorious to comprehend. As a young child, most of my football heroes were linebackers. I hope kids out there have a lot of fun studying these three superstars in the coming months.

Cornerbacks: Leonard Moore (Notre Dame), Josh Moten (Southern Miss)

Moore is fairly self-explanatory, for anyone who followed the Irish a season ago. He’s always in great position, and kindly declines any urge to panic-grab when the ball is headed his way.

Everyone forgot about former four-star Josh Moten when he left College Station for the Sun Belt. The kid demanded our attention again by ripping that 50-50 ball away from Jeremiah Smith in the Shoe. Instead of returning to the Power Four, Moten decided to follow Charles Huff to Southern Miss. He’ll rise up 2026 big boards each week.

Safeties: Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Koi Perich (Minnesota)

Of course Downs is here; the nation’s best player is already knocking on the door of all-time conversations.

Perich is apparently playing all three phases this year, just like he did in high school. If the contribution on offense is significant, I see no reason why Koi can’t create a little Heisman buzz for himself. I’m sure Travis Hunter would hop on that bandwagon.

Defensive Back: Isaiah Nwokobia (SMU)

It was kind of funny to see the so-called experts scramble for information when it became clear that SMU was a legitimate threat to make the 12-team field. Wait, who are the best players? I have to act like I’ve been watching all season! Kevin Jennings and Brashard Smith got some praise as a result, yet Nwokobia continued to fly under the radar. I’m a huge fan of his game; it’s immediately evident how much he prepares.

Punter: Rhys Dakin (Iowa)

The Hawkeyes aren’t exactly special on offense, which means plenty of airtime for Dakin. He just led the country in punts downed inside the 20 as a true freshman, and is all teed up to defend that crown.

Pressroom

Spin It

“Summertime” by Dojo Cuts. Enjoy.