Pro Football Focus is gradually coming out with their top 101 players for the 2025 season, and it shows really how close Texas A&M was to putting the pieces together for a national championship.
Four players have made the list so far. Sure, there are other schools with more players on the list, but the Aggies were the best in the SEC until they lost to Texas, and eventually to Miami in the College Football Playoff.
Mike Elko used the portal to his advantage, and he's continuing to do so with players for the future. Tawfiq Byard, CJ Mims and Ray Coney will likely be starting next season. Four players are on this list, and three of them are transfers.
PFF list of best college football players shows Mike Elko has killed it in the portal
KC Concepcion finished 76 and Mario Craver finished at 67. Other well-known Aggies like Cashius Howell and Taurean York finished at 82 and 62, respectively.
Concepcion had the time of his life on the field, and NC State is clearly regretting losing him. After falling flat with Noah Thomas and Jabre Barber, Concepcion was perfect for the Aggies, totaling 61 catches, 919 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. Craver exploded on the national radar against Notre Dame, and he finished with 59 catches, 917 receiving yards and five total touchdowns on the season.
Cashius Howell dominated 2025 by becoming the SEC Player of the Year. Most mock drafts have him as a late first-round pick. His 12 sacks were tied for fifth-most nationally. Howell was a beast early in the season, and he continued that same momentum later on.
According to PFF, the reliable York ranked third among all linebackers in America in PFF wins above average and earned a 90.8 PFF coverage grade, second among Power Four linebackers.
This Aggie squad had a legitimate chance to win a championship behind Elko, who is one of the best coaches in the country in terms of transfers and recruits.