Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings

Ranking the best centers in College Football for the 2023 NCAA season as Sedrick Van Pran of the Georgia Bulldogs leads the way

By admin | May 3, 2024

The performance and success of any football team starts up front with their offensive and defensive lines. Each member of those lines plays a key role in the success of their unit whether it be the center on the offensive line or the defensive tackle on the defensive line. As you start to look at the offensive line the line is positioned with a left tackle, right tackle, left guard, right guard, and the center. Often overshadowed by the tackle positions, the center is possibly the most important position from running the play while also organizing and ensuring the rest of the line is positioned. In return centers must be both strong and aggressive but have a high level of football IQ. This is the case for each of the centers landing on the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings list.

Headlining the list of the best centers in college football is the Georgia Bulldogs center Sedrick Van Pran. Van Pran who is consistently ranked as the top center and possibly the top center entering the 2024 NFL Draft if he elects to enter.

While Van Pran has helped anchor a Bulldogs offense that ranks among the best in football while also helping the team to remain undefeated through their first seven games. Joining the Bulldogs front man on the list include West Virginia Mountaineers center Zach Frazier, Alabama Crimson Tides Seth McLaughlin, Arkansas Razorbacks Beaux Limmer, and the Texas A&M Aggies Bryce Foster. Here is a look at the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Maurice Smith

School: Florida State Seminoles

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Just missing the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings list is the Florida State Seminoles offensive lineman Maurice Smith. Smith, who ranks among the best centers in college football, is a big physical center standing at 6 foot 3 inches while having ideal strength to play the position.

While the numbers and statistics don’t show up for lineman as it does for other positions, it is hard to look past Smith’s physical tangibles and his play on the line this season. In addition, the Seminoles center has been brilliant up the middle after allowing zero sacks last season.

His presence on the line along with other talented lineman has helped the Seminoles average 42.2 points per game to go along with nearly 450 (449.3) yards of offense per game.

Caleb Murphy

School: Indiana Hoosiers

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Over the years the Big Ten has had a history of producing talented offensive lineman including centers. This should be the case with the Indiana Hoosiers center Caleb Murphy who should rank among the best overall centers during the 2024 NFL Draft.

Overall, Murphy is a tremendous run blocking center who was a former three-star recruit before landing on with the Hoosiers. The 6 foot 3 inch center has all the physical tools to be a great center while also having the strength, hand eye coordination, and aggressiveness to excel at the next level.

Even more impressive has been Murphy’s football IQ and the ability to recognize and move around his fellow offensive lineman on any play call.

Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings

10. Will Putnam

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings is the Clemson Tigers center Will Putnam. The Tiger’s senior has played extremely well for the team all season long as well as last season after taking over the starting center responsibilities. Putnam, who started his first two years as an offensive guard moved to center last season a move that looks has paid off for him and the team.

As a three year starter, Putnam has showcased his size and power at times while using his 6 foot 4 inch frame to plug up the middle of the line while using his strength to keep pass rushers from coming up the middle. Putnam is one of possible 10 to 12 Tigers who are expected to hear their name called during the 2024 NFL Draft.

9. Dylan McMahon

School: NC State Wolfpack

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

The versatile offensive guard and center of the NC State Wolfpack is a vital asset to the team’s offensive line while having the physical tools and tangibles to play either position at the top of his talents.

McMahon, who has spent parts of the past few seasons anchoring down the line for the Wolfpack had entered the 2023 season allowing just four sacks over the previous two years combined.

Overall McMahon has looked solid both pass blocking and run blocking over the course of the season while increasing his potential draft stock during next year’s NFL Draft.

8. Drake Nugent

School: Michigan Wolverines

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

As you look at the entire Michigan Wolverines offensive line the entire unit has the potential to be drafted into the NFL. Thus, their talent level has propelled the Wolverines to a number two ranking among the AP Top 25 NCAA rankings list.

Currently the Wolverines are averaging 39.4 yards per game and 413.7 yards of offense including 182 rushing yards per game. Nugent has played a vital role in that success while anchoring the middle of the offensive line down. Only thing holding Nugent back compared to some of the other bigger centers is his height at just over six feet tall.

Nonetheless Nugent grades out among the best at the position in college both against the run and pass while having a nasty side of his game that continues through the end of the play. Even more impressive has been Nugent’s ability to handle offensive line calls to help solidify and position the entire line on each play.

7. Andrew Raym

School: Oklahoma Sooners

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

As you look at the success the Oklahoma Sooners have had all season long on the offensive side of the ball it is easy to understand the team has one of the best offensive lines in college football.

One member of that offensive line is the team’s starting center Andrew Raym who has been brilliant all season while propelling his draft status as one of the best in the game.

6. Matt Lee

School: Miami Hurricanes

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Another center landed among the Rimington Trophy watch list entering the 2023-2024 NCAA schedule is Matt Lee from the Miami Hurricanes. His past success has shown up through the mid portion of the season while helping the Hurricanes land among the AP Top 25 rankings at various times this season.

Lee has been brilliant in pass blocking situations this season while continuing to develop his overall run blocking. With Lee up front the Hurricanes have ranked among the games top offenses ranking 13th in scoring averaging 37.7 points per game as well as seventh overall in yards averaged per game (501.8). On the year Lee has yet to surrender a sack over six games this season.

5. Beaux Limmer

School: Arkansas Razorbacks

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings is the Arkansas Razorbacks center Beaux Limmer. Limmer entered the season as a Pre-Season All SEC selection as well as mentioned among the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists based on his play over the past few seasons.

The 6 foot 5 inch 300 pound center is new to the position this year for the team, but he has not missed a beat while developing into one of the best centers in college. Overall Limmer has been brilliant both in pass blocking and run blocking situations this season while allowing zero sacks to start the season.

4. Bryce Foster

School: Texas A&M Aggies

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Another NFL caliber center who is getting a ton of attention over the course of the 2023-2024 NCAA Football schedule is Bryce Foster of the Texas A&M Aggies. Foster has developed into one of the best centers in college football while playing against some of the best defenses within the SEC Conference.

Foster who registers at 6 foot 5 inches and upwards of 330 pounds is as physical of a center in the game and one that continues to deliver week in and week out Foster who has yet to allow a sack this season, has helped anchor an offensive line that has allowed the Aggies offense to average 400 yards of offense per game and 32.3 points per game.

While Foster requires some additional development in pass blocking schemes, his football IQ and other attributes help him play at a much higher level. Looking back, Foster has not allowed a sack since the 2001 NCAA football season.

3. Seth McLaughlin

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Over the years the Alabama Crimson Tide has had a history of producing great NFL Players while developing some of the top ranked high school prospects in the country into the next best players in college football.

That is the same case with Seth McLaughlin as he has developed into a dominating center who can set the block up front for both pass protection as well as for run blocking.

On the year McLaughlin has been brilliant while allowing zero sacks while helping the Crimson Tide to average over 30 points per game (30.1) and 367.9 yards of offense per game. Even more important that doesn’t show up in the stat column is his work with new quarterback Jalen Milroe who took over at quarterback.

2. Zach Frazier

School: West Virginia Mountaineers

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

With the center position being so important to the success of any football team especially on the offensive side of the ball, finding centers such as Zach Frazier is key. Frazier, who is in his third season with the West Virginia Mountaineers, entered the season as a potential All-American candidate at the center position.

The Mountaineer’s center is strong and physical while having a strong football IQ that translates to success up front on the line. Leading into the 2023 NCAA Football season, Frazier had allowed just four sacks over the past two seasons playing most of the time at the center position.

1. Sedrick Van Pran

School: Georgia Bulldogs

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

In atop the Top 10 Best Centers in College Football 2023 Rankings list is the Georgia Bulldogs center Sedrick Van Pran. Van Pran is considered one of the best centers in the NFL and the next center to be selected during the NFL Draft next season.

The Bulldogs have a history of building big lines that are physical and can block with Van Pran fitting that mold. At 6 foot 4 inches tall and over 300 pounds, Van Pran is a force up the middle of the offensive line for the Bulldogs while also providing great pass protection.

Overall, it is hard to find many flaws in Van Pran’s game ranking, nearly the same blocking in run and pass situations. With the veteran center up front the Bulldogs currently rank fifth in college football while averaging 509.4 yards per game and ninth in scoring averaging just over 40 points per game (40.1).

How would you rank the Best College Football Centers in the 2023-2024 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings