The 2018 college football season is still months away, but it’s never too early to look ahead at the upcoming year and rank some of the top players returning to the gridiron. Houston's Ed Oliver takes the top spot in Athlon's early top 50 players returning for 2018, with Clemson's Christian Wilkins and Stanford's Bryce Love rounding out the top three. It's a deep year for talent on the defensive line. In addition to Oliver and Wilkins, Clemson's Clelin Ferrell, Ohio State's Nick Bosa and Northern Illinois' Sutton Smith also have a spot in the top 10. Penn State's Trace McSorley is the highest-ranked quarterback, checking in at No. 5 overall prior to spring ball.

The early entry deadline has passed and a better picture of how all 130 teams stack up has started to form. Using career accomplishments so far, projected performance next season, positional importance and overall talent, Athlon Sports has ranked the (early) top 50 players for 2018. This list will look a little different by the fall, but there is no shortage of big names coming back or players poised to take a huge step forward next season. Keep in mind: This is not a list of accomplishments so far. Instead, we are projecting ahead, weighing overall talent/importance to team and how the player has performed so far in their carer.

College Football's Early Top 50 Players for 2018

Just Missed: Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming; David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State; Montez Sweat, LB/DL, Mississippi State; Ben Banogu, DL, TCU; Dre'Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State; Ryan Finley, QB, NC State; Anthony Johnson, WR, Buffalo; Beau Benzschawel, OL, Wisconsin; Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan; Ricky Walker, DT, Virginia Tech; Greg Little, OL, Ole Miss; Mack Wilson/Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama; Mark Gilbert, CB, Duke; Troy Dye, LB, Oregon; Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford; Benny Snell, RB, Kentucky; Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State