There are plenty of talented players returning to college football for the 2024 season. A lot of them are entering the season as juniors, which is a pretty pivotal year for a lot of guys.

Most rising juniors are eligible for the NFL draft, so for some, this is the last chance to make an impression and raise their respective draft stocks. By a player's junior year, they typically have a much better grasp on the scheme or position they are playing, too.

Let's run through the top juniors at each position returning to college football in 2024. We'll use a combination of statistics, Pro Football Focus grades and type of system and team they're playing on next season to determine each selection.

We also included honorable mentions where applicable.

S: Malaki Starks, Georgia

As the Georgia Bulldogs reload to replace future NFL stars on defense in 2024, it'll help to get an experienced guy like Malaki Starks back at safety.

Over two seasons, Starks has had 120 total tackles, five interceptions and 14 passes defended. Getting him back will help soften the blow of losing experienced safety Tykee Smith to the NFL.

Honorable mention: Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa

According to Pro Football Focus' wins above average metric, Nwanka was the top safety in the nation last season. He finished with 42 total tackles, an interception and two passes defended.

CB: Will Johnson, Michigan

Will Johnson was talented enough to start as a true freshman at Michigan in 2022. Per PFF, he led all Power Five cornerbacks with a 91.1 grade when in man coverage and allowed a 21.1 passer rating for the Wolverines last season.

Over two years, he's had 54 total stops with seven interceptions and seven passes defended.

Honorable mention: Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

As a true freshman in 2022, Morrison was tied for second in the nation with six interceptions. Last season, he had 13 forced incompletions, per PFF. Morrison will lead a Notre Dame defense looking to push the Fighting Irish to a playoff bid in 2024.

Edge: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Tennessee will be looking to earn a playoff bid in 2024. Edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. will lead the defense to try to do just that.

Last season, he tied for first in the SEC with 10 sacks. He also had a 92.4 pass-rush grade, good for third nationally, per PFF. He had a 52-yard pick-six in Tennessee's Citrus Bowl win over Iowa, too.

Pearce looks primed to have his most productive season yet.

Honorable mention: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Scourton could help lead Texas A&M to a surprising 2024 in head coach Mike Elko's first season. Scourton, who spent the first two years of his career at Purdue, had 10 sacks last season. He added 25 run-defense tackles, which ranked third in the nation.

LB: Harold Perkins Jr., LSU

LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. had a phenomenal season as a true freshman in 2022, posting 72 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception. Against Arkansas alone, he had six solo stops with three sacks and two forced fumbles.

He wasn't as productive in 2023 thanks to LSU moving him to an off-ball linebacker position, but he still finished with an 81.1 coverage grade that put him inside the top 15 for all linebackers in the country, per PFF. We'll see if he is used in more of a pass-rushing role for the Tigers in 2024.

Honorable mention: Jaishawn Barham, Maryland

Barham had a great season as a true freshman at Michigan, getting 58 total stops with 6.5 for loss and four sacks. He was a bit limited with injuries in 2023 and finished with just 37 tackles last season for the Wolverines. He transferred to Maryland and is expected to bring some veteran leadership to the Terps' defense in 2024.

IDL: Mason Graham, Michigan

Mason Graham was able to contribute to Michigan's defense as a true freshman in 2022, getting 27 stops with 2.5 sacks. But he had a breakout season during the Wolverines' national title run, finishing with a 15.9 percent pass-rush win rate, per PFF, and was the fourth-most valuable defensive tackle in the country.

Honorable mention: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Nolan signed to Texas A&M's 2022 class as a 5-star recruit and the No. 1 defensive line prospect in the country. As a true freshman in 2022, he finished with 29 stops, one sack and a forced fumble and recovery over 10 games. He finished with 37 tackles, 8.5 for loss and four sacks last season. Nolen is expected to have his best season yet in 2024, playing at Ole Miss with Lane Kiffin.

RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

Quinshon Judkins arrives at Ohio State after putting together two sensational seasons at Ole Miss. Over that span, he accounted for 2,725 yards with 31 touchdowns. He averaged five yards per carry and has led all Power Five backs in rushing yards, yards after contact and forced missed tackles over the last two seasons, per PFF.

Judkins should have an even bigger season in Columbus, joining transfer quarterback Will Howard from Ohio State, and returning receivers Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson in new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme.

Honorable mention: Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State

I put Judkins before Gordon since he had a more productive true freshman season, and his ceiling can be a bit higher at Ohio State. But Gordon put up bigger numbers last year than Judkins did in his first two seasons, finishing first in the nation with 1,732 yards rushing to go with 21 touchdowns.

IOL: Parker Brailsford, Alabama

Parker Brailsford will be at a new school in 2024, following his head coach, Kalen DeBoer, from Washington to Alabama.

Brailsford helped Washington have one of the most consistent offensive lines in the country all season, as it allowed just 12 sacks. He had an 80.7 run-block grade, which was second among Power Five centers last season, just behind 2024 draft prospect Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon.

Honorable mention: Tyler Booker, Alabama

Booker won a starting job as a sophomore in 2023. He finished allowing just 2.5 sacks and 4.5 pressures over 676 snaps, per the school.

OT: Will Campbell, LSU

Will Campbell stepped on campus in Baton Rouge and earned a starting spot as a true freshman in 2022. Since then, he's been a consistent presence along LSU's offensive line.

According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell has been the fifth-most valuable offensive tackle in the Power Five, with three of those guys being 2024 draft prospects.

Honorable mention: Kelvin Banks, Texas

Similar to Campbell, Banks has been a starter since his true freshman season in 2022. Last season, he allowed pressure on just 2.3 percent of pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

TE: Colston Loveland, Michigan

Michigan will be replacing a lot of talent in 2024, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum and leading receiver Roman Wilson. So having an experienced tight end like Colston Loveland will be huge for new head coach Sherrone Moore.

Loveland finished second on the team in receiving yards last year, posting 649 yards with four touchdowns. According to PFF, Loveland was in the 97th percentile for all tight ends in the nation with an 88.7 percent open-target rate. He showed off his athleticism with this touchdown catch against Purdue in the Big Ten title game:

Honorable mention: Jack Velling, Michigan State

Over the last two seasons at Oregon State, Velling had 45 receptions for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns. Per PFF, he finished eighth nationally in the Power Five with 13 catches that went 15 yards or more last season. He'll be at Michigan State in 2024 after following his head coach, Jonathan Smith, to East Lansing.

WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Tetairoa McMillan had a productive season as a true freshman in 2022, finishing with 702 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. But as a sophomore last season, he was Arizona's leading receiver, getting 90 receptions for 1,402 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Per PFF, McMillan impressively had the lowest drop rate of Power Five receivers with at least 100 targets.

McMillan is expected to have another big season in 2024, as his starting quarterback, Noah Fifita, is also returning to Tucson. The duo is expected to make Arizona competitive as it moves to the Big 12 under new head coach Brent Brennan.

Honorable mention: Luther Burden III, Missouri

Similar to McMillan, Burden had a breakout season in 2023. He was third in the SEC in receiving yards, with 1,212 and nine touchdowns last season. His quarterback, Brady Cook, is also back this season.

QB: Quinn Ewers, Texas

One of the more surprising signal-callers to return this offseason was Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. He had his most productive season yet in 2023, completing 69 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for five touchdowns and helped lead Texas to its first College Football Playoff bid.

One reason for Ewers' return could be his desire to finish a season fully healthy. Over the last two years, he's missed 10 games due to shoulder injuries. In 2022, he suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that caused him to miss six games. Last season, he missed four due to a right shoulder setback.

If he can avoid injury, this could be Ewers' best season yet. Texas returns four starters along the offensive line, and the Longhorns landed Alabama transfers in receiver Isaiah Bond and tight end Amari Niblack this cycle.

Honorable mention: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

Milroe rebounded impressively from a Week 2 benching last season against USF. He helped lead the Tide to an SEC Championship Game victory over previously unbeaten Georgia and finished with eight games throwing for over 200 yards. We'll see how he does in a new scheme under new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and new head coach Kalen DeBoer.