Question: What is the order of importance for each college football position?
To answer this I gathered data from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 college football seasons. For response variables I used yards per play and EPA for each offense, defense, and net. For explanatory variables I used PFF grades by position. When multiple players received snaps at a position, I used the weighted average to produce one number. All of the regression tests I ran had relatively similar results, so I took the average of each test for a composite. Here are the results:
The corresponding number was modeled after “+” stats, where each 0.01 incrument equates to 1% difference in value and the average is 1.00.
- 1 QB (1.85)
- 2 CB (1.01)
- 3 RB (0.98)
- T4 WR, DE, DT (0.94)
- T7 LB, S (0.93)
- 9 OT (0.85)
- 10 TE (0.78)
- 11 IOL (0.60)
Quick notes:
-Unsurprisingly QB is king
-RB is still one of the most important positions
-OL (especially the interior) doesn’t carry the importance the media says
-CB has overtaken DL as the most important Defensive position
-Defensive positions are much more balanced than offense
-It’s also important to note that these numbers are for each position unit as a whole, not each individual player. For example 80% of all QB snaps are by QB1, but only 28% of all WR snaps are by WR1.
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