Welcome to the 2023 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 26, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Because team rosters are updated at different times across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2022 rosters.
50: Thor Griffith, DL (Sr.) — Harvard
Griffith is ranked HERO Sports’ best returning FCS defensive tackle entering 2023.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder shows off great strength on the interior of the defensive line. Not only can he eat up blocks and disrupt what an offense wants to do, but he can also produce those flashy stats.
Griffith is a two-time All-Ivy League selection, earning 2021 Third Team and 2022 First Team honors.
In 2021, Griffith tallied 31 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Last season, he totaled 46 tackles, 12 TFLs, five sacks, and three quarterback hurries.
Griffith’s 90.5 PFF overall defensive grade was No. 1 among FCS interior defensive linemen, and his 92.6 run defense grade also topped the subdivision.
Harvard owned the No. 4 FCS rushing defense last fall (96.5 yards allowed per game). Griffith wasn’t the only star on the defensive line either. The front also featured Truman Jones, who signed an NFL undrafted free agent contract in April, and Nate Leskovec, a two-time All-Conference performer returning in 2023.
