Alabama is good at winning national championships. They're also good at plucking elite talent from across the United States.
Who's the best active college football player from your state? Not the best player from a college in each state (e.g. Tua Tagovailoa plays in Alabama), but the best player from their home state (e.g. Tua Tagovailoa is from Hawaii).
Using the hometown listed on official team rosters, here is the best active FBS player from each state for the 2019 college football season.
HERO Sports could not locate an active FBS player from Maine, Montana, North Dakota or Vermont.
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Alabama: Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
One of seven Alabamians on Clemson's 2019 roster, Justyn Ross passed on the Crimson Tide as a four-star receiver (247Sports Composite) in the 2018 class. Three of his nine touchdowns last season came in last year's playoff, including one score and 153 yards on six catches in the title game.
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Alaska: Thomas Sio, OL – Oregon State
Hometown: Anchorage
Thomas Sio hasn't played a snap of college football, yet the 6-foot-4, 330-pound true freshman is Alaska's best active FBS player. He was the state's highest-rated recruit since 2009 (Karrington Armstrong).
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Arizona: Chase Lucas, CB – Arizona State
Hometown: Chandler
Chase Lucas was a standout receiver and running back at Chandler High School before redshirting at Arizona State in 2016 and switching to cornerback. The 6-foot, 175-pound junior has five career interceptions.
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Arkansas: K.J. Hill, WR – Ohio State
Hometown: Little Rock
The lone Ohio State player from Arkansas, K.J. Hill was the state's top-ranked prospect in the 2015 class and enters his senior season with 141 career receptions and 10 touchdowns.
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California: Najee Harris, RB – Alabama
Hometown: Antioch
Five of the top 25 recruits in the 2017 class were from California, including both the No. 1 recruit Jaelan Phillips and No. 2 recruit Najee Harris. Harris had 65 yards on only six carries as a true freshman in the 2018 national championship and averaged 6.7 yards per carry last season.
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Colorado: Carlo Kemp, DT – Michigan
Hometown: Boulder
The only four-star recruit from Colorado in the 2016 class, Carlo Kemp left Boulder for Michigan, where he has 20 tackles in the last two seasons, including 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as a junior in 2018.
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Connecticut: A.J. Dillon, RB – Boston College
Hometown: New London
A.J. Dillon played his final three years of high school football in Massachusetts (Lawrence Academy) but is from nearby New London, Conn. He's about 1,110 rushing yards shy of the all-time Boston College record.
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Delaware: Avery Roberts, LB – Oregon State
Hometown: Wilmington
Avery Roberts was the second-highest-rated recruit in Mike Riley's 2017 class. He initially remained in Lincoln after Riley's dismissal but transferred to Oregon State before last season. After a redshirt year, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore is expected to start at inside linebacker.
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Florida: Jerry Jeudy, WR – Alabama
Hometown: Deerfield Beach
One of 15 Floridians on Alabama's 2018 roster, Jerry Jeudy already ranks sixth in program history with 16 receiving touchdowns entering (presumably) his final season in Tuscaloosa
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Georgia: Trevor Lawrence, QB – Clemson
Hometown: Cartersville
Trevor Lawrence is one of only seven recruits to ever earn a 247Sports Composite rating of 0.9999 or higher.
The top-ranked player in the 2018 class, Lawrence exceeded the hype and has two chances to become the first quarterback in program history to win two national titles.
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Hawaii: Tua Tagovailoa, QB – Alabama
Hometown: Ewa Beach
Only two recruits from Hawaii have been ranked higher than Tua Tagovailoa: Manti Te'o (2009) and Canton Kaumatule (2015). The potential No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft owns Alabama's single-season record for passing touchdowns (43) and passing yards (3,966).
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Idaho: Kekoa Nawahine, S – Boise State
Hometown: Meridian
A two-time all-conference selection, Kekoa Nawahine enters his senior season with 200 tackles and three interceptions over 39 career games.
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Illinois: A.J. Epenesa, DE – Iowa
Hometown: Glen Carbon
When A.J. Epenesa passed on offers from Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida State to sign with Iowa in 2017, he became the second-highest-rated recruit in program history (Kyle Williams, 2004). A potential top-five pick in the 2020 draft, Epenesa led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks last season.
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Indiana: Rondale Moore, WR – Purdue
Hometown: New Albany
Rondale Moore played high school football in Louisville (Trinity High School) but hails from Indiana. A four-star recruit in the 2018 class, Moore became the first freshman to earn consensus AP All-America honors in Big Ten history.
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Iowa: Tristan Wirfs, OL – Iowa
Hometown: Mount Vernon
Tristan Wirfs, a four-star recruit from 20 miles north of Iowa City, became the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle in the Kirk Ferentz era when he made eight starts in 2017.
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Kansas: Isaiah Simmons, LB – Clemson
Hometown: Olathe
Isaiah Simmons was the 451st-ranked player in the 2016 high school class. Now, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound redshirt junior is one of the best defenders in college football. He has 134 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles over the last two seasons.
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Kentucky: Jedrick Willis Jr., OL – Alabama
Hometown: Lexington
Jedrick Willis became the second No. 1 Bluegrass State recruit to pick Alabama in three years when, two years after Damien Harris bolted for Bama, he signed with the Tide in 2017.
He played as a true freshman (and started one game) before winning the starting right tackle job in 2018. Willis allowed only one sack (and one quarterback hit) in 15 games last season.
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Louisiana: Travis Etienne, RB – Clemson
Hometown: Jennings
One of two Louisianians on Clemson's 2019 roster (Bryton Constantin, Baton Rouge), Travis Etienne was the 15th-ranked running back in the 2017 running back. Now, he's arguably the best running back in college football and could become the first-ever FBS player to average eight yards per carry in multiple seasons.
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Maryland: Chase Young, DE – Ohio State
Hometown: Upper Marlboro
Chase Young was a five-star recruit and had four sacks as a true freshman in 2017 but really exploded onto the scene after Nick Bosa's injury last season. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound potential top-three pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss over Ohio State's final 12 games.
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Massachusetts: Joe Gaziano, DL – Northwestern
Hometown: Scituate
After redshirting as a freshman in 2015, Joe Gaziano has appeared in all 40 of Northwestern's game over the last three years. He's a two-time all-conference selection and has 25 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
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Michigan: Kenny Willekes, DE – Michigan State
Hometown: Rockford
Kenny Willekes considered leaving Michigan State for the NFL after last season but suffered a broken leg in the Spartans' bowl game. He led all FBS edge rushers with 23 quarterback hits last season (Pro Football Focus) and led the Big Ten with 20.5 tackles for loss.
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Minnesota: Tyler Johnson, WR – Minnesota
Hometown: Minneapolis
Tyler Johnson barely edges out teammate and Eden Prairie, Minn., native Carter Coughlin. Johnson set the single-season program record in 2018 for receiving yards (1,169) and became the first Minnesota receiver to earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors since 2009.
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Mississippi: Raekwon Davis, DT – Alabama
Hometown: Meridian
The top-ranked recruits from Mississippi in 2016: Jeffery Simmons (1), Benito Jones (2), A.J. Brown (3), Nigel Knott (4), Raekwon Davis (5) and D.K. Metcalf (6).
Not a bad group.
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Missouri: Cale Garrett, LB – Missouri
Hometown: Kearney
A team captain and two-year starting inside linebacker, Cale Garrett was a Second-Team All-SEC pick (Coaches) in 2018 after recording 112 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. He has 16.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and 217 tackles over the last two seasons.
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Nebraska: Ben Stille, DE – Nebraska
Hometown: Ashland
Ben Stille was one of only two in-state recruits in Nebraska's 2016 class. After a redshirt and position change to linebacker, he led the Huskers with 10 tackles for loss in 2017. Stille moved back to defensive end last season and started 11 games while leading all Nebraska defensive linemen with five sacks.
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Nevada: Tate Martell, QB – Miami (FL)
Hometown: Las Vegas
The well-traveled Bishop Gorman alum — Washington commit, Washington decommit, Texas A&M commit, Texas A&M decommit, Ohio State signee, two years in Columbus, transfer to Miami — is immediately eligible after 269 passing yards and 128 rushing yards in one season at Ohio State.
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New Hampshire: Drew McQuarrie, DE – Boston College
Hometown: Weare
New Hampshire isn't a hotbed for college football talent, but there are a few Granite Staters on FBS rosters, including Boston College defensive end Drew McQuarrie.
A quarterback at John Stark High School, McQuarrie moved to defense during a redshirt 2017 season and saw reserve and special teams snaps last year. He's now listed as a tight end.
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New Jersey: Jonathan Taylor, RB – Wisconsin
Hometown: Salem
Jonathan Taylor flipped from Rutgers to Wisconsin during his senior season at Salem High School and if he passes on the 2020 draft and plays two more seasons, could set the all-time FBS rushing record.
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New Mexico: Teton Saltes, OL – New Mexico
Hometown: Albuquerque
One of 18 in-state players on the Lobos' 2019 roster, Teton Saltes played high school football five miles from the University of New Mexico. A three-star defensive end recruit in the 2016 class, Saltes passed on several Power Five offers and recorded a 96.7-percent pass-blocking efficiency rating (Pro Football Focus) last season, his first as starting right tackle.
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New York: Andre Cisco, S – Syracuse
Hometown: Valley Stream
Andre Cisco began his high school career at St. Anthony's High School (New York) before playing two seasons at IMG Academy.
A three-star member of Syracuse's 2018 class, Cisco set the program's true freshman record for passes defended (18) and earned AP Third-Team All-America honors.
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North Carolina: Sean Pollard, OL – Clemson
Hometown: Jackson Springs
A two-time all-conference selection, Sean Pollard has appeared in 40 games (23 starts) over three seasons and helped Clemson average 6.5 yards per carry last season, second in the FBS.
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Ohio: Joe Bachie, LB – Michigan State
Hometown: Brook Park
After starring at Berea-Midpark High School, Joe Bachie has 214 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and four interceptions in his career at Michigan State. He'll be a three-year starter at middle linebacker.
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Oklahoma: Mason Fine, QB – North Texas
Hometown: Peggs
Mason Fine hails from Peggs, an unincorporated community in northeastern Oklahoma of fewer than 1,000 residents, and was the 2,852nd-ranked prospect in the 2016 class (129th-ranked pro-style quarterback). Entering his final season at North Texas, he owns dozens of program records and is a two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.
MORE: Best QB Matchups in 2019
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Oregon: Justin Herbert, QB – Oregon
Hometown: Eugene
A three-star recruit from Sheldon High School on the north side of Eugene, Justin Herbert became Oregon's first true freshman starting quarterback since 1983 and enters his senior season with the FBS' longest active streak of games with a touchdown pass (28).
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Pennsylvania: Bryce Hall, CB – Virginia
Hometown: Harrisburg
Bryce Hall earned two FBS offers while playing for Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg: Coastal Carolina and Virginia. He was the 202nd-ranked cornerback and 2,280th-ranked overall player in the 2016 class.
Hall played in all 12 games as a true freshman, started all 13 games as a sophomore and broke out as a junior, leading the nation with 24 passes defended.
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Rhode Island: Kwity Paye, DL – Michigan
Hometown: Providence
Kwity Paye was the only rated recruit from Rhode Island in the 2017 class. After 34 tackles in 22 games as a reserve the last two seasons, the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder is projected to start on Michigan's reloaded defensive line.
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South Carolina: Xavier Thomas, DE – Clemson
Hometown: Florence
Xavier Thomas played at IMG Academy (and was listed as the top-ranked player in the state of Florida in 2018) but hails from Florence. He earned snaps on Clemson's loaded defensive line as a true freshman and recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
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South Dakota: Matt Farniok, OL – Nebraska
Hometown: Sioux Falls
The highest-ranked prospect from South Dakota in the recruiting era, Matt Farniok was the nation's 29th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2016 class. The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder started four games as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and all 12 games last season.
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Tennessee: Tee Higgins, WR – Clemson
Hometown: Oak Ridge
Tee Higgins played high school football 30 minutes from Neyland Stadium. The five-star prospect and second-ranked receiver in the 2017 class passed on the Vols' offer and signed with Clemson.
He led the Tigers in receptions (59) and receiving touchdowns (12) last season while earning All-ACC honors.
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Texas: Jalen Hurts, QB – Oklahoma
Hometown: Houston
Jalen Hurts earns the razor-thin edge over Sam Ehlinger (and Grant Delpit, CeeDee Lamb, Eno Benjamin and others).
Hurts was the nation's fourth-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2016 class thanks to an outstanding career at Channelview High School during which he accounted for 91 touchdowns over his final two seasons.
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Utah: Leki Fotu, DT – Utah
Hometown: West Valley City
Leki Fotu is one of 26 in-state players on Utah's 2019 roster. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors last year after recording 33 tackles over 14 games.
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Virginia: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE – Penn State
Hometown: Spotsylvania
Yetur Gross-Matos had 130 tackles and 21 tackles for loss as a high school senior. He's never matched those outrageous single-season numbers at Penn State but he did come close last season with 20 tackles for loss.
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Washington: Evan Weaver, LB – Cal
Hometown: Spokane
A three-star defensive end in the 2016 class, Evan Weaver is one of four Washington natives on Cal's 2019 roster and enters his senior season with 230 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six sacks in his three-year career. He earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors last year.
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Washington, D.C.: Terrell Lewis, LB – Alabama
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Terrell Lewis was in line for a huge 2018 season after the departure of several key Alabama defenders. Instead, the St. John's College High School alum missed the entire season with a knee injury. He was the top-ranked player from Washington, D.C., in the 2016 class.
MORE: Best Players Who Didn't Play in 2018
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West Virginia: Dante Stills, DL – West Virginia
Hometown: Fairmont
West Virginia produces more football talent than you'd think, especially in the last few years.
The Mountaineers hit the jackpot when Dante Stills, a four-star defensive end in the 2018 class, stayed home. He had three sacks and six tackles for loss as a true freshman.
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Wisconsin: Tyler Biadasz, OL – Wisconsin
Hometown: Amherst
On repeat in Madison: Overlooked three-star in-state lineman develops into All-American-caliber player.
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Wyoming: Logan Wilson, LB – Wyoming
Hometown: Casper
Logan Wilson has transformed from a two-star one-offer receiver (the 3,208th-ranked player in the 2015 class) into a two-time all-conference linebacker. He is one of 17 Wyoming natives on the Cowboys' 2019 roster
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