The most important player on any team is the starting quarterback, given the importance of the position. The most valuable, on the other hand, is a different story.
In many cases, that MVP is still a signal-caller. The country's top programs tend to have a high-level QB leading the way.
However, there are plenty of rosters that instead will be showcasing a versatile running back, playmaking wide receiver or elite defender. The reality is those schools will not be nationally competitive—otherwise, naturally, we'd probably be talking about the quarterback—but various schemes and play styles can place a non-QB in the spotlight, too.