-
Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Staff Writer
Before they take the field as college football players on Saturdays, several of the top recruits in the 2024 ESPN 300 are playing underneath the lights on weeknights.
We compiled weekend highlights from recruits committed to Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama, each of whom had stellar performances. The Sooners also got a commitment from Melissa High School (Texas) defensive end Nigel Smith II (No. 101 overall) on Friday night. He becomes the ninth ESPN 300 recruit for Brent Venables and OU.
Here’s how some other of the nation’s top recruits fared this week:
An Oklahoma City native who plays at IMG Academy in Florida, Stone (No. 6 overall in 2024) stayed true to his roots when he committed to the Sooners on Aug. 26.
With plays like this 94-yard pick-six against Ben Davis High School (Indiana) on Friday, the dominant defensive tackle figures to make a smooth transition to college next year:
#Sooners recruit David Stone gets his big hand on the ball, picks it off and houses it for 96 yards to give IMG a 20 point lead in the 3rd quarter. #OU #inpreps #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/NHW3HqxmlZ
— Indiana Preps (@IndianaPreps) September 9, 2023
Stone is the top-ranked defensive lineman in the ESPN 300. The Sooners have the No. 16 class in the country, according to ESPN’s latest rankings update, which was done before Stone committed.
Hudson, a five-star wide receiver, is the highest-ranked prospect in the 2024 ESPN 300 yet to commit (No. 13 overall).
He’s the fourth-ranked wide receiver in the cycle, behind Cameron Coleman (No. 8; committed to Texas A&M), Jeremiah Smith (No. 9; Ohio State) and Joshisa Trader (No. 11; Miami), who have all made their decisions.
In Lake Belton High School’s (Texas) game against Red Oak High School (Texas) on Thursday, the 6-foot-1 195-pound Hudson showed why he’s so sought after, hauling in three passes for 149 yards and a TD:
5 ⭐️ WR Micah Hudson and QB Eli Mascarenas are already in sync for Lake Belton 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pIMbYGFkB9
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) September 8, 2023
He owns offers from Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, among the 35 scholarships he has to sift through.
Red Oak won in overtime with 2025 wide receiver Taz Williams (No. 186 overall in 2025) catching a touchdown pass to send the game into the extra session.
Smith is one of two ESPN 300 receivers (Mylan Graham; No. 37 overall) in Ohio State’s 2024 class. ESPN has the Buckeyes’ group, which features 14 ESPN 300 pledges, ranked second, behind only Georgia.
Smith continues to be a force to be reckoned with for Florida power Chaminade-Madonna Prep, with this score against Bergen Catholic High School (New Jersey) on Friday:
Touchdown Chaminade Madonna.
Bailey 40 yard pass to Jeremiah Smith.
1001 left in first.
Bailey 6-6 on drive.
PAT good.
Lions 7
Bergen Catholic 0 pic.twitter.com/UjN5tT57kN
— Varsity Aces (@VarsityAces) September 8, 2023
With Smith’s help, Chaminade-Madonna improved to 3-0 on the year with a victory over the Crusaders. He entered Friday night with 10 catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions. As a junior, he caught 58 balls for 1,073 yards and 20 scores.
Carr, the grandson of former Michigan head Lloyd Carr, wanted to forge his own path when he committed to Notre Dame instead of to the Wolverines.
The Saline High School (Michigan) product is a linchpin for Marcus Freeman’s class, which sits 14th in ESPN’s latest team rankings.
He threw three touchdown passes while running for another in the first half in Saline’s victory over Ann Arbor High School (Michigan) on Friday.
CJ Carr shows off the dual-threat ability with a 29-yd TD run. 42-0 with less than a minute to play in the 1st half. @13Cjcarr @SalineFootball pic.twitter.com/RSrxs0SEeU
— Greg Wickliffe (@GregWickliffe10) September 9, 2023
Mbakwe is the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle and the second-best cornerback in the class.
He plays both ways, however, and showed off his legs at quarterback, resulting in a long score, in Clay-Chalkville High School’s (Alabama)’s game against Pell City High School (Alabama) on Friday.
This is why you just snap the ball directly to Jaylen Mbakwe. pic.twitter.com/S2Zjz2m9Jz
— Caleb Turrentine (@CalebTurrentine) September 9, 2023
Earlier in the game, Mbakwe found another ESPN 300 member, Mario Craver (No. 272 overall, for a score. Craver is uncommitted.
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide currently have the fifth-best class in the country.
Graham (No. 37 overall in 2024) starred for New Haven High School (Indiana) against Leo High School (Indiana) on Friday.
WOW!!!! The Ohio State kid runs it all the way for a Bulldog TOUCHDOWN!!! The good guys are up 7-0!!! @nhbulldogs @MylanGraham pic.twitter.com/jrW0VvKX5o
— Justin Hartsough (@OneNationJustin) September 8, 2023
Through three games, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Graham had caught 19 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Last season he had 48 receptions for 1,148 yards and 13 TDs.
