As college football’s 2023 recruiting cycle comes to a close, it’s now time for the 2024 class to step squarely into the spotlight.
No, it’s never too early to start ranking next year’s classes, even with over 10 months until the early signing period and with over 220 ESPN Junior 300 recruits still uncommitted.
But as previous classes have taught us, things can change quickly, and in a big way. So while much is yet to be determined, several programs are already off to strong starts and establishing themselves as classes to watch over the coming year.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 9
SEC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Ny Carr (No. 26)
Top defensive commit: CB Ellis Robinson IV (No. 5)
The Bulldogs fell short of the No. 1 class for 2023, but unsurprisingly, with back-to-back national titles under their belt, they are not only back in the mix near the top of the rankings for 2024, but are also clearly setting the pace. Over half their class is ranked among the top 50 in the ESPN Jr. 300 and they are continuing to reload with defensive talent. While most teams were looking to finish their 2023 classes strong during this past signing day, Georgia further strengthened its 2024 class, landing five-star CB Ellis Robinson IV out of IMG Academy. On the heels of signing No. 3 safety Joenel Aguero, they already have on board two of the nation’s top safeties in Jaylen Heyward and Peyton Woodyard, another nice pull out of California. They wasted little time continuing to address the WR position, adding one of the top in-state prospects in Ny Carr, a target with big-play speed and upside. After a nice haul at TE for 2023, they’re further loading up at that spot in preparation for when Brock Bowers enters the NFL draft, adding one of the top 2024 players at the position Landen Thomas.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 7
Independent rank: 1
Top offensive commit: QB C.J. Carr (No. 29)
Top defensive commit: DE Brandon Davis-Swain (No. 109)
Notre Dame had the top class early in the 2023 cycle, and Marcus Freeman has the Irish off to a strong start once again. A statement win early on was landing QB C.J. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. He fits in nicely with the offense — he has a strong arm, nice touch on his deep balls and makes quick decisions. The Irish are building around Carr, and soon after he came aboard, they added an excellent receiving target in Cam Williams, who can be a vertical threat. They’ve also made some defensive line pickups, led by Brandon Davis-Swain, who has demonstrated he is a coachable player with active hands.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 6
SEC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Colin Hurley (No. 64)
Top defensive commit: S Maurice Williams (No. 121)
Brian Kelly’s first full class at the helm was among the best in the country. He has the Tigers off to a fast start for 2024, securing his QB this past fall in Colin Hurley, a passer with an arm that can create on the move and make off-platform throws. After signing three four-stars out of Texas, they continue to pull defensive talent out of the Lone Star State, now in ESPN Jr. 300 defender Maurice Williams. Kelly returned closer to his old recruiting base to land TE Tayvion Galloway out of Ohio. A target with a nice catch radius, he is also a good, willing blocker that should help aid their ground game.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 4
ACC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Kameron Davis (No. 44)
Top defensive commit: S Jordan Pride (No. 67)
Coming off an 11-win season and signing one of the top classes in the ACC, FSU continues to make strides toward returning to the country’s elite. They’re building off good momentum with a foundation of in-state talent. The Seminoles have commitments from two of the top receivers in Florida in Tawaski Abrams and Camdon Frier. Associate coach Odell Haggins has a history of identifying DL talent, and Jamorie Flagg is an interesting pickup out of South Florida, as he is a bit of a tweener but with explosiveness. Out of south Georgia, they pulled one of the nation’s top RBs in Kameron Davis, a runner with a nice blend of speed, vision and power to gain yards after contact.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 5
SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Julian Sayin (No. 24)
Top defensive commit: CB Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 4)
Having just signed their eighth No. 1 class under Nick Saban, it should come as no surprise to see the Crimson Tide near the top of the 2024 class rankings. After just signing the No. 2 CB in the 2023 class Desmond Ricks, they already have another five-star CB in Jaylen Mbakwe. The top in-state player, he is a confident coverage corner with fluid hips and excellent speed. On the heels of signing two QBs in the 2023 class, they added another top signal caller in Julian Sayin out of California. Perry Thompson, who went to the same high school as Alabama great Julio Jones, is another big talented target with good speed that can also be an aggressive runner after the catch.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 4
SEC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB D.J. Lagway (No. 12)
Top defensive commit: OLB Myles Graham (No. 53)
The Gators lost one of the top QBs late in the 2023 cycle but have already scored big for 2024, landing five-star D.J. Lagway out of Texas. A tough, competitive player that can run well and create, he also has a smooth, compact release as a passer. Defensively, they have already landed a pair of ESPN Jr. 300 LBs in Myles Graham, who has an explosive closing burst, and Adarius Hayes, who has a nice frame to develop and can deliver a pop as a tackler.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 4
SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Kam Pringle (No. 32)
Top defensive commit: OLB Wendell Gregory (No. 94)
Shane Beamer went to the transfer portal to get his current QB (Spencer Rattler) and got his 2023 QB recruit (LaNorris Sellers) on the last day of the early signing period. For 2024, he landed his quarterback early on in Dante Reno. The son of Yale head coach Tony Reno, Dante can be accurate on the move and has good arm strength and feel for position. The Gamecocks also got a big early in-state win, landing ESPN Jr. 300 OT Kam Pringle, a massive lineman (6-7, 337 pounds) with good power and balance. On defense, Wendell Gregory can be a versatile prospect to develop with his length, fluidness and range.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 2
Pac-12 rank: 1 of 12
Top offensive commit: WR Tyseer Denmark (No. 93)
Top defensive commit: DE Jaxson Jones (three stars)
On the heels of the Pac-12’s top class in 2023, the Ducks are assembling a strong foundation for 2024. They continue to add talent to the receiver position with a pair of ESPN Jr. 300 prospects in Tyseer Denmark and Jordan Anderson. Denmark has good quickness and can create after the catch, while Anderson can adjust to the ball well and be elusive as well. While this class is offense-heavy early on, Jaxson Jones is an edge player with good initial burst and body control; he brings nice ceiling for development.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 4
ACC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Christian Bentancur (No. 112)
Top defensive commit: S Noah Dixon (No. 172)
The Tigers have already landed multiple ESPN Jr. 300 commitments, including one of the top TE prospects in Christian Bentancur, who can be a well-rounded playmaker with his size (6-5, 240), aggressiveness as a blocker and hands and body control as a receiver. Noah Dixon is a safety with good ball skills who can also support the run well with his tackling abilities. Tavoy Feagin out of Florida is another nice four-star addition to their secondary, as he is a corner with excellent quickness that is also not afraid to mix it up and be physical.
Junior ESPN 300 commits: 2
Big Ten rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Cody Fox (No. 167)
Top defensive commit: OLB Cam Buffington (No. 282)
Time will tell if the Hawkeyes can maintain a place around the top 10, but early on they’re building off of in-state talent to rank among the top classes. Cody Fox is a top OG prospect nationally and the top-rated in-state prospect. They have kept two very good versatile players home in Cam Buffington and Preston Ries, who both project to linebacker. Ries, who also plays quarterback for Monticello Community High School, tested very well on the camp circuit this past offseason, and his athleticism translated to the field as well. He should only improve with a focus on defense.
