2024 College Football Top 40 Recruiting Classes

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21. Arkansas Razorbacks​

ESPN 300 commits: 6 | Previous ranking: 21

SEC rank: 10 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Ashton Bethel-Roman (No. 205)
Top defensive commit: CB Selman Bridges (No. 68)

The Razorbacks have dipped into rival territories to land quality defensive talent. Out of Texas, they added top-10 CB Selman Bridges, who needs to fill out but has nice length, plays big as a hitter and has quick feet. They got high three-star ATH Julius Pope out of Mississippi, and Pope is a versatile defender who can be used at a few different spots with his frame, speed and aggressive style. Out of Alabama, they landed Kavion Henderson, who has a bit of a tweener build (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) but has good initial quickness and active hands. QB K.J. Jackson has a big frame and strong arm and looks like a nice fit to develop in their offense. WR Ashton Bethel-Roman can make plays with the ball in his hands as he has a nice blend of speed and quickness to elude defenders. Closer to home, Arkansas added Courtney Crutchfield, a talented multisport athlete (basketball, track), who projects to play WR because of his excellent ball skills.

 

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20. Ole Miss Rebels​

ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 20

SEC rank: 9 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Trever Jackson (No. 203)
Top defensive commit: DE Kamarion Franklin (No. 27)

The Rebels have made big in-state scores on the defensive line. DE Kamarion Franklin, the No. 2 recruit in Mississippi, is a powerful edge rusher with good initial quickness who racked up 19 sacks as a junior. DE Jeffery Rush has a good initial burst, power and active hands and can be a factor in pursuit. Kamron Beavers, who was a 300-pound DT who has slimmed down, could be a versatile addition. Three-star DT William Echols could end up being a steal in the trenches; he is a big body who can anchor and get off blocks but also moves well for his size. On the perimeter, ESPN 300 DB Travaris Banks is a smooth defender with good height. They rebounded after losing one QB commit earlier in the process by adding ESPN 300 signal caller Trever Jackson. Similar to former commit Demond Williams, Jackson is very mobile and can create on the move, but brings a little better arm strength and overall size. Ole Miss also added talent to the OL with high three-star prospects John Wayne Oliver and Jude Foster. Oliver has a nice, 6-foot-5 frame and plays with good knee bend and balance.

 

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19. USC Trojans​

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 19

Pac-12 rank: 2 of 12
Top offensive commit: WR Xavier Jordan (No. 92)
Top defensive commit: DE Kameryn Fountain (No. 82)

The Trojans signed a top-10 class loaded with offensive firepower for the 2023 cycle and are contending again for another highly ranked finish, but this time with a little more of a defensive emphasis. They have a pair of ESPN 300 defensive backs with Marcelles Williams, a CB with quick feet and an explosive closing burst, and S Marquis Gallegos. Kameryn Fountain is an edge defender with excellent length and a high ceiling for development, while LB Elijah Newby is an aggressive defender with excellent range. Defense leads the way, though USC is still adding more playmakers on offense, including two of the state's top wide receivers in Xavier Jordan and Ryan Pellum. Working to further bolster the trenches, the Trojans added one of the nation's top interior offensive linemen in Jason Zandamela, who projects to be a center.

 

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18. Auburn Tigers​

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 18

SEC rank: 8 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Perry Thompson (No. 40)
Top defensive commit: LB Demarcus Riddick (No. 41)

Hugh Freeze took the Auburn job in November and helped the Tigers close strong and finish with a top-25 class. Now, with a full cycle to work, he is building one of the nation's top classes. He wasted little time securing his QB in Walker White, a dual-threat passer who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for 800 yards as a junior. They went out west to land one of the top interior OL prospects in Deandre Carter, out of California powerhouse program Mater Dei. A big-bodied mauler with good balance, he could quickly contribute for them in the trenches. RB J'Marion Burnette was a key early in-state commitment; he has good agility, vision and patience for a young runner. The Tigers pulled top prospects WR Perry Thompson and LB Demarcus Riddick from their SEC rivals. A onetime Alabama verbal, Thompson is a big, talented target with good speed who can be an aggressive runner after the catch. Riddick, a former Georgia commit, is a versatile talent who has contributed at multiple spots and in all three phases during his high school career. He has upside with focus at linebacker. A'Mon Lane is an explosive CB and longtime verbal (he committed in July 2022) who has stayed on board through the coaching change.

 

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17. South Carolina Gamecocks​

ESPN 300 commits: 8 | Previous ranking: 15

SEC rank: 7 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Kam Pringle (No. 36)
Top defensive commit: DE Dylan Stewart (No. 15)

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 the position. The Gamecocks landed the top four in-state prospects, led by OT Kam Pringle (6-7, 337 pounds), who has good power and balance. Mazeo Bennett is another strong in-state keep. The WR was impressive during an offseason evaluation and brings good speed, ball skills and a willingness to compete. On defense, Wendell Gregory can be a versatile prospect to develop with his length, fluidness and range.

After scoring big in the DMV region during the 2023 cycle with speedy TE Nyckoles Harbor, the Gamecocks returned there to land five-star DE Dylan Stewart. One of their biggest defensive line pickups since Jadeveon Clowney in 2011, Stewart, who is long and explosive with good bend, has the physical tools to be an equally impactful pass-rusher.

 

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16. Michigan Wolverines​

ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 10

Big Ten rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Brady Prieskorn (No. 83)
Top defensive commit: LB Jaden Smith (No. 102)

Michigan is battling for one of the top classes in the country. Jadyn Davis was a big pickup at quarterback, as he is an accurate passer with a smooth release who has been highly productive, throwing for more than 3,400 yards with 43 TDs as a junior while completing 73% of his passes. Possessing a big catch radius as well as good hands and speed, Brady Prieskorn can be a highly productive playmaker in the Wolverines' passing attack. RB Jordan Marshall was a nice pull out of Ohio, as he is a runner with a wonderful blend of speed, quickness and balance, exemplified by his excellent testing numbers -- a laser-timed 4.53-second 40-yard dash and 7.04-second L-drill result -- at the Ohio UA camp.

Closer to home, Jacob Oden is a defender who will go downhill and close well in run support. Mason Curtis can be a well-rounded linebacker who is tough enough to play the run and flexible and agile enough to be effective in coverage. Edge defender Jaden Smith needs to fill out his frame but is quick and fluid and can disrupt and make plays.

 

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15. Clemson Tigers​

ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 13

ACC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Bryant Wesco (No. 22)
Top defensive commit: LB Sammy Brown (No. 10)

The Tigers have built a strong foundation for their 2024 class with several ESPN 300 commitments, including one of the top TE prospects in Christian Bentancur. He can be a well-rounded playmaker with his size (6-5, 240), aggressiveness as a blocker and hands and body control as a receiver. Bryant Wesco is a sharp route runner from Texas who can create separation and get open with his quickness. Landing Sammy Brown out of Georgia was a huge pickup. A well-rounded five-star athlete who excels in wrestling and track, Brown can be a sideline-to-sideline playmaking presence. 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 the secondary, as he is a corner with excellent quickness who is also not afraid to mix it up and be physical.

 

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14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish​

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 16

Independent rank: 1
Top offensive commit: QB C.J. Carr (No. 35)
Top defensive commit: LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (No. 157)

Notre Dame is competing for a fourth straight top-10 class. Marcus Freeman and staff had a statement win early on in 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 are protecting their incoming skill players with strong O-line additions in four-stars, Guerby Lambert, a top five OT prospect, Peter Jones, an aggressive blocker who moves well, and Styles Prescod, a lengthy prospect with nice upside. Offensive talent is the foundation of this class, but Bryce Young, Cole Mullins and Loghan Thomas, a player with a nice frame to develop and good quickness, are all quality front-seven additions. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was a nice addition out of one of the top programs out West (St. John Bosco in California), giving the Irish a versatile LB with good range and a physical style of play.

 

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13. Texas Longhorns​

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 17

Big 12 rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Jerrick Gibson (No. 31)
Top defensive commit: DE Colin Simmons (No. 7)

Texas generated headlines last cycle when it landed highly touted QB Arch Manning, and though it's not clear when he'll lead the Longhorns' offense, he has some great talent around him in the 2024 class. Texas landed No. 1 RB Jerrick Gibson, an explosive runner who can be an every-down back. He also is a good route runner who catches the ball well. While the Longhorns went to Florida to land Gibson, they stayed in the talent-rich state of Texas to add more talent to their receiver corps in ESPN 300 WRs Freddie Dubose and Parker Livingstone. They pulled top-10 CB Jordon Johnson-Rubell out of IMG in Florida; he's a Texas native who will give the Longhorns a defensive back with good quickness and experience working against top competition.

Adding five-star edge defender Colin Simmons was a huge win to close out the summer. One of the most natural pass-rushers in this class, he has an explosive burst with excellent bend and has proved how disruptive he can be off the edge, setting a school record as a junior with 22.5 sacks.

 

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12. Miami Hurricanes​

ESPN 300 commits: 8 | Previous ranking: 14

ACC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Joshisa Trader (No. 11)
Top defensive commit: S Zaquan Patterson (No. 76)


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Mario Cristobal led Miami to a top-five finish in the 2023 cycle and is adding more talent to try to revitalize this program. TE Elija Lofton is an intriguing pickup. He lacks ideal size but is a versatile player with good hands and body control, and he has also been getting reps at RB. He reminds us of a lot of former Miami standout TE Brevin Jordan, who also came out of the Bishop Gorman program. Kevin Riley gives the Hurricanes one of the top RB prospects in the class. He has good vision and agility and the lower-body strength to create yards after contact. Five-star WR Joshisa "Jojo" Trader was a key South Florida keep; he is a smooth route runner with quick hands and the ability to make big plays.

On defense, they added the teammate of Trader, No 3 safety Zaquan Patterson who has been a multi-year starter for South Florida power Chaminade-Madonna and can be punishing presence in the secondary. Cameron Pruitt could project to several spots along the front seven, but he is physical and should immediately be a strong special teams contributor. The Hurricanes were once known for their dominant defensive line, and they're working to rebuild that reputation. They have a pair of ESPN 300 DLs on the board in top-10 DT Artavius Jones and DE Marquise Lightfoot.

 

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11. LSU Tigers​

ESPN 300 commits: 14 | Previous ranking: 12

SEC rank: 6 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Trey'Dez Green (No. 99)
Top defensive commit: S Dashawn McBryde (No. 124)

Coach Brian Kelly's first full class at the helm was among the best in the country last cycle. He has the Tigers recruiting at a high level again for 2024, securing his QB last fall in Colin Hurley, a passer with a strong arm who can create on the move and make off-platform throws. Several key pickups are from the important in-state recruiting pool. TE Trey'Dez Green is a big receiving target with elite length, fluidity and a frame to further develop as a red zone threat. Dashawn McBryde has the tools to be one of the Tigers' next impact defensive backs, as he can be a versatile defender. He has the speed and agility to be a factor in coverage and can also support the run with an aggressive downhill style. LB Kolaj Cobbins and S Joel Rogers are two of the top five prospects in Louisiana. Texas is a vital recruiting ground for the Tigers, and they have added key Lone Star State recruits in ATH Jelani Watkins, who projects to play wide receiver and brings big-play speed, and RB Caden Durham. Durham is a back with a great blend of speed and toughness who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards as a junior.

 

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10. Penn State Nittany Lions​

ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 11

Big Ten rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Quinton Martin (No. 46)
Top defensive commit: DE T.A. Cunningham (No. 116)

Penn State looks poised to once again be in the mix near the top of the Big Ten rankings, building a strong 2024 class led by in-state talent. The top prospect in Pennsylvania, Quinton Martin, could project to several positions but is a productive RB who ran for over 1,200 yards and 22 TDs, averaging nearly 9.0 yards per carry as a junior. He can give the Nittany Lions a big back who can be sudden and elusive. An offensive commit to keep an eye on is Luke Reynolds, a former QB transitioning to TE who brings high upside at the position with a nice frame and excellent blend of speed, agility and explosiveness. Top in-state OL Cooper Cousins is a versatile and aggressive blocker. Penn State landed commitments from several DBs, namely Jon Mitchell, who created a buzz with his impressive testing numbers at the Miami Elite UC camp this offseason, running a laser-timed 4.56 40 and a 7.11 L-drill.

 

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9. Florida State Seminoles​

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 7

ACC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Landen Thomas (No. 47)
Top defensive commit: ATH K.J. Bolden (No. 16)

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. The program is assembling a collection of strong performers for 2024. The Seminoles won a big recruiting battle when they landed five-star athlete K.J. Bolden, who projects to play in the secondary. Bolden is an aggressive player with the speed to be a factor from sideline to sideline. He is also a great wide receiver with the ball skills to make plays and create turnovers. Top-five CB Charles Lester III, who has excellent size and length, is another key addition to their secondary.

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, the Seminoles 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. Landen Thomas, a one-time Georgia commit, has proved he can be a productive target at tight end, having notched over 70 receptions over the previous two seasons.

 

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8. Oklahoma Sooners​

ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 8

Big 12 rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Taylor Tatum (No. 38)
Top defensive commit: DT David Stone (No. 6)

The Sooners are preparing to enter the SEC by adding more talent to a 2023 class that ranked in the top five. Texas remains a key recruiting ground, as the Sooners have added several ESPN 300 prospects from there. Zion Kearney is big-play target at WR with nice height, great speed and excellent hands. TE Ivan Carreon was a nice flip from Texas Tech; he's a tall target who can not only be a red zone threat but also has impressive play speed to generate matchup issues. One of the top RBs in the class, Taylor Tatum has put up impressive testing numbers on the camp circuit, and that translates to his play as he brings a dangerous blend of speed and power. Oklahoma added five-star QB Jackson Arnold in its last class and continues to add talent to the QB room with four-star Michael Hawkins, who can be an accurate passer and also possesses good mobility.

On defense, Jaydan Hardy is a DB with elite quickness and a physical and aggressive style. Five-star DT David Stone returns to his home state via IMG and, as an explosive and agile big man, he can be an immediate contributor and impact presence for them in the trenches. The Sooners have also turned to other states to land talent, including Louisiana, where they added four-star WR Kelly Daniels, who has a diminutive build but brings speed to stretch the field as well as the ability to make defenders miss after the catch.

 

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7. Texas A&M Aggies​

ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 9

SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Cameron Coleman (No. 8)
Top defensive commit: ATH Terry Bussey (No. 25)

It seems like it has been a long time since the Aggies landed the No. 1 class in 2022, but they remain a factor on the recruiting trail, adding quality talent. They picked up some steam with several additions in June, including key in-state WR Dre'lon Miller. A prospect who has shown he can make plays in all three phases of the game at the high school level, he projects as a versatile offensive playmaker for the Aggies. They set off some fireworks of their own on July 4 with a commitment from five-star WR Cameron Coleman. One of the most talented receivers in the class -- he posted impressive testing numbers, including a laser 4.48 40-yard dash and 4.19 shuttle -- Coleman is a target with excellent body control and skills after the catch.

The Aggies also landed two ESPN 300 in-state big men in Ashton Funk, a big-bodied OL with good balance and flexibility, and DL Dealyn Evans, who has a good blend of strength and agility. They continue to add impact-level defensive linemen, landing a top-five-ranked DT for the third cycle in a row in Dominick McKinley of Acadiana, Louisiana. The addition of Terry Bussey gave them one of the top 10 players in Texas who brings a lot of versatility to their roster. A multisport athlete who is a threat as both a passer and runner on offense, Bussey projects to the secondary for the Aggies with his fluidity and speed. QB Anthony Maddox is slightly built and needs to physically develop further, but he is a fluid and accurate passer with very good skills. Onetime Florida State commit Jordan Pride is a nice pull out of Florida; the No. 1-ranked safety has excellent speed and range.

 

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6. Tennessee Volunteers​

ESPN 300 commits: 11 | Previous ranking: 6

SEC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: ATH Mike Matthews (No. 5)
Top defensive commit: DE Jordan Ross (No. 24)

Tennessee scored a big, early win at the QB position last cycle in Nicholaus Iamaleava, and the Vols secured a commitment from another top signal-caller early in Jake Merklinger. A passer with good accuracy and touch, as a junior he completed 67% of his passes with 32 TDs and only two interceptions. Jonathan Echols projects as a tight end, offering a big catch radius with his length, ball skills and body control. Mike Matthews could play on either side of the ball, but the five-star projects as an explosive WR target. He has good vertical speed, the quickness to separate as a route runner and the leaping ability to win jump balls. They won a big battle on the recruiting trail over several SEC foes to land edge rusher Jordan Ross, a lengthy prospect with an 80-inch wingspan and excellent speed (4.68-second 40-yard dash ) who can develop into a sideline-to-sideline presence and disruptive pass-rusher. Kaleb Beasley is a key in-state commitment, as he can be a star defender with a reported six defensive TDs as a junior.

 

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5. Alabama Crimson Tide​

ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 5

SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Julian Sayin (No. 3)
Top defensive commit: CB Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 4)

It should come as no surprise to see the Crimson Tide assembling a top class for the 2024 cycle. After just signing the No. 2 CB in the 2023 class in 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, the Tide added another top signal-caller in five-star Julian Sayin, a passer out of California with a live arm who makes good decisions and moves well to create second opportunities. A potential future top target is ESPN 300 TE Caleb Odom, who possesses a big catch radius and has a stellar blend of speed and quickness. He hauled in 64 catches last season. In-state DL Isaiah Faga flipped from Utah to Alabama, giving the Tide a defender in the trenches with good power and strong hands.

 

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4. Oregon Ducks​

ESPN 300 commits: 14 | Previous ranking: 4

Pac-12 rank: 1 of 12
Top offensive commit: QB Michael Van Buren (No. 23)
Top defensive commit: CB Dakoda Fields (No. 75)

On the heels of securing the Pac-12's top class in 2023, the Ducks are proving they will be tough to dethrone. They added one of the nation's top QBs in Michael Van Buren, a poised, confident, accurate and mobile passer. They continue to add talent to the receiver position with a pair of ESPN 300 prospects in Jordan Anderson and Dillon Gresham. Anderson can adjust to the ball well and be elusive, while Gresham is a versatile player with a nice blend of speed and quickness. The Ducks are also adding top talent to their secondary with Aaron Flowers, a cornerback with elite quickness and good instincts, and Ify Obidegwu, a big corner with elite length. They further bolstered that group by flipping Dakoda Fields from rival USC. Up front, Jaxson Jones is an edge player with good initial burst and body control; he brings a nice ceiling for development.

 

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3. Florida Gators​

ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 3

SEC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB D.J. Lagway (No. 18)
Top defensive commit: DE Jamonta Waller (No. 17)

The Gators lost one of the top QBs late in the 2023 cycle but have scored big for 2024, landing five-star D.J. Lagway out of Texas. A tough, competitive player who can run well and create, he also has a smooth, compact release as a passer. Defensively, the Gators have made some potentially impactful additions. Five-star Jamonta Waller has a bit of a tweener build at 6-2, 230 pounds, but he is a disruptive force off the edge with a good blend of quickness, agility, body control and effort. ESPN 300 LB Myles Graham, who has an explosive closing burst, joins him, and the Gators also added one of top ILB prospects in Aaron Chiles, who has good football instincts and can be a reliable tackler. DL Amaris Williams could end up being a steal. His stock has risen during the offseason, and he was a top performer at the Elite Underclassmen camp, where he posted strong testing numbers, including a 4.78 40-yard dash at 260 pounds.

 

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2. Ohio State Buckeyes​

ESPN 300 commits: 14 | Previous ranking: 2

Big Ten rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Jeremiah Smith (No. 9)
Top defensive commit: CB Bryce West (No. 29)

Ohio State has been producing elite WR talent and looks to keep that position a strength with a pair of top-10 receivers in the class. Jeremiah Smith is a rangy target who can hit top speed quickly and make defenders miss. Mylan Graham might be a little quicker than fast but is fluid and can be elusive. The Buckeyes may have lost a verbal from five-star QB Dylan Raiola in December, but Ohio State adjusted well, landing lefty Air Noland, who has a quick release, good arm strength and mobility, showing off all those qualities in an MVP performance at a loaded UA Atlanta camp this offseason. To help those home run threats excel, the Buckeyes have also added several talented OL commitments, including ESPN 300 OT Ian Moore. For the sixth cycle in a row, the Buckeyes have landed the top player in their state, this time securing ESPN 300 CB Bryce West.