Junior season evaluations drive 2024 On300 overhaul

On3 has updated its football prospect rankings for the 2024 cycle. This rankings release marks the first update since the fall and is one of the more extensive overhauls over the course of the year.

With the 2023 cycle now in the rearview, we’ve been able to fully dive into evaluating the junior seasons of 2024 prospects. In addition to full film and stats, we’ve seen hundreds of prospects emerge on FBS and Power Five radars since the last 2024 On300 update. Movement in this update may seem more volatile than later in the cycle. Much of that is due to the rapid expansion of the prospect pool with the emergence of so many more prospects. For example, there are 63 new entrants into the On300 with this update.

The next few months will see several big offseason events that include camps and 7-on-7’s, along with the high school track season. Those new data points and continued exposure will help drive future updates and add context junior season evaluations as we move towards the fall.

Updated 2024 On300

Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential in college football, as manifested by the NFL draft. We now have 10 prospects rated as five-stars and will finish with 32 five-stars every cycle. 

Let’s get into some of the storylines surrounding this update.

A new No. 1 prospect atop the On300

There is a new No. 1 prospect in the updated 2024 On300 with EDGE Dylan Stewart now holding the top spot. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder ranks as On3’s top pass rusher and rises up from No. 5 to No. 1 in this update. Stewart’s combination of size, length (34.25-inch arms), athleticism, bend and production (16 sacks) as a junior points to a projectable skill set. His translatable tools and body of work while playing a premium position put him in pole position for the top spot as we move into the camp season.

Stewart moves into the top spot that was previously held by quarterback Dylan Raiola. Th 6-foot-3, 230-pounder debuted as the No. 1 prospect in the initial 2024 On300 last spring. On3 was the first national outlet to rank Raiola as the top prospect in the cycle. While we remain high on his potential, the gap between Raiola and other top quarterbacks appears to be much smaller coming out of the junior seasons. The one-time Ohio State commit will need to show progression as a senior to remain as the top signal caller and potentially challenge to retake the No. 1 overall spot.

Rounding out the top five

Defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri moves up to No. 2 overall. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder is arguably the most physically-gifted top prospect in the cycle at this point in time. He has prototypical physical gifts that are in line with highly drafted, versatile pass rushing defensive linemen. Nwaneri flashed his considerable upside as a pass rusher this fall at Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North, tallying 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.

Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith (No. 3) looks like one of the top outside wide receiver prospects in several cycles. He is the top receiver from South Florida in years. Smith’s combination of size (over 6-foot-3, 190 pounds), route-running and ball skills is rare among high school receiver prospects. The Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna standout consistently creates separation and comes down with acrobatic grabs in contested situations. Smith had a huge junior season, catching 58 passes for 1,073 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Georgia pledge Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4) remains the top-ranked cornerback in this update. The Connecticut native his very polished and technical. He held up well while taking a significant step up in competition as a junior after transferring to IMG Academy. Robinson’s polish, length (79-inch wing-span) and ball skills separate him within the cornerback group at this stage.

No defender had a better junior season than Collin Simmons (No. 5). The 6-foot-2.25, 225-pound EDGE prospect was dominant while leading Duncanville (Texas) High to a state title in Texas’ highest classification. Simmons regularly took over games against top competition, employing his first-step quickness, pass rush instincts, bend and high-end motor to live in opposing backfields. He finished with 33 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks and looks like one of the highest floor prospects in the cycle at this time.

Additional new 5-stars

Four more prospects added their fifth star in this update.

Justin Scott (No. 7) could be the top defensive lineman or offensive lineman in the cycle. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder is dominant on both sides of the ball at Chicago St. Ignatius. Scott is a highly coordinated, light-footed and powerful athlete. He makes eye-catching plays on defense with his ability to run sideline to sideline. On offense, he flashes outstanding reactive quickness to go with a strong punch.

Wide receiver Micah Hudson (No. 8) is a versatile offensive weapon who had a dominant junior season at Temple (Texas) Lake Belton. Hudson saw a high volume of touches both as a receiver and ball carrier. He’s a twitchy, bouncy athlete who shows the ability to win in the route, catch and after catch phases. Wide receiver appears to be one of the stronger position groups at the top in 2024 and Hudson is certainly among the best at this point.

On3 has been higher than the industry on Jonathan Daniels (No. 9) for the past year. That remains the case with this update. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder looks like the top offensive tackle prospect at this juncture. Daniels pairs elite length (35-inch arms) with plus movement skills and good play strength. The Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest standout is a very loose and fluid athlete. He’s shown some physicality and power as a drive blocker and has the upside to develop into a top pass protector with continued technical development.

Safety KJ Bolden (No. 10) has long been considered one of the top prospects in the 2024 cycle. He’s a two-way playmaker for Georgia powerhouse Buford High, but looks to have the highest upside at defensive back. Bolden’s combination of size, athleticism and polish make him the top safety prospect in the cycle heading into the offseason.

Notable risers within the On300

The fluid nature of this post-junior season update naturally leads to a number of big risers within each position group.

While the quarterback cycle in 2024 appears to lack the high-end depth that we saw in 2023, a few signal callers did rise as a result of their junior seasons. Alabama commit Julian Sayin (No. 16) moves into the top 20 and is now the No. 2 quarterback. Sayin has arguably the best junior film of the group. He’s a pure passer and is highly accurate. Georgia natives Air Noland (No. 45) and Luke Kromenhoek (No. 59) are two more risers at the position. Noland had a monster junior year, passing for over 4,500 yards and 55 touchdowns while leading his Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes team to an undefeated season. Kromenhoek made the most of his first year as a starter at Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine. The Florida State commit flashed a quick release, strong arm and translatable physical tools during the fall.

The top group of wide receivers looks to be quite strong in the 2024 cycle. A new name in the mix is Cameron Coleman (No. 20). The Phenix City (Ala.) Central pass catcher is one of the bouncier athletes in the cycle, regardless of position. Coleman possesses outstanding athleticism at over 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. He’s a twitched up, coordinated athlete who is showing signs of rapid improvement, which should not come as a surprise given his late birthday.

Similar to wide receiver, there appears to be a good bit of depth at offensive tackle. Josiah Thompson (No. 19) and Brandon Baker (No. 27) are two risers at the position. Thompson is a long, reactive athlete who has considerable upside as a pass protector. He will need time to develop, but the ceiling looks to be high. Baker, on the other hand, is a high-floor prospect who is physically and technically developed while facing top competition at California powerhouse Mater Dei.

Two of the biggest debuts came along the defensive line with Dominick McKinley (No. 14) and Benedict Umeh (No. 24) making initial splashes in the On300. Both are big-framed, long athletes. McKinley checks in at around 6-foot-5, 280 pounds with plus length for the position. He was very productive as a junior at Lafayette (La.) Acadiana, showing physicality as a run defender. Umeh made his way to Avon Old Farms in Connecticut by way of Toronto. A three-sport athlete, the native Canadian considerably flashed in his first season of American high school football. His size and movement skills point to a high developmental upside.

Justin Williams (No. 39) was a notable riser among the linebackers, moving up from outside the top 100. The Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge product has grown into a pure linebacker after beginning his high school career as a defensive back. Williams has put on very solid weight while maintaining his speed (11.09 in the 100 meters). The ability to run and track down plays in pursuit was evident as a junior, as he tallied 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last fall.

Georgia leading with most On300 commits

Georgia‘s top-ranked class currently leads the way with seven commitments in the On300. Alabama, Florida, Florida State and South Carolina each have four commits apiece in the On300. Ohio State and Texas are next up with three each.

For a more accurate and up-to-date picture of where things currently stand, check out the On3 Industry Ranking Team Recruiting Rankings. This formula provides the most accurate real-time ranking of recruiting classes, especially separating itself in the early and middle stages of the cycle.