Top position groups emerge in 2024 cycle

Monday’s release of the updated 2024 On300 marks one of the more exhaustive rankings overhauls of over the course of the recruiting cycle. This is the first post-junior season update and is heavily driven by film and production from the fall. In assembling the rankings, a few position groups separated themselves as strengths of the cycle at this relatively early juncture.

Top tier of wide receiver prospects surfaces

The 2024 cycle may boast one of the strongest wide receiver groups in recent years. Wide receiver is typically a deep position given the increased number of pass-catchers on the field with spread offenses. With that said, this group does appear to be stronger at the top than most cycles.

Seven wide receivers find themselves in the top 30 prospects in the On300, representing a strong and deep top tier at the position. It would not be a stretch to see any of the seven ending up as a five-star prospect for On3.

The group has prototypical size with just one measuring a hair under 6-feet. They were also highly efficient as juniors, averaging 12.7 touchdowns on 50 receptions – good for a score on one out of every four catches.

Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith (No. 3) is the headliner. The five-star prospect looks like the best outside wide receiver prospects in several cycles. He’s also the top pass-catcher to come from South Florida in some time. Smith’s refinement and skill level is elite for a 6-foot-3, 190-pound rising senior. He’s a highly technical route-runner and has high level ball skills to make acrobatic grabs in contested situations. Smith had a huge junior season at Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna, catching 58 passes for 1073 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Micah Hudson (No. 8) has been one of the top skill players in the state of Texas for a few seasons. The Temple (Texas) Lake Belton star is a versatile playmaker who wins in the route, catch and after catch phases. Hudson has a compact build at around 6-foot, 190 pounds and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s also a skilled route-runner and can elevate to make tough catches. He finished with 65 catches for 1,198 yards and 14 scores as a junior. Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M lead in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Mylan Graham (No. 12) looks like the top route-runner in the cycle at this stage. The New Haven (Ind.) High product can change directions on a dime and consistently breaks off cornerbacks. Graham pairs that route-running with solid ball skills. Though it’s a very lofty comparison, we do see some shades of DeVonta Smith in Graham’s game. He caught 48 passes for 1,149 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. Ohio State leads in Graham’s On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

The “freak” label of this group may go to Cam Coleman (No. 20). The Phenix City (Ala.) Central playmaker was the biggest riser among wide receivers in the On300 update. Coleman looks like one of the most physically-gifted skill players in the 2024 cycle. He is a twitchy, bouncy athlete at over 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. We saw Coleman easily separate from some top corners as a junior. He also has plus length with a 6-foot-9 wing-span. The athleticism carries over to the basketball court, where he throws down eye-popping dunks with regularity. Auburn leads Florida State, Alabama and Texas A&M in Coleman’s On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Mike Matthews (No. 22) is one of the more coordinated and versatile two-way players in the 2024 cycle. Originally considered more of a safety, Matthews began to emerge as one of the top receivers in the nation while starring on the 7-on-7 circuit last summer. Clemson and Georgia lead in Matthews’ On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Bryant Wesco (No. 25) is a highly athletic, smooth pass catcher who had a breakout junior season. TCU leads in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Notre Dame commit Cam Williams (No. 29) is a three-sport standout with length who carries that high-end athleticism over to the field.

Quality depth at offensive tackle

Offensive tackle was one of the strongest positions in the 2023 cycle. That looks to be the case for 2024 as well. While there’s still a ways to go and more names are likely to emerge, the position is already showing signs of depth with seven tackles in the top 54 of the On300.

New five-star Jonathan Daniels (No. 9) has separated himself as the top offensive tackle early on. The Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest product has elite length with arms over 35 inches at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. Daniels is a loose, fluid mover who flashes his athleticism as a two-way lineman. He’s also shown encouraging power and physicality as a drive blocker. Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Miami are among the programs involved with Daniels.

Josiah Thompson (No. 19) looks like one of the most physically-gifted linemen in the cycle with considerable developmental upside. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder has high-end reactive quickness and plus length. South Carolina leads for the in-state standout according to his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Brandon Baker (No. 27) and Jordan Seaton (No. 36) look like the two most polished offensive tackles at this juncture. Both star on top high school programs and face strong competition on a weekly basis. Baker excels as a run blocker and Seaton has relatively advanced skills in pass protection. Oregon leads in Baker’s On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine while Ohio State is out front for Seaton per his On3 RPM.

Guerby Lambert (No. 30) and Kam Pringle (No. 44) are two big-framed tackles with readymade size and power that projects well in the run game. Along with Daniels and Thompson, Weston Davis (No. 54) may have the highest upside of the group. Lambert holds offers from most of the nation’s top programs. Pringle committed to South Carolina in January. LSU leads in Davis’ On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Bevy of length at cornerback

Cornerback is another deep position group early on in the 2024 cycle. Seven cornerbacks reside inside the top 50 of the On300 with a few more prospects labeled as athletes who could project at corner long-term. The group is loaded with long corners – the top seven all have wing-spans of 6-foot-5 or longer.

Georgia commit Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4) is the headliner of the group. The five-star prospect pairs elite length (33.5-inch arms) with technical savvy and plus ball skills. Robinson is a refined cover corner who looked like one of the top defensive back prospects regardless of class while playing at IMG Academy last fall. The former wide receiver is capable of making big plays on the football at the catch point.

Aaron Scott (No. 11) may have the best junior film of the cornerback prospects we evaluated. The Springfield (Ohio) High star was silky smooth in coverage and made plays on the ball at a high rate. Scott finished the season with five interceptions and nine pass breakups. He checks the boxes from a physical standpoint and is likely to continue maturing physically given his late birthday. Ohio State is out front for the in-state prospect according to his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Terry Bussey (No. 13) and Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 15) are both ranked as athletes but could project at corner long-term. Bussey was arguably the top high school football player in the state of Texas as a junior. He accounted for over 4,700 yards and 72 touchdowns on offense and picked off five passes as a defensive back. Bussey is also a top athlete, running 10.81 in the 100 meters as a sophomore. Texas A&M and Texas are out front in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Mbakwe has long been considered one of the top prospects in the cycle and is a dynamic two-way player for Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder flashes outstanding play speed that’s validated on the track, where he ran a 10.74 mark as a sophomore.

Kobe Black (No. 17), Charles Lester III (No. 23), Wardell Mack (No. 26) all three have outstanding length and two-way playmaking ability. Black is the most filled out of the group, checking in at over 6-foot, 190 pounds prior to last season. Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M are in the mix for the Waco (Texas) Connally star. Both Lester and Mack are thinner prospects with long arms and quick feet. The pair’s physical and on-field skill sets are very similar as playmakers on both sides of the ball. Alabama leads in Lester’s On3 RPM while in-state LSU is in a good position with Mack early on.

Selman Bridges (No. 47) and Michigan State commit Jamari Howard (No. 50) are two of the tallest, longest corners nationally. Each has considerable developmental upside. Bridges is somewhere in the vicinity of 6-foot-3 and made some eye-catching plays in coverage as a junior. Howard is around 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and has an 80.5-inch wing-span to go with coordinated movement skills.