Handicapping the race for No. 1 in 2024

On3 released its updated On300 for the 2024 cycle on Monday with a new No. 1 prospect leading the way: EDGE Dylan Stewart. The Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate Academy standout moves up into the top spot that was previously held by quarterback Dylan Raiola.

The February update of the On300 is one of the more extensive overhauls over the course of the cycle. It’s the first update after the junior season, with film and production being the primary drivers. We’ve also seen the pool of 2024 prospects increase significantly. Hundreds of prospects have emerged on the radar over the past few months with new names popping up and adding offers on a weekly basis.

After combing through and thoroughly evaluating each position group, a relatively defined top five prospects emerged, led by Stewart. The order and group is far from set in stone and will continue to be closely evaluated over the next 10 months. More than anything, we’re setting the table coming out of the junior season as we head into the offseason camp circuit.

Why Dylan Stewart is On3’s new No. 1

Dylan Stewart has shown the most translatable and projectable tools and skills among the 2024 EDGE prospects to this point in the process. He checks in at around 6-foot-5, 230 pounds with arms over 34 inches and a frame to continue adding weight. Stewart is a top athlete who ran in the low 4.6’s at college camps last summer. He was productive as a junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy, tallying 16 sacks while lining up on the edge and as an off-ball linebacker at times. His combination of size, length, frame, athleticism and bend off the edge along with his junior production makes Stewart the current top 2024 EDGE prospect for On3. His status as the top prospect at the premium position puts him in pole position for the No. 1 overall spot as we head into the camp circuit. He’s taken visits to Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina over the past few months and is expected to visit Alabama in March.

QB group lacks No. 1 contenders at this time

The current lack of a true No. 1 contender among the 2024 quarterback group is another primary driver of the change at the top of the On300. As noted above, Dylan Raiola held the top spot since the initial 2024 On300 debuted around this time last year. On3 was the first national outlet to rank Raiola as the top prospect in the cycle. We’ve been high on the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder’s potential for some time. With that said, Raiola did not progress like you’d want to see as a junior after transferring to Chandler (Ariz.) High. He could rebound and challenge again with continued improved movement skills and a strong senior season.

Additionally, the gap between Raiola and other top quarterbacks outside of the top 10 prospects appears to be much shorter than it was heading into the 2022 season. Alabama commit Julian Sayin (No. 15), Florida commit DJ Lagway (No. 21) and Air Noland (No. 45) are four who could push Raiola as the top 2024 quarterback in what appears to be a less than stacked cycle at the position.

Williams Nwaneri, Collin Simmons are top pass rushers

Williams Nwaneri is the most physically-gifted prospect at the top of the On300. The new No. 2 prospect checked in at over 6-foot-6 and around 255 pounds with a 7-foot wing-span and 11-inch hand prior to his junior season. He’s a very strong athlete with an electronically-timed 5.0 second 40-yard dash. Nwaneri transferred those gifts over to the field as a junior at Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North, tallying 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He fits the prototype of the high upside, versatile pass rushing defensive lineman we’ve seen NFL teams prioritize in recent years, with Georgia’s Travon Walker being a recent example. There’s certainly room for Nwaneri to improve, particularly as a run defender, but his upside is as high as any prospect in the cycle.

While Nwaneri presents a very high upside, Collin Simmons (No. 5) may have the highest floor among EDGE prospects and maybe even all defensive prospects in the 2024 cycle. Simmons is a dominant player at Texas powerhouse Duncanville High. He had a monster junior season with 22.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss while leading the Panthers to a state title in Texas’ highest classification. Simmons’ first-step quickness, bend, motor and overall instincts jump off the film. He regularly took over games against some of the best competition in high school football. At 6-foot-2.25, 225 pounds, Simmons does not have the same type of frame as Stewart or Nwaneri, but his 34-inch arms do provide plus length at the position.

Jeremiah Smith, Ellis Robinson IV

Ohio State wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith looks like the best prospect in the cycle relative to his respective position at this early stage. The No. 3 overall prospect could be the best outside receiver in several cycles. Smith has a rare combination of ball skills and route-running ability at over 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. He’s a highly technical, skilled receiver who regularly separates and wins at the catch point. We saw Smith have a big junior year for nationally-ranked Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna, catching 58 passes for 1,073 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Smith is followed by Georgia cornerback Ellis Robinson IV at No. 4 overall. Robinson has been On3’s top-ranked cornerback in the cycle dating back to the fall. The Connecticut native transferred to IMG Academy for his junior season and continued to show a high-end skill set with technical polish, strong ball skills to go with his elite length (79-inch wing-span).