Top Big Ten commitments in 2024

Many of the nation’s top recruits have chosen a Big Ten school to further their academic and football careers. Beginning in 2024, the conference will stretch from coast to coast. Its recruiting footprint has never been bigger.

Of the 10 highest-rated 2024 prospects in the Big Ten, half are committed to Ohio State. Michigan tails the Buckeyes with two commits out of the top 10. Penn State, Nebraska and USC also join the party.

Below are the top 10 recruits committed to Big Ten schools and where they are heading.

Five-Star Plus+ WR Jeremiah Smith — Ohio State

School: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1
On3 NIL Valuation: $456K

Scouting Summary: “Jeremiah Smith is one of the more talented and well-rounded receiver prospects in recent cycles. The highest-rated wide receiver prospect from Florida in well over a decade. A big, skilled receiver with fluidity and savvy for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-3 and around 200 pounds with a 32.5-inch arm prior to his senior season. Had a breakout junior season, catching 58 passes for 1,073 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading Chaminade-Madonna to a state title. A very polished route-runner at this stage with rare ability to change directions at his size. Smooth mover with technical refinement that allows for separation. Regularly stacks cornerbacks off the line. Pairs his route-running ability with advanced ball skills. Has strong hands and comes down with catches in traffic. A high-level ball tracker with the ability to locate the football over his shoulder. Capable of making fantastic one-handed grabs. Also flashes ability after the catch. Has the size to run through contact and a long stride to pull away in the open field. Also a strong track athlete winning state titles in the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles as a junior. An extremely well-rounded prospect with a high floor and ceiling. Looks like a prototypical X wide receiver prospect with considerable traits and skills that point to an upside as a high draft pick.”

5-star DL Justin Scott — Ohio State

School: Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12
On3 NIL Valuation: $315K

Scouting Summary: “Justin Scott is a naturally-gifted defensive tackle with rare movement skills. One of the more unique jumbo athletes early on in the 2024 cycle. Considered the top prospect from Chicago in several cycles. Measured in at 6-foot-4 and close to 315 pounds prior to his senior season. Has solid length with 33-inch arms. A light-footed, nimble athlete who moves like a much smaller player. Lines up both on the interior and the edge for his high school. Creates regular disruption with his quickness and ability to convert speed to power. Chases down plays from the back side and runs sideline-to-sideline with ease. A loose, fluid mover with natural flexibility. Shows his natural explosion as a finisher. Also doubles as a dominant offensive lineman. Could be one of the top offensive line prospects in the cycle, as well. Relatively new to football, playing his first season at the varsity level as a sophomore. Has a background as a soccer and basketball player. Will need to continue developing from a technical aspect, particularly with his hands. Rapid ascension and quick improvement point to a high ceiling.”

5-star WR Mylan Graham — Ohio State

School: New Haven (Ind.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 16
On3 NIL Valuation: $293K

Scouting Summary: “Mylan Graham is the definition of a technician at the wide receiver position. Has a case as the best route-runner in the 2024 cycle. Measured in at 6-foot-0.5, 185 pounds with a 32.5-inch arm prior to his senior season. Test well in the combine setting, running an electronically timed 4.55 second 40-yard dash at Under Armour’s Ohio camp. Has the ability to separate from defenders in a phone booth off the snap. Capable of winning off the line of scrimmage without being touched. Explosive and twitchy when coming off the line and out of his breaks. Loose hips who can sink at the top of his routes with ease. Rarely touched when has the ball in his hands in open space, extremely tough to bring down in the open field. Comfortable catching the football away from his frame, natural ball tracker downfield. Has the ability to high point and win 50-50 balls. Terrific in the return game as well. Has a leaner, athletic build, but has added weight prior to his senior season. Shows the position-specific skills traits to become a top receiver. Turned in a productive junior season, catching 48 passes for 1,149 yards and 13 scores, racking up 23.9 yards per catch. One of the most technically sound prospects at the position to come out in the last few recruiting cycles. Projects as a Z-type or X-receiver at the next level and beyond.”

4-star QB Air Noland — Ohio State

School: Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 40
On3 NIL Valuation: $532K

Scouting Summary: “Air Noland is an instinctual, accurate southpaw passer who shredded opposing defenses through the air as a junior. Was most productive passer among top 2024 quarterbacks. Measured in at around 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with a 9-inch hand in the spring prior to his senior season. Has a streamlined frame with thinner shoulders. Had a monster junior season, completing 73.1% of his passes for 4,095 yards (12.7 yards per attempt) for 55 touchdowns against four interceptions. Led Langston Hughes to a state title in a high classification and helmed an offense that set the state record for most points scored. Shows high end field vision with the ability to go through his reads and find open receivers. At his best as a reliable distributor to talented skill players. Throws with timing and touch. Accurate to all levels and shows the ability to layer the football and locate throws into small windows. Arm strength is above average but not his most noteworthy trait. Plays with an advanced feel and shows a nice internal clock against the pass rush. A pass-first quarterback but has some creativity and mobility when needed. One of the safest bets among quarterbacks in the 2024 cycle given his on-field success and production relative to his peers.”

4-star ATH Quinton Martin — Penn State

School: Belle Vernon (Pa.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 43
On3 NIL Valuation: $191K

Scouting Summary: “Quinton Martin is a big-play high school running back who has the skills and physical dimensions to project at a few different spots at the college level. One of the best runners in the 2024 cycle and would be considered among the top running back prospects in the nation. A threat to score on any play, regularly ripping off long runs and returns. Gets downhill quickly and has the speed and long stride to pull away in the open field. Uses contact balance and an emerging stiff arm to run through tackle attempts. Returned several kicks for touchdowns. Doubles as a very good high school basketball player. Has some genuine positional ambiguity but looks like a top prospect, regardless of where he ends up at the college level.”

4-star CB Bryce West — Ohio State

School: Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 50
On3 NIL Valuation: $174K

Scouting Summary: “Bryce West is a physical corner with tremendous mirror ability who is not afraid to lay the wood. Shows excellent ball skills and does an outstanding job of finding the football in-phase. Twitchy athlete who is comfortable playing press and press-bail coverage. Serious weapon in the return game on kickoff and punt. Ran 7.01 in the 60m in 2022. And also ran 10.91 in the 100m and 22.22 in the 200m in 2021. Solid lowers, will naturally add more mass to his uppers as he physically develops.”

4-star RB Jordan Marshall — Michigan

School: Cincinnati (Ohio) Archbishop Moeller
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 56
On3 NIL Valuation: $137K

Scouting Summary: “Jordan Marshall is a well-rounded running back with few holes in his game. Has a developed, stout build at over 5-foot-10.5, 200 pounds. Posted an electronically-timed 4.53 second electronic 40 yard dash at Under Armour’s Ohio camp. Registers as a plus athlete in other athletic tests. Showed marked improvement with his speed over the course of his junior year, running multiple sub-11.0 second times in the 100 meters, highlighted by a 10.74 second mark. A decisive runner. Hits creases and gets downhill quickly. Strong on contact. Bounces off defenders and runs through arm tackles at the second level. Shows some moves to make defenders miss in space. Effective at running between the tackles and to the perimeter. Showed solid long speed as a junior and should make advances in that area as a senior if his track times are any indication. Very productive and reliable as a junior, rushing for 1,961 yards and 30 touchdowns at 8.0 yards per carry. An effective pass catcher. Productive receiver with 364 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and looks natural catching the football in the camp setting. Has some tightness in his movements and can improve fluidity as he tends to gear down some when changing directions in games. A player who maximizes his talent and may be more developed than some others at this stage for that reason.”

4-star TE Carter Nelson — Nebraska

School: Ainsworth (Neb.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 58
On3 NIL Valuation: $144K

Scouting Summary: “Carter Nelson is a tight end prospect with a unique background and one of the stronger athletic profiles among jumbo athletes in the 2024 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with solid length for the position prior to his senior season. Looks to have added some mass during his junior year. Hails from a remote area of north central Nebraska, where he plays 8-man football. Plays all over the field for his high school program, as is the case with most college prospects who play 8-man. Lines up as a quarterback, receiver, tight end, takes direct snaps and plays on defense. Looks like a literal man among boys playing at that level. Shows top end speed and bowls over defenders in the open field. Looks to have considerable burst. The best athlete on the field by orders of magnitude. Shows the ability to track the football, but pure receiving skills remain a question. Has a sterling multi-sport profile. A bouncy basketball player who lives above the rim. Throws down tomahawk dunks in transition. Also shows his overall coordination, movement skills and spatial awareness on the hardwood. Also a standout over multiple events in track and field. Turned in a personal best throw of 52-3.5 feet in the shot put. Posted a 7-foot high jump as a sophomore. Ran in the 11.2 second range in the 100 meters as a sophomore. All are outstanding marks. A tougher evaluation and projection than many other high school prospects. Will see as big a jump in competition level as you can face in moving to the college game. Does not have verified length or frame measurements. Did not replicate his sprint and jump results as a junior.”

4-star QB Jadyn Davis — Michigan

School: Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 65
On3 NIL Valuation: $395K

Scouting Summary: “Jadyn Davis is a developed, polished passer who is most comfortable as an in-structure distributor. Measured at around 6-foot-0.5, 195 pounds with a 9.25-inch hand prior to his senior season. Is relatively filled out with a developed lower body. Was touted as a top quarterback prospect very early in the recruiting process, earning offers in middle school. Turned in a strong junior season, leading a high-powered Providence Day offense to a state title in North Carolina’s private school league. Completed 72.5% of his passes for 3,425 yards (11.2 yards per attempt) and 43 touchdowns against six interceptions. Effectively distributed the ball to a group of skill players that included several Power 5 prospects. Makes good decisions and looks to have a good grip of the offense. Has solid arm strength when delivering from within the pocket. Polished and refined as a ball handler and when working off of play action. Much more of an in-structure quarterback. Moves well within the pocket but does not make too many plays with his legs. Has a naturally longer release which limits his ability to consistently deliver from off-platform. Increasing his ability to make individual plays would raise his floor as a prospect given physical limitations relative to other blue-chip quarterback prospects.”

4-star WR Xavier Jordan — USC

School: Los Angeles (Calif.) Sierra Canyon
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 79
On3 NIL Valuation: $129K

Scouting Summary: “Xavier Jordan is a highly skilled and coordinated receiver who was the most productive pass-catcher in the 2024 cycle as a junior. Has a thin, narrow frame, measuring at over 6-feet and around 160 pounds. Turned in a huge junior season, catching 83 passes for 1,626 yards and 20 touchdowns. Shows a very high skill level. Has some of the best ball skills we’ve evaluated in the 2024 cycle. Tracks the football effortlessly. Makes diving grabs at a high rate. Comes down with contested catches in traffic and elevates to win in jump ball situations. A fluid, natural mover who projects as a strong route-runner. Uses pacing and tempo to separate within his routes. Runs with outstanding body lean. Posts strong agility marks in the combine setting, running a 4.19 second short shuttle and 6.99 second 3-cone at Under Armour’s Los Angeles camp. Backs up those marks with how he moves on the field. Registers solid speed, with a personal best of 11.09 in the 100 meters as a sophomore, with most times coming in the 11.2 range. A very high floor prospect given his skill level. Will need to fill out and continue to add mass and strength given his relative lack of size at this stage.”