Early intel on top remaining uncommitted 2024 quarterbacks
The Early Signing Period for the rising junior class is more than 18 months away, but two of the country’s top 2024 quarterbacks are already off the board.
Earlier tonight, Saline (Mich.) four-star quarterback CJ Carr spurned Michigan — his father’s alma mater — for rival Notre Dame. Last month, No. 2 overall prospect Dylan Raiola gave his commitment to Ohio State. And just like that, two of the top five signal-callers in 2024 are off the board.
As trends go, this points to the elite passers in this class coming off the board early. Commitments like Carr’s and Raiola’s tend to have a domino effect, leading to other quarterbacks locking in a spot at their preferred school. Case in point: In the 2021 cycle, six of the top 10 quarterbacks in the On3 Consensus were committed by September of their junior season. And four of them were off the board within three months of each other.
A similar dynamic could be in play here, says On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons. With Raiola and Carr calling their shots, things could move in a hurry over the next few months. Simmons and On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman each shared the latest intel on where things stand with the country’s best QBs.
No. 2 2024 quarterback Jadyn Davis
The 6-foot, 190-pound Davis has been considered a high-level quarterback in this class since his middle school days. He was even the No. 1 overall player in some early rankings. Ohio State was a major player for him early on, but ultimately with Raiola committing there, he has turned his attention elsewhere.
Simmons: “With Jadyn Davis, I think getting that Clemson offer was huge for him. He’s been going there for camps every summer since he was younger, and he’s a big fan of Dabo and that culture. Jadyn has lived in both Atlanta and Charlotte, so he knows that program extremely well. But LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan are very much in the mix with him.”
No. 3 QB Julian Sayin
Carlsbad (Calif.) star Julian Sayin has drawn offers across the West Coast, but recently his recruitment has expanded into Big 12 and SEC country. A handful of schools stand out early on, but one has built a lead as it stands today.
Simmons: “Texas is one to watch extremely closely. He grew up a Texas fan and actually had a Colt McCoy jersey as a child that he wore around. The Longhorns, LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame are the main five. He’s not going to name favorites or anything like that. He’ll be at LSU and Alabama this week, and Georgia and Notre Dame are two others he’s visited before.”
No. 4 QB DJ Lagway
DJ Lagway is expected at LSU and Texas A&M for unofficial visits later this summer after stopping at Clemson, Georgia and USC. Texas A&M jumped out as an early leader, but the Trojans and [LSU] Tigers are hot in pursuit.
Spiegelman: “New offers from USC and Clemson are certainly noteworthy in the lead group for Lagway. The Aggies have positioned themselves to be in the mix until the end with the elite in-state quarterback, and he’s also set to return to LSU later this month. But new offers after really impactful visits have opened things up quite a bit.”
No. 6 QB Jayden Bradford
South Carolina was one of the first schools to offer Jayden Bradford, and the Gamecocks have made a big-time impression early in the process. Other schools — NC State, Penn State and Vanderbilt — have joined the mix, but Shane Beamer and Co. are in a very good position.
Simmons: “He was actually at South Carolina today, and he grew up about 15 or 20 minutes from Columbia. Jayden has been there numerous times, and that staff offered him early. He really likes what [Shane] Beamer did in his first year there. But there are going to be other schools. He doesn’t have a Georgia offer yet — he camped there earlier — but that would mean a lot to him. The clear-cut favorite, and he doesn’t even hide that, is South Carolina.”
No. 7 QB Jake Merklinger
A newer name on the top-end 2024 quarterbacks scene is Jake Merkingler, who has blown up with offers over the first half of this year. As such, he is in no rush to name favorites and is looking to add offers from some of the sport’s big names: Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Clemson.
Simmons: “It’s extremely early for Jake, as he’s been out to camps to earn offers this month. I’d expect he will get a better feel as we get into July. But Michigan State is a school high on his radar, and I think he’s intrigued by some SEC offers like Auburn. But it’s still too early to really handicap where things stand.”