Introducing the 2024 On3 Top 100 football recruit watchlist

On3 imageby:Charles Power•11/09/21•

CharlesPower

Tuesday marks On3’s first rankings release for football prospects the 2024 cycle with the Top 100 watchlist. This ranking is comprised of prospects who are currently in their sophomore seasons. It will expand to the On300 next spring and be updated on a regular schedule throughout the remainder of the cycle.

The 100 prospects that compose the watchlist have an early four-star rating. The majority have a grade of 90 (the lowest four-star grade) with 18 holding an initial grade of 91.

INITIAL 2024 On3 Top 100 Watchlist

Why a watchlist?

We view a watchlist as a more honest portrayal of the early stage of the cycle as opposed to an effort to thin-slice sophomore prospects and rank them numerically 1 to 100. Simply put, we don’t see anyone involved benefitting from a 1 to 100 order this early in the process.

With that said, this ranking is very much a projection and will certainly change drastically over the next year. Prospects emerge and develop at different rates.

It’s safe to assume many of the prospects who will end up as the best in the cycle have yet to pop up on the national radar. This is particularly the case with positions that involve physical and skill development, like offensive line and quarterback, among others. We also prioritized prospects who have made an impact on the varsity level, with the understanding that some may get opportunities later than others.

Let’s get into some storylines surrounding this initial release.

Offensive skill leads the way

Of the six quarterbacks in the watch list, two have an initial grade of 91 –Jadyn Davis of Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge and Dylan Raiola of Burleson (Texas) High.

We’ve watched Davis play a few times this fall and he’s impressed with his combination of arm talent and mobility along with some advanced polish and offensive administration. Raiola is the son of former Nebraska and NFL offensive lineman, Dominic Raiola. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has a quick, live arm and is among the more skilled passers we’ve seen in the class thus far.

Running back Stacy Gage has flashed a bunch this fall playing on one of the best IMG Academy teams we’ve seen. Gage has an initial burst and reactive quickness that is among the best in high school football, regardless of class.

Three pass-catchers have 91 ratings – St. Louis University wide receiver Ryan Wingo, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna receiver Jeremiah Smith and Jackson (La.) East Feliciana tight end Trey’Dez Green.

Wingo is the younger brother of former Arkansas running back Ronnie Wingo and Missouri cornerback Raymond Wingo. Like his brothers, he’s a standout on the track, pairing a 10.89 second 100-meter time as a freshman with a 6-foot-2 frame and some natural receiver skills. Smith has impressed with his fluidity, route-running ability and ball skills while playing strong competition in South Florida. Green has the largest catch radius we’ve seen in the cycle. He’s shown an immense upside with his ball skills and athleticism while doubling as a potential high-major basketball prospect.

Speed rules at Athlete and CB

This ranking is dotted with prospects at Athlete – a designation we reserve for prospects with genuine positional ambiguity. That unknown tends to be more prevalent earlier in their high school careers.

KJ Bolden from powerhouse Buford (Ga.) High has been considered among the better prospects in the class for a while and continues to show his high-end athleticism and skill as a sophomore. Bolden pairs 10.76 second speed in the 100 meters with playmaking ability as a receiver and cornerback. The same can be said for Jaylen Mbakwe of Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville. Mbakwe’s 10.86 second speed transfers over to the field where he plays with a palpable burst at receiver and corner.

Three cornerbacks have initial 91 grades – Desmond Ricks of IMG Academy, Bryce West of Cleveland Glenville and Ellis Robinson IV of New Rochelle (N.Y.) Iona Prep. Ricks has shown a his skills as a starter at IMG as a sophomore and has excellent stature for the position at 6-foot-2. West caught our eye with his athleticism (10.91 100m) and ball skills. Robinson is a playmaker on both sides of the ball and dominates his competition in New York City.

Position and State Breakdown

Here’s a numerical breakdown of the Top 100 Watchlist by position:

  • Quarterback: 6
  • Running Back: 7
  • Wide Receiver: 12
  • Tight End: 5
  • Offensive Tackle: 2
  • Interior Offensive Line: 4
  • Defensive Line: 8
  • EDGE: 11
  • Linebacker: 11
  • Cornerback: 12
  • Safety: 11
  • Athlete: 11

Twenty different states are represented within the Top 100 watchlist. The nation’s top four talent-producing states lead the way: Texas (20), Georgia (19), Florida (15) and California (11).

Just two prospects are currently committed. Running back Jerrick Gibson is committed to Florida while safety Jordan Pride is committed to Florida State.