Breaking down the most talent-rich states in the latest 2024 On300 rankings
For much of the past two decades, Florida and Texas have been the two biggest producers of elite high school football talent in the country. But that could be starting to change. While traditional power states like California have dropped off a bit, Georgia has ascended into one the “Big Three” that also includes Florida and Texas.
In the 2024 cycle, the Peach State now has the second most On300 prospects of any locale, despite having 1/2 the population of Florida and roughly 1/3 of Texas. With the release of the latest On300 rankings, we’re breaking down which states are producing the most high school football talent this cycle.
Texas – 59
Top Recruit: Duncanville (Texas) EDGE Colin Simmons, No. 5 overall
The Lone Star State continues to churn out elite talent, and the 2024 class has the potential to be an especially deep group. 21 of the top 100 prospects in the recently updated On300 hail from inside the state’s borders, and if you expand to the top 200, that number jumps to 39.
Georgia – 38
Top Recruit: Buford (Ga.) safety KJ Bolden, No. 10 overall
After a down year in the Peach State in 2023, the 2024 class is coming with a vengeance. Despite having less than half the population of Florida, Georgia has surpassed the Sunshine State in terms of elite football talent. As many as 10 Georgians are legit contenders to finish as one the country’s 32 five-star recruits.
Florida – 29
Top Recruit: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna WR Jeremiah Smith, No. 3 overall
2024 looks to be a particularly down year in the state of Florida, especially when you remove the transfers into Bradenton IMG Academy from the equation. The state is still one of top three in terms of elite production on a yearly basis, but Georgia is closing that gap quickly.
California – 28
Top Recruit: Carlsbad (Calif.) QB Julian Sayin, No. 16 overall
The West Coast doesn’t produce elite talent quite like it used to, but California is still going to be among the top four states every year based on sheer population alone. Quarterbacks typically lead the way, but there are three offensive linemen from the state ranked among the top 150 nationally.
Alabama – 13
Top Recruit: Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville ATH Jaylen Mbakwe, No. 16 overall
The Yellowhammer State produced one of its best classes in recent memory in 2024, and the 2023 class looks to continue some of that momentum. Mbakwe, along with wide receivers Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, linebacker DeMarcus Riddick and EDGE Jordan Ross lead a strong group at the top.
Maryland – 10
Top Recruit: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel EDGE Darien Mayo, No. 92 overall
The DMV has become a very strong talent-producing state in the past few years, largely driven by powerhouse programs like Baltimore St. Frances, Olney Good Counsel, and Springdale Charles Herbert Flowers. This cycle isn’t especially top-heavy with only one player in the top 100, but it’s a very deep one with nearly a dozen players in the top 300.
Mississippi – 9
Top Recruit: Bay Springs (Miss.) DL Kamron Beavers, No. 84 overall
Mississippi, despite producing a wealth of NFL talent, isn’t always given the same amount of respect as some of its peer states in the Southeast. But as it typically does, the state is producing at a high level in the 2024 class, with nine prospect in the top 300, including two top-100 recruits.
Ohio – 9
Top Recruit: Springfield (Ohio) CB Aaron Scott, No. 11 overall
Few states in the Midwest produce the kind of talent Ohio does, both in the cities but also out in some of the smaller towns. A year after putting 10 prospects in the final 2023 On300 rankings, the Buckeye State is back with nine this year.
North Carolina – 8
Top Recruit: Greenville (N.C.) D H Conley safety Isaiah Crumpler, No. 68 overall
Similar to Mississippi, North Carolina has developed into a rich state for top-end talent, but doesn’t always get the credit come of its neighbors do. The 2024 class featured a couple of unranked four-stars in addition to eight recruits in the top 300.
Pennsylvania – 7
Top Recruit: Belle Vernon (Pa.) athlete Quinton Martin, No. 99 overall
Pennsylvania is one of a handful of Midwestern states that can compete with their rivals up in Ohio when it comes to top-end football recruits. And this cycle is no different.
Arizona – 6
Top Recruit: Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle QB Dylan Raiola, No. 6 overall
As some of the talent has leaked out of California in recent years, a number of elite recruits are ending up in Arizona, where the state is regularly producing a half-dozen top-300 prospects every year now. Raiola and 2023 five-star TE Duce Robinson will give the state back-to-back five-star recruits.
Illinois – 6
Top Recruit: Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius DL Justin Scott, No. 7 overall
Based on what comes out of Chicago and East St. Louis each cycle, Illinois can either be a boom-or-bust type state. This year falls somewhere in the middle, though Scott is one of the nation’s truly elite prospects and could potentially challenge for the No. 1 overall spot.
Missouri – 6
Top Recruit: Lees Summit (Mo.) North DL Williams Nwaneri, No. 2 overall
St. Louis has been the primary recruiting ground in Missouri for some time, but the Kansas City area continues to churn out talent. Nwaneri, one of the most impressive physical specimens in this cycle, could give KC back-to-back top-five prospects along with Adepoju Adebawore if he continues his rapid ascent.
New Jersey – 6
Top Recruit: Irvington (N.J.) safety Vaboue Toure, No. 58 overall
The Northeast, and the Garden State in particular, have become more known for top basketball recruits — see DJ Wagner Jr., Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mackenzie Mgbako as recent examples. But there’s also a strong base of football talent that schools in the Big Ten and some in the SEC are tapping into.
Louisiana – 5
Top Recruit: Lafayette (La.) Acadiana DL Dominick McKinley, No. 14 overall
Michigan – 5
Top Recruit: Rochester (Mich.) Adams TE Brady Prieskorn, No. 78 overall
South Carolina – 5
Top Recruit: Dillon (S.C.) OT Josiah Thompson, No. 19 overall
Tennessee – 5
Top Recruit: Nashville (Tenn.) LB Mason Curtis, No. 128 overall
Virginia – 5
Top Recruit: Virginia Beach (Va.) Frank W. Cox EDGE Gerard Johnson, No. 110 overall
Washington – 5
Top Recruit: Vancouver (Wash.) Evergreen OT Fox Crader, No. 72 overall
Arkansas – 4
Top Recruit: Pine Bluff (Ark.) Wilbur D. Mills DL Charleston Collins, No. 121 overall
Indiana – 4
Top Recruit: New Haven (Ind.) WR Mylan Graham, No. 12 overall
Wisconsin – 4
Top Recruit: Mukwanago (Wisc.) OT Nathan Roy, No. 69 overall
Massachusetts – 3
Top Recruit: West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial OT Guerby Lambert, No. 30 overall
Connecticut – 3
Top Recruit: New Haven (CT) IMG Academy CB Ellis Robinson IV, No. 3 overall
District of Columbia – 3
Top Recruit: Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy EDGE Dylan Stewart, No. 1 overall
Iowa – 2
Top Recruit: Logan (Iowa) Logan-Magolina IOL Grant Brix, No. 127 overall
New York – 2
Top Recruit: New York (N.Y.) Erasmus Hall EDGE Caden Brown, No. 151 overall
Oklahoma – 2
Top Recruit: Oklahoma City (Okla.) IMG Academy DL David Stone, No. 64 overall
Utah – 2
Top Recruit: Magna (Utah) Cyprus IOL Isaiah Garcia, No. 250 overall
United Kingdom – 1
Top Recruit: London (UK) NFL Academy EDGE Emmanuel Okoye, No. 138 overall
Idaho – 1
Top Recruit: Burley (Idaho) WR Gatlin Bair, No. 109 overall
Minnesota – 1
Top Recruit: St. Paul (Minn.) Irondale Senior OT Emerson Mandell, No. 296 overall
Nebraska – 1
Top Recruit: Ainsworth (Neb.) TE Carter Nelson, No. 102 overall
Oregon – 1
Top Recruit: Lake Oswego (Ore.) Lakeridge TE Joey Olsen, No. 238 overall
South Dakota – 1
Top Recruit: Brandon (S.D.) Valley IOL Navarro Schunke, No. 212 overall
West Virginia – 1
Top Recruit: Wheeling (WV) IMG Academy WR Jerrae Hawkins, No. 255 overall