Senior season evaluations lead to 2024 On300 rankings update
On3 has updated its football prospect rankings for the 2024 cycle. This rankings release marks the fifth update this year and is driven by senior season evaluations.
The senior season is a pivotal evaluation point in On3’s rankings process. The final prep season proves to be among the best indicators of ability as a college football player, manifested by the NFL Draft. On3 has continued to closely track the senior seasons of 2024 prospects since our last update in September. In formulating this update, we’ve taken in a considerable amount of film, including a bunch of full high school games over the past few months. We also have tracked production through the majority of the senior season, as most states are currently in the playoffs.
Movement in this update largely accounts for what we’ve seen through the bulk of the 2023 season. The next and final update will focus heavily on all-star game evaluations along with the remaining balance of high school action over the next month.
Let’s get into some of the storylines surrounding this update.
Nwaneri retains top spot, movement within top 10
The race for the No. 1 overall prospect remains open relative to most cycles at this point. Missouri EDGE commit Williams Nwaneri continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the On300. We view the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder as the most physically-gifted big man in the cycle. His elite frame and plus movement skills point to an extremely high long-term upside. Ohio State wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith (No. 2) leads an extremely strong wide receiver group and has a case as the surest bet in the cycle.
Florida defensive line commit LJ McCray moves up five spots from No. 8 to No. 3. McCray has put together a sensational senior season at Daytona (Fla.) Mainland and has everything you could ask for from a defensive line prospect. He’s a big-framed, plus athlete at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds with a nasty, physical on-field demeanor. He’s the type of defensive line prospect who goes high in the NFL Draft.
Georgia cornerback pledge Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4) and Texas A&M wide receiver commit Cam Coleman (No. 5), uncommitted offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (No. 6), Alabama quarterback pledge Julian Sayin (No. 7), South Carolina offensive tackle commit Josiah Thompson (No. 8), Texas Tech wide receiver commit Micah Hudson (No. 9) and Ohio State defensive line commitment Justin Scott (No. 10) round out the top ten.
Florida QB commit DJ Lagway earns fifth star
Florida quarterback commit DJ Lagway is the lone new five-star in this On300 update. The Willis (Texas) High product moves up to No. 15 overall. Lagway is in the midst of a gaudy senior season. He’s long been considered as one of the top physical talents at the position in 2024 and has seen his play take a jump this fall.
Lagway is tracking as the most productive top quarterback in the cycle, putting up silly numbers while leading Willis to a 12-0 record. He’s completed 73.9% of his passes for 4,269 yards (11.9 yards per attempt) and 56 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Lagway’s also getting it done on the ground, running for 845 yards and 15 scores on 84 attempts. All told, he’s averaging close to six touchdowns per game.
In addition to the gaudy production, the film is also encouraging. Areas for improvement remain, but Lagway is more consistent in his accuracy and decision-making while still making high-level individual plays. There’s still more opportunities for the Florida commit to impress, as Willis is in the midst of a playoff run, along with his participation in the Under Armour All-America Game in January.
Four on the cusp of five-star status
We currently sit at 20 five-star prospects in the On300 and will finish with 32 five-stars in the final update. As noted earlier, national all-star games — where we’ll get to see dozens and dozens of blue-chip prospects head-to-head — will have a huge say in the final five-stars. With that said, there’s currently four prospects the highest four-star rating of 97 from On3, that could be in line for adding a fifth star in the next update.
Notre Dame offensive tackle pledge Guerby Lambert (No. 21) is the highest-ranked four-star prospect in this update. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder has put together strong senior film. He’s a flexible, nimble mover who excels in the run game. Lambert plays with outstanding bend and is a weapon at the second level. He’s also shown some encouraging moments in pass protection.
Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 22) has long been ranked as an Athlete prospect, but is moved over to cornerback in this update, as that’s where he’s slated to play in Tuscalooa. Mbakwe is a dynamic offensive player at Clay-Chalkville High School. He starred as a wide receiver as a junior, before making the move to quarterback as a senior. It’s been two years since we’ve seen him take significant reps on defense, so we’re looking forward to watching him at corner in the all-star setting. But make no mistake, there’s no doubting his playmaking ability or top shelf athleticism.
Zay Mincey (No. 23) is now listed as a cornerback and slides up into the top 25. A teammate of LJ McCray at Daytona (Fla.) Mainland, Mincey brings size, length and plus athleticism to the table at 6-foot-2.5, 180 pounds. He’s shown the ability to turn and run and is a physical presence as an outside corner. Mincey has taken official visits to Florida, Florida State, Miami and Alabama. The Gators are currently out in front in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
Notre Dame wide receiver commit Cam Williams (No. 24) checks in as the fifth receiver in what is a loaded group at the position in the 2024 cycle. Williams has put together a strong senior film at Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South, showing dynamic playmaking ability after the catch. We’re looking forward to seeing him alongside the position’s best at the All-American Bowl in January.
Big risers within the top 100
Several other prospects made notable rises within the top 100 of this update.
Penn State tight end pledge Luke Reynolds moves up 45 spots, checking in at No. 38 overall. The Westford (Mass.) Cheshire Academy product has a skill set that his highly projectable at the position. Reynolds’ wiggle and movement skills as a route-runner along with his plus athleticism and gritty nature after the catch bode well for his long-term projection. Reynolds is in a three man race at the top for the On3’s No. 1 tight end alongside with Alabama commit Caleb Odom (No. 27) and LSU pledge Trey’Dez Green (No. 35).
Notre Dame EDGE commit Bryce Young is the biggest riser within the top 100, moving from No. 121 up to No. 49. The 6-foot-5.5, 255-pounder really came on as a senior. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young has grown both physically and as a player over the past year. He’s one of the more physically imposing pass rushers in the cycle and was great on Friday nights, racking up 18 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his final prep campaign. Young is still developing from a technical standpoint and should only get better with college coaching and continued experience.
Georgia cornerback commit Demello Jones moves into the top 75, checking in at No. 57. Jones is a do-it-all athlete at Swainsboro High in Georgia. He’s a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the defending state champs lining up at quarterback and defensive back and has put together some strong senior film. The playmaking ability and athletic profile point to a high upside.
Charleston Collins is an upward mover in the defensive line group, checking in at No. 66. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has shown the ability to make plays from all over the front. The pass rush ability off the edge stands out. Collins has the body to potentially grow into an interior defender but the athleticism of an edge rusher. He’s also stuffing the stat sheet as a senior, posting 102 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 10 games as a senior. The Arkansas commit is trending towards Ole Miss according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
On3 has been a big positive outlier on Lancaster (Texas) High running back Kewan Lacy for most of the fall. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder continues to move up, checking in at No. 85 overall in this update. Lacy has an effortless stride, showing the ability to rip off high-level runs. He’s also proven to be a tough runner between the tackles and is a reliable receiver from out of the backfield. In a running back cycle that is not loaded with runners who have put together great seasons, there’s a feeling that Lacy could have one of the higher upsides of the group. The one-time Nebraska commit has visited Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, SMU and Arizona State in the mix.
Movement with the quarterbacks
Outside of DJ Lagway earning his fifth star, there’s minimal movement within the quarterback rankings.
Florida State commit Luke Kromenoek (No. 30) and Georgia commit Dylan Raiola (No. 34) are the two other signal callers who check in as top 50 prospects. Both are leading their teams in the playoffs and figure to make deep run with tough tests remaining. Kromenhoek continues to look like one of the more gifted quarterbacks in the cycle but can clean up his ball placement and overall consistency. Raiola has shown his live downfield arm while at the helm of a loaded squad at Buford High.
Penn State commit Ethan Grunkemeyer moves up to 93 rating, checking in at No. 107 overall. He made a considerable jump as a senior at Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy, making good on the promise he showed on the off-season camp circuit. Grunkemeyer finished his senior season completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,517 yards and 39 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
Washington pledge Dermaricus Davis is a smooth passer with a strong mechanical foundation. The Etiwanda (Calif.) High product has shown promising developmental upside as a senior and checks in at No. 152 overall.
31 new On300 entrants
No. 179 EDGE Lugard Edokpayi
No. 187 EDGE Jayshawn Ross
No. 236 ATH Boo Carter – Tennessee
No. 248 OT Gus Hawkins – Kansas State
No. 249 CB Jo’Ziah Edmond – Michigan
No. 251 RB David Eziomume – Clemson
No. 252 IOL Gabe VanSickle – Northwestern
No. 253 DL Isaia Faga – Alabama
No. 254 S Jaiden Patterson – North Carolina
No. 255 DL Amaris Williams – Florida
No. 256 OT Robert Bourdon – Duke
No. 257 TE Gavin Hoffman – Iowa
No. 258 WR Jordan Shipp – North Carolina
No. 261 IOL Joseph Ionata – Alabama
No. 262 WR Jeremiah Melvin – Wake Forest
No. 266 RB Cameron Dickey – Texas Tech
No. 270 RB Jadan Baugh – Arkansas
No. 271 TE Jordan Washington – Texas
No. 272 DL Steve Mboumoua
No. 274 WR Jacques Spradley-Demps – Kansas State
No. 275 LB Edwin Spillman – Tennessee
No. 277 WR Trae Davis
No. 278 DL William Echoles – Ole Miss
No. 279 LB Xavier Atkins – LSU
No. 281 DL Jide Abasiri – Minnesota
No. 283 S Gregory Smith
No. 286 S Antonio White – Rutgers
No. 287 WR Logan Saldate – Notre Dmae
No. 289 OT Fox Crader – Oregon
No. 290 CB Quaysheed Scott – Kentucky
No. 292 IOL Devin Brooks – Oregon