On3 Outliers: 2024 football recruits On3 ranks higher than industry
On3 has released the updated and expanded On300 for the 2024 cycle. The release is one of the more extensive rankings overhauls over the course of the year as we take the rankings from a watch list of 100 to the On300. We have also seen similar rankings updates within the recruiting industry. Now that these update is in, let’s take a look at some top prospects that On3 has ranked significantly higher relative to other ranking sets.
CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED 2024 ON300 RANKING
Please note that this does not include every prospect in the On300 that On3 ranks higher than others.
QB Dylan Raiola
On300 ranking: No. 1
Next highest ranking: No. 28
Dylan Raiola is On3’s first No. 1 ranked prospect in the 2024 cycle. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder displayed high-end arm talent, accuracy in the intermediate and vertical game and under-duress playmaking as a sophomore. Raiola completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,341 yards and 32 touchdowns with only five interceptions in 2021. Georgia and Texas are the current leaders in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
DL Justin Scott
On300 ranking: No. 3
Next highest ranking: No. 34
Justin Scott is nimble athlete at 6-foot-5, 310-pounds with impressive playing strength at his age. The initial movement skills at his size sets Scott apart from the majority of his peers in the 2024 cycle. Scott entered the 2021 season without an offer. Illinois was the first to offer September 19, has since been joined by eight others. The offer list includes Iowa, Iowa State, Tennessee, Cincinnati and Missouri.
ATH Jaylen Mbakwe
On300 ranking: No. 4
Next highest ranking: No. 87
Mbakwe put together a very productive season as a sophomore with 36 receptions for 677 yards and nine touchdowns, added 500 return yards and picked off two passes. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound playmakers quickness and acceleration on tape also shows up on the track with several 100-meter times in the 10.8 range in the spring of his freshman year. The latest national recruit out of Clay-Chalkville High is up to 20 offers, including Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and USC since the end of the 2021 season.
EDGE Dylan Stewart
On300 ranking: No. 5
Next highest ranking: No. 203
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Stewart combines quick initial movement skills, the ability to bend and run the arc with an 81-inch wingspan and 10-inch hands. The Washington, D.C. area fast rising prospect has picked up 13 offers since January 1. That list includes Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. Maryland and Penn State are the early leaders in his On3 Recruit Prediction Machine.
WR Micah Hudson
On300 ranking: No. 6
Next highest ranking: No. 36
Micah Hudson has quickly emerged as the top wide receiver prospect in the cycle with a blend of quickness, speed, ability to separate and is a ball-winner in traffic situations. After the catch, Hudson has the ability to make multiple defenders miss with head and shoulder moves, as well as a dead leg and burst. Hudson caught 45 passes for 851 yards and eight touchdowns for the first year varsity program in 2021. He added rushing yards and return yards to total over 1,100 all-purpose yards as a sophomore. Hudson currently sits at 15 offers, including 11 Power 5 offers.
CB Bryce West
On300 ranking: No. 7
Next highest ranking: No. 59
Bryce West is a corner prospect we have been extremely high on since first watching early in the season. The tape pops early and often with physicality in run support, reactionary quickness and the ability to stay attached in the intermediate game. The ability to answer the bell physically in run support, and run with speedy players vertically stands out among the corners in the cycle early on. West posted a 7.0 in the 60 meters in January. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine heavily favors Ohio State as the calendar soon turns to April.
EDGE Elijah Rushing
On300 ranking: No. 8
Next highest ranking: No. 21
Rushing was dominant at times as a sophomore for Salpointe Catholic tallying 75 tackles and 7.5 sacks with a combination of quick feet and quick hands, along with a physical mindset. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound edge prospect ripped off a 4.48 laser shuttle this spring with 10-inch hands and an 80-inch wingspan. Rushing’s offer list is up to 13 with USC, Notre Dame, Miami and Michigan extending this month. Rushing recently made a visit to USC with designs to return this spring or summer.
EDGE Jonathan Echols
On300 ranking: No. 12
Next highest ranking: No. 82
Jonathan Echols impressed us on tape as a sophomore, with the production to back it up. The 6-foot-4, 212-pounder played both sides of the ball for Heard County High in Georgia totaling 348 rushing yards, 230 passing yards, 180 yards receiving, 25 tackles and three sacks. Echols high-end athletic ability carries over to laser testing with a 4.52 pro-agility shuttle, a 4.85 forty, a 7.5 L-cone and an 81-inch wingspan. Echols has more than 20 offers, including 11 Power 5 offers since the end of the 2021 season. He transferred to IMG Academy in January.
TE Trey’Dez Green
On300 ranking: No. 15
Next highest ranking: No. 89
Trey’Dez Green is a walking mismatch who doubles as a Division I prospect on the hardwood. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Green combines big wide receiver athleticism with tight end size with the frame for potential weight gain. The initial movement skills, strong hands, extremely big catch radius and ability to play through contact place him at the top of the tight end position. The Houston Cougars were the first to offer in September, in both sports. LSU followed by offering in both sports in October, and are the heavy favorites in the On3 Recruit Prediction Machine. Texas A&M is the most recent offer for the Pelican State prospect.
WR Ny Carr
On300 ranking: No. 18
Next highest ranking: No. 57
Carr is one of the top playmakers in the Southeast Region in the cycle, notching 40 catches for 865 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season. His standout season included four games of 100 yards or more, including seven receptions for 161 yards in a playoff loss. Carr’s combination of explosive movement skills, strong hands and ability to maximize after the catch has led to 11 offers since the end of the season. Georgia was the first to offer in Late February, and has since been joined by the likes of Michigan, Penn State and USC among others.
CB Mario Buford
On300 ranking: No. 22
Next highest ranking: No. 246
Buford turned heads at the recent Under Armour Next Camp Series stop in Dallas. The 5-foot-11.5, 166-pounder was the best defensive back in drills at an event that included a number of On300 defensive backs in the 2023 and 2024 classes. Buford’s foot quickness, reactive quickness and hip flexibility stood out among his peers. He also flashed the ability to stay attached to one of the top 2023 receivers in the country, including his high school teammate Johntay Cook II. Buford has a 20’5″ long jump to his credit as a freshman. He has 12 early offers, including 11 Power 5s.
EDGE Loghan Thomas
On300 ranking: No. 23
Next highest ranking: NR
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound edge prospect is one of the more under recruited prospects in the class thus far. Thomas posted 43 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 14 hurries and nine sacks helping lead Paetow to the 5A-Division I State Championship. Thomas was offered by Texas Tech shortly after being named the 10-5A Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
QB Jake Merklinger
On300 ranking: No. 24
Next highest ranking: No. 178
Merklinger caught our attention on tape as a sophomore with the instinctive ability to make quarterback plays in the pocket, and under duress. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has been a starter since his freshman year for Calvary Day School in Savannah (Ga.), throwing for 4,620 yards and 43 touchdowns (20 interceptions) in 26 games. He’s also proven to be a functional athlete at the position with the ability to extend plays. Merklinger displays high-end accuracy in the short and intermediate game with the ability to make throws down the field with timing. The early offer list is made up of Michigan State, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Cincinnati.
CB Kobe Black
On300 ranking: No. 25
Next highest ranking: No. 83
Kobe Black has solidified himself as one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2024 cycle. The 6-foot-0, 190-pound cornerback with a 4.25 laser shuttle to his credit is the younger brother of Oklahoma State defensive back Korie Black. Black’s tremendous skill set showed up on both sides of the ball as a sophomore making a number of highlight reel receptions at receiver and plays on the ball at corner. He is a smooth and gifted mover at his size with balance and playing strength. Oklahoma State is the early leader in his On3 Recruit Prediction Machine.