Unveiling the final 2024 On300 rankings
On3 has released its football prospect rankings for the 2024 cycle. This rankings release marks the final update and is heavily informed by continued senior season evaluations and national all-star games that featured nearly 200 of the nation’s top prospects.
Evaluation of the senior season is heavily prioritized in our process as it has proven to be among the most predictive evaluation points in a high school prospect’s development. The several weeks since the season ended allowed for time to sift through each position group and dive into the senior campaigns in full, especially considering the amount of action that took place since the prior update in November.
In-person all-star evaluations in regional and national games also have a track record of being strong indicators and proved highly instructive in the final rankings. After a week on the road at the Under Armour All-America Game and the All-American Bowl, we feel good about our grip on the 2024 cycle.
Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential in college football, as manifested by the NFL Draft. We work towards finishing with 32 five-stars every cycle, with that group being minted in this final release.
Let’s get into the big storylines surrounding the final 2024 On300.
The race for No. 1
There is a new No. 1 overall prospect in the final On300 rankings, with Ohio State wide receiver signee Jeremiah Smith moving from No. 2 overall into the top spot. Smith, who also ranks as the No. 1 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, is the most advanced high school wide receiver prospect in the past decade.
The Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna product is the top route-runner in the cycle in a 6-foot-3, 215 pound body that wouldn’t be out of place on a NFL field. The combination of technical ability along with his size and high-end athleticism (state champion hurdler) is unique. Smith is strong in every facet. He effortlessly stacks cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage with a deep bag of releases. He runs an advanced route tree and has an innate ability to drop his weight and change directions at his size. Smith has strong hands at the catch point, consistently winning in jump ball situations and easily tracking the ball over his shoulder. He’s also very strong after the catch, showing the ability to maximize yardage with the ball in his hands.
The physical and technical skill set seamlessly transfers over to the field, as Smith was a dominant, high volume target on Friday nights. The future Buckeye wideout hauled in 90 catches for 1,389 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior, on top of 20 touchdown catches as a junior.
In a cycle that does not have a bonafide No. 1 overall quarterback, pass rusher or offensive tackle, Jeremiah Smith looks like the top prospect regardless of position. He’s a special talent at what has become a premium position in recent years.
Smith is followed in the top three by Florida quarterback signee DJ Lagway (No. 2) and Auburn wide receiver signee Cam Coleman (No. 3).
DJ Lagway posted the best senior season of any 2024 quarterback – by a fair margin. The Florida signee exploded in his final prep campaign, completing 72.1% of his passes for 4,634 yards (11.52 yards per attempt) and 58 touchdowns against eight picks. He also looked like the top run threat among top 100 quarterbacks, rushing for 957 yards and 16 touchdowns. Lagway did everything for his Willis (Texas) High team, accounting for an eye-popping 5.7 touchdowns per game while leading the Wildkats to their best season in school history.
A strong-armed passer at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Lagway excels at making plays outside of structure. His ability to make individual plays as a passer and runner – especially when things break down – is the best in the cycle. Lagway will need to continue to improve his mechanics and accuracy to hit his ceiling, but the upside and signs of improvement were apparent as a senior.
Cam Coleman pairs with Jeremiah Smith to comprise the best duo of high school receiver prospects in a cycle since AJ Green and Julio Jones in 2008.
Coleman is the biggest freak in what is a historically strong receiver group nationally. At 6-foot-3.5, 190 pounds with 33.5-inch arms, elite bounce and high-end coordination, he sports the largest catch radius of any receiver in the cycle. He pairs the massive radius and elite ball skills with speed that measures in the 4.4’s on electronic timing systems. Adjusted for size, Coleman is the most athletic receiver in the 2024 cycle.
The future Auburn Tiger exploded onto the scene in 2023 by way of strong junior film and outstanding camp performances. A relative late bloomer who could technically be a 2025 prospect due to a late birthday, Coleman had a dominant senior season, catching 61 passes for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading his team to a state title in Alabama’s highest classification. He carried that over to Under Armour All-American Game practices, where he made an array of jaw-dropping plays on each day.
Rounding out the top ten
Georgia cornerback signee Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4) has been the top-ranked corner for nearly the entire cycle. The 6-foot, 175 pounder combines outstanding length, ball skills and cover instincts to make him the clear top defensive back prospect in the cycle. Robinson is a highly competitive, battle-tested corner who doesn’t back down when facing top receivers. We saw him lock horns with Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman at national events over the course of the year and win more than his fair share of those battles. The IMG Academy product has the technical skills and makeup to push for significant playing time as a true freshman in Athens.
Ohio State transfer quarterback Julian Sayin (No. 5) is the most accurate passer in the cycle. The Carlsbad (Ca.) High product thrives within structure and is surgical when operating from within the pocket. Sayin was the top quarterback on the summer camp circuit and was the On3 MVP at both the Elite 11 Finals and the OT7 Finals in June. The one-time Alabama signee carried that over to his senior season, turning in a very efficient campaign, completing over 75% of his passes at 11.2 yards per attempt.
Florida defensive line signee LJ McCray (No. 6) had arguably the most dominant senior season of any defender nationally. He’s always been a high upside prospect at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds with plus athleticism, but we saw the flip switch as a senior. McCray showed outstanding play speed, power and effort level while lining up all over the front as a senior, racking up an eye-popping 37 tackles for loss while leading Daytona (Fla.) Mainland to its first state title in 20 years.
After seeing nearly all of the cycle’s top EDGE’s at national all-star games, we came away thinking Tennessee signee Jordan Ross (No. 7) looked like the most complete prospect among the group. The Birmingham (Ala.) Vestavia Hills product is an ascending prospect – pairing a strong senior season with a pair of fantastic all-star showings. Ross was a Top Performer and stock up prospect for On3 at the Under Armour All-America Game and backed that up with a dominant showing in the Polynesian Bowl a few weeks later. At 6-foot-4.5, 220 pounds with outstanding combine athleticism, Ross has one of the best first steps we’ve seen among 2024 EDGE prospects. His ability to bend and turn the corner at top speed was readily apparent. In addition to being a speed mismatch off the edge, Ross flashed a noticeable motor and effort level during live periods.
The one-time top wide receiver in the 2025 cycle, Alabama commit Ryan Williams (No. 8) reclassified to 2024 following another prolific season at Saraland (Ala.) High. The in-state product should be the most talented wideout to sign with the Crimson Tide in the last few cycles. Williams the most dangerous deep threat in the cycle, as he’s able to effortless harness his elite speed in a functional way. The 6-foot-1, 160-pounder separates with ease at all levels of the field. He’s also highly dangerous with the ball in his hands. Williams’ skills result in elite production at the high school level, as he’s accounted for 70 all-purpose touchdowns over the past two seasons. He’ll also be among the youngest players in college football, playing his freshman season as a 17 year-old.
Georgia signee Justin Williams (No. 9) looks like the best off-ball linebacker prospect in several cycles. The quick trigger and play speed to run sideline-to-sideline are the best in the cycle at the position. A one-time safety, Williams runs in the 4.4’s – and plays up to that speed. The 6-foot-2, 210 pounder is a banshee at all levels. He’s extremely explosive when moving downhill and finished with an astounding 36 tackles for loss as a senior. Williams is also a natural in coverage, picking off three passes with several going for pick-sixes. The overall skillset may remind some Georgia fans of former Bulldog great, Roquan Smith.
Miami EDGE signee Marquise Lightfoot (No. 10) earned his fifth star and leapt into the top ten with a masterful showing at the All-American Bowl. The future Hurricane defender has the best motor of defensive prospects we’ve evaluated in the 2024 cycle. Long considered as a top 50 prospect for On3, the Chicago native showcased arguably the best pure speed rush we saw from the EDGE group at either all-star game. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds with plus length, Lightfoot is a top athlete at the position. He gave several top offensive tackles fits over the course of the week. The frame, athleticism, pass rush skill set and with his elite effort level point to a promising future.
13 new five-stars in the final On300
In addition to Jordan Ross and Marquise Lightfoot, 11 more prospects added their fifth star in the final On300 release.
Clemson wide receiver signee TJ Moore (No. 13) was a no-brainer addition to the five-star ranks. The Tampa (Fla.) Catholic product sat at No. 33 for On3 entering the final update and erased any doubt with a show-stopping week at the All-American Bowl. At 6-foot-2.5, 195 pounds, Moore has a technical skill set that is rivaled only by Jeremiah Smith among fellow 2024 wideouts. Moore had the most consistent hands we saw from any receiver – he’s a natural plucker of the football and made a number of highlight reel grabs. He’s also easily one of the top route-runners in the cycle, easily breaking off cornerbacks with his change of direction. What we saw in San Antonio further validated what we saw from Moore up to that point. His skill level, production – 50 receptions for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns – and athleticism are that of a five-star prospect.
Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey (No. 15) is a historic high school football player in the state of Texas and will go down as one of the state’s best prep players. As a quarterback and safety at Timpson (Texas) High, Bussey has posted jaw-dropping production for the better part of four seasons. That culminated in December when Bussey led the Bears to a state title. As a prospect, Bussey is much more than a star on Friday nights. He’s an elite multi-sport athlete, as a state champion triple-jumper and gifted sprinter. The athleticism and playmaking ability more than checked out in the national all-star setting. Ranked as an athlete prospect, it’s possible Bussey could play on either side of the ball in college as a wide receiver or defensive back. We view his highest upside being on defense, but there’s no question he’s a top prospect regardless of position. One of the top unsigned prospects nationally, Bussey has visited Texas A&M and Georgia this month and is set to visit LSU this week.
Alabama signee Zay Mincey (No. 17) has the best pure physical traits among top cornerbacks in the 2024 cycle. He checks in at around 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with plus length, paring the big frame with plus athleticism. Mincey was a lockdown boundary corner for Daytona (Fla.) Mainland as a senior and backed that up with a strong showing at the All-American Bowl, where On3 tabbed him as the top corner in attendance. The athletic profile is strong and points to a high developmental upside. Mincey is a strong track athlete and doubles as a good high school basketball player.
Notre Dame signee Guerby Lambert (No. 18) looks like the best run blocker among offensive tackles on film. Although we weren’t able to see him in person, we wouldn’t be surprised if the future Irish player ended up as the top offensive tackle from the cycle. At 6-foot-6, 290 pounds, Lambert is a highly flexible and fluid mover. He plays with outstanding leverage and showed an increased level of physicality and play strength as a senior. He may need time to adjust to the uptick in competition and continue developing in pass protection, but Lambert stacks up well within the offensive line group based on film.
Georgia cornerback signee Demello Jones (No. 21) has been a steady riser over the course of the cycle for On3 and earns his fifth star in the final update. The Swainsboro (Ga.) High star has a ton of positive indicators as a prospect. He was a two-way playmaker, with back to back 1,000 yard rushing seasons in addition to strong play at corner while leading Swainsboro to consecutive state title berths. Jones is a physical, athletic corner prospect. He sports a strong athletic profile as a state champion in the 100 meters, state finalist in the high jump in addition to being a double-digit scorer in basketball. There’s a bunch of developmental upside for the south Georgia product.
LSU signee Dominick McKinley (No. 24) put together the best showing we saw from a defensive lineman at either national all-star game. At 6-foot-5 and over 280 pounds with 34+ inch arms, McKinley is how you draw them up physically. He plays with phenomenal leverage at his size, firing off the ball low and exploding to uproot offensive linemen. The flashes we saw in Orlando validate what we saw from McKinley early on in his high school career, as he has long been a top 50 prospect for On3. The size, athleticism, length and play strength point to a high ceiling if McKinley continues to develop and improves his overall consistency.
Florida State signee Luke Kromenhoek (No. 26) is the best quarterback prospect to sign with the Seminoles since Jameis Winston back in 2012. The Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military product has one of the highest upsides among 2024 quarterbacks. At 6-foot-3.5, 190 pounds, Kromenhoek sports one of the strongest arms and quickest throwing motions in the group. He’s also a plus athlete at the position. As a two-year varsity starter, he’s less seasoned than many of the other top 2024 passers. There’s room for improvement with his overall consistency and decision-making. While he may need a year or two to sit, there’s no denying the upside and long-term potential with continued development.
Penn State signee Cooper Cousins (No. 27) looks to be the clear top interior offensive line prospect in the cycle. Cousins was a big senior riser due to outstanding film. A jumbo center at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Cousins has the size and skills to feasibly play anywhere along the offensive line if needed. He’s a good mover and is highly physical. Cousins cemented his status as a five-star prospect with an outstanding showing at the All-American Bowl, where he was the top offensive lineman throughout the week. It’s not every day you see young interior linemen get on the field early in college football, but Cousins has that type of potential given his size, mentality and skills.
Alabama tight end signee Caleb Odom (No. 30) leads the top of a very strong tight end group nationally. The Carrollton (Ga.) High product is a well-rounded pass catcher with the athleticism of a top wide receiver in a tight end’s frame. Odom is capable of separating from cornerbacks at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. He has the upside of running a full route tree. Odom is good at the catch point and has room for continued development there considering his ability as an explosive dunker on the hardwood. He’s also among the best tight ends after the catch, showing exceptional contact balance.
Alabama signee Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 31) is the fastest corner prospect in the cycle. Mbakwe was a do-it-all player for powerhouse Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville, seeing time as a wide receiver and defensive back before flipping to quarterback as a senior and leading the Cougars to a state title. He doubles as a track star, winning state titles in the 100 and 200 meters as a junior. Though not as experienced or polished in coverage relative to his fellow highly-ranked peers, Mbakwe’s playmaking ability and elite speed project well to corner with continued technical development.
LSU tight end signee Trey’Dez Green (No. 32) is a monster mismatch in the red zone, sporting the largest catch radius among tight ends in the 2024 cycle. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder initially came on the scene as a basketball player with high major offers before budding into national football prospect. Green transferred to powerhouse Zachary (La.) High as a senior and saw his play take off as a result. The future Tiger had a ton of eye-popping contested catches during the fall and showed improved route-running and movement skills. It’s not every day you see a jumbo tight end take it to the house from 65 yards out.
Notable risers within the top 100
The final On300 saw several other notable risers within the top 100.
There was a ton of movement at the EDGE position. Michigan signee Lugard Edokpayi (No. 40) is a late-bloomer who didn’t earn Power 5 offers until early in his senior season. At 6-foot-6.5, 220 pounds with elite length and a huge frame, Edokpayi has the type of high-end athelticism and developmental upside that stack up with any pass rusher in the cycle. Alabama commitment Noah Carter (No. 57) buoyed a strong senior season as a two-way star with a very good showing at the All-American Bowl. The one-time Washington signee is a plus athlete at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and is one of the quickest pass rushers we’ve seen in the cycle. The developmental upside is there to be a dynamo off the edge for the Crimson Tide.
Nebraska tight end signee Carter Nelson (No. 41) was easily able to go from playing 8-man football to standing out among the nation’s best at the All-American Bowl. An elite athlete at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Nelson has the ability to develop into a complete tight end in Lincoln, given his movement skills and physicality.
A cornerback, Alabama signee Zabien Brown (No. 46) and Florida State signee Jamari Howard (No. 60) move into the top 75 on the heels of strong senior film and very positive showings at the All-American Bowl. Brown is one of the more technically-polished corners in the cycle and had a strong finish to his season against top competition at national power Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei. Howard has outstanding length and quick feet that point to a high developmental upside.
Kansas State offensive tackle signee Gus Hawkins (No. 52) was a big upward mover at the position, given the strides he showed as a senior. At over 6-foot-6, 285 pounds with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Hawkins has transformed his body over the past two years after transitioning to offensive line. The senior film, particularly as a run blocker, is outstanding. A light-footed, fluid athlete who doubles as a basketball star, Hawkins fits the profile of a high upside offensive tackle prospect.
Few running back prospects have a stronger overall resume than Tennessee signee Peyton Lewis (No. 67). Lewis had a sensational senior season, rushing for 2,107 yards and 30 touchdowns while averaging over 10 yards per carry. A track star with a 10.54 second 100 meter time with a rocked up 6-foot, 190-pound physique, Lewis is ideal from a physical perspective. As a senior, he showed breakaway speed, plus contact balance and the ability to sustain a big workload.
We also saw several upward moves among the linebackers. Florida signee Myles Graham (No. 56) looked great on senior film, showing the athleticism to effortlessly play in space and run sideline to sideline. USC signee Elijah Newby (No. 66) has an argument as the most physically-gifted linebacker in the cycle. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds with plus length and a big frame, Newby is a freakish athlete and flashed a penchant for contact as a senior. Notre Dame signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (No. 83) is the most instinctual linebacker in the cycle. The vision and ability to flow downhill as a run defender are highly advanced.
Breaking down the quarterbacks
After DJ Lagway, Julian Sayin and Luke Kromenhoek, four more quarterbacks find themselves within the top 100.
Nebraska signee Dylan Raiola (No. 71) is one of the more natural throwers in the cycle and excels as a downfield passer. He’ll need to continue improving his movement skills and overall athleticism. Indiana signee Tyler Cherry (No. 91) showed a live, quick arm at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and was among the more consistent passers of the group on a week-to-week basis. Auburn quarterback signee Walker White (No. 95) moves into the top 100 with a strong finish to his senior season, leading his team to a state title berth. White has some of the better physical tools of the group and has shown a nice upside as he continues to improve his accuracy and overall consistency. Georgia signee Ryan Puglisi (No. 99) also moves into the top 100, showing a live, quick arm and bouncy movement skills as a senior.
Five more signal callers moved into the final On300.
Texas signee Trey Owens (No. 217) is a pure drop back passer with clean mechanics and a live arm. Owens will need to improve his movement skills, but after seeing him at the All-American Bowl, he stacks up well within the group as a passer.
Washington transfer Demond Williams Jr. (No. 220) had an outstanding senior season, throwing for over 3,200 yards and rushing for over 1,100 yards. Williams is the smallest quarterback of the group at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds but projects as a very good college quarterback with the potential of developing into a draft pick.
Rutgers signee AJ Surace (No. 225) turned in a strong senior season, showing plus arm talent and an improved rushing output, running for over 900 yards and 15 scores.
Oklahoma commit Michael Hawkins (No. 253) is another who had a fantastic senior season. Hawkins showed improved arm strength, passing for over 3,000 yards and 41 touchdowns while adding over 1,110 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground while leading his team on a deep playoff run.
Miami signee Judd Anderson (No. 277) rounds out the On300 quarterback group. Anderson made a rare in-season transfer and took off once he was at Warner Robins (Ga.) High. The 6-foot-6, 220 pounder easily has one of the strongest arms in the cycle and turned in a strong season, passing for 30 touchdowns. The arm talent and physical upside are worth betting on.
New entrants to the final On300
The final On300 saw 41 new prospects move into the ranking:
No. 93 EDGE Zina Umeozulu – Texas
No. 108 WR Kylan Billiot – LSU
No. 152 DL Alex Foster – Baylor commit
No. 155 WR Dominic Overby – Iowa State
No. 182 IOL Eugene Brooks – Oklahoma
No. 205 S Xavier Lucas – Wisconsin
No. 215 EDGE Jaylen Brown – Missouri
No. 217 QB Trey Owens – Texas
No. 220 QB Demond Williams Jr. – Washington
No. 224 OT Tevita Manukainiu – San Jose State
No. 225 QB AJ Surace – Rutgers
No. 226 RB Daniel Hill – Alabama
No. 227 OT Trent Mitchell – NC State
No. 229 WR Trevor Rogers – Cal
No. 240 LB Fred Johnson – South Carolina
No. 241 WR JayShon Ridgle – Houston
No. 248 TE Witt Edwards – Vanderbilt
No. 249 ATH Xavier Gayten – Mississippi State
No. 252 CB Devondre McGee – TCU
No. 253 QB Michael Hawkins – Oklahoma
No. 260 WR Mario Craver – Mississippi State
No. 261 IOL Daniel Calhoun – Georgia
No. 262 EDGE Joseph Anderson – Iowa
No. 267 Josaiah Knight – Illinois
No. 272 EDGE Chima Chineke – Iowa
No. 269 LB Brayden Platt – Oregon
No. 271 IOL Caleb Homes – Pitt
No. 272 EDGE Chima Chineke – Iowa
No. 274 LB Cam Buffington – Iowa
No. 277 QB Judd Anderson – Miami
No. 279 RB Ohifame Ijeboi – Minnesota
No. 281 EDGE Quintavius Johnson – Georgia
No. 282 RB Duke Scott – NC State
No. 286 OT Payton Stewart – Michigan State
No. 287 IOL Aiden Pastoriza – Cincinnati
No. 288 DL Mo Saine – Minnesota
No. 292 IOL Jaden Ball – Purdue
No. 295 LB Elijah Groves – NC State
No. 300 LB Desman Stephens – USC