You remember that feeling when the 2024 class was just a bunch of highlight reels on social media? It’s wild to look back now. Everyone was talking about how Jeremiah Smith was a "can't-miss" kid or if Dylan Raiola's late-game flip to Nebraska would actually pay off for the Huskers. Honestly, we spend so much time scouting these teenagers that we forget they eventually have to put on the pads against grown men. Now that the 2024 season is in the books and we're seeing these guys head into their sophomore years, we can finally drop the "prospect" labels.
The top football recruits 2024 didn't just meet the hype. They basically tore the script up.
The Jeremiah Smith Phenomenon at Ohio State
If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know Jeremiah Smith isn't a normal human being. Coming out of Chaminade-Madonna as the undisputed No. 1 recruit, the pressure was massive. Most kids crumble. Smith? He just went out and caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He didn't just break Ohio State freshman records; he shattered the FBS freshman receiving record.
Think about the context there. He walked into a room with veteran talent and immediately became the focal point. It’s kinda rare to see a true freshman look like the best player on the field in the Big Ten. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship victory, and honestly, he looked like he could have played on Sundays two years ago.
Quarterback Chaos: Raiola, Lagway, and the Learning Curve
Then there’s the QB situation. Dylan Raiola was the talk of the town because he looks exactly like Patrick Mahomes and carries that same swagger. He finished his freshman year with 2,819 passing yards. That's a Nebraska freshman record. But it wasn't all roses. He threw 11 interceptions to 13 touchdowns.
That’s the thing about these top football recruits 2024—the talent is 10/10, but the jump to college speed is a real thing.
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- Dylan Raiola (Nebraska): Showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with turnovers late in the year. Still, a 67.1% completion rate as a true freshman is nothing to sneeze at.
- DJ Lagway (Florida): Florida is a tough place to play right now, but Lagway’s dual-threat ability kept the Gators afloat in spots.
- Julian Sayin (Ohio State): Even though he was buried a bit on a loaded depth chart, his efficiency in limited snaps showed why he was a five-star.
The Trenches and the "Sandwich" Strategy
We usually ignore offensive linemen because they don't have cool touchdown celebrations. But Jordan Seaton changed that narrative at Colorado. He was the highest-graded freshman offensive tackle in the country according to PFF, posting a 75.3 grade.
He played 809 snaps. That is a massive workload for a teenager. He only allowed three sacks all year. Most freshmen get bullied by 23-year-old defensive ends who have been in a college weight room for five years. Seaton didn't. Interestingly enough, as we speak in early 2026, he’s actually in the transfer portal looking for a new home, proving that the recruiting cycle never really ends anymore.
Why the 2024 Defense Might Be Better Long-Term
While the receivers got the headlines, the defensive talent in this class was arguably deeper.
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- Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia): Basically a lockdown corner from day one. He ended up with four interceptions in the SEC. That’s insane.
- Dylan Stewart (South Carolina): If you like pass rushers, Stewart is your guy. He was a menace for the Gamecocks and showed that high-end recruits can thrive at "mid-tier" SEC programs.
- Sammy Brown (Clemson): He’s that old-school linebacker who just hits everything that moves.
The Ryan Williams Effect at Alabama
We have to talk about Ryan Williams. He reclassified, meaning he was supposed to be a high school senior while he was torching SEC secondaries. He finished with over 800 yards and 8 touchdowns. The kid is basically a human joystick.
What’s crazy is his consistency. He wasn't just a "deep ball" threat. He was running intermediate routes and making guys miss in the open field like a five-year pro. When people search for top football recruits 2024, Williams is often the example of why age is just a number if the talent is there.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rankings
A lot of fans think that if a kid isn't a starter by week three, he’s a bust. That’s just not how it works. Look at someone like Williams Nwaneri at Missouri. He was a top-10 recruit but spent most of the year in a rotation. That doesn't mean he isn't elite; it means Missouri had a deep defensive line.
Recruiting rankings are about ceiling, not just immediate floor.
The 2024 class proved that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) is the new king. Some of these guys, like Lagway and Raiola, reportedly had valuations in the $2M range before they ever took a snap. That puts a target on your back. If you aren't producing, fans get restless a lot faster than they used to.
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The Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you're following these players or trying to scout them for your own interests (or maybe you're a die-hard alum), here is what you should do next:
- Check the snap counts, not just the stats. A player like Jordan Seaton didn't have "stats," but his 800+ snaps tell you more than a touchdown ever could.
- Watch for "Year 2 Jump." History shows that the biggest leap for a top recruit happens between their freshman and sophomore seasons. Keep an eye on the defensive ends from this class in 2025/2026.
- Follow the portal. As we saw with Jordan Seaton, being a top recruit for one school doesn't mean they'll stay there. The "recruitment" of the 2024 class is actually still happening via the transfer portal.
The top football recruits 2024 are no longer prospects. They are the faces of college football. Whether it’s Jeremiah Smith chasing Heismans at Ohio State or Ryan Williams breaking ankles in Tuscaloosa, the 2024 cycle will go down as one of the most impactful in the modern era.
For the most accurate tracking of where these players stand now, keep an eye on the Transfer Portal rankings and PFF College grades, as these provide the real-time data that traditional high school recruiting rankings can't capture once the games actually start.