With the 2024 season right around the corner, it’s time to learn about the future of the sport and get to know some of the biggest names that are poised to make immediate impacts as true freshmen. I’ll be sharing my Top 3 impactful freshmen for 2024, broken down by conference. First up is the ACC. Be sure to check out my colleague’s piece on the top three true freshmen who can make an instant impact overall.
TJ Moore, WR, Clemson
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers may not make noise in the portal, but Clemson brought in the 15th-best recruiting class in 2024. At the top of that group sits wideout TJ Moore. He is a five-star recruit, ranked among the top 100 overall prospects in the nation by most recruiting services. He will be a welcome weapon for Cade Klubnik and the Tiger offense, which lacked depth and production at the position last season. The team ranked 61st in receiving yards per game among all FBS teams with just 228.4 yards and 70th in receiving touchdowns.
On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings, Charles Power, writes this about Moore as a prospect: “Has high-end ball skills with the ability to come down with acrobatic grabs. Makes impressive one-handed catches. Easily tracks the ball over his shoulder. A bouncy and light-footed mover.”
Love that GA to Pitt pipeline 🌟
Welcome, @CalebHolmes05 ✍️#H2P #TheHHunt24 #WeNotMe pic.twitter.com/Kzn9teZnMV
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) December 20, 2023
Caleb Holmes, OL, Pittsburgh
The Panthers’ offensive line was clearly not a strength last season, averaging 101.9 rushing ypg and allowing 205 sack yards. The unit needs a massive improvement and incoming freshman Caleb Holmes is someone the coaching staff is looking to as the anchor of the line. Rated the country’s No. 10 offensive guard by ESPN and No. 18 by Rivals, Holmes hails from Creekside High School in Fairburn, GA, the same program as current sophomore lineman BJ Williams. Last year Pat Narduzzi wasn’t afraid to start Williams as a true freshman, so I believe we’ll see more from Holmes in the 2024 season as the Panthers try to right the ship on their offensive line.
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247Sports’ Chris Hummer says of Holmes, “As BJ Williams showed a year ago, there’s an immediate path to the field available for the right player along Pitt’s O-line. And there isn’t a more talented prospect in the Panthers’ 2024 class than Holmes.”
Elija Lofton, TE, Miami Hurricanes
One of the more intriguing and potentially under-the-radar incoming freshmen in the class of 2024 is Elija Lofton for Mario Cristobal and the ‘Canes. Listed as a tight end, Lofton is very versatile, as we saw him at running back during the spring game, carrying the ball seven times for 4.9 ypc. Last season, Miami’s tight ends combined for just 18 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown. That needs to improve if the Hurricanes want to be serious contenders in the ACC this year. I think Lofton will be incorporated quickly into the offense and will be another weapon for Cam Ward. Whether he is at tight end, H-back, or even fullback, his pass-blocking has been praised as well.
The true freshman has already been getting high praise from incoming transfer quarterback Cam Ward: “Elija Lofton can do it all. He can catch with one hand or two hands, and we have him at running back right now.”
Honorable Mentions
Landen Thomas, TE, Florida State
Elyjah Thurmon, OL, Clemson
Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Zaquan Patterson, S, Miami
