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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Georgia, Oregon Headline 2024 Top 25 Recruiting Classes Post-Signing Day

2024 Recruiting Class impacts for Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, and more!

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By Mike Lilly

In the era of the transfer portal, NIL, and some schools over-signing, recruiting rankings can be looked at many different ways and may have lost the luster they once had. The one thing that remains constant is the same teams – Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, mixed in with a few others, keep pumping out top-25 classes and the same schools remain in the hunt for a national title annually. This is how I have the best classes ranked, based on program impact, from the 2024 recruiting trail:

25) Mississippi State

24 Signees

Seven 4-Stars, 16 3-Stars

Landing the signatures of in-state JJ Harrell (#36 WR) and Braylon Burnside (#8 ATH), and presumed future QB1 Michael Van Buren (#15 QB) define the 2024 recruiting class for the Bulldogs. Coming off a 5-7 season, new head coach Jeff Lebby looks to build momentum quickly heading into the 2024 season and beyond. 

What’s a better way to start than recruiting your own state and landing a highly-rated signal caller? Look for Lebby and the bulldogs to be perennially in the hunt for a top-25 class.

24) Kentucky

21 Signees

Seven 4-Stars, Fourteen 3-Stars

A class anchored in the defensive trenches, coach Mark Stoops was able to land the two best players in Kentucky, twin brothers Jerod Smith (#9 DL) and Jacob Smith (#18 EDGE) after flipping their commitment from Michigan last September. While recruiting your own state is great, failing to mention the second best player in the state of Ohio, Brian Robinson (#18 DL), would not do this defensive line class justice. 

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The defensive line signings are definitely the most noteworthy ones, but keep an eye on Jason Patterson (#27 RB) and in-state quarterback Cutter Boley (#38 QB) as coach Stoops continues to add key pieces to both sides of the ball.

23) South Carolina

16 Signees

Two 5-Stars, Nine 4-Stars,  Five 3-Stars

In our first example of quality of signings versus quantity of players, coach Shane Beamer secured the signature of two 5-stars Dylan Stewart (#1 EDGE) and in-state Josiah Thompson (#3 OT) giving the Gamecocks 2024 class a massive lift. Beamer recruited the state of South Carolina well this cycle, landing five of the state’s top-10 players.

Combined with an impressive list of incoming transfers, South Carolina is showing the momentum that fans should want to see in recruiting coming off of a 5-7 season in 2023.

22) Wisconsin

22 Signees

Eleven 4-Stars, Eleven 3-Stars

Wisconsin’s 2024 recruiting class certainly looks the part with lots of size in the trenches and dynamic talent at running back. The noteworthy signings for coach Luke Fickell start with Dilin Jones (#13 RB) and Kevin Heywood (#6 OT), and I believe Wisconsin landed one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the 2025 cycle in Mabrey Mettauer (#31 QB). 

Between getting a quality edge-protector and a good fit at quarterback for the offense ran by offensive coordinator Phil Longo, Wisconsin has some good pillars to compete in the next few years in what is a strong conference in the Big Ten.

21) Ole Miss

22 Signees

Eleven 4-Stars, Ten 3-Stars

Known for his antics on social media and elite use of the transfer portal, many seem to forget that Lane Kiffin can recruit high school football as good as anyone. Notable signees include Kamarion Franklin (#12 DL) and Anthony Maddox (#23 QB), showing Kiffin has made both the trenches and securing his future QB1 a priority.

With 22 signees, the Rebel’s class is well rounded at all positions addressing positions of need on the interior offensive line as well as adding quality JUCO signees at corner. Looking at what Ole Miss’ transfer portal haul with this quality recruiting class, it will be interesting to see how recruiting momentum carries into 2025.

20) Nebraska

30 Signees

One 5-Star, Seven 4-Stars, Twenty-two 3-Stars

The 2024 class that coach Matt Rhule has put together in Lincoln is impressive, landing their future QB1 in Dylan Raiola (#3 QB) and a highly-rated edge protector in Grant Brix (#5 OT). Coupled with elite talent outside at receiver and corner, the only thing lacking in this class is on the defensive line.

Carrying an astounding 30 signees, this is the largest class signed by any program in a power conference. This does not necessarily mean the best class, and a lot of their ranking is based on such a high number of recruits and landing a top quarterback. Nebraska may not improve immediately, but they are showing all the right signs in recruiting as Matt Rhule tries to build them back into a national contender.

19) Missouri

21 Signees

One 5-Star, Seven 4-Stars, Thirteen 3-Stars

Missouri and coach Eli Drinkwitz had one of the bigger recruiting wins in the 2024 recruiting cycle landing in-state defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri (#1 DL), and the talent they acquired doesn’t stop there. The Tigers landed nine players that rank in the top-50 at their respective positions, rounding out a well-balanced recruiting class including Courtney Crutchfield (#18 WR) and Kewan Lacy (#15 RB).

Recruiting trajectory seems to be getting better each season in Columbia, and a big key for Drinkwitz and staff will be continuing to win the battles for Missouri’s top prospects.

18) Michigan

27 Signees

Eighteen 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

You don’t have to go far to find the highlights of Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class. Landing a high-end talent at quarterback in Jadyn Davis (#9 QB) and and explosive running back from Ohio in Jordan Marshall (#12 RB) were the two biggest wins of the cycle.These signings gave new coach Sherrone Moore the future QB1 he had been pursuing back to when he was the offensive coordinator, and taking a talented running back from their rival’s backyard.

Michigan’s class is fairly well-rounded but leaves more to be desired at wide receiver after missing out on top wide receiver target Gatlin Bair, and only signing two wide receivers otherwise. It will be interesting to see how coach Moore and Michigan fill holes at key positions in 2024 and beyond.

17) Texas A&M

17 Signees

One 5-Star, Fifteen 4-Stars, One 3-Star

In another quality versus quantity scenario, you have to be impressed with what new coach Mike Elko was able to put together in his inaugural class at Texas A&M. The two most noteworthy wins being Terry Bussey (#1 ATH) in a signing day win over LSU, and Ashton Bethel-Roman (#38 WR) who flipped his commitment from Arkansas late. Two different situations, but the same winning result for the Aggies.

It’s hard to argue a ranking in the top-20 for a class that only signed seventeen players, but Elko’s class 2024 class has the star-power that makes it easy to back it up. I would look for the recruiting momentum to continue into 2025 and beyond in College Station.

16) USC

22 Signees

Thirteen 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

USC and coach Lincoln Riley have put together a strong 2024 recruiting class that’s given great focus on the trenches. My ranking of USC’s class hinges on the way they’ve addressed their needs as much as the talent they have acquired. Noteworthy wins include Jason Zandamela (#1 IOL), and Kameryn Fountain (#12 EDGE).

The newfound emphasis on the line of scrimmage for USC gives the 2024 class exactly what fans should be looking for. It will be interesting to see how USC uses the portal and future classes to complement this class over the next couple years, but look for Lincoln Riley and company to keep an upward trajectory going into the 2025 cycle.

15) Penn State

25 Signees

Fifteen 4-Stars, Ten 3-Stars

The Nittany Lions recruiting class stands out in two ways: James Franklin is prioritizing his offensive line, and the Nittany Lions have another potential star at quarterback. Most notably landing Cooper Cousins (#2 IOL) and Ethan Grunkemeyer (#8 QB), and Luke Reynolds (#1 TE), a player that could see the field early, the 2024 class is loaded with size and athleticism.

Penn State has set themselves up for immediate success by filling short-term holes with the transfer portal, and has backed it up with the pillars needed for long-term success with a well-sized offensive line and a talented quarterback. James Franklin has coupled elite regional recruiting with a few national players and it looks to be the building blocks needed for the program’s sustainability.

14) Florida State

23 Signees

Sixteen 4-Stars, Seven 3-Stars

It was always going to be interesting to see how coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles ended up in the 2024 recruiting cycle following their College Football Playoff snub. A strong class headlined by Luke Kromenhoek (#5 QB) and Charles Lester III (#8 CB) shows off just how well Florida State recruits the southeast and makes every position a priority.

Mike Norvell is notorious for using the transfer portal to his advantage, but seems to have the pieces in place to maintain success with high school recruiting while filling immediate need with the portal. The only thing I see missing from this class are interior offensive linemen, a need that I am sure Norvell will address from the portal and the 2025 recruiting cycle.

https://twitter.com/cityhopedealer/status/1697757040230146544

13) Florida

19 Signees

Two 5-Stars, Twelve 4-Stars, Five 3-Stars

The first thing that jumps off the page with coach Billy Napier and Florida’s 2024 haul, they got their guy at quarterback. DJ Lagway (#1 QB) is the type of player that can change a program’s trajectory, and this is without mentioning the other national talent the Gators brought in across the board. Another name to watch is LJ McCray (#1 DL) a player that should receive early playing time.

While the impact of Lagway may not be seen his freshman season with quarterback Graham Mertz exhausting his last year of eligibility, expect Lagway to attract more high-end players from the portal and in future recruiting classes to take more interest in Gainesville. Florida’s ranking has a lot to do with the foundation they’re building, while addressing immediate need from the transfer portal.

12) Clemson

22 Signees

Two 5-Stars, Eleven 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

A team that does not rely on the transfer portal often, coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers annually recruit high school at an elite level. The 2024 recruiting class is no different in terms of talent acquisition, but what stands out is the signing of elite pass-catchers TJ Moore (#5 WR), and Bryant Wesco (#13 WR). Clemson has been in need of dynamic playmakers on the perimeter and you would be hard-pressed to find much better options in the 2024 cycle.

The rest of Clemson’s 2024 class is well-rounded, mainly designed to keep the cupboards stocked with talent. The program is designed for player retention, hence the low use of the transfer portal for players coming in, as well as going out. I will be interested to see how much early playing time is available for the incoming freshmen.

11) Notre Dame

23 Signees

Sixteen 4-Stars, Seven 3-Stars

Looking through each 2024 recruiting class, you would have a hard time finding a class as well-rounded as the one coach Marcus Freeman has assembled. Some highlights of this recruiting class include Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (#4 LB) who decided on the Irish over Ohio State and USC, and CJ Carr (#6 QB) who is the grandson of former Michigan coach, Lloyd Carr.

Looking over the recruiting battles won by Notre Dame, it’s becoming even more important to win the battles against teams you play annually, or might even see in a potential playoff matchup. I will be intrigued to see how Freeman and the Irish manage their roster and recruiting moving forward as they have not been shy about filling gaps in the transfer portal the last couple of months.

10) Tennessee

21 Signees

Two 5-Stars, Eleven 4-Stars, Eight 3-Stars

There have been two things that coach Josh Heupel has shown during his Tennessee tenure: 1) He has an eye for elite talent at wide receiver, and 2) He will find a quarterback that fits the team’s system to achieve their goals. In the 2024 class Heupel landed two top receivers in Mike Matthews (#9 WR) and Braylon Staley (#15 WR).

With talented quarterback Nico Iamaleava in his first season as a full-time starter, it will be interesting to see how Tennessee handles their young depth in what seems like a “win now” situation for this season and the foreseeable future. The outlook for Josh Heupel and the Vols is certainly looking up, but it makes you wonder if they can provide on the field results to keep momentum in recruiting.

9) Auburn

20 Signees

One 5-Star, Fourteen 4-Stars, Five 3-Stars

We have another look at quality versus quantity as we look at the class Hugh Freeze and Auburn have constructed. Some key recruiting wins for the Tigers included Amaris Williams (#6 EDGE) who’s pledge to Auburn came in ahead of conference for Florida, as well as in-state Cam Coleman (#2 WR), the top player in the state of Alabama.

Another impact player of Auburn’s 2024 class was landing their signal-caller of the future Walker White (#8 QB), another component that makes up a top-10 class. The impact of the 2024 recruiting cycle is one that will change Auburn’s trajectory for years to come, bridging the gap after this year’s set of players incoming from the portal.

8) LSU

29 Signees

One 5-Star, Nineteen 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

A class headlined by a late-cycle flip from Texas A&M in Dominick McKinley (#4 DL) and a big win with explosive playmaker Caden Durham (#5 RB), is a class that adds at least one piece of depth at each position for coach Brian Kelly. Recruiting Louisiana and Texas were a large part of Kelly’s 2024 class as 25 out of 29 athletes played high school football in one of the two states.

LSU’s 2024 class is certainly one that could produce multiple producers at the next level. Something worth keeping an eye on is whether Kelly continues to lean toward recruiting more regionally, or if he takes a look at other parts of the country to get a wider array of players at his disposal.

7) Oklahoma

27 Signees

One 5-Star, Nineteen 4-Stars, Seven 3-Stars

Recruiting regionally versus nationally is something that requires balance. Getting the top players in your backyard will always be important, but landing Taylor Tatum (#1 RB) from Texas, and getting David Stone (#2 DL) to come back home to Oklahoma from Prep School in Florida are two key battles coach Brent Venables and Oklahoma won in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

The Sooner’s 2024 class has every piece a great class can ask for, and it will be most interesting to see which players have an early impact in Norman. I don’t see a path to early playing time at many positions, but you never know who will stand out early.

https://twitter.com/solvingfootball/status/1705411102119706975

6) Miami

27 Signees

Three 5-Stars, Eleven 4-Stars, Thirteen 3-Stars

The trenches, specifically defensive linemen, were a priority for coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes in the 2024 cycle. Miami landed 4 defensive linemen that were in the top-20 of their respective positions, highlighted by signees Justin Scott (#3 DL) and Marquise Lightfoot (#6 EDGE).

Cristobal is no stranger to winning recruiting battles and squared off against Ohio State for both Scott and Lightfoot securing a signature from both. A fairly well-rounded class, Miami still missed on some of their top options at quarterback but landed quarterback Cam Ward in the transfer portal. I would look for Miami to try and secure a signal-caller early in the 2025 class.

5) Ohio State

21 Signees (Sayin Transfer)

Five 5-Stars, Fourteen 4-Stars, Three 3-Stars

For sake of what makes sense, I’ve included Julian Sayin (#3 QB) in Ohio State’s class. The Buckeye’s class in 2024 is exactly what many would expect it to be even without Sayin, loaded with talent at skill positions. Some key signings include top overall player Jeremiah Smith (#1 WR), and Eddrick Houston (#7 EDGE).

Both Smith and Houston are seen as players that can make an early impact in Columbus, Albeit a class for coach Ryan Day and Ohio State that looks pretty well stocked with talent, it will be important to look for more depth in the trenches as recruiting on both the offensive and defensive line saw a dip in 2023 and 2024. 

4) Texas

22 Signees

Four 5-Stars, Fourteen 4-Stars, Three 3-Stars

The Longhorns fared well on the recruiting trail in 2024, bringing in six players that ranked in the top-10 of their respective positions. This includes Ryan Wingo (#7 WR) and Brandon Baker (#3 OT), both positions of need for coach Steve Sarkisian and Texas.

Look for Texas to utilize their young talent as they come into quarterback Quinn Ewers senior season and the look to be in “win now” mode for the foreseeable future. I would expect Ryan Wingo to inherit a decent-sized role for a freshman with the departures of Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.

3) Alabama

28 Signees (Sayin Transfer)

Four 5-Stars, Seventeen 4-Stars, Six 3-Stars

In what was a difficult signing period with the loss of legendary coach Nick Saban, new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer ended the 2024 recruiting class by securing signatures from Ryan Williams (#3 WR) and Noah Carter (#9 EDGE). This for now has bridged DeBoer to start looking into 2025 and beyond to sustain Alabama’s recruiting pedigree.

Losing Julian Sayin to Ohio State by way of transfer after he enrolled early did not have as much sting to it after Austin Mack followed DeBoer to Alabama from Washington. However, things as such must be taken into account when evaluating what a team has done in recruiting. Look for the trajectory of Alabama recruiting to hinge on success on the field in 2024.

2) Oregon

27 Signees 

Twenty-two 4-Stars, Five 3-Stars

I’ll say the question you are thinking out loud – “How could a class be ranked 2nd with no 5-Stars?” And the answer is that coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks landed underrated talent in all of the right places that can make an early impact on the roster.

Notable signings who can make an early impact include Elijah Rushing (#5 EDGE) who was a flip from Arizona, and Jeremiah McClellan (#14 WR), a late flip from Ohio State. Oregon and specifically Dan Lanning are no strangers to stockpiling talent since he’s arrived in Eugene. Between the 2024 class and transfer portal additions, the level of talent acquisition is only trending up.

1) Georgia

28 Signees 

Five 5-Stars, Nineteen 4-Stars, Four 3-Stars

To absolutely no one’s surprise, coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs secured another top-3 class coming in at number one in my rankings. Georgia signed four players that are ranked at the top of their positions: Ellis Robinson IV (#1 CB), Justin Williams (#1 LB), KJ Bolden (#1 S), and Drew Miller (#1 P). If your level of recruiting is even securing the top punter, it speaks for itself.

While the need for Georgia’s young stars to step up is not immediate, I would expect them to be well-seasoned for when they are called upon by the seeing the early and often. The talent however, was too much to not secure the number one spot in the 2024 recruiting rankings.

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