Updated 2024 ESPN Jr. 300 rankings: Top QBs, new five-stars and more risers (2024)

It's time to update our ESPN Junior 300 rankings, as college football's 2024 recruiting class enters the final stretch of their junior high school seasons. There has been plenty of production to evaluate but minimal changes in the top 10, as our initial five-stars are living up to their top billing.

However, that elite fraternity grew from nine to 12 in this current release and saw 33 prospects earn ESPN Jr. 300 status.

Who are the benefactors of this talented class? The red-hot LSU Tigers currently lead with seven commitments, followed by the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs with six verbal pledges.

Only 51 prospects in the Jr. 300 have committed thus far, but we break down the class as a whole and identify key recruits that have showed out this season.

Jump to:
Top QBs | New five-stars
Rising LBs | New faces

Another strong quarterback class

The top-level talent in the 2023 quarterback class is unprecedented. Could 2024 match? We think so -- at least at the top. Dylan Raiola retains the top spot in our underclassman rankings. Physically advanced, he tightened up his delivery during his junior season and continues to develop his strong frame (6-foot-3, 220 pounds). In size and downfield arm strength, he is as good as any we have seen at this same stage.

Raiola does not have the stellar statistics one would expect in 2022, but he plays in a conservative offense that does not throw the ball more than it needs to. When his Chandler High School (Arizona) team does throw, the Ohio State commit has been remarkably efficient, completing close to 70% of his passes and only turning it over three times. In our ESPN TV matchup, Raiola made all the college throws with accuracy and stood tall in the pocket. The son of former longtime NFL center Donovan Raiola, Dylan has the physical and mental foundation to be an elite college player.

The recently minted Alabama verbal commit, Julian Sayin, has the competitive temperament and gamer mentality of former Bama great Tua Tagovailoa. He makes the jump up into the top 25 based off those intangibles and an elite dynamic skill set displayed off junior tape. Sayin sprays the ball accurately all over the field and looks like he is having fun along the way. He has thrown 23 TDs to just three picks and is completing 68% of his passes through 10 games. 

A prospect to keep your eye on is QB Colin Hurley, who reclassified from 2025 and committed to LSU. There is a lot to like about his throwing ability -- so much so that he fits right in with this group despite reclassifying up to the 2024 class. Hurley is a bit raw but a natural passer and can get rid of the football in a variety of ways. His release makes him unique, as he can flick the ball and does not have to be on platform to make difficult throws look easy. Expect him to continue to become more polished in the next two years.

New five-stars

QB Michael Van Buren
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 10 (previously: 51)

Van Buren moves up 41 spots into the top 10 and earns a five-star rating as a result of his impressive performance and increased production. We ranked him high coming off his sophom*ore campaign and strong Future 50 performance despite the fact he was not a full-time starter at Baltimore power St. Frances Academy. Now, Van Buren is racking up offers and showing why the early flashes were warranted. He possesses some Bryce Young-type qualities in terms of instincts and feel for the game. He is not very big (6 feet, 190), but neither is last year's Heisman Trophy winner. Maryland is recruiting him hard, as are other Big Ten programs, including Penn State.

QB D.J. Lagway
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 12 (previously: 20)

Aside from Raiola, Lagway is the most physically talented 2024 QB prospect in terms of stature and physical measurables (6-2, 225). He has also been one of the most productive players in the country regardless of position this fall, which has earned him a fifth star. He completed 67% of his passes for over 2,000 yards, 24 TDs and just five interceptions. He has also posted seven rushing touchdowns and 517 yards on the ground, making him incredibly difficult to defend. Lagway already has 30-plus offers, including ones from blue-chip programs.

WR Jeremiah Smith
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 11 (previously: 11)

Smith makes the move to the five-star range as he is dominating on tape this Fall. Smith has posted 13 touchdowns, including three this past weekend on just seven receptions. He is long and can run given his height and has a big catch radius to go over the top of smaller DBs. Smith shows great body coordination and ability to adjust to the ball in the air. His best asset may be his room for further physical development. Smith has an excellent frame (6-3, 195) and overall foundation to build upon. Wide Receiver U is at the top of his list after visiting Columbus this fall.

Big movers at linebacker

OLB Justin Williams
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 31 (previously: 95)

A sideline-to-sideline presence, Williams has a rangy build (6-2, 205) and good change-of-direction skills on pursuit. He plays downhill and fills strong, an aspect of his game that will only improve as he gains size. What has Williams moving up the rankings is his range as he can cover ground quickly. Posting a blazing 21.9 mph max speed, he consistently runs down plays at the second level. Williams is also a weapon against mobile QBs, as he can spy and quickly close ground. The four-star is not only garnering attention from in-state programs like Texas and Baylor, but nationally as well with Oregon in the mix.  

Check out this ELITE defensive play from 2024 ATH Justin Williams (@Justinwilliamz4) 😤

Tops out at 21.9 MPH running down an open field ball carrier. He's another uncommitted prospect 📈 pic.twitter.com/dFzmBDo6Hx

— The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) November 9, 2022

LB Wendell Gregory
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 94 (previously: 225)

Like Williams, Gregory is a run-and-hit, big impact linebacker who moves up the rankings due to great productivity this fall. He has a 6-4, 210-pound frame that allows him to cover ground in the run game and also come off the edge and close fast on evading QBs. Gregory can line up all over the field and create mismatches. Prospects with this size, explosiveness and change-of-direction skill are rare to find. We expect recruiting to continue to rise for this young man. South Carolina and Tennessee are recruiting him the heaviest.

New faces

TE Jaden Reddell
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 96

Tight end? Big wide receiver? Bottom line: Reddell jumps into the Jr 300 because he is a receiving target with big-play ability. He possesses ideal height and length and posts a near 21 mph max speed on tape at 6-5, 220. That exceptional blend of size and speed allows him to stretch the field. He needs to continue to fill out his frame, but also demonstrates good fight after the catch and if he cannot simply pull away from a defender he will look to run through. Having picked up offers from programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and more recently Ohio State, Reddell is establishing himself as one of the top tight ends in the 2024 class.   

RB Brandon Hood
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 97

Hood has landed in the Jr. 300 due to the complete toolset he possesses at the position. He's a versatile player with the size (5-10, 190) to plant and get downhill, and the vision to find the tight seams. He also shows great agility to elude defenders in the hole or open field. One of his strongest assets is his speed as he has home run ability when he gets to the second level, posting nearly a 22 mph max speed. A talented runner, he is also a dangerous receiving weapon either from the backfield or split out in the slot. Hood flashes of a Saquon Barkley skill set; to that end, the Nittany Lions are one of the teams recruiting him the hardest.

DE Danny Okoye
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 137

Okoye does not attend a traditional high school (Northeastern Oklahoma Association of Home Schools), but it is easy to see why he is on colleges' radars. At 6-5, 240 pounds, he is a big, explosive defender off the ball, and while he needs to continue to develop technique, he flashes good hand power. A player with 11 TFLs so far this season and a handful of sacks, Okoye has excellent physical tools to develop with promising upside. Most Big 12 schools have offered this Oklahoma native, and we expect a continued rise in recruiting.

DE Elias Rudolph
ESPN Jr. 300 ranking: 140

Rudolph is displaying his disruptive pass rushing presence with over 15 sacks on the season for Taft Information Technology High School (Ohio). He is a lengthy EDGE defender with a quick initial burst and great pursuit speed. He needs to continue to fill out his 6-4, 220-pound frame but possesses wiry strength with a physical demeanor. While productive off the edge, he has also aligned inside this season and still shown he can create problems for offenses. The promising pass-rusher is picking up plenty of interest, being targeted by hometown Cincinnati and in-state Ohio State.