Every Top 10 Team's Recruit They're Most Thankful For
When we all take the time to catch a deep breath and reflect on everything in our lives, most of us have a ton for which to be thankful this holiday season.
The top-ranked college football teams in the nation are no different.
So as Thanksgiving rolls onto the calendar next year and we all gather to focus on turkey and a different part of pork before settling in to watch the pigskin booted in the air, it's fun (for many of us) to take stock of our favorite team's recruiting class.
Who is coming in as we reach the home stretch before early signing period? How can help already stellar programs perform even better?
Recruiting is the lifeblood of every program, so it's not a major shocker that many of these teams that inhabit the current top-10 rankings are also high up in the recruiting rankings. For these teams, they've got the on-field product, an obvious NIL advantage in place and a lot to sell prospects.
From run-stuffing defenders to a heaping helping of signal-callers, here are the top teams' recruit they should be most thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Please note: Associated Press top-10 rankings were used for this article.
10. Missouri Tigers: Williams Nwaneri, Defensive Tackle
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There's no question it became a major recruiting advantage for the Missouri Tigers when a state law allowed Missouri prospects to take advantage financial benefits derived from Name, Image, and Likeness before they even enter college.
But to earmark that as the only reason why Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz has been able to assemble a recruiting class with marquee highlights and some big proverbial irons left in the fire wouldn't be a fair assessment.
The Tigers are ranked just 40th currently in the recruiting rankings, but they have a massive star centerpiece in Williams Nwaneri, a 6'6.5", 260-pound disruptive defensive lineman who is the nation's second-ranked overall player in the 247Sports composite.
He is a force to be reckoned with, the type of athlete who can step onto the field as a true freshman and be one of the top players on the field. In other words, he's exactly the type of recruiting victory Drinkwitz hasn't seen enough of since arriving in Columbia.
A couple of years ago, 5-star receiver Luther Burden III made the decision to stay home, and he's currently a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. Nwaneri could wind up competing for hardware in the future, as well.
More importantly, the Tigers are trying to build a more formidable defense to go along with their surprising offense, and that front seven has improved as the year matured. Getting Nwaneri in the fold will go a long way in making that group even stronger.
9. Louisville Cardinals: Isaac Brown, Running Back
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What first-year coach Jeff Brohm has been able to accomplish at his alma mater this season is truly remarkable. Arguably, the Louisville Cardinals are this year's feel-good story reminiscent of last year's TCU.
Even so, the most impressive thing is Brohm doesn't have a huge arsenal of dynamic athletes on offense. He does have star running back Jawhar Jordan, and the junior is breaking ankles making defenders miss this season. Who will replace him?
If Jordan elects to head to the NFL a year early, watch out for 4-star running back Isaac Brown, who highlights a class that isn't currently ranked in the top 50.
Simply put, he's the perfect Brohm weapon. The 5'9", 180-pound runner can catch passes out of the backfield, provide a change-of-pace and be a home-run hitter when you hand the ball off to him. Paired with incoming receiver Joseph Stone, he will give Brohm some nifty offensive pieces.
The Cardinals have built a stellar defense this season, and while the offense has been steady at times, replacing graduate transfer quarterback Jack Plummer isn't going to be easy. Surrounding the new guy with playmakers will help considerably.
Brown is a Florida prospect who is an explosive option to have his own page in the 2024 playbook. It's going to be fun to watch what he does under the offensive-minded coach.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide: Julian Sayin, Quarterback
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Earlier this season as quarterback Jalen Milroe struggled mightily, Alabama fans everywhere were wondering when coach Nick Saban would pull the plug. They weren't too happy with new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, either.
As the season has progressed, though, Milroe has gotten much more comfortable, and Rees has been able to highlight the elite athlete's skill set as the one-loss Crimson Tide contends for the College Football Playoff once again.
Still, it's got to be nice for the Tide to look into the future and see that a 5-star is coming in to replace Milroe once he exhausts his eligibility. They've got that in Julian Sayin.
It's not fair to compare, of course, but the last small-ish California quarterback Alabama signed worked out pretty well with Bryce Young winning a national title and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
Sayin, too, is only 6'1", 195 pounds but can spin it with the best of them, leading the fourth-ranked Bama class.
He is a student of the game, can make all the throws and is one of the most intelligent signal-callers in this year's class. The Carlsbad native is the top-rated quarterback in the nation and the fourth-ranked overall player. He has overtaken Dylan Raiola as the year has progressed, and he is close to a can't-miss prospect.
While Raiola may have a higher ceiling, it's tough to envision Sayin not being an elite player very soon. He's going to be the perfect player to lead the Tide offense into the future.
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7. Texas Longhorns: Ryan Wingo, Wide Receiver
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Much like Alabama and Georgia, when you try to break down a "favorite" in Texas' recruiting class, you're dissecting an embarrassment of riches.
There's elite pass-rusher Colin Simmons, who provides a major need, but the Longhorns are getting after the quarterback well this year. There's terrific running back Jerrick Gibson, but Jonathon Brooks and Cedric Baxter are underclassman RBs doing work this year. Then, there's a terrific offensive tackle in Brandon Baker.
But perhaps the guy Longhorns should be most thankful for in yet another loaded class recruited by Steve Sarkisian is 5-star receiver Ryan Wingo.
All teams across the nation coveted the playmaker with a running back's lower body but the speed of a wideout, but the 6'2", 205-pound St. Louis product appears destined to head to Austin, where he's committed. He highlights a ninth-rated class that's even stouter than that ranking.
A fair amount of projecting goes into these selections, so when you factor in the potential that top receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell are both juniors and could head to the NFL this season, that could leave Texas with voids to fill. Jordan Whittington is a senior, and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders could bolt, too.
The Horns have recruited extremely well, but Wingo has a college-ready body and a dynamic skill set. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him step right in and give Quinn Ewers another top-tier target in 2024.
6. Oregon Ducks: Elijah Rushing, Edge
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Sometimes, the top choice is the obvious one.
There's no reason to overthink it when trying to examine the recruit the Oregon Ducks are most thankful for. That would be the aptly-named 5-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing, who flipped from his hometown Arizona Wildcats and appears headed for Eugene.
When he gets there, he will give Dan Lanning the Ducks' most explosive defensive end since Kayvon Thibodeaux.
At 6'6", 251 pounds Rushing is chiseled and looks like he's already been in a college weight program. He is violent at the point of attack and rarely takes plays off, and when you couple that ability and work ethic, what you have is a mammoth talent. He's ready to star right now.
Yes, the Wildcats are having a program-changing year, and Rushing would have been the poster child for the Arizona turnaround. But Lanning is a recruiting force, and the Rushing is the type of player who can stand out no matter how good a class is.
Right now, the Ducks' class ranks sixth nationally, and Lanning just continues to stack playmakers on both sides of the ball as he competes for a College Football Playoff spot this season.
Pairing Rushing with new D-lineman commit Aydin Breland, Xadavien Sims, Jaxson Jones and Tionne Gray gives Lanning a strong group to develop along the front. Rushing, though, is a guy who can step right in and shine, much the way Thibodeax did in Eugene.
5. Florida State Seminoles: KJ Bolden, Safety
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You may get sick of B/R writing about electrifying two-way athlete KJ Bolden, but if you're tired of hearing his name, you may not want to tune into college football for the next three years.
He may just be the top defensive player in the 2024 class, and if Florida State coach Mike Norvell decided to put him on offense, he'd give it a run for the top pass-catcher, too.
The Buford, Georgia, athlete is probably going to play safety for the 'Noles, and even in a class that proves the sleeping giant in Tallahassee has awoken, Bolden stands out. Yes, FSU can boast terrific pledges like edge Armondo Blount, quarterback Luke Kromenhoek and cornerback Charles Lester III, but Bolden is special.
Even as the No. 11-ranked overall player in the nation by the 247Sports Composite, Bolden is criminally low. He plays for the nation's best high school program, and he's the most electrifying player. He has Travis Hunter potential, and that's not hyperbole.
The biggest question remains, though, will the Seminoles potentially lose him like they did Hunter, who ultimately signed with Deion Sanders and Jackson State before transferring with Coach Prime to Colorado?
Other teams are staying after Bolden, but he appears locked in with FSU for now, despite taking visits.
The 'Noles are undefeated and closing in on a potential College Football Playoff berth. They are terrific recruiting in the transfer portal and now have the third-best recruiting class. Things are going great for Norvell, but he needs to keep Bolden in the fold.
4. Washington Huskies: Demaricus Davis, Quarterback
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The thing that makes the Washington Huskies' move to the Big Ten so intriguing is the clash of styles coach Kalen DeBoer's program is going to bring to a conference used to a rough-and-tumble pace.
The infusion of the Huskies and USC Trojans will bring some firepower to accompany Ohio State, which has run that tempo. But it's important to the Huskies that they find a way to maintain that up-tempo offensive onslaught once Michael Penix Jr. leaves this year.
Which quarterback is going to do that? Will it be Dylan Morris, who has served in a backup role this year? Top-100 signal-caller Austin Mack is an exciting prospect with huge upside from the '23 class, too. But you need options. A transfer could bridge the gap, too.
But Demaricus Davis is another exciting option with a bright future, even if it isn't in 2024. Considering you want a quarterback in every class, and the Huskies suffered an early decommitment from EJ Caminong, getting Davis was big.
He was a 3-star prospect when he committed, but the 6'4", 190-pound Rancho Cucamonga, California, prospect has surged to 4-star status since then and enjoyed a nice senior season.
DeBoer's No. 38-ranked class features nice pieces in edge-rusher Noah Carter, a couple of good-looking receiver prospects and an athlete in Peyton Waters who likely will play in the defensive backfield. But DeBoer's offenses need a star quarterback to tick, and Davis provides options.
He could be a good one.
3. Michigan Wolverines: Jordan Marshall, Running Back
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It's big that coach Jim Harbaugh has his quarterback of the future in Jadyn Davis, and a tight end tandem of Hogan Hansen and Brady Prieskorn is right up there with the best in the nation.
But, in Ann Arbor, the offense is predicated on having a supremely strong running game, which is why churning out college-ready offensive linemen and superstar running backs is vital to the Wolverines' success.
In a recruiting class that ranks 15th nationally, Harbaugh has both.
Offensive tackle Andrew Sprague is a 6'8", 295-pound behemoth who has NFL written all over him, and there's a lot to be excited about with him. But perhaps the biggest difference-maker in the class who has ability combined with potential opportunity is running back Jordan Marshall.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, prospect is a 5'10.5", 193-pound running back who has starred at powerhouse Moeller High School and had offers from everybody. Much like Alabama signee Justice Haynes from last year, Marshall isn't some physical freak that will jump out at you, but he's a winner.
With Blake Corum off to the NFL after this season, the Wolverines are going to have carries vacated alongside Donovan Edwards. Yes, there are other options already on campus, but Marshall is the kind of player who has the ability to step in and shine. Long-term, he will carry the offense.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver
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The nation's top-ranked player, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, is Ohio State wide receiver commitment Jeremiah Smith.
The 6'3", 198-pound pass-catcher is the most prepared offensive player coming out of high school in this year's class. With Marvin Harrison Jr. and probably Emeka Egbuka heading to the NFL after this season, the Buckeyes are going to need to replace receivers.
Even after signing last year's top-rated class at the position, it would be a surprise not to see Smith on the field in 2024. His 247Sports profile compares him to former Alabama legend and future NFL Hall of Famer Julio Jones, and he has that ability.
It's a lot of pressure to put on a kid, but Smith is the type of talent you don't see come around too often. Even in a class that is loaded with talent at the position, Smith is the best. He's right up there with KJ Bolden and Williams Nwaneri for the best player regardless of position, in my estimation.
Smith has a big frame, runs routes effortlessly and separates from defenders better than anybody. He is just a different type of player when you watch him, and he is a can't-miss for coach Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes, who have compiled the second-rated class.
To compare him to Jones or even Harrison is a tall task, but Smith truly has the potential to step in and be that type of impact player right away. We can't wait to watch him on Saturdays.
1. Georgia Bulldogs: QB Dylan Raiola
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Who can bounce the Bulldogs? Right now, it doesn't look like anybody can knock off top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Georgia.
They're undefeated again this year, and they also are running away with the nation's top-ranked recruiting class. You take away winner Stetson Bennett from the past two natty teams and replace him with Carson Beck, and all he's doing is playing his way into the Heisman discussion.
When coach Kirby Smart is churning out titles and top-ranked recruiting classes like he is, it's hard to be thankful for just one player. What aren't the Dawgs thankful for right about now?
But even though Dylan Raiola recently lost his top QB status to Julian Sayin, he is still the nation's No. 2-rated signal-caller, and UGA is still thrilled to have him coming into the mix in Athens.
The 6'3", 230-pound quarterback can throw from all levels and arm slots, he has a huge arm and he also has the ability and athleticism to get out of the pocket, extend plays and make things happen on the move.
He adds the type of play-extending element that Bennett did but possesses Beck's arm strength. In other words, he's the best of both worlds, and while it's wild, he's drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes.
Raiola has as much ability as any incoming signal-caller and probably the highest ceiling of them all.
All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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