College Football Super Seniors Who Could Make the Biggest Impact in 2024
Year after year, the value of experience in college football is showcased around the country.
During the 2023 campaign, four of the nation's best quarterbacks were playing their fifth or sixth season. Michigan won a national title behind a veteran-laden group of key contributors, beating a Washington squad with a similar roster construction on that coveted stage.
The 2024 season will effectively be the second-to-last season of "super seniors" as a result of the eligibility pause in 2020.
And there are some massive names to know.
Four quarterbacks are included in the list, and each one—you probably won't be shocked—has recently transferred to a new school. Several defenders earned AP All-America recognition in 2023, too.
Antwane Wells Jr., WR, Ole Miss
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Antwane Wells Jr. spent two years at James Madison before the program made its jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Since then, the wide receiver has played two seasons with South Carolina.
He's basically been a star in every season.
Wells caught 68 passes for 928 yards and six touchdowns to earn first-team All-SEC honors in his debut campaign with the Gamecocks. Unfortunately for him, a couple of injuries limited him to just three appearances in 2023, and he entered the transfer portal.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss gladly scooped up Wells, who joins a receiving corps that returns Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins—not to mention quarterback Jaxson Dart and tight end Caden Prieskorn.
Wells bolsters the chances of this offense propelling the Rebels to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame's Veteran Defenders
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Xavier Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is presented to the best defensive player in college football, and landed first-team AP All-America recognition in 2023.
Need I say more?
In theory, no, but Notre Dame has plenty more experience to boast. Along with Watts, the Fighting Irish return both defensive tackle Howard Cross III and linebacker Jack Kiser. Cross received second-team AP All-America honors in 2023, and Kiser has been a key contributor for three seasons while amassing 54 appearance (and counting).
Throw in defensive tackle Rylie Mills, and Notre Dame will have a strong group of older players to support a CFP charge in 2024.
Iowa's Defensive Duo
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Iowa's abysmal year on offense made it clear the team would win nothing of consequence in any postseason game. But the Hawkeyes nonetheless rode a suffocating defense to a 10-win record in 2023.
Yes, the Big Ten is entering a fresh era. Iowa, though, has a very serious chance to stay on the national radar.
Second-team AP All-American linebacker Jay Higgins and third-team defensive back Sebastian Castro are back to headline the group next season. Higgins led the country with 171 tackles in 2023, while Castro collected 67 stops (with eight for loss) and 11 pass defenses.
The schedule is far more manageable than it could be, too. Iowa hosts Washington and Wisconsin, travels to Ohio State and UCLA but otherwise misses Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and USC.
I'm not saying to pencil the defensive-driven Hawkeyes into a CFP slot, but nine-win upside shouldn't be ignored, either.
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Cameron Ward, QB, Miami
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Poor quarterback play doomed Miami in October and November, sending the Hurricanes on a spiral from 4-0 to 7-6.
Cameron Ward, on paper, is practically the best possible solution.
The former Incarnate Word star followed his head coach to Washington State, where Ward started for two years. He threw for 3,736 yards with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2023, rushing for nearly 400 yards on non-sack attempts with eight more scores. Ward flirted with the NFL draft before committing to Mario Cristobal's team.
Miami is set to return an experienced offensive line, a 1,000-yard wideout in Xavier Restrepo and a quality backfield. Ward can elevate the offense dramatically, particularly if the 'Canes add an impact transfer receiver.
As always, however, that's easy to say about Miami in January. The challenge is making it happen on the field in the fall.
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Florida State
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Back to the ACC goes DJ Uiagalelei, who spent three seasons—two as a starter—at Clemson before transferring to Oregon State.
Uiagalelei put together a solid 2023 campaign with the Beavers, throwing for 2,638 yards at 8.4 per attempt. He added 219 rushing yards, totaling 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
Realignment can be blamed for his departure. As the Pac-12 crumbled, Oregon State simply moved into a temporary home as a Mountain West affiliate. Head coach Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State, and Uiagalelei merited a starting job with a power-conference team.
He found that opportunity at Florida State, which needs to replace Jordan Travis after its controversial CFP snub in 2023.
Uiagalelei will be leading the Seminoles' drive for redemption, and he could get a little vindication in a clash with Clemson, too.
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
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Kyle McCord's surprising transfer from Ohio State opened the door for Will Howard, a longtime starter at Kansas State.
In fairness, it's not a certainty that he starts in Columbus. Backup quarterback Devin Brown is returning to the Buckeyes, along with well-regarded redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz and 5-star arrival Air Noland.
Still, the consensus belief is Howard will run the show.
Given that Ohio State has never not appeared in a New Year's Six bowl—the only program to appear in one for 10 straight years—Howard will inherit major expectations. But he'll have plenty of surrounding talent with top receiver Emeka Egbuka and running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, a star transfer from Ole Miss.
The program undoubtedly will present a CFP-or-bust mentality with Howard as the likely signal-caller of the pursuit.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
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Already one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history, Dillon Gabriel has a great opportunity ahead in 2024.
Gabriel is slated to replace Bo Nix, who ignited his career with Oregon after transferring from Auburn. Oregon is headed to the Big Ten as a prime contender for the expanded CFP.
It's safe to suggest Gabriel will tear up some box scores.
The southpaw passed for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns in 26 games at UCF during the 2019-21 seasons. He threw for 6,828 yards and 55 scores while running for 18 touchdowns in 24 appearances with Oklahoma. Gabriel is only 27 total scores away from taking the sport's all-time record for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
Gabriel will enter the campaign as a Heisman Trophy front-runner. Oregon must be thrilled to have this super-senior on its 2024 roster.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
