Way-Too-Early Top 16 College Football Players to Watch In Spring Games
It's nearly one of those beautiful times of year for a sports fan to relish; the point when the NCAA tournament looms, pitchers and catchers have reported, a little golf tournament is on the horizon in Augusta, Georgia, and spring football across the country kicks into high gear.
We aren't there yet, but you can feel it as the chill in the air gets a little less bitter.
It's an exciting time of year for college football fans, as last year's slate is wiped clean, hope springs eternal and your team begins to see what it's got on tap for next year. We all want to know who to keep an eye on this spring.
The great thing about lists like this, too, is everybody's is different.
From a boat-load of quarterbacks to guys getting another chance at a new venue to disappointments trying to rebuild to "spring chickens" looking to break into college football and make noise, we've got a handful of guys you need to pay attention to.
Let's take a look at some of the dudes, who for one reason or another, we want to see this spring.
Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame Linebacker
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Big things are expected as Marcus Freeman enters his third season at the helm of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
But there's no question they are going to need to find some answers on the second level of the defense, where veterans JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau are off to the NFL. Jack Kiser is back, but some of these terrific classes Freeman has stacked must pay dividends now.
Rising true sophomore Drayk Bowen is a player we want to see slot into one of those vacant spots and prove that he's an elite playmaker. Between him and redshirt sophomore Jaylen Sneed, the Irish have some former top-rated prospects who could break out.
Bowen is a good pick, and if he can make a major leap, the former No. 106-ranked player in the '23 class could go a long way in solidifying the Irish defense.
"Drayk's sharp," first-year Irish linebackers coach Max Bullough told Blue Gold Illustrated's Tyler Horka. "He...was always a guy who I felt confident if it came to it he could go in the game and execute. That's just a testament to his work and the way he's able to retain information."
This is his spring to prove he's a full-time starter and star.
Raleek Brown, Arizona State Running Back
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There are several USC Trojans and former Trojans on this list, and while that means coach Lincoln Riley has done a great job recruiting, not all of them still play in L.A.
One of those who left is do-it-all offensive dynamo Raleek Brown, who is now going to be a weapon for coach Kenny Dillingham's Arizona State Sun Devils as they make the shift to the Big 12 in 2024.
Dillingham's first year in Tempe was never going to be an easy one after the mess Herm Edwards left, but there are some pieces around which to build. Brown is exactly the type of puzzle piece he can put in space to make plays.
In two years with the talent-laden Trojans, Brown carved a little role, but he couldn't muster consistent playing time. Last year, he moved to wide receiver and was even less of a factor. Still, in two years, he finished with 436 yards from scrimmage and seven scores.
Even with senior running backs Cameron Skattebo and DeCarlos Brooks back with the Devils, Dillingham will move Brown around and get him touches. He's too talented not to help an offense that sputtered to average under 18 points a game a season ago.
Abdul Carter, Penn State Defensive End
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You may wonder why a starting linebacker who has proven himself in Big Ten battles belongs on the list of who to watch during spring practice, and Abdul Carter certainly fits that description.
But the rising junior is moving from his very effective role as a Penn State linebacker to the edge this year, where he will help a Nittany Lions defense that is losing Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson to the NFL.
The Philadelphia native has showcased his ability in each of the past two seasons on the second level of coach James Franklin's defense, and his athleticism translates extremely well to the position to get after quarterbacks.
At 6'3", 250 pounds, Carter still displayed plenty of lateral quickness, finishing two seasons with 104 tackles, including 16 for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles. He is a disruptive force, and that's why Franklin is reportedly trying Carter out at defensive end.
Any time one of your leaders is making this big of a decision at this point of a career, it's worth watching. If it works out, the Lions may have their next high-profile NFL draft prospect at the position. He'll begin working out the kinks and nuances of the spot this spring.
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Dante Cephas, Kansas State Wide Receiver
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Dante Cephas likely would love to just erase the 2023 football season from memory.
As one of Penn State's biggest recruiting wins in the transfer portal at a major position of need, Cephas went to Happy Valley and had an anything-but-happy season. Simply put, he was ineffective, despite being given every opportunity to excel.
For the year, the pass-catcher caught just 22 passes on 41 targets for 246 yards and two touchdowns over 12 games despite making six starts and logging 351 snaps—second-most by any player at his position.
The 6'0", 193-pound receiver had been a massive recruit after deciding to leave Kent State, where he was dominant in the MAC. But that didn't translate in the Big Ten a season ago for the Pittsburgh native.
Now, he is reuniting with former Golden Flashes wide receivers coach Matthew Middleton at Kansas State for one last go-round.
Coach Chris Kliemann and Co. need him to be the type of player he was just a couple of seasons ago and emerge as a real threat for first-year starting quarterback Avery Johnson. This is a big year for Cephas, and the Wildcats need him to break out.
Jadyn Davis, Michigan Quarterback
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It's anybody's guess what's going to happen at the quarterback position for the national champion Michigan Wolverines and new coach Sherrone Moore in 2024 after J.J. McCarthy left for the NFL.
Answers need to start materializing this spring.
Jack Tuttle was granted a seventh season of eligibility, but the former Utah signal-caller hasn't inspired a lot of confidence through his collegiate career so far. Alex Orji was a situational player for the Wolverines a season ago but didn't attempt a pass.
Incoming 4-star freshman Jadyn Davis could shake things up with a big spring. The cool, collected quarterback has a ton of upside, and though he isn't the biggest signal-caller in the class, he has a silky-smooth delivery and a lot to love.
Is he the quarterback of the future, or can he make some noise right now? If he doesn't, Moore may be dipping into the portal for a "bridge" guy who can help the Wolverines get to the Davis era.
There are a lot of rookies at the position to watch this spring like DJ Lagway at Florida, Julian Sayin and Air Noland at Ohio State and Dylan Raiola at Nebraka. Any of those guys could have made this list. But Davis did, because if he is the real deal right now, he could help change the trajectory of the Wolverines in the post-natty season.
Micah Hudson, Texas Tech Wide Receiver
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There's been a major talent infusion at Texas Tech since coach Joey McGuire got to Lubbock, and the biggest example of that is incoming 5-star receiver Micah Hudson.
If you're sick of reading about him in this space, sorry. He's too dynamic and stepping into too good of a situation not to be included. The Red Raiders are doing big things on the recruiting trail, and Hudson is the poster child for that.
Everybody in the nation wanted the 6'0", 190-pound Temple, Texas, native that 247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks compares to former Ohio State star and Texas native Garrett Wilson in Hudson's 247Sports profile.
But the explosive playmaker is going to do big things in the Big 12, and that will start right away.
Behren Morton needs guys who can elevate the game on offense, and he has that with Hudson and Washington State transfer Josh Kelly, who are going to inject a ton of energy and ability into the wide receiver room.
Don't be surprised if Hudson has more than 800 yards in '24, and you'll begin to see that ability flash right away this spring.
KJ Jefferson, UCF Quarterback
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There was a time when KJ Jefferson's size, all-out mentality and athletic ability made him a force to be reckoned with every time he dropped back to pass. With him behind center for the Arkansas Razorbacks a couple of seasons ago, he consistently made plays.
After a slew of injuries and Kendal Briles leaving to be TCU's offensive coordinator before the '23 season, all that went away.
Now, Jefferson is seeking redemption at UCF, where coach Gus Malzahn has a flashing "vacancy" sign now that John Rhys Plumlee is out of eligibility.
Finally healthy, we want to see if Jefferson can elevate the level of play for the Knights in their second season in the Big 12. With a lot of talent around him, can Jefferson sort of recapture what made him great, things like the ability to break tackles, extend plays and then unleash his big arm to make plays?
A season ago, Jefferson looked to run too early and too often. Malzahn has to find the key to unlock the things that made the former Hog must-see TV in 2021 and '22, when he threw for 5,312 yards, 45 touchdowns, just nine interceptions and added 1,304 rushing yards and 15 scores.
Jefferson can still be that player with a fresh start and some newfound health and confidence. He can begin to prove that he's a comeback player of the year candidate this spring.
Keon Keeley, Alabama EDGE
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During the Nick Saban era, there would be so much elite talent standing on the Alabama sideline and not getting a chance to play that you'd just forget they were even in Tuscaloosa.
Then, when they'd finally step on the field in their second or third year, you'd think, "How in the world was this dude hiding last year?"
Keon Keeley is one of those guys, and with some of the Tide's front-seven stars off to the NFL, he's going to have a chance to showcase his skills in '24. The expectation is, even on a team full of elite former top prospects, Keeley will prove he belongs.
A season ago, he redshirted despite being the No. 3 overall player in the nation and a consensus 5-star prospect. At 6'5", 242 pounds, he has the ideal size, speed and body lean to be a difference-maker right away. The Tide are going to need new names to step up.
New defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is going to be holding open tryouts for spots all over that side of the field.
Keeley is a guy whose talent will show up daily, and even though there are exciting young stars-in-the-making like Yhonzae Pierre, Qua Russaw, Jordan Renaud, Jayshawn Ross, Noah Carter and more, Keeley is primed for a breakout.
Maalik Murphy, Duke Quarterback
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If you forgot about Maalik Murphy last year in Texas because the buzz surrounding Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning was so loud, don't worry. You're not alone.
Murphy likely felt a bit lost in the shuffle, too, and the California native is far too talented to sit around in Austin and be an afterthought. You may forget, it was Murphy who spent most of the season as Ewers' backup with the Longhorns; not Manning.
Things, however, began to click for Manning toward the end of the year, and with Ewers returning for the '24 season, Murphy decided to head elsewhere to play ball. His soft landing spot came in Durham, where he will be first-year coach Manny Diaz's starting signal-caller.
Not too bad getting a world-class education and being able to help Diaz try to keep the Blue Devils on the nice plain Mike Elko had them on for a couple of seasons as head coach before returning to Texas A&M.
Murphy has a big arm, and the 6'5", quarterback had some "ooh" and "ahh" moments in '23 when Ewers was hurt, completing 56 percent of his passes for 477 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Duke needs him to take a big leap as a leader this spring, but all the traits are there for Murphy to be a dynamic star like Virginia Tech's Kyron Drones became a season ago after his transfer.
Dante Moore, Oregon Quarterback
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If you were wondering why in the world Dante Moore would transfer from UCLA to Oregon after the Ducks had already brought in Dillon Gabriel to replace Bo Nix, you wouldn't be alone.
Moore is heading to Eugene to battle to be the starting signal-caller for coach Dan Lanning right away, though, and while that may be a tall task, there aren't a lot more talented quarterbacks in his class than Moore.
He has all the skills needed to be terrific right now. Gabriel has played a ton of meaningful football, and it's going to be so fun to watch those two duke it out to lead a team that is probably talented enough to compete for the national title in '24.
Thrust into action too soon as a true freshman in Westwood, Moore was mistake-prone and really struggled with his decision-making. In other words, he looked like a freshman.
Will he be patient enough to wait his turn and be Oregon's quarterback the next couple years? Could he possibly enter the portal once more if he doesn't win the job? Is he going to shock everybody and beat out Gabriel for the starting job?
Moore is one of the most fascinating storylines in all of college football this spring.
Miller Moss, USC Quarterback
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Caleb Williams is off to the NFL, and it's a turning point for the Lincoln Riley era at USC.
The Trojans wilted in major moments the past couple of seasons and have to revamp their woebegone defense. They also have to try to see what their "Next" looks like on the side of the ball Riley is known for developing.
Miller Moss has proven he deserves an opportunity to be the man to lead the charge under center.
In last year's dominating bowl win over Louisville, Moss completed 23-of-33 passes for 372 passing yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Even though the 6'2", 200-pound sophomore had looked good in mop-up duty throughout the year, it was a shocking performance.
Now, Moss has a couple of seasons of eligibility remaining, and there is a lot of excitement around what he can do. He was the former No. 76-rated overall player and the 12th-ranked quarterback in the 2021 class, so he was lauded as a prospect.
UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava won't just hand the job to Moss, who will have to earn it in a quarterback competition, but Moss could wind up one of the breakout stars of college next season. Winning the job this spring is Step 1.
Malachi Nelson, Boise State Quarterback
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When one door closes, another one opens—and with the transfer portal these days in college football, sometimes that door slams in the face of a program before you even know it's coming.
Nobody at USC expected former 5-star prospect from the 2023 recruiting class, Malachi Nelson, to take his talents elsewhere after a season of sitting behind Caleb Williams, but that's exactly what happened.
Maybe Nelson saw Miller Moss' ability and wanted a fresh start, or maybe it just wasn't the right fit. But the 6'3", 190-pound former elite Los Alamitos, California, product is now at Boise State, where he could show out right away.
He will have to win a battle with returning Maddux Madsen, who threw for 1,191 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions while being limited to nine games because of injuries. Coach Spencer Danielson has a nice problem to have with two capable, talented signal-callers who could win the job.
Everybody wants to see what Nelson has got. The Broncos are coming off the quirky 8-6 season in which they fired coach Andy Avalos, then went and won the Mountain West, anyway. They have high expectations in Boise, though, and they want double-digit wins.
It isn't every year you can get a former 5-star prospect with four seasons of eligibility remaining, so this spring is a big one for Nelson to prove he can live up to his ranking and seize the job in new environs.
Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Linebacker
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While plenty of focus in Baton Rouge is going to be on the offensive side of the ball where Garrett Nussmeier is taking over for Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels under new offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, the bigger storyline is on defense.
The Bayou Bengals weren't nearly good enough a season ago to compete for championships on that side of the ball, which is why Brian Kelly parted ways with DC Matt House.
One of the most puzzling things about last season is LSU had college football's most exciting defender returning to lead the way in linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Instead of being a dynamic force that he was in 2022, though, Perkins was "just another guy" in '23.
The numbers were similar from the season before, but Perkins didn't take a step forward. He was still great, but he wasn't the All-America candidate the Tigers hoped he'd be.
In two years, he has 147 total tackles, including 26 for loss, 13 sacks, two interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
Those are terrific numbers, but he is capable of so much more. House experimented with putting him at a traditional linebacker spot at times rather than just let him get after the quarterback off the edge, and that minimized his impact.
What will new coordinator Blake Baker do after coming over from Missouri? Will he try to help Perkins regain his '22 form? If so, the Tigers may have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft on their hands.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Wide Receiver
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The nation's top-ranked player is already on campus in Columbus, and he's the guy with perhaps more hype around him than any other player in the nation this spring.
Whether that's fair or not for a true freshman is another story, but Jeremiah Smith is primed to show everybody that he is worthy of the headlines.
The 6'3", 214-pound Opa Locka, Florida, prospect who played for powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory School is already being dubbed Marvin Harrison Jr.'s replacement. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they already have a loaded wide receiver room led by Emeka Egbuka.
But Smith is special—a fast, big-bodied receiver with a wide catch radius and soft hands who can do anything asked of him at the position.
"He's jumped right in and you guys see the talent, the talent is there," Ohio State coach Ryan Day told Lettermen Row's Spencer Holbrook. "I think the thing that's been the most impressive to me so far is the discipline he's already built in his life and then the skill of playing the position at such a young age as well."
With the Buckeyes in a full-fledged quarterback battle between transfer Will Howard, Devin Brown and the freshman duo of Julian Sayin and Air Noland, a star will emerge in that room. They'll have a dynamic player to throw to, and everybody wants to see how steep Smith's learning curve will be this spring.
Dylan Stewart, South Carolina EDGE
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Shane Beamer needs difference-makers all over the field following a disappointing 2023 season that saw South Carolina fail to make a bowl game.
While on offense, the Gamecocks need a quarterback to emerge to replace Spencer Rattler. They also certainly would love if Nyck Harbor, a 5-star wide receiver from last year's class, could step up and be a playmaker on offense.
However, South Carolina's biggest player to watch is on defense.
That's where 2024 5-star edge-rusher Dylan Stewart plays, and he's on campus and ready to get after quarterbacks. The 6'5", 250-pound defender joins Tennessee's Jordan Ross as the two most intriguing SEC freshman edges to watch this spring, and Stewart could be special.
He likely will be the most talented player at his position the second he steps on campus, and while he certainly will have to adjust to the speed and tempo of the college game, the Gamecocks will be hard-pressed to keep him off the field.
You don't get players like Stewart on a team that needs a talent upgrade and then let him watch. They are going to escalate his learning curve, and they're going to rush him onto the field.
How Stewart responds to the added pressure is a big storyline for Beamer's bunch.
Hykeem Williams, Florida State Wide Receiver
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Speaking of players who have to elevate their game in a hurry...if Florida State isn't going to miss a beat, new quarterback DJ Uiagalelei must play at a different level starting this spring.
He was fine at Clemson and Oregon State, but he never was the game-breaker many expected he would be out of high school. Now's the time, but he must find able playmakers around him who are dependable.
While the Seminoles went to the transfer portal and landed potential stars like Malik Benson (from Alabama), Jalen Brown (from LSU) and WR/RB Jaylin Lucas (from Indiana), one elite talent already on the roster needs to emerge, and that's Hykeem Williams.
The former 5-star prospect from last year's cycle was hampered by an ankle injury throughout the '23 season and finished with just five catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.
At 6'2", 208 pounds, the Fort Lauderdale native has tons of physical ability and is exactly the type of player who sees a light come on and the game slow down for him with another year in coach Ron Dugans' system.
He has all the ability in the world. Watch him blow up this spring and for it to translate into the season.
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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