Best of the best: The top prospects and players to watch in college football this season
There are 134 schools that compete in Division I football, so there is no shortage of talent and competition when the boys of fall start their seasons. Before the first kickoff, it’s relatively easy to draw everything up on paper and predict how everything will go, choosing Heisman hopefuls and favorite teams to win it all. However, the games are played for a reason, which means there is always a chance that a new star rises to the top, a young recruit makes a splash, or an old veteran adds to his legacy.
Take a look at this roundup of players expected to make an impact on their teams and the nation in 2024, and check back to see if everything came true because, as crazy as college football is, it probably didn’t.
Players on Heisman watch
1. Carson Beck, Georgia, quarterback
Previous season stats: 72.4% completion percentage; 3,941 passing yards; 24 passing touchdowns; 6 interceptions
Intriguing storylines
Georgia has been crushing SEC competition for the last few years, and they’ve won two of the last three national championships. The team is likely to be in championship contention again, which bodes well for quarterback Carson Beck’s Heisman chances.
2. Quinn Ewers, Texas, quarterback
Previous season stats: 69% completion percentage; 3,479 passing yards; 22 passing touchdowns; 6 interceptions
Intriguing storylines
Ewers is now entering his third season as the Texas signal-caller, and he improved substantially in his sophomore season. The trend could continue against a favorable set of passing defenses on the schedule, and Ewers’ resumé could look even more impressive if he keeps up the good work against the likes of Michigan and Georgia.
3. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, quarterback
Previous season stats: 69.3% completion percentage; 3,660 passing yards; 30 passing touchdowns; 6 interceptions; 373 rushing yards; 12 rushing touchdowns
Intriguing storylines
Gabriel will be playing his sixth season of college football, which means he has a wealth of experience under his belt that will likely translate well to a loaded Oregon offense. Playing against solid competition in the Big 10 and coming out on top will bode well for the dual threat’s Heisman hopes.
4. Jalen Milroe, Alabama, quarterback
Previous season stats: 65.8% completion percentage; 2,834 passing yards; 23 passing touchdowns; 6 interceptions; 531 rushing yards; 12 rushing touchdowns
Intriguing storylines
Nick Saban is no longer bringing his defensive prowess to the Alabama sidelines. Enter Kalen DeBoer, a more offensive-minded coach who could unleash Milroe just like he did with Michael Penix, Jr. in Washington last year. Add in the experience with his wide receivers, a solid offensive line, and a balanced running game, and Milroe could be primed for a dominant season at the helm of the Alabama offense.
5. Will Howard, Ohio State, quarterback
Previous season stats: 61.3% completion percentage; 2,643 passing yards; 24 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 351 rushing yards; 9 rushing touchdowns
Intriguing storylines
The yards don’t jump off of the page for Howard, but the potential is off the charts now that he has transferred from Kansas State to Ohio State. Regarded as one of the best rosters in the country, Ohio State could collectively elevate Howard to new heights, putting him in the middle of the Heisman conversation by season’s end.
6. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, quarterback
Previous season stats: 65.1% completion percentage; 3,364 passing yards; 23 passing touchdowns; 5 interceptions; 391 rushing yards; 8 rushing touchdowns
Intriguing storylines
Dart will be playing his fourth season of college football, and he has shown improvement in every single one. The teams on Ole Miss’s schedule, combined with Dart’s big-play ability, could put him in Heisman contention if he emerges from enough matchups as the hero.
7. Cam Ward, Miami, quarterback
Previous season stats: 66.6% completion percentage; 3,735 passing yards; 25 passing touchdowns; 7 interceptions
Intriguing storylines
The bottom line on this quarterback is that he knows how to score touchdowns. Ward has compiled 119 passing touchdowns in four seasons, and now that he is in Miami, he is hoping to put up a whole lot more. Miami’s offense wasn’t terrible last year, but it can certainly benefit from a dynamic playmaker like Ward, and if everything pans out correctly, Ward could be getting some votes for the Heisman.
Players poised for a breakout season
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: This sophomore quarterback received just as much attention as his dad in their first year at Colorado together. Sanders was on the run a lot because of a porous offensive line, but that weakness has been addressed to help allow the team’s star signal-caller to shine.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU: Jayden Daniels is gone, so it’s time for Nussmeier to step up and lead the offense. He’s been in the wings at LSU, learning and building chemistry with the team. Now he has the chance to shine like he did in the team’s bowl game last year, during which he engineered a 98-yard game-winning drive and threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
Jaydn Ott, Cal: If you’re looking for a guy who can run up the score, he’s in the Cal backfield. Ott rushed for over 1,300 yards and produced 12 touchdowns on the ground last season, and he needs 1,166 more yards to beat Russell White’s career rushing record that has stood for 32 years. He’ll be motivated to show what he can do in the ACC this year.
Rueben Owens, Texas A&M: Owens came out of high school as a five-star recruit, and now the sophomore running back will be fighting to demonstrate why his speed should be showcased alongside teammates Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels. As a freshman, he rushed for 385 yards and three touchdowns, so the potential is certainly there.
Marquis Johnson, Missouri: It only took Johnson 13 catches to record 383 yards and three touchdowns through the air in his freshman season. With one year of experience under his belt, this receiver is looking to blow the top off of coverages yet again.
Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State: After dominating on the defensive line at Maryland and Miami, Jackson Jr. transferred to Florida State due to family matters. That second transfer in his career made him ineligible to play in 2023, so he is primed for a return to the field this season, hungry to pick up where he left off.
Justice Haynes, Alabama: After a freshman campaign in which he rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, Haynes could compete for the starting running back job at Alabama. If he wins that honor, he may never look back.
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska: A freshman at quarterback, you say? Nebraska could elect to start the five-star recruit who was the top-rated incoming player at the quarterback position in the country. This influx of new talent could be exactly what Nebraska needs, as they finished 5-7 last season after dropping their final four games.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: With the sky-high expectations for Ohio State, along with the top talent the team will face in the Big 10, the odds might seem stacked against players succeeding in year one. Yet, Smith comes in as a five-star recruit and ready to show off his many strengths as a freshman. He also has a fairly easy start to the season, with games against Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall to get the wheels rolling quickly on his career.
Colin Simmons, Texas: This freshman edge rusher will have a chance to introduce himself to opposing quarterbacks as a freshman. A good preseason and some big plays early in the regular season could allow Simmons to carve out a meaningful role on defense, paving the way for a promising college career.
The beauty of college football is that there are so many talented players and storied programs that it’s impossible to predict how everything will happen. Who will slip under the radar? Who will dominate their conference and lead their team to playoff glory? Who will win it all? Watch all season and experience the magic that such a wild sport produces.