Where the top 2024 prospect at each position is committed

With about five months to the early signing period in December, many of the nation’s best recruits have already made their college decision.

The latest is Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge Five-Star Plus+ linebacker Justin Williams, who committed to Georgia on Monday night. Other top prospects, like Buford (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden, remain uncommitted.

Below are the top recruits at each position and the status of their recruitments.

QB: Five-Star Plus+ Dylan Raiola

School: Buford (Ga.)
Status: Committed to Georgia
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 2
On3 NIL Valuation: $890K

Scouting Summary: “Dylan Raiola has advanced arm talent with the ability to make a wide variety of high-level throws as a high school signal-caller. Was identified as a top arm talent and quarterback in the 2024 cycle early on in his high school career. Physically developed at around 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with a 9.75-inch hand. Has continued to add mass later on in his high school career. Owns a natural, loose throwing motion with arm dexterity to deliver off-platform and from multiple arm slots. Showed a deep catalog of throws as a sophomore. Easily drives the ball to all levels of the field. Showed off one of the cycle’s best deep balls at the Elite 11 Finals. Played both under center and in the shotgun as a junior. Ahead of the curve as a ball-handler and in the quick passing game. Shows good footwork and awareness in the pocket. Capable of creative plays in the face of pressure. Completed 64% of his passes for 2,287 yards (8.7 yards per attempt) and 21 touchdowns against 5 interceptions as a junior. Primarily a pass-first quarterback as a junior, not running for many yards and finishing with -92 yards rushing – an anomaly for a top quarterback prospect. Will need to show more mobility and playmaking ability and up his overall play as a senior. Can let his throws hang at times. Transferred to his fourth high school prior to his senior season. The son of 14-year NFL center Dominic Raiola. Also a standout baseball player as a pitcher and catcher early in his high school career.”

RB: Four-star Taylor Tatum

School: Longview (Texas)
Status: Committed to Oklahoma
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 35
On3 NIL Valuation: $205K

Scouting Summary: “Taylor Tatum is a downhill, one-cut back with burst and three-down ability. Has a good build for the position, checking in at over 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an electronically-timed 4.53 second 40 yard dash and 4.25 second shuttle. Area champion in the 200 meters as a junior, with a personal best of 21.70 seconds. Plays in an offense that is often under center, lining up in a deep backfield. Turned in a productive junior season against good competition in Texas, rushing for 1,840 yards, 33 touchdowns at 8.9 yards per carry. Shows a notable initial burst, exploding to the second level. Excels in running outside concepts. A natural long-strider with a light-footed, bouncy gait. Runs through contact at the second level. Lowers his shoulder on contact and keeps his legs moving. Has some subtle moves to sidestep defenders. A good receiver in both camp settings and in limited opportunities on Friday nights. Attacks the ball and makes grabs with his arms extended. Looks natural in running routes out of the backfield. At his best when he can get a runway due to his longer stride. Can improve lateral agility, but made some strides in that area as a junior. Also can continue shoring up his ball security. Younger for the class with a late April birthday.”

WR: Five-Star Plus+ Jeremiah Smith

School: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep
Status: Committed to Ohio State
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1
On3 NIL Valuation: $456K

Scouting Summary: “Jeremiah Smith is one of the more talented and well-rounded receiver prospects in recent cycles. The highest-rated wide receiver prospect from Florida in well over a decade. A big, skilled receiver with fluidity and savvy for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-3 and around 200 pounds with a 32.5-inch arm prior to his senior season. Had a breakout junior season, catching 58 passes for 1,073 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading Chaminade-Madonna to a state title. A very polished route-runner at this stage with rare ability to change directions at his size. Smooth mover with technical refinement that allows for separation. Regularly stacks cornerbacks off the line. Pairs his route-running ability with advanced ball skills. Has strong hands and comes down with catches in traffic. A high-level ball tracker with the ability to locate the football over his shoulder. Capable of making fantastic one-handed grabs. Also flashes ability after the catch. Has the size to run through contact and a long stride to pull away in the open field. Also a strong track athlete winning state titles in the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles as a junior. An extremely well-rounded prospect with a high floor and ceiling. Looks like a prototypical X wide receiver prospect with considerable traits and skills that point to an upside as a high draft pick.”

TE: Five-star Landen Thomas

School: Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County
Status: Committed to Florida State
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 27
On3 NIL Valuation: $254K

Scouting Summary: “Landen Thomas is easily one of the most fluid movers in the entire 2024 cycle. Thomas has delicious movement skills that are rare for the tight end position. His ability to maneuver in and out of his routes with loose hips and buttery cuts is top tier amongst all pass catchers. Stands in at nearly 6-foot-4, 240 pounds with over a 6-foot-6 wingspan. Can win at all levels on the field including vertically up the seam. Shows impressive flashes of acrobatic catch ability and a wide catch radius. Has some focus drops that he can clean up but has plus ball skills. Willing blocker but not a hammer in the run game. Can function as an in-line Y but not his wheelhouse. Will be an extremely reliable target at the next level and will constantly work himself open. One of the safest players in the country with top 100 NFL draft potential.”

IOL: Four-star Casey Poe

School: Lindale (Texas)
Status: Committed to Alabama
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 68
On3 NIL Valuation: $127K

Scouting Summary: “Casey Poe is a sudden and physically dominant interior offensive line prospect who won a state championship in the shot put as a sophomore. Threw 57-foot-4 in the shot put and 129-foot-4 in the discus during his sophomore track and field season. Excellent hip flexibility and knee bend. Understands leverage and wins at the point of attack consistently. Violent in the run game and plays with tenacity. Terrific build and weight distribution throughout his frame. Lacks prototypical length to play on the outside but has the foot speed and body control to play tackle in a pinch. Need to see him maintain his athleticism as he adds mass. Has a chance to be the top interior lineman in the country.”

OT: Five-star Brandon Baker

School: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM): Oregon 89%, USC 3.5%, Georgia 1.7%
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 22
On3 NIL Valuation: $213K

Scouting Summary: “Playing at Santa Ana (California) Mater Dei, Brandon Baker has faced some of the stiffest high school competition in the country. So, it speaks volumes that he’s been dominant against the opposition and racked up honor after honor. Baker first emerged as a sophomore, earning Max Preps Sophomore All-America honors. Baker then took his game to another level in 2022, earning first-team all-county honors from the Orange County Register and Max Preps second-team All-America recognition. Baker credits legendary coach and recently retired Bruce Rollinson for a lot of his development. “He’s shown me that discipline is the major key to success,” Baker told USA Today. “He’s shown that it’s a strict process to get to the top. It’s helped me be able to live my childhood dream of playing football at the highest levels.”

DL: Five-Star Plus+ Williams Nwaneri

School: Lee’s Summit (Mo.)
On3 RPM: Oklahoma 79.6%, Missouri 4.3%
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 3
On3 NIL Valuation: $364K

Scouting Summary: “Williams Nwaneri is the most physically-gifted defensive line prospect in the 2024 cycle. Has an elite frame, measuring in at over 6-foot-6, 260 pounds and an 11-inch hand. Has elite length, with arms that measure in at over 36 inches. Moves very well for his size. Backed that up with a very strong 1.72 second 10-yard split at the UC Report’s Kansas City camp prior to his senior season. Also shows fluidity with change of direction in the camp setting. Flashed some of his high-end potential as a sophomore, but took a step as a junior. Finished his junior campaign with 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks while helping his team to the state title game. Shows the ability to create disruption from multiple spots on the defensive line. The elite combination of length and athleticism creates mismatches, particularly as an interior pass rusher. Has improved his hands over time, flashing a budding swim move as a junior. Possesses the ability to neutralize linemen with his length. Displays very good flexibility with the ability to dip and bend around the edge. A loose, fluid mover in pursuit. Has the range and athleticism to run down skill players from behind. Improving his technical skill at the position but has immense upside and capacity for improvement. Can also continue to improve as a run defender and edge setter. Could project to a number of spots along the defensive front including along the edge, but looks to be a defensive lineman long-term given his frame and potential to add substantial mass.”

EDGE: Five-Star Plus+ Colin Simmons

School: Duncanville (Texas)
On3 RPM: Texas 58.5%, LSU 21.1%, Alabama 8.3%
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 5
On3 NIL Valuation: $415K

Scouting Summary: “Colin Simmons is a speed rushing dynamo who stars for one of the top high school programs in Texas. Arguably the most dominant defensive player in the 2024 cycle, registering 22.5 sacks as a junior while playing in Texas’ highest classification. Measured at around 6-foot-2.5, 225 pounds with a 34-inch arm prior to his senior season. Grew around an inch as a sophomore. Primarily lines up at defensive end for Duncanville. Uses first-step quickness, play speed and dip to create issues for opposing offensive tackles. Shows good curvilinear movement with his ability to turn corners as a pass rusher. Length aids in disengaging from offensive linemen, finishing plays and disrupting passing lanes. Looks to play with a very strong effort level. Has an innate knack for disrupting passing lanes, batting down a number of passes as a junior. Took over the state title game in a key second-half sequence that led to Duncanville’s win. Has a smaller frame than most elite EDGE prospects and will need to put on weight early on in college to aid in his ability to hold up against the run.”

LB: Five-Star Plus+ Justin Williams

School: Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge
Status: Committed to Georgia
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 9
On3 NIL Valuation: $367K

Scouting Summary: “Justin Williams is a rangy linebacker with elite speed that makes him a near prototype at the position. Measured in at around 6-foot-2, 210 pounds prior to his senior season. Added very good weight as a junior. Owns plus length for the position with arms a shad under 33 inches. The fastest top linebacker in the combine setting in 2024. Ran an absurd electronically-timed 4.44 40-yard dash, 4.39 short shuttle and jumped a 9-foot-10 broad jump at the UC Report’s Houston camp. Backed that up on the track with a stellar 11.01 second mark in the 100 meters. Transfers that high-end athleticism over to the field. Originally a safety, he to linebacker full-time as a junior and had a very productive season, notching 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Lines up as a mike backer for his high school. Shows the ability to stack and shed incoming blockers. Excels bringing down ball players from sideline to sideline and in the backfield. Flashes an elite first step and ability to close. Draws on his experience as a safety to aid in coverage and playing in space. Will need to continue adding mass and strength. A strong tackler in his first year as a linebacker but can improve the pop in his hands and overall play strength. Flashes considerable upside given his high-end combination of athleticism, length and range.”

CB: Five-star Ellis Robinson IV

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Status: Committed to Georgia
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11
On3 NIL Valuation: $331K

Scouting Summary: “Ellis Robinson IV is a ball-hawking cornerback with plus length, ball skills and refined movement skills. Has shown the ability to make high-level plays on the ball throughout his high school career. Measured close to 6-feet, 175 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length for the position with arms that measure a shade under 33 inches. Dominated competition in New York’s Catholic league as a sophomore, bringing in eight interceptions. Made several impressive, acrobatic picks. Moved to IMG Academy as a junior, where he looked like the top defensive back on the Ascenders’ loaded roster. Made strides as a junior relative to his technical skills. Pairs his length and ball skills with refined footwork. Understands routes and generally stays in phase. Embraces matchups against top receivers and is willing to get physical at the line of scrimmage. Also tests as a good athlete in the combine setting. While his speed is good, he does not register as elite for the position. Can continue getting stronger and adding good mass once in a college strength program.”

S: Five-Star Plus+ KJ Bolden

School: Buford (Ga.)
On3 RPM: Georgia 50.5%, Florida State 19.8%, Ohio State 8%
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 8
On3 NIL Valuation: $368K

Scouting Summary: “KJ Bolden is one of more versatile athletes in the 2024 cycle with considerable upside as a safety. Measured in at 6-foot, 185 pounds prior to his senior season. Has good length with 32-inch arms. Posted strong track marks as a high school underclassman with a personal best of 10.76 seconds in the 100 meters. Also tests well in the combine setting. Plays both ways for Georgia powerhouse Buford High as a receiver and defensive back. Projects as a defensive back and likely at safety long-term, where his combination of athleticism and length makes him one of the nation’s best. Flashes outstanding play speed on Friday nights. Closes quickly with physicality in defending the flats. Has shown good deep range in coverage both on Friday nights and in 7-on-7. Played a bunch of offense as a junior. Shows good playmaking ability and overall athleticism on that side. While his ball skills are good for a safety, they would need to improve were he to play offense in college. Has not replicated his impressive track times later in his high school career. Has a relatively smaller sample size relative to some of his highly-touted peers on defense heading into his senior season.”

ATH: Five-star Jaylen Mbakwe

School: Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville
Status: Committed to Alabama
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 15
On3 NIL Valuation: $297K

Scouting Summary: “Jaylen Mbakwe is one of the more dynamic two-way athletes early on in the 2024 cycle. Has starred on both sides of the ball for one of the top high school programs in Alabama. Measured at a shade under 5-foot-11 and around 170 pounds with a 30.5-inch arm and 8.25-inch hand. Has outstanding play speed, which he backs up on the track. Won the Alabama state titles in the 100m (10.70 seconds) and 200m (21.57 seconds) as a junior. Pulls away in the open field, easily out-running defenders. Dynamic with the ball in his hands both as a receiver and return man. Also shows the ability to separate on vertical routes. Has several kicks for touchdowns. Spent much of his time on offense as a junior, despite projecting as a cornerback long-term. Was a productive defensive back as a sophomore with high level ball production, totaling 4 interceptions and 12 pass breakups. Has a smaller, slighter frame and will need to continue honing his technique once he fully focuses on playing cornerback.”

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