We are officially entering college football’s 2023 bowl season, and that means we’re inching closer to the 2024 NFL draft. There are 42 bowl games on deck, followed by the pre-draft circuit of all-star games and the annual combine. A lot will change in this offense-heavy draft class, but where do things stand right now?
After months of film study and going on the road for games throughout the season, I ranked my top 50 prospects for the 2024 class. I also included in-depth scouting notes and interesting statistics on each player, as well as my top five positional rankings at the bottom. (Asterisks mark underclassmen.)
Harrison has rare body control, strong hands and great flexibility, putting him in line with the top receiver prospects we’ve seen this century. Despite inconsistent QB play at Ohio State in 2023, he still managed to be arguably the most dangerous playmaker in the country, compiling 67 catches for 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s able to win in a variety of ways, showing the route-running skills of a smaller receiver. And Harrison is an instant-impact type of prospect with the potential to be a top-10 receiver in the NFL as early as his rookie season.
Watch his tape, and you’ll see five or six plays per game that make you marvel at Maye’s overall ability. He has the arm strength to get the ball to all levels, completing 35 passes of 20-plus air yards — third-most in the country. He has prototypical size and is also an underrated runner. Progression effectiveness is an area where Maye will need to improve, as he tends to hang onto reads too long and compound mistakes instead of getting through to the next available option. I see some similarities to Justin Herbert, though Maye’s arm isn’t quite as strong. He has already declared for the draft.
Faensive tackle selected. He’s as consistent as they come — one sack allowed during his three-year career as a starter — and his balance, strength and recovery ability in pass protection are NFL-ready. His run blocking remains a work in progress, but his physicality and hand placement have improved. His ability to identify and execute against different defensive scheme looks is exceptional — and a big key to Fashanu’s consistency. He has franchise left tackle written all over him and projects as a Day 1 starter.
There isn’t another prospect I was more impressed with while out on the road live scouting this year. Alt came to the Irish as a tight end, but his transition to offensive tackle over the past three seasons has been seamless. He’s the most versatile blocker in this loaded OT class. Thanks to unique arm length, he is difficult for defenders to get around — but he also overwhelms pass-rushers. Alt had some technique and flexibility question marks coming into the season, but he has fixed those issues and become a model of consistency. After allowing one sack this season and declaring for the draft, Alt is a plug-and-play left tackle who will be a plus starter for more than a decade.
