Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson … The current thinking around the NFL these days is that, everything else being equal, Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams and Drake Maye of North Carolina figure to be top 5 picks at the 2024 draft, if not the first two picks overall period, while Washington’s Michael Penix could also get plenty of looks in that area if he can stay healthy and put up the same kind of numbers he did last year. At the same time, while there is literally an inordinate number of other really good QBs across the country, there is something of a drop-off to the next tier of 2024 draft prospects at the position. However, the one other QB who kind of jumps off the page based on all the boxes he checks off is the Hogs’ Jefferson who has the combination of size, arm talent and athleticism to be this year’s version of Anthony Richardson, the former Florida QB who ultimately was the 4th player selected at the 2023 draft. He’s got prototype pocket size at 6-3, 245, runs well and has a big arm with surprising touch and accuracy. Last year, for example, Jefferson completed 68% of his passes for 2,700 and 24 scores despite missing a couple of games with injury, while he only had 5 picks.
LSU WR Malik Nabers … There is something of a similar story at WR where the Ohio State duo of Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, along with Rome Odunze of Washington look like solid top 15 prospects for 2024, but – again at this time – there appears to be something of a drop-off to the second tier of receivers. Enter LSU’s Nabers, who is also starting to generate at little top 15 type buzz of his own. He’s got decent size at 6-0, 200 and is an outstanding athlete who projects to run the 40 in around 4.40 seconds while posting a near-40-inch vertical. His route-running does need to improve, but otherwise he’s fluid, explosive and elusive with the ball in his hands after the catch; he’s also got excellent hands, and sometimes rare for a WR, is also a competitive character player.
Georgia OT Amarius Mims … Another 3rd year SEC player just starting to scratch the surface after working as mostly a back-up for the 2-time national champs. He’s a massive guy at 6-7, 330 with prototype length and strength who is simply a nasty drive blocker. He’s also light on his feet for a guy that size and can cut-off the edge, although he still needs to show he’s got the elite lateral agility to handle the LT spot at the next level. However, he’ll get that chance when he moves in the Bulldogs’ starting lineup this fall and has the tools to work himself into the first-round mix for next April’s draft.
Boston College OG Christian Mahogany … Around about this time last year, Mahogany was considered to be the top interior OL prospect for the 2023 draft with first-round potential, but he tore an ACL prior to the season and never played a down last fall. However, he’s had a long recovery period and if healthy is a throw-back Big East wide-body road grader who is a physically dominating run blocker with good quickness and a non-stop motor. He’s also a more than adequate pass protector with decent lateral agility, although there are still some technical issues in that part of his game he could clean up.
Boston College DE Donovan Ezeirauku … We don’t often see two players to watch’ on a team coming off a 3-9 season, but a pretty good case can be made that BC DE Ezeirauku is the best edge rusher in the country that nobody has seen, 4especially after he posted an impressive 8.5 sacks last fall as a true sophomore. He’s not all that big at just 6-2, 255, but he has decent length for a pro ER; he’s also exceptionally quick with the flexibility to dip his shoulder and turn the corner. For good measure, he’s also got close to elite closing speed.
LSU DT Maason Smith … Smith is already considered to be the top DT in the 2024 draft class with top 15 potential, but he also has the potential to be one of the top prospects period. He certainly looked the part in 2021 when he was a consensus freshman All-American, but ended up missing just about all last season after tearing an ACL in the 1st quarter of the Tigers’ season opener last fall. If healthy, though, Smith combines freakish athletic ability with weight room strength and a non-stop motor and has a chance to be this year’s version of former Georgia star Jalen Carter, who almost assuredly would have been one of the first 4-5 players off the board this past spring if he had not run afoul of the law last winter. Smith is 6-5, 310 with 34-inch arms and has a projected 40-time in the 4.8 second range who is both a solid run defender with the strength to hold the point of attack and the range to chase plays down from behind, though, while he is also an emerging pass rusher with well-developed swim and counter moves.
North Carolina LB Cedric Gray … Turns out upon further review that, in fact, one doesn’t necessarily have to be from Clemson or Georgia to be considered a top LB prospect for the 2024 draft. Indeed, when the smoke clears no one should be totally surprised if UNC’s Gray is the first player at the position off the board next April. He certainly was the most productive of this year’s top LB candidates last season when he rang up 145 tackles including 12 for loss, a sack, three forced fumbles, 2 picks and 6 other pass breakups. Gray isn’t all that big at just 6-1, 230, but he’s got a sturdy build with solid core strength; he’s also fast and instinctive and is particularly effective for a backer in coverage.
Texas LB Jaylan Ford … Ford is a local product who wasn’t heavily recruited and still isn’t necessarily a superior athlete, but he emerged last fall as one of, if not the, best defensive player in the Big XII when he racked up 119 tackles including 10 for loss along with a pair of sacks, three forced fumbles and 4 picks. And while lacks pure track speed, he plays quicker and is very instinctive especially in coverage. He’s also got decent size at 6-2, 245 and can stack and shed at the point of attack as well as make plays sideline-to-sideline.
Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern … At the time last year, almost nobody had heard of Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon, who was ultimately selected 5th overall by Seattle, this past April. And anyone looking for his year’s version of Witherspoon probably should check out the Hogs’ McGlothern. He was actually a highly rated recruit at LSU in 2020, but after 2 somewhat quiet campaigns transferred to Arkansas last winter where he had a breakout season posting 4 picks and 10 total pass breakups. He’s got prototype length for a pro corner, along with elite recovery speed and excellent ball skills.
North Carolina State CB Aydan White … Another somewhat lightly recruited local kid who stayed home at NC State and emerged last fall as a ball-hawking cover corner when he picked off 4 passes and broke up 10 in total. For good measure, White played more snaps last fall than any other CB in the country that did not allow a TD pass on the campaign. He’s got decent size (6-0, 190) and length, as well as good speed and better quickness, along with the fluid hips to turn and run with just about any receiver.
Texas SS Jalen Catalon … Arkansas already has a couple of players on this list and it could have been three, but Catalon transferred to Texas in the off-season. Catalon actually made several All-America teams as a true freshman in 2020 when he posted 99 tackles and 3 picks for the Hogs in just 10 games in that Covd-shortened season. In fact, those were the best numbers posted by a freshman SEC safety since Eric Berry racked up similar totals with Tennessee a dozen years before. However, Catalon missed much of the next two years with injuries including 2022 when he played in just one game. If healthy, though, he’s a rock-solid 205-pounder who plays the run like a LB, but still can more than hold his own in coverage, although he is considerably more comfortable in zone than in man.
