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As accelerated as the college football recruiting process might be, it is still early, and many factors from coaching changes to transfer portal moves and further remaining player ranking updates will continue to shape the class rankings for the 2024 cycle.

At this stage, defending national champion Georgia leads the pack with a class that includes four commits that rank among the top two at their respective positions, including five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV.

Bitter rivals Ohio State and Michigan are taking their competition to the recruiting trail, as they battle each other within the top five and also contend for the nation’s top class.

Alabama, which signed the No. 1 class for 2023, sits outside top 10 but still ranks high with a small but quality collection of talent. The Tide are the only class at this stage to have multiple five-stars committed in No. 1 cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe and quarterback Julian Sayin, a notable riser in the latest ESPN 300.

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 1

SEC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Ny Carr (No. 43)
Top defensive commit: CB Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4)

The Bulldogs fell short of the No. 1 class for 2023, but unsurprisingly, with back-to-back national titles under their belt, they are not only back in the mix near the top of the rankings for 2024, but are also clearly setting the pace. Over half their class is ranked among the top 50 in the ESPN 300 and they are continuing to reload with defensive talent. While most teams were looking to finish their 2023 classes strong during this past signing day, Georgia further strengthened its 2024 class, landing five-star CB Ellis Robinson IV out of IMG Academy. On the heels of signing No. 3 safety Joenel Aguero, they already have on board two of the nation’s top safeties in Jaylen Heyward and Peyton Woodyard, another nice pull out of California. They wasted little time continuing to address the WR position, adding one of the top in-state prospects in Ny Carr, a target with big-play speed and upside. After a nice haul at TE for 2023, they’re further loading up at that spot in preparation for when Brock Bowers enters the NFL draft, adding one of the top 2024 players at the position Landen Thomas.

ESPN 300 commits: 7 | Previous ranking: N/A

Big Ten rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Jeremiah Smith (No. 13)
Top defensive commit: S Garrett Stover (No. 115)

Ohio State has been producing elite WR talent and looks to keep that position a strength with a pair of top-10 receivers in the class. Jeremiah Smith is a rangy target that can hit top speed quickly and make defenders miss. Mylan Graham may be a little quicker then fast but is fluid and can be elusive. They may have lost a verbal from five-star QB Dylan Raiola in December, but Ohio State adjusted very well, landing lefty Air Noland, who has a quick release, good arm strength and mobility, showing off all those qualities in an MVP performance at a loaded Under Armour Atlanta camp this offseason. To help those big-play weapons excel, the Buckeyes have also added several talented OL commitments, including ESPN 300 OT Ian Moore.

ESPN 300 commits: 7 | Previous ranking: N/A

Big Ten rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Jadyn Davis (No. 37)
Top defensive commit: S Jacob Oden (No. 179)

Michigan is battling for one of the top classes not only in the Big Ten, but in the country. Jadyn Davis was a big pickup at QB, as he is an accurate passer with a smooth release that has been highly productive, throwing for over 3,400 yards with 43 TDs as a junior while completing 73% of his passes. RB Jordan Marshall was a nice pull out of Ohio, as he is a runner with a nice blend of speed, quickness and balance. Closer to home, Jacob Oden is a defender that will come downhill and close well in run support. Mason Curtis can be a well-rounded linebacker that is tough enough to play the run and flexible and agile enough to be effective in coverage.

ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 3

SEC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Tayvion Galloway (No. 143)
Top defensive commit: S Maurice Williams (No. 129)

Brian Kelly’s first full class at the helm was among the best in the country. He has the Tigers off to a fast start for 2024, securing his QB this past fall in Colin Hurley, a passer with an arm that can create on the move and make off-platform throws. After signing three four-stars out of Texas, they continue to pull defensive talent out of the Lone Star State, now in ESPN 300 defender Maurice Williams. Kelly returned closer to his old recruiting base to land TE Tayvion Galloway out of Ohio. A target with a nice catch radius, he is also a good, willing blocker that should help aid their ground game.

ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 4

ACC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Kameron Davis (No. 49)
Top defensive commit: S Jordan Pride (No. 68)

Coming off an 11-win season and signing one of the top classes in the ACC, FSU continues to make strides toward returning to the country’s elite. Building off good momentum, they’re assembling strong collection of talent for 2024 as well with a foundation of in-state talent. The Seminoles have commitments from two of the top receivers in Florida in Tawaski Abrams and Camdon Frier. Associate coach Odell Haggins has a history of identifying DL talent, and Jamorie Flagg is an interesting pickup out of South Florida, as he is a bit of a tweener but with explosiveness. Out of south Georgia, they pulled one of the nation’s top RBs in Kameron Davis, a runner with a nice blend of speed, vision and power to gain yards after contact.

ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 2

Independent rank: 1
Top offensive commit: QB C.J. Carr (No. 35)
Top defensive commit: DE Brandon Davis-Swain (No. 208)

Notre Dame had the top class early in the 2023 cycle, and Marcus Freeman has the Irish off to a strong start once again. A statement win early on was landing QB C.J. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. He fits in nicely with the offense — he has a strong arm, nice touch on his deep balls and makes quick decisions. The Irish are building around Carr, and soon after he came aboard, they added an excellent receiving target in Cam Williams, who can be a vertical threat. They’ve also made some defensive line pickups, led by Brandon Davis-Swain, who has demonstrated he is a coachable player with active hands.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: N/A

SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: ATH Jonathan Echols (No. 39)
Top defensive commit: CB Kaleb Beasley (No. 166)

Tennessee scored a big, early win at the QB position last cycle in Nicholaus Iamaleava, and the Vols secured a commitment from another top signal caller early in Jake Merklinger. A passer with good accuracy and touch, as a junior he completed 67% of his passes with 32 TDs and only two interceptions. Jonathan Echols projects as a tight end, offering a big catch radius with his length, ball skills and body control. Kaleb Beasley is a key in-state keep, as he can be a big-play defender with a reported six defensive TDs as a junior.

ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: N/A

Big Ten rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: ATH Quinton Martin (No. 34)
Top defensive commit: CB Jon Mitchell (No. 137)

Penn State looks poised to once again be in the mix near the top of the Big Ten rankings, building a strong 2024 class lead by in-state talent. The top prospect in Pennsylvania, Quinton Martin, could project to several positions but is a productive RB who ran for over 1,200 yards and 22 TDs, averaging nearly 9.0 yards per carry as a junior. He can give the Nittany Lions a big back that can be sudden and elusive. Top in-state OL Cooper Cousins is a versatile and aggressive blocker. They landed commitments from several DBs, namely Jon Mitchell, who created a buzz with his impressive testing numbers at the Miami Elite UC camp this offseason, running a laser-timed 4.56 40 and a 7.11 L-drill.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 6

SEC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB D.J. Lagway (No. 14)
Top defensive commit: OLB Myles Graham (No. 60)

The Gators lost one of the top QBs late in the 2023 cycle but have already scored big for 2024, landing five-star D.J. Lagway out of Texas. A tough, competitive player that can run well and create, he also has a smooth, compact release as a passer. They added another weapon to their offensive backfield in ESPN 300 RB Chauncey Bowens, a thickly built back (5-11, 217) with good vision, body control and forward lean who can generate yards after contact. Defensively, they have already landed a pair of ESPN 300 LBs in Myles Graham, who has an explosive closing burst, and Adarius Hayes, who has a nice frame to develop and can deliver a pop as a tackler.

ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 7

SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Kam Pringle (No. 36)
Top defensive commit: OLB Wendell Gregory (No. 106)

Shane Beamer went to the transfer portal to get his current QB (Spencer Rattler) and got his 2023 QB recruit (LaNorris Sellers) on the last day of the early signing period. For 2024, he landed his quarterback early on in Dante Reno. The son of Yale head coach Tony Reno, Dante can be accurate on the move and has good arm strength and feel for position. The Gamecocks also got a big early in-state win, landing top-rated OT Kam Pringle, a massive lineman (6-7, 337 pounds) with good power and balance. On defense, Wendell Gregory can be a versatile prospect to develop with his length, fluidness and range.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 8

Pac-12 rank: 1 of 12
Top offensive commit: WR Tyseer Denmark (No. 184)
Top defensive commit: CB Aaron Flowers (No. 121)

On the heels of the Pac-12’s top class in 2023, the Ducks are assembling a strong foundation for 2024. They continue to add talent to the receiver position with a pair of ESPN 300 prospects in Tyseer Denmark and Jordan Anderson. Denmark has good quickness and can create after the catch, while Anderson can adjust to the ball well and be elusive. While this class is offense-heavy early on, Jaxson Jones is an edge player with good initial burst and body control; he brings a nice ceiling for development. After a handful of four-star signings out of Texas last cycle, Oregon returned to the Lone Star State to land Aaron Flowers, a cornerback with elite quickness and good instincts.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 5

SEC rank: 6 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Julian Sayin (No. 8)
Top defensive commit: CB Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 2)

Having just signed their eighth No. 1 class under Nick Saban, it should come as no surprise to see the Crimson Tide off to a strong start in the 2024 cycle. After just signing the No. 2 CB in the 2023 class Desmond Ricks, they already have another five-star CB in Jaylen Mbakwe. The top in-state player, he is a confident coverage corner with fluid hips and excellent speed. On the heels of signing two QBs in the 2023 class, they added another top signal caller in five-star Julian Sayin, a passer with a live arm that makes good decisions and moves well to create second opportunities, out of California. Perry Thompson, who went to the same high school as Alabama great Julio Jones, is another big talented target with good speed that can also be an aggressive runner after the catch.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 9

ACC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Christian Bentancur (No. 112)
Top defensive commit: S Tavoy Feagin (No. 233)

The Tigers have built a strong foundation for their 2024 class with several ESPN 300 commitments, including one of the top TE prospects in Christian Bentancur, who can be a well-rounded playmaker with his size (6-5, 240), aggressiveness as a blocker and hands and body control as a receiver. Noah Dixon is a safety with good ball skills who can also support the run well with his tackling abilities. Tavoy Feagin out of Florida is another nice four-star addition to their secondary, as he is a corner with excellent quickness that is also not afraid to mix it up and be physical.

ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: 10

Big Ten rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Cody Fox (No. 176)
Top defensive commit: LB Preston Ries (No. 267)

The Hawkeyes are building talented core off of top in-state prospects, including commitments from four of the top five prospects in Iowa. Cody Fox‘s good flexibility and body quickness make him among the top OG prospects nationally. The Hawkeyes kept two very good versatile players home in Cam Buffington and Preston Ries, who both project to linebacker. Ries, who also plays quarterback for Monticello Community High School, tested very well on the camp circuit this past offseason, and his skills translate to the field. He should only improve with a focus on defense. Edge defender Drew Campbell is the younger brother of All-American LB Jack Campbell and can be a disruptive pass rusher himself with good leverage, bend and effort.

ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: N/A

SEC rank: 7 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Demond Williams Jr. (No. 215)
Top defensive commit: DE Jeffery Rush (No. 138)

Demond Williams Jr. is not a physically imposing presence (5-11, 170) but was a nice pickup out of Arizona for the Rebels. He is a passer with a knack for making plays, possesses a quick release, can create on the move and can also burn defenses with his legs when he takes off and runs. In-state ATH Chris Davis Jr. has contributed on both sides of the ball but projects as an offensive weapon, as he is a fluid, speedy playmaker. Jeffery Rush is another key in-state keep as he is a DL with good initial burst, power and active hands who can be a factor in pursuit.

ESPN 300 commits: 0 | Previous ranking: N/A

ACC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Jeremy Hecklinski (three stars)
Top defensive commit: LB Andrew Hines (four stars)

The Demon Deacons have taken a defensive approach with their 2024 class. Andrew Hines and Whittman Whaley are two strong additions at linebacker. Hines is an active defender that can set the edge, while Whaley has good quickness and range. Camden Hardy, the son of former Butkus Award winner and NFL linebacker Kevin Hardy, is an edge defender that lacks ideal length but has good initial burst and body control. QB Jeremy Hecklinski may lack some in ideal measurables (6-0, 180) but is a crafty, poised player that can adjust and adapt well.

ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: N/A

ACC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Davion Gause (No. 299)
Top defensive commit: ATH Khalil Conley (four stars)

In the 2022 season, the Tar Heels’ leading rusher was their quarterback. While they have some young promising talent at running back, they continue to work to bolster the backfield with the addition of Davion Gause, a thickly built and powerful runner that can carry the load and generate big plays, running for over 1,000 yards as a junior at Chaminade-Madonna in Florida. To further propel their ground game, North Carolina has quickly added multiple offensive linemen, including a pair of high three-stars out of Georgia in Andrew Rosinski and Aidan Banfield. They continue to do well close to home and have landed in-state four-star ATH Khalil Conley, who projects to the secondary.

ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: N/A

Big 12 rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Ivan Carreon (No. 226)
Top defensive commit: DE Cheta Ofili (four stars)

Coach Joey McGuire continues to elevate the Red Raiders on the recruiting trail and is focusing on in-state talent. They will need to add to their defense as the cycle unfolds but have had early success offensively with several talented playmakers, led by ESPN 300 TE Ivan Carreon, a tall target that can not only be a red zone threat but also possesses impressive play speed to generate matchup issues. QB Will Hammond displays some savvy and good touch, and brings tools to develop at the position. High three-star RB Johann Cardenas runs with power and balance, and also displays good ball skills to contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. Cheta Ofili is an explosive and lengthy edge defender that brings promising upside.

ESPN 300 commits: 0 | Previous ranking: N/A

ACC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR DayDay Farmer (four stars)
Top defensive commit: DT Jahsear Whittington (three stars)

After finishing last season with three straight wins, Pitt is off to a strong start for the 2024 recruiting cycle and once again is pulling talent out of Florida. DayDay Farmer is a quick receiver with excellent ball skills and was a highly productive target for an 11-win Cocoa Tigers program as a junior. The Panthers are loading up on defensive line talent, including Jahsear Whittington, who can be a powerful and stout presence in the trenches. Further down their commit list is Eric Ingwerson, who can be productive as a big TE target (6-7, 235) but could have a higher ceiling for development and potentially be a sleeper with a move to OT.

ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: N/A

SEC rank: 8 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Walker White (No. 163)
Top defensive commit: CB A’Mon Lane (No. 276)

Upon taking the Auburn coaching job last fall, Hugh Freeze helped the Tigers close the 2023 cycle strong with a top-25 class. With a full year to work, he is building a good early foundation. He wasted little time securing his QB in Walker White, a dual-threat who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for 800 yards as a junior. RB J’Marion Burnette is a key early in-state commitment, as he has good agility, vision and patience for young runner. A’Mon Lane is an explosive CB and long-time verbal, having committed last summer, that has stayed on board through the changes.

ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: N/A

SEC rank: 9 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB K.J. Jackson (three stars)
Top defensive commit: DE Kavion Henderson (No. 114)

The Razorbacks have dipped into rival territories to land quality defensive talent. Out of Mississippi, they pulled four-star ATH Noreel White, who projects to CB, and high three-star ATH Julius Pope, a versatile defender that can be utilized at a few different spots with his build, speed and aggressive style. Out of Alabama ,they landed Kavion Henderson, who has a bit of a tweener build at 6-3, 255 pounds, but has good initial quickness and active hands. QB K.J. Jackson has a big frame and strong arm, and looks like a nice fit to develop in their offense.

ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: N/A

Big Ten rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Grant Stec (No. 175)
Top defensive commit: LB Thomas Heiberger (three stars)

The Badgers have landed one of the top tight ends in the 2024 class in Grant Stec, who has a big 6-6, 225-pound frame, runs well, has good hands and, as importantly, can be a productive blocker. They went into Texas to land a nice fit at QB in Mabrey Mettauer, who possesses a strong arm and has continued to improve as a passer in high school, throwing for 2,600 yards and 32 TDs as a junior. Not surprisingly, they have added a big-bodied in-state OL that can push defenders around in Derek Jensen.

ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: N/A

SEC rank: 10 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Ashton Funk (No. 122)
Top defensive commit: DT Dealyn Evans (No. 287)

It seems a long way since the Aggies landed the No. 1 class in 2022, but they remain a factor on the recruiting trail, adding good quality early in the process. They have landed two ESPN 300 in-state big men in Ashton Funk, a big-bodied OL with good balance and flexibility, and DL Dealyn Evans, who has a good blend of strength and agility. QB Anthony Maddox is slightly built and needs to physically develop further, but is a fluid and accurate passer with very good skills.

ESPN 300 commits: 0 | Previous ranking: N/A

Pac-12 rank: 2 of 12
Top offensive commit: QB Danny O’Neil (three stars)
Top defensive commit: DT Omar White (four stars)

Deion Sanders quickly created a buzz after taking the Colorado job, leading the Buffaloes to a top-25 finish in 2023. This class will remain one to watch throughout this cycle, and he already has Colorado in the mix to contend for another top national finish. The Buffaloes beat a pair of SEC schools for athlete Ju’Juan Johnson, who is a productive high school QB and could contribute on either side of the ball, likely projecting to the secondary at Colorado. Omar White is a powerful, big-bodied DL that can help stuff the run and collapse the pocket. Danny O’Neil gives them a QB with a quick release and good anticipation to develop at the position.

ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: N/A

ACC rank: 6 of 14
Top offensive commit: RB Isaac Brown (No. 203)
Top defensive commit: LB T.J. Capers (No. 32)

New head coach Jeff Brohm has added some talented building blocks for his first full class with the Cardinals. He pulled a pair of ESPN 300 prospects out of Florida in T.J. Capers and Isaac Brown. A top LB, Capers has good agility and body control and can be a playmaking presence on defense, while Brown has the physical tools to create explosive plays on offense. QB Deuce Adams is coming of a big junior season, having thrown for 3,000 yards and 34 TDs.

Previous class rankings: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020

Recruiting scorecard

This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.