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Tom Luginbill, ESPN Analyst
The future of college football is in good hands (or arms) with the collection of quarterback talent in the 2024 class.
While the 2023 recruiting cycle featured an unprecedented amount of skill — four QBs in the top five and nine in the top 50 — this class is not far behind, at least at the top of the 2024 ESPN 300.
The Elite 11 Finals, a showcase event featuring 20 top quarterback recruits that in past years has featured the likes of Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young, takes place later this week.
With that in mind, we break down the top five dual-threat quarterbacks and the top five pocket passers in the 2024 class and examine their strengths, areas of development and how they fit in at the schools they’ve committed to.
Georgia | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 1
Scouting report: At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Raiola has excellent stature; he reminds us of Andrew Luck when he came out of high school. Raiola has unique arm strength and can make all the throws, even when off platform. While he has very good feet, he possesses all the physical traits ideal for a quarterback and is elite in certain areas. He’s a very good deep-ball passer who can drive it and drop it into the bucket. He has a slight windup to his release, but the ball carries and finishes with power.
Areas of development: Footwork. He’s a good ball handler and plays with a solid base but throws with one or both feet off the ground too often. He loses power when he doesn’t drive off his back foot and transfer weight. He sees the field well but must do a better job of keeping his base grounded.
How he fits at Georgia: Right now, the Bulldogs’ QB room is getting crowded. Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton are in the stable, and Raiola is more physically talented than all of them. Ryan Puglisi, a four-star ranked No. 74 in the 2024 class, will also join the competition, and he can certainly play as well. It wouldn’t be surprising if at least one or two of Georgia’s current quarterbacks enter the transfer portal by the time they arrive in Athens. And when they do, expect them to compete early.
Alabama | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 8
Scouting report: Sayin is the definition of a gunslinger. He reminds us of Baker Mayfield. Sayin plays with energy and urgency, has a compact and quick release, and can change arm angles with ease. The ball pops off his hand, and he displays very good ball placement. He is savvy, has solid mobility, and when he gets hot, he can move the chains.
Areas of development: While the five-star has good arm strength, his power and velocity aren’t necessarily elite. He’ll need to continue to hone and develop his timing and anticipation skills as well to compensate for that. He has very good feet but will have to become more consistent with his footwork and platform at the top of the drop.
How he fits at Alabama: Much like Georgia, the Alabama quarterback room is filling up. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner transferred in this spring to battle Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, and coach Nick Saban also brought in two ESPN 300 QBs in Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein from the 2023 class. At some point, and maybe by the time Sayin arrives, one (or more) of those could enter the portal. By the time he steps foot in Tuscaloosa, Sayin should be able to develop at a reasonable rate and hopefully redshirt.
Florida | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 14
Scouting report: Lagway has ideal measurables (6-3, 225) and verified times (4.69-second 40-yard dash at Elite 11 Austin in April) that coaches covet for the position. He’s a big, strong-armed passer with good mobility and a physically imposing presence. He’s a good runner and is tough to sack and tackle; he’s more elusive and powerful than he is sudden. He can make deep and difficult throws thanks to his arm strength, and he is also a threat along the perimeter because he can make off-platform throws.
Areas of development: Lagway needs to continue to develop footwork and release mechanics. This will aid him in developing consistent accuracy and ball placement. At times, he looks like he makes it up as he goes. We would like to see him develop more ball control as well. Despite his strong arm, the ball tends to wobble a bit.
How he fits at Florida: Of all the players in this class, Lagway might be the one expected to make the earliest impact. Given Florida’s lack of production at the position in recent years, Lagway arrives with huge expectations. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz arrived this spring and is battling one-time Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III (who has an extra year of eligibility) for the top spot. Redshirt freshman Max Brown is also in the fold. Once Lagway arrives, we would expect him to immediately compete with Miller and Brown as Mertz will have departed.
Oregon | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 18
Scouting report: Van Buren compensates for his average size (6-feet, 190) with timing and decisiveness. He’s at his best in the short and intermediate passing game. He has a lightning-quick release where the ball jumps out of his hand. Van Buren throws very well on the move, especially to his left side. He’s a good, confident decision-maker who changes speeds well and throws a catchable ball with zip.
Areas of development: Van Buren needs to get stronger and add bulk to aid durability at the next level. He appears to be more comfortable generally to his left side, especially when he’s flushed out of the pocket. He has a good arm but not an elite one for deep throws downfield. Adding size will only help him.
How he fits at Oregon: Bo Nix departs after this fall, and depending on how Oregon feels about its current crop of QBs, the Ducks could once again be in the hunt for a transfer. Ty Thompson is waiting in the wings, while redshirt freshman Marcus Sanders is lower on the depth chart. 2023 ESPN 300 QB Austin Novosad is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot but might end up in the third spot and redshirt.
Notre Dame | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 35
Scouting report: The tall and lean Carr possesses a lot of physical upside to develop as he fills out his 6-3, 200-pound frame. He is extremely accurate, understands timing and anticipation, and sees the field well. The son of legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr throws a very catchable ball with zip but can layer the ball downfield with touch. He also has underrated pocket mobility and initial quickness, as he is difficult to knock down and he can create second chances. Carr is consistent in his methods from the ground up, which supports his accuracy.
Areas of development: Carr is purely a shotgun player, so he can improve by becoming more functional with his feet and taking more snaps from under center. It will require further evaluation to determine if he can alter his arm angle when he’s under duress.
How he fits at Notre Dame: Once Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman departs, the Irish’s QB room is going to be very young and inexperienced. This fall, redshirt freshman Steve Angeli will battle true freshman Kenny Minchey for the No. 2 spot, so Carr could find himself in a wide-open competition come August 2024. At some point, one of these QBs is likely to enter the portal when a pecking order is established in 2024.
Michigan | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 37
Scouting report: Davis has a really strong presence in the pocket when the walls close in. He stays focused on what’s happening downfield and his eyes don’t come down. He can make a variety of throws in the offense, and the ball comes quickly out of his hand. He has good arm strength, and his release and decisiveness are two of his best traits.
Areas of development: At 6-1, 200 pounds, he possesses marginal size for the position. Davis needs to be on time and in rhythm so his view of the field does not get obstructed. There are times when Davis, despite his smooth release, has a slight windup as the ball comes down when he triggers to throw. He can correct this through consistent drill work.
How he fits at Michigan: Depending on the type of year J.J. McCarthy has this fall, Davis could find himself in the mix immediately if McCarthy were to leave early. If not, we would expect him to battle but redshirt as the No. 3 or 4 QB his freshman year. He would be competing with Alex Orji, a redshirt freshman, and redshirt sophomore Davis Warren. Indiana grad transfer Jack Tuttle is also in the fold.
Ohio State | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 47
Scouting report: Noland has grown and developed well the past two seasons. He reminds us of a left-handed C.J. Stroud. Noland is decisive and accurate with good arm strength and good feet to extend plays and evade defenders. He can deliver a quick strike with zip on short and intermediate throws. The 6-3, 195-pound Noland has been remarkably productive from a statistical standpoint, as he threw for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns as a junior for Langston Hughes High School (Georgia). Not many lefties have a compact release like he has.
Areas of development: At times, he tends to try to aim the ball too deliberately, which impacts his fluid and natural release. There are also instances when he doesn’t fully follow through, especially on the deep ball. He must continue to focus on consistent footwork to generate more power.
How he fits at Ohio State: The Buckeyes have a very attractive QB room for a young player entering the fold like Noland. Kyle McCord is likely to be the starter and Devin Brown is a solid No. 2. Neither player enters the 2023 season with any significant playing experience, and Noland has the best physical skills of the group. Expect Noland to compete with Brown early on for the No. 2 spot and to eventually be the starter.
Georgia | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 74
Scouting report: The second Georgia quarterback in the top 100 has prototypical size (6-3, 205) and elite arm strength. Puglisi has one of the stronger arms in the class, and he can drive the ball with power and velocity. He can make all the necessary throws to all three levels of the field and has tremendous confidence in his arm. He is not afraid to let it rip, even if there is some risk involved.
Areas of development: Puglisi won’t be a dynamic mobile quarterback or a runner. He also tends to unnecessarily throw off balance and rely on his arm strength, which can lead to unforced errors. And while he plays for Avon Old Farms (Connecticut), the learning curve he’ll face, especially in the SEC, might be steeper for him compared to other QBs in his class who play in a more competitive high school environment.
How he fits at Georgia: Puglisi has been committed to Georgia since October and did not waver when Raiola committed in May. He is certainly willing to compete. Landing two QBs in this class is big for Georgia, as coach Kirby Smart and his staff know the portal will be calling after this fall.
Auburn | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 163
Scouting report: White reminds us of Will Levis as a high school recruit. He has natural arm power and a consistent, fluid delivery. He’s also a dynamic and powerful runner with explosiveness. White can make all the throws, at times making difficult passes look effortless. He’s a tough, rugged player who plays with confidence.
Areas of development: White has a lot of upside. He has played other positions besides QB, so he needs to develop fundamental consistency. But there is a lot of clay for Hugh Freeze and the coaching staff at Auburn to mold. White can be prone to take risks with the ball because of confidence in his arm.
How he fits at Auburn: Auburn needs improved quarterback play in the worst way. It welcomes Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne this season to battle with redshirt sophomore Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. Once White arrives, the Tigers will have a thin quarterback room, so he could compete for the No. 2 or 3 spot as a true freshman (though a redshirt year could be best for his development).
Florida State | 2024 ESPN 300 ranking: 213
Scouting report: Kromenhoek is a tall, lean prospect at 6-4, 195 pounds. He’s consistent, pure in his methods, accurate and has underrated running abilities. He shows good anticipation to beat coverage with the throw and is a rhythm passer who can get hot. His footwork and passing traits lead to strong accuracy, a positive indication that his upside is very strong.
Areas of development: Physically, he is a late bloomer. He has all the tools at his disposal but needs to get stronger and fill out his frame. In turn, that will help him improve arm strength and become a more powerful thrower. He is fundamentally sound, so physical development is important for him at the next level.
How he fits at Florida State: Redshirt senior Jordan Travis will lead the Seminoles this fall, and backup Tate Rodemaker has also shown promise in limited duty. Redshirt freshman A.J. Duffy will battle Rodemaker for the No. 2 spot but is projected to be QB3 this year, meaning by the time Kromenhoek arrives, that spot on the depth chart will be up for grabs.