Ahead of the NCAA season, it’s time to introduce you to the top 10 players to watch for the 2024 NFL Draft. The mock draft gave you some insight. Here is a focus on offensive players.
1. Caleb Williams – Quarterback – USC
2022 stats: 333/500 (66%), 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, 5 interceptions – 113 carries, 382 yards, 10 touchdowns
A 5-star rookie in 2021, the quarterback missed his freshman season in Oklahoma. After a resounding transfer to California, he is a candidate to be the first choice of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Possessing great athletic qualities and a good arm, Caleb Williams will have to confirm a productive 2022 season. This season, he’ll have prime targets in Mario Williams, Dorian Singer, and Jerry Rice’s son, Brenden. However, he will have to improve the accuracy of his throws and the management of his pocket.
In terms of goals, collectively, he will have to lead USC in the NCAA playoffs. On an individual level, he will have to maintain a visual impression that is reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes.
Do not hesitate to see or review Caleb Williams’ reference match against Arizona in 2022.
2. Drake Maye – Quarterback – North Carolina
2022 stats: 342/517 (66%), 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, 7 interceptions – 184 carries, 698 yards, 7 touchdowns
For the number 1 spot in the 2024 Draft, Caleb Williams’ main competitor is called Drake Maye. The Tar Heels player had an exceptional 2022 season. It has a surgical arm. Despite slower mobility, he has nothing to envy to the USC quarterback.
Deprived of Josh Downs, gone to the NFL, he will not have as many quality targets compared to Caleb Williams, even if the receiver Devontez Walker and the tight end Bryson Nesbit are very good players.
However, he has a good chance of being in the top 3 next April. For that, he will have to achieve a 2023 season as good as that of last year, and avoid cracking in important moments. This was the case last year in the ACC Conference Finals against Clemson.
His goal is to lead North Carolina to the title in the ACC conference. A very tough conference this season, where he will have a fairly dense schedule with opponents like South Carolina, Miami (FL) and… Clemson.
Here’s one of Drake Maye’s best games of 2022 against Pittsburgh.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr. – Receiver – Ohio State
2022 stats: 77 receptions, 1,263 yards, 14 touchdowns
At Ohio State’s Pro Day last March, an NFL observer said of Harrison Jr.:
“It’s like watching an ad for a Lamborghini that won’t be available until next year. »
Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. is the University of Columbus’ new wonder at receiver. In the Buckeyes’ offense, he’s going to be the main threat in the air. With Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and the new wonder Carnell Tate, he will form an impressive quartet of targets. Unfortunately, CJ Stroud is no longer there to throw the ball to him, replaced by Kyle McCord.
The son of former Colts pro Bowler has impressive athleticism, perfect changes of direction, and silky hands. Every Saturday, the receiver will arouse curiosity. Confirming a superb 2022 season is not going to be easy. But if he achieves this goal, he could be the next receiver called in the top 5 of the Draft after Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals).
4. Brock Bowers – Tight End – Georgia
2022 stats: 63 receptions, 942 yards, 7 touchdowns – 9 carries, 109 yards, 3 touchdowns
Have you ever seen a tight end know how to catch the ball, block, but also run, and all this in a qualitative way? For 2 seasons, the answer has been yes at the university level.
Since his season freshman in the University of Athens, the UFO Brock Bowers works wonders. However, he has a morphology below normal for his position. Athletically he’s not the most impressive, but he’s a very smart player and a big play machine. To top it off, he is already a two-time college champion.
Eliminating all competition in his position with the Bulldogs (Arik Gilbert transferred, Darnell Washington drafted), he will be the main target of the future Georgia quarterback (Carson Beck or Brock Vandagriff). If he has a more impressive season than his first two seasons, the top 10 in the Draft is possible. He has everything from a generational player to his position, like a certain Kyle Pitts (Falcons).
5. Olumuyiwa Fashanu – Offensive Tackle – Penn State
Last season we already talked about Olumuyiwa Fashanu. The Penn State player did not concede any sacks in 2022. In a deep tackle vintage, and which does not lack quality for the 2024 Draft, he has excellent lateral mobility and good game intelligence. His potential is endless. limit since he is only 20 years old.
This season, we will ask him to perform well in racing games, since the playmakers main are located at this position on the side of the Nittany Lions (Keytron Allen, Nicholas Singleton). Excellent as an anchor point, the top 10 of the Draft reaches out to him. However, he needs to better contain his power, as well as the initial positioning of his hands on the block.
6. Joe Alt – Offensive Tackle – Notre Dame
Meet the new offensive line wonder from the University of Notre Dame. During the 2022 season, Joe Alt especially distinguished himself against Clemson, where he totally dominated Myles Murphy, drafted in the 1st round by the Bengals last April.
In 2022, Joe Alt hasn’t conceded a single sack and had just eight pressures in 13 games. The player is considered the best tackle prospect since Penei Sewell. He was therefore named in the NCAA typical team last year by the American press. With this distinction, he has a good chance of being called in the top 10 of the Draft 2024 next April.
For this, he must improve his explosiveness at the level of the first step, as well as his power. Faced with quality pass rushers, this could be detrimental to him.
7. TreVeyon Henderson – Running Back – Ohio State
2022 stats: 107 carries, 571 yards, 7 touchdowns
After a season freshman 2021 magnificent (19 touchdowns), the running back disappointed in 2022. An injury also made him demoted in the hierarchy by Miyan Williams, another running back eligible in 2024. Despite everything, Treveyon Henderson has a card to play in the Ohio in a season that looks promising for the Buckeyes.
A former high school sprinter, Henderson has speed and lightning-fast changes of direction. On the other hand, he will have to improve his power when he is tackled and on the block in passing games.
Two objectives are available to him for 2023: to be the main runner for the Buckeyes, and to do better than last year. If these objectives are achieved, he could follow in the footsteps of JK Dobbins (Ravens), former Ohio State, drafted in the 2nd round in 2020.
8. Blake Corum – Running Back – Michigan
2022 stats: 247 carries, 1,463 yards, 19 touchdowns
At the end of the 2022 season, his knee injury (cruciate ligament rupture) may have spelled the end of his hopes of being drafted very high in the 2023 NFL Draft. By returning to Michigan, Blake Corum hopes to do better than last season. A 2022 season where Blake Corum was impressive and productive in yards and touchdowns.
Admittedly, he is not the ideal height for the position (1m75) but he exudes a very good explosiveness in terms of changes of direction, as well as a good ability to read the blocks of his offensive line.
However, its acceleration is not devastating and its power is limited. Especially when asked to gain 1 or 2 additional yards on a first attempt. If his potential could be limited given his advanced age (23 years old at the time of the 2024 Draft), his production could convince some NFL recruiters to draft him in the 2nd or 3rd round.
9. Cooper Beebe – Offensive Tackle/Guard – Kansas State
Cooper Beebe could have made it to the 2023 NFL Draft, but he decided to return to the Wildcats, despite having a very good 2022 season.
An experienced player who has already been used in several offensive line positions. Comfortable as a left tackle as well as a left guard, he conceded no sacks when he played in these positions.
If he needs to improve his technique in pass protection, this smart and powerful player is a great anchor for the ground game. For his physique (1.93m, 152 kilos), he has amazing mobility and his arm length is reminiscent of a certain Peter Skoronski (Titans) from the 2023 Draft.
So keep an eye out for Cooper Beebe and his number 50 against Missouri for the 2023 season.
10. Sedrick Van Pran – Guard/Center – Georgia
Another offensive lineman to finish this top 10. Like Cooper Beebe, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger could have appeared in the 2023 NFL Draft, crowned with a university championship title. But he decided to return to Georgia to consolidate (or even increase) his rating. He has a competitive spirit and an unfailing mentality. Solid, he has an impressive football IQ, excellent mobility and a very good technique in pass protection.
However, he needs to gain power. If he finds himself facing impressive defensive tackles, he can quickly lose his balance. Points of improvement that he will have to correct.
Playing in a devalued position during the Draft, he can however claim a selection during the night from Friday to Saturday (2nd-3rd round).
They could have been mentioned: Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas), Jordan Travis (QB, Florida State), Michael Penix Jr. (QB, Washington), Braelon Allen (RB, Wisconsin), Will Shipley (RB, Clemson), Raheim Sanders (RB, Arkansas), Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State), Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas), Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas), JC Latham (OT, Alabama), Kingsley Suatamaia (OT, BYU), Connor Colby (OL, Iowa), Bryce Foster (OL, Texas A&M)
