Breaking down the five best 2024 quarterback classes
The 2024 recruiting class is all wrapped up so it’s time to see which teams won each position. We start today with quarterbacks.
Note: College transfers are not included in this list but transfers from within the 2024 class – a situation created by the late coaching changes – will be factored into this series.
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MORE NSD: Gorney Awards | Recruiters of the Year | Dominic Raiola interview | Five-star David Sanders updates recruitment | Alabama signee Ryan Williams interview | UCF coach Gus Malzahn interview | Big day for the Huskers | Miami coach Mario Cristobal interview | Oregon coach Dan Lanning interview | USC coach Lincoln Riley interview | UGA wins recruiting title | Big Ten recruiting recap | ACC recruiting recap | Pac-12 recruiting recap | SEC recruiting recap | Big 12 recruiting recap | NSD Live – all the news, analysis and interviews | Bussey sticks with A&M | Complete guide to National Signing Day announcements | What to watch on NSD | Five biggest storylines for this week | Four programs in the spotlight | Rivals Roundtable looks toward NSD
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals100
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer tracker/player ranking (football) | Transfer team ranking (football) | Transfer tracker/player ranking (basketball) | Transfer team ranking (basketball) | Rivals Portal Twitter
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1. OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes probably would have made this list even if only five-star Air Noland was in the class, because he’s a five-star prospect who was great in his junior season and then very impressive at the Elite 11 over the summer.
But Ohio State takes the top spot because Alabama transfer Julian Sayin is also heading to Columbus.
Sayin practiced for a few weeks with the Crimson Tide and then it was announced coach Nick Saban was retiring so the five-star from Carlsbad, Calif., went to the portal quickly and picked Ohio State over USC. With new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and two 2024 five-star quarterbacks coming in, Ohio State’s quarterback room is loaded.
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2. NEBRASKA
Matt Rhule admitted in December that the Huskers had basically backed off Dylan Raiola since it was believed the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 class was locked in with his Georgia commitment. But that was not the case as the Buford, Ga., five-star standout had second thoughts and wanted to lead the turnaround in Lincoln.
Raiola reached out to Rhule, a late visit was set up and the flip happened. Nebraska’s offense needs a lot of help but Raiola is a massive piece that could push the program back to national relevancy again.
The Huskers also landed Daniel Kaelin out of Bellevue (Neb.) West. Kaelin is ranked as the No. 39 pro-style QB in the class.
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3. WASHINGTON
There has been a tremendous amount of movement in Washington’s 2024 quarterback class with the move of former coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama and the hiring of new coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona.
In the end, though, it’s very good news for the Huskies. Four-star dual-threat standout Demond Williams transferred from Arizona to Washington to play for Fisch and after a brief stint in the transfer portal three-star Demaricus Davis returned to the Huskies. Davis and Williams offer different things as Davis is more of a tall, pocket passer and Williams prefers to sit in the pocket but is also great throwing on the run and getting yards with his feet so the Huskies should be strong in the QB room after some earlier uncertainty.
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4. FLORIDA
The expectation is that after Graham Mertz’s final season at Florida – or possibly before – five-star D.J. Lagway will have the run of Florida’s offense and his dual-threat capabilities might be too great to keep him off the field, especially as embattled coach Billy Napier needs a spark in his third season.
Lagway put up incredible statistics in his senior season at Willis, Texas, completing more than 72 percent of his passes for 4,604 yards with 58 touchdowns with eight picks, and he also rushed for 957 yards and 16 scores. While stats aren’t the end-all, be-all of rankings or projection, it’s a good window with Lagway that he can make a lot happen in the Gators’ offense.
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5. NOTRE DAME
The only four-star to make this list that isn’t part of a two-quarterback class, C.J. Carr has everything to be highly successful at Notre Dame. He was an early commit and the Irish took him basically knowing they would miss out on five-star Dante Moore because of it but still decided Carr was the take.
Carr will be working with new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock but the system shouldn’t change too dramatically as the four-star from Saline, Mich., is full of substance and not a ton of flash just like the Irish offense.