Rivals Rankings Week: Roundtable on the 2024 rankings

Rivals Rankings Week has wrapped up, but there are still plenty of storylines to discuss as the season begins. Our analysts - Clint Cosgrove, Adam Friedman, Adam Gorney, Nick Harris and Ryan Wright - sit down at the Rivals Roundtable and discuss.

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK

Sunday: Who should be No. 1?

Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars

Tuesday: Rivals250 revealed | Biggest risers | Gorney's position-by-position

Friday: State rankings revealed

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1. Which prospect do you think we ranked too high?

Cosgrove: Bryan Jackson. Jackson is a talented back and there is a reason many of the nation's elite have extended scholarship offers to him. He's big, has good lateral movement, impressive balance and can be a load to bring down. While I'm confident that he can have plenty of success at the next level, I don't necessarily see an elite trait that separates him from the many talented running backs behind him in the rankings.

Friedman: There are three top 50 running backs in the 2023 class and there were three in the 2022 and 2021 classes as well. The 2020 class of running backs had high expectations but only two of the six ranked in the top 50 (Bijan Robinson and Cartavious Bigsby) have panned out. The 2024 class also has six running backs in the top 50 after this update. With the devaluation of the running back in the NFL Draft, it's hard to imagine all six of the 2024 running backs in the top 50 will remain there by the end of the rankings cycle.

Gorney: Ryan Wingo. Wingo is a very talented receiver with excellent size but there are numerous players behind him who are not only off to phenomenal junior seasons but had terrific summers as well. The wide receiver group is going to be loaded in the 2024 class and while Wingo is definitely near the top of that list there are others who are going to push into that top-10 in the country. For Wingo to stay that high, he's going to have to have a monster season.

Harris: South Oak Cliff (Texas) athlete Jamyri Cauley is still relatively unproven on the field, but sits firmly in the top 100 alongside junior prospects that are more than proven between the lines. If Cauley can stay on the field this season and produce, then my concerns will be mitigated, but as of now there is some validity to those worries.

Wright: Adrian Posse. Too high might not be the right phrasing for Posse but he is certainly an intriguing 2024 prospect going into the season. Posse is a talented quarterback who all in Florida are waiting to see put a full dynamic season together. The Auburn commit has all the intangibles, size, arm strength, and throwing mechanics. From an evaluation perspective, his junior campaign will be about shedding the projections and leading his Miami Edison team deep into the playoffs.

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2. Which prospect do you think we ranked too low?

Cosgrove: Tayvion Galloway. I see Galloway as being a special talent who is worthy of being in the Rivals250. With the frame and blocking ability to be an inline tight end along with the athleticism and ball skills to flex out and create mismatches in the passing game, the LSU tight end commit is the complete package. I am fully aware that the 2024 class has a lot of talent at Galloway's position and that is part of the reason he did not make the Rivals250 cut, but at the same time I feel like he has too much talent and upside to be absent from the list of elite players in his class.

Friedman: Elijah Moore. It might be a gamble but I'm going with a prospect outside the Rivals250. Moore has great measurables and really good hands. He's tall with long arms and a competitive streak that shows up when the lights come on. Moore may not be a true burner but he is a deep threat and does a good job catching passes in traffic. His offer sheet isn't long but he has Power Five offers from the likes of Florida State, Kentucky, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Ole Miss, West Virginia and a few others.

Gorney: Terry Bussey. Bussey is an incredible athlete who plays quarterback in high school and makes an impact on nearly every play in every game. Right now, the Timpson, Texas four-star is right inside the Rivals250 but he should be much higher because he has a tremendous knack as an athlete and playmaker and is already such an incredible leader for his team as a junior.

Harris: Lancaster (Texas) safety Corian Gipson currently sits at No. 110 overall, but I think there’s a strong case to be made for him to be a top-50 talent in the country. His size paired with ability to cover the back level of the secondary is beyond his years, and I think he will only continue to prove that this season.

Wright: Sacovie White. The 2022 season is an important one for White. He took the Rivals Camp Series in Atlanta by storm this summer showcasing his burst, routes, and hands earning an invite to the Rivals Underclassmen Challenge, and receiver is not his primary position. Slotted to be a next level corner, White is a true athlete also lining up as a Wildcat QB for his Cass High School squad. White has three things that make him a must-see prospect, blazing speed, understanding of the game, and a knack for making explosive plays.

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3. Who could you see making a big jump in the next rankings update?

Cosgrove: Luke Williams. He s is a special talent who just missed the four-star cut during our latest rankings release. He is an incredible athlete, an all around playmaker and has the skill-set to impact a game in multiple ways. I expect big things from Williams this season and with talented Northwestern quarterback commit Aidan Gray throwing him the ball, he will have plenty of opportunities to make his presence felt. Williams currently has double-digit offers including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa State and others.

Friedman: AJ Surace. Quarterbacks can pop up out of nowhere but that's not exactly Surace's situation. The 2024 signal caller is the son of Princeton head coach Bob Surace and is already a serious college prospect but his dad's position isn't why coaches are offering his scholarships. Surace has the physical measurables, arm strength, and mechanics to be one of the more sought after quarterbacks in this class. It will be interesting to watch his junior season and more offers could come his way if he showcases additional development. So far Surace holds offers from Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Northwestern, Indiana and others.

Gorney: Myles Graham. It might not be a huge jump in terms of numbers but it could be in terms of stars. The Florida linebacker commit has been awesome on both sides of the ball early this season and not only will he be in the running for the No. 1 spot at inside linebacker but the College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy standout will be in the discussion as a five-star prospect.

Harris: Arlington (Texas) Martin offensive tackle Makai Saina has generated a ton of buzz during fall camp and had a strong season debut in week one to back it up. If he can string together solid performances, he can firmly put himself towards the top of the list of linemen in the state of Texas and towards the middle of the Rivals250.

Wright: Kamari McClellan. McClellan was another Southeast player who stood out during the offseason. The Alabama product spun it at two different Rivals camps showing his high-level consistency, arm strength, and well-polished mechanics. If the Clay High School talent has a junior campaign that matches what was seen over the spring and summer, McClellan could easily make a big jump up the position and overall Rivals’ rankings.