The final update to the 2024 Rivals250 comes out this week and there have been a lot of important new evaluations since the postseason rankings update. The all-star games gave us one last look at prospects before they head off to college. For some of the All-Americans, it was the first time they'd lined up across from a similarly talented player.
Five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith took over the top spot in the Rivals250 in December but there are a number of candidates pushing to overtake him.
The national recruiting analysts - Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney and Greg Smith - give their takes on who they think is the most likely prospect to land in the No. 1 spot.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be No. 1 in the 2024 Rivals250?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: Rivals250 released | Biggest movers | Gorney's thoughts | Podcast
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | QB | RB | WR/TE | OL
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released | DL | LB | DB | ATH
Friday: State rankings released
Saturday: Final thoughts on the 2024 Rivals250
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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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FRIEDMAN'S TAKE: Jeremiah Smith
The rarity that is a talent like Jeremiah Smith cannot be overstated. The Ohio State signee is a gamechanger at receiver in every sense of the word. "A quarterback's best friend" is an overused phrase but it certainly applies to Smith. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound outside receiver doesn't have any noticeable weaknesses for defensive backs to exploit in one-on-one coverage.
Smith has the size, quickness, length and route running skills to beat defensive backs on underneath routes and the downfield speed and leaping ability to win on deep routes. He's displayed consistently excellent hands and could honestly put together a long highlight tape of his circus catches.
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GARCIA'S TAKE: Jeremiah Smith
My final answer is my original answer, further cementing the rarity that is Jeremiah Smith. The Ohio State Buckeye is among the most unique talents in the modern recruiting era, possessing a sky-high floor seemingly so safe there has been almost no pushback on the south Floridian occupying the top spot in the 2024 Rivals250. After he got the nod, there haven't been too many challengers based on the 2023 season and even the all-star circuit, only reassuring how dominant Smith's prep run was on Friday nights and during the offseason alike. Even with Ohio State heading into the 2024 season with as talented a roster as any program nationally, it would still sit as a strong surprise if Smith didn't factor into the Buckeyes' success in the fall.
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GORNEY'S TAKE: Jeremiah Smith
If we’re following historical trends, we should probably make a quarterback No. 1 in the class and that means Dylan Raiola, but this year is a little bit different because Jeremiah Smith has proven to be one of the best receivers in Rivals history and maybe the best since Julio Jones. Smith has been so good that if he’s not completely dominant in every event, you’re almost surprised because for years, whether he’s been playing with Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss or by himself at South Florida express or this season at Chaminade Madonna with Joshisa Trader, Smith is just been so good and so dominant every single time we’ve seen him play. It was impossible not to put him No. 1 in the country in the last rankings.
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SMITH'S TAKE: Jeremiah Smith
It’s incredibly hard for a wide receiver to be the No. 1 prospect in the country but Smith is very deserving of the honor. His combination of size, speed, hands and competitiveness is special in a high school prospect. Smith can give you everything you want at wideout which is why he can be the No. 1 prospect in the country despite playing a position that doesn’t traditionally hold the same value as a quarterback or pass rusher.
He’s the complete package and has future first-round NFL Draft pick written all over him.
