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2024 college football sleeper selects from each post-spring Top 25
With a little more than a month and a half left until college football is back in full swing, we’re having a look at players who could be considered sleepers getting in the 2024 season on each post-spring Leading 25 team.From true freshmen who could go far on their own to players coming back from injury to transfers wanting to make an instant effect, there are a lot of players to keep eyes on this fall.Our reporters break down the under-the-radar
players they’re keeping tabs on. Sleeper choice: Joenel Aguero It’s hard to pick a sleeper froma roster filled with previous first-class prospects, however safety Joenel Aguero was limited last season due to the fact that of a hamstring injury he suffered in preseason camp. He had seven deals with and one pass separation in 12 games, contributing primarily on unique groups and on defense in the 4th quarter of blowouts.He’ll be depended on this season to complete for among the two safety areas left by Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard. Aguero was the No. 3 security possibility in the Class of 2023, according to ESPN Recruiting, and he has the speed and tackling ability to thrive at the star nickel position.– Mark Schlabach Sleeper pick: Sonny Styles With the arrival of Alabama safety transfer and 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs, the Buckeyes moved Sonny Styles from safety
to linebacker this offseason. With a 39-inch vertical and 10-foot, 9-inch long jump, the 6-foot-3, 238-pound Styles now figures to be among the nation’s most dynamic players at the position for a defense packed with playmakers.– Jake Trotter Sleeper choice: Amari Niblack Generally, a highly touted recruit who transfers from Alabama to Texas doesn’t quite qualify as a sleeper, but Niblack hasn’t rather had
his breakout yet. The 6-4, 231-pound
tight end arrives in Austin after capturing 21 passes in two seasons with the Crimson Tide, and he might be an essential feature in a death game that lost TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, who captured 99 passes for 1,295 lawns and 7 goals in the previous two seasons.– Dave Wilson Oregon sophomore Teitum Tuioti had 4 solo tackles in the Ducks ‘spring game, revealing early on
what he can doing. Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports Sleeper choice: Teitum Tuioti After a strong freshman season(19 takes on, two sacks and a whopping 256 snaps)edge rush Teitum Tuioti goes into his 2nd
year with the prospective to be one of the anchors of Oregon’s defensive attack. Coming off the edge, Tuioti– the child of Oregon defensive line coach Tony Tuioti– had a great showcase during the Ducks’ spring game(2.5 sacks, four solo takes on)that earned him plenty of appreciation from head coach Dan Lanning. With just one season under his belt, Tuioti might not be thought about a sleeper pick much longer.– Paolo Uggetti Sleeper choice: Rylie Mills Editor’s Picks 2 Related The defensive front for the Irish consists of a genuine star in Howard Cross and a big-name transfer
in R.J. Oben, but that shouldn’t indicate Mills, a fifth-year senior, gets neglected. He
has played the past four seasons for Notre Dame, acquiring 16.5 career tackles for loss. However his impact isn’t always apparent on the stat sheet.When he was on the field in 2023, Irish challengers summoned a woeful 4.9 yards per attempt. When the Irish didn’t blitz, challengers balanced over two fewer yards per pass with Mills on the field than when he was missing.– David Hale Sleeper pick: Rashad Amos Amos, a transfer running back from Miami(Ohio), has actually currently scored points with fans after sparring on social networks with left running back Quinshon Judkins, who left Ole Miss for Ohio State.
This offseason, the 6-2, 235-pound Amos has shown enough that the Ole Miss staff is positive he can be a key cog in the running game despite transferring after spring practice. Amos, who began his career at South Carolina, hurried for 1,075 backyards and 13 touchdowns in his one season at Miami(Ohio).– Chris Low Sleeper pick: Qua Russaw The outdoors linebacker position under former coach Nick Saban was equipped throughout the years with future NFL pass rushes. With Kane Wommack taking over as new coach Kalen DeBoer’s protective planner, Wommack will be looking for some new finishers off the edge to emerge.One to enjoy is redshirt freshman Qua Russaw, a former five-star prospect who didn’t see any action last season, but has the closing speed and size(6-2, 242 pounds)to be the sort of disruptive presence that has defined Alabama defenses. Wommack has a history of developing professional athletes with Russaw’s skill set to their maximum.
— Low Sleeper pick: Brett Norfleet The skill at tight end in the SEC will be on full display screen with some familiar names, however one of the most appealing players at that position is Missouri sophomore Brett Norfleet, who caught 3 touchdown passes a year back and earned Freshman All-America honors. The 6-7, 235-pound Norfleet will be a challenging matchup for opposing defenses, specificallywith the likes of Luther Burden
III and Theo Wease at wide receiver. Norfleet is also a physical blocker in the run game and has all the skills to be among the leading breakout players in the SEC.– Low Utah freshman RB Dijon Stanley aims to display his speed to be a primary target for QB Web cam Increasing this season. Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports Sleeper choice: Dijon Stanley Utah has a host of returning backs and additions that comprise a strong running back space. What makes Stanley stick out amongst them is his speed. The freshman from California is currently wowing teammates and coaches alike with his quickness, which need to be a welcome dynamic to the Utes’ offense as it welcomes back quarterback Camera Rising from injury.– Uggetti Sleeper pick: Marlin Klein The Wolverines already feature a preseason All-American at tight end in Colston Loveland
, who had 45 catches last season(plus 64 getting backyards in the CFP national championship win over Washington). But German native Marlin Klein drew rave evaluations throughout spring ball and figures to play a key function along with Loveland in several tight end sets. Klein has just one career reception. But at 6-6 and 250 pounds, he has the tools to make a huge effect in his 3rd season.– Trotter Sleeper choice: Blake Nichelson While the Seminoles
once again dipped into the transfer website for players, take notice of sophomore linebacker Blake Nichelson. He’s a four-star recruit who signed with Florida State out of high school last year, who has been praised as a player who is”light years “ahead of where he was a year back by protective coordinator Adam Fuller. Nichelson has the possible to make plays for a Florida State defense that is searching for somebody to step up at linebacker. At 6-3 and 220 pounds, Nichelson played last season as a true freshman and appeared inall 14 games while making a big influence on special teams.– Andrea Adelson Sleeper pick: A.J. Harris Harris’arrival need to offer a huge increase for a Penn State defense retooling its secondary. Harris, ranked the No. 4 cornerback hire in 2023, initially signed with Georgia. After moving to Penn State following his freshman season, Harris impressed this spring, starring in the spring game with 7 tackles, including 2 for loss.– Trotter pound Sean Brown racked up seven deals with in a half when substituting former NC State pound Payton Wilson, revealing he’s the guy for the job. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire Sleeper choice: Sean Brown
How do you replace a skill like Payton Wilson? That’s possibly the biggest remaining question of the offseason for NC State, and in fairness, there’s most likely not a one-player answer. However it will be Brown who’ll get first crack at filling Wilson’s role on the Wolfpack’s defense, and head coach Dave Doeren is passionate about his upside.Brown is going up from safety, which ought to make him a great fit to deal with Wilson’s
operate in protection in addition to delivering some success. He got a look versus Clemson last year while Wilson was out with an injury and acquired seven tackles in the second half
.”We felt it was a natural
fit,” Doeren stated. “He’s an actually clever, instinctive, quick reactor. It’s a simple transition for him.”– Hale Sleeper pick: Da’Shawn Womack Sophomore Da’Shawn Womack was among the most highly ranked pass rushes in the Class of 2023. The Baltimore native showed spurts of production as a freshman, completing with 13 deals with, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in 12 games.He was
used primarily on 3rd downs last season, and the Tigers are hoping he’ll end up being an every-down player if their defense is going to enhance under first-year coordinator Blake Baker. The Tigers ranked 13th in the SEC in scoring defense (28 points ), passing defense(255.6 yards )and overall defense(416.6 yards) in 2023. If Womack can become an elite pass rush, it will make All-America candidate Harold Perkins Jr. a lot more unsafe. — Schlabach Sleeper choice: Peyton Lewis Running back Peyton Lewis was amongst the Volunteers’ most coveted prospects in the Class of 2024, and he might end up seeing the field early and typically given the group’s absence of proven backfield risks. Leading rush Jaylen Wright(1,013 lawns )and Jabari
Small( 475 backyards)left after last season, and Dylan Sampson probably doesn’t have the size or blocking ability to be an every-down back.Lewis, from Salem, Virginia, was a five-time sprint champion in high school. He had 373 backyards with 4 touchdowns on 30 carries in a Class 4 state semifinals game in 2023. Lewis missed out on spring practice after going through shoulder surgery, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of preseason camp.– Schlabach Sleeper pick: Wade Woodaz The talk at linebacker around
Clemson mostly fixates 3
players: The one who left( Jeremiah Trotter Jr.), the one who remained(Barrett Carter )and the one who just got here( first-class hire Sammy Brown ). The name missing from that discussion is Woodaz, who has racked up 5.5 sacks, 2 choices, 11.5 takes on for loss and a lots of big representatives over two years with the Tigers and will be stepping into a full-time beginning function in 2024. Dabo Swinney raved about Woodaz’s work this offseason, and he made a point of keeping in mind that, for all the buzz surrounding Brown, it’s clear who’s ahead on the depth chart today.– Hale Sleeper choice: Dylan Edwards DJ Giddens is the incumbent primary back in Manhattan, and was great in 2015 with 1,226 lawns. However this year, the addition of Edwards must make things even tougher on opposing defenses.
Edwards had 321 lawns and a goal on just 76 brings last season at Colorado as a freshman. He also had 36 receptions for 299 getting yards and 4 touchdowns. It seems like 2024 will be a fantastic year to be in the Kansas State backfield, and Edwards should get well with the departure of Treshaun Ward.– Harry Lyles Jr.Sleeper choice: Danny Okoye Freshman defensive lineman Danny Okoye arrived in Norman in January and got to work, placing on more than 20 pounds. The 6-3, 255-pound edge rusher has drawn praise from coach Brent Venables this spring for his work principles and athleticism– he reportedly runs a 4.56 40-yard dash– and as the Sooners search for a rotation up front, Okoye could claim his share of playing time early on.– Wilson Sleeper choice: Obi Ezeigbo The
Cowboys defense returns 9 players in what ought to be a better group under second-year defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. One brand-new face will be Ezeigbo, who transferred in from Gannon(where Nardo also delegated sign up with Oklahoma State ). Ezeigbo earned first-team All-PSAC West honors for the very first time in his profession as a senior and should include depth along a strong line.– Lyles After a roller-coaster transfer portal procedure, Jacory Croskey-Merrittjoins the Wildcats after running for 17
touchdowns last season. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports Sleeper pick: Jacory Croskey-Merritt Though his transfer portal process was not precisely conventional, running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is set to dress for the Wildcats this coming season after devoting to Arizona, flipping to Ole Miss and then turning back to Arizona.Croskey-Merritt comes from New Mexico after a season during which he ran for 1,190 yards and 17 goals. With a lot anticipation surrounding quarterback Noah Fifita’s sophomore season as well as wideout Tetairoa McMillan, having Croskey-Merritt guy the running back position( together with former Ole Miss running back Kedrick Reescano) must reinforce the Wildcats’already powerful attack.– Uggetti Sleeper pick: Keyshawn Burgos The capacity has actually always been there for Burgos, who began six games for the Hokies last season. This spring showed he can take that next step. In the spring game alone, Burgos had 3sacks, in addition to four solo takes on and a pass breakup.The Hokies return veterans throughout their protective line, so there will be lots of competition to see who starts. But Burgos has actually put himself inposition to have his best season yet, and it comes
at a time where the Hokies are attempting to measure up to increased expectations heading into Year 3 under coach Brent Pry.– Adelson Sleeper choice: Javier Derritt Transfer defensive deal with Javier Derritt from North Dakota State could be a solid choice here. He played in 56 games over four seasons for the Bison, including 29 successive starts at noseguard. He’s coming off a career-best 31 tackles in the 2023 season and will be added to a defensive line system that could use some fresh(and more so efficient)faces.– Lyles Sleeper pick: Kaden Wetjen The Hawkeyes have to produce more pop and walk-on receiver Kaden Wetjen revealed check in the spring that he might offer Iowa just that. Wetjen’s speed could parley him into a bigger role
offensively, on top of
returning kicks and punts. The Hawkeyes had simply 20 passing plays choose more than 20 or more yards in 2015. That ranked last amongst Power 5 offenses last season.– Trotter Sleeper pick: Isaiah Horton Much of the conversation surrounding the Miami offense has focused on Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Elijah Arroyo as natural playmakers for transfer quarterback Webcam Ward. However if the spring game is any indication, watch on Horton.The third-year receiver caught six passes for 88 lawns and a touchdown in the spring game and seems to have a natural connection with Ward. Coach Mario Cristobal praised Horton for
having a fantastic spring,
and thinks his introduction offers the Hurricanes yet another skill player to depend on and keep defenses off balance. At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Horton is the kind of big-bodied receiver the Hurricanes require in their rotation.– Adelson Sleeper pick: Zion Branch It didn’t take wish for everybody in the country to understand Zachariah Branch’s name. The freshman phenom made headings with his prowess as a returner and a receiver in 2015, but his bro, Zion, is set to have a breakout year of his own.After missing his very first season with a torn ACL, Zion made the starting complimentary security area just to suffer another season-ending injury early on. Now, he’s fully healthy again and all set to end up being an important part of USC’s enhanced defense.– Uggetti