Best plays by top college football hires: See this Oklahoma
Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 9, 2023, 07:00 AM ET Before they take the field as college football players on Saturdays, several of the leading employees in the 2024 ESPN 300 are playing beneath the lights on weeknights.We put together weekend
highlights from employees devoted to Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama, each of whom had excellent efficiencies. The Sooners also got a dedication from Melissa High School (Texas) defensive end Nigel Smith II (No. 101 general) on Friday night. He ends up being the ninth ESPN 300 hire for Brent Venables and OU.Here’s how some other of the nation’s leading recruits fared today:
An Oklahoma City native who dips into IMG Academy in Florida, Stone (No. 6 overall in 2024)remained real to his roots when he dedicated to the Sooners on
Aug. 26. With plays like this 94-yard pick-six versus Ben Davis High School (Indiana) on Friday, the dominant defensive deal with figures to make a smooth transition to college next year:
#Sooners hire David Stone gets his huge hand on the ball, selects it off and houses it for 96 lawns to offer IMG a 20 point lead in the 3rd quarter. #OU #inpreps #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/NHW3HqxmlZ!.?.!— Indiana Preps(@IndianaPreps
)September 9, 2023 Stone is the top-ranked defensive lineman in the ESPN 300. The Sooners have the No. 16 class in the nation, according to ESPN’s most current rankings update, which was done prior to Stone devoted. Hudson, a five-star pass receiver, is the highest-ranked possibility in the 2024 ESPN 300 yet to dedicate( No. 13 overall). He’s the fourth-ranked pass receiver in the cycle, behind Cameron Coleman (No. 8; dedicated to Texas A&M), Jeremiah Smith(No. 9; Ohio State)and Joshisa Trader( No. 11; Miami), who have all made their decisions.In Lake Belton High School’s (Texas)game against Red Oak High School(Texas)on Thursday, the 6-foot-1 195-pound Hudson revealed why he’s so searched for, hauling in 3 passes for 149 backyards and a TD:5 ⭐ WR Micah Hudson and QB Eli Mascarenas are currently in sync for Lake Belton pic.twitter.com/pIMbYGFkB9!.?.!— SportsCenter NEXT(@SCNext )September 8, 2023 He owns
deals from Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, among the 35 scholarships he needs to sift through.Red Oak won in overtime with 2025
wide receiver Taz Williams(No. 186 overall in 2025) catching a goal
pass to send the game into the additional session. Smith is among two ESPN 300 receivers (Mylan Graham; No. 37 total)in Ohio State’s 2024 class. ESPN has the Buckeyes’group
, which features 14 ESPN 300 promises, ranked second, behind only Georgia.Smith continues to be a force to be reckoned with for Florida power Chaminade-Madonna Prep, with this rating against Bergen Catholic High School( New Jersey)on Friday: Goal Chaminade Madonna.Bailey 40 backyard pass to Jeremiah Smith.1001 left in first.Bailey 6-6 on drive.PAT good.Lions 7 Bergen Catholic 0 pic.twitter.com/UjN5tT57kN!.?.!— University Aces(@VarsityAces )September 8, 2023 With Smith’s assistance, Chaminade-Madonna enhanced to 3-0 on the year with a triumph over the Crusaders.
He entered Friday night with 10 catches for 112 lawns and 2 touchdowns for the Lions.
As a junior, he caught 58 balls for 1,073 yards and 20 ratings. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan head Lloyd Carr, wished to forge his own course when he dedicated to Notre Dame rather of to the Wolverines.The Saline High School(Michigan )product is a linchpin for Marcus Freeman’s class, which sits 14th in ESPN’s most current group rankings.He threw 3 touchdown passes while running for another in the first half in Saline’s success over Ann Arbor High School (Michigan) on Friday.CJ Carr shows off the dual-threat ability with a 29-yd TD run. 42-0 with less than a minute to play in the 1st half.@ 13Cjcarr @SalineFootball pic.twitter.com/RSrxs0SEeU!.?.!— Greg Wickliffe(@GregWickliffe10) September 9, 2023
Mbakwe is the No. 4 general possibility in the 2024 cycle and the second-best cornerback in the class.He plays both ways, nevertheless, and displayed his legs at quarterback, resulting in a long rating, in Clay-Chalkville High School’s(Alabama )’s game versus Pell City High School (Alabama) on Friday.This is why you just snap the ball straight to Jaylen Mbakwe. pic.twitter.com/S2Zjz2m9Jz!.?.!— Caleb Turrentine (@CalebTurrentine) September 9, 2023
Previously in the game, Mbakwe found another ESPN 300 member, Mario Craver (No. 272 general, for a score.
Craver is uncommitted.Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide currently have the fifth-best class in the nation. Graham (No. 37 total in 2024)starred for New Haven High School(Indiana)against Leo High School(Indiana) on Friday.WOW!!!! The Ohio State kid runs it all the method for a Bulldog TOUCHDOWN!!! The excellent
guys are up 7-0!!! @nhbulldogs @MylanGraham pic.twitter.com/jrW0VvKX5o!.?.!— Justin Hartsough (@OneNationJustin )September 8, 2023 Through 3 games,
the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Graham had caught 19 passes for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Last season he had 48 receptions for 1,148 yards and 13 TDs.