With 134 FBS teams and thousands of players in college football, plenty of elite athletes live in the shadow of bigger names each season. Each season, a few of those athletes break out and become big names themselves. Last August, Jaden Daniels wasn’t expected by many to be an elite quarterback. He went on to win the Heisman trophy and become the second overall pick in the NFL draft. Whether it’s due to a change in coaching, a change in situation, or simple development, many players are primed to burst onto the scene in 2024. Some of these names you’ll already know, and some you won’t. I expect each of them to be well-known names in the world of college football by the end of this season. Here are six players I believe will break out in 2024:
6. Dani Dennis-Sutton
Penn State has been the home of elite pass rushers for years now, and this year is no different. While Abdul Carter is drawing most of the hype on the defensive line, Dani Dennis-Sutton deserves recognition as well. Dennis-Sutton was a five-star recruit coming out of high school but has yet to become a featured pass rusher for Penn State. In his sophomore season, he put up six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Dennis Sutton has the perfect build for an all-round defensive end, standing at 6’5” and weighing 270 lbs. This pass-rushing duo may be the best in the country, and I believe the gap between Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton is smaller than most experts seem to.
5. Monaray Baldwin
Monaray Baldwin is likely the least-known player on this list. Baldwin was a three-star recruit out of high school and has yet to become a star at Baylor. I believe he is in the perfect situation to change that this season. Baldwin ranked number 41 on Bruce Feldman’s “CFB Freaks List,” and for good reason. He’s one of the fastest players in football and can bench press nearly 400 pounds despite weighing just 165. Baldwin was perhaps the best player in a bad Baylor offense last season, leading the team with 623 receiving yards. This year, he will have a new offensive coordinator in Jake Spavital who intends to run an up-tempo offense focused on pushing the ball down the field. Monaray Baldwin is the perfect tool for Spavital and could see a big jump in production in 2024.
4. Dylan Edwards
Dylan Edwards is the only player on this list who is not listed as a starter at the beginning of this season. The Kansas State running back will come in behind DJ Giddens, who is expected to earn the bulk of the carries in this offense. However, there should be plenty of production to go around for the Wildcats. In recent years, Kansas State has consistently ranked among the top schools in the nation in rushing yards. The Wildcats have one of the best offensive lines in the country, and new offensive coordinator Conor Riley intends to take full advantage of the weapons at his disposal. Edwards showed his explosiveness during his freshman season at Colorado and should get plenty of opportunities to produce at Kansas State.
3. Daylen Everette
Georgia has been known for consistently producing top-end talent on defense for years, and cornerback Daylen Everette may be the next big prospect. With the departures of elite defensive backs like Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard, and Tykee Smith, Everette looks to lead this DB group in 2024 along with safety Malaki Starks. Everette was a five-star recruit in the class of 2022. After getting limited playing time in his freshman season, he carved out a significant role in his sophomore year, tallying one interception and five deflections. He has the ideal frame for a corner, standing at 6’1” with long arms and quick feet. Expect a big jump in production this year for Daylen Everette.
2. Conner Weigman
Conner Weigman has struggled to stay on the field as an Aggie, but he’s looked impressive when he has played. In just four games last season, he threw for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns with an impressive completion percentage of 68.9 percent. Weigman was efficient in the running game as well, rushing for over five yards per carry with two touchdowns in 2023. An unfortunate foot injury ended his season, but he seems to be ready to start in a huge week one matchup against Notre Dame. Weigman has already shown that he’s full of talent. The only question is whether he can stay healthy. If he can, his ceiling is as high as any quarterback in the country entering 2024.
1. Nico Iamaleava
The Nico Iamaleava hype train has been running at full speed this summer, but I’ve had my ticket since January. After sitting behind current NFL quarterback Joe Milton, Nico stepped in to lead the Vols’ offense in their bowl game against a tough Iowa defense. He completed 12 of 19 pass attempts for 151 yards and a touchdown and added three rushing touchdowns. In that game, Nico showed composure in the pocket and the ability to fit the ball into tight windows down the field. Offensive-minded head coach Josh Heupel has consistently produced talented quarterbacks dating back to his time at UCF. Iamaleava will be one of the most talented players Heupel has ever coached. I expect this Tennessee offense to put up points in bunches, and Nico Iamaleava will be right at the center of it.
