Every college football season produces a group of surprise stars.
While we ranked the top 100 players going into the season, there are still more players whose talents and potential are known within their programs, or even their immediate areas, but have yet to display them consistently on bigger stages. Most have been backups or shared starting roles, and some are transfers who have impressed their new coaches and teammates during the past few months. Some might even be starters who have yet to earn league or national recognition.
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, for example, started four games in 2022 and had some promising moments. But few outside of South Bend would have pegged him to win the Bronko Nagurski Award last fall as the nation's top defender, after he led the FBS with seven interceptions and earned unanimous All-America honors.
Every team has players generating behind-the-scenes buzz. I asked coaches around the country to identify them and tell me why. My goal was to include a healthy cross section of teams, positions and player types (returnees, transfers -- even a freshman).
The time has come to get smart about the 2024 season. Here are 32 sleepers to track from around college football when the games begin later this month.
Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan Wolverines
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 247 pounds
2023 stats: 10 games played, mostly on special teams, 1 reception for 8 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 18 tight end, No. 80 in Georgia
Primary tight end Colston Loveland is a national name, arguably the front-runner for the Mackey Award, and a potential NFL first-round draft pick in 2025. But Michigan also expects big things from Klein, a native of Germany who grew up playing soccer and only began football in 2017, finishing his high school career in Georgia. New Wolverines offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell is looking for ways to use Klein alongside Loveland and try to gain advantageous matchups against safeties.
Coach's take: "Physically, trait-wise, he's the best tight end I've ever been around, and I've been around Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, Erick All, Luke Schoonmaker, even Colston Loveland," Campbell told ESPN. "Marlin's faster, bigger, not as fluid, but the kid is an extreme freak of nature."
Marvin Grant, S, Kansas Jayhawks
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
2023 stats: Started all 13 games, 52 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 36 safety, No. 11 in Michigan (signed with Purdue)
Grant is one of the more established players listed here, as he started at Purdue in 2021 and has 52 tackles in each of the past two seasons for Kansas. Coach Lance Leipold thinks Grant could break out this season, as the Jayhawks lose second-team All-Big 12 safety Kenny Logan. Some of Grant's best solo tackle totals came later in the season -- he had seven against Oklahoma and six against Texas Tech. He shared time with O.J. Burroughs opposite Logan.
Coach's take: "It's the healthiest he's been. Marvin, he's 6-2, you don't always look that way," Leipold told ESPN. "Later last year, I started seeing him show up at the line of scrimmage and I'm like, 'OK, it's starting to make sense.' Kenny Logan got a lot of publicity, but we need Marvin to give us steady plays."
Evan Svoboda, QB, Wyoming Cowboys
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
2023 stats: 10 games (one start), 23-of-38 passing for 200 yards, 1 interception, 80 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated
Svoboda will be one of the more intriguing players in the Group of 5, as his measurables jump out, especially at a school that discovered Josh Allen and turned him into an NFL first-round draft pick. Svoboda spent a season at Snow College, where Josh Heupel once played quarterback, before sitting out the 2022 season at Wyoming. Svoboda played behind Andrew Peasley last season but saw his most extensive action against eventual Big 12 champion Texas, passing for 136 yards with his lone interception. First-year coach Jay Sawvel, who faced Svoboda in practice as the team's defensive coordinator, thinks the junior "can make every throw."
Coach's take: "Behind closed doors, we're expecting big things from him," Sawvel told ESPN. "His first college start in front of 100,000 people against a playoff team, and he belonged. He's got the command of the team, he's got leadership. There's not an element that's missing. There's not too many guys like him at any level, who look the way he looks, physical size, ability, arm strength. He is a huge piece of what we hope will be a good year."
Cale Sanders Jr., S, SMU Mustangs
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 189 pounds
2023 stats: 14 games (eight starts), 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 7 pass breakups
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 100 athlete, No. 200 in Texas (signed with Fresno State)
SMU's defense didn't get enough credit for the team's American Athletic Conference title push in 2023, and Sanders played an important role in his first year with the Mustangs. He didn't earn all-league recognition but showed natural playmaking ability, tying for the league lead in forced fumbles and finishing third on the team in pass breakups. He enters the fall with 21 career starts and 83 tackles, 63 of which are solo.
Coach's take: "He's a bigger guy," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee told ESPN. "He could play corner but we put him at nickel. We could use him as a half outside linebacker, half safety. He's a really active guy. Like a bigger version of [Lamarcus] Joyner from Florida State. He can cover, he can tackle. Just really versatile."
Audavion Collins, CB, Penn State Nittany Lions
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 178 pounds
2023 stats: 4 games as reserve, 3 tackles (all solo), 1 tackle for loss
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 77 cornerback, No. 83 in Georgia (signed with Mississippi State)
Penn State has a high bar for contributors in the secondary, where Kevin Winston Jr., Jaylen Reed and others return, but cornerbacks Daequan Hardy and Kalen King are off to the NFL. Coach James Franklin expects big things from Collins, who redshirted at Mississippi State in 2022 before seeing the field a bit for Penn State, including against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. Collins was among the team's biggest standouts during the offseason.
Coach's take: "He's put on size, strength, speed. Very, very productive for us in practice," Franklin told ESPN. "He's one of those guys nobody is talking about. Obviously, when you lose two corners, essentially, to the NFL, that was a question mark going into the season. We want well-rounded guys who can do it all, and that's what he's shown he can be."
Sean Martin, DL, West Virginia Mountaineers
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 295 pounds
2023 stats: Started all 13 games, 27 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 QB hurries, one blocked field goal attempt
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 80 defensive end, No. 1 in West Virginia
Martin is a familiar name to West Virginia fans, given his roots within the state and time in the program. But he could emerge as a bigger name within the league and nationally, as he enters his third season as a starter. Martin has a big frame and the ability to disrupt offenses in different ways. He had four sacks in 2022 and 13 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. After being limited in practices last fall by illness, Martin has been a full participant this offseason.
Coach's take: "He's got really long arms, can run, can move, and he's shown flashes," WVU coach Neal Brown told ESPN. "He can be a second-, third-round pick in the [NFL] draft. And because he's got all the measurables, he's going to play consistently, with a better motor. If he can do that, he's got a real opportunity to make a big jump."
Jordan Clark, S, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 181 pounds
2023 stats: 11 games at Arizona State (10 starts), 50 tackles (30 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 9 pass breakups
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 33 cornerback, No. 17 in Louisiana (signed with Arizona State)
After Watts' rise in 2023, it only made sense to include another Notre Dame safety. Clark's name likely will jump out more than others listed here, as he's the son of former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. He joins a gifted Notre Dame secondary that includes Watts and Benjamin Morrison, considered a top NFL draft prospect at cornerback. Clark has been active with 66 solo tackles the past two seasons, as well as three interceptions in 2022. He has 17 career passes defended.
Coach's take: "He's football savvy, a term that's sometimes hard to describe," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN. "He has a great feel for coverage, a great feel for blitzing, a great feel for understanding football. He does some things that you don't always coach, just a natural feel for the position, an ability to get his job done, an ability to find the ball carrier, an ability to make plays."
Anthony Smith, DL, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 285 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games as a reserve, 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 62 defensive end, No. 16 in Pennsylvania
Smith came to Minnesota as somewhat of a project. He redshirted in 2022, appearing in only two games. He played behind a starting defensive front that didn't change much last fall but flashed the ability to disrupt ball carriers. Smith's size and skill set should allow new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to use him at several line positions, and log more overall snaps.
Coach's take: "I love everything about him," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck told ESPN. "He was a true developmental player, but he can play 3-technique, he can play 5-technique. It wasn't about whether he was going to break backboards in high school, but how many backboards was he going to break? He collected them. This kid is an absolute monster."
TeRah Edwards, DL, Illinois Fighting Illini
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 305 pounds
2023 stats: 12 games as reserve, 13 tackles (5 solo), one-half tackle for loss
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 34 offensive guard, No. 10 in Ohio (signed with Northwestern)
Edwards brings experience from two Big Ten schools after beginning his career at Northwestern, where he played sparingly. He has appeared in all 25 games during his two seasons at Illinois, all as a reserve, but should get a bigger opportunity this fall as part of a revamped defensive line that loses Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jer'Zhan Newton, an NFL second-round draft pick, and others.
Coach's take: "He has changed his body, playing really at a high level," Illini coach Bret Bielema told ESPN. "We've had two straight years of really good nose play, and I think he's going to be a continuation of that. He's leaned his body up, doing hot yoga on his own. We've really empowered him, given him a lot of trust, and he's done an unbelievable job of leadership on the defensive side. That maturity factor, more than anything, has caused his game to rise."
Cam Cook, RB, TCU Horned Frogs
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
2023 stats: 9 games as a reserve, 16 carries for 58 rushing yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 26 running back, No. 60 in Texas
TCU is looking for a lead back following Emani Bailey's departure to the NFL. Bailey was the only Horned Frogs running back to eclipse 18 yards on a rushing play last season. Cook, who had 27 yards on four attempts in a blowout win against BYU, provides an explosive element that could help this fall. He averaged 9.4 yards per carry as a high school senior and 8.4 yards during his prep career in Round Rock, Texas.
Coach's take: "I think the guy's dynamite," TCU coach Sonny Dykes told ESPN. "He's a big-play guy. He runs with power, but he's a big play waiting to happen."
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Huskies
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 209 pounds
2023 stats: 14 games (one start), 5 receptions, 51 yards, 5 punt returns for 28 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 69 wide receiver, No. 7 in Washington
Washington is resetting at a lot of positions, including wide receiver, after losing Rome Odunze (first round, No. 9 overall), Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) and Jalen McMillan (third round) to the NFL draft. Boston, a decorated local recruit, had a tough time seeing the field behind those three, but will get his chances this fall. New coach Jedd Fisch sees similarities between the big-bodied Boston and Tetairoa McMillan, who earned third-team All-America honors for Fisch at Arizona last season.
Coach's take: "He was probably one of the best receivers in the country that no one knows about," Fisch told ESPN. "If he wasn't behind Rome Odunze, he would have had 1,000 yards last year. ... He makes all the great plays and all the great catches and competes for the ball at all times at the highest level and just no one's talking about it, because he didn't play."
Mike Green, DE, Marshall Thundering Herd
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 238 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games (one start), 43 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 41 outside linebacker, No. 11 in Virginia (signed with Virginia)
Marshall loses Owen Porter, a two-time first-team All-Sun Belt selection who finished his career with 19 sacks and 43.5 tackles for loss. Green, a transfer from Virginia who flashed pass-rushing prowess while playing behind Porter last season, is set to fill the void. Marshall coach Charles Huff gushed about Green's athleticism, which showed down the stretch last fall with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in the final five games.
Coach's take: "He's in the top three or four defensive ends that I've been around," Huff told ESPN. "I'm talking about Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat, Will Anderson, and he's the real deal. Owen Porter had 10 sacks for us two years ago. [Green] might get 15 or 20. And I'm not exaggerating."
Brandon Cisse, CB, NC State Wolfpack
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot, 182 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games in reserve role, 10 tackles, 1 interception
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 108 cornerback, No. 19 in South Carolina
He logged 142 snaps as a true freshman, mostly in the dime package, and should play a bigger role in NC State's secondary, which loses standout cornerback Shyheim Battle to the NFL. Cisse recorded his lone interception on the final play of NC State's 20-6 win against Miami. An early enrollee, he has now been through two full offseasons with the Wolfpack and has competed to start opposite All-ACC cornerback Aydan White.
Coach's take: "He's got everything, he just needs to play," NC State coach Dave Doeren told ESPN. "He's smart, competitive, fast, quick, high football IQ, tough. He won't have any adjustment to being a starter."
Ty Benefield, S, Boise State Broncos
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 204 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games (5 starts), 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 6 pass breakups
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 160 safety, No. 162 in California
After an impressive true freshman season, Benefield is poised to contend for all-league honors and possibly more, as Boise State chases its first CFP appearance. The son of former CFL player Daved Benefield became a bigger contributor as the 2023 season went along, and had a breakout performance against Utah State with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. He had a season-high eight tackles in Boise State's bowl loss to UCLA.
Coach's take: "He's got a great physical skill set," Broncos coach Spencer Danielson told ESPN. "He's tall, he's long, he can run, he can tackle, he can blitz, but the separator for him is his mentality. He lives in the film room. He's the guy I'm telling, 'Go home.' I look out on the blue [turf] on a random day and he's working on his get-off and his technique."
Ethan Barr, LB, UCF Knights
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
2023 stats (Vanderbilt): Started all 12 games, 55 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 40 inside linebacker, No. 189 in Texas (signed with Vanderbilt)
UCF's offense is generating most of the attention, but Barr should help a defense that showed improvement down the stretch of the 2023 regular season. A two-time captain at Vanderbilt, he recorded multiple tackles in every game last fall, and comes to UCF with 218 career tackles. Barr had his best season in 2021, when he had three interceptions to lead SEC linebackers and racked up 85 tackles (44 solo).
Coach's take: "That leadership and toughness really stood out to me," Knights coach Gus Malzahn told ESPN. "That presence, that voice, can bring everybody together. We lacked some playmakers on defense last year, so we brought in him, [Cincinnati transfer] Deshawn Pace, [Ole Miss transfer] Ladarius Tennison and some others."
Sutton Smith, RB/KR, Memphis Tigers
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 185 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games (two starts), 63 rushes for 305 yards and 2 touchdowns, 18 receptions for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, 21 kickoff returns for 509 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 82 running back, No. 117 in Georgia
The excitement is building around Memphis and an offense led by star quarterback Seth Henigan, but the Tigers have other ways to attack. Smith is a versatile option for coach Ryan Silverfield, averaging 4.8 yards per carry during his first two college seasons. He also contributes as a receiver and serves as Memphis' primary kick returner, where he averaged 24.2 yards per runback with a 78-yarder against Charlotte. Silverfield sees similarities between Smith and Kenneth Gainwell, who starred for Memphis as both a runner and a receiver, before moving on to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Coach's take: "He will line up all over the field," Silverfield told ESPN. "Great vision, speed, and he can make cuts on a dime. He could easily be a wide receiver for most teams with his versatility."
Jaylen Lloyd, WR, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 180 pounds
2023 stats: 10 games (one start), 6 receptions, 237 yards, 3 touchdowns, 4 rushes for 11 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 107 wide receiver, No. 8 in Nebraska
Lloyd could be a significant asset for Nebraska's offense and decorated freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. His first career score was a 73-yarder against Purdue, and all three of his touchdowns stretched at least 58 yards. Lloyd, who also competed in jumps for Nebraska's indoor track team, became the first Huskers freshman since 2002 to record touchdown receptions in consecutive games, as he found the end zone against both Wisconsin and Iowa in 2023.
Coach's take: "He had six catches last year and three of them were for 50-yard touchdowns," Nebraska coach Matt Rhule told ESPN. "He'll be a real guy. He's just explosive, fast."
Marcelles Williams, CB, USC Trojans
Class: Freshman
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds
2023 stats (high school): 65 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, 1 blocked field goal attempt for St. John Bosco High School in California
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 170 overall, No. 19 cornerback, No. 17 in California
USC's defense will be under the microscope with a new staff and needs contributors to emerge throughout the unit. Williams is the team's second highest-rated defensive recruit behind end Kameryn Fountain, and Williams has impressed since enrolling early. The Trojans' secondary is transfer-heavy, like other areas of the roster, but Williams could develop into a reliable, multiyear option for new coordinator D'Anton Lynn as the team tries to improve the nation's No. 101 pass defense.
Coach's take: "I don't like to anoint freshmen a lot, but Marcelles came in as a true freshman this spring and was a really consistent performer for us," USC coach Lincoln Riley told ESPN. "We were really, really impressed with him. He's got a chance to be a really good player."
Joshua Simon, TE, South Carolina Gamecocks
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 259 pounds
2023 stats: 12 games (four starts), 28 receptions, 256 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated (signed with Western Kentucky)
Simon stood out for Western Kentucky early in his career, recording 30 catches as a true freshman and 66 during his first two seasons. He had a solid first year with the Gamecocks, when he shared time with All-SEC standout Trey Knox, catching a pass in each of his final eight games and providing some highlight plays against Florida (33-yard touchdown) and consecutive games of more than 60 receiving yards against Vanderbilt and Jacksonville State. Simon could have an even bigger role in his second year with the team.
Coach's take: "He's a big body, strong and can run," Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer told ESPN. "He was productive at WKU before coming here. Trey's gone now and Josh has stepped up. He's really good with the ball in his hands in space. It's hard for one person to bring him down."
Nate Matlack, DE, Pittsburgh Panthers
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 250 pounds
2023 stats (Kansas State): 12 games as a reserve, 15 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 blocked kick
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 55 defensive end, No. 5 in Kansas (signed with Kansas State)
Pitt is looking for more pass-rushing prowess and thinks it found it with Matlack, who showed effectiveness in spurts during his career at Kansas State. He had 9.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss despite not being a regular starter for the Wildcats. The transfers of Dayon Hayes and Samuel Okunlola to Colorado, and linebacker Shayne Simon moving on to the NFL, will free up opportunities for Matlack on the edge.
Coach's take: "He's a great athlete, he fits our scheme, fits our 4-3," coach Pat Narduzzi told ESPN. "He was playing in a 3-4 [at Kansas State]. We loved his tape and he's been all that, watching him. Maybe some people didn't want him, but I'm fired up that we got that guy."
Trech Kekahuna, WR, Wisconsin Badgers
Class: Redshirt freshman
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 187 pounds
2023 stats: 5 games as reserve, 4 receptions, 64 yards, 2 kickoff returns for 54 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 31 athlete, No. 4 in Nevada
Wisconsin seeks a big jump in production from its Air Raid-style offense in Year 2 of the Luke Fickell regime. The Badgers saw Will Pauling emerge as a top receiver in 2023, and they expect Kekahuna to help in the slot role. A broken bone in Kekahuna's foot limited him early in his true freshman season, but he played in the final five games and recorded all of his receiving production against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Kekahuna grew up in Hawai'i and stood out in track in high school, which he finished near Las Vegas. He could also be a factor on returns.
Coach's take: "He's a little bit different," coach Luke Fickell told ESPN. "He's in that slot mold, but he might be our best guy with the ball in his hands after the catch. You'll see him a little bit in the return game, too. Will had [74] catches last year. The best thing that could happen for us is Will doesn't have that many catches because we have the ability to spread it around more."
Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona Wildcats
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
2023 stats: 13 games (12 starts), 55 tackles (31 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 9 pass breakups
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated
Stukes is one of the more established players on this list, starting 24 games during the past three seasons and recording 128 tackles and 22 pass deflections. But he hasn't received the same recognition as Arizona's other standouts. The veteran also impressed new coach Brent Brennan during the offseason. He provides leadership and versatility to a secondary that also includes NFL draft prospect Tacario Davis at cornerback.
Coach's take: "He's probably the best player on our defense," Brennan told ESPN. "He's a big-ass nickel who can play corner. He's a stud and can run with everybody on the field. He's awesome."
Antonio Doyle Jr., DE, UNLV Rebels
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 255 pounds
2023 stats (Jackson State): 11 games (10 starts), 44 tackles (16 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 108 overall, No. 10 outside linebacker, No. 3 in Missouri (signed with Texas A&M)
Rebels coach Barry Odom reunites with Doyle, who had committed to him at Missouri before Odom was fired. Doyle instead went to Texas A&M, where he played sparingly before transferring to Jackson State. He finished second on the team in sacks last fall and could help a UNLV defense that didn't have anyone record more than three sacks last season.
Coach's take: "Pass rush, he can be a special guy," Odom told ESPN. "He's kind of flying under the radar, people have forgotten. He was a top-100 recruit, had some growing up to do, but he's seen the light and he looks special. He's got a six-month mission to make it work."
Isaac Smith, LB, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds
2023 stats: Missed season with foot injury. Recorded 14 tackles, 3 for loss and 1 sack in 2022
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 112 defense end, No. 20 in Oklahoma
Smith was pegged for big things in 2023 before an ACL tear in the preseason sidelined him for the season. He started the final two games of his redshirt freshman season in 2022, recording 11 tackles and three tackles for loss, including a sack in the Texas Bowl win against Ole Miss. At 6-foot-6, Smith stands out among the Red Raiders' linebackers and linemen, and he gives coordinator Tim DeRuyter another piece to attack opposing quarterbacks.
Coach's take: "I thought we had a really deep room, the outside linebackers and defensive ends, but I didn't realize how much we're going to miss his toughness," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told ESPN. "I was talking to our strength coach and he says, 'Man, people are going to look up Week 1 and say, there's No. 17 again.' I think Isaac's got a chance to make a big impact on this defense."
Seth Anderson, WR, Iowa Hawkeyes
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds
2023 stats: 14 games (eight starts), 11 receptions, 150 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 3 rushes, 50 rushing yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated (signed with Charleston Southern)
Iowa desperately needs help in the passing game for quarterback Cade McNamara. Wide receiver play has dropped off dramatically in recent years, but Anderson showed some promise in his first season with the Hawkeyes. He had a 36-yard touchdown catch against Utah State and a 30-yard run against Western Michigan. Although Anderson was limited by midseason, he had a catch in four of Iowa's final five regular-season games.
Coach's take: "He's fast and he's fluid," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz told ESPN. "He got injured a little bit last year, he wasn't confident. He's operating at a different tempo right now. Again, we don't have demonstrated production in that room, so everybody's got an opportunity."
Ayden Greene, WR, Virginia Tech Hokies
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
2023 stats: 12 games as a reserve, 5 receptions, 56 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 56 wide receiver, No. 15 in Tennessee
The Hokies return top two receivers Jaylin Lane and Da'Quan Felton, as well as versatile running back Bhayshul Tuten (27 receptions in 2023), but Greene is pegged to take on a much bigger role in the passing game. Green had only one game with multiple receptions in 2023 but stood out in spring ball. He will give quarterback Kyron Drones another capable target as Virginia Tech tries to boost a passing offense that ranked 95th nationally in 2023.
Coach's take: "As talented as that [wide receivers] room is, if you had ranked the guys coming out of spring, he would have gotten a lot of first-place votes," Hokies coach Brent Pry told ESPN. "He does everything very, very well. He's not just a guy that can run, he's not just a guy that has ball skills, he's not just a guy that runs good routes, he's not just a guy that works. He does it all. When he's healthy, he's arguably the most talented guy in the room."
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 209 pounds
2023 stats (Washington): 14 games (7 starts), 34 receptions, 419 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 13 carries for 43 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 233 kick return yards, 43 punt return yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Four stars, No. 202 overall, No. 27 wide receiver, No. 5 in Nevada (signed with Michigan State
Bernard was the No. 4 wide receiver at Washington, playing behind three NFL draft picks, but projects for a more featured role after following Kalen DeBoer and the coaching staff to Alabama. His name has resonated during the offseason as a possible top target for Jalen Milroe. Bernard, who started his career at Michigan State, had multiple receptions in nine games last fall and broke out against Arizona with 98 receiving yards on eight receptions, plus a rushing touchdown.
Coach's take: "He's done a really good job, just an all-around receiver," DeBoer told ESPN. "He can go up and win 50-50 balls. He can catch balls over the middle and do things with the ball in his hands, break tackles and bust off explosive plays. There's just a lot that he can do. Good hands, consistent, big body that can run."
Joshua Harris, DL, North Carolina Tar Heels
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
2023 stats (Ole Miss): 13 games (1 start), 13 tackles (4 solo)
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 33 defensive tackle, No. 20 in North Carolina (signed with NC State)
Harris returns to his home state and to the league (ACC) where he started his career at NC State. He has 60 career tackles in mostly a reserve role, but he could take on a more significant role with the Tar Heels under defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and veteran line coach Ted Monachino. Harris takes up a lot of room in the middle of the line and will help stuff the run, an area where the unit struggled last season (90th nationally).
Coach's take: "He's a run stopper up front, big body," Tar Heels coach Mack Brown told ESPN. "He'll be an inside guy, but he can still move some. He's really agile to be so big, but he's also got quickness and can help dominate the line of scrimmage. We have to stop the run better."
Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee Volunteers
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 200 pounds
2023 stats (Tulane): 13 games (8 starts), 44 receptions, 711 yards, 4 touchdowns
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Three stars, No. 177 wide receiver, No. 194 in Texas (signed with Tulane)
Brazzell wouldn't be characterized as a sleeper with his previous team or league, as he earned third-team All-AAC honors after leading Tulane in receiving last fall. He now tries to build his reputation in the SEC and joins a Vols receivers room that includes proven players in Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and Dont'e Thornton Jr., as well as incoming freshman Mike Matthews, an ESPN five-star recruit. But Brazzell has impressed his new coaches, and not just with the big-play ability he displayed at Tulane (seven catches of 30 yards or longer).
Coach's take: "He's a guy that pops out for us," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told ESPN. "He has length, athleticism, has the ability to be extremely explosive vertically but he's gifted that way too, sticks his foot in the ground. He's got great ball skills and he's got a great catch radius."
Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds
2022 stats (Arkansas State): Sat out 2023 after multiple transfers. 12 games (11 starts) in 2022, 50 receptions, 655 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated (signed with Arkansas State)
New Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby is looking for players who can spark his high-powered offense, and Traore has stood out during the offseason. A native of London, England, he had a later introduction with football and played the 11-man game for only one season in high school before landing at Arkansas State, where he earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022 after leading the team -- and tight ends in the conference -- in receiving. Traore had seven games with four or more catches that fall. He initially transferred to Colorado in 2023 before ending up with Mississippi State.
Coach's take: "He can do it all," Lebby told ESPN. "He can play in the slot, can play in-line, can play in the backfield. He's got this incredible flexibility from a position standpoint that gives us a chance to be really, really multiple, and create a bunch of different issues from a matchup standpoint. He's got a chance to have a ton of production and be a huge, huge part of our success this fall. Obviously, he's a little bit limited because he's not this 6-5, 255-pound in-line guy, but the way he throws his body around is exactly what you want."
Teddye Buchanan, LB, California Golden Bears
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 235 pounds
2023 stats (UC Davis): Started 11 games, 71 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 quarterback hurries
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated (signed with UC Davis)
Buchanan isn't a known name at the FBS level but thrived in the FCS for UC Davis, where he had 208 tackles (14.5 for loss) in 36 games and had multiple interceptions in each of the past three seasons. He twice led the team in tackles and showed effectiveness both as a run stopper and in pass coverage. Buchanan recorded an interception against Cal in the 2022 opener and should be an immediate contributor to the Bears' linebacker group.
Coach's take: "If he plays like he practices, he could have a big year," Cal coach Justin Wilcox told ESPN. "Size, speed, professionalism -- he's done a really good job. Him and Cade Uluave, that's a pretty dang good tandem right there."
Nate Noel, RB, Missouri Tigers
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
2023 stats (Appalachian State): 11 games (10 starts), 173 rushes, 834 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 16 receptions for 86 yards
ESPN recruiting snapshot: Not rated (signed with Appalachian State)
Missouri returns several key pieces on offense, including wide receiver Luther Burden III and quarterback Brady Cook, but must replace Cody Schrader, the SEC's leading rusher in 2023. Noel arrives from Appalachian State with 3,074 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He was the Mountaineers' rushing leader in each of the past three seasons and led the Sun Belt with 1,126 rushing yards in 2021. Noel has 14 career 100-yard rushing performances and will help anchor Missouri's backfield.
Coach's take: "Great speed and vision, hands out of the backfield, he's really good," Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz told ESPN. "With all the attention on the wideouts and Brady [Cook], it puts him in position to be undercounted."