There are a lot of talented players returning to college football for the 2024 season. Many of them are entering the season as juniors, and this year will be a very important year for many of them.
Most high-profile juniors will be eligible for the NFL Draft, so for some, this is their last chance to make an impression and increase their respective draft stock. As a player enters his junior year, he usually also has a better understanding of the scheme and position he is playing.
Let's take a look at the top juniors at each position returning to college football in 2024. We use statistics, Pro Football Focus grades, system type, and a combination of teams to play next season to determine each selection.
We have also included honorable mentions where applicable.
It would help bring an experienced player like Malachi Starks back to safety as the Georgia Bulldogs prepare to replace a future NFL star on defense in 2024.
Over two seasons, Starks totaled 120 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 passes defended. Getting him back would help soften the blow of losing experienced safety Tykie Smith to the NFL.
Honorable Mention: Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa State
Nwanka was the top safety in the country last season, according to Pro Football Focus' above-average wins. He totaled 42 tackles, one interception, and two passes defended.
Will Johnson was talented enough to start as a true freshman at Michigan in 2022. He led all Power Five cornerbacks in man coverage with a 91.1 grade and posted a 21.1 passer rating with the Wolverines last season, according to PFF.
He totaled 54 stops in two years, with seven interceptions and seven passes defensed.
Special Award: Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame Cathedral
As a true freshman in 2022, Morrison tied for second in the nation with six interceptions. He had 13 forced incompletions last season, according to PFF. Morrison will lead Notre Dame's defense and aim to push the Fighting Irish to a playoff berth in 2024.
Tennessee is trying to qualify for the playoffs in 2024. Edge rusher James Pierce Jr. will lead the defense in that direction.
Last season, he had 10 sacks, tied for first in the SEC. He also had a pass rush grade of 92.4, which ranked third in the nation, according to PFF. He also had a 52-yard pick-six in Tennessee's Citrus Bowl win over Iowa State.
Pierce appears poised for his most productive season to date.
Special Award: Nic Scoulton, Texas A&M
Skorton could help lead Texas A&M to a surprising 2024 in head coach Mike Elko's first season. Skorton, who spent the first two years of his career at Purdue, had 10 sacks last season. He finished third nationally in run defense tackles with 25.
LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. had a phenomenal season as a true freshman in 2022, totaling 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception. In his game against Arkansas alone, he had six solo stops, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
He wasn't as productive in 2023 as LSU moved him to the off-ball linebacker position, but he still finished with a coverage grade of 81.1, ranking him in the top 15 among all linebackers in the country according to PFF. We'll see if he's used in a pass-rushing role with the Tigers in 2024.
Honorable Mention: Jayshawn Barham, Maryland
Barham had a great season as a freshman at Michigan, totaling 58 stops, 6.5 points allowed and four sacks. He was limited a bit in 2023 due to injuries and finished with just 37 tackles for the Wolverines last season. He transferred to Maryland and is expected to bring veteran leadership to the Terps' defense in 2024.
Mason Graham contributed to Michigan's defense as a true freshman in 2022, making 27 stops and 2.5 sacks. But he had a breakout season en route to the Wolverines' national title, finishing with a pass rush win percentage of 15.9 percent and becoming the fourth most valuable defensive tackle in the country, according to PFF.
Special Award: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Nolan signed into Texas A&M's 2022 class as a five-star recruit and the nation's No. 1 defensive line prospect. As a true freshman in 2022, he recorded 29 stops, one sack, and a forced fumble and recovery in 10 games. He had 37 tackles, 8.5 points and four sacks last season. Nolen will play at Ole Miss in 2024 alongside Lane Kiffin and is expected to have his best season yet.
Quinshon Judkins comes to Ohio State after two sensational seasons at Ole Miss. During that span, he gained 2,725 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. He averaged five yards per carry and led all Power Five backs in rushing yards, yards after contact and forced missed tackles over the past two seasons, according to PFF.
Judkins should have another great season in Columbus, adding quarterback Will Howard, a transfer from Ohio State, and returning receivers Emeka Egbuka and Treveyon Henderson to new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's plans. is.
Special Award: Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
I prioritized Judkins over Gordon because he had a more productive freshman season and his ceiling could be a bit higher at Ohio State. But Gordon put up bigger numbers last year than Judkins did in his first two seasons, leading the nation with 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Parker Brailsford will follow head coach Karen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama, starting at his new school in 2024.
Thanks to Brailsford, Washington was able to build one of the most consistent offensive lines in the country all season, with just 12 sacks. His run blocking grade of 80.7 was second among Power Five centers last season, behind only 2024 draft pick Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon State.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Booker, Alabama
Booker earned a starting spot as a sophomore in 2023. He allowed just 2.5 sacks and 4.5 pressures on 676 snaps, according to the school.
Will Campbell stepped onto campus in Baton Rouge and earned a starting spot as a true freshman in 2022. Since then, he has been a consistent presence on LSU's offensive line.
According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell is the fifth-highest valued offensive tackle in the Power Five, three of whom are 2024 draft picks.
Honorable Mention: Kelvin Banks, Texas
Like Campbell, Banks has been a starter since his true freshman season in 2022. Last season, he allowed pressure on just 2.3 percent of his pass-blocking snaps (per PFF).
Michigan will be replacing a lot of talent in 2024, including quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Collum and lead receiver Roman Wilson. So having an experienced tight end like Colston Loveland will be huge for new head coach Sherone Moore.
Loveland finished second on the team in receiving yards last year with 649 yards and four touchdowns. According to PFF, Loveland was in the 97th percentile among all tight ends in the nation with an 88.7 percent open target rate. He showed off his athleticism with this touchdown catch against Purdue in the Big Ten title game.
Special Award: Jack Verring, Michigan
Over the past two seasons at Oregon State, Belling had 45 receptions for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished eighth nationally in the Power Five with 13 catches of 15 or more yards last season, according to PFF. He plans to attend Michigan State in 2024 after following head coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing.
Teitairoa-McMillan had a productive season as a true freshman in 2022, finishing with 702 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. But last season, his sophomore year, he was Arizona's top receiver with 90 receptions, 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Impressively, McMillan had the lowest drop rate of any Power Five receiver with at least 100 targets, according to PFF.
McMillan is expected to have another big season in 2024 as starting quarterback Noah Fifita also returns to Tucson. The duo is expected to be competitive as Arizona moves into the Big 12 under new head coach Brent Brennan.
Special Award: Luther Baden III, Missouri
Like McMillan, Baden also broke out in 2023. He finished third in the SEC in receiving yards last season with 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Cook also returned this season.
One of the most surprising signal callers to return this offseason was Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. He had his most productive season to date in 2023, completing 69 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for five touchdowns, leading Texas to its first College Football Playoff appearance.
Part of the reason for Ewers' return may be his desire to finish the season fully healthy. He has missed 10 games over the past two years with a shoulder injury. In 2022, he injured his non-throwing shoulder and missed six games. He missed four games last season due to a problem with his right shoulder.
If he can avoid injuries, this could be Ewers' best season yet. Texas returns four starters on the offensive line, and the Longhorns transferred receiver Isaiah Bonds and tight end Amari Niblack from Alabama this cycle.
Honorable Mention: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Milroe bounced back impressively last season from coming off the bench in Week 2 against USF. He led the Tide to a victory over undefeated Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and finished with over 200 yards in eight games. Let's see how he fares in a new system under new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and new head coach Karen DeBoer.
