Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Georgia’s Joenel Aguero lead college football’s second-year breakout stars in 2024

College football players often make the biggest jump between their first two years in a program. Given the sport’s accelerated schedule, where athletes can transfer at any time if their current situation is undesirable, sophomore jumps have become an expectation.

There is a lot of talent in the 2023 recruiting class ready to make a big impact this year. Some of the top 2023 prospects, like USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, have already made a tangible difference for their respective teams and are touted as surefire difference makers.

In addition to prolific names like these, several key defenders from this cycle are expected to begin working across the country, but we’ve already analyzed the 2024 outlook for star-studded crop of second-year quarterbacks. This list aims to identify a few players beyond the quarterback position entering their second year who could become stars on a national scale.

Many of these 2023 signees will have an impact on the race for an expansion spot College football Pay. Here’s a look at college football’s second-year players who could make the biggest jump heading into the 2024 season.

Georgia has plenty of secondary depth to replace later NFL and transfer matches from the portal. Included is a vacancy at the STAR position, which has big holes to fill with a history of standouts like Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith. While there is still open competition, Aguero worked with the STAR starting lineup in the spring and started there in Georgia’s spring game. It will be difficult to take the 1.70 meter Aguero off the field; The former five-star’s development will be key to Georgia’s defense as a whole.

Considering how well Georgia recruits the secondary, Harris would have had difficulty finding field consistently earlier this year despite his former five-star status. Penn State offers him the opportunity to secure a starting role, something he appears to have accomplished after a strong spring with the Nittany Lions. He has the physicality to excel in the Big Ten and led all defenders with seven tackles in Penn State’s spring game.

Alabama will take a committee approach to replacing top rusher Jase McClellan. Haynes will be one of the best hands in the rotation. He is the home run threat in a backfield that features a handful of power options, with excellent one-cutting ability and explosion in open space. This is evidenced by his 6.7 yards per carry as a freshman.

Lance Heard, OL, Tennessee

Heard, the No. 3 offensive lineman in the class of 2023, initially signed with LSU and spent his freshman season as one of the Tigers’ top backups. Given the depth chart ahead of him in Baton Rouge, filled with young starting options, Heard transferred to Tennessee as one of the best offensive linemen in the portal. He will start at left tackle immediately for the Vols, tasked with protecting the new starting quarterback and the blind side of former five-star Nico Iamaleava.

Hicks is versatile and athletic enough to slot in anywhere along the defensive line, which is great news for a Texas A&M team that has plenty of production to replace in the trenches following the departures of key defensive linemen Walter Nolen (Ole Miss). and McKinnley Jackson (NFL). The No. 1 defensive lineman in the class of 2023, per 247Sports, Hicks had two tackles for loss and a sack as a freshman and started his first career game in the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State. He has a lot of potential to build on.

Florida needed a more dynamic linebacker to run alongside veteran starter Shemar James, a former all-star player. After losing Howard out of high school, the Gators secured his services through the transfer portal after he spent a year at South Carolina. In his only season with the Gamecocks, Howard showcased his talent despite limited opportunities, with 19 tackles and a forced fumble. He’s the type of box-to-box defender SEC programs need to patrol the middle of the field.

Lane already turned heads in USC’s 2023 Holiday Bowl win against Louisville, when he caught three passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns, establishing a rapport with quarterback Miller Moss. He parlayed that momentum into a big offseason with significant playing time up for grabs. At 6-foot-5, Lane has a huge catch radius and should win 50-50 balls more often.

Ryan Watts went to the NFL and Terrance Brooks transferred to Illinois, leaving Texas with a vacancy at each of its starting positions outside of cornerback. In fact, Muhammad was the first one off the bench when Brooks missed a few games due to injury in 2023, meaning the Texas coaching staff already has deep confidence in the potential star. He rewarded that faith with 31 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections.

Perkins had a quietly productive first season at Ole Miss, securing his place as a key figure on the defense with 38 tackles, 5.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Two of those sacks came in notable performance against conference foe Alabama. Now, he will play a central role on an Ole Miss team that has generated considerable offseason excitement as it prepares for a potential run in the College Football Playoffs.

Ohio State doesn’t rebuild at wide receiver, it simply reloads. The Buckeyes are replacing an All-American and top NFL Draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. and still boast one of the best receiving corps in America thanks to consistent additions of elite players like Tate. The former No. 22 in the nation had 264 receiving yards and a touchdown as a freshman and should see much more with a starting role expected on the board.

Oregon has seven deep forwards who will likely rotate a lot of players, but few have more upside than Uiagalelei. He has already had three tackles for loss and two sacks in his first year of college football and offers versatility with the option to line up at outside linebacker or defensive end for the Ducks. He will play both this fall, providing him plenty of opportunities to blow his impressive freshman production out of the water.

Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, the team’s two best players, are leaving for the NFL. The Seminoles removed receivers Malik Benson (Alabama) and Jalen Brown (LSU) from the transfer portal, but the team has high hopes for Williams as an inside option to pick up the slack. The former five-star recruit had five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown and showed some playmaking ability with his relatively limited opportunities.

LSU’s defensive issues are well publicized at this point. The Tigers struggled in big games and weren’t good at rushing the passer outside of Harold Perkins Jr., who presents himself as more of a box linebacker with elite pass rushing tendencies. A big jump from Wommack, who had 1.5 sacks in 12 games as a freshman, would be a much-needed salve. Wommack, who possesses an explosive first step, has all the tools to be a consistent terror off the edge.