The key newcomer for every team in the Top 25 college football rankings
The College Football Playoffs were held more than a month ago, and national signing day was just last week.
With that in place and the transfer portal stabilizing, the majority of schools are aware of their rosters going into spring practice. They will be happy to have new players join them, whether they are highly recruited high school prospects or new transfers.
Let’s examine which of Mark Schlabach’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 rookies could have the biggest impact or be the most significant for each team.
CB Ellis Robinson IV, the top recruit in the 2024 class, is the top newcomer.
Through recruiting and the transfer portal, Georgia was able to sign a number of high-profile players, such as wide receiver London Humphreys and running back transfer Trevor Etienne, who both fill needs. However, Robinson is this recruiting cycle’s top prospect. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback from IMG Academy is expected to make an immediate impact as a new member of the Dawgs. He fits the mold that coach Kirby Smart and his staff are looking for in a corner and will contribute to the longstanding tradition of excellent secondary players. — VanHaaren, Tom
After Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse, Howard ought to take over. Howard will be asked to assist in improving Ohio State’s passing game, which finished the 11-win season with an average of 269.1 yards per game (30th in the FBS) and a total offense (407.9 YPG) that ranked 47th nationally. After leading K-State to the Big 12 championship the year before, he was 7-3 as a starter the previous year. During the previous season, Howard ran for 300 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing for 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns. In the offense led by new playcaller Chip Kelly, which also includes Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins, five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (No. 7 overall in 2024), and running back TreVeyon Henderson, he could be a multifaceted playmaker. — Baumgartner Blake
Bo Nix steps down and is replaced by Gabriel as Oregon moves from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. After throwing for 3,660 yards (sixth in the FBS) and 30 touchdowns (eighth nationally), Gabriel will be held to extremely high standards. The Ducks boasted the greatest passing offense (346.9 YPG) and the second-best total yards offense (531.4 YPG) in the country in the previous campaign. After attending both UCF and Oklahoma, Gabriel gained a great deal of experience as a quarterback. In his five years there, he has thrown for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. Can Gabriel, who has one more season remaining, help the Ducks gain some of the last few inches they missed in two defeats to Washington in the midst of a 12-win season in 2023? — Baumgartner
Bo Nix steps down and is replaced by Gabriel as Oregon moves from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. After throwing for 3,660 yards (sixth in the FBS) and 30 touchdowns (eighth nationally), Gabriel will be held to extremely high standards. The Ducks boasted the greatest passing offense (346.9 YPG) and the second-best total yards offense (531.4 YPG) in the country in the previous campaign. After attending both UCF and Oklahoma, Gabriel gained a great deal of experience as a quarterback. In his five years there, he has thrown for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. Can Gabriel, who has one more season remaining, help the Ducks gain some of the last few inches they missed in two defeats to Washington in the midst of a 12-win season in 2023? — Baumgartner
WR Isaiah Bond, who transferred from Alabama, is the top newcomer.
Due to the departure of both star receivers Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy to the NFL this offseason, the Longhorns faced a severe shortage at receiver. In 2023, the two accounted for 1,859 of the team’s 4,047 receiving yards and 16 of the team’s 25 receiving touchdowns. Bond has already played in the SEC, having amassed 668 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore at Alabama in the previous campaign. Bond should be a top target and assist in replacing the departing talent at quarterback when Quinn Ewers returns in 2024. — VanHaaren
QB Riley Leonard, who transferred from Duke, is the top newcomer.
A year ago, Sam Hartman made a highly publicized transfer from Wake Forest to Notre Dame. This time, an additional import from the ACC will replace him. Leading the Blue Devils to a 4-0 start, Leonard was one of the early surprises of the season. Leonard passed for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2022, but his injury limited him to just seven games in 2023. In winning at least ten games for the second time in three seasons, the Fighting Irish’s offense (432.2 YPG) placed 29th in the nation. Leonard can keep the Irish offense on course if he can maintain his health. — Baumgartner
