How 2024 NFL first-round draft picks stacked up as college football recruits

Yes, Caleb Williams was always that good. But he wasn’t the top-ranked quarterback in the recruiting class of 2021. (That guy is still in college.) Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy was as polarizing a college recruit as he is a potential NFL draft pick.

(0:00-3:50) Introduction - NFL Draft

(3:51-7:52) Charles Power and Cody Bellaire Join, Covid's Impact

(7:53-13:29) Caleb Williams, USC

(13:30-17:35) Drake Maye, UNC

(17:36-19:28) Quinn Ewers Discussion

(19:29-24:36) JJ McCarthy, Michigan

(24:37-26:49) Jayden Daniels, LSU

(26:50-29:25) Overall QB's

(29:26-31:31) Jayden Daniels and Innovation in Technology

(31:32-34:51) Favorite Prospect - Brock Bowers, Georgia

(34:52-36:05) Jonathon Brooks, Texas

(36:06-40:36) Can't Miss Recruits: Byron Murphy, Texas

(40:37-43:35) Offensive Line Class: Joe Alt, Notre Dame

(43:36-46:23) Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

(46:24-49:06) Gary Patterson at TCU

(49:07-53:22) Guys Not in the Draft

(53:23-56:59) Significance of Age

(57:00-1:01:00) Guys Not in the Draft, Re-Visited

(1:01:01-1:02:05) Conclusion

On3 director of ranking Charles Power and national scout Cody Bellaire join Andy to share stories about the players who will be drafted beginning this Thursday when they were high schoolers trying to choose where they would play their college ball.

Cody, who used to work in the personnel department at LSU, offers a plausible alternate history where Williams winds up in Baton Rouge playing for Ed Orgeron. Charles discusses how low-key Jayden Daniels' recruitment to Arizona State was. Charles also explains how the Joe Alt who came out of high school in Minnesota was not nearly as easy to project as the version of Alt who is leaving Notre Dame and heading to anchor some NFL team’s offensive line for the next 10 years.

Plus, the guys pay tribute to the Patron Saint of Projection — former TCU coach Gary Patterson.

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