Last week, I featured the top 12 Devy Rankings and the prospects for fantasy diehards. This week, I breakdown another 12 prospects for readers to feast on before the upcoming season.
PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out.
2024 Gridiron Scholar’s DEVY Rankings
WR Tre Harris, Mississippi
During a player’s journey to the NFL, the athlete must face tougher and more arduous competition in order to succeed and impress scouts. Tre Harris has already overcome two hurdles along his trek. He succeeded at the G5 level at Louisiana Tech and excelled last year against SEC opponents at Mississippi. The fifth-year wideout returns to Oxford, MS for another season against the top defenders and hopes to propel himself into the first round of the upcoming draft.
At Louisiana Tech, Harris garnered All-Conference USA First Team (2022) and All-Conference USA Second Team (2021) honors. After transferring to Mississippi, Harris paced the Rebels in yards with 985 and receiving touchdowns with eight on 54 receptions while averaging 18.2 ypc. Entering the 2024 season, he stands among the nation’s leaders in career receptions (160), receiving yards (2,512) and YPC (17.2). Harris has met every new challenge with success. He is an under-the-radar prospect to watch in 2024 and at the top of Round 2 in the Devy Rankings.
Notebook
“Harris was one of the best receivers in the country in his first year transferring to Ole Miss…Harris is a bigger body at receiver who is an excellent route runner and has the ability to make the dynamic plays both on the outside and in the slot.”
– 247Sports
WR Kevin Concepcion, North Carolina State
Whenever a true freshman shines, DEVY managers must readjust their Devy Rankings and perception of a recruit. In high school, Keven Concepcion was tagged as a three-star prospect who enrolled at North Carolina State and immediately made an impact. Not since Bo Hines in 2014 had a true freshman receiver began the season opener for the Wolfpack. Additionally, Concepcion was the first to lead the team in receiving since Hines.
Last year, Concepcion earned the ACC Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Freshman All-American (all-purpose player), and finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. He established a program freshman record for receptions (71) and receiving touchdowns (10) and logged 839 receiving yards. During the offseason, the Wolfpack signed additional receivers to upgrade the aerial assault. Nonetheless, the sensational sophomore will earn targets. As a result, he will get the attention of scouts and DEVY managers.
Notebook
“Offensive coordinator Robert Anae has proved how much trust he has in (Kevin) Concepcion’s intellect by making him the number one option in the offense. Since Concepcion is the number one threat on the opponent’s scouting reports, Anae moves him around a lot on the field with motion, which is a tough concept to learn for anyone, let alone a freshman,” Colby Trotter noted.
RB Devin Neal, Kansas
In a CFF keeper league, I acquired Devin Neal off the waiver wire in 2021. He still anchors my roster today. Neal has registered back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns on the ground. He opens the season as the leading rusher among P4 teams with 3,534 yards. Neal garnered Second Team All-Big 12 last year and honorable mention All-Big 12 two seasons ago. In three seasons, Neal has snatched 52 passes for 457 yards and three scores. At 5-11 and 215 pounds, the senior playmaker has the size, speed, elusiveness, and a resume that will dazzle NFL organizations.
Notebook
“Pro Football Focus thinks next year’s draft is loaded when it comes to the running back position, but they think Devin Neal is one of the best in the class, ranking him third…That is certainly high praise for the running back, but it also sets very high expectations on Neal and the Jayhawks. That’s okay, too,” wrote Joel Wagler.
– throughthephog.com
RB Damien Martinez, Miami
When Oregon State lost a seat at the P4 table after the PAC-12 folded, the Beavers settled for a modified schedule against Mountain West opponents. Alas, Damien Martinez, the team’s star runner, made a prudent decision and jumped ship, joining the Miami Hurricanes.
Over two seasons in Corvallis, OR, Martinez rambled for 2,167 rushing yards on 355 attempts (6.1 ypc) and scored 16 times. In 2022, he earned the Freshman Offensive Player of the Year in the PAC-12. Last year, he was named First Team All-PAC-12, surpassing the century mark six times and failing to exceed 80 yards only twice. With stupendous vision and patience, the bulldozing runner joins a backfield in need of a dominant ball carrier in order to pound opponents. Martinez is poised to increase his draft stock in Miami.
Notebook
“Martinez uses his 6-0, 232-pound frame to sustain volume, but he quietly has extremely impressive throttle control, freedom of motion, and angle freedom on cuts for his size,” noted Ian Cummings.
– profootballnetwork.com
WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
In life, one reaches an age in which staying up until 1 AM gets more and more difficult. I am at that point in my 50’s. Last year, I stayed up for the Colorado-Stanford game, which kicked off at 10 PM ET, to watch QB Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes. At halftime, Colorado led 29-0, and I decided to go to bed. I missed an all-time classic comeback.
The Cardinal won the game 46-43 in 2OTs. WR Elic Ayomanor posted one of those box scores for the ages. He snatched 13 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns, including a 30-yard touchdown in the first OT. I immediately added the Stanford playmaker to the CFF Waiver Wire column and picked him up on four teams.
For the season, the redshirt freshman registered 62 catches for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 16.2 ypc, and earned honorable mention All-PAC-12 and First Team Freshman All-America (PFF). In high school, he ran track-and-field and starred in the 100m (10.76 sec.) and 200m (21.66 sec.) events at Deerfield in Massachusetts. Do not be surprised when Ayomanor, a Canadian, torches ACC secondaries in 2024.
Notebook
“Ayomanor’s 40-yard dash time clocked in at 4.48 seconds when he left high school, according to Medicine Hat News. Couple that with his towering frame—Ayomanor is 6-2, 210 pounds—and it’s little surprise why Stanford’s star pass-catcher has so many admirers.”
– sportingnews.com
WR Zachariah Branch, USC
Zachariah Branch poses a potential conundrum for DEVY players trying to form their Devy Rankings and Dynasty managers. In the Lincoln Riley offensive scheme, a game breaker is not likely to post a majestic production profile. The Trojans’ coach prefers to spread the ball around and rarely features a single receiver. Even a five-star recruit like Zachariah Branch is not likely to be peppered with a plethora of targets in any given campaign.
In 2023, Branch was USC’s first-ever true freshman first-team honors: All-American as a returner (USA Today), All-American as a return specialist (PFF), and All-American as a punt returner (Sporting News). He also captured the Jet Award. This award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding return specialist. As a receiver, he corralled 31 passes for 320 yards and two scores. Additionally, Branch carried the ball nine times for 70 yards and a touchdown. At 5-10 and 175 pounds, the sensational sophomore easily wins one-on-one matchups and can score from any distance on the field.
Notebook
“Branch is the real deal, possessing extraordinary football skills and possibly ranking as one of the most freak athletes in the country. He can achieve a blazing speed of 26 miles per hour…Furthermore, he can perform 20 reps of 225 pounds in the weight room,” stated Ricardo Sandoval last fall.
– si.com
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Few runners in the nation equaled Ashton Jeanty’s outstanding 2023 campaign. The Broncos’ home run hitter scampered for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. More impressively, he recorded 43 catches for 569 yards and five additional scores. He twice surpassed 200 rushing yards in a game—at San Diego State and at Colorado State—and four times eclipsed 100 yards on the ground. Jeanty also recorded over 100 yards receiving twice—at Washington and Air Force.
A four-star recruit, Jeanty played both sides of the ball in high school and sprinted for 1,843 yards as a senior. As a true freshman two years ago, the sleek-footed speedster rushed for 821 yards and seven scores. After two seasons on campus, Jeanty has earned honorable mention All-Mountain West (2022), First Team All-MW (2023) and First Team All-America (ESPN and USA Today). At 5-9 and 215 pounds, Jeanty excels in space and on the perimeter. He uses his vision and quickness to explode up field.
Notebook
“Ashton Jeanty has a short, compact build that allows him to absorb contact and dish it out when needed. When you watch him, he doesn’t shy away from contact unless he sees a hole, and doing so allows him to pick up extra yards,” penned Andrew Harbaugh in the Boise State playmaker’s scouting report.
– vikingswire.usatoday.com
QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
Ranking prospects is difficult. Nonetheless, it is my passion. I am always willing to go against consensus even when it appears unhinged. In 2016, I placed Dak Prescott at QB No. 4 ahead of Christian Hackenberg, Connor Cook, and Cody Kessler. During the 2017 NFL Draft, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes earned higher grades for me than Mitch Trubisky. In 2020, I gave Jalen Hurts a first-round grade and few Dynasty owners listened to my analysis. Last year, I never budged on my love for C.J. Stroud and have zero Dynasty shares of Bryce Young. Of course, I have missed on prospects in the past: All draftniks and scouts do at times.
Once again, my analysis, research, and QB model illuminates Jaxson Dart as one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. The lack of national attention on the Mississippi quarterback is shameful. I will select Dart over Shedeur Sanders—especially considering DEVY draft capital—in all of my upcoming drafts without any reservation.
At 6-2 and 220 pounds, Dart began his college tenure at USC before transferring to Mississippi two years ago. Since arriving in Oxford, MS, the senior dual-threat signal caller has started 25 games, passed for over 6,300 yards, and posted a 43:16 TD-INT Ratio. In three seasons, he has scampered for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Grab shares of Dart now before he catches the eye of DEVY competitors and climbs the Devy Rankings.
Notebook
“Playmaker, first thing I think of. Dart can throw it, has a very strong arm, can get the ball down the field, gets the shot plays where they need to get to. He can improvise and run, and then the (Rebels) have planned quarterback runs off of it too, whether it’s cheat runs, runs up inside and then he can run in between the tackles or outside. A very gifted guy and a lot of ability,” former Texas A&M coach Jeff Fisher said last year.
– saturdaydownsouth.com
RB Jaydn Ott, California
The Golden Bears might reside on the West Coast but now play three games on the East Coast as a member of the ACC. Please explain this to me as if I am an eight-year old: Welcome to College Football in 2024. At least, California can rely on Jaydn Ott, First Team All-PAC-12 runner, to help the transition to a new conference.
A junior, Ott has played in 24 of 25 games with 22 starts and accumulated 2,212 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. He is also a very good pass catcher with 71 receptions for 514 yards and five scores. In 2023, he concluded the campaign No. 3 among active FBS players with an average of 92.2 rushing yards per game. His 119.58 all-purpose yards per game were No. 4 in the nation. At 6-0 and 210 pounds, Ott profiles as a three-down back with great balance and lateral movement in the NFL. As a result, Ott could climb the Devy Rankings in 2024.
Notebook
“Jaydn is a very talented young man, there’s no doubt about it. We are going to make sure Jaydn has the ability to touch the ball. When you have a guy like Jaydn who can run the ball and create explosive plays, we’ve got to be able to take advantage of that and then create some other opportunities elsewhere on offense,” California coach Justin Wilcox stated in the spring.
– si.com
QB Conner Weigman, Texas A&M
Of all the players among the highest-rated Devy prospects in the Devy Rankings, Conner Weigman is the biggest projection as an NFL player. Coming out of high school, the junior earned four-stars and was the No. 1 rated quarterback in the nation by Rivals and ESPN. In high school, he was Offensive Player of the Year as a junior after totaling 51 touchdowns (42 passing and nine rushing) and throwing for more than 3,800 yards while rushing for 581 yards. As a senior, he was a 2022 Under Armour All-American after leading his team to a championship.
In 2022 as a true freshman, Weigman saw action in five games and made another four starts last year before enduring a season-ending injury—broken bone in his right ankle. In two seasons at Texas A&M, he has passed for 1,875 yards, scrambled for 160 yards, and posted an impressive 16:2 TD-INT Ratio. With elite arm talent, the junior is on track to be 100-percent healthy when the season begins against Notre Dame. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Weigman’s ceiling could be reached under new coach Mike Elko, formerly at Duke, and the Aggies’ QB will be a Devy Rankings riser in 2024.
Notebook
“Being away from the game. I love the game of football, and having something you love taken away from you is tough mentally. You don’t realize how much you love something until it’s taken away from you, so I’m thankful to be back with my teammates,” Weigman uttered in the spring.
RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Georgia has produced some of the best running back prospects and many have become stars in the NFL during my 35 years playing fantasy football. Recently, the Bulldogs have not been fertile grounds for ball carriers. The program has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since D’Andre Swift in 2019. Georgia has had no runners selected in Round 1 since Sony Michel in 2018.
After losing their top two runners from last season, the Bulldogs plucked Trevor Etienne out of the transfer portal. The newest member of the backfield is primed for a huge season ahead. Over the past two campaigns in Gainesville, FL, the former Gator produced 1,472 rushing yards on 249 carries and recorded 30 catches for 238 yards. He has also scored 15 times. A downhill runner, Etienne is solidly built at 5-9 and 213 pounds and runs well between the tackles with contact balance and toughness. He is primed to rise up the Devy Rankings this season.
Notebook
“Former Florida tailback Trevor Etienne is the standout of the 2024 transfer class not only for the Bulldogs, but also nationally, per 247Sports. The outlet named Etienne college football’s most impactful addition of the year.”
RB Jordan James, Oregon
Despite losing QB Bo Nix, RB Bucky Irving, and WR Troy Franklin, Oregon still projects to be one of the best teams in the nation. Coach Dan Lanning orchestrates an electric offense that constantly puts pressure on defenders and points on the board. The Ducks finished No. 2 in total offense, averaging 531.4 yards and 44.2 points per game last year.
In the backfield, Jordan James steps to bat with Irving now in Tampa Bay. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.1 yards per carry on 107 attempts, which ranked No. 8 in the country and first in the PAC-12. In a backup role, James gained 759 yards and scored 11 times. At 5-10 and 205 pounds, he is ready for the increased workload and likely to propel himself up Devy Rankings over the next six months.
Notebook
“I think Jordan is running like an angry guy, which is exactly how you want your running back to run. He’s out here and has really improved this spring,” coach Dan Lanning stated in April.
– registerguard.com
See more on DEVY Rankings from John Laub here: 2025 Devy Rankings with John Laub | 2024 Fantasy Football
