National Signing Day 2024: Three Big Winners

National Signing Day 2024 has delivered a surge of excitement for college football fans, and while the recruiting process isn’t entirely over with February’s late signing period still to come, this week set the stage for the 2025 class. Here, we spotlight three programs that emerged as big winners.

Oregon Ducks: A Recruiting Class for the Ages
No program had a better early signing period than Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks. Oregon not only dominated in terms of volume but also quality, securing commitments from some of the most coveted players in the nation.

The Ducks pulled off a series of jaw-dropping flips, including five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord from Ohio State, four-star quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele from Cal, and four-star linebacker Gavin Nix from Miami. They also solidified their offensive line by flipping in-state four-star Zac Stascausky from Washington and bringing in four-star offensive lineman Alai Kalaniuvalu.

Adding to their star power, Oregon landed the No. 1 wide receiver in the class, Dakorien Moore, and five-star wideout Dallas Wilson. Defensive reinforcements included four-star defensive end Tobi Haastrup, whose potential is sky-high. With this incredible haul, the Ducks are poised to challenge for the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class when all is said and done.

Florida Gators: Flipping the Script
Billy Napier and the Florida Gators delivered a statement with their meteoric rise in the recruiting rankings. Just weeks ago, the Gators were outside the top 50, but they now sit firmly inside the top 10—a remarkable turnaround for a program determined to make noise on the national stage.

Florida signed 23 players, including 14 four-stars and 11 ranked in the top 300 by the major recruiting websites. The Gators were especially active in flipping commitments, including offensive tackle Tavaris Dice from Auburn and running back Byron Louis from Florida State. On defense, Florida added four-star safeties Hylton Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward Jr., bolstering a unit that already included four-star linebacker Ty Jackson and cornerback Ben Hanks Jr.

Offensively, four-star wide receiver signees Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery add explosive playmaking to the roster. With a well-rounded class, Napier has not only improved Florida’s immediate talent pool but also silenced critics following last year’s struggles.

Michigan Wolverines: Making a Statement
​Michigan’s recruiting efforts this cycle were nothing short of transformative under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines stunned the recruiting world by flipping five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect, from LSU—a move that became the biggest story of the 2024 cycle.

Moore’s staff locked down the state of Michigan, signing the top four players within its borders. This class includes five-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall and five-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. The Wolverines also added high four-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola to bolster the trenches.

On the defensive side, Michigan put together one of the most complete classes in the country, signing four-star safety Elijah Dotson, versatile safety Kainoa Winston, and top-100 athlete Jordan Young. Edge-rusher Julius Holly and defensive tackle Nathaniel Marshall round out a class that will keep opposing offenses on their heels for years to come.

-Brad Fowler, Pint Glass Football

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