Not every five-star recruit from the 2023 ESPN 300 was inserted into a starting role as a true freshman last fall, as their ranking would suggest. Sure, Kadyn Proctor started every game at offensive tackle for Alabama, but the top overall prospect, Malachi Nelson, hit the transfer portal after one season.
Circumstance and unknown variables can take precedent over pure talent and often it takes a year of seasoning or depth chart movement for elite prospects to break out in their second year. This ranking omitted any player who started more than two games and quarterbacks such as Jackson Arnold and Nico Iamaleava who broke out in a larger capacity as starters down the stretch of last season.
Nevertheless, keep an eye on these eight players this fall as most will have a significant role in their team vying for a College Football Playoff spot.
We believe the former No. 4 player in the 2023 class will show the trench dominance in Death Valley this fall that he showed for Thompson High School (Alabama) on the way to four state championships. A rotational player last year, Woods still finished with 26 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss for the Tigers. He entered college at 275 pounds, but he’s now tipping the scales at 315 and looks even more explosive off the ball than he did as a high school All-American.
Woods is a quick and agile player who can stack and shed while creating disruption to get after the passer. He had 29.5 sacks in high school and an impressive 72 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, showing his elite burst and motor. Expect plenty of disruption this fall and a career that will outproduce four-time All-ACC selection Clemson DT Tyler Davis.
2024 prediction: 65 tackles, 11 TFL, 6.5 sacks
With the departure of both Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, Haynes is ready to carry the load for the Tide. The No. 2-ranked running back in the 2023 class is battling Jam Miller for the starting spot, but Haynes, who has added 25 pounds since high school, is primed to be the featured back in Tuscaloosa. Out of high school, he had great balance and strength on contact on his way to 7,574 rushing yards and 95 touchdowns. He has only improved that in-line running power and leverage. An underrated trait may be his footwork and…
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