Jake Majors is getting some love as an NFL draft prospect.
After taking the Big 12 crown in 2023, the Texas Longhorns watched as 11 of their players were selected in the 2024 NFL draft. That was a school record during the seven-round era. The most all-time came in 1984 when 17 players were picked over 12 rounds.
The 2024 NFL draft began with defensive lineman Byron Murphy II going to the Seattle Seahawks and ended with Jordan Whittington getting selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round.
As we embark on a new season and new challenge for Texas in the SEC, they should once again have plenty of their players in the running to be drafted to the NFL. Top prospects for the upcoming class will be quarterback Quinn Ewers, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., and edge rusher Trey Moore.
According to Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports, Texas center Jake Majors is among the less talked about NFL draft prospects for the 2025 cycle. Majors is heading into his fifth season with Texas. He has started 41 games and appeared in 42 total during his collegiate tenure.
Majors is a tough, physical blocker and an excellent technician, but it’s his leadership and intelligence that set him apart. He has the ability to anchor against power and is a finisher. Majors has seen it all going into his fourth year as a starter.
The offseason is flying by and we are now just 71 days away from the start of the Kalen DeBoer era of Alabama football!
In 71 days, Kalen DeBoer will usher in a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football, replacing the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] as head coach in Tuscaloosa.
Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Aug. 31 to kick off the 2024 college football season inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will count down the days until Alabama football takes the field.
With just 71 days remaining, we look at the last Tide player who wore No. 71, [autotag]Darrian Dalcourt[/autotag].
Dalcourt started a lot of games for the Crimson Tide throughout his career, mostly at center but would go undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft. Dalcourt would then quickly be signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.
Jalyn Gramstad announced on social media that he will be playing for Nebraska this season. He made the announcement following his participation at the Huskers postgraduate camp earlier this month.
Gramstad previously played four seasons at Northwestern College, taking the backfield at quarterback. Gramstad led the Red Raiders to a 14-1 season, falling in the NAIA Championship. The Lester, Iowa native led the team with by throwing for 3,681 yards, 35 touchdowns and just nine interceptions with an NAIA-leading 67.8% completion percentage. He also rushed for 780 yards and eight touchdowns on 780 rushing yards.
This performance earned Gramstad the title of NAIA Player of the Year to cap off a stellar career at Northwestern College. Through 52 games, he threw 438 completions off 647 attempts for 6,237 passing yards and 60 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,822 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns off 327 carries.
Gramstad now joins a quarterback room that includes five-star freshman Dylan Raiola, Bellevue West star Danny Kaelin and Heinrich Haarberg.
According to PFF’s simulations, Duke should be expected to win 6.2 games, putting them right on the knife’s edge for making the postseason. The percentages work out as a 61.2% chance to make a bowl game next season.
The Blue Devils finished as the 10th-highest ACC team in the rankings. Florida State (seventh), Clemson (15th), and SMU (17th) each cracked the top 20, with the Mustangs joining the conference for the first time alongside California and Stanford.
North Carolina, one of the nine teams in the conference ranked above Duke in the list, slotted in at 25th.
Duke’s 2024 season gets underway on August 30 against Elon. Read Duke Wire’s game-by-game predictions for the upcoming season here.
Predicting breakout stars isn’t an exact science. A lot of times it just comes down to opportunity. That is one thing that sophomore defensive back Malik Muhammad should have a lot of in the 2024 season. The team lost some talent on the backend who contributed to the Big 12 championship team.
Muhammad appeared in all 14 games as a true freshman in 2023, making two starts for Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense. He tallied 31 tackles, four pass breakups, and snagged one interception. Muhammad also contributed on special teams with a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners.
According to Will Backus of CBS Sports, Muhammad is one of the top breakout candidates not only for Texas but at the national level as well.
Malik Muhammad, Sophomore Cornerback
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
“Ryan Watts is off to the NFL and Terrance Brooks transferred to Illinois, leaving Texas with an opening at each of its starting outside cornerback spots.” Backus continues, “Muhammad was actually first off the bench when Brooks missed a couple games due to injury in 2023, which means Texas’ coaching staff already has deep trust in the potential star.”
There is already a ton of confidence in the second-year player. Muhammad finished No. 8 on the team in total snaps played. The aforementioned Brooks was the cornerback to play more snaps than Muhammad. His 79.9 coverage grade from PFF was the best on the team.
These two feel like the most obvious choices outside of Muhammad. Johntay Cook II feels like the safest choice for the bunch given his role will likely increase this upcoming season.
PFF ranked teams in FBS 1-131, where does Texas land?
The Texas Longhorns will be tested in the 2024 season with huge matchups during the inaugural campaign in the SEC. Of the Longhorns’ 12 opponents, they will face three teams that were ranked in the final US LBM top 25 coaches poll (Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma).
The opening game will be a tune-up when the Horns welcome the Colorado State Rams to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in week 1. Texas then heads to Ann Arbor for a date with the defending national champions, the Michigan Wolverines. Despite the losses, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked them as the No. 3 team in their power rankings.
According to PFF, the other top-five team that the Longhorns will face is Georgia. The Bulldogs have a mid-October date with the Horns in Austin. Texas comes in at No. 2 overall with a projected win total of nine games. They have a 95.55% chance to make a bowl game and a 7.63% chance to win the College Football Playoffs national championship.
The excitement of the 2024 college football season continues to build after last year’s success and what is going on for the Texas Longhorns on the recruiting trails. On Monday, Texas landed a commitment from five-star quarterback Dia Bell of the 2026 cycle.
The quarterback factory continues to churn after landing the pledge of the No. 2 quarterback in the 2026 class. In recent years the Horns have landed Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning, and now Bell. We will dive more into recruiting in the coming weeks. For now, our focus shifts back to the 2024 season.
As Texas prepares for the uptick in the competition that the SEC provides, the Horns have a chance to return to the upper echelon in 2024. Many are calling for Texas to contend, including Fox color commentator Joel Klatt.
According to Brad Crawford of 247Sports, he expects that Texas will finish the 2024 regular season in the same manner as the 2023 season. Last year the Horns were 11-1 heading into the 2023 Big 12 championship game and could be 11-1 heading into the 2024 SEC championship game this year.
You may not see it now, but this Texas team may have the it factor as conference shocker in 2024. The Longhorns are one of the new kids on the block, but they’re not going to take lumps and bruises in the SEC with this roster. It’s too good. And a Week 2 win at Michigan is going to send a ripple of momentum through the locker room, much like last year’s early win at Alabama provided. Once Texas gets past Michigan, Oklahoma and Georgia, this schedule softens a bit prior to the season finale against Texas A&M. That’s where a perfect season ends, one week prior to SEC Championship weekend when the Longhorns have already clinched a spot in the game.
It makes sense that we could see a team already clinched for the SEC title game prior to the season finale and I doubt they don’t try and punch the Aggies in the mouth for that final game.
Joel Klatt is buying in when it comes to Texas and their national championship hopes.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is entering his fourth year in charge of the program, and the expectations in Austin are higher than they have been in over a decade. The Longhorns are coming off their first-ever College Football Playoffs appearance in 2023, and with the Playoffs expanding to 12 teams, the expectation is to be back competing for a national title.
Despite the expansion, the Longhorns’ path to the post-season may be even more difficult this year as they will have to navigate their transition to the Southeastern Conference. Texas’s year one schedule is brutal, including the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, the No. 1 ranked pre-season Georgia Bulldogs, and bitter rivals Oklahoma Sooners all in the first seven weeks.
With Quinn Ewers returning for his third season as a starter and one of the top receiving cores in the nation, it is easy to see why many people have Texas as a top-five team in the country. It also doesn’t hurt that the Longhorn’s defense is one of the best in the nation as they were the No. 3 ranked rush defense, the No. 15 scoring defense, and the No. 2 third-down defense.
FOX Sports college football expert Joel Klatt is all in on Sark and the Longhorns in 2024 despite all the changes coming to the Forty Acres this fall. Klatt believes Texas not only can compete for an SEC title, but a national title as well.
“A culture within the building that is vibrant and authentic,” Klatt said of Texas. “I think that the players understand he really cares about them… I could not be more bullish on Texas football right now. In large part because I’ve known Steve (Sarkisian) for a long time. When I sit with him now, I sense something really special.”
Now, with a major target on their back, will the Longhorns be able to rise the challenges again in 2024?
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A look at second-year wideout Johntay Cook II as he heads into the 2024 season.
Texas Longhorns wide receiver [autotag]Johntay Cook II[/autotag] heads into his sophomore season on the Forty Acres in 2024. One of the top three receivers in the 2023 recruiting class saw the field in a reserve role last season but did appear in all 14 games for the Burnt Orange.
Cook was targeted on 12 of his 45 offensive snaps last season and mostly saw action as an outside receiver for the Longhorns. He averaged just over eight yards per reception after the catch. The sophomore wideout could be a YAC king in 2024 should he see a larger share of the targets.
With the 2024 college football season fast approaching, our preview continues with Johntay Cook II’s player profile.
Cook has a shot to be a starter when the Texas Longhorns open the 2024 college football season against Colorado State. The team lost three starters but replaced them with quality receivers. Matthew Golden seems to be the guy to man the slot with Isaiah Bond playing at the Z wide receiver spot. This gives Cook the X spot with competition from a pair of freshman receivers.
Predicting the top breakout star for each SEC team in 2024.
On Jul. 1 the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners officially join the SEC as the No. 15 and No. 16 members of the most dominant football conference in the country. The Longhorns are coming off a College Football Playoffs berth and have aspirations to do the same in 2024.
For these teams to be successful in 2024, they will need some players to be breakout stars for their roster. Last year, Texas got breakout performances from wide receiver AD Mitchell and running back Jonathon Brooks.
Here are the top candidates for each team in the new-look SEC for the 2024 college football season.
Germie Bernard, WR: Alabama
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Germie Bernard comes over from Washington where he played under head coach Kalen DeBoer last season. Before his lone season at Washington, Bernard played his freshman season with Michigan State. During his two seasons at the collegiate level, Bernard accounted for 41 receptions, 547 yards, and 6 total touchdowns. He could more than double that in the upcoming season under DeBoer as one of the primary receivers.
The former dual-threat signee at Texas will enter his first season with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Jackson spent the last three seasons with Utah where he converted to running back. With Raheim Sanders gone, the Hogs will need Jackson to carry the brunt of the load for the offense. If he does, perhaps Sam Pittman can avoid the axe.
Cam Coleman, WR: Auburn
Auburn needs a serious bump on the offensive side of the ball after last year’s showing. Payton Thorne feels like a progress stopper at quarterback but hopefully getting the ball in the hands of the five-star signee can give this offense the juice it needs.
Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
The former Wisconsin Badgers wideout took the path of former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz by transferring to Florida. The new Gators wide receiver is familiar with Mertz having played with the quarterback from 2020 to 2022. Perhaps he can burst onto the scene at a national level as former ASU WR Ricky Pearsall did with Mertz as his quarterback. Dike has accumulated 97 receptions for 1,478 yards and 10 total touchdowns over four seasons in Madison.
Oscar Delp, TE: Georgia
Replacing the production of Brock Bowers at the tight end position is no easy task but Oscar Delp is the next tight end up. He has the size to be a problem for opposing defense and played alongside Bowers for the last couple of seasons. Delp racked up 29 receptions for 345 yards and four touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Sure the quarterback feels like an easy target but if the Wildcats want to contend in the SEC and College Football Playoffs, they need to get more out of the position. Former UGA passer Brock Vandagriff will have a great opportunity to show why he was highly touted coming out of high school. Dane Key will be a major weapon for him to get the ball to in the upcoming season.
SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
When it comes to projecting the next breakout star down on the bayou, it is hard to go anywhere else but to the wide receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers were massive for this team last year and now Garrett Nussmeier needs to find a go-to target. Lacy is a guy that can line up inside and outside to take advantage of matchups. Last year was the best season of his four-year collegiate career. As a super senior, expect him to get a bulk of the targets.
After the failed experiment with Zach Arnett leading the team, MSU is going back to the Air Raid principles with Jeff Lebby taking over as head coach. Former Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen is replacing the Bulldogs’ all-time leading passer, Will Rogers, and his top target is likely former Louisville Cardinals wideout Kevin Coleman.
Marcus Carroll, RB: Missouri
Former Georgia State running back Marcus Carroll is taking a big step up in competition coming to the SEC. Carroll is looking to replace the production of Cody Schrader, who rushed for 2,372 yards and 23 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Carroll rushed for 2,136 yards and 22 touchdowns in four seasons with the Panthers. The plus is that Missouri has one of the best offensive lines in the country blocking for him.
Jackson Arnold, QB: Oklahoma
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Former five-star signee Jackson Arnold is the next benefactor of the quarterback transfer carousel. Dillon Gabriel left for Oregon and now Arnold gets his opportunity to shine. Provided he limits the turnovers from his coming out party in the Alamo Bowl, he should do just fine with the Sooners.
Once again we are looking at Antwane “Juice” Wells to take a big step forward in 2024. This time he is doing it with a new team. Jaxson Dart should look for him early and often but there are a plethora of receivers to get the ball to in this offense so Wells doesn’t have to be the guy. Wells only played three games due to injury last year and only caught three passes.
Nyck Harbor, WR: South Carolina
Nyck Harbor is a dynamic athlete and what better spot for him than the wide receiver position? With Wells now at Ole Miss, the Gamecocks will need him to take on a larger role. Harbor caught 12 passes in 12 games for South Carolina with just one touchdown. I would be shocked if he doesn’t lead the team in receiving this year given his talent level.
Nico Iamaleava, QB: Tennessee
Another season another new quarterback for the Tennessee Vols. Former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is poised to lead the high-powered offense that will feature top returning receiver Bru McCoy. He will be joined by former Tulane wideout Chris Brazzell. This move should prove to be an upgrade from last year’s offense led by Joe Milton.
Texas continues to produce top running backs over the last several seasons. Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, Jonathon Brooks, and Keilan Robinson all moved on to the NFL. CJ Baxter, who filled in for an injured Brooks, is set to take on the lead role along with Jaydon Blue and Tre Wisner. Expect Baxter to see the bulk of the work.
Conner Weigman, QB: Texas A&M
Weigman enters another season coming off a season-ending injury. Should he stay healthy, the Aggies will benefit from it. Over two seasons playing in nine games, Weigman has completed 61.8% of his passes for 1,875 yards and 16 touchdowns. Texas A&M is hopeful that this is the year for the former five-star signee.
Picking a breakout star for the Commodores is a tough one but quarterback Deigo Pavia is familiar with playing for a team that historically hasn’t been great at football in recent memory. He helped lead a New Mexico State Aggies squad that won 17 games over the last two seasons. Before 2022, the team won a combined 18 games since 2016.
