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Identifying and developing the right pass-catchers in recruiting can often change the trajectory of a college program and eventually impact NFL Sundays, too. Ohio State product Marvin Harrison Jr. is a great example. The Buckeyes landed Harrison as an ESPN 300 recruit in 2021 and watched him develop into an elite No. 1 receiver who now ranks as the top receiver on ESPN's 2024 NFL draft board. He's not the only one. Harrison is one of three receivers among the top 10 players on the board along with Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers also ranks in the top 10. All played in prolific offensive systems in college. The next wave is coming. Three of the top five players in the Class of 2024 ESPN 300 are receivers, and there's a cavalcade of options just below them who could quickly step into prominent roles. Let's look at the 10 best pass-catchers in the incoming freshman class and how they fit their respective schemes. 
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama Crimson TideESPN 300 rank: 3  Williams has a chance to become the next Rome Odunze in Kalen DeBoer's offense -- except Williams is faster. The scheme challenges every part of the field. DeBoer loves the vertical passing game, which is where Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is at his best. Williams can play inside or outside, stretch the field and locate voids in zone coverage to go along with the separation skills to get open. Isaiah Bond, Shazz Preston and Malik Benson all left in the transfer portal, creating an opportunity for Williams to play right away. He could quickly become the Tide's best option, similar to when Amari Cooper arrived in Tuscaloosa.
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State BuckeyesESPN 300 rank: 4  Smith projects to play on the outside in Ohio State's offense. He's very similar to Carnell Tate, who flashed promise as a freshman. While neither has blazing speed, their size, agility and ball skills make them very difficult to handle downfield. Ohio State's offense features plenty of intermediate to deep routes that cross the field climbing vertically, especially against zone coverage. Despite Harrison's production, Ohio State's wide receiver corps underwhelmed in 2023. Emeka Egbuka must raise his game, Tate and Brandon Innis are young and Smith will challenge Jayden Ballard for a starting job.
WR Cameron Coleman, Auburn TigersESPN 300 rank: 5  Auburn needed receiver upgrades as much as any team in this recruiting cycle. Does Coleman fit the scheme? Who cares. He should start immediately and brings much-needed natural playmaking ability to the group. Coleman is an outside target who is an asset in the red zone and on contested catches. His ball skills and focus while elevating make the uncommon catch look routine. He is joined by Ohio State transfer sophomore Caleb Burton III and several senior transfers who provide depth, but Coleman will likely be the most talented of the group.
WR Micah Hudson, Texas Tech Red RaidersESPN 300 rank: 22  Hudson joins an Air Raid offense where four-receiver sets are the norm. He'll fit right in with a max speed of 21.4 mph in an offense featuring undersized targets and return men who are almost entirely upperclassman transfers. He will challenge Brady Boyd and Jordan Brown because he can play both inside and out. While Texas Tech's offense will challenge coverages vertically, it really works to get the ball into the hands of players like Hudson either behind the line of scrimmage or in the quick passing game. That will allow Hudson to utilize his speed and open-field agility. Hudson is going to catch a lot of balls in this scheme.
WR Mike Matthews, Tennessee VolunteersESPN 300 rank: 23  Tennessee's offense focuses on isolating targets and creating mismatches downfield. At the same time, the Volunteers look to use their run game to open up the RPO game underneath. They can use Matthews inside, outside and in motion. Tennessee uses wide splits to thin out the box, create more space in the passing game and find one-on-one opportunities. Bru McCoy and Squirrel White return with limited production in the depth behind them. Matthews has an opportunity to get in the rotation.
WR Joshisa Trader, Miami HurricanesESPN 300 rank: 25  Miami spreads defenses out and gets the ball to its playmakers in space. Despite his youth, Trader has a chance to contribute because he's a gifted route runner and can separate from tight coverage. If you can get open, you give yourself a chance to play right away. Trader has the potential to be in the receiver rotation at inside or outside positions. He should also have a role on special teams. Trader enters a pretty crowded receiver room with a mix of experienced upperclassmen and younger players.
WR Bryant Wesco, Clemson TigersESPN 300 rank: 28  Wide receiver was a huge need for Clemson this recruiting cycle, especially when it came to adding speed. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley needs receivers who can run past people, like he had at TCU. The 6-foot-2 Wesco has size and speed, having run a laser-timed 4.55 40-yard dash. Tyler Brown emerged last year as a playmaker, and the Tigers return virtually their entire two-deep at wide receiver this fall. Wesco's speed and explosiveness should allow him to challenge for playing time.
TE-H Jaden Reddell, Georgia BulldogsESPN 300 rank: 51  Georgia loves to incorporate tight ends, and the more athletic the better. Reddell is essentially an oversized receiver becoming an H-back and will eventually fit in really nicely. His college readiness hinges on whether his size and strength will allow him to compete as an in-line player. Reddell is long, skilled and can run -- now he needs to gain weight and strength. However, it's a crowded tight end room with Oscar Delp, Lawson Luckie and Pearce Spurlin III all back in 2024.
TE Landen Thomas, Florida State SeminolesESPN 300 rank: 53  Essentially a jumbo wide receiver, Thomas is really talented. He blends range, size, speed and ball skills. Florida State had great success last year with a similar player in Jaheim Bell before he got hurt, and Thomas is a taller version of Bell. Florida State's tight end room is pretty thin, so Thomas has a great opportunity to find a role as a pass-catching H-back. He'll become a more well-rounded player -- especially as an in-line performer -- as he gets bigger and stronger. Thomas could be a mismatch problem because he can line up outside.
TE Caleb Odom, Alabama Crimson TideESPN 300 rank: 64 Odom is very similar to Thomas and Reddell. He's a long, rangy H-back who can split out and create big mismatches in the slot due to his length and skill set. We discussed above that new coach Kalen DeBoer loves to spread the ball around, especially vertically, but that doesn't mean the tight end gets ignored. Jack Westover caught 46 passes a year ago for Washington at tight end but was really more of a fullback/tight end hybrid. Odom is a true receiving threat and will need to develop into a consistently strong blocker. He's similar to former Alabama tight end O.J. Howard. CJ Dippre is the lone returning experienced target, so Odom could find a role.
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