College Football Offensive Players Who Will Break Out in 2024

Returning an experienced, star player is the best-case scenario, but many college football teams enter the offseason with optimism about a potential breakout player.

Yes, it stung Oklahoma to lose Dillon Gabriel as a transfer to Oregon. He's one of the most efficient and productive QBs in the sport's history. At the same time, it's understandable that the Sooners are excited for Jackson Arnold to take control of the offense in 2024.

Though not necessarily with identical context, OU's situation is a similar story around the nation.

At other programs, an incoming transfer may be positioned to thrive. Or, perhaps a recent backup is becoming a starter.

Since a list of this nature can rapidly—and properly—become a QB-filled group, I've limited myself to three choices at the position. Otherwise, the choices are focused on running back, wide receiver and tight end.

In the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, Tennessee is turning to recent 5-star addition Nico Iamaleava.

The talented QB played some scattered snaps during the 2023 regular season as the Vols wisely protected his redshirt. He started the Citrus Bowl against Iowa, completing 12-of-19 passes for 151 yards, rushing for 27 yards and totaling four touchdowns in a 35-0 win.

Iamaleava's debut as a full-time starter looks promising.

Leading receiver Squirrel White is back along with an experienced offensive line. Bru McCoy (ankle) missed most of 2023 but is expected to be healthy. And transfer Chris Brazzell II from Tulane should give the offense a lift.

Competing for an SEC title seems like a lofty goal, but Tennessee could be on the fringe of the CFP discussion if Iamaleava matches his billing.

Simply because a backup quarterback thrived in a carefully crafted role doesn't mean he'll excel as the starter.

But I am all aboard the Avery Johnson hype train.

Will Howard has transferred to Ohio State, leaving Johnson—a top-100 prospect in the 2023 cycle—as QB1 at Kansas State. He appeared in eight contests as a true freshman, posting a 37-of-66 line for 479 yards and five touchdowns with 296 rushing yards and seven scores.

Yes, a reshuffled offensive line is worth monitoring. Few programs deserve as much benefit of the doubt up front, though.

Johnson won't have the flashiest numbers, but K-State can compete for a Big 12 crown thanks to his versatility and efficiency.

Not only is Oklahoma making its well-discussed move to the SEC in 2024, the offense is shifting from now-Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby to former North Texas boss Seth Littrell.

Jackson Arnold, like Iamaleava, earned a 5-star billing in 2023 and made his starting debut in bowl season. Arnold didn't fare as well in the Alamo Bowl and tossed three interceptions during the loss, but it was valuable experience for the successor to Dillon Gabriel.

The reality is OU has a brutal late-season schedule next season, so Arnold might not steer a CFP-bound ship in Norman.

Still, this offense should be hugely productive.

Arnold has an explosive target in Nic Anderson, who averaged 21.0 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on 38 receptions as a freshman. Purdue transfer Deion Burks paced the Boilermakers with 47 grabs, 629 yards and seven scores last year. Jalil Farooq (694 yards) and Andrel Anthony (429 in six games) are also back for the Sooners.

Am I overstating the impact of Trevor Etienne's arrival at Georgia? Or is the general media population not respecting it enough?

Since he committed to UGA in late December, the Florida transfer hasn't attracted much attention. Etienne, however, looks like a perfectly timed addition for the likely preseason national title favorite.

In two seasons with UF, he rushed for 6.1 and 5.7 yards per carry. And now, he'll be running behind what's often a stellar offensive line.

Perhaps the tempered hype is because Georgia has leaned on rotations since D'Andre Swift in 2019 and Zamir White in 2020. Fair enough, but Etienne's ceiling is absolutely that of a featured back.

Etienne has 1,200-yard upside on a really, really good team.

Only two offenses recorded a higher per-carry average than Oregon in 2023, but the Ducks must replace the leaders of the group.

Bucky Irving, who paced the offense with 1,180 yards and 11 scores, is headed to the NFL. Dual-threat quarterback Bo Nix—though he didn't run as much compared to 2022—provided a threat with six touchdowns, too.

Good thing Oregon has Jordan James.

Last season, he scampered for 759 yards on a sizzling 7.1 per attempt and matched Irving with 11 trips to the end zone. James chipped in 15 receptions for 132 yards and a 12th score.

James has no shortage of competition; UO added star lower-division transfer Jay Harris, and Noah Whittington should be healthy after a leg injury shortened his 2023 season.

In the pace of Oregon's offense, though, there are plenty of touches. James will be an integral part of a prolific scoring attack.

While he'll be forever remembered in Iron Bowl history for an improbable game-winning touchdown, Isaiah Bond had an up-and-down type of sophomore season at Alabama.

Overall, the wideout caught 48 passes for 668 yards and four scores. Bond eclipsed 70 yards in five outings yet fell shy of 25 in five others.

Texas is a prime spot for Bond to break out, though.

Along with tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, the SEC-bound Longhorns must replace their top three wide receivers. Bond, who transferred after Nick Saban retired, should immediately become the No. 1 option for Quinn Ewers in a rebuilt Texas offense.

Fumbling issues held back Clemson in 2023, but a mediocre passing game certainly didn't help, either.

On paper, the Tigers have plenty of reason for optimism. Dual-threat QB Cade Klubnik is entering a second year in coordinator Garrett Riley's system. The arrival of 5-star TJ Moore is exciting, and Tyler Brown led Clemson with 52 receptions and 531 yards last season.

But the main solution may be Antonio Williams.

Unfortunately for Clemson, a run of injuries led Williams to take a redshirt in 2023. Still, he made 22 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns in five appearances after pulling in 56 passes for 604 yards and four scores as a freshman in 2022.

Williams is probably the boldest pick of this particular group, but a season with 1,000-plus yards and All-ACC honors is doable.

Elsewhere in the ACC, North Carolina State is set to welcome star transfer Grayson McCall. The former Coastal Carolina signal-caller is one of the most efficient QBs in college football history.

Keep an eye on Justin Joly, though.

While playing for a rough Connecticut offense—the team ranked 124th nationally in yards per pass attempt—he still put up 56 receptions for 578 yards. Most notably, Joly notched eight catches for 89 yards in UConn's loss to Tennessee. NC State also had a firsthand look at the tight end when he reeled in four passes for 38 yards during the 2023 opener.

Breakout freshman Kevin Concepcion should be McCall's favorite target after a season with 71 receptions, 839 yards and 10 scores. However, the next-leading returning player is Dacari Collins and his 212 yards.

Should he command a majority of snaps, Joly quietly has All-American upside for the Wolfpack in 2024.