Ranking the 10 most hyped college football recruits ever ft. Arch Manning, Dylan Raiola, and more
In the modern sports world, it is easy for a player to receive an astronomical amount of hype. College athletes sign NIL deals and can receive better compensation than some professional athletes.
Dylan Raiola and Arch Manning are two of the most hyped prospects. Both QB prospects have an NFL connection with their fathers' and grandfathers' playing in the league. Both QBs are talented signal-callers who will have the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Let's rank the 10 most hyped college football recruits in history:
#10) Dylan Raiola, Georgia Bulldogs (QB)
The hype for Dylan Raiola has peaked and he is the top QB recruit in the 2024 class. Raiola has NFL bloodlines, with his father playing a decade in the league. He has the prototypical measurements and a rocket for an arm, meaning not only does the college teams love him, but the NFL has a keen interest also.
#9) Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns (QB)
The grandson of Archie Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli has arrived in Austin. Arch Manning could have gone to a school associated with his illustrious family lineage, but he wants to make his own path. Manning has been crowned the savior of Longhorns football, so there will be plenty of eyeballs on him.
#8) Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma Sooners (RB)
NFL scouts would say that Adrian Peterson, as an incoming freshman, could have skipped college and entered the NFL draft. Peterson was a man amongst boys, even at the college level. He had the strength to run through you and the speed to run by you. As a true freshman, Adrian Peterson finished second in the Heisman Trophy. Peterson would eventually head to the NFL, becoming a league MVP.
#7) John Elway, Stanford Cardinal (QB)
John Elway is considered by many to be the most talented athlete to grace a football or baseball field. The NFL and MLB both drafted Elway. He was a natural at the QB position and was already a legend before taking a snap at the NFL level. Elway's 1983 NFL draft holdout is legendary, but it winded up in a Hall-of-Fame career.
#6) Vince Young, Texas Longhorns (QB)
Vince Young was a rare physical specimen at the QB position. Young confounded opposing defenses with how to stop the dual-threat weapon. He capped off one of the greatest games in college football history, leading the Texas Longhorns to a National Title over the USC Trojans.
#5) Peyton Manning, Tennessee Volunteers (QB)
Peyton Manning followed in his father's footsteps as a prodigious QB. Peyton Manning was the high school player of the year, and off he went to the University of Tennessee to become one of the greatest college football quarterbacks ever.
Manning would eventually win Super Bowl rings for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, leading to a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame induction.
#4) Randy Moss, Marshall Thundering Herd (WR)
Randy Moss is perhaps the most gifted athlete on a football field we have ever seen. Moss was not only the best football player during his high school years in West Virginia but also the best basketball player in the state.
Due to some off-the-field concerns, Randy Moss never played a down for Notre Dame or Florida State but starred for Marshall, leading them to the Division I-AA title. Moss would eventually become one of the greatest receivers in the NFL, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
#3) Marcus Dupree, Oklahoma Sooners (RB)
Marcus Dupree is considered by many to be the most coveted high school RB ever. Dupree's game film became a legend and folklore. He captivated college football fans with a blend of speed and power never seen before. Unfortunately, Dupree fizzled out following his freshman season and never became much in the NFL.
#2) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers (QB)
Trevor Lawrence was the golden arm, who immediately paid dividends for the Clemson Tigers. Lawrence is still considered one of the greatest high school QBs ever. Lawrence led his high school team to two state championships and then, as a freshman, took the Clemson Tigers to the National Title.
#1) Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina Gamecocks (DE)
Rarely do you encounter a physical specimen seen in high school who lives up to enormous expectations during his college career and becomes the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Jadeveon Clowney was just that, a force of nature, and his physical gifts translated into a future NFL Pro Bowler.
There are many that consider him to be a risk, due to his injury history. But when he is on the field and healthy, Clowney is a force to be reckoned with.