College Football's Most Exciting Players for the 2024 Season

As the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, it's fair to expect an unparalleled amount of attention paid to the results of every game.

But we must be careful to not forget the players.

Even if a particular program isn't in the CFP chase, the roster may have a singularly exceptional talent. Sure, a standout like Alabama's Jalen Milroe probably overlaps both categories. However, that shouldn't keep us from enjoying Byrum Brown putting up silly box scores at South Florida or Ashton Jeanty showing off his versatility for Boise State.

The list is subjective—in other words, you're taking a tour through my brain—yet based on past performance and 2024 expectations.

Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff is set to start at quarterback, and Kentucky fans are plenty excited about him. He's never held a significant role in college to this point, though.

Barion Brown, on the other hand, is a proven playmaker.

As a true freshman in 2022, he made 50 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns while returning one kickoff for a score. Last season, Brown's role expanded. Beyond reeling in 43 passes for 539 yards and four touchdowns, he picked up 147 rushing yards and a score and took three kickoffs to the house.

Brown, who peaked at 22.6 miles per hour in 2023, holds the crown as the fastest returning CFB player in 2024.

Are you ready for some Friday night fireworks?

Twice this season, Byrum Brown should open the weekend by tearing up some box scores in prime time. The first one—Oct. 11 against Memphis—may be impactful in the AAC title race, too.

All of that aside, he's a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who helped South Florida snap a five-year bowl drought in 2023. Brown threw for 3,292 yards at a solid 7.7 yards per attempt with 26 touchdowns, adding 809 yards and 11 scores on the ground.

Brown, clearly, has a real chance to become only the 12th player in history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000.

I realize it's not exactly the most shocking thing to include an All-American running back.

Can't really make the list without him, though.

Ollie Gordon II piled up an FBS-high 1,732 rushing yards last season, also checking in second with 21 touchdowns. He shared the national lead with seven runs of 40-plus yards, as well.

The most impressive part is Gordon generated those numbers after holding a minor role early on. He only handled 19 carries in Oklahoma State's first three outings before becoming the featured back and soon posting two remarkable days of 270-plus yards.

After finishing seventh in Heisman Trophy voting last season, Gordon is one of the most respected players in the country.

As if collecting 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns isn't impressive enough, Omarion Hampton created so much of that production.

According to Pro Football Focus, the North Carolina standout paced the nation with 1,072 yards after contact. He forced 67 missed tackles—the 10th-most by a player last season—while also tallying 29 receptions for 222 yards and another trip to the end zone.

Hampton's elusiveness is special.

Since the Tar Heels have a rebuilt offensive line, he might deal with similar blocking issues in 2024. But it speaks volumes about Hampton that UNC can remain a dangerous rushing team anyway.

Few players are truly two-way contributors in today's era, and nobody else comes close to matching Travis Hunter.

The highest-rated recruit of the 2022 cycle, he followed Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado. Although the team struggled overall, Hunter assembled a terrific debut in Boulder.

In nine games, he notched 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns. At cornerback, he recorded 30 tackles with three interceptions and five pass breakups. It's no surprise that Hunter displayed a mix of elite ball skills and anticipation on defense.

Hunter will be a draft-eligible prospect after the 2024 season, so this will likely be his final year in college.

You want exciting? You see that picture, right?

Ashton Jeanty has a penchant for trying to hurdle defenders—oh, and demolishing box scores at Boise State.

In his freshman year, he served as a backup yet totaled 976 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Jeanty moved into the lead spot in 2023, scampering for 1,347 yards and 14 scores with 43 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns to earn first-team AP All-America honors.

Jeanty's efficiency, versatility and creativity will be on full display in plenty of late-night contests this fall.

Briefly benched in September last season, Jalen Milroe ended the campaign with a whole different public perception.

The dual-threat talent averaged 10.0 yards per pass attempt—the third-best clip in the FBS—with 2,834 yards and 23 scores to six interceptions. He added 531 yards and 12 scores with his legs, propelling Alabama to an SEC title and into the College Football Playoff.

And he might be unleashed even more in 2024.

Nick Saban was revered for his defensive knowledge, but Kalen DeBoer is an offensive-minded coach. This new partnership in Tuscaloosa looks hugely promising and, through Milroe, could be electric on the field.

Kaidon Salter is the catalyst of a unique offensive system and the most productive dual-threat QB in the nation.

In other words, he's just plain fun to watch.

Salter dazzled as a full-time starter, passing for 2,876 yards with 32 touchdowns to six interceptions. He rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 scores, as well. Liberty went 13-0 and won a Conference USA title on the path to securing a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.

Be sure to reserve some nights in October to watch Salter, who only plays midweek games during the month.

And if Liberty plays up to its potential behind him, the Flames might just slide into the expanded CFP, too.

Recruit rankings via 247Sports.