College football’s blue-chip recruits generally live up to their high potential at a commendable rate, but some prospects need more time to develop into standouts than others. Redshirt years and backup roles can go a long way in helping players get acclimated to the college game, and for many of the top recruits in the 2023 class who followed that path last season, a breakout sophomore campaign could be in the cards this fall.
Prized offensive line transfer Lance Heard is among the second-year players who will spend their second college year at a new school as he moved this offseason from LSU to Tennessee, while returners like Oklahoma defensive lineman Adepoju Adebawore are on the verge of steps forward at the schools with which they originally signed.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna and director of scouting Andrew Ivins followed those breakout candidates throughout their rise as high school standouts and into their college careers, and they identified those most likely to flourish on the 247Sports Football Recruiting Podcast.
RELATED (VIP): College football personnel staffers share 30 unheralded offensive recruits in the 2025 class to keep an eye on
Here are the former blue-chip recruits poised for a breakout 2024 season: