Today’s weekly 247Sports rankings are once again focused on movement in the 2024 class as the next Top247 update for this cycle looms in March. A week ago we delivered a huge batch of updates that included nearly 20 players, and today we’re announcing noteworthy adjustments to the double-digit outlook for 2024 and a couple of intriguing estimates for the end of 2023.
Florida State leads the latest edition of 247Sports Weekly Ranking Notes with three new four-star prospects wielding Top247 potential in the coming weeks. Another four-star player from Florida joins a pair of new four-star players from Alabama and a four-star West Coast offensive player. Here’s the rundown, starting with a big front-line defender whose stock is clearly on the rise.
“We called LJ McCray “Alpha Dog” at a Seminole show in the former Soviet Union last summer after seeing him move around Florida. Roderick Kearney and other future Power Five linemen. We obviously liked what we saw about McCrae back then, but we wanted to go back to his junior season before giving him a four-star prospect label. Well, McCray did nothing but impress last fall when he played both sides of the ball for the Daytona Beach mainland team that played the Florida 3S state title.
“There was a time when McCray called himself a tight end, but it is clear that his future is in the defensive line as he is a big, functional athlete who can fend off blockers with his reach. McCray rises to 90th place in the ranking and enters the Top247 list. He returned to Tallahassee last month for an unofficial visit and also attended Juniors Day in Florida.” — Andrew Ivins, 247Sporting Director of Scouting
The Sunshine State is known for its wide receivers, and one of our favorite cuts of last season’s highlights came from the Catholic Club of Tampa. Terrence Moore. He made a high-level tackle streak easy en route to a junior campaign in which he caught 42 passes for 1,021 yards (24.3 yards per reception) and scored 13 points. Moore also watched the role last month at the busy Battle Miami event when he passed an eye test with a frame that pushes 6ft 3in. He will need to eventually improve his long speed if he wants to reach his full potential, but his secure arms and jumps can be liked (he has a school-record 6-foot high jump effort on the ledger).
“Moore rises to 90th place in the ranking and enters the Top247 list. He recently toured Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh. Clemson and many others are also recruiting.” Andrew Ivins, 247Sporting Director of Scouting
“Orlando (FL) Evans Security Brandon Jacob is another promising object from Florida, which we have been following closely since the summer months. It has the frame everyone wants on the back (measuring just under 6ft2, 170lbs last spring) and the range to get all the different pitch angles. As a junior, Jacob made five passes, interrupting another 10 passes.
“More importantly, he has become more physical in the box and has shown that he is not the kind of defender who wants to avoid contact. Jacob rises to 90th place in the ranking and enters the Top247 list. Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, Miami and Auburn have contacted Jacob in recent weeks. He attended both Maryland and UCF games during the fall months.” —Andrew Ivins, 247Sporting Director of Scouting
Climbing from high three-star territory to four-star rating 90 on 247Sports is Joseph Phillips, a breathtaking vista from Tuskegee, Alabama. Booker T. Washington. While verified information on physical and athletic performance is relatively scarce at this stage, Phillips has put together such a good streak, including impressive double-sided shots, that his upgrade to four stars is warranted. Phillips (6–3, 225) finished 2022 with 75 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced tackles, four fumble returns, and one defensive touchdown while catching 29 passes for 336 yards and six points.
Philips shines with linear acceleration and pursuit speed, as well as some passing rush nuance. Perhaps he could provide some positional flexibility, but we lean more towards a long-term advantage projection rather than off-ball duties. Phillips reported almost 20 proposals, including 10 SEC programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia, among others.
“When college coaches were on the road last month, one prospect from the Florida Panhandle that made a lot of noise was Artavius Jones. Numerous contacts commented that he was a “must see” and after a cursory viewing of his film, it’s easy to see why. Jones, who is believed to be just under 6ft 3in and weighing 280lbs, is a big man who plays both as a pass rusher and pass catcher for Blownstown, who reached the 1R Sunshine State playoff semi-finals.
“We think his future is inside the defensive line and we love his multi-sport profile, averaging a double-double on hardwood this winter after finishing fourth in the FHSAA 1A Athletics discus throw as a sophomore. . Jones debuts in the rankings with a four-star rating of 90. and it’s one that will have a chance to keep growing as we collect more data points. The Soviet Union, Miami and Illinois are recent offers for Jones.” — Andrew Ivins, 247Sporting Director of Scouting
Vancouver (WA) Evergreen’s Fox Krader rises to four stars 90 at 247Sports after a full review by the national scouting team and a confirmed measurement of 6 feet 6,280 pounds, which included the required arm length for the attacking tackle.
“I was optimistic about Kreider after seeing him play live for the past two years,” said Brandon Huffman, 247Sports national recruiting editor. “Recently I had the opportunity to see him at a special lineman event and he dominated. Played athletic, won every rep and also looked stronger.”
Kreider also plays basketball, and his hoop band shows the quickness of his feet and the mobility of his bottom half that show up on the net. In November, Kreider went to Oregon, earning him a promise in more than a dozen other programs.
