Does high school recruiting matter anymore? Examining the class of 2024
Amid college football’s transfer portal chaos, one group of players can go under the radar: high school recruits.
While high school recruiting isn’t necessarily dying, it’s definitely changing, especially for top-rated athletes. Top college programs are selective with whom they recruit, and even more selective with playing time.
Let’s take a look at what elite class of 2024 high school recruits from the Fort Worth-area have taught us about the transfer portal and the overall state of college football.
A Southlake Carroll star stays patient
Former Southlake Carroll quarterback Graham Knowles had a long list of accomplishments. As a senior, he threw for over 3,000 yards to earn Star-Telegram All-Area First Team honors.
As a top quarterback in Texas — No. 8 at the position and No. 129 overall in the state in his class, according to 247Sports — he was bound to get an opportunity somewhere, right?
Knowles signed with Georgia Tech, and he has understandably waited his turn to play. In two seasons, he has thrown one pass, a screen in mop-up duty that turned into an 84-yard touchdown.
It seemed as if 2026 would finally be Knowles’ turn to play. He’s waited two years, right? That’s the type of loyalty and patience that’s thought to be required in college football.
But the harsh reality is that opportunity is never guaranteed anywhere, especially at a Power Four program. The college will always do what puts the team in a position to win.
In this case, it’s a competition at the quarterback position.
Georgia Tech went to the transfer portal for a quarterback and received a commitment from Indiana’s Alberto Mendoza, who didn’t have a clear path to a starting spot following former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover’s commitment to the national champion Hoosiers. Alberto is the brother of this season’s Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
All of a sudden, Knowles has competition from another talented recruit who has mostly sat for two years. Although he may win the battle for the starting spot, there is always a chance he doesn’t.
If that’s the case, he’ll have to spend a third year as a backup. For his development and ability to receive meaningful action, time is ticking.
Fort Worth area’s top recruits choose transfer portal
While Knowles chose to stay loyal, most other local recruits from the class of 2024 have been active in the portal. For some, it’s the only way to receive playing time and meaningful experience on the field.
Let’s take a look at how the top 10 recruits from the Fort Worth area in the class of 2024, according to 247Sports, have moved during their college careers:
- Hauss Hejny, QB, Aledo (No. 32-ranked recruit in Texas): TCU to Oklahoma State to Colorado State
- Tre’ Griffiths, WR, Keller (46): Oklahoma State to Hawaii
- Davhon Keys, LB, Aledo (51): LSU
- Daniel Cruz, OL, Richland (72): Texas to NC State
- Makai Saina, OL, Arlington Martin (73): USC to Purdue
- Nate Palmer, RB, Decatur (78): TCU to Wisconsin
- Landyn Cleveland, S, Mansfield Legacy (99): Oklahoma State to UNLV
- Chris Johnson II, DB, Aledo (104): Arizona State to Montana
- Darius Washington, DL, Mansfield Lake Ridge (109): Houston
- Eze Osondu, LB, Byron Nelson (123): California to UTSA
Eight of the area’s top 10 recruits have entered the portal early in their college football careers. Only former Aledo linebacker Davhon Keys and Lake Ridge defensive lineman Darius Washington refrained.
Keys, a Star-Telegram All-Area selection and a key piece to the Bearcats’ state title run in 2023, has made solid contributions in both years and has 123 career tackles with LSU. He may be an exception to the idea that freshman rarely play at top schools.
Washington hasn’t received much playing time with Houston, but has stayed put. He has six career tackles.
Other recruits haven’t showcased Washington’s patience. For one reason or another, they’ve decided to transfer. Most of them didn’t even get much an opportunity.
Hejny: After a year at TCU, he was set to start this season for Oklahoma State, but suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. The Cowboys’ starting job for 2026 has seemingly been handed to Drew Mestemaker, who transferred from North Texas after a stellar season.
Griffiths: Played in just three games at Oklahoma State, primarily on special teams.
Cruz: Once thought to be a future starter for the Longhorns at center, Cruz redshirted in 2024 and played just 14 snaps this season before transferring.
Saina: Did not play at USC.
Palmer: Rushed for 164 yards on 41 carries with TCU.
Cleveland: Did not redshirt as a freshman. Made three tackles in 2024 and 33 tackles this season.
Johnson II: Did not play at Arizona State.
Osondu: Played in 11 games at Cal, making six tackles.
With the exception of Palmer, the recruits didn’t receive much meaningful playing time before hitting the portal. Out of the eight players who transferred, five went from a Power Four to a Group of Five or FCS conference.
Knowles was the No. 12 Fort Worth-area recruit in the class of 2024. Of the seven quarterbacks in the state ranked ahead of him, only one, Texas Tech’s Will Hammond, is still at his original school, and three transferred to Group of Five or FCS programs.
What should recruits focus on?
The good news for these class of 2024 recruits is that they have time left to prove themselves before their eligibility is gone. But did they make the wrong choice with their original commitments? Could they have received immediate playing time at a Group of Five program to actually showcase their talent and gain experience? Could they have received a better education elsewhere if they didn't choose the most high-profile Power Four football school?
Maybe. In college football, there's a lot to accomplish in a limited window: receiving an education, making a living through NIL, creating lifelong memories, leaving a legacy and fighting for a dream to make the NFL.
And there isn’t a singular correct path to what athletes should do. It depends on what modern recruits value most.
Despite countless variables to consider, Southlake Carroll defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Sean Razloznik’s advice is to keep things simple and value old-school recruiting built on trust.
“You still have to picture yourself there,” Razloznik said. “If football wasn’t there, would you be happy at this university?”
Razloznik emphasized that the high dollar value for veterans out of the portal is a rarity for high school recruits. He said he hasn't seen high school recruiting decrease, but it’s become more targeted, and recruits have to consider development opportunities on and off the field.
“We need to make sure recruits know that at the end of the day, the money is going away,” Razloznik said. “So, what else are you going to pull from this?”
The difficult choice for recruits, he said, is balancing wanting to play early, developing off the field and establishing trust while lucrative NIL deals are being thrown at them.
“Obviously, NIL is the big deal right now,” Razloznik said. “That’s the big flashing neon sign in front of their faces.”
Looking past that flashing neon NIL sign can be difficult. Making money can be a difference-maker for any family, and those opportunities won’t last forever.
However, to see other types of value, like education and genuine relationships, some recruits need to look past NIL, Razloznik said.
At the end of the day, he said, regardless of situation, a recruit can thrive with coaches he trusts. That makes old-school recruiting more important than ever.
“If the relationship is great between you and that coaching staff and there happens to be greener pasture ahead for you — they’re going to want you to go to those different places,” Razloznik said. “To go excel in the SEC or wherever it may be.”
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