Updated rankings for the 2021 ESPN 300 college football prospects (2024)

The 2021 ESPN 300 marks our 16th annual release, with offensive and defensive linemen headlining the next college football recruiting class. The only other class that featured five linemen in the top five spots was in 2019.

What is distinct about the 2021 class is that four of those slots are occupied by defensive linemen.

And highly touted offensive and defensive linemen isn't just a high school trend, given the 2020 NFL draft saw 11 linemen come off the board in Round 1.

The 2021 recruiting class features 13 five-star prospects, one of whom climbed 128 spots in the rankings. Here is everything you need to know about the 2021 recruiting class.

'It starts up front'

The old football phrase might be cliché, but in this case, it is accurate. Successful programs are often anchored by strong play in the trenches, and luckily for recruiters looking for talented big men, there are multiple promising linemen in the 2021 class.

The first official ESPN 300 release for the 2021 class includes several interior defensive linemen moving up in the rankings, including Damon Payne, who climbs into the top 25 overall as the third-ranked DT. He possesses excellent size and is very quick off the ball. Payne is already a force on the line, but he also has plenty of room to develop, so his rise might not be done.

When Maason Smith (No. 58 overall) is clicking on all cylinders, it's not easy to contain him. He is a physically imposing big man with power and a good burst off the ball. Those two traits certainly make his presence felt in the heart of the trenches and can disrupt an offense. The key for Smith, who was previously ranked No. 82, is for him to be more consistent, because when he utilizes his strength, he can be a force.

Ohio State commit Mike Hall (No. 78 overall) is a big mover, as he can wreak havoc in opposing backfields, similar to how fellow Buckeye Chase Young did during his college career. Hall is explosive but also bends well and can play with leverage. He has a good blend of strength and agility.

Five-star Leonard Taylor (No. 5 overall) naturally draws a lot of attention, but at the Miami Under Armour camp this winter, teammate Savion Collins (No. 155 overall) issued a reminder that Miami Palmetto High School has two big-time defensive tackles on its roster. While Taylor met already lofty expectations with his performance that day, Collins also had a strong outing that helped boost him up the player rankings. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Collins -- a University of Miami commit -- not only has the size to overpower opponents, he improved his flexibility and quickness, making him even tougher to handle.

New five-star prospects

OT J.C. Latham
ESPN 300 rank: 9
Previous rank: 79

Some moves are accompanied by quite a bit of debate; others come with a natural consensus -- like this one, with Latham jumping up into the five-star range. Out of Florida's IMG Academy, Latham is a massive presence, but he offers much more than his impressive 6-foot-6, 310-pound frame. The now No. 2-ranked offensive tackle is also a natural knee bender with good feet and balance, not to mention a powerful force with his size. Latham impressed with his performance at the Under Armour Orlando camp this winter, not only because he exhibited those aforementioned tools, but also because of his competitive nature and willingness to take reps and consistently challenge himself throughout the event. Latham reminds us of 2019 five-star Evan Neal, a former IMG Academy player who now plays at Alabama, as they have similar physical characteristics and good movement skills.

RB TreVeyon Henderson
ESPN 300 rank: 10
Previous rank: 13

Not only is the Ohio State commitment one of the top all-around players in the country, but the budding star out of Virginia has grown 2 inches in the past year to 6 feet tall and continues to fill out at close to 195 pounds. Henderson has used his 4.58 40-yard dash speed, excellent change of direction, quick feet, flexibility and strength to become a dominant force on both sides of the ball for Hopewell High School. Henderson totaled more than 3,100 all-purpose yards, including 2,424 rushing yards, 48 tackles, three interceptions and 53 touchdowns as a junior.

DE Dallas Turner
ESPN 300 rank: 13
Previous rank: 141

The Florida prospect made a big jump on the field as a junior, totaling 74 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 15 sacks for American Heritage before transferring to St. Thomas Aquinas following the season. Turner also has made big gains off the field in terms of getting bigger, stronger and faster. At the Miami Under Armour camp in early March, he looked more like an NFL combine prospect than a high school player. Turner checked in at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds with an 82-inch wingspan and a 4.79 40-yard dash. By gaining nearly 10 pounds in the past year, shaving two-tenths of a second off his 40 time and improving his testing numbers across the board, Turner is clearly a prospect worthy of five-star status. Florida, Georgia and Alabama appear to have the inside track on the elite edge rusher.

New to the ESPN 300

ATH Christian Leary
Edgewater High School (Florida)
ESPN 300 rank: 74

The new entry into the ESPN 300 is not only one of the top playmakers with versatility on junior-season video, he has continued to fill out while retaining his speed and overall quick movements. In February 2019 at Under Armor camp in Orlando, Leary measured 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds and turned in blistering testing times, including a 4.55 40 time. One year later, Leary grew to 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds and retained his 4.5 speed. Leary has more than 25 offers, with Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Oklahoma among those under serious consideration.

QB Kai Millner
Higley High School (Arizona)
ESPN 300 rank: 115

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound fast riser in the spring enters the ESPN 300 after a terrific junior season and solid performance at Under Armour camp in Phoenix in late February. The California commitment completed over 64% of his passes as a junior for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Millner also displays functional skills at the position, with the ability to make plays off schedule with his arm or feet to the tune of 356 rushing yards and seven scores in 2019. Millner picked California over Arizona State, Boise State, Iowa State, Miami and UCF, among others.

OT Dylan Fairchild
West Forsyth High School (Georgia)
ESPN 300 rank: 124

The Peach State prospect enters the ESPN 300 after an impressive junior season on the football field and an undefeated state championship season on the wrestling mat. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound high school offensive and defensive tackle displays quick feet, elite second- and third-step quickness and excellent flexibility and playing strength. Auburn, South Carolina and Tennessee are working hard to pull the talented in-state lineman away from Georgia.

WR Xavier Worthy
Central East High School (California)
ESPN 300 rank: 125

Like Leary, Worthy is one of the most explosive playmakers in the 2021 class. The new entry into the ESPN 300 flashed elite quickness and speed on junior-season video, while putting up over 1,300 all-purpose yards, including 992 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. He has backed up the gridiron speed on the track with a best of 10.65 in the 100 meters. Worthy reports 15 offers, including Oregon, USC, Arizona State, Michigan and Utah.

S Kendal Daniels
Beggs High School (Oklahoma)
ESPN 300 rank: 171

The new entry into the 300 from the state of Oklahoma brings elite size at the position, range in space and playmaking abilities in the run game. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound two-sport standout for Beggs High made more than 110 tackles as junior to go with three interceptions and three forced fumbles, all while doubling as a standout on the hardwood for the 2A school. Daniels is nearing 30 offers, with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State fighting off the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, among others, to keep the difference-making safety home.

ATH Jantzen Dunn
South Warren High School (Kentucky)
ESPN 300 rank: 183

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound football and track standout put together an impressive junior campaign as a difference-maker at wide receiver and in the secondary with an elite combination of initial quickness, speed, body control, strong hands, ball skills and the willingness to compete in the run game at defensive back. Dunn committed to Ohio State on April 20 over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State and in-state Kentucky and Louisville.