- Copyright 2024 © CollegeFootballPoll.com
- About CFP / Contact
- Legal Statements
The Offensive Rookie of the Year award from the Associated Press (AP) is considered the pinnacle for any offensive-minded college football player making their first steps into the razzmatazz of the NFL. It’s awarded by a nationwide panel of 50 writers within the AP, with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award dating way back to 1957.
In the last decade, some big names have gone on to win the award, namely wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., quarterback, Dak Prescott, and quarterback, Kyler Murray.
With just a few months until the dawn of the 2024-25 NFL season, already people are speculating about the rookie players most likely to make the biggest offensive impact on the NFL in the next 12 months. Below, we shine a spotlight on the quartet currently talked about most for this potential recognition.
22-year-old Caleb Williams is currently way out in front to be crowned Offensive Rookie of the Year next season. Williams was the first pick of the entire 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, which explains why he’s currently priced as short as 3.00 with LeoVegas to fulfil his potential during his rookie year. LeoVegas is one of the most established online sportsbook brands, so their odds are worth taking notice of. Their welcome bonuses are also rated by The Punters Page as one of the three most competitive promotions in the sports betting market right now.
Williams excelled at college level with USC, having transferred there after his opening year with Oklahoma.
23-year-old quarterback, Jayden Daniels, is another leading contender for next season’s award. Daniels was the next first-round pick after Williams, with no less than six quarterbacks selected in the first round of an NFL draft, equalling the record.
Daniels showed tremendous promise with Arizona State, before transferring to play for the LSU Tigers in March 2022. By the end of his college career, Daniels became the only player to complete over 12,000 yards (12,750), while rushing for more than 3,000 yards (3,307).
21-year-old wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., became a two-time unanimous All-American player, becoming only the eleventh player in the Big Ten Conference to achieve this feat. Harrison Jr. has great NFL pedigree too, as the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison, who was a fine wide receiver himself.
Harrison Jr. was the fourth pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In 2023, he landed the Fred Biletnikoff Award after posting 1,211 receiving yards and landing 14 touchdowns.
21-year-old, Illinois-born quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, won three back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles with the Michigan Wolverines before a national championship last year – Michigan’s first in 26 years. McCarthy lost only one game as the starting quarterback of the Wolverines and was picked tenth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Vikings will be hoping he can bring his winning mentality to Minnesota, who have appeared just four times in the postseason playoffs during the past decade.
Keep your eyes peeled for these rookies during preseason to see how they are performing and whether there are any other new boys capable of taking center stage instead.