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2023 football recruiting class rankings: The top 40 teams entering the season (including a new No. 1)
ESPN PLUS $ MATERIALAlabama heads into the 2022 season on top of the college football world, as the Crimson Tide not only sit at the pinnacle of the preseason AP Top 25 but now also occupy the No. 1 spot in the 2023 class rankings.
Several additions to their trenches, along with the decommitment of top-ranked DE Keon Keeley from Notre Dame, vaulted the Crimson Tide into the No. 1 slot. Very much in the mix to land the now undeclared Keeley, Alabama is in a good position to notch its eighth No. 1 overall class under Nick Saban.
Oklahoma, which was toward the bottom of the top 25 in June, has since rocketed up the rankings and cracked the top five. The Sooners were able to land the top-rated prospect in their home state in ESPN 300 ATH Jacobe Johnson, a two-sport (basketball) recruit who could play on either side of the ball but projects to corner in Norman.
Florida finished last within the SEC for the 2022 cycle amid changing coaches. Now fully in charge of the program, Billy Napier has the Gators rebounding in a big way. Sitting inside the top 10, they rose thanks to a big haul of front-seven talent. Among the multiple ESPN 300 DLs they landed was Kelby Collins, a player with good strength and mobility who has the physical tools to develop into a top lineman in the conference.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
ESPN 300 commits: 15 | Previous ranking: 2SEC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Eli Holstein (No. 13)
Top defensive commit: S Caleb Downs (No. 16)
The Crimson Tide are positioning themselves to contend once again for one of the best classes in the nation. They landed some impressive talent to their secondary with in-state pickup Tony Mitchell, who has a nice blend of length, fluidity and speed, as well as Jahlil Hurley, an agile and smooth corner with good length. Downs is the No. 1 safety who can provide a physical presence with his aggressive, hard-hitting style of play. Yhonzae Pierre might not be among the most touted names in this class, but he is a very strong in-state pickup, as he is a quick, flexible defender who can develop into a disruptive edge defender. They landed the top two RB prospects in the nation in Richard Young, an explosive and versatile back out of Florida, and Justice Haynes, who rushed for over 2,000 yards as a junior, out of Georgia. This could very well be Bryce Young's last season in Tuscaloosa, and to prepare, the Tide landed two ESPN 300 QBs. Holstein, a one-time Texas A&M commit, is an accurate passer with good arm strength and mobility for his size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds). Dylan Lonergan, who is also a very talented baseball prospect, is a poised and promising QB as well.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
ESPN 300 commits: 15 | Previous ranking: 1Independent rank: 1
Top offensive commit: WR Braylon James (No. 54)
Top defensive commit: S Peyton Bowen (No. 30)
The Fighting Irish have inked two consecutive top-10 classes and are not only off to a strong start to extend that streak but also contending for the nation's top class. New coach Marcus Freeman has his fingerprints all over this class with multiple key additions on the defensive side of the ball. LB Drayk Bowen was a big in-state pickup as the top-rated player in Indiana. The Irish have two ESPN 300 defensive back commits in Bowen, out of Texas, and Adon Shuler from New Jersey. There is also some promising offensive talent on board, led by ESPN 300 WR James, a lengthy vertical threat who posted a laser 4.47-second 40-yard dash this spring on the camp circuit. Dylan Edwards was a big riser on the camp circuit who, as one of fastest players in this class, can be a versatile and explosive offensive weapon at running back or in the slot.
3. Texas Longhorns
ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 3Big 12 rank: 1 of 10
Top offensive commit: QB Arch Manning (No. 2)
Top defensive commit: CB Malik Muhammad (No. 44)
Steve Sarkisian secured a huge win for Texas' recruiting, beating Georgia and Alabama for the highly touted five-star Manning. The talented QB is a polished player at the position with good arm strength and competitive toughness -- all of which would be expected from a Manning -- but he will also bring good mobility to keep plays alive and be able to pick up yards with his legs. Manning was a key out-of-state pickup, but Texas also landed some top in-state prospects, namely ESPN 300 WR Johntay Cook II, a quick, smooth pass-catcher who came on board soon after Manning's commitment. Ryan Niblett can be a nice target for Manning as well, as he can be a big-play threat with his outstanding speed. The Longhorns also added some promising defensive talent, led by quick-footed top-10 CB Muhammad, Derek Williams -- a safety with good length and range -- and DB Jamel Johnson. Along the defensive line, ESPN 300 prospect Dylan Spencer gives the Longhorns an explosive player with a good motor in the trenches.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 4Big Ten rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Brandon Inniss (No. 34)
Top defensive commit: DE Jason Moore (No. 49)
A staple near the top of the recruiting rankings, the Buckeyes are recruiting at a high level once again. The Buckeyes made a statement at wide receiver, picking up three ESPN 300 WRs in as many days in Inniss, Noah Rogers and Carnell Tate. Tate and Rogers are nice-sized targets at roughly 6-foot-2, and Inniss is explosive with good hands. ESPN 300 offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Joshua Padilla, along with high three-star Austin Siereveld, were key in-state keeps in the trenches. The Buckeyes pulled strong secondary talent with prospects like Calvin Simpson-Hunt, a speedster who has clocked a sub-11 100-meter, and Cedrick Hawkins, who can be an excellent player with his great feet and physical style of play. Moore is a lengthy edge defender out of the same high school, DeMatha Catholic in Maryland, as former Buckeyes standout Chase Young.
5. Oklahoma Sooners
ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 6Big 12 rank: 2 of 10
Top offensive commit: QB Jackson Arnold (No. 15)
Top defensive commit: DE Derrick LeBlanc (No. 37)
The Sooners took a hit when five-star QB Malachi Nelson decommitted and followed Lincoln Riley to USC. Brent Venables and the new staff rebounded, though, in landing Arnold, the No. 5-ranked QB overall in the class who has a smooth, compact delivery as well as good pocket mobility. They also have a few promising targets in the passing game on board in ESPN 300 WR Keyon Brown, who has a good blend of height and speed, and Jaquaize Pettaway, who could be an immediate contributor with great hands and sharp route-running abilities. One of the top in-state prospects, Erik McCarty, is staying close to home and is a versatile player who could contribute on either side of the ball for the Sooners. They have multiple ESPN 300 defenders on the front seven, including LeBlanc and Adepoju Adebawore, a promising addition. Known by his nickname PJ, he tested extremely well this spring at the Kansas City Elite Underclassmen camp, and with further development, his blend of speed, agility and initial quickness can allow him to be a well-rounded and highly productive defender.
6. LSU Tigers
ESPN 300 commits: 12 | Previous ranking: 7SEC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Shelton Sampson Jr. (No. 36)
Top defensive commit: DE Da'Shawn Womack (No. 47)
A key for Brian Kelly will be keeping the Tigers an in-state recruiting power. They secured the No. 1 wideout in Louisiana in Sampson as well as the top two in-state RBs, Kaleb Jackson and Trey Holly; and while ESPN 300 QB Rickie Collins was initially headed elsewhere, they ended up keeping the one-time Purdue commit at home. Out of state, they pulled from Texas ESPN 300 CB Ryan Yaites, a defender with good length and tremendous quickness. They also added talent to their secondary out of California in Daylen Austin, who possesses excellent feet and isn't afraid to mix it up and be physical. They also pulled from the wealth of talent at Saint Frances in Baltimore, landing Womack, a DL with good initial quickness and mobility who plays with a strong motor. On offense, WR Jalen Brown was a big get out of Florida, as he is a fluid and quick prospect with promising upside.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
ESPN 300 commits: 13 | Previous ranking: 5SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Bo Hughley (No. 105)
Top defensive commit: S Joenel Aguero (No. 20)
The defending national champions are contenders to sign a seventh straight top-three class. Located in a talent-rich state, the Bulldogs are doing well at home with commitments thus far from a few of the top prospects in Georgia, including Hughley. They pulled WR Raymond Cottrell, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect with quick, strong hands, out of Florida. During their title run, the Bulldogs got great production from freshman tight end Brock Bowers, and they are now adding more young talent to that position with commitments from ESPN 300 TEs Pearce Spurlin and Lawson Luckie. Their championship defense was popular during the NFL draft, with five members selected in the first round, and the Dawgs are now working to restock that unit with talent. They're off to a good start in doing so with commitments from a trio of ESPN 300 CBs in A.J. Harris, Justyn Rhett and Daniel Harris. They also added one of the top safety prospects in Aguero, an aggressive player with good speed.
8. Miami Hurricanes
ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 8ACC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Francis Mauigoa (No. 5)
Top defensive commit: LB Malik Bryant (No. 66)
Mario Cristobal returns to his alma mater and is looking to assemble a top-10 class in his first full cycle. Recruiting wins close to home will be key, but one of his initial big additions came from out West in Jaden Rashada, a California QB with a smooth release and good arm strength. Cristobal also returned to his old stomping grounds of the Pacific Northwest to land ESPN 300 TE Riley Williams. Set to play his senior season at IMG Academy, Williams could become a big-play target for Rashada, as he is a lengthy TE with a nice catch radius and the ability to win contested matchups. They also pulled five-star Mauigoa -- a powerful and explosive big man who still has room to grow as a player and develop into a dominating presence in the trenches -- out of IMG Academy. Jayden Wayne was a nice defensive addition as a rangy edge player who will only improve as he fills out and gets stronger. Closer to home, the Hurricanes added a versatile talent in ATH Robert Stafford, who projects to the secondary. Offensively, Robby Washington and Nathaniel Joseph are undersized, but both are quick playmakers who can be dangerous, especially when they get in space.
9. Florida Gators
ESPN 300 commits: 13 | Previous ranking: 12SEC rank: 4 of 14
Top Offensive Commit: WR Aidan Mizell (No. 93)
Top Defensive Commit: DT Kelby Collins (No. 63)
Billy Napier has taken advantage of in-state talent with several Sunshine State pickups, including top-10 safety Jordan Castell and CB Sharif Denson, who has good feet and brings a tough, scrappy demeanor to the secondary. Aaron Gates, who stayed on even after committing to the previous staff, projects to defensive back and can be a versatile player with his quickness and ball skills. Another commit who gives the Gators nice versatility is Creed Whittemore. A hometown prospect, he has played QB for his high school and possesses excellent speed with tools to also be productive at WR. Eugene Wilson III, listed as an athlete, projects to WR and is a player who tests very well, which will translate to his play on the field. Adding more potential firepower to their passing attack is Mizell, a lengthy target with big-play speed. Knijeah Harris is a nice addition to the trenches, as he has been a multiyear starter at IMG Academy and should come in ready to compete for playing time. It is hard to win the SEC without being strong along the defensive front, and Collins leads a talented group of defensive linemen.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 9Big Ten rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG J'ven Williams (No. 53)
Top defensive commit: S Elliot Washington (No. 46)
The Nittany Lions spent most of the 2022 cycle near the top of the class rankings, and early in the 2023 cycle, they're back near the top. They are doing a nice job in the offensive trenches with several talented OL pickups led by Williams, the top-rated player in the state and a mobile and physical blocker. They continue to find success in the Washington, D.C., area with multiple commits out of Virginia, including Alex Birchmeier, a flexible and aggressive blocker. TE Andrew Rappleyea was a nice flip from Michigan, as he is a productive receiving target with good hands and body control. Another key flip, but on defense, was safety Washington, as the one-time Alabama verbal has good range, can change directions well and is a physical presence in the back end.
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