Arch Manning‘s commitment to Texas sent shock waves through the college football recruiting world and helped the Longhorns break into the top 10. That momentum has since carried them into the top five, as they landed several more commitments, including two new potential receiving targets in ESPN 300 in-state WRs Johntay Cook II and Jonah Wilson.
Texas’ rise has put the Longhorns into the thick of the battle for the No. 1 class, which is growing more intense. After making headlines with its haul of three ESPN 300 receivers in as many days, Ohio State has added strong talent to its defensive backfield as well with multiple four-star DB pickups, in particular Kayin Lee.
Those additions have put the Buckeyes on the heels of No. 1-ranked Notre Dame, which is doing its best to fend off any contenders with a pair of recent ESPN 300 commitments in OL Charles Jagusah and ATH Micah Bell, who projects to cornerback.
A consistent contender for the No. 1 class, Alabama has begun to climb the rankings, moving into the top 10. A key addition was No. 2 CB Tony Mitchell, who possesses a nice blend of length, fluidity and speed, from in-state powerhouse Thompson High School.
Both Miami and Florida are two programs that are no strangers to the top 25 but have experienced struggles in recent years and are both starting over with new head coaches.
Mario Cristobal’s return home to Miami is starting to show positive results, as the Hurricanes landed several key commitments, including from one of the class’ top QB prospects in Jaden Rashada. The ESPN 300 signal-caller from California is a poised player with a smooth release and good arm strength.
Working on his first full class as head coach at Florida, Billy Napier has been able to get the Gators back into the top 25 by bolstering their defense. They added a pair of ESPN 300 prospects in DE Isaiah Nixon and defensive back Sharif Denson, who has good feet and hips and brings a tough style of play to the secondary.
ESPN 300 commits: 11 | Previous ranking: 1 
Independent rank: 1
Top offensive commit: WR Braylon James (No. 46)
Top defensive commit: DE Keon Keeley (No. 23)
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. Keeley is a lengthy edge defender who can be a disruptive pass-rushing presence. 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 Peyton Bowen out of Texas and Adon Shuler out of 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 40 this spring on the camp circuit.
ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 2
Big Ten rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR Brandon Inniss (No. 25)
Top defensive commit: CB Dijon Johnson (No. 113)
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 WR, 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 an explosive target 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. Ty Lockwood is a tight end with the tools to be a well-rounded player at the position. They pulled strong secondary talent out of Florida in No. 12 cornerback Johnson and Cedrick Hawkins, who projects to that unit and can be an excellent player with his great feet and physical style of play.
ESPN 300 commits: 8 | Previous ranking: 10 
Big 12 rank: 1 of 10
Top offensive commit: QB Arch Manning (No. 1)
Top defensive commit: S Derek Williams (No. 76)
Steve Sarkisian secured a huge win for Texas’ recruiting, beating Georgia and Alabama for No. 1 overall player Manning. The five-star 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. ATH Ryan Niblett can be a nice weapon 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 Williams, a safety with good length and range, and Jamel Johnson, a defensive back. Along the defensive line, ESPN 300 prospect Dylan Spencer gives the Longhorns an explosive player with a good motor in the trenches.
ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 4
Big Ten rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG J’ven Williams (No. 45)
Top defensive commit: DE Tomarrion Parker (No. 112)
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.
ESPN 300 commits: 10 | Previous ranking: 3 
SEC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Bo Hughley (No. 100)
Top defensive commit: CB A.J. Harris (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 three of the top 10 prospects in Georgia, including Hughley. They pulled WR Raymond Cottrell, a 6-3, 205-pound prospect with quick, strong hands out of Florida. During their title run, the Bulldogs got great production from freshman TE 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 top-10 CBs in Harris, Justyn Rhett and Marcus Washington.
ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: 5
ACC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Harris Sewell (No. 65)
Top defensive commit: DT Vic Burley (No. 61)
Trevor Lawrence set a high bar, and replacing him is not easy, but the Tigers continue to add talented options under center. They signed the No. 2 overall quarterback in the 2022 cycle in Cade Klubnik and now landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Christopher Vizzina, a strong-armed, accurate and poised passer. Four-star WR Noble Johnson is a nice-sized target who is capable of creating problems with good explosiveness and the ability to break tackles after the catch. In the trenches defensively, the Tigers have secured some very good talent. Offensively, Sewell was a great pickup out of Texas. He is a flexible big man with good mobility who is also a physical finisher and should develop into a strong asset to the Tigers’ ground attack. David Ojiegbe is a powerful player who can be tough versus the run, and Burley was a big win on the recruiting trail as he is a multisport athlete in high school with good explosiveness and upside. At linebacker, Jamal Anderson is a rangy defender who can be a sideline-to-sideline presence.
ESPN 300 commits: 6 | Previous ranking: 7
ACC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: WR DeAndre Moore Jr. (No. 17)
Top defensive commit: CB Aaron Williams (No. 143)
The Cardinals’ 2022 class took a bit to come together, as they finished near the bottom of the ACC, but they are off to a much stronger start for 2023. QB Pierce Clarkson is a passer with a strong arm and background at the position, as he’s the son of longtime quarterbacks coach Steve Clarkson. Receiver Jahlil McClain should have good synergy with Clarkson, as the two are high school teammates at St. John Bosco in California. Moore was another big-time pull out of California, as the No. 2 WR is a speedy and sudden playmaker with the tools to quickly become a dangerous offensive weapon. DE Adonijah Green is a pickup with a high ceiling for development. He is a lean but lengthy player with good initial quickness and was among the top performers at a loaded Under Armour Camp in Atlanta this spring.
ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 8
SEC rank: 2 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Luke Hasz (No. 64)
Top defensive commit: DE Kaleb James (four stars)
The Razorbacks are stacking up talent at tight end with three ESPN 300 commits. Hasz comes out of a winning program in Oklahoma and, as a receiving target, runs good routes and has sure hands. Shamar Easter was a home-state keep and is a lengthy target with a big catch radius and good hands. Jaden Hamm runs well and can be an aggressive blocker. LB Carson Dean is a name to watch in this class, as he is an active presence with good range and agility and could develop into a highly productive player in the mold of Arkansas LB Bumper Pool.
ESPN 300 commits: 7 | Previous ranking: 17
SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Eli Holstein (No. 59)
Top defensive commit: CB Tony Mitchell (No. 16)
The Crimson Tide have a small but talented class, with four among the top 60 nationally and top five at their respective positions. They landed some impressive talent to their secondary, in in-state pickup Mitchell, who has nice blend of length, fluidity and speed; Jahlil Hurley, an agile and smooth corner with good length; and safety Elliot Washington, who has good range, can change directions well and is a physical presence in the back end. Yhonzae Pierre might not be among the most touted names in this class, but he was a very strong in-state pickup, as he is a quick, flexible defender who can develop into a disruptive edge defender. The Tide added their first offensive commit in QB Holstein, a one-time Texas A&M verbal, who is an accurate passer with good arm strength and mobility for his size (6-4, 225).
ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 9
Pac-12 rank: 1 of 12
Top offensive commit: QB Malachi Nelson (No. 2)
Top defensive commit: CB Braxton Myers (No. 116)
Lincoln Riley has assembled a small but talented offensive class so far. Two key in-state pickups who were planning to join Riley at Oklahoma flipped to their hometown school when Riley made the change. Nelson is the No. 2 QB in the class with a smooth release and the ability to make tough throws on the move. Makai Lemon is a high school teammate of Nelson and has good hands and quickness. WR Zachariah Branch, out of Las Vegas, is one the fastest players in this class and can be an electrifying playmaker with the ball in his hands. The Trojans also added some defensive talent, namely Myers, a well-rounded and tough cornerback.
ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: 11
Big Ten rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Dylan Senda (three stars)
Top defensive commit: S Damon Walters (No. 226)
The month of May kicked off a fruitful run on the recruiting trail for the Wildcats as they landed multiple commitments, including adding some ESPN 300 defensive talent. Their talent run in May bolstered an already good group of OL commits, as Jordan Knox and Alex Doost came on board and joined top-25 OG prospects Senda and Anthony Birsa. They scored one of the top in-state prospects in Walters, who can be an aggressive, big-hitting safety. They pulled out of Texas ESPN 300 DL Ashton Porter, who can be a well-rounded player with his blend of power and agility. A talented LB addition out of Ohio is Nigel Glover, who is a physical player with good agility and can be productive against the run and pass. DL Dylan Roberts might not be a highly touted name, but he has the tools to be a productive presence in the trenches with good explosiveness, strength and an active style of play.
ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: 6
Big 12 rank: 2 of 10
Top offensive commit: QB Jake Strong (four stars)
Top defensive commit: S Brenden Jordan (No. 186)
New coach Joey McGuire has been known as a strong recruiter and brings a high-energy style to the Red Raiders. Now with a full cycle to work, this is a team to watch in recruiting. The foundation of the class is built on in-state talent, including quarterback Strong, a passer who has continued to improve throughout his high school career and has good arm strength and accuracy. To help protect Strong, the Red Raiders added several high three-star OLs to develop in Daniel Sill, Dylan Shaw and Kaden Carr. On defense, Jordan can be a sound tackler in the secondary, and edge defender Isaiah Crawford is a lengthy prospect with nice upside.
ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: 15
Big 12 rank: 3 of 10
Top offensive commit: TE Matt Klopfenstein (four stars)
Top defensive commit: LB Christian Brathwaite (No. 300)
QB Austin Novosad is a smooth passer with good arm talent who reminds us of LSU quarterback Myles Brennan. Micah Gifford can be a productive receiving target, as he possesses good quickness and has shown he can make the tough play in contested matchups. The Bears have not ventured out of state much but pulled a talented TE out of Arizona in Klopfenstein, who possesses good hands and will work well as a blocker. Defensively, Brathwaite not only possesses good initial explosiveness, but good pursuit range as well.
ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: 12
Group of 5 rank: 1
Top offensive commit: RB Manny Covey (three stars)
Top defensive commit: CB Daeh McCullough (No. 168)
The Bearcats are showing they are ready for a move to the Big 12 with their play on the field and their ability to recruit among the better classes in the country. ESPN 300 defender McCullough is a DB with nice size and quick feet who can be a physical presence. Four-star LB Trevor Carter was a big in-state win, and interior OL Evan Tengesdahl was another strong, home-state pickup, as he took home positional MVP honors this spring at the Under Armour Camp in Ohio. Khamari Anderson can be a productive target in the passing game, as he is a smooth runner with good hands. High three-star RB Covey can be a versatile player, as he possesses great ball skills and can be a productive receiving target out of the backfield.
ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 13
SEC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Nicholaus Iamaleava (No. 13)
Top defensive commit: LB Caleb Herring (No. 109)
The Volunteers were able to score a big, early win on the recruiting trail with the commitment of ESPN 300 QB Iamaleava. Among the top QBs in the country, he is not only a talented passer, but he also moves well. While he is a player they can build this class around, TE Ethan Davis was among the first commits for 2023. A talented basketball player as well, he is still developing but has good ball skills and the ability to win contested matchups. The top-rated player in the state, Herring, an edge defender that can be a sideline-to-sideline presence, was another key addition for this rebuilding program.
ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: unranked
ACC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Jaden Rashada (No. 22)
Top defensive commit: ATH Robert Stafford (No. 193)
Mario Cristobal returns to his alma mater and is looking to assemble a top-25 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 Rashada, a 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, 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. Closer to home, the Hurricanes added a versatile talent in 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.
ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: 14
Big Ten rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Johnathan Slack (No. 296)
Top defensive commit: LB Jordan Hall (No. 166)
The Spartans are working to notch a second straight top-20 class and are off to a good start. Offensive guards might not get fan bases fired up, but Slack is a very good in-state pickup, as he’s a blocker with good feet and excellent functional strength. The Spartans went into rival Big Ten country to land DE Andrew Depaepe out of Iowa, a player with good strength and a motor. They landed top-three ILB Hall out of IMG, a powerful defender that closes well and should be able to come in and quickly contribute to their defense. They went into Texas to land a powerful thrower at QB in Bo Edmundson.
ESPN 300 commits: 6 | Previous ranking: 16
Pac-12 rank: 2 of 12
Top offensive commit: WR Ashton Cozart (No. 92)
Top defensive commit: CB Cole Martin (No. 183)
New head coach Dan Lanning led Georgia’s championship defense last year but now focuses on trying to build a similar unit with the Ducks. ESPN 300 CB Martin is a good place to start, as he is a player with good feet and upside. CB Kodi Decambra loves to compete and at the least should quickly be a productive special teams contributor. Despite his strong defensive background, Lanning’s first full class at Oregon is defined by promising offensive talent. The Ducks landed big targets for their passing attack in the 6-foot-3 Cozart, who is long, fast and posted a laser-timed 4.45 40 at the Dallas Under Armour camp, and Jurrion Dickey, who had an MVP performance at the UC Report Elite Camp in Oakland, California, this spring.
ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: 20
Big 12 rank: 4 of 10
Top offensive commit: ATH Rodney Gallagher (No. 172)
Top defensive commit: DE Justin Benton (four stars)
Neal Brown landed a potential anchor for his defense over the coming season in LB Josiah Trotter. In the mold of his All-Pro father, Jeremiah, Trotter can be a tough, productive presence between the tackles. Offensively, the Mountaineers secured their QB in Raheim Jeter, a big, strong-armed passer. They also are adding to the backfield a talented three-star RB in Jahiem White, who displays good vision and the ability to produce after contact. A key addition is ESPN 300 ATH Gallagher, who projects to wide receiver. Also a talented basketball player, he displays natural playmaking ability with good quickness and ball skills and a high ceiling for development with a focus on the position.
ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: 24
Big Ten rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Kadyn Proctor (No. 6)
Top defensive commit: DE Chase Brackney (three stars)
Not surprisingly, the Hawkeyes’ class is not very flashy, but it has a very solid foundation. QB Marco Lainez III is a consistent, smooth and accurate passer who looks like a nice fit for Iowa’s offense. Known for its eye for and developing offensive linemen, Iowa landed top-five center Leighton Jones. Proctor is one of the most important in-state gets for any program in this cycle. Big, strong and agile, he has the tools to be a quick contributor and one of Iowa’s next All-American-caliber OLs. Defensively, Brackney displays good power to collapse the pocket and set the edge vs. the run.
ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: unranked
Pac-12 rank: 3 of 12
Top offensive commit: ATH Rashid Williams (No. 210)
Top defensive commit: DE Anthony James (No. 126)
Kalen DeBoer’s first full class at Washington took a little time to come together, but he and the Huskies gained some strong momentum at the start of summer. Along the offensive line, four-star Elishah Jackett was a nice pickup out of California. Closer to home, No. 2 center Landen Hatchett is an underrated interior OL who could anchor that unit for multiple seasons. Williams brings playmaking ability, as he a wiry, flexible target with nice hands and good speed. One-time Texas A&M commit James is a nice pull out of Texas, as he possesses good initial quickness and agility.
ESPN 300 commits: 5 | Previous ranking: unranked
SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top Offensive Commit: C Knijeah Harris (No. 155)
Top Defensive Commit: CB Sharif Denson (No. 147)
Billy Napier has taken advantage of in-state talent with several Sunshine State pickups, including Denson, who has good feet and brings a tough, scrappy demeanor to the secondary. Aaron Gates, who has 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. 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.
ESPN 300 commits: 2 | Previous ranking: 18
Big 12 rank: 5 of 10
Top offensive commit: WR Cordale Russell (No. 270)
Top defensive commit: DE Avion Carter (No. 91)
It has been many years since TCU has gone into a recruiting cycle with a new head coach, but Sonny Dykes and staff are showing they can keep the Horned Frogs recruiting at a high level. Not surprisingly, they are taking advantage of the rich pool of talent in-state with multiple commits, including DL Carter. He’s a defender with a good initial burst, can be stout versus the run, disrupt as a pass-rusher and plays with good effort. They have several potential receiving weapons on board led by Russell, a 6-foot-2 target, and four-star Jordyn Bailey, who plays with good speed and can be a vertical weapon.
ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 21
ACC rank: 4 of 14
Top offensive commit: OG Roderick Kearney (No. 95)
Top defensive commit: DT Keith Sampson (No. 209)
The Seminoles are working to add more talent to their quarterback room. After signing ESPN 300 QB A.J. Duffy in 2022, they have added another top-300 signal-caller in Chris Parson. A player with the mobility to create problems as a runner, he can also be a dangerous big-play threat as a passer with a strong arm and impressive deep ball. The Seminoles added some strong additions to their defensive line in Sampson, who can be a stout presence, and Lamont Green Jr., a lengthy defender who runs well and has good upside. Under Armour All-American Kearney is a powerful player who could quickly work his way into the Seminoles’ OL mix.
ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: 23
Pac-12 rank: 4 of 12
Top offensive commit: QB Brayden Dorman (No. 205)
Top defensive commit: S Sean Brown (three stars)
When Jedd Fisch took over the Wildcats, there was a lot of work to be done, but he looks to be putting together the pieces to help elevate the program. A key addition is ESPN 300 QB Dorman, a strong-armed and accurate passer. With a talented QB on board, they have also added one of the top OLs out West in Rhino Tapaatoutai, a flexible and physical big man. They’re addressing the secondary with multiple commitments for the backend, including Arian Parish, a safety with good range who is willing to hit, and Solomon Davis, who has received interest on both sides of the ball but projects to contribute defensively for Arizona.
Dropped out: LSU (19), Colorado (22), Oklahoma (25)
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