From Deion Sanders to Mario Cristobal, the most intriguing coaches to monitor during the Early Signing Period

The Early Signing Period starts Wednesday, as programs across the country will look to ink the majority of their 2023 recruiting class. 

Once again, Alabama reigns supreme, as Nick Saban has reclaimed the Tide’s throne as the top recruiting superpower with the nation’s No. 1 ranked class, per On3. 

Georgia, Miami and Ohio State all look to sign loaded classes, too, and with 10 Top 100 players still uncommitted there could be some shuffling in the Team Rankings. 

With plenty of storylines to follow, here’s a six-pack of the most intriguing coaches to watch during the Early Signing Period. 

Deion Sanders, Colorado

Can Coach Prime steal the headlines for the second-straight cycle?

A year ago, Deion Sanders pulled off the biggest flip in recruiting history when he stole 5-star athlete Travis Hunter away from Florida State to Jackson State.

So who knows what’s in store for this week.

Now at Colorado, Sanders hosted his first big recruiting weekend following his loss in the Celebration Bowl, as around 20 prospects visited Boulder. 

Among the notables included athlete Malachi Coleman, the nation’s No. 68 overall prospect and a former Nebraska commit, pass rusher Tausili Akana, the No. 102 prospect and Georgia offensive line commit Bo Hughley. 
Sanders is on record that “he’s coming,” and that he’s “bringing his luggage” with him. 

“And it’s Louis.”

Colorado has already had 13 decommitments since Sanders was hired, so with spots to fill, how much talent can he accumulate in such short order? We’re going to find out.  

Kirby Smart, Georgia

The Bulldogs will play for a spot in the national championship in less than two weeks, but another run at a title hasn’t slowed Smart’s prowess on the trail. 

Georgia has the nation’s No. 2 class, and while it probably won’t surpass Alabama for the top spot this year, the Dawgs look to continue to reload an already star-studded roster. 

The Bulldogs already have eight Top 100 commits and are trending for 5-star edge Damon Wilson, 4-star defensive lineman Jordan Hall and 4-star corner Daniel Harris. 

Smart built UGA’s 2022 team through the traditional prep recruiting strategy (zero transfers added last year) and the bulk of the program’s future roster will clearly continue that model. 

Mario Cristobal, Miami

This is Mario Cristobal’s favorite time of the year. With no bowl game to prepare for, all the Hurricanes’ first-year head coach has done over the last four weeks is eat, sleep and recruit. 

Miami has won some big-boy battles with in-state rival Florida — including recent commitments from 5-star tackle Samson Okunlola and 4-star tailback Mark Fletcher. The Canes’ class currently ranks No. 3 nationally, which would be its best finish since 2008. 

Cristobal is looking to close strong, too, with a pair of Top 250 targets still on the board in DBs Conrad Hussey and Damari Brown. 

It doesn’t count for the Early Signing Period Rankings, but in overall talent acquisition, Cristobal is cleaning up in the transfer portal, too (Miami landed Alabama OL transfer Javion Cohen) and could lure several big fish into the boat this week as well (targets include Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, Texas A&M defensive lineman Tunmise Adelaye and Oregon wideout Dont’e Thornton. 

Billy Napier, Florida

Like Cristobal, Napier has spent much of the last few weeks focusing on recruiting and the transfer portal. Florida did play in a bowl game, technically speaking. 

But it’s important for the Gators to finish strong heading into the holidays. 

Napier has landed a pair of 5-star quarterbacks this fall, but only one will be on campus next year and Jaden Rashada needs a lot of help if he’s going to be successful right away. 

Florida currently has the nation’s No. 9 class. That’s good, but UF is still lagging behind its rivals in the SEC (Alabama, Georgia and LSU). Also, Oklahoma and Texas, two teams that could join the league as soon as the 2024 season, have higher-ranked classes.

After a mostly wasted 2022 season, Napier must find a way to close the gap before next fall. So Florida could use another couple of blue-chippers in the 2023 class. But unless something changes at the 11th hour, it doesn’t look like UF is set for a splashy finish. 

The Gators look like they’ll end up as the bridesmaid for a couple 5-stars, and they’re in danger of losing 4-star wideout Andy Jean in a flip to rival FSU.

Can Mr. Scared Money Don’t Make No Money avoid a signing day fizzle?

Brian Kelly, LSU

The Tigers finished with the No. 12 class in the 2022 cycle, but Brian Kelly has LSU back in the mix for a Top 5 class this year. 

They landed 4-star Texas safety Javien Tovaino last week and hope to finish with a flurry Wednesday by snagging the signature of 5-star defensive back Desmond Ricks.

Kelly beat Nick Saban and Alabama on the field this season, and he’ll need to do it again to land the nation’s No. 20 prospect.

LSU has recruited the Peach State hard this year (four commits from Georgia), but Kelly has built the bulk of the Tigers’ class in their rich footprint of Louisiana and Texas (15 combined commits). 

Jeff Brohm, Louisville 

The Cardinals brought their Prodigal Son home, and Brohm inherited a solid foundational recruiting class — if he nets all the signatures.

Heading into the ESP, Louisville has the No. 21 class, with an impressive six 4-star commits. The Cardinals saw 4-star tailback Rueben Owens flip to Texas A&M after Scott Satterfield bounced for Cincinnati, but Brohm & Co., have managed to hold the rest of the class together. 

So far. 

Wideout DeAndre Moore Jr. is a threat to bounce to Texas. Can Brohm keep the 4-star in the fold? Can he hold onto quarterback Pierce Clarkson, who has been the face of Louisville’s 2023 class?

The Cardinals are making some noise in the transfer portal, but it will be interesting to see how Brohm closes the week of the Early Signing Period.