On3 5-star Countdown: No. 12, WR Shelton Sampson

With the 2022 recruiting cycle all but wrapped up for most of the nation’s top programs, the recruiting world has turned its eyes toward the class of 2023.

With a bevy of notable quarterbacks, a geographic diversity among the nation’s top players and plenty of other notable storylines, the 2023 cycle is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent memory.

And, per usual, the players at the top of the class will be among the most highly-recruited in the nation. The latest edition of On3’s 2023 rankings features 14 players with a coveted five-star rating, up from a previous 11 five-star players. Next up on the countdown is the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle, wide receiver Shelton Sampson of Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic.

Shelton Sampson Scouting Summary

“Big-play wide receiver with one of the best combinations of vertical speed and catch radius in the 2023 cycle. Clocked a sub 4.4-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 prior to his junior season. Uses that speed to create separation on downfield routes with regularity. Pairs the long speed with advanced ball skills. Shows the ability to leap over defenders to high-point the ball in contested situations. Comes down with some fantastic one-handed and diving grabs. A younger prospect for the cycle who continues to show improvement over time.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings