Top On3 Consensus offensive positions groups in the 2022 class
With the early signing period in the rearview mirror, nearly all of the biggest targets in the 2022 cycle are off the board. Big names like Five-Star+ linebacker Harold Perkins, five-star defensive lineman Shemar Stewart and five-star offensive linemen Devon Campbell and Josh Conerly Jr. still haven’t announced. But the position groups that each school has landed have largely been solidified at this point.
As we look back at the winners and losers from this class, we also grade which program upgraded the most in a given room.
Quarterbacks: Penn State
Penn State signed two signal callers last week headlined by On3 Consensus five-star Drew Allar. The high-end talent is joined by three-star Beau Pribula.
While Sean Clifford is set to return next season, the future of the Nittany Lions ability to take the next step as a program will soon fall in the right hand of Allar. He makes “quarterback plays” with regularity. His ability to make throws under duress with accuracy, change ball speeds and high-end arm talent will instantly make him the most talented signal-caller in the program.
Honorable mention: South Carolina
South Carolina may have also shored up the position for the future with two shots on goal in the 2022 cycle. The Gamecocks signed On3 Consensus four-star Tanner Bailey and high-upside three-star Braden Davis. And that doesn’t include snagging Oklahoma transfer and former five-star Spencer Rattler, who could be one of the biggest impact players in the SEC next year.
If On3 was counting transfers and 2022 cycle signees, Texas A&M (Conner Weigman and Max Johnson) and Texas (Quinn Ewers and Maalik Murphy) would be high on the list.
Running backs: Penn State
Penn State is also the early signing period winning at running back. The Nittany Lions signed the top-ranked back in Nick Singleton, who is also the top-ranked prospect from the state of Pennsylvania.
Singleton is a blend of quickness, vision, contact balance and long speed. The On3 Consensus five-star will be on campus in January with a very near college-ready running back body.
Singleton is joined by On3 Consensus four-star Kaytron Allen. Allen is the No. 9 ranked running back and No. 134 overall nationally. He is a downhill back with a powerful frame and good feet in the hole. Singleton and Allen are a near perfect balance at the position.
Also considered was Alabama, North Carolina and Oklahoma State. The Crimson Tide signed the No. 7 back Jamarion Miller and the No. 2 back Emmanuel Henderson. Henderson could end up on either side of the ball, however. Mack Brown and staff inked consensus four-stars George Pettaway and Omarion Hampton. The Cowboys signed a very undervalued class, and that includes at running back. On3 Consensus four-star Ollie Gordon is downhill back with size and hands. And four-star CJ Brown will be an explosive change-of-pace player for Mike Gundy.
Wide Receivers: Alabama
Here is a shock: Alabama signed a terrific group of receiver prospects. Nick Saban and staff have two of the most explosive playmakers at the position in the class headed to Tuscaloosa. In-state four-star Kobe Prentice is 0-60 as fast as any in the class and is a maximizer in space. One-time LSU verbal Aaron Anderson is a playmaking receiver in a body type that could be a running back. Both players will be factors in the return game.
On3 Consensus No. 3 receiver and No. 39 overall Shazz Preston is one of the most instinctive 50-50 ball winners in the class. He may not be flashy, but he will be productive for the Crimson Tide.
There are also two athletes in the class that could both end up at receiver, or at least early on. On3 Consensus No. 4 athlete and No. 88 overall Kendrick Law has wide receiver hands, feet, ball skills and feel for the position. On3 Consensus No. 5 athlete and No. 116 overall Isaiah Bond was a one-time Florida verbal.
Honorable Mention: Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan
Also considered were Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan. The Aggies signed the nation’s No. 1 wideout Evan Stewart and consensus top-100 Chris Marshall. Stewart is a talent the Texas A&M program hasn’t signed at wide receive in many a year.
The Volunteers inked an undervalued quartet of 4-stars. Kaleb Webb is among the nations top senior risers. The Tennessee staff signed a On3 Consensus four-star from four different states at the position.
Kentucky has the most undervalued receiver class in the cycle. This is the best class of pass-catchers the Wildcats have inked in many years. On3 Consensus four-star Barion Brown is a five-star talent. Dane Key was a huge win in-state. And On3 Consensus No. 390 Jordan Anthony is among the handful of fastest receivers in the country.
The Buckeyes inked four 4-stars inside the top 200 of the On3 Consensus rankings. Jim Harbaugh and staff signed three 4-stars, all from different states.
Texas A&M has terrific trio of tight ends
Texas A&M makes use of the tight end position extremely well under Jimbo Fisher, and prospects have taken notice. The Aggies No. 1 ranked overall class was bolstered on signing day with No. 2 ranked tight end Jake Johnson.
He is joined by long-time Texas A&M verbal Donovan Green and No. 12-ranked tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom.
Johnson will have the ability to be an impact player in College Station. Not only is Johnson enrolled for the spring, but the position is open for competition with Jalen Wydermyer headed to the NFL.
Also considered were Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan and Stanford. It comes without surprise that the Fighting Irish inked a pair of four-stars at the position. Eli Raridon could be the next award-winning pass-catcher in South Bend.
Offensive Line: Texas
The weakness of the Texas program for the last decade has a bright future. Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood and Jeff Banks tag-teamed to sign a terrific six man-class.
The Longhorns signed the No. 1 ranked offensive tackle and five-star Kelvin Banks. The Houston-area flip from Oregon is the highest-ranked offensive line prospect to sign with Texas in over a decade.
Banks is joined by On3 Consensus four-stars Neto Umeozulu (No. 96 overall), No. 355 Malik Agbo, No. 356 Cole Hutson and No. 393 Cameron Williams. Williams and On300 No. 261 Connor Robertson are two of the more undervalued lineman in the cycle.
The Texas class hits on all positions with Banks and Williams at tackle, Umeozulu and Agbo likely guards, and Hutson and Robertson at center or guard. Westlake head coach Todd Dodge sees Robertson as a high-level center.
And the Longhorns class could get even better with On3 Consensus five-star IOL Devon Campbell considered a heavy lean to Texas over Oklahoma.
Honorable Mention: Notre Dame, Florida State, Kentucky
Notre Dame is in the conversation with the Longhorns. The Fighting Irish inked five On3 Consensus four-star prospects. Four are ranked between No. 118 overall and No. 162 in the On3 Consensus, headlined by Joey Tanona. A fifth signee is No. 420 overall Ashton Craig. Notre Dame’s class is made up of two tackles and three interior offensive lineman.
Much like Texas, Florida State was in need of a talented offensive line class. Mike Norvell and staff delivered with four On3 Consensus four-stars, headlined by Julian Armella and IOL Jaylen Early.
Kentucky also receives mention by keeping five-star Kiyaunta Goodwin over an eleventh-hour push from Michigan State. Goodwin is joined by four-stars Grant Bingham and Nikolas Hall.