Where the top 300 players in the Class of 2023 come from
Everything is bigger and better in Texas, including high school football players heading to the next level. The Lone Star State has continually led the way in the greatest number of recruits signing with Division I schools. So, it’s no surprise Texas leads the way with the most players on the newly released On300 rankings. Here’s a state-by-state look at where the top high school football players in the Class of 2023 are from, according to the On3.
Texas – 51
Top overall recruit: DL David Hicks
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: Texas has 17 players ranked in the top 100 nationally, with Hicks, four-star cornerback Malik Muhammad and four-star offensive lineman Markis Deal in the top 30 overall. There’s also a very talented group of linebackers in the Lone Star State’s 2023 class headlined by Anthony Hill, S’Maje Burrell and Bravion Rogers.
Florida – 47
Top overall recruit: Notre Dame EDGE commit Keon Keeley
Number of 5-stars: 2
The Skinny: Florida always rivals Texas for the top talent in the country, and the Class of 2023 is no different. Cornerback Cormani McClain is a Five-Star Plus+ prospect, meaning everybody in the recruiting industry agrees he’s among the best of the best. Furthermore, the Sunshine State has a high concentration of elite talent with 20 players ranked in the top 86 of the country.
Georgia – 33
Top overall recruit: S Caleb Downs
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: Georgia has replaced California as part of the Big Three talent-producing states over the past decade, and that trend continues with the Class of 2023. The Peach State might not have as much elite talent as Florida and Texas — with only 10 in the top 100 — but there’s a tremendous among of depth throughout the state and plenty of blue-chippers to be found.
California – 21
Top overall recruit: USC QB commit Malachi Nelson
Number of 5-stars: 2
The Skinny: If you need a quarterback, this was the year to find them in California. Nelson ranks as a Five-Star Plus+ prospect and Nico Iamaleava is on the verge of becoming one, too. There are lot of quality receivers in California, highlighted by Jurrion Dickey, Makai Lemon (USC), Jeremiah McClure, DeAndre Moore Jr. and JeyQuan Smith in the top 210 overall.
Alabama – 18
Top overall recruit: EDGE Qua Russaw
Number of 5-stars: 2
The Skinny: Many insiders are calling this the best class ever from Alabama, and the numbers show that’s true. Along with Russaw, DL James Smith is a five-star recruit and DL Peter Woods, QB Christopher Vizzina and Tony Mitchell rank in the top 26 overall. Overall, Alabama has 12 players ranked in the top 100 nationally.
Louisiana – 15
Top overall recruit: QB Arch Manning
Number of 5-stars: 2
The Skinny: Louisiana continues to crank out blue-chip talent and the Class of 2023 is especially loaded. That’s especially true since Manning, a Five-Star Plus+ recruit, is also ranked No. 1 overall. But WR Shelton Sampson Jr. is also a five-star and OT Zalance Heard and S Derek Williams rank in the top 25 nationally. The state has 12 players ranked in the top 200 overall.
North Carolina – 11
Top overall recruit: WR Noah Rogers
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: North Carolina is another state that often gets overlooked by many observers for the number of recruits it produces. But the Class of 2023 is quality from top to bottom. Rogers will likely compete for five-star status in later ranking updates, and others like OT Sullivan Absher, CB Chris Peal and Javonte Vereen are being recruited on a national level.
Missouri – 9
Top overall recruit: EDGE Chandavian Bradley
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Savvy recruiters have known for years that there’s always good talent to be found in Missouri. That’s especially true during some cycles in Kansas City and St. Louis. But nothing quite compares to what we’re seeing with the 2023 Class in the Show-Me State. The newly updated On300 rankings feature nine players from Missouri, including five recruits in the top 132 in the country.
Arizona – 8
Top overall recruit: TE Duce Robinson
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Over the past decade Arizona has increasingly become one of the top talent-producing states in the West. The same is true in the 2023 class with Robinson, DL A’mauri Washington and WR Kyler Kasper all ranked in the top 131 nationally.
Maryland – 6
Top overall recruit: EDGE Desmond Umeozulu
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: While Maryland doesn’t have the high-end talent in the 2023 class as it has in the past, the On300 reveals some good blue-chip depth throughout the state. Umeozulu, DL Jason Moore, WR Neeo Avery, DL Isaiah Neal and DL Dashawn Womack rank in the top 205 nationally.
Michigan – 6
Top overall recruit: QB Dante Moore
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Moore is the focus of one of the most intense recruiting battles in the country, with Notre Dame currently leading in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. There’s a good quantity of other blue-chip recruits in the state, but most of the players on the On300 from Michigan rank outside of the top 200.
Ohio – 6
Top overall recruit: Ohio State IOL commit Luke Montgomery
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Ohio always ebbs and flows for top-end talent, but the 2023 class kind of falls in the middle of the pack. Montgomery is in the top 45 nationally, but others like LB Nigel Glover, IOL Austin Siereveld, S Malik Hartford, DL Brenan Vernon and Arvell Reese rank in the No. 136 to No. 196 range.
Pennsylvania – 6
Top overall recruit: Penn State OIL commit Jven Williams
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: Williams is the lone five-star recruit from PA in the 2023 class, and he’s the only high-level blue-chipper from the state. The others in the On300 from PA – like LB Ta’Mere Robinson, WR Rodney Gallagher and DL Jameial Lyons – all rank outside of the top 150.
District of Columbia – 5
Top overall recruit: EDGE Nyckoles Harbor
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: When you combine DC, Virginia and Maryland, the DMV has some really elite talent in the Class of 2023. But there does seem to be more concentrated talent in DC than in the past. Harbor might be in contention for a top-five ranking overall this season, and OT Evan Link and EDGE Joseph Mupoyi rank in the top 165 nationally.
Mississippi – 5
Top overall recruit: S Isaac Smith
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Per capita, Mississippi annually produces some of the greatest number of top-end recruits. But the 2023 class isn’t as loaded as in past years. Yet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t blue-chippers, because Smith, DL Jamarious Brown and RB Dante Dowdell, are being recruited by everybody.
Virginia – 5
Top overall recruit: Penn State OIL commit Alex Birchmeier
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Birchmeier and ATH Cameron Seldon are the headliners in Virginia’s 2023 class and the only two ranked in the top 100 nationally.
Illinois – 4
Top overall recruit: OT Charles Jagusah
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: Jagusah is a newly-minted five-star recruit, and Carnell Tate, who is originally from Chicago, will be in contention for the lofty ranking this season. LB Kaden Feagin is another name that could see his stock soar in the spring.
Indiana – 4
Top overall recruit: EDGE Joshua Mickens
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Mickens has been a household name on the recruiting trail for more than a year, but he’s not the only top 2023 target. The On300 also includes quality Indiana recruits like OT Luke Burgess and Notre Dame LB commit Drayk Bowen.
Iowa – 4
Top overall recruit: OT Kadyn Proctor
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: There’s some sneaky good football played in Iowa, and the Class of 2023 is one of the best classes the state has produced in the last decade. Everybody knows about Proctor and his national recruitment, but Michigan State EDGE commit Andrew Depaepe, QB JJ Kohl and LB Asa Newsom are all national-level recruits.
Massachusetts – 4
Top overall recruit: S Joenel Aguero
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Even with a large population base, there always isn’t a lot of top-end talent in the Boston area. That’s different in the 2023 On300 with Aguero, OT Samson Okunlola and DL Boubacar Traore all in the top 100 overall.
Oklahoma – 4
Top overall recruit: EDGE Bai Jobe
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Oklahoma is another state with boom or bust cycles. The number is somewhat in the middle for 2023, but the players at the top of the rankings are special. Jobe was a major riser in the On300 and ATH Jacobe Johnson is ranked in the top 40.
Tennessee – 4
Top overall recruit: EDGE Caleb Herring
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Herring leads the pack with his national-level recruitment, but the On3 RPM is trending heavily for in-state Tennessee. WR Shamar Porter is also a top recruit from the state, and he’s already committed to Kentucky.
Washington – 4
Top overall recruit: DL Jayden Wayne
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Washington is going to be the focus of some of the most interesting recruiting battles in the country. UDub, Oregon and Washington State all have new head coaches and there’s some quality talent in the state to fight over.
New Jersey – 3
Top overall recruit: OT Chase Bisontis
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: New Jersey is somewhat down from an elite talent standpoint this season with only three on the On300. Safety Adon Shuler at No. 289 is already committed to Notre Dame.
Colorado – 2
Top overall recruit: EDGE Blake Purchase
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: The Rocky Mountain State is home to only two top 300 players. Arizona QB commit Brayden Dorman could be somebody that will be added to the list later this season.
Connecticut – 2
Top overall recruit: OT Olaus Alinen
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Alinen has seen his recruiting stock shoot through the roof in the winter, and Alabama is now the team to beat, according to the On3 RPM.
Minnesota – 2
Top overall recruit: TE Jaxon Howard
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Minnesota has two — Howard and IOL Jerome Williams — in the top 186 in the country. That’s pretty impressive for a state that isn’t normally home to a lot of blue-chippers.
Nevada – 2
Top overall recruit: USC WR commit Zachariah Branch
Number of 5-stars: 1
The Skinny: Las Vegas continues to grow from a population standpoint and more and more blue-chippers are coming out of the area. Branch is the headliner, but DL Kelze Howard also ranks in the top 45 nationally.
New York – 2
Top overall recruit: DL Tyriq Blanding
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: New York is hit and miss for national-level talent, despite the huge population. That being said Blanding and QB Ajani Sheppard are names to follow.
South Carolina – 2
Top overall recruit: OT Monroe Freeling
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Freeling, who is No. 39 on the On300, is a coveted tackle prospect with a long list of national offers. IOL Markee Anderson also ranks in the top 110 overall.
Utah – 2
Top overall recruit: OT Spencer Fano
The Skinny: After a monster 2022 class, Utah is a little down in 2023. That being said, Fano and EDGE Tausili Akana are top 70 recruits that will have their pick of schools.
Arkansas – 1
Top overall recruit: Arkansas TE commit Shamar Easter
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Easter was an early Arkansas commit. Had he remained on the market, he would have been one of the most heavily-recruited tight ends in the country.
Nebraska – 1
Top overall recruit: ATH Malachi Coleman
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Coleman is likely going to stay in-state and play for Nebraska, but he definitely has other teams pursuing him.
Oregon – 1
Top overall recruit: TE Riley Williams
Number of 5-stars: 0
The Skinny: Williams is a heavy lean toward Oregon, according to the On3 RPM. However, it does look like he’s going to take his time with the process.