Where things stand with 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rank
After Preston Zinter became the latest member of the New England-to-Notre Dame pipeline on Friday, it felt like a good time to check in on the updated 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rank. While Zinter’s commitment didn’t move Notre Dame to No. 1, it further strengthened the Fighting Irish’s spot as one of the best early 2023 classes. Here are the top 20 teams in the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rank.
2023 No. 1 USC
Top-ranked commit: Five-Star Plus+ QB Malachi Nelson
The Skinny: The Trojans have early commitments from the nation’s No. 2 quarterback, No. 1 receiver (Zachariah Branch) and No. 7 receiver (Makai Lemon). It’s a great foundation for what is expected to be a banner crop for new coach Lincoln Riley.
No. 2 Notre Dame
Top-ranked commit: Five-star EDGE Keon Keeley
The Skinny: The Fighting Irish already have nine commits on board for the 2023 class, including Keeley, four-star linebacker Drayk Bowen, four-star safety Peyton Bowen, four-star corner Justyn Rhett and others. It’s the type of early start on the recruiting trail that should give Marcus Freeman momentum to close build a potential top-five class.
2023 No. 3 Georgia
Top-ranked commit: Four-star corner Marcus Washington
The Skinny: UGA knows most of the elite players on its board will probably go through much of the recruiting process. But the early start with Washington, four-star OT Bo Hughley, four-star TE Pearce Spurlin, four-star WR Raymond Cottrell and others is enough to put the Dawgs in contention for the nation’s No. 1 class later on down the road.
No. 4 Penn State
Top-ranked commit: Four-star IOL Alex Birchmeier
The Skinny: Like Notre Dame, Penn State is doing a good job laying the foundation for another elite recruiting class. The Nittany Lions already have eight commits for 2023, including talented four stars like Jven Williams, tight end Neeo Avery and others.
2023 No. 5 Arkansas
Top-ranked commit: Four-star TE Shamar Easter
The Skinny: The Hogs locked up in-state coveted recruit Easter in August of last year and haven’t stopped with their momentum since. Four-star Luke Hasz was previously committed to Oklahoma, and four-star CB Dallas Young was a good early get from Alabama. Now the Hogs are hunting for their quarterback of the class and have their sights set on four-star Avery Johnson.
No. 6 Texas A&M
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Eli Holstein
The Skinny: Can the Aggies replicate the success they had in 2023 after signing the best ever class in recruiting history in 2022? It’s going to be tough to match or come close. But there’s no question the Aggies are building the base for another elite class, especially up front with key early commits from four-star defensive linemen Anthony James and Johnny Bowens.
2023 No. 7 Kentucky
Top-ranked commit: Four-star WR Shamar Porter
The Skinny: While the Wildcats only have three early commits, it’s already shaping up as another banner group for Mark Stoops. UK signed the No. 14 class in 2022 and there’s a good chance the Wildcats can be in the same vicinity after this good start.
No. 8 Ohio State
Top-ranked commit: Four-star IOL Josh Padilla
The Skinny: After the No. 4 class in 2022, Ohio State is primed for another chase toward the top of the recruiting rankings. Like Georgia, we’ll probably have to wait a little while for some of the blue-chippers on the Buckeyes’ list. But getting Padilla, four-star TE Ty Lockwood and four-star safety Cedrick Hawkins is a great start.
2023 No. 9 Oklahoma
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Jackson Arnold
The Skinny: The Sooners at one point had the No. 1 class, including commits from Nelson and Lemon. Then Riley left for USC. But Brent Venables has done a quality job early on with 2023 with Arnold, four-star receiver Ashton Cozart and in-state running back Erik McCarty committing over the past three weeks.
No. 10 Michigan State
Top-ranked commit: Four-star EDGE Andrew Depaepe
The Skinny: The Spartans went into Iowa to land Andrew Depaepe, which is a big head-to-head win over B1G recruiting rivals. Sparty has also landed its quarterback in the 2023 class – three-star Bo Edmundson, who some insiders believe will be ranked in the four-star range soon.
2023 No. 11 Michigan
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Raylen Wilson
The Skinny: The biggest question with the Wolverines will be whether or not Jim Harbaugh flirting with the Minnesota Vikings will come back to bite him in the butt on the recruiting trail. Initially, it hasn’t, and the Wolverines have five early 2023 commits.
No. 12 Boston College
Top-ranked commit: Four-star DL Boubacar Traore
The Skinny: The Eagles have jumped out early the past few classes and faded down the stretch. Jeff Hafley is hoping to turn that around with the 2023 class. It’s a good start with commits from Traore and three-star running back Datrell Jones – both local priority targets.
No. 13 Louisville
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Pierce Clarkson
The Skinny: Scott Satterfield got a major early 2023 commitment in late January from Clarkson, one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He’s also from California and is going to help the Cards recruit in the Golden State. Louisville also has pledges from three solid recruits from Georgia, including three-star safety Jayden Davis.
No. 14 Florida State
Top-ranked commit: Four-star EDGE Lamont Green Jr.
The Skinny: This is going to be an important class for Mike Norvell. Not just from a talent standpoint, but also from a perception standpoint. The Noles took a major black eye when they lost 2022 No. 1, Travis Hunter, to Jackson State. Now FSU must work to rebuild momentum in their backyard against new coaching staffs at Florida and Miami. The good news is that the Noles do have four early commits, including four-star QB Chris Parson.
No. 15 Tennessee
Top-ranked commit: Four-star TE Ethan Davis
The Skinny: Josh Heupel led the Vols to the No. 16 class in 2022, but he’s got his sights set on an even higher ranking in 2023. Davis is one of the top-10 players in Georgia, so that’s a good start. Plus, in-state OT Ayden Bussell has already committed.
No. 16 Northwestern
Top-ranked commit: Four-tar IOL Dylan Senda
The Skinny: Pat Fitzgerald landed a big one early on with Senda. But there’s also a talented local quarterback in the class with Aidan Gray out of Naperville, Ill.
No. 17 Texas Tech
Top-ranked commit: Four-star CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt
The Skinny: Joey McGuire immediately went to work on 2023 prospects after he got hired. It’s paid off. The Red Raiders have eight early commits for the 2023 class, including four-star WR Tyrone West and coveted quarterback Jake Strong.
No. 18 Baylor
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Christian Brathwaite
The Skinny: Dave Aranda is building a quality 2023 class with nine commits already. The key, as we saw with last year’s crop, is keeping the early commits on board to Signing Day next February. But there’s a lot to like about what the Bears have done so far. Keep an eye on QB Austin Novosad. A lot of insiders really like him and think he could compete for four-star status.
No. 19 Iowa
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Marco Lainez III
The Skinny: Iowa has three quality 2023 commits on board already. Lainez is one of the top quarterbacks on the East Coast. Three stars Maddux Borcherding-Johnson and Ben Kueter were good in-state gets to star the class off.
No. 20 Cincinnati
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Trevor Carter
The Skinny: Carter is one of the top-ranked in-state recruits that Luke Fickell has ever landed. Carter is the sixth-best recruit in Ohio’s 2023 class. Four of the Bearcats’ five commits are from in-state players, including three-star OL A.J. Salley.