With college football coaches busy wooing rising high school seniors, we offer a look at the best 2023 college football recruiting classes that have been assembled to date.
10. USC
With the addition of head coach Lincoln Riley came several top-ranked recruits. The Trojans’ current 2023 haul includes three 5-stars: QB Malachi Nelson, WR Zachariah Branch and ATH Makai Lemon. Both Nelson and Lemon play high school football at Los Alamitos, where the pair connected for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
9. Baylor
The Bears’ 2023 CFB recruiting class is headlined by two 4-star recruits in LB Christian Brathwaite and QB Austin Novosad, who both hail from Texas. So far, Baylor has earned the commitments of two Texas safeties as well, Cory Huff Jr. and Javeon Wilcox. Wilcox helped lead his Lake Belton Broncos to an undefeated season and led the team in tackles defensively.
8. Louisville
The Cardinals have snagged nine recruits so far, seven coming from Georgia and California. St John Bosco duo Pierce Clarkson (QB) and Jahlil McClain (ATH) verbally committed earlier this year. A pair of Georgia state champions are headed to Louisville: DL Adonijah Green from Cedar Grove and S Jayden Davis from Collins Hill. The Cardinals are building an underrated class that could shake up college football in future years.
7. Tennessee
It’s not a surprise to see Tennessee ranked already. The Volunteers shocked the nation and snagged 5-star QB Nicholaus Iamaleava from Long Beach Poly (CA) in late March, boosting their recruiting class significantly. The Vols have feasted in and around the state, with seven commits originating in either Georgia or Tennessee, including TE Ethan Davis (Collins Hill, GA) and DL Caleb Herring (Riverdale, TN).
6. Arkansas
The Razorbacks have dipped into the bag of tight ends to pick up three four-star talents: Luke Hasz, Shamar Easter and Jaden Hamm. They have also made it a priority to work on the offensive line, raking in 4-star Luke Brown and 3-star Joey Su’a. The Razorbacks beefed up the front seven as well, with two Texas defensive linemen and LB Everett Roussaw, another Cedar Grove (GA) product.
5. Ohio State
The Buckeyes return to the top 10 with eight 4-star recruits among the 10 standouts who have already committed. As of now, three 4-star offensive linemen from Ohio itself have chosen the Buckeyes: Luke Montgomery, Joshua Padilla and Austin Siereveld. Head coach Ryan Day has yet to snag a big-time wide receiver characteristic of past Ohio State classes, but running back Mark Fletcher from American Heritage (FL) is a great addition who could add another explosive element to an already-deadly offense.
4. Georgia
The defending national champions have six recruits from Georgia, including Gabriel Harris (Valdosta) and Seven Cloud (McEachern) along the defensive line. Bo Hughley is the Bulldogs’ highest-ranked recruit right now, as a 4-star offensive linemen on a potential state championship Langston Hughes (GA) team in 2022. The Bulldogs have also secured WR Raymond Cottrell from Milton (FL), whose blazing speed opens up big-play potential for offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
3. Penn State
The Nittany Lions’ best 2023 recruit so far has come by way of Alex Birchmeier, a 5-star offensive lineman from Broad Run (VA) ranked as the best in the nation. Head coach James Franklin has gone for depth with eight three-star commits, addressing both sides of the ball and targeting prospects mainly from Pennsylvania and Virginia. TE Joey Schlaffer from Exeter Township (PA) is one such talent; he led his team in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season.
2. Texas Tech
Somewhat surprisingly, the Red Raiders come in second here. They have gone for quantity over quality with 20 total commits, but only five 4-star players. Nineteen of those pickups are from in-state, and four are wide receivers. Parkland (TX) went 4-8 last season, but that didn’t stop Texas Tech WR commit Demarion Crest-Daniels from leading his team with 848 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns offensively. He joins WR Kaleb Smith (Reedy) as a productive receiver on a team that finished with a losing record last year.
1. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish currently have the best 2023 CFB recruiting class with 11 four-star commits and one five-star talent in edge rusher Keon Keeley from Berkeley Prep (FL). Seven of Notre Dame’s top eight recruits as of now are on the defensive side, with the lone exception being WR Braylon James from Stony Point in Texas. The Fighting Irish have picked up a trio of powerful 4-star defensive linemen: Brenan Vernon (Mentor, OH), Boubacar Traore (Catholic Memorial, MA), and Devan Houstan (St. James School, MD). These pickups bolster a defensive line led by first-time head coach Marcus Freeman.
