- Football Coach Who Got Nailed By NCAA for Paying Recruits Cites George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in Explanation for Why He Did It Mediaite
- Ex-Tennessee football coach cited death of George Floyd, others as reason for helping players: report Fox News
- Jeremy Pruitt carried wads of cash at Alabama, per report, cites George Floyd in investigation AL.com
- Tennessee Attorney General Threatened To Sue The NCAA If They Gave Vols Football Program A Bowl Ban Outkick
- First and 10: Tennessee’s strategy vs. NCAA allegations was pure genius … and worked to perfection Saturday Down South
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: recruits
Reggie Powers, Ryan Montgomery, Deontae Armstrong and More Recruits Share Their Reactions to Attending Ohio St – Eleven Warriors
- Reggie Powers, Ryan Montgomery, Deontae Armstrong and More Recruits Share Their Reactions to Attending Ohio St Eleven Warriors
- After attending spring game Ohio State legacy sack machine says he will return for an OV 247Sports
- Desmond Howard tries to troll Archie Griffin’s touchdown run in Ohio State spring game Saturday Tradition
- A healthy Denzel Burke could finally mean the return of ‘B.I.A.’ for Ohio State football: Stephen Means’ Obse cleveland.com
- Throw-by-Throw Breakdown of Kyle McCord’s Performance in Ohio State’s 2023 Spring Game | Eleven Warriors Eleven Warriors
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Photos of Recruits Attending Ohio State’s Spring Football Game Saturday | Eleven Warriors – Eleven Warriors
- Photos of Recruits Attending Ohio State’s Spring Football Game Saturday | Eleven Warriors Eleven Warriors
- Ohio State football not impressive in 2023 spring game WolverinesWire
- Athletic Band Halftime: “Queens of Country” (Spring Game 2023) The Ohio State University Marching Band
- Devin Brown ‘going to stick to my word’ and continue Ohio State quarterback competition in August when healthy cleveland.com
- Five Things: Young Guys Flash, Offensive Line Struggles and Quarterback Battle Remains Unsettled Following Ohio State’s Spring Game Eleven Warriors
- View Full Coverage on Google News
UPDATED: Top California recruits react to visiting Ohio State – 247Sports
- UPDATED: Top California recruits react to visiting Ohio State 247Sports
- The Hurry-Up: Ohio State Offers 2025 Five-stars Jadyn Hudson, Phillip Bell III and Four-star CB Jett White Mon Eleven Warriors
- ‘It made me feel at home’: 2025 CB Jett White gets offer on Ohio State football recruiting visit The Columbus Dispatch
- Buckeyes are a strong contender for country’s No. 9 corner after his first Ohio State visit. 247Sports
- Five-Star DL Justin Scott Sets Buckeyes Official Visit | 2024 Ohio State Football Recruiting Tracker Sports Illustrated
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Deion Sanders recruits for Colorado while at Super Bowl site – USA TODAY
- Deion Sanders recruits for Colorado while at Super Bowl site USA TODAY
- As Deion Sanders took over Super Bowl radio row, it’s easy to see how he has Colorado football buzzing Yahoo Sports
- Deion Sanders Talks Super Bowl, Colorado & More with Rich Eisen | Full Interview The Rich Eisen Show
- Deion Sanders believes Tom Brady’s Super Bowl wins record will stand: ‘This culture ain’t built like that’ Fox News
- Deion Sanders talks NEW ERA at Colorado, Recruiting Florida Prospects & MORE | CBS Sports CBS Sports
- View Full Coverage on Google News
National signing day updates: 2023 football recruits, commits
College football’s 2023 recruiting cycle is nearing its end with national signing day. Wednesday is the final day that high school recruits are able to sign their national letters of intent to lock them into the schools they choose.
The early signing period in December brought plenty of chaos. Three five-star recruits flipped their commitments in one week — one of whom flipped his commitment twice in two days.
Since then, though, some coaches are mulling the possibility of changing the recruiting calendar. In early January, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told reporters, “There has not been a coach with whom I visited around our bowl games who hasn’t said this has just become crushing for us.”
What future signing periods look like remains to be seen, but for the 2023 class, this is it. We provide you with the latest news, analysis, class rankings movement and player announcements throughout Wednesday.
Latest class rankings: Top 75 schools
Breaking down the early signing period
What to watch for
Wednesday will unofficially mark the end of the 2023 recruiting cycle in college football. Our analysts break down the prospects who are still available, the recruits who will make a difference and the teams with the most to gain this time around.
Announcements to watch: Today’s schedule
Our “College Football Live: Signing Day Special” will air from 1-2 p.m. ET on ESPN2, featuring analysis from our insiders and scouts, as well as announcements from some of the top recruits in the country. Here’s who will be announcing their commitments later today:
Who: ATH Nyckoles Harbor (No. 39 overall)
When: 1:05 p.m. ET
Choosing between: LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, USC
Who: CB Rodrick Pleasant (No. 100 overall)
When: 1:30 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Boston College, California, Oregon, UCLA, USC
Who: CB Ellis Robinson IV (No. 5, 2024 ESPN Junior 300)
When: 1:50 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, LSU, Miami
Who are the best prospects this cycle?
Each recruiting cycle, the best recruits in the country are ranked in the ESPN 300. Entering signing day, 293 of the top 300 prospects this cycle are committed. Following our final rankings update, here is how the top 10 stacks up:
-
Malachi Nelson, QB (USC)
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Dante Moore, QB (UCLA)
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Jackson Arnold, QB (Oklahoma)
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Peter Woods, DT (Clemson)
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Arch Manning, QB (Texas)
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Francis Mauigoa, OT (Miami)
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Zachariah Branch, WR (USC)
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David Hicks, DT (Texas A&M)
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Jaquavious Russaw, OLB (Alabama)
-
Kadyn Proctor, OT (Alabama)
See the full ESPN 300 rankings here »
Rashada, the seventh-ranked quarterback and No. 31 prospect overall, signed his national letter of intent with Florida in December. However, he was granted a release in mid-January after a reported $13.5 million name, image and likeness deal with the school’s Gator Collective falling through.
As the top uncommitted recruit and quarterback left on the board, where will he go?
Breaking down the 2023 recruiting cycle
We broke down the 2023 recruiting cycle in many different ways. We analyzed the strengths of the recruits who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at each position.
Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill also went pick-by-pick in trying to draft the best all-22 team of 2023 recruits. See who got picked and vote which team is better
Big Court Win For Sikh Recruits In US Marines
Aekash Singh, Jaskirat Singh, and Milaap Chahal had sought an exemption from a Marines grooming rule.
Washington:
A US court has ruled that Marine Corps cannot deny entry to Sikhs sporting a beard and wearing a turban, in a major victory for three recruits from the community who can now join the elite unit’s basic training without having to forfeit their religious beliefs.
The trio of recruits – Aekash Singh, Jaskirat Singh, and Milaap Singh Chahal – had sought an exemption from a Marines grooming rule requiring them to shave their beards, with the men arguing it was their expression of commitment to their religious faith.
The Marine Corps told three Sikh men that they could serve only if they shaved before going through basic training.
They appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in September after a lower-court judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed them to enter basic training with their articles of faith.
“They are now suffering and will continue to suffer grave, immediate, and ongoing injuries to the exercise of their faith,” the three-judge bench of the US Court of Appeals here ruled on Friday.
“A federal court has just ruled that Sikhs can maintain their religious beards while serving their country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now, three Sikh recruits, who had previously been denied religious accommodations, can enter basic training,” lawyer Eric Baxter, who represented the three men, tweeted.
“This is a major ruling for religious freedom—for years, the Marine Corps has barred Sikh recruits with religious beards from entry into basic training. Today’s ruling strikes down that rule as a “violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA),” he said.
“No one should have to choose between serving God and country,” he added in a series of tweets.
The Marines’ ban on facial hair applies in basic training and “combat zones,” a designation the plaintiffs said in court covers over three dozen countries where hazard pay is given, the Washington Post newspaper reported.
The Marines claimed that beards will impact “troop uniformity” and appearance among recruits, ultimately threatening national security.
Writing for the Court, Judge Millett stated that the Sikh recruits “not only have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits—it is difficult to imagine them losing.” “She noted that the Marine Corps has never explained why the Corps cannot apply the same or similar [religious] accommodations that the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Coast Guard provide,” Baxter said.
The US Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard all accommodate the religious requirements of Sikhism.
In the Sikh religion, it is mandatory for the male adherents to not trim their hair and beard along with keeping kanga (wooden comb), kirpan (small sword), kara (steel bracelet), and a white cotton undergarment (kachera).
“Sikhs have a long tradition of serving in militaries around the globe, motivated by their religious teaching to defend the defenseless. We are grateful that these Sikh recruits can continue that tradition—the ruling was made right in time for them to enter boot camp,” Baxter tweeted.
“They believe, as part of their religious duty, in defending the rights of others,” Baxter told National Public Radio (NPR).
“This was also a win for our national security. At a time of historic recruiting shortfalls, the Marines now have access to a new community of Americans who have a history of bravely serving in the military,” he tweeted.
The Marine Corps allows medically required beards and diverse hairstyles for women, and has relaxed its rules around tattoos.
In 2021, NPR reported that the Marines planned to address its lack of diversity and retention problems. Approximately 75% of Marines leave at the end of their four-year term, the highest turnover rate among the military services, according to the article.
The ruling means that the three men are allowed to go ahead with training, while the Marine Corps considers a possible appeal.
“They should really just recognize it’s time to make this change and let all Americans serve without having to abandon their religious – their core religious belief,” Baxter said.
Featured Video Of The Day
Anil Kapoor Celebrates 66th Birthday With Family And Friends
Latest on top 2023 football recruits
National signing day is here, with college football’s early signing period kicking off Wednesday and lasting through Friday. High school recruits are able to sign their national letters of intent to lock them into the colleges of their choice.
The buildup to the start of the early signing period saw two five-star recruits in the 2023 ESPN 300 flip their commitments. Quarterback Dante Moore discarded Oregon in favor of UCLA on Monday, while offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor spurned Iowa for Alabama on Tuesday.
Day 1 of the early signing period has brought chaos, from Alabama landing two five-star defenders from the same high school to a five-star safety decommitting from Notre Dame and instead signing with Oregon. The Ducks made a massive leap up the rankings, while other teams, in turn, plummeted. Meanwhile, Deion Sanders and Colorado jumped into the top 50 recruiting rankings.
This is the sixth year in which the NCAA has held an early signing period for college football recruits, and it has become the dominant session, with most schools securing the majority of their class during this stretch. But recruiting is far from over; if a prospect doesn’t sign a national letter of intent this week, the next national signing day for this cycle begins Feb. 1, 2023.
We tracked the latest news, analysis, class rankings movement and more throughout Wednesday.
Updated class rankings: Top 60 schools
Biggest winners, question marks so far
Lane train
Maryland flipped four-star edge rusher Neeo Avery from Ole Miss earlier Wednesday. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin had something to say about it, of course, replying to a tweet from Terps running back coach Elijah Brooks:
Was excited to learn coach locks had qualified for his second bowl game. Hadn’t seen that until today. He’s one of my favorites @CoachLocks 💙💙
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 22, 2022
Deion Sanders’ first signing day at Colorado
Sanders’ first recruiting class at Colorado includes two 2023 ESPN 300 recruits, the Buffaloes’ first ESPN 300 signees since 2020, but it was a commitment from a transfer quarterback that was the biggest news of Sanders’ day. His son, Shedeur Sanders, officially announced Wednesday his move to follow his father to Colorado. Read the full story.
Oregon lands RB flip
Four-star RB Jayden Limar (Lake Stevens, Washington) flipped his commitment from Notre Dame to Oregon. He had previously committed to Notre Dame in May.
The best recruits still available
Most of the ESPN 300 have already committed, but there are still several top recruits available. Here are the best players still available.
1. Desmond Ricks, CB (No. 17)
2. Nyckoles Harbor, ATH (No. 35)
3. Duce Robinson, TE-H (No. 36)
4. Rodrick Pleasant, CB (No. 99)
5. Walker Lyons, TE-Y (No. 118)
6. Mikal Harrison-Pilot, ATH (No. 125)
7. Cameron Lenhardt, DE (No. 144)
8. Ethan Nation, CB (No. 169)
9. Andrew Harris, ILB (No. 199)
10. Jelani McDonald, ATH (No. 237)
Arizona gets a four-star flip
Four-star athlete Carlos Wilson (Sacramento, California/Inderkum) flipped his commitment from Utah to Arizona. He primarily played wide receiver in high school but can play both sides of the ball.
Michigan adds four-star cornerback to class
Four-star cornerback Jyaire Hill has committed to Michigan. The No. 239 recruit becomes the Wolverines’ sixth ESPN 300 commit in the class. Hill had offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Illinois and Washington.
Texas lands 12th ESPN 300 commit
Tausili Akana has committed to the Longhorns. The Lehi, Utah, product is ranked No. 113 in the ESPN 300 and is the No. 9 outside linebacker overall. Akana received offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Louisville and Alabama, among others.
Georgia adds five-star DE
Damon Wilson signed with Georgia on Wednesday. The defensive end is ranked No. 31 in the ESPN 300 and is the third overall at his position. He had 82 total tackles and eight sacks this season for Venice High School in Florida. He had offers from Alabama and Ohio State, among several others.
Caleb Presley, a cornerback out of Seattle, flipped his commitment from Oregon to Washington. He is the No. 221 recruit in the ESPN 300 and held offers from Alabama, Michigan and USC, among others.
Damari Brown, the No. 112 recruit in the ESPN 300, signed with Miami. The cornerback out of Plantation, Florida, had offers from several high-profile schools, including Alabama, Clemson and Michigan. His older brother, CB Davonte Brown, recently announced his transfer from UCF to Miami.
Alabama adds two five-star teammates
Linebacker Jaquavious Russaw — the No. 7 recruit in the ESPN 300 — and teammate James Smith — a defensive lineman who is the No. 11 recruit in the ESPN 300 — have committed to Alabama. The Crimson Tide have 20 ESPN 300 recruits in the class.
Texas A&M lands four-star wide receiver
Micah Tease, the No. 256 recruit in the ESPN 300, has committed to Texas A&M. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, product decommitted from Arkansas on Dec. 19.
The Aggies now have eight ESPN 300 commits.
Maryland adds four-star defensive end
Four-star defensive end Neeo Avery, who is No. 174 in the ESPN 300, is staying in his home state. A product of Olney, Maryland, he signed to play with the Terrapins after decommitting from Ole Miss.
Oregon started the day ranked 14th, but the Ducks have been incredibly active, flipping five-star safety Peyton Bowen from Notre Dame and four-star quarterback Austin Novosad from Baylor, among others.
Meanwhile, Alabama, Georgia and Miami have been holding strong at the top of the class rankings. View the full top 50 here.
Who’s winning (and who isn’t) on signing day?
How can a team that lost a five-star quarterback commit be considered a signing day winner? How can a team that currently is in the top 10 (and leads its conference) not be? We analyze the teams that are crushing the early signing period and those that aren’t. Read our analysis here.
Deion Sanders adds wideout to Colorado’s roster
ESPN 300 wide receiver Adam Hopkins is joining Sanders and the Buffaloes. Hopkins, out of Georgia, is the second ESPN 300 commit in Colorado’s class so far. He had committed to Auburn in the fall but decommitted earlier this month.
ESPN 300 cornerback Kayin Lee flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Auburn on Wednesday. Lee is the the No. 184 recruit overall and held offers from several high-profile schools, including Oregon, Notre Dame and Georgia.
Oregon is on a roll
A good day for the Ducks got even better with the additions of defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, the No. 65 prospect in the ESPN 300, and cornerback Daylen Austin, the No. 142 prospect.
Uiagalelei is the brother of former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who is in the transfer portal. Austin was previously committed to LSU. Oregon flipped five-star safety Peyton Bowen earlier in the day. It now has 13 ESPN 300 recruits and is moving up the class rankings.
The Bulldogs landed ESPN 300 recruit Isaac Smith, who is ranked 107th overall and is the No. 9 safety. Smith is their second ESPN 300 commitment after quarterback Chris Parson.
Auburn closing strong with big addition
The Tigers flipped ESPN 300 defensive end Keldric Faulk from Florida State. New coach Hugh Freeze has four ESPN 300 commits.
💥💥 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐑 💥💥
Welcome to Auburn, @FaulkKeldric! pic.twitter.com/bAPOp08aNN
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 21, 2022
Buckeyes add to 2023 haul
ESPN 300 defensive end Joshua Mickens committed to Ohio State on Wednesday. Mickens gives the Buckeyes 13 ESPN 300 commits and 16 four-star recruits in the class.
Another big flip for Oregon
Five-star safety Peyton Bowen announced he is flipping his commitment from Notre Dame to Oregon. The No. 15 overall recruit in the ESPN 300 is a huge get for the Ducks.
Nebraska is reeling in top prospects
ESPN 300 athlete Malachi Coleman has committed to Nebraska. He’s the second ESPN 300 commit for Matt Rhule and his staff.
No. 1 recruit officially headed to USC
It’s not a surprise that quarterback Malachi Nelson, the top-ranked recruit in the country, is headed to USC, but the Trojans made it official with style:
Guys like these are very, very tough to come by.
He’s the #1 QB in the nation and joins QBU and Heisman U… 👀
Welcome home, @Malachi 😤✌️ pic.twitter.com/B9MeSroiT0
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 21, 2022
Deion signs first big recruit at Colorado
Four-star Dylan Edwards signed to Colorado, giving coach Deion Sanders his first big name this recruiting cycle. The running back out of Kansas is ranked No. 156 in the ESPN 300 .
Ready to 𝙧𝙪𝙣 🦬@dylan_edwards02 x @Coach_Fella23 pic.twitter.com/9oISL0drj8
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 21, 2022
Michigan lands top-100 WR
Michigan has won on the field by reaching the College Football Playoff for the second straight season. The Wolverines are winning in the transfer portal by landing several impact contributors for next year. And they are winning on the recruiting trail as well.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines landed Karmello English, a wide receiver ranked No. 82 in the ESPN 300, on Wednesday. Michigan entered the day ranked No. 21 in the class rankings.
UCF adds flip from Florida
ESPN 300 defensive end Isaiah Nixon announced he won’t be a Florida Gator after all, but he’s not going far as he flipped to UCF.
HOMETOWN HERO🖤⚔️ #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/2Gv0DIIAJr
— Isaiah Nixon (@IsaiahNixon06) December 21, 2022
Still committed … but not signed yet
Despite holding a commitment to Miami, five-star cornerback Cormani McClain will not sign his national letter of intent on Wednesday, according to his mother, Tikisha White. The No. 1-ranked corner has been committed to the Hurricanes since June, and while he won’t sign on Wednesday, there is no update as to whether he will sign in this early period or wait until February.
Arch Manning, nation’s No. 2 recruit, officially signs with Texas
Manning — nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, grandson of Archie Manning, and son of former Ole Miss wide receiver Cooper Manning — is officially a Longhorn. He committed to Texas in June.
Manning is one of 11 ESPN 300 commits for Texas, which has the No. 7-ranked class in the country. Manning was a four-year starter at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, throwing for 8,599 yards and 115 touchdowns with 20 interceptions while rushing for 1,155 yards and 25 scores. He broke Eli’s school record for school passing yards (7,268) and Peyton’s for TDs (93).
Utah State lands ESPN 300 recruit
Four star OT Taliafi Taala, ranked No. 203 in the ESPN 300, is staying local as he committed to the Aggies.
https://t.co/O3v18eNwzX
— Taliafi Taala (@TaliafiTaala) December 21, 2022
Georgia pushing for No. 1 class
Not only is Georgia seeking its seventh consecutive top-three class but the Bulldogs, who enter signing day at No. 2, trailing only Alabama, are aiming for the top spot.
On Wednesday, Kirby Smart’s loaded defense got stronger with the addition of ESPN 300 cornerback Daniel Harris, who is ranked No. 157 overall.
Commited 1000% . pic.twitter.com/J0mHoMAAhC
— Daniel Harris (@h9rrisdaniel) December 21, 2022
Oregon flips a top QB recruit
Two days after the Ducks lost a pledge from No. 3 prospect Dante Moore, who is headed to UCLA, they flipped an ESPN 300 quarterback of their own, landing Austin Novosad, a four-star signal-caller who had previously been committed to Baylor.
Novosad is Oregon’s 10th ESPN 300 commit for the 2023 class.
First big flip of the day, ESPN 300 quarterback Austin Novosad flips from Baylor to Oregon.
The Oregon staff was able to get a big QB after Dante Moore flipped to UCLA.#Oregon #ScoDucks https://t.co/Ote7cBiSK6
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 21, 2022
Announcements to watch: Today’s schedule
Our “College Football Live: Signing Day Special” will air from 2-5 p.m. ET on ESPN2, featuring analysis from our insiders and scouts, as well as announcements from some of the top recruits in the country. Here’s who will be announcing their commitments later today:
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Who: LB Jaquavious Russaw (No. 7 overall recruit) and DT James Smith (No. 11)
When: 2:10 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Alabama State -
Who: CB Damari Brown (No. 112)
When: 3:15 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Miami -
Who: DE Damon Wilson (No. 31)
When: 3:45 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Alabama, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State -
Who: CB Jyaire Hill (No. 239)
When: 4:15 p.m. ET
Choosing between: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan and Washington
Longhorn Network kicks off signing day coverage with a “Texas Football National Signing Day” special from 8-10:30 a.m. ET.
SEC Network will air hourly updates beginning at 9 a.m. ET and host a three-hour “SEC Now: Signing Day Special” at noon.
ACC Network will host “ACC Huddle: Signing Day Special” from 3-6:30 p.m.
Schools with clever announcements
Clemson, Ole Miss and Syracuse were among the teams that took different routes in announcing the players they signed.
🥞🥞🥞@Fl6pjack x #We2Deep23 pic.twitter.com/YCScFvrg4L
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 21, 2022
Welcome to Myers Island 🏝️ @BraxtonMyers23 | #ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/cX9jSXvW1U
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 21, 2022
Adding to the trenches!
Welcome to ‘Cuse, @Jayden_Bass pic.twitter.com/k1ZVqUIh59
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 21, 2022
Where the class rankings stand now
Here are the top three schools in our class rankings, which go all the way to 50:
-
Alabama: 22 ESPN 300 commitments
-
Georgia: 18 ESPN 300 commitments
-
Miami: 15 ESPN 300 commitments
Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU and Texas are all vying for a top-five finish as well.
Two five-star recruits make seismic flips
Right before the early signing period, two top-10 recruits decided to flip their commitments. On Monday, quarterback Dante Moore, ranked No. 3 in the class, decommitted from Oregon and announced his commitment to UCLA.
The next day, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, the No. 10 recruit overall, flipped from in-state Iowa to join Alabama.
What will happen Wednesday?
Who are the best prospects this cycle?
Each recruiting cycle, the best recruits in the country are ranked in the ESPN 300. Entering signing day, 270 of the top 300 prospects this cycle are committed. including nine of the top 10 recruits.
The top 10 goes as follows:
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Malachi Nelson, QB (USC)
-
Arch Manning, QB (Texas)
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Dante Moore, QB (UCLA)
-
Cormani McClain, CB (Miami)
-
Francis Mauigoa, OT (Miami)
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Zachariah Branch, WR (USC)
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Jaquavious Russaw, OLB (uncommitted)
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Jackson Arnold, QB (Oklahoma)
-
Peter Woods, DT (Clemson)
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Kadyn Proctor, OT (Alabama)
See the full ESPN 300 rankings here »
Breaking down the 2023 recruiting cycle
We broke down the 2023 recruiting cycle in many different ways. We analyzed the strengths of the recruits who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at each position.
Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill also went pick-by-pick in trying to draft the best all-22 team of 2023 recruits. See who got picked and vote which team is better.
*Updated* Louisville Football Expecting a Strong Group of Recruits This Weekend
*UPDATE*
I finally got a list of the official visitors this week so I wanted to provide an abbreviated update.
Jahlil McClain wasn’t initially confirmed but he was spotted in some of the social media videos from the other recruits. It is also my understanding that Jamari Johnson will visit this weekend at some point. He is/was scheduled to take an official visit to Oregon. Jeff Brohm and Ryan Wallace finding a way to get some face time with him is pretty important. He’s a key player in the class. Cardinal Authority is also reporting that Texas A&M transfer cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew is visiting. He is a former-four star who calls Louisville his “hometown”.
An updated list of transfer recruits and high school recruits is below.
Dillon Johnson – Running Back
The Mississippi State running back had a solid career for the Bulldogs in their Air Raid offense. He finished this year averaging 70 total yards per game while splitting time. Johnson has shown a great ability to catch the ball and he runs very tough.
Jadon Thompson – Wide Receiver
Thompson is a transfer from Cincinnati where he finished the 2022 season as their third-leading receiver. Thompson is 6-2/190 and showed some good speed on a 100-yard kickoff return this year. UofL needs talent and depth at wide receiver, so Thompson would add a nice piece as an outside receiver if he joins the team.
Myles Slusher – Defensive Back
I’m still getting a feel for Ron English’s defense but they seem to be looking for versatile guys who can play safety and nickel. Slusher fits that mold very well. He can play deep safety or line up in the slot and he also has 9 tackles for loss in his career with some of those coming as an outside rusher. Slusher is one of my favorites out of the guys they brought in this weekend.
Storm Duck – Cornerback
Duck led UNC in interceptions with three and also broke up nine passes on the season. He has been a playmaker for their defense since he returned a pick for a touchdown as a true freshman but he has battled injuries during his team. I was high on him as a recruit and was hopeful he would land at Louisville as his cousin was a star for Bryan Brown as a cornerback at App State. Duck would be a really good veteran addition for UofL.
Jimmy Calloway – Wide Receiver
I admittedly don’t know much about Calloway because he didn’t have a lot of catches at Tennessee. He does have good size and claimed a 4.42 forty time as a recruit. As I’ve pointed out, UofL needs depth at receiver, and using the portal to do so isn’t a bad idea.
Tausili Akana – Edge
Highlights
Akana wasn’t on the radar until about halftime of the bowl game yesterday. He is a 6-4/225 4-star edge from Utah who decided to give UofL his final official visit before heading to Colorado for a visit. After a little digging, it appears he has some connections to some of the Polynesian players at St. John Bosco and he will also be playing in the Addidas All-American game with a handful of the current commits. Not sure if that’s why he visited, but he didn’t have an offer from UofL or Purdue so It’s all I could think of.
However, could Jeff Brohm be hiring a linebackers coach who recruited him elsewhere? That’s an obvious possibility. No matter how the connection was made, it would be huge for UofL to add another top-100 defender.
George Burhenn – Tight End
Highlights
Burhenn is a current Purdue commit who was a finalist for Mr. Football in Indiana. He has good size at 6-5/225 and he is a pretty good athlete judging by his highlights. I believe Burhenn has some other options he can pick from but UofL needs tight ends and they may take another high school player as opposed to using the portal.
*ORIGINAL POST*
Jeff Brohm is hosting his first big visitor weekend as the Louisville Football coach and he is starting out with a strong group of prospects. Brohm will have a mix of current commits and uncommitted high school recruits and transfers in town for the weekend.
I’ve cobbled together a list of the prospects using tweets and recruiting website reporting but I will update the list if I get any more intel about the final list of players who are expected in.
I think the Cards could come away with a few new members of the 2023 class after this weekend.
TRANSFERS
Stephen Herron – Edge
Herron finished his final year at Stanford with a strong performance as a pass rusher. He had 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and PFF credited him with 40 pressures on the quarterback. The former Trinity standout took some time to have a big impact for the Cardinal but he amassed nearly 1,200 snaps at Standford and will bring a ton of experience to any defense.
It’s tough to know where UofL stands here only because Herron has options but he hasn’t been public about those options. UofL getting his first visit is a great sign and my feeling is that he will be announcing his commitment soon.
Zavion Thomas – Wide Receiver
The former Louisville commit is looking for a new home after a stellar season as a punt returner for Mississippi State. Thomas has outstanding top-end speed and showed this year that he can run through contact. He is currently ranked fifth in the country in punt return average. I’d imagine he is looking for a new home because he couldn’t get many snaps at wide receiver for MSU.
I was very high on Thomas as a recruit and essentially lost my mind live on Mike’s show when he decommitted. While he hasn’t been impactful as a receiver, his skills as a returner give a good look at what he can do when it comes to creating big plays.
Everyone needs super fast receivers so I don’t know that UofL will get a commitment this weekend but they have to feel good about getting a visit just a few days after he hit the portal. The familiarity won’t hurt either. With the Cards needing a lot of help at receiver, Thomas may be sold on the chance to play right away.
Devin Neal – Defensive Back
UofL needs another veteran defensive back to help replace Tre Clark and Kenderick Duncan from a secondary that has a solid gap between their veterans and young players. The loss of Rance Conner to the portal leaves a nickel spot open and the safety group only has second-year players behind the starters. Neal would bring a veteran addition as well as a player who can play safety as well as nickel.
Neal is from Lexington but wasn’t recruited much as he locked in with Baylor pretty quickly and stuck with them even through their coaching change. He would bring great versatility to the UofL defense and he had a strong season this year. Neal finished the year with 41 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. He did a bit of everything for the Bears.
Neal has only announced an offer from Louisville but he likely has other options. However, returning to his home state with a path to good playing time should help the Cards. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the call this weekend.
McGraw would be a potential depth addition from the portal which is something that I’ve been personally hoping to see. UofL and other teams around the country will have some numbers issues due to players leaving and it would be worthwhile for them to consider adding some transfers who might just need a fresh start. McGraw only played 12 snaps at Penn State but he is 6-5/270 and I’ll take that over a project player from high school.
Purdue and UofL both offered McGraw in high school and he took a visit to Louisville as a recruit. The familiarity won’t hurt as he is familiar with the new staff and the school. Lance Taylor has extended an offer from Western Michigan but McGraw hasn’t announced any other offers.
UNCOMMITTED RECRUITS
Daylen Austin – Cornerback
Highlights
The current LSU commit has been teased as a potential recruit by Aaron Williams and Pierce Clarkson since the summer but had not seemed to be on the radar for a visit until this week. Austin is one of the top corners in the country and his size and speed would be a huge boost to the secondary.
Austin won’t be signing until the late period, so UofL will have time to grow a relationship with him. He will also be playing in the Under Armor All-American game with Madden Sanker and William Fowles next month.
Edwin Joseph – Athlete
Highlights
Joseph is making his second visit to campus after reportedly raving about his visit back in November. Louisville appears to be recruiting Joseph as a defensive back but he can play on both sides of the ball. The new staff may see him as a true athlete that they can figure out once he gets on the practice field. Florida State seems to be the team to beat here with Miami as a possible option for him as well. Auburn also got him in for a visit recently.
Keyjuan Brown – Running Back
Highlights
Brown is a former Purdue commit who left the class after Jeff Brohm took the UofL job. He didn’t take any other visits as a recruit, so I think there is a good chance that he joins the Louisville class after his visit. Brown is a solidly built back with good speed and quickness. He ran for 7,476 yards, 84 touchdowns, and averaged 9.3 yards per carry as a three-year starter playing 6-AA football in Georgia. His numbers and highlights definitely make you feel good about him as a guy who could add to the running back room if he were to commit and sign.
COMMITTED RECRUITS
Pierce Clarkson – Quarterback
Stanquan Clark – Linebacker
Madden Sanker – Offensive Lineman
Luke Burgess – Offensive Lineman
Cataurus Hicks – Wide Receiver
William Fowles – Wide Receiver
Adonijah Green – Edge
Aaron Williams – Cornerback
Rayquan Adkins – Cornerback
Micah Carter – Defensive End
Driver arrested after mowing down a group of Los Angeles-area law enforcement recruits, injuring 25, is released from jail
CNN
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The man who was arrested for allegedly driving a vehicle into a group of law enforcement recruits in Whittier, California, was released from jail Thursday night, but the sheriff’s department insists they did not make a mistake.
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, was released from custody at 9:49 p.m., according to jail records, citing an insufficient complaint.
Gutierrez is still considered a suspect in the case, and the decision to release him was made because investigators want more time to collect evidence to present to the District Attorney’s office for charges, not because they believe an error was made, said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“It’s not like they arrested the wrong suspect,” Deputy Deanna Mares told CNN late Thursday night. “They just want to make sure the investigation is going to be complete.”
The Sheriff’s Department is typically required to present a case to the DA within 48 hours of a suspect’s arrest, and they were not ready to do that in the case of Gutierrez, Mares said.
Twenty-five recruits from multiple law enforcement agencies were hurt Wednesday when a vehicle drove into the group, an incident Sheriff Alex Villanueva initially called “a horrific accident.” That characterization changed dramatically Thursday morning, when the department announced the arrest of Gutierrez on suspicion of attempted murder of peace officers.
The sheriff’s department originally said they intended to present the case to the DA’s office on Friday. The department did not give a new timetable Thursday for presenting the case.
CNN reached out Friday to Alexandra Kazarian, an attorney for Gutierrez. She told CNN affiliate KABC Thursday, “I have no doubt that an in-depth investigation will confirm that Nicholas is a hard working young man who holds no animosity towards law enforcement, and this was an absolutely tragic accident.”
Gutierrez was booked Wednesday afternoon, according to inmate records. He was alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash, the sheriff’s department told CNN.
Five of the cadets injured were listed in critical condition, authorities said. Another four recruits suffered moderate injuries, while 16 others sustained minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said in an initial news release.
Gutierrez also suffered minor injuries, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Sheila Kelliher said. All were taken to local hospitals and no updates have been given on the conditions of those injured.
The case remains under investigation and additional charges are pending, the sheriff’s office said. CNN has reached out to the DA’s office and the California Highway Patrol, which is leading the investigation into the crash, for further details.
Officials initially said the crash appeared to have been “a horrific accident,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva had said in a news conference Wednesday.
The driver, who was going the wrong way, showed no sign of impairment, Villanueva said, and blew a zero in a Breathalyzer test administered at the scene. There were no skid marks visible at the site of the crash, the sheriff said.
“It looked like an airplane wreck – so many bodies scattered everywhere in different states of injury,” said Villanueva of the scene. “It was pretty traumatic for all individuals.”
Kelliher initially said the recruits were all from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. But according to Villanueva, those injured include recruits from the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, along with Pasadena, Glendale and the Bell Police Departments. Recruits from the El Segundo and UCLA police departments were also present but were not hurt.
The 75 recruits, all wearing white T-shirts and green shorts, were on what Captain Ted McDonald of the sheriff’s department training bureau described as a “typical run” as part of the department’s 22-week training course. They were accompanied by two safety vehicles and were running in four lines when they were hit, McDonald said.
The crash occurred about 500 feet away from a fire station, officials said. The four most critically injured patients were immediately rushed to the hospital, Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said, likely saving their lives.
Kelliher said the incident was “hard to see because these young people are getting ready to go put themselves in the line of danger in their career. And who knows that while you’re training to do that, you’re actually in harm’s way.”