The ESPN 300 has been updated after one of the most unique offseasons and regular seasons we have ever seen. College football prospects haven't had the opportunities they had in the past, with limited camps, 7-on-7s and in-person evaluations from coaches and scouts.
That hasn't stopped the recruiting process from chugging along, and it hasn't stopped players from trying to showcase their talents and continue rising up the rankings and recruiting boards.
In this update, there are 10 new recruits making their debuts in the ESPN 300, a five-star moving up the rankings and a new quarterback turning heads.
There are only 48 uncommitted ESPN 300 prospects as of now, which means recruiting classes are filling up quickly as we move closer to the early signing period in December. Craig Haubert, Tom Luginbill and Tom VanHaaren take a look at some of the notable movement and storylines from this updated ESPN 300 list.
Uncommitted five-stars
In this update, there are 13 total five-star prospects, but only three are still uncommitted. The highest-ranked uncommitted recruit is defensive end Korey Foreman, ranked No. 3 overall.
Foreman decommitted from Clemson and has been reevaluating the schools he is considering. He came out with a top seven that included Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Howard, Oregon and USC and has been taking some of his own visits, despite the restrictions brought on by the NCAA recruiting dead period.
Notably, Foreman visited LSU on his own dime, and he and ESPN 300 defensive tackle Maason Smith, ranked 56th, have been linked to the Tigers. The two top prospects have said they'd like to play together in college, and LSU could be a landing spot for both. Georgia and USC are also trying to make the last impression, so which way this will end up is still unknown.
The No. 4-ranked recruit, defensive tackle J.T. Tuimoloau, is the next-highest rated uncommitted prospect. The Bellevue, Washington, native named Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan and Washington as his top schools. He has been linked heavily to Ohio State, but Washington and Oregon are both trying to keep him out West.
The final uncommitted five-star prospect is linebacker Smael Mondon out of Georgia. He released his top schools -- Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee -- in July. It will likely be difficult for other programs to get him out of the state of Georgia, but his recruitment isn't over.
Changes at the top
There were a few changes near the top of the rankings, with Ja'Tavion Sanders moving up from No. 48 to No. 13 and offensive lineman Savion Byrd moving down from No. 17 to No. 27. But there was only one prospect in the top 10 who moved up and has steadily shown improvements to climb the rankings.
OL J.C. Latham
IMG Academy (Florida)
ESPN 300 ranking: 5
The five-star offensive lineman continues to power his way up the rankings, this time landing inside the top five. He and fellow Alabama commit Tommy Brockermeyer are proving to be two of the most talented and promising tackle prospects we have evaluated in the ESPN 300 era.
At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Latham has a tremendous combination of size, power and skill. He continues to grow while remaining a flexible big man with great feet. IMG head coach Bobby Acosta said he thinks Latham could play on the school's basketball team, and this past spring at an Under Armour camp, Latham posted a laser-tested short-shuttle time that would've ranked second best among offensive lineman at the NFL combine.
A QB gaining momentum on the recruiting trail
The higher-ranked quarterbacks in the 2021 class haven't been impacted much by the recruiting dead period and the challenges that have come amid the coronavirus pandemic -- at least not from an evaluation standpoint and having the opportunity to commit to the school of their choice.
In this rankings update, only two ESPN 300 quarterbacks haven't made a commitment, and most schools have filled their spots. That has made it difficult for the underrated quarterback, the late bloomer or the quarterback who didn't get to showcase his talents at camps and events.
That prospect will likely be impacted more than most, but some are utilizing this season as an opportunity to gain exposure.
There might not be a better example of that than quarterback Jaxson Dart, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback from Draper, Utah. Dart was a three-star prospect who typically played travel baseball in the summer rather than attending 7-on-7 events. He and Chase Mason make up the two uncommitted ESPN 300 quarterbacks in this class.
Besides having the perfect last name for a quarterback, Dart has turned heads with his play this season, throwing for 2,963 yards, 41 touchdowns and only two interceptions so far.
USC offered a scholarship this week, and Dart's stock is continuing to rise.
"Obviously, USC is a big-time offer for a quarterback," Dart said. "The tradition is unrivaled out West, they develop and put their guys in the league, and you have to compete against the best to play. Plus, playing in the air raid with those athletes is a quarterback's dream, and Coach [Graham] Harrell and Coach [Seth] Doege are as cool as they come."
Dart has developed a relationship with Herm Edwards at Arizona State to the point that Dart says it feels like family in Tempe. He listed UCLA near the top of his list because "I grew up wanting to play for Chip [Kelly]." Dart has also received attention from Iowa State and TCU.
Having BYU in his home state also makes that program attractive, along with some of the relationships he has in Provo.
"I've really enjoyed the offense they've put on the field this year," Dart said. "Obviously, I have a great relationship with [BYU quarterback] Zach Wilson. We have the same high school coach, went to the same high school, and we train together with the same quarterback coaches. I'm super comfortable with what they have to offer."
"Obviously, USC is a big-time offer for a quarterback. The tradition is unrivaled out West, they develop and put their guys in the league, and you have to compete against the best to play." Jaxson Dart
Those schools all have a leg up, but any school that needs a quarterback is going to start looking Dart's way. With injuries and transfers, there is never enough depth at the quarterback position.
Even if a school has a quarterback committed, it could come after Dark as the early signing period nears. USC is a great example of how that can work, as the Trojans have two ESPN 300 quarterbacks committed in this class, with Jake Garcia and Miller Moss, but coaches know recruiting is never finished until a prospect signs.
USC has had success with that strategy before, including in 2015, when USC had Ricky Town committed but took Sam Darnold late in the process.
If Dart ends up on a similar trajectory as Darnold, at whichever school he picks, any school would be happy with that outcome. He is the biggest mover in this new update to the ESPN 300 and will assuredly have more offers coming his way.
Dart's scouting report: Dart exploded into our rankings, going from a three-star prospect to No. 75. A true late bloomer, he has grown to 6-3, 210 pounds and continues to gain confidence in his abilities.
Based on production alone, the argument could be made that he has had the best quarterback performance in the 2021 class. He has pin-point accuracy and is statistically as efficient as anyone this fall. He has completed 68% of his passes for almost 3,000 yards with 41 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His arm talent is evident, and he can also make plays with his feet outside of the pocket.
ESPN 300 rising prospects
OLB Junior Colson
Ravenwood High School (Tennessee)
ESPN 300 ranking: 142
The Michigan commit earned a sizable and deserved bump up the rankings. Colson has filled out his lengthy frame and has shown that he can be a versatile contributor. He's a disruptive pass-rusher with agility and range to be effective in coverage. In action this fall, he not only had a presence on defense with a sack but also made several big plays on special teams.
DT Tommy Akingbesote
Herbert Flowers High (Maryland)
ESPN 300 ranking: 180
The Maryland commit was a defensive tackle we had our eye on from junior season tape, and he moves into the top 300 after further evaluation. He can overwhelm offensive linemen with great initial quickness, long arms to separate and strong hands. On tape, he will shock would-be blockers and penetrate the backfield with agility to pursue and close on ball carries quickly.
OLB Terrence Cooks II
Shadow Creek High (Texas)
ESPN 300 ranking: 211
Cooks continues to develop his big frame and has retained his speed and range on senior tape. After posting 72 tackles and three forced fumbles as a junior on a 16-0 state-title team, the 210-pound linebacker accumulated more than 30 offers. The latest program to offer was LSU in late August, and the Tigers joined Texas and Baylor in the top three for the Houston-area defender.
S Daymon David
Franklin High School (Maryland)
ESPN 300 ranking: 238
Look past David's lean build to see the Oregon verbal's speed, physicality and playmaking ability. At 6-foot-1 and nearly 180 pounds, David will throw his body around to provide the range and toughness to make plays against the pass and run. He should be an immediate contributor on special teams for the Ducks and could grow into a big safety or nickel linebacker.
WR Malik McClain
IMG Academy (Florida)
ESPN 300 ranking: 262
Not only does McClain test well for a big wide receiver (4.58 laser 40), but the Florida State verbal has also shown this season that he can take a short pass and turn up the field to maximize yards after the catch. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound target can also get vertical, with enough long speed to track the ball and win against contested coverage.