Evaluating college football recruits is about playing the long game. We may start the process when a prospect is just 14 or 15 years old, but the development and forthcoming evaluation periods as a prospect grows is what it's all about.
Ranking prospects is a fluid, very subjective process, and oftentimes there is very little difference between the fifth-ranked player in a class and the 17th-ranked player in a class.
The answer lies somewhere in the weeds. We rank the top 300 prospects in each recruiting cycle, but in evaluating 2,800 prospects in a class, the further down the list you go, the more similar prospects become and the more difficult it is to separate and rank them.
Here, Tom VanHaaren, Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert break down the 2023 recruiting class position by position. We examine the top two players at each position and reveal traits that separate No. 1 from No. 2, break down a three-star prospect who could be a sleeper at the college level, and share information on the top uncommitted prospects and where they might go.
Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
DE | DT | LB | CB | S
Quarterback
No. 1 Malachi Nelson vs. No. 2 Arch Manning
Scouting Nelson (No. 1 overall, USC commit): Nelson has a smooth release and can beat the rush with different arm angles. He flicks the ball effortlessly and doesn't have to be on platform to make throws.
Scouting Manning (No. 2 overall, Texas commit): Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli, may be the best athlete among his relatives. From a fundamental standpoint, his mechanics are sound, which allows him to be consistently accurate. He's also poised and makes good decisions on the field.
Why we rank Nelson higher: Simply put, Nelson is more naturally gifted and faces a tougher level of competition week in and week out.
Three-star sleeper QB: Zane Flores (Oklahoma State commit)
Flores is a fairly polished passer with good measurables (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) and a strong arm. He has a smooth follow through, but his release is on the long side. Flores is poised and can throw a good deep ball. -- Luginbill
Top uncommitted QB: Kenny Minchey (No. 183)
Minchey had been committed to Pitt since April but decommitted on Monday. He will likely visit Notre Dame, and because the Irish are looking for a quarterback in this class, they could be in a good position to land Minchey. The early signing period is roughly a month away, though, so other teams could still decide to offer and try to get in the mix. Minchey has not publicly announced a new commitment date or timeline, but if things move quickly and his visit to Notre Dame goes well, he could be back off the market in a short amount of time. -- VanHaaren
Running back
No. 1 Richard Young vs. No. 2 Justice Haynes
Scouting Young (No. 19 overall, Alabama commit): The 5-11, 195-pound Young is fast and explosive with a slashing style of running. He can punish opposing defenses and shows very good contact balance.
Scouting Haynes (No. 21 overall, Alabama commit): Haynes is more of a zone runner. He has excellent burst and both cutback and jump-cut abilities. At 5-10, 185 pounds, he's elusive, making it tough for defenders to get a clean shot at him.
Why we rank Young higher: Young possesses more of the total package with more power and ability to push the pile in short-yardage situations. Still, Alabama lands the top two backs in the class.
Three-star sleeper RB: Datrell Jones (Boston College commit)
At 5-10, 175 pounds, Jones is a versatile, explosive two-way player that projects best as an all-purpose back. He's sudden and balanced with good feet and speed. -- Luginbill
Top uncommitted RB: Mark Fletcher (No. 251)
Fletcher had been committed to Ohio State since the spring, but decided to decommit from the Buckeyes on Nov. 16. He was the only ESPN 300 running back in the Ohio State class and has now opened up his recruitment. Fletcher recently took visits to Miami and Florida, and both schools are in the conversation. He was originally considering Ohio State, Miami, Michigan and Penn State before committing to the Buckeyes, but it seems as though Florida has a good shot at getting his commitment this time around. -- VanHaaren
Wide receiver
No. 1 Zachariah Branch vs. No. 2 Makai Lemon
Scouting Branch (No. 6 overall, USC commit): Branch explodes off the ball and eats up cushion in a hurry. He is a nightmare to defend in man coverage, and he has field position-flipping speed as a returner.
Scouting Lemon (No. 13 overall, USC commit): Lemon, a polished route runner, has strong hands, understands coverages and knows how to get open. He is extremely reliable when contested.
Why we rank Branch higher: What Branch lacks in size (5-10, 172), he makes up for in one thing that can't be coached: Speed. Elite speed.
Three-star sleeper WR: Surahz Buncom (Kansas commit)
Buncom has good length with a solid 6-3, 175-pound frame. He is a polished route runner with the speed to be a vertical threat, the leaping ability and ball skills to snag the pass at its highest point and the agility to be productive after the catch. He also demonstrates effort and physicality as a blocker. -- Luginbill
Top uncommitted WR: Karmello English (No. 82)
English decommitted from Auburn on Sep. 14, after he had been committed to the Tigers since July. Coach Bryan Harsin was fired in October, and no new staff has been named yet, so it's difficult to say if Auburn is still in it. Capitalizing on his decommitment, Kentucky has been very involved in recruiting English, who is a good route runner with the burst to separate. Some believe the Wildcats are out in front, although Penn State and Michigan are also in the mix. -- VanHaaren
Tight end
No. 1 Duce Robinson vs. No. 2 Riley Williams
Scouting Robinson (No. 36 overall, uncommitted): Robinson can be a matchup headache with his blend of size (6-6, 235) and speed. He possesses strong hands and can quickly snatch the ball out of the air to win contested matchups. With his excellent body control, he can be a strong route runner and can adjust well to catch passes outside his frame. His biggest area of improvement will come as a blocker, but he displays a physical and aggressive nature when asked to block.
Scouting Williams (No. 75 overall, Miami commit): Williams is a 6-5, 230-pound target with good hands. He offers a wide catch radius and possesses good concentration and the ability to go up and win 50/50 balls. He is also physical in his play, and having spent his senior season at IMG Academy (Florida), he should arrive at Miami in a position to be able to contribute early.
Why we rank Robinson higher: We look forward to seeing both these players compete at the Under Armour All-America game next month, but for now, Robinson holds the edge. While the differences are marginal, that difference is set by arguably a little better vertical speed and the ability to offer a little more versatility as a receiving target.
Three-star sleeper TE: C.J. Jacobsen (Utah commit)
Hailing from Idaho, it can be a little easier to slip into the "sleeper" category, but Jacobsen is a nice addition for the Utes. He tested and performed well at the Elite UC camp in Northern California this past spring and backed that up on film with good movement skills. Jacobsen is also a good route runner with terrific hands. -- Haubert
Top uncommitted TE: Duce Robinson
Robinson is one of only three high schoolers to make the Under Armour All-America game in both baseball and football, joining Kyler Murray and A.J. Brown. He is a top baseball prospect and will have to decide which path he wants to take -- or if he wants to play both sports. His father told ESPN that his son likely won't make a commitment in December, so it's unknown when he will eventually decide. Robinson has been linked to USC, Alabama, Texas and Georgia. He recently took a visit to Texas for the game against TCU and will likely take other trips in the near future. -- VanHaaren
Offensive line
No. 1 Francis Mauigoa vs. No. 2 Kadyn Proctor
Scouting Mauigoa (No. 5 overall, Miami commit): A massive, powerful and mobile competitor, Mauigoa checks many boxes when looking for an elite OL. At 6-6 and roughly 330 pounds, he has the size and strength to push defenders around. He is also explosive out of his stance and moves well, posting a 4.5 short shuttle on the camp circuit.
Scouting Proctor (No. 10 overall, Iowa commit): Proctor carries his weight well with an excellent 6-6, 315-pound frame that can still be further developed. His five-star rating goes beyond him passing the eye test; he's a natural knee bender and an easy mover with excellent balance. It wouldn't be surprising if in-state Iowa, which has a strong pedigree of developing OLs, turns him into an All-American.
Why we rank Mauigoa higher: Only a handful of spots separate these two, and when the margin is so thin, it can be small but key factors that determine the edge. Mauigoa lands in front mainly because of the level of competition he faces. While Proctor faces his fair share, Mauigoa faces FBS and Power 5-caliber competition at IMG Academy, which should prepare him for the next-level jump.
IMG Academy will have 8 Under Armour All-Americans for the 2023 class 🔥
— The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) November 11, 2022
In order: Knijeah Harris, Gabe Harris Jr., Samuel M'Pemba, Riley Williams, Desmond Ricks, Jordan Hall, Cameron Lenhardt, and Francis Mauigoa ⭐️
Special collection of talent @CraigHaubert @TomLuginbill pic.twitter.com/ghXTVOOHzi
Three-star sleeper OL: Landen Hatchett (Washington commit)
Hatchett, the second-ranked center in the class, is a tenacious blocker that is tough to shake once he gets locked on. A 6-3, 280-pound big man who is also a good baseball player, Hatchett possesses good flexibility and can snap the ball and pull to fold up to the second level or get out and seal on the edge. -- Haubert
Top uncommitted OL: Samson Okunlola (No. 16)
The 6-5, 300-pound Okunlola is affectionately known as 'Pancake Honcho' and has been one of the more targeted offensive linemen in the country. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Oregon and USC had been linked to Okunlola throughout his commitment. He just took a trip to Miami and plans on taking a few more visits before he announces in December. -- VanHaaren
Defensive end
No. 1 Keon Keeley vs. No. 2 Samuel M'Pemba
Scouting Keeley (No. 20 overall, uncommitted): A lengthy defender, Keeley has shown he can be a menacing presence off the edge. He possesses good initial quickness and can use his reach to keep blockers off his 6-5, 245-pound frame, as well as disrupt passing windows when he can't get to the QB. His blend of length and power, which will only improve as he further physically develops, can make him disruptive as an edge rusher.
Scouting M'Pemba (No. 29 overall, uncommitted): M'Pemba is versatile and could project to multiple positions, including tight end, but has blossomed as an edge defender. At 6-4, 240 pounds, he possesses nice length and quickness to chase plays down in pursuit. In addition to excellent range, M'Pemba can also set the edge with his strength -- he squatted over 700 pounds earlier this fall.
Why we rank Keeley higher: Both players are contending to finish No. 1 at the position and for a fifth star before our final rankings. Each possesses wonderful physical traits like length and agility, but Keeley's experience, including a strong performance against Arch Manning's Newman squad last season, gives him the edge. While M'Pemba has also played well at tight end, he is still growing into the DE spot.
Three-star sleeper DE: A.J. Thomas (Indiana commit)
Thomas jumped on our radar last season as a defensive end that displayed a quick first step and performed well at last offseason's Under Armour Dallas camp, posting a 7.39 L-Drill. Now at Zachary High School (Louisiana), Thomas has shown promise as a pass rusher. He has done a nice job setting the edge, as he is active with his hands and displays good pop-on contact to separate and shed. -- Haubert
Top uncommitted DE: Keon Keeley
Keeley decommitted from Notre Dame in August and took trips to see Alabama, Florida and Ohio State. This has turned into an Alabama and Ohio State matchup to land one of the top defensive ends in the class. Both have outstanding track records at his position and have had success at a high level on the field. Alabama has two ESPN 300 defensive ends committed, while Ohio State has just one. -- VanHaaren
Defensive tackle
No. 1 Peter Woods vs. No. 2 James Smith
Scouting Woods (No. 9 overall, Clemson commit): Woods has built a case as one of the top DTs in the 2023 class since his sophomore season. Showing flashes of current Clemson DT Tyler Davis, Woods is among the most explosive big men in this class, which can allow him to be a disruptive force. Beyond the ability to get quick penetration, he also displays excellent leverage and can hold ground and stuff the run. When forced to play on the move, he can redirect well and shows good effort in pursuit.
Scouting Smith (No. 11 overall, uncommitted): Smith can be a handful, as he possesses good initial quickness to disrupt with penetration at times. He also has good flexibility and is a stout presence that's capable of taking on and defeating double teams. While the five-star can be a highly productive presence between the tackles, he can also hunt down and close on ball carriers.
Why we rank Woods higher: This race could extend beyond these two, as a few other contenders like fellow five-star and Texas A&M commit David Hicks also can make a case. While it will come down to the All-America period, Woods maintains the top spot with merit, as he has shown impact ability at the position and has done so for several seasons now.
Three-star sleeper DT: Isaiah Neal (Pitt commit)
St. Frances Academy (Maryland) is home to multiple Power 5 prospects, so it can be easy to get lost in the mix. Neal may not wow in terms of size (6-3, 265) or testing measurables, but he is a high-effort, tough player with leadership qualities as a team captain. He seems like a perfect fit for Pitt's defense, and it wouldn't be surprising if he quickly works his way into the Panthers' two-deep. -- Haubert
Top uncommitted DT: James Smith
Smith hasn't said much to the media about his recruitment, but he released his top six in August which consisted of Florida, Ohio State, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and Alabama State. He has taken quite a few visits, recently seeing Alabama, Auburn and Florida. Smith has not released a timeline for a commitment yet, but will likely sign early in December. -- VanHaaren
Linebacker
No. 1 Jaquavious Russaw vs. No. 2 Anthony Hill
Scouting Russaw (No. 7 overall, uncommitted): Russaw is a defender with good flexibility and functional strength to take on blocks and defend the run when the action comes his way. He possesses excellent body control and lateral mobility to keep himself in a position to make plays. His excellent range and impressive explosiveness covering ground make it tough for opposing ball carriers to avoid him.
Scouting Hill (No. 18 overall, uncommitted): Hill is a fluid but tough linebacker who can deliver a punishing pop as a tackler. He runs well with excellent range and, like Russaw, possesses an impressive closing burst. Hill, who recently decommitted from Texas A&M and has the Longhorns contending for his pledge, can play inside or out on the edge, and it wouldn't be surprising if he moves to ILB in our final update.
Why we rank Russaw higher: Both are excellent players, and if Hill moves to ILB, he would be ranked No. 1 there. (The current No. 1 ILB is C.J. Allen, a Georgia commit ranked No. 96 overall.) Russaw, though, draws some similarities to current LSU standout freshman Harold Perkins Jr., as both can be a sideline-to-sideline big-play presence.
Three-star sleeper LB: Wyatt Milkovic (Boise State commit)
As much as we liked Milkovic's film, a recent in-person evaluation only strengthened our belief that the Broncos are getting a steal. He is instinctive and can be a punishing hitter, as he has over 130 tackles and 16.5 TFLs this season. The coaching staff at Basha High School (Arizona) also spoke highly of Milkovic's preparation. -- Haubert
Top uncommitted LB: Jaquavious Russaw
Russaw, who is a teammate of James Smith, has kept everything pretty close to the vest. Both prospects are looking at the same schools and very well could end up as a package deal. Russaw just recently took a visit to Auburn with Smith and has also seen Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The two haven't announced a commitment date yet, but are planning to sign early in December. -- VanHaaren
Cornerback
No. 1 Cormani McClain vs. No. 2 Desmond Ricks
Scouting McClain (No. 4 overall, Miami commit): McClain has great size (6-2, 165), strength, speed and physicality. He is so physically gifted that he can get away with some technical lapses; however, that also gives him a higher ceiling to improve.
Scouting Ricks (No. 17 overall, uncommitted): At 6-2, 185 pounds, Ricks has ideal height and length. He plays with confidence and uses his length really well in contested downfield matchups.
Why we rank McClain higher: Both are five-star defensive backs and are so similar in almost every facet. However, McClain's max speed rating of 20.26 mph is elite.
Three-star sleeper CB: Braeden Marshall (UCF commit)
Marshall possesses an average height at 5-10, but he has the awareness to make a play on the ball and the speed and quickness to redirect and recover. He has good technique and the athleticism to play man coverage. Marshall is also a physical tackler who will attack. -- Luginbill
Top uncommitted CB: Desmond Ricks
Ricks was originally part of the 2024 class but reclassified to the 2023 cycle and is still one of the top prospects overall. He has taken visits to quite a few programs, but it looks as though Alabama, Florida and LSU have stood out. Ricks visited Florida for the South Carolina game and was on LSU's campus for the Tigers' win against Alabama. He is still planning to take visits to Florida, Alabama and LSU again in December. He has scheduled a commitment date for Dec. 23, and LSU will get the last visit before he decides. -- VanHaaren
Safety
No. 1 Caleb Downs vs. No. 2 Peyton Bowen
Scouting Downs (No. 12 overall, Alabama commit): Downs is a smart playmaker with high football instincts. A 6-foot, 190-pound safety for Mill Creek High School (Georgia), he's very aware and has a natural feel for the position.
Scouting Bowen (No. 14 overall, Notre Dame commit): Bowen is a tough, rugged player with a nice feel for the game. He moves like a cornerback when it comes to his change-of-direction skills and suddenness. At 6-feet, 195 pounds, he has good measurables and has timed well when tested.
Why we rank Downs higher: Downs has a slight edge when it comes to playmaking skills and being in the right place at the right time.
Three-star sleeper S: Jayden Davis (Louisville commit)
Davis is a rangy, long defensive back who covers a lot of ground. At 6-2, 180 pounds, he runs well and has great instincts to put himself in a position to make plays. He has good hands and ball skills, although he needs to develop strength at the next level. -- Luginbill
Top uncommitted S: Isaac Smith (No. 107)
Smith is a talented safety from Mississippi who has garnered offers from some of the biggest programs in the country. He took visits in the spring to SEC schools, including Georgia and Texas A&M, and has even seen offers from a few Pac-12 schools in Oregon and USC. His recruitment, however, seems to be coming down to Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU. He still has a few visits left that he could take, and while he has noted he would like to decide in November, he hasn't definitively set a hard date. -- VanHaaren