Drafting 2023 college football recruits into two superteams

College football's 2023 recruiting class is loaded with talent. There are 18 five-star prospects in the 2023 ESPN 300, which is the second-most five-stars in a recruiting cycle since 2016.

In fact, there is so much talent in this recruiting class that recruiting experts Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill went back and forth drafting two superteams of 2023 prospects.

They went 22 rounds, going position-by-position seeking to draft the best group of players who will sign their national letters of intent during either the early signing period (Dec. 21-23) or February's national signing day (Feb. 1, 2023).

Each roster will be made up of 11 starters on offense and 11 starters on defense. Haubert and Luginbill were able to draft positions in any order. Given there are four five-star quarterbacks -- USC commit Malachi Nelson (No. 1), Texas commit Arch Manning (No. 2), Oregon commit Dante Moore (No. 3) and Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold (No. 8) -- ranked in the top 10 overall, two of them won't be drafted.

Which future college football stars were drafted? Who has the edge? What were the biggest surprises? At the end, you can vote on who has the better superteam.

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Final rosters | Draft breakdown | Vote

No. 1 pick, Haubert: Jackson Arnold, QB

Oklahoma | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 8

Haubert: I'm going to draft a little heavier in terms of guys I've seen play in person this year, but he had the most impressive performance I saw. He has played against good competition at Guyer High School (Texas), he has excellent ability as a passer with a quick release, and he's dangerous as a runner. He's a true dual threat who, I think, as a high school kid, can be a plug-and-play QB at Oklahoma.

No. 2 pick, Luginbill: Keon Keeley, DE

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 20

Luginbill: I love that pick, but figuring he would take a quarterback there is going to allow me to get a leg up at other premium positions. Keeley's an edge rusher with great initial quickness and huge developmental upside. He's 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, and I think he'll be in the 265-pound range when all is said and done. He's tall and long, and Nick Saban and Alabama know what they're doing.

Haubert: Notre Dame knew it first.

No. 3 pick, Haubert: Zachariah Branch, WR

USC | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 6

Haubert: I'm going to throw the rule book out here. I probably shouldn't take a receiver this high, but I'm going to give Arnold a player. I think Branch is the most electric player in his class. I know he's undersized (5-10, 172), but he is quick, explosive, a threat in the return game and someone who checks all the boxes in terms of intangibles.

No. 4 pick, Luginbill: Francis Mauigoa, OT

Miami | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 5

Luginbill: To Craig's point, championship rosters are built from the inside out, not the outside in. Mauigoa can play all five spots and could snap if we got into a pickle. In fact, he could end up at OG in the future. Wouldn't surprise me.

No. 5 pick, Haubert: Kadyn Proctor, OT

Iowa | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 10

Haubert: I see your Mauigoa, and I counter you with Proctor, who has tremendous measurables (6-6, 315). Probably the only reason he isn't the No. 1 offensive tackle is because we've seen Mauigoa much more, and when they're that close, you're going to go with what you know. He has tremendous flexibility, size and feet. He fits the part of a future Iowa All-American.

No. 6 pick, Luginbill: Peter Woods, DT

Clemson | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 9

Haubert: Ahhh, you stink. That was my pick. Go ahead, tell them why you screwed me.

Luginbill: I'm going to have an interior guy who needs to be accounted for on every snap. You're either going to double-team him and not be able to get to the second level, or if you single-block him, then he's either going to collapse the pocket or shoot the gap. He's too disruptive on the inside, and he has Keon Keeley playing on the outside.

No. 7 pick, Haubert: Cormani McClain, CB

Miami | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 4

Haubert: I'm going to go out along the edge here. He's an all-lengthy corner, reactive. Against big receivers, you don't find corners like that who can match up and are as fluid as he is.

No. 8 pick, Luginbill: Samuel M'Pemba, DE

Georgia | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 29

Luginbill: Now which way are you going to slide your protection, Haubert? M'Pemba impresses me because he can rush the passer, but he is built like an outside linebacker and could play from a stand-up position in space.

No. 9 pick, Haubert: Jaquavious Russaw, OLB

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 7

Haubert: I'm going to go defense here as well. I think Russaw's a high target for Alabama, I think they probably see some Will Anderson Jr.-type traits in him. He's explosive, has the feel to be an elite pass-rusher and possesses tremendous range.

No. 10 pick, Luginbill: James Smith, DT

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 11

Luginbill: Smith is my 1-technique here. I'll round out my defensive front and work my way outward to the skill positions.

No. 11 pick, Haubert: David Hicks, DT

Texas A&M | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking:

Haubert: He's a versatile player who I can place inside or out on the edge, is good with his hands, explosive and the son of a football coach as well.

No. 12 pick, Luginbill: Desmond Ricks, CB

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 15

Luginbill: He's tall, long, can shut down one side of the field, and with our defensive front, he's not going to have to cover for very long anyway.

No. 13 pick, Haubert: Samson Okunlola, OT

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 16

Haubert: I'll get a pair of bookend elite tackles. I'm always impressed with any high school player who loses weight on his own or reshapes his body. He's a top wrestler as well, great flexibility, a great competitor. You can't get to the quarterback if you have two elite guys in front of you.

No. 14 pick, Luginbill: Chase Bisontis, OT

Texas A&M | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 61

Luginbill: I'll put Bisontis at the other offensive tackle. All tackles, all day! Some of these guys don't know it yet, but the more you can do the more valuable you become, so Bisontis needs to be ready to line up everywhere like Mauigoa.

Haubert: You can move Bisontis around, but he's No. 61, whereas the other three tackles were five-stars. You can see how quickly we jumped down the ESPN 300 to find a second tackle.

No. 15 pick, Haubert: Hykeem Williams, WR

Florida State | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 24

Haubert: I have my short, explosive receiver, I'm adding my tall burner in Williams. His max speed is like 21 mph, he's one of the fastest players in the country.

No. 16 pick, Luginbill: Jahlil Hurley, CB

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 28

Luginbill: Basically, none of Craig's receivers will get off the line of scrimmage. Hurley is tall and long. He can close windows and force QBs to have to be ultra-accurate. I like him in contested matchups.

Haubert: What you really need to draft is a PAT block team.

No. 17 pick, Haubert: Sydir Mitchell, DT

Texas | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 72

Haubert: I need a D-tackle who can be an anchor but is also athletic enough to disrupt, so I'll go with Mitchell here. He is an underrated member of that Texas class and could be one of its most impactful signings. He can be a stout presence to stuff the run, but for his size (6-6, 325), he bends well with good short-space quickness and can be a real handful.

Luginbill: He's more of a two-down player to me. When it gets to third down, he might not be on the field.

Haubert: They'll be good downs.

No. 18 pick, Luginbill: Anthony Hill, OLB

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 18

Luginbill: He'll come in on our rabbit's package. We can put him at the 5, move Keon Keeley out to the 9. You'll be facing third-and-12 a lot.

No. 19 pick, Haubert: Rueben Bain, DE

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 73

Haubert: I'm going to take Bain, who single-handedly took down IMG Academy (Florida), as my other defensive end.

Luginbill: He did what?

Haubert: Remember when Miami Central (Florida) beat IMG in the first game of the year? He gave them fits. He's going to line up against Mauigoa and give him flashbacks.

No. 20 pick, Luginbill: Troy Bowles, OLB

Georgia | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 37

Haubert: Twice today, you've taken somebody I've wanted.

No. 21 pick, Haubert: Peyton Bowen, S

Notre Dame | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 14

Haubert: I saw Bowen in action, and he's really impressive. Speed kills, and he's one of the fastest players in the country, be it in a 40-yard dash at camps or with max speed. He can play safety, he can play corner, he can be the return guy -- just check the SC Top 10. Plus, he and Jackson Arnold are teammates, so there will be some good locker room synergy early on.

WHAT A PLAY‼️ @NDFootball commit Peyton Bowen refuses to go down and runs back the punt return for a touchdown 🔥👀@DentonGuyer_FB | @PeytonBowen10 pic.twitter.com/zQPuvUUnBB

— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) October 21, 2022

No. 22 pick, Luginbill: Knijeah Harris, C

Florida | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 212

Haubert: I haven't seen a stretch like that since yoga class.

Luginbill: At least we'll be able to shotgun snap. We have a good overall class in the middle. I could throw them all up against a wall and pick one. Harris is the furthest along and probably most college ready.

Haubert: As a guy really paying attention to centers, this is a really good center class -- one of the better center classes we've seen in years.

No. 23 pick, Haubert: Cayden Green, OG

Oklahoma | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 54

Haubert: I love Green. He was great at Future 50. He projects as guard, but if you are in a pinch, he can play tackle. Plus he'll be blocking for Jackson Arnold in college.

No. 24 pick, Luginbill: Luke Montgomery, OT

Ohio State | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 64

Luginbill: I purposely decided not to take a guard with this spot because Montgomery can play inside or outside, and I'd much rather move an OT to OG than the other way around if an injury happened. Just wait for my next pick ...

No. 25 pick, Haubert: A.J. Harris, CB

Georgia | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 33

Haubert: He has height, length, he can run and is also an enforcer -- one of the more physical corners in the class.

No. 26 pick, Luginbill: Charles Jagusah, OT

Notre Dame | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 66

Luginbill: When any of Craig's tackles get injured, he'll have to move a guard out to tackle. All of my linemen are tackles except for center. It's going to be a versatile group. We'll be able to plug and play, move inside to outside, move outside to inside.

No. 27 pick, Haubert: Caleb Downs, S

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 12

Haubert: My team gets a little more dominant. We may need to start over, actually, because this is getting a little one-sided.

Luginbill: For who?

Haubert: I can already see it now, the comment sections going, "Did Luginbill hit his head?"

Luginbill: Well that's just about every post on social media.

No. 28 pick, Luginbill: Makai Lemon, WR

USC | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 13

Haubert: Between Branch and Lemon, Branch is faster in terms of pure top-end speed, but Lemon is as explosive as Branch out of the break. He's a competitive player, too.

Luginbiil: And he's bigger (5-11, 180).

Haubert: There's not much that separates them, but for me, it would be Branch's elite 40 time.

No. 29 pick, Haubert: Justice Haynes, RB

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 21

Haubert: It's time for a running back to come off the board. I'm torn between him and Richard Young, but I'm going to go with Justice Haynes. I think Haynes is slightly more versatile and a little better receiver, but Young is a tough guy.

No. 30 pick, Luginbill: Richard Young, RB

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 19

Luginbill: Don't worry: You get two running backs, but Richard Young won't be one of them. He has big-play ability with power, explosiveness and contact balance.

Haubert: I knew when I picked one, I was surrendering the other.

No. 31 pick, Haubert: Suntarine Perkins, ATH/LB

Ole Miss | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 48

Haubert: I really like my team, but there's a huge ...

Luginbill: Void at every position?

Haubert: ... Hole in the middle -- no linebackers up the middle. I'll put an end to that with a really versatile player. Perkins is listed as an athlete, but he'll project as a linebacker.

No. 32 pick, Luginbill: Tony Mitchell, S

Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 25

Luginbill: Mitchell is a safety with 19.4 mph max speed. That is not average.

Haubert: I'll put Hykeem Williams on him and run a go route.

Luginbill: Williams has a 22 mph max speed, but Tony Mitchell will lock him down like he's running in quicksand.

No. 33 pick, Haubert: Luke Hasz, TE

Arkansas | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 87

Haubert: I need a dependable pass-catcher who is a ferocious blocker, so give me Luke Hasz at tight end.

No. 34 pick, Luginbill: Shelton Sampson Jr., WR

LSU | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 41

Luginbill: He's 6-4 and has a 20 mph max speed.

No. 35 pick, Haubert: Damon Wilson, DE

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 31

Haubert: I can have Jaquavious Russaw line up at linebacker and take Damon Wilson. He has length, is explosive and can set the edge.

No. 36 pick, Luginbill: Joenel Aguero, S

Georgia | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 23

Luginbill: I think he's like a Lewis Cine-type of safety but faster.

Haubert: He's even longer than him, too.

No. 37 pick, Haubert: Adepoju Adebawore, DE/OLB

Oklahoma | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 57

Haubert: I'm going to take P.J. Adebawore and make him my other outside linebacker. He has upside, is long and has tremendous athleticism.

Luginbill: That's a good pick. He can play multiple spots. About time you figured that out. We've only had 37 picks.

Haubert: If you have a nephew who wants to pick a team that you can compete with, have them take part. This is turning into the '85 Bears against the Patriots.

No. 38 pick, Luginbill: Rueben Owens II, RB

Texas A&M | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 42

Haubert: Odds are, he'll commit to you.

Luginbill: He reminds me of Travis Etienne Jr.: Power and grace as a runner with enough speed to pull away.

No. 39 pick, Haubert: Roderick Kearney, OG

Florida | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 95

Haubert: I'll strengthen out my line with Kearny, a big man who committed to Florida. He's an Under Armour camp MVP.

Luginbill: You love the camp guys.

Haubert: So I need just a running back and a center, and then I get fitted for championship rings, right?

No. 40 pick, Luginbill: Duce Robinson, TE

Uncommitted | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 36

Luginbill: If you needed to break the huddle and place him at the X or the Z position on the very outside, you get problems mismatch-wise from a personnel perspective. At 6-6, 235, he's like a gigantic wide receiver.

No. 41 pick, Haubert: Dylan Edwards, RB

Colorado | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 156

Haubert: I'm going Primetime here. Edwards is a versatile back, he's fast, quick, can play the slot or running back.

No. 42 pick, Luginbill: Chandavian Bradley, DE/LB

Tennessee | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 59

Luginbill: He'll be my DPR: designated pass-rusher.

Haubert: It took like 15 rounds, but you finally made a pick that impressed me.

No. 43 pick, Haubert: Landen Hatchett, OC

Washington | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: Unranked (three stars)

Haubert: I've had Hatchett targeted for a while but had no urgent need to take him since Luginbill filled out his O-line early. He has tremendous agility and is tough. He's 6-3, 280 and is in the Under Armour All-America Game. I'm very happy with this pick.

No. 44 pick, Luginbill: Malachi Nelson, QB

USC | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 1

Luginbill: I'm picking Nelson over Arch Manning & Co. because of his overall athleticism, and his ability to both get rid of the football with different arm angles and throw off platform.

Team Haubert

QB Jackson Arnold
RB Justice Haynes
RB Dylan Edwards
WR Zachariah Branch
WR Hykeem Williams
TE Luke Hasz
OL Kadyn Proctor
OL Samson Okunlola
OL Landen Hatchett
OL Cayden Green
OL Roderick Kearney
DE Rueben Bain
DT David Hicks
DT Sydir Mitchell
DE Damon Wilson
LB Jaquavious Russaw
LB Suntarine Perkins
LB Adepoju Adebawore
CB Cormani McClain
CB A.J. Harris
S Peyton Bowen
S Caleb Downs

Team Luginbill

QB Malachi Nelson
RB Richard Young
RB Rueben Owens II
WR Makai Lemon
WR Shelton Sampson Jr.
TE Duce Robinson
OL Francis Mauigoa
OL Luke Montgomery
OL Knijeah Harris
OL Charles Jagusah
OL Chase Bisontis
DE Keon Keeley
DT Peter Woods
DT James Smith
DE Samuel M'Pemba
LB Anthony Hill
LB Troy Bowles
LB Chandavian Bradley
CB Desmond Ricks
CB Jahlil Hurley
S Tony Mitchell
S Joenel Aguero

Which college football teams were the most represented?

Commitments as of Dec. 14

6: Alabama
4: Georgia
3: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC
2: Florida, Miami, Notre Dame
1: Arkansas, Clemson, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa, LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Washington

What is your team's biggest strength?

Luginbill: Mine's the offensive line and defensive line. There's a common denominator in the teams that play in the national championship and the teams that win, and they're always the best team up front. Also, if you look at an NFL draft, unless there's someone like Julio Jones, you're going to see tackles, defensive ends, defensive tackles, tall corners and quarterbacks go before all the other skill positions. Craig, you may not win the national championship, but you'll get a spot in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Haubert: First of all, my offensive line would easily win the Joe Moore Award. I said early that I threw out the rulebook, and Tom's right about picking linemen. But sometimes greatness means stepping outside the box. I have probably the most explosive player in the class at receiver and one of the fastest tall targets with an elite quarterback who can get him the ball. Also, I have three five-stars in my secondary. You're going to have to go to the Pentagon to find as many stars in one place.

Luginbill: I do like your secondary, your secondary's good and they're going to have to be good because we're going to scare you up front.

Which player on the other team do you wish you picked?

Luginbill: Jackson Arnold. I would have picked him if I had the first pick. The other player that he picked from under me was Caleb Downs. I could have taken him earlier, but I chose not to because we're starting from the inside out on this franchise.

Haubert: I was hoping he'd fall asleep at the wheel, but he ultimately picked Peter Woods. And I knew when I picked Justice Haynes that he'd be picking Richard Young. I was also getting ready to pick Desmond Ricks right before he was drafted.

Which recruits are you surprised went undrafted?

Luginbill: Arch Manning, of course.

Haubert Every five-star who wasn't a quarterback was selected. The highest-ranked non-quarterback who wasn't taken was Brandon Inniss (No. 30). I was afraid to pull the trigger on Nyckoles Harbor at tight end. I'm projecting based on how he wants to be recruited in college. I backed away at the last second for someone I know is a little more reliable in Luke Hasz.

Luginbill: I almost pulled the trigger on him as an athlete who can play all over the place. If I needed to plug him in on offense, I could. If I needed him to play defensive end, I could.

Who is the biggest late-round sleeper of the draft?

Haubert: I was holding my breath that Tom wasn't going to pick Caleb Downs (14th round).

Luginbill: Duce Robinson in the 20th round for me.

Haubert: I know I joked about it, but I like Chandavian Bradley (21st round). He's not quite as naturally athletic as P.J. Adebawore, but he's tall, long and skilled. We came down to Future 50, and when we got done with O-line and D-line one-on-ones early, and he ran over, played linebacker in 7-on-7 and fit right in. He's a really versatile edge guy.

Who has the better team?

Haubert: We're going to need a mercy rule, I know that much.

Luginbill: You're going to need a running clock. But really, I'd say if these teams play each other, it comes down to double overtime.

Haubert: I think even with all the defense, it'll be high scoring.

Luginbill: See, I don't. I think it'll be tough sledding because both teams will have a difficult time handling the other up front. I think points will come at a premium, and it'll be tougher to score than you think.