College football's February national signing day is Wednesday, with the final signatures being collected on the country's top prospects.
After updating the 2023 ESPN 300 for the final time this recruiting cycle, we pored through the numbers to figure out where the majority of talent originates from.
Not only that, but we also went back over the past five recruiting cycles -- since the 2019 class -- to determine which states are the richest in talent. Thirty-five states are represented in the 2023 ESPN 300, from Massachusetts to California, Minnesota to Texas, Florida to Washington.
We dove into the top five states that produce the most elite college football recruits, the best prospects from each state, the in-state schools that have been successful at keeping top talent home and the out-of-state schools that have been known for poaching them.
5. Alabama
Overview: The Yellowhammer State might not have an overwhelming number of ESPN 300 prospects compared to the others on this list, but it is trending upward, including 18 prospects produced this year, the most since ESPN began ranking high school recruits in 2006. It is no coincidence that the Alabama Crimson Tide have won three national championships in the past decade; they have virtually built a fence around the state, hauling in 50% of the in-state ESPN 300 recruits produced in the last five years.
ESPN 300 prospects (2023): 18
ESPN 300 prospects (past five years): 66
Top five recruits from Alabama in 2023:
1. Peter Woods, DT (No. 4 overall, Clemson)
2. Jaquavious Russaw, OLB (No. 9, Alabama)
3. James Smith, DT (No. 25, Alabama)
4. A.J. Harris, CB (No. 37, Georgia)
5. Christopher Vizzina, QB (No. 42, Clemson)
Under-the-radar recruit: Khalifa Keith, RB (four stars, Tennessee). At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Keith ran for more than 1,500 yards as a junior but was unable to match that production as a senior due to injury. With his hard work, he also flashed big-play potential, nearing 21 mph with his max speed score.
Out-of-state program that recruits Alabama well: Ole Miss. The Rebels' 2022 roster featured 12 players from Alabama, including RB Quinshon Judkins, OT Micah Pettus and DE Cedric Johnson.
In-state program that recruits Alabama well: Alabama. The Crimson Tide have four of the top eight recruits and seven of the top 15 prospects from inside state lines. Other ESPN 300 prospects on that list include CB Jahlil Hurley, DE Yhonzae Pierre, S Tony Mitchell, OT Wilkin Formby, DE Hunter Osborne and OG RyQueze McElderry.
Notable high school at developing players: Central High School (Phenix City). Three ESPN 300 recruits this cycle -- A.J. Harris (Georgia), WR Karmello English (Michigan) and DE Tomarrion Parker (Clemson) -- all went to Central. Its list of alumni also includes CB JQ Hardaway (Cincinnati/Kentucky), WR Jackson Meeks (Georgia), WR EJ Williams (Clemson) and OL Javion Cohen (Alabama/Miami).
4. California
Overview: The Golden State was producing 30-plus ESPN 300 prospects a year from 2013 through 2019. But over the past few years, it has trended in the opposite direction. Only 23 prospects from California made the cut in the 2023 class, and early returns in 2024 show a similar pattern, with just one recruit currently ranked in the top 25 overall of the 2024 ESPN Junior 300. The reason behind the diminished talent? This season marked the sixth straight year of declining football participation in the state. Could there be a trend between the state's high school popularity and Power 5 college success? While UCLA and USC bounced back this season, they combined with Cal and Stanford to post a winning percentage below .500 from 2019 to 2021.
ESPN 300 prospects (2023): 23
ESPN 300 prospects (past five years): 127
Top five recruits from California in 2023:
1. Malachi Nelson, QB (No. 1, USC)
2. Makai Lemon, WR (No. 13, USC)
3. Nicholaus Iamaleava, QB (No. 23, Tennessee)
4. Jaden Rashada, QB (No. 31, uncommitted)
5. Jurrion Dickey, WR (No. 38, Oregon)
Under-the-radar recruit: Aidan Chiles, QB (four stars, Oregon State). Chiles was a 6-4, 200-pound late bloomer who broke out as a senior with Downey High School. Chiles was a big-time riser in our final rankings update after completing over 70% of his passes for more than 3,300 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Out-of-state program that recruits California well: Washington. The Huskies have signed nine recruits in the 2023 class from California, including ESPN 300 S Vincent Holmes and ESPN 300 ATH Rashid Williams. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan was recruited from the 2020 recruiting cycle and CB Trent McDuffie played with the Huskies from 2019 to 2021 before being a first-round NFL draft pick.
In-state program that recruits California well: USC. The Trojans signed nine in-state prospects during the 2023 recruiting cycle, including the top two players in Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon. In fact, this is the second straight class that they landed the Nos. 1 and 2 in-state recruits (Domani Jackson and Raleek Brown).
Notable high school at developing players: St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower). There are three ESPN 300 recruits in the 2023 class who played at Bosco: WR DeAndre Moore, a future Texas Longhorn; CB Aaron Williams, who will play at Louisville; and DE Matayo Uiagalelei, who signed with Oregon in December. If his last name sounds familiar, it should. He is the younger brother of former Clemson and new Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei. Other notable Bosco alumni include Clemson WR Beaux Collins and Georgia OL Earnest Greene III.
3. Georgia
Overview: The Peach State is the top producer in talent per population, and it's not even close. Whether it's producing players in the ESPN 300 or NFL draft, the state of Georgia offers major bang for its buck. Texas had 32 players drafted last April, while Georgia was only two behind with 30. While the numbers of draft selections are nearly the same, the difference in population is staggering. Texas has nearly three times more people, and the vast state includes five Power 5 programs. The only major program in Georgia besides the Dawgs is Georgia Tech.
ESPN 300 prospects (2023): 27
ESPN 300 prospects (past five years): 146
Top five recruits from Georgia in 2023:
1. Caleb Downs, S (No. 11, Alabama)
2. Justice Haynes, RB (No. 24, Alabama)
3. Dylan Lonergan, QB (No. 36, Alabama)
4. Vic Burley, DT (No. 71, Clemson)
5. C.J. Allen, ILB (No. 97, Georgia)
Under-the-radar recruit: Jeremiah Telander, ILB (No. 298, Tennessee). Telander is explosive and possesses great awareness and instincts. He can be disruptive as a pass-rusher or be a sideline-to-sideline presence against the run. Telander made the final ESPN 300 ranking, but it won't take as long for the Vols to see immediate dividends.
Out-of-state program that recruits Georgia well: Clemson. The Tigers signed 11 recruits from Georgia in the 2023 recruiting cycle, four of whom are ranked in the ESPN 300: Burley, Jamal Anderson, Zechariah Owens and Stephiylan Green. Also from Georgia are LB Barrett Carter, WR Dacari Collins, RB Phil Mafah and DE Myles Murphy, who is projected to be a top-10 NFL draft pick, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
In-state program that recruits Georgia well: Georgia Tech. While Georgia has two of the top seven in-state recruits this cycle and brought in four of the top eight in the 2022 class, the Yellow Jackets fill their roster from inside state lines. Of the 25 players new coach Brent Key brought in as part of his first recruiting class, 14 are from Georgia, including his top four signees OT Ethan Mackenny, WR Eric Singleton Jr., OT Benjamin Galloway and DE Anthony Little, all ranked as three stars.
Notable high school at developing players: Grayson High School (Loganville). This year, Grayson High School produced three-star S Michael Daugherty (LSU) and three-star OLB Jalen Smith (Tennessee). Other former Rams include Auburn OLB Owen Pappoe (2019), Tennessee and Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris (2019), Miami and Missouri QB Jake Garcia and Mafah.
2. Texas
Overview: The Lone Star State is second only to Florida in producing ESPN 300 talent and is arguably the most consistent. The Longhorns have traditionally won the state and are starting to regain momentum on the recruiting trail thanks to Arch Manning's pledge (even though he is from Louisiana), combined with Texas A&M's struggles and a disappointing season under first-year Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. Oklahoma State and OU have built top-25 programs with talent from the rich state of Texas, with the Sooners cleaning up on four- and five-star prospects, while the Cowboys have developed the less-heralded names into more productive starters.
ESPN 300 prospects (2023): 48
ESPN 300 prospects (past five years): 226
Top five recruits from Texas in 2023:
1. Jackson Arnold, QB (No. 3, Oklahoma)
2. David Hicks, DT (No. 8, Texas A&M)
3. Anthony Hill, ILB (No. 16, Texas)
4. Peyton Bowen, S (No. 17, Oklahoma)
5. Johntay Cook II, WR (No. 26, Texas)
Under-the-radar recruit: Riley Van Poppel, DT (four stars, Nebraska). Van Poppel's measurables (6-4, 275) won't pop out compared to other defensive tackles, but he is a competitor who, despite being overlooked by some of the bigger in-state programs, flashes disruptiveness in the trenches. He's a talented player with advanced tools to play early and consistently at the next level.
Out-of-state program that recruits Texas well: Oklahoma State. From 2019 to 2023, Mike Gundy's program has signed 38 players from the state of Texas, including wide receivers Bryson Green, Blaine Green and John Paul Richardson in the 2021 class, as well as wide receiver Stephon Johnson Jr. and running back Ollie Gordon in the 2022 class.
In-state program that recruits Texas well: Texas. The Longhorns have the No. 3 recruiting class in the 2023 cycle after inking Hill, Cook and Malik Muhammad. They signed five-star OG DJ Campbell and fellow four-star offensive linemen Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cole Hutson in the 2022 cycle, as well as Ja'Tavion Sanders in the 2021 cycle.
Notable high school at developing players: Duncanville High School (Duncanville). Among players from Duncanville who are at the college level: QB Ja'Quinden Jackson (Texas/Utah), CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri) and DE Omari Abor (Ohio State), plus 2023 OT Benjamine Whitfield (TCU). Meanwhile, John H. Guyer boasts two five-star recruits in Arnold and Bowen this cycle, and the two of them will team up in Norman this fall.
1. Florida
Overview: The Sunshine State holds the title for the most ESPN 300 prospects produced in 2023 and past five years combined. Recruiting blue chips Miami, Florida and Florida State have signed the most talent, but are not retaining the elite prospects in the way that was once a foregone conclusion. This cycle, only two prospects in the top 15 remained in state. Back-to-back national champion Georgia signed four. Until that changes, the College Football Playoff drought for Florida-based programs likely will continue.
ESPN 300 prospects (2023): 61
ESPN 300 prospects (past five years): 234
Top five recruits from Florida in 2023:
1. Francis Mauigoa, OT (No. 6, Miami)
2. Keon Keeley, DT (No. 12, Alabama)
3. Cormani McClain, CB (No. 14, Colorado)
4. Raylen Wilson, OLB (No. 15, Georgia)
5. Desmond Ricks, CB (No. 19, Alabama)
Under-the-radar recruit: Daemon Fagan, CB (four stars, NC State). American Heritage High School is loaded with talent, so it's easy to be overlooked. Fagan is slight in build but tall (6-2) and lengthy with great range and closing speed.
Out-of-state program that recruits Florida well: Georgia. Nine Bulldogs on Georgia's latest championship team hail from Florida, including consensus top-three 2023 NFL draft prospect DT Jalen Carter, leading rusher Kenny McIntosh, wide receivers Arian Smith and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, DT Warren Brinson and CB Daylen Everette.
In-state program that recruits Florida well: Miami. Including recruits who play for IMG Academy, 12 of the 15 ESPN 300 recruits in Mario Cristobal's top-five recruiting class hail from Florida, including Mauigoa, Bain, OLB Malik Bryant, TE Riley Williams, DE Jayden Wayne, WR Nathaniel Joseph and RB Mark Fletcher.
Notable high school at developing players: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale). Future Penn State S King Mack is the only 2023 ESPN 300 recruit from Saint Thomas Aquinas, but the Raiders' pedigree also features Alabama S Jordan Battle, Florida ILB Derek Wingo, Alabama OLB Dallas Turner and LSU TE Mason Taylor, among others.