Accumulation of talent is important in this sport, so no need to explain the importance of this week. After all, stars are important.
Here are 10 intriguing stories to track toward the most dramatic few days on the college football calendar: the start of the early contract period.
1. How will Colorado finish this class?
For regular coaches hired in December (only a few weeks before their initial contract term), it’s unrealistic to see significant improvements in this year’s recruiting class. But Deion Sanders is anything but ordinary. he’s prime time As such, he’s expected to be able to quickly attract his talent and turn Colorado’s roster upside down.
Many assume that most of Sanders’ work on the roster will be done through the ever-present transfer portal (Travis Hunter, the No. 1 player in the class for 2022, will be on Sunday. I entered late at night at ). But what about the 2023 class? Colorado has already lured Derby (Kansas) High’s four-star running back Dylan Edwards away from Notre Dame. Last weekend, Colorado won 4-star athlete Malachi Coleman from Lincoln, Nebraska East (a top 100 player from 247Sports Composite who was due to visit Michigan), and 4-star athlete South Carolina won Carrollton, Georgia. ) Central’s Vikali Swain, 3-star quarterback, Kansas commits Douglasville, GA Carsen Wiseman of South Paulding, Murfreesboro, TN commits Blackman’s 3-star receiver Jacob Page .
Colorado has already seen 13 commitments in progress in this year’s class. It’s assumed that Sanders is wiping people out to make room on the roster. The Buffaloes class has only 11 commitments, which ranks him 61st in the nation. What will this class be like on Friday? What about February? We’re looking to see just how much immediate impact Sanders can make in situations that would otherwise be impossible for most newly hired coaches.
#WeComing @Dion Sanders @Tim Brewster Shumai-kun @SwainVicari @kasenweisman12 pic.twitter.com/KorPFcl4qB
— Malachi Coleman (@ChiColeman23) December 18, 2022
2. Will the five-star Peyton Bowen stick with ND?
Marcus Freeman’s first full class at the University of Notre Dame is one of the best the Irish have put together in the modern era of recruitment. The Notre Dame class has her 26 commitments, which ranks her 6th nationally and includes 12 of her prospects who rank among the top 175 nationally. But does it have 5 star power?
Notre Dame already lost commitment early in this cycle from a five-star prospect named Berkeley Prep’s Tampa, Fla. edge rusher Keon Keely, who recently chose to go to Alabama. I was. Now there are concerns about whether it will hang on Bowen.Brent Venables and Oklahoma are really going strong.
As with all large-scale recruitment, speculation abounds that NIL plays a major factor here. Bowen took to his Twitter account to quash that speculation. But when it’s all done, NIL or not, will Freeman be able to pick up Notre Dame’s class gem and sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday?
Misinformation about me and my recruitment was leaked. not entirely true. Choosing a school based on the program makes it easy for you to choose what is best for you and where you want to go.
— Peyton Bowen (@PeytonBowen10) December 15, 2022
3. Can Iowa keep the 5-star OT Kadin Proctor?
Iowa has signed high-end four-star safety Xavier Nwankpa of Pleasant Hill (Iowa) Southeast Polk for the 2022 class. In this year’s cycle, Iowa earned a commitment from his five-star prospect at the same school, Proctor. Kirk Ferencz looked like he was about to win state gold in consecutive classes from the same high school.
Proctor, the highest-rated player in state history, leaned heavily into signing with Iowa over the weekend. But he made an official visit to Alabama over the weekend and has the Iowa City coaching staff sitting on pins and needles. At this point, it’s safe to say that Alabama is the frontrunner to acquire Proctor, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to those familiar with Nick Saban’s resume.
Proctor’s commitment didn’t get enough attention as it came about 20 minutes after news broke that USC and UCLA would join the Big Ten in June. But don’t get me wrong about that. This type of commitment could change everything for Iowa, a team that had one of the worst offenses in recent memory last season. Perhaps.
Given that Proctor is a lifelong Iowa fan and wears the same number as former Hawkeyes offensive lineman and current NFL starter Tristan Worfs, there is still hope for Iowa. Maybe Home will win. But Alabama is a very tough opponent, with him two days before ink meets paper.
— Ty Simpson (@ty_simpson06) December 17, 2022
4. Can UCLA flip five-star QB Dante Moore?
UCLA has some quarterback fireworks going on, both now and in the future.
On Saturday, UCLA won a commitment from former Kent State quarterback Colin Schley through the transfer portal. But we’ll see a bigger quarterback storyline at UCLA this week.
It’s all about Moore, a five-star prospect Martin Luther King from Detroit, Michigan, and the 11th-ranked player in the country.
Moore has been in Oregon since July, but he made an official visit to UCLA on December 9, where the Bruins are well photographed. If Moore were to pick UCLA, it would probably be the most impactful reversal of the cycle and at UCLA Chip he would be the most highly rated player to sign Kerry.
5. Can Ohio State finish strong?
It may be because Chandler, Arizona High five-star 2024 quarterback Dylan Raiola retired from Ohio on Saturday, but the Buckeyes appear to be lacking some power in their recruiting path right now. Yes, Raiola is still a year away from being able to sign, but his decommitment has made Buckeyes fans concerned about whether their school is effectively deploying resources to the NIL. It was the latest domino to fall into a difficult hiring environment.
Still, Ohio State University’s 2023 currently ranks 7th in the nation. With 20 commitments and an average player rating of 93.46, he is third only to Alabama and Georgia. Also, most recently, Pierre (SD) TF Riggs in Washington his four-star quarterback he flipped Lincoln Kienholz. Still, it looks like Buckeyes can actually use Splash before his 2023 class is complete. do they get it?
Ohio State University is associated with five-star edge rusher Damon Wilson at Venice (Florida) High, but that recruitment is now considered a lost cause as the state of Georgia took control (NIL discussion signal). But can the Buckeyes win his 5-star Edge Matayo his Huaygarerai at Bellflower, Calif. St. John Bosco?It’s a tough race between Ohio, Oregon and USC, but the Buckeyes can win this one. This class will feel completely different if you can pull through.
6. What about Louisville?
Louisville’s 2023 class currently ranks 28th in the nation despite having only 14 commitments. Of these 14 commitments, 5 are from California, 4 from Florida, 2 from Georgia, 2 from Kentucky and 1 from Indiana. That’s the national class.
Coach Scott Satterfield recently moved to Cincinnati, and the Louisville class took a big hit when El Campo (Texas) High’s five-star running back Reuben Owens switched to Texas A&M.
Good news for Louisville. Jeff his brohm is back at his alma mater in what looks like a home run. But can he keep this class together?More importantly, he’s DeAndre, his 4-star receiver at Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco He’s a Moore Jr. commitment can you keep
The 95th-ranked Moore made official visits to Georgia and Texas in November. Neither program has given up on this hire, especially since the coaching change smells like blood in the water.
7. Is Brian Kelly about to hit another home run?
When Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU after last season, he realized the new school gave him a legitimate chance to win a national championship, so he made the move. I was thinking. Frankly, it’s easier to get top talent at LSU.
Ironically, throughout this cycle, Notre Dame outperformed LSU. But on Thursday, LSU scored a commitment from Arlington (Texas) Martin’s four-star, Javiento Biano. This made the Tigers his fifth top 100 player in the class and currently ranks him fifth nationally.
Fireworks may not be possible. LSU is considered the frontrunner to acquire his five-star cornerback, Desmond Dricks, from the Bradenton, Florida IMG, and he is expected to announce his decision on Thursday. Ricks, reclassified from the 2024 class, is also considering Florida and Alabama.
Four-star safety Isaac Smith of Fulton (Miss) Itawamba Agricultural, ranked 174th overall in the 2023 cycle, also recently visited LSU.
8. What will Texas A&M classes look like?
Texas A&M is now the butt of all jokes. After signing into the greatest class in modern recruiting history for the 2022 cycle, the Aggies had a disastrous season on the field, with over 20 players on the transfer portal. It looks like the Aggiland Jinbo Fisher wheels are falling off.
However, five of Aggies’ 13 commitments rank within the top 100, even though the 2023 class ranks 18th overall. His average player rating in this class is 92.44, which ranks her fourth, behind Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio. .
Texas A&M recently stole Owens out of Louisville and is now trying to outsmart four-star safety Tony Mitchell of Thompson, Alabaster, Alabama. But there are some concerns about whether the Aggies can keep up with their commitment from his five-star defensive lineman, David Hicks, for Katie (Texas) Peytoe, who recently visited Oregon.
This seems to be a key point for Texas A&M. We’re looking to finish strong in 2023 while building up our roster. What will happen to Fisher?
9. Who will win Recruit’s crown?
Alabama currently ranks first in its overall class with 24 commitments. This class includes 3 of his 5 star prospects and 11 top 100 recruits. Alabama still has to hold on to Mitchell and survive a late push from Ohio State at his 5-star safety Caleb Downs in Hoshton, Georgia Mill Creek, but Crimson Tide is very good is in position.
Saban’s team is still very crowded due to two five-star defensive line prospects: teammate James Smith and Qua Lasso of Montgomery, Alabama Carver. Both recently visited Auburn (Hugh Freeze is in charge of The Plains, so that’s another story to follow), but it’s hard to argue against Alabama here. If they do, the crown of recruitment will be theirs.
But don’t sleep in Georgia.
The Bulldogs have one less five-star overall than Alabama and two fewer five-stars, but they have nine top-100 players and a mix of top-level talent. Five-Star Wilson seems to be tied to Georgia. Kirby Smart is also alive and well with top 100 defensive lineman Jordan Hall of Jacksonville, FL West Side and his four-star cornerback Daniel Harris of Miami, FL Gulliver Prep.
That’s a loss of title to Alabama, but they still need a number of signatures before they can put the crown on Saban’s head.
10. Unexpected surprise?
About this time a year ago, Hunter moved from Florida to Jackson to play for the Sanders. The ground shook as it was perhaps the most shocking signing day development in history.
But that’s why it’s become a national holiday in the world of college football. It’s about development that happens completely out of nowhere. What will happen this year?
(Chip Kelly Photo: Tom Hauk/Getty Images)