The 2023 recruiting cycle is shaping up to be a wild one.
Several programs are in contention to land the No. 1 class in the country, unlike last year where Texas A&M confidently held that honor for quite some time.
With roughly five months until the early signing period, a lot can change between now and then. Some programs may pick up surprise commitments, while others may lose one of their highest rated prospects to a decommitment.
Recruiting class rankings are a game of see-saw each year. Major recruiting websites update their player rankings each season, which typically shifts a teams overall class ranking.
However, Keegan Pope of On3 Sports recently named eight programs that have a realistic shot to land the No. 1 recruiting class for 2023 when it’s all said and done. “Based on current commits and the targets still on the board who have enough juice to move the needle, it’s a small number,” Pope said.
Here’s what Pope had to say about including Texas among the eight programs.
Did anyone have a better past month than Steve Sarkisian? The second-year Texas coach not only landed the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect, Five-Star Plus+ QB Arch Manning, but also hauled in top-30 safety Derek Williams and No. 32 prospect Johntay Cook. Those additions, plus 10 other commitments in the span of three weeks, pushed the Longhorns as high as No. 2 in the team rankings. They currently sit at No. 5, but there’s a very legitimate path to No. 1.
Five-star Denton Ryan linebacker Anthony Hill, Arlington Martin top-35 safety Javien Toviano, and On3’s No. 1 running back, Cedric Baxter Jr., are the biggest targets for Texas still on the board.
All three have a chance to be five-stars by February. And if Texas can add that trio to Manning, Williams and Cook, also another potential five-star, they would be the major favorite to take home the top class.
Pope didn’t just select the top ranked classes at the moment, either. He omitted Penn State, Oklahoma and LSU from this list. Each of those three are currently ranked within the top 10. Instead, he added Lincoln Riley’s surging Trojans who currently have the No. 12 class in the country.
Here’s a look at the eight most likely programs to land the No. 1 recruiting class this cycle.