With 201 ESPN 300 recruits committed, quite a few recruiting classes are starting to take shape and fill needs.
Some highly ranked and highly sought-after players have come off the board over the past few months, making big impacts on future rosters. While some of those commitments have been defensive recruits, the offensive players have made waves with their commitments and have shuffled the class rankings.
That includes the No. 1 prospect overall — quarterback Arch Manning — picking Texas at the end of June, No. 1 offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa committing to Miami, quarterback Dante Moore picking Oregon and plenty of others.
With some of the top recruits already committed, here is a look at which schools are putting together the best offensive recruiting classes at each position.
Quarterback
Of the 17 ESPN 300 quarterbacks in the class, all but one are committed. Chris Parson from Brentwood, Tennessee, is the only remaining signal-caller in the top 300 who is uncommitted after decommitting from Florida State on July 12. With most of the top prospects already committed, most teams have filled their quarterback spots in the class.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns got a commitment from Manning, the No. 1 quarterback prospect and the nephew of Peyton and Eli. Every school was after Manning, and given his talent and lineage, he was one of the most-talked-about recruits.
Manning not only attracts other recruits but also improves the Longhorns’ depth chart. Last season’s starter, Casey Thompson, is now at Nebraska, and no other quarterback has yet to take the reins as the outright leader for the starting job. Hudson Card is a former ESPN 300 quarterback, Quinn Ewers is a former five-star and Maalik Murphy was an ESPN 300 quarterback signed in the 2022 class. Manning should have an opportunity to come in and compete for a starting role very early on in his career.
The Crimson Tide have addressed a need at quarterback in this class by landing commitments from two ESPN 300 quarterbacks in Eli Holstein (No. 59) and Dylan Lonergan (No. 62).
Alabama has Bryce Young this season, but it’s likely his last. The staff lost Paul Tyson to transfer and still has redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, who was the No. 34 recruit overall in the 2022 class.
The Trojans have needed to restock the quarterback room after Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart transferred. Lincoln Riley brought in Caleb Williams from Oklahoma this offseason and still has former ESPN 300 quarterback Miller Moss on the roster.
Riley was able to get Malachi Nelson, the No. 2 quarterback and No. 2 overall prospect, to flip his commitment from Oklahoma to USC, adding another talented player to the position room. As a junior, Nelson threw for 2,690 yards, 39 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Similar to Manning, Nelson should have an impact on the skill players USC attracts now that he and Williams are both on the roster.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks’ new staff got a commitment from five-star Dante Moore, ranked No. 8 overall and the No. 3 quarterback in the class. Moore, out of Detroit, grew up a Michigan fan and ultimately spurned Notre Dame for Oregon.
Offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham secured Moore’s commitment and now has one of the top quarterbacks in the country ready to join the roster. The staff lost starter Anthony Brown to graduation but brought in Bo Nix from Auburn. Dillingham coached Nix his freshman season, but he doesn’t have much eligibility left. The staff still has Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield, both former ESPN 300 quarterbacks, but adding Moore, who threw for 3,047 yards and 40 touchdowns with only three interceptions last season, is going to up the level of competition in the quarterback room.
The Hurricanes have a new staff with Mario Cristobal joining the team from Oregon this offseason. The staff lost D’Eriq King but is bringing back Tyler Van Dyke, who threw for 2,931 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Jake Garcia and Jacurri Brown are both still younger players who haven’t played much yet but add depth while Van Dyke is the starter.
The new coaches got a commitment from Jaden Rashada out of California, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the class. They also have four-star Emory Williams committed, giving them two talented options in the class.
Running back
There are 18 ESPN 300 running backs in the 2023 class, and 12 are currently committed. The No. 1 back in the class, Richard Young, is uncommitted and has a top three of Alabama, Georgia and Oregon. Cedric Baxter Jr. and Jeremiyah Love are top-five running backs, and are both uncommitted as well. However, quite a few teams have already filled running back spots in their class.
Brian Kelly and his new staff have had success turning the roster over via the transfer portal and with high school prospects. Kelly has commitments from in-state ESPN 300 backs Trey Holly and Kaleb Jackson in the class.
Holly is a 5-foot-8, 180-pound recruit from Farmerville, ranked No. 185 overall, while Jackson is a 5-11, 200-pound back from Baton Rouge, ranked No. 244. While the staff added Penn State back Noah Cain, it lost last season’s leading rusher Tyrion Davis-Price, as well as Corey Kiner, so adding two good options at running back in this class was imperative.
While the No. 1 back in the class is uncommitted, Rueben Owens II, the No. 2 running back, has committed to Louisville. Owens is a 5-11, 180-pound prospect from El Campo, Texas, and had considered Texas, Texas A&M and Michigan State, among others.
Owens had 2,989 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns this past season, while also catching 15 passes for 252 receiving yards and two touchdowns. By the time Owens gets to campus, Louisville will have lost quarterback Malik Cunningham, who led the team in rushing, but will likely still have running back Jalen Mitchell and Trevion Cooley. Adding the talented Owens sets the staff up for the future at the position.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The next-highest-ranked running back who has made a commitment is Justice Haynes, who recently committed to Alabama. He’s the No. 3 running back in the class and the No. 48 recruit overall. Haynes is a 5-10, 185-pound back from Buford, Georgia, and is a Georgia legacy who picked the Crimson Tide.
Alabama is once again stacked at running back. The staff signed ESPN 300 running backs Emmanuel Henderson and Jamarion Miller in the last class, brought in Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs and still has Trey Sanders, Roydell Williams and Jase McClellan on the roster.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines had a ton of success on the ground last season with running backs Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum, while mixing in true freshman Donovan Edwards. The Wolverines’ offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line, and it’s looking to continue the ground success in the future.
Michigan got a commitment from ESPN 300 running back Cole Cabana, the No. 6 back in the class and the third highest-ranked recruit at the position who has made a commitment. The staff also has a commitment from three-star Ben Hall. Corum and Edwards are only sophomores, while Tavierre Dunlap is a redshirt freshman. Adding Cabana will be a step toward keeping the running back room filled with talent.
Oklahoma Sooners
Brent Venables and the new staff came in with a tough task of replacing quite a few players who transferred out with the coaching change. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler both impacted the passing and run game, combining for nine rushing touchdowns. Leading rusher Kennedy Brooks is off to the NFL, but the staff is returning Eric Gray and adding in Bentavious Thompson as well as quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
The coaches signed ESPN 300 running backs Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes in 2022, and now have commitments from ESPN 300 back Daylan Smothers and three-star Kalib Hicks.
Wide receiver
Sixteen of the 44 ESPN 300 receivers in this class are uncommitted, including No. 5 wide receiver Hykeem Williams and No. 8 receiver Jalen Hale. However, the top four wide receivers — Zachariah Branch, DeAndre Moore Jr., Makai Lemon and Brandon Inniss — are off the board.
It’s becoming a recurring theme for the Buckeyes to land a top-ranked wide receiver class, and this year is no different. Ohio State has the No. 4 receiver, Inniss, committed, as well as the No. 12 wide receiver in Noah Rogers, No. 19 in Carnell Tate and four-star Bryson Rodgers.
This is coming a year after the staff signed ESPN 300 receivers Caleb Burton, Kyion Grayes and Kojo Antwi. The coaches have signed 10 ESPN 300 receivers in the past three classes, and if all three sign in 2023, it will make it 13 over the past four.
USC Trojans
Lincoln Riley has revamped the offensive roster, especially at the playmaking positions. He added last season’s Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison from Pittsburgh, Mario Williams from Oklahoma, Terrell Bynum from Washington and Brenden Rice from Colorado.
In the 2023 class, Riley has commitments from Branch and Lemon, the Nos. 1 and 3 receivers. Branch is ranked No. 12 overall and is the brother of safety Zion Branch, who signed with the Trojans in the 2022 class.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns struck gold with freshman receiver Xavier Worthy, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Steve Sarkisian and his staff have done a good job adding around Worthy through the transfer portal, bringing in Isaiah Neyor from Wyoming, Tarique Milton from Iowa State and Agiye Hall from Alabama.
The coaches have added through the high school ranks as well, landing commitments from ESPN 300 receivers Johntay Cook II (No. 48 overall), Ryan Niblett (No. 96) and Jonah Wilson (No. 278).
Louisville Cardinals
Head coach Scott Satterfield and his staff have one of their best recruiting classes with seven ESPN 300 commitments in 2023, led by No. 2 receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who is ranked No. 17 overall.
The coaches also have a commitment from ESPN 300 receiver Jahlil McClain, ranked No. 261 overall.
Tight end
There are 18 total ESPN 300 tight end recruits in the class, and 15 have already made their commitments. The top tight end, Duce Robinson (No. 44), has USC, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and others after him.
The Razorbacks have an excellent tight end haul in this class with three ESPN 300 commitments. Luke Hasz is ranked No. 64 overall out of Bixby, Oklahoma, at 6-3, 215 pounds. Shamar Easter is a 6-5, 215-pound tight end commit for Arkansas ranked No. 229 overall.
Jaden Hamm is the third top-300 tight end commit for the Razorbacks as a 6-5, 215-pound recruit at No. 286 overall.
LSU Tigers
Brian Kelly and his staff have quite a bit returning at receiver and tight end, and added three-star tight end Mason Taylor from the 2022 class, but they made the position a focus in 2023.
Jaxon Howard, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end from New Hope, Minnesota, ranked No. 118 overall, chose LSU over offers from Miami, Minnesota and Michigan, among others. The Tigers also have a commitment from Mac Markway, a 6-4, 250-pound tight end ranked No. 122 overall.
Ohio State Buckeyes
As well as the Buckeyes have recruited at receiver, the staff has also recruited very well at tight end. The 2023 class is no different.
Ty Lockwood is ranked No. 132 overall and is a 6-4, 225-pound recruit out of Tennessee. Jelani Thurman is 6-5, 230 pounds, ranked No. 156 overall out of Georgia.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs have the best tight end in college football in Brock Bowers, who will be only a sophomore this season. He had 882 yards and 13 touchdowns in his freshman season and is looking to build on the success he had.
The coaches have Ryland Goede and Oscar Delp on the roster, but Kirby Smart and his staff have also added commitments from Pearce Spurlin, ranked No. 163 overall, and Lawson Luckie, ranked No. 250 overall.
Offensive line
Fifteen of the 36 ESPN 300 offensive linemen are still uncommitted, including tackle Samson Okunlola at No. 34 overall. Okunlola has Miami, Michigan State, Florida, Alabama and other major programs after him. With 21 top-300 prospects already committed, though, plenty of teams have had success up front.
It’s rare to see a head-to-head recruiting battle between Iowa and Alabama, but the Hawkeyes ultimately won out for in-state five-star tackle Kadyn Proctor. The No. 6 recruit overall, Proctor had nearly every major program after him, but ultimately chose Iowa.
Iowa’s staff already has some younger players at tackle on the roster, including Mason Richman, Tyler Elsbury and a few others, so there won’t be a ton of pressure for Proctor play right away if he’s not ready. The staff also has commitments from three-stars Trevor Lauck, Leighton Jones and Cannon Leonard in this class.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are consistently pulling in top offensive line prospects, and this class is no different. The coaches added the No. 5 tackle in Luke Montgomery early on and got a commitment from ESPN 300 interior lineman Joshua Padilla.
In addition, Ohio State has commitments from three-stars Austin Siereveld and Miles Walker to round out the class.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
After going to the NFL following six years with Notre Dame, Harry Hiestand is back as the offensive line coach for the Irish, and is flourishing again.
He has commitments from ESPN 300 tackle Charles Jagusah, as well as four-star tackle Sullivan Absher. In addition to them, Notre Dame has three-stars Elijah Paige, Sam Pendleton and Joe Otting committed.
Miami Hurricanes
One of the bigger splashes up front was when Miami got a commitment from Francis Mauigoa, the No. 1 tackle in the class. Mauigoa is a 6-6, 325-pound five-star ranked No. 5 overall out of IMG Academy in Florida. He chose the Hurricanes over Alabama, Florida, Hawai’i, USC and Tennessee.
The staff also has four-star interior lineman Antonio Tripp committed, as well as tackle Frankie Tinilau.