Live national signing day updates: New commits, latest flips and best classes

National signing day is here, with college football‘s early signing period kicking off Wednesday and lasting through Friday. High school recruits are able to sign their national letters of intent to lock them into the colleges of their choice.

It already has been a busy start to the week, with two five-star recruits in the 2023 ESPN 300 flipping their commitments. Quarterback Dante Moore discarded Oregon in favor of UCLA, while offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor spurned Iowa for Alabama. There could be a few more surprises Wednesday.

This is the sixth year in which the NCAA has held an early signing period for college football recruits, and and it has become the dominant session, with most schools securing the majority of their class during this stretch. If a prospect doesn’t sign a national letter of intent this week, the next national signing day for this cycle begins Feb. 1, 2023.

We’re tracking the latest news, analysis, class rankings movement and more throughout Wednesday. Check out the “College Football Live: Signing Day Special” at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

coverage:
Updated class rankings: Top 50 schools
Predictions: Where top prospects could land

Arch Manning, nation’s No. 2 recruit, officially signs with Texas

Manning — nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, grandson of Archie Manning, and son of former Ole Miss wide receiver Cooper Manning — is officially a Longhorn. He committed to Texas in June.

Manning is one of 11 ESPN 300 commits for Texas, which has the No. 7-ranked class in the country. Manning was a four-year starter at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, throwing for 8,599 yards and 115 touchdowns with 20 interceptions while rushing for 1,155 yards and 25 scores. He broke Eli’s school record for school passing yards (7,268) and Peyton’s for TDs (93).

Welcome Home, @ArchManning 🤘#AllGas23 pic.twitter.com/kHwJQSX59h

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 21, 2022

Georgia pushing for No. 1

Not only is Georgia seeking its seventh consecutive top-three class but the Bulldogs, who enter signing day at No. 2, trailing only Alabama, are aiming for the top spot.

On Wednesday, Kirby Smart’s loaded defense got stronger with the addition of ESPN 300 cornerback Daniel Harris, who is ranked No. 157 overall.

Commited 1000% . pic.twitter.com/J0mHoMAAhC

— Daniel Harris (@h9rrisdaniel) December 21, 2022

Oregon flips a top QB recruit

Two days after the Ducks lost a pledge from No. 3 prospect Dante Moore, who is headed to UCLA, they flipped an ESPN 300 quarterback of their own, landing Austin Novosad, a four-star signal-caller who had previously been committed to Baylor.

Novosad is Oregon’s 10th ESPN 300 commit for the 2023 class.

First big flip of the day, ESPN 300 quarterback Austin Novosad flips from Baylor to Oregon.

The Oregon staff was able to get a big QB after Dante Moore flipped to UCLA.#Oregon #ScoDucks https://t.co/Ote7cBiSK6

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 21, 2022

Announcements to watch: Today’s schedule

Our “College Football Live: Signing Day Special” will air from 2-5 p.m. ET on ESPN2, featuring analysis from our insiders and scouts, as well as announcements from some of the top recruits in the country. Here’s who will be announcing their commitments later today:

• Who: LB Jaquavious Russaw (No. 7 overall recruit) and DT James Smith (No. 11)
  When: 2:10 p.m. ET
  Choosing between: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Alabama State

• Who: CB Damari Brown (No. 112)
  When: 3:15 p.m. ET
  Choosing between: Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Miami

• Who: DE Damon Wilson (No. 31)
  When: 3:45 p.m. ET
  Choosing between: Alabama, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State

• Who: CB Jyaire Hill (No. 239)
  When: 4:15 p.m. ET
  Choosing between: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan and Washington

Longhorn Network kicks off signing day coverage with a “Texas Football National Signing Day” special from 8-10:30 a.m. ET.

SEC Network will air hourly updates beginning at 9 a.m. ET and host a three-hour “SEC Now: Signing Day Special” at noon.

ACC Network will host “ACC Huddle: Signing Day Special” from 3-6:30 p.m.

Where the class rankings stand now

Here are the top three schools in our class rankings, which go all the way to 50:

1. Alabama: 22 ESPN 300 commitments

2. Georgia: 17 ESPN 300 commitments

3. Miami: 15 ESPN 300 commitments

Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU and Texas are all vying for a top-five finish as well.

Two five-star recruits make seismic flips

Right before the early signing period, two top-10 recruits decided to flip their commitments. On Monday, quarterback Dante Moore, ranked No. 3 in the class, decommitted from Oregon and announced his commitment to UCLA.

The next day, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, the No. 10 recruit overall, flipped from in-state Iowa to join Alabama.

What will happen Wednesday?

Who are the best prospects this cycle?

Each recruiting cycle, the best recruits in the country are ranked in the ESPN 300. Entering signing day, 270 of the top 300 prospects this cycle are committed. including nine of the top 10 recruits.

The top 10 goes as follows:

1. Malachi Nelson, QB (USC)

2. Arch Manning, QB (Texas)

3. Dante Moore, QB (UCLA)

4. Cormani McClain, CB (Miami)

5. Francis Mauigoa, OT (Miami)

6. Zachariah Branch, WR (USC)

7. Jaquavious Russaw, OLB (uncommitted)

8. Jackson Arnold, QB (Oklahoma)

9. Peter Woods, DT (Clemson)

10. Kadyn Proctor, OT (Alabama)

See the full ESPN 300 rankings here »

Breaking down the 2023 recruiting cycle

We broke down the 2023 recruiting cycle in many different ways. We analyzed the strengths of the recruits who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at each position.

Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill also went pick-by-pick in trying to draft the best all-22 team of 2023 recruits. See who got picked and vote which team is better.