B/R Recruiting: Top Prospects from the 2022 Class Already Making an Impact
Recruiting may be an inexact science, but the various ranking services get things right plenty of times.
The first quarter of the 2022 college football season is evidence.
While a few under-the-radar recruits are making splashes, some of the nation's top prospects from last year's class are shining too.
From a group of elite running backs to defenders who could play for anybody in the nation, this year's class of freshmen has plenty of star potential.
To make this list, a player had to have been rated a 4-star prospect or higher on the 247Sports composite rankings in the '22 recruiting class.
As 3-stars, that makes running backs Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), CJ Donaldson Jr. (West Virginia) and Richard Reese (Baylor), Washington receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, Illinois edge-rusher Gabe Jacas and South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori ineligible, despite their strong starts.
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas Offensive Tackle
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Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. passed his first massive test with flying colors.
Matched up with the nation's top defensive player, Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr., much of the day earlier this year in the Tide's narrow win at Texas, Banks allowed just one pressure, per FanSided's Andrew Miller. Yes, he had help, and the Longhorns schemed away from Anderson, but it was still impressive.
It's incredibly difficult to start at left tackle as a true freshman, as you're charged with the unenviable task of protecting a quarterback's blind side, but Banks is one of two players at the position on this list. He was perhaps the biggest name of the Longhorns' top-rated offensive line class, and he's proving he was worthy of his 5-star rating.
The No. 3 tackle in last year's class will almost certainly have some ups and downs this year at such a showcase spot, but the Humble, Texas, native is doing an excellent job consistently.
Banks is the team's best offensive lineman and looks like a stalwart alongside fellow true freshman starter at guard Cole Hutson. He was a major coup on the trail for coach Steve Sarkisian.
Jaishawn Barham, Maryland Linebacker
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It's been a bit of a revolving door on defense during Mike Locksley's return to Maryland to front the Terrapins.
He's seen several highly rated prospects head to College Park for a brief time and transfer, but he continues to recruit difference-makers for his rebuild. Following a close loss to Michigan a week ago, it looks like the Terps are on the right track.
A big part of that is true freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham.
It was a huge win when Locksley landed the 6'3", 230-pound second-level defender from District Heights, Maryland. He was the nation's No. 119-ranked player in this year's class and should be the poster player for what Locksley wants in a defender.
He's terrorized offenses to the tune of 24 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass deflection. He's all over the place. After piling up 12 tackles in a win over SMU, he followed it up with eight more in the loss to Michigan.
Barham is big, fast and arrives to the ball-carrier with violence. He's got a long-term lock on that middle linebacker position for Maryland. And he's off to one of the best starts of any defender in the nation.
Will Campbell, LSU Offensive Tackle
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Brian Kelly's first roster at LSU is a mix-and-match of recruits he got to stick in Baton Rouge, a hodgepodge of transfers and those holdovers who believed in the program's direction following Ed Orgeron's ouster.
The importance of Kelly retaining some of the high-profile Louisiana natives from the 2022 recruiting class cannot be discounted. It is vital not only to the Bayou Bengals' present but their future too.
The best of the bunch may be 4-star offensive tackle Will Campbell. The 6'6", 325-pound lineman from Monroe stuck tight with the Tigers, and he's being rewarded as a starter at the all-important left tackle position.
Campbell shut down Mississippi State a couple of weeks ago, and as the season matures, he's becoming a force along the front.
While he locks down one side of the line for LSU, classmate Emery Jones is thriving along the offensive front, too, starting at right tackle. The duo gives Kelly a formidable pair around which to build.
“Those guys are going to be amazing," LSU running back Josh Williams told Tiger Rag's William Weathers. "Just seeing what they can do as freshmen, I’m so excited to see their potential."
Everybody on the bayou should feel the same.
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Abdul Carter, Penn State Linebacker
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There's a youth movement at Penn State, and some of the talented fruits of James Franklin's recruiting efforts are major reasons the No. 11 Nittany Lions are 4-0.
Freshman linebacker Abdul Carter is handing out plenty of the blows.
The 6'3", 233-pounder was highly coveted by several SEC schools, but the Philadelphia native stayed home, and Franklin and Co. are glad he did. He is thriving under first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
Carter has racked up 16 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and two pass deflections. He may not have been the highest-rated recruit, but the No. 287 prospect is proving worthy of his 4-star status.
Several youngsters are getting the chance to shine on both sides of the ball for PSU, and it's paying off.
Edge-rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton (three sacks) hasn't been consistent enough to be on the list yet, but his massive potential is only beginning to bud. Redshirt freshman defensive back Zakee Wheatley is having a big start with 10 tackles and two interceptions too.
But it's Carter who has been the most consistent. Franklin told On3's Greg Pickel that Carter can do more, and there is major intrigue about just how much he can surge this season.
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Running Back
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North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has plenty of holes to patch, as evidenced by a poor Notre Dame offense torching the Tar Heels last week.
But they're 3-1 because of an explosive offense, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the underclassmen on that side of the ball.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye is the show-stealer, but don't sleep on true freshman running back Omarion Hampton. He is part of a terrific freshman backfield duo along with George Pettaway, but it's Hampton's party.
The No. 11 running back recruit has been a battering ram and a red-zone stalwart, leading the team with 256 yards and scoring five times. He is averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but he is a goal-line seeker once he gets the football in close.
The only negative is Hampton was essentially a non-factor in the loss to the Fighting Irish with just 28 yards, but he was so good the rest of the season that there's still plenty of promise.
Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma Linebacker
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It's obvious linebacker Jaren Kanak wanted to play for Brent Venables.
The Hays, Kansas, native was all set to head half a country away and play for the coach when he was the defensive coordinator at Clemson.
When Venables got his first head gig with Oklahoma, it was the perfect scenario for the 6'2", 219-pounder, who was the nation's No. 6-rated athlete in the last cycle. He got to stay closer to his Midwestern home, play for an elite program and stick with the coach he wanted.
It's worked out terrifically for everybody involved.
Kanak is a terror as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who is already one of the most talented defenders on the team and a guy around whom Venables can rebuild. He's fast, relentless and is a great tackler.
He's backing up DaShaun White at "Cheetah," and while he isn't a starter, you can't ignore the type of numbers he's posted: 17 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. When he was thrust into the lineup against Nebraska, he had 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
When you consider Kanak played mostly quarterback and safety in high school, it's exciting to think about just how good he'll be when he masters linebacker.
Dane Key, Kentucky Wide Receiver
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Kentucky may always be known as a basketball school, but the Wildcats were in the top 20 in the rankings for 2022 and are coming off their best recruiting cycle ever thanks to head coach Mark Stoops.
One of the biggest wins in the class came from UK's backyard when it kept 4-star athlete Dane Key from heading elsewhere.
While some saw him as an athlete, he was the nation's No. 36 wide receiver recruit, and the 6'3", 194-pound pass-catcher has been one of the country's most impactful first-year players.
Key is one of quarterback Will Levis' top targets, and while Kentucky hasn't exploded much offensively, Key and classmate Barion Brown give them a couple of playmakers at the position.
He has caught 15 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 16.1 yards per reception. His yardage increased in each of the first three games until he was a non-factor in last week's closer-than-expected win over Northern Illinois.
Consistency is important for Key, but he's flashed enough, and he has the size, talent and poise to be included on this list. This looks like a budding young star who will be a centerpiece in the short and long term.
Jaydn Ott, California Running Back
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Perhaps the true freshman with the most impact on the list so far is a guy you never would have expected here during the recruiting cycle.
Jaydn Ott was a 4-star prospect and one of the top players in California coach Justin Wilcox's recruiting class, but you don't get a lot of national recruiting headlines when you sign with the Bears.
Still, the Norco, California, product was the nation's No. 274 recruit and has been a star since arriving in Berkeley.
He was the featured back in the season opener against UC Davis and torched the Aggies for 104 rushing yards. He received only seven carries against UNLV yet still had 52 yards and a touchdown, but he barely made an impact in a loss at Notre Dame.
His coming-out party came last week against Arizona, though. Ott torched the Wildcats for 274 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns, earning one of Kirk Herbstreit's top-performers-of-the-week nods because of runs like this.
He was unstoppable, and it could be a sign of things to come for the Bears. The 6'0", 205-pound running back looks like the complete package of power and speed while rushing for 463 yards, four touchdowns and 8.3 yards per carry.
Cal has a long-term solution if it uses him the right way. Wilcox can't afford to let him sit with that type of production.
Dasan McCullough, Indiana Linebacker
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Dasan McCullough was all set to go to Ohio State and be one of many standout defenders the Buckeyes bring in every year.
But the outside linebacker flipped to Indiana—where his father, Deland, was the running backs coach—giving the Hoosiers the type of recruit they almost never get. When his dad left for Notre Dame, McCullough stuck to his commitment.
The Hoosiers are thankful he did.
Predictably, McCullough has been a man among boys. Even though the Hoosiers lost for the first time this year last weekend against Cincinnati, it's been a pleasant start for 3-1 IU, and the defense is a big reason.
McCullough has been a large part of that with 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
He's played three positions: outside linebacker in the base package, the "bull" (essentially a linebacker and pass-rusher in IU’s dime defense), and the "husky" (IU’s version of a hybrid linebacker and safety), according to the Daily Hoosier.
IU linebackers coach Kasey Teegardin told Seth Tow:
"We thought, initially, (we’d) put him at linebacker. But you’ve got to get your best 11 on the field. He’s one of our best 11. You’ve got to manufacture and find ways to get him involved. And that means multiple packages: playing boundary, playing field, blitzing, doing a lot of different things.”
McCullough is making things happen already in a huge way in Bloomington.
Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Edge
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When 6'2", 220-pound edge-rusher/outside linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. signed with LSU over a slew of the nation's top teams, it was a clear indication that head coach Brian Kelly might get things done on the recruiting trail in the bayou.
Getting the nation's No. 8 prospect to head over from Texas was probably among the top coups of the cycle, especially considering Perkins could have been a part of Jimbo Fisher's historic haul at Texas A&M.
Perkins decommitted from the Aggies about a week before national signing day and flipped to the Bayou Bengals. He's already proving why everybody wanted him, looking like a future sure-fire NFL playmaker in his first year with 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
At times, he was an unblockable force against Mississippi State, and then he followed that with seven tackles in last weekend's shutout win over New Mexico.
"We needed to let [Perkins] loose because we know he's really good at getting in the backfield and rushing the quarterback,” defensive end Ali Gaye said after the win over Mississippi State, according to SI.com's Zack Nagy. “I'm really proud of him."
Perkins can get after quarterbacks from all over the field, and he's a tackler in space. Several people have compared him to former Penn State and current Dallas Cowboys defensive star Micah Parsons, as Nagy noted.
He's already carving his own name in the SEC.
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State Running Back
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Penn State has been a picture of mediocrity the past couple of years for a lot of reasons.
Perhaps the primary one is the Nittany Lions didn't have enough offensive playmakers. The ground game, in particular, has been putrid.
Enter Nicholas Singleton, who's making that issue look like a thing of the past.
The 6'0", 219-pound Pennsylvania native was the country's top-rated running back and a 5-star in last year's class, and he is proving why.
Simply put, he's elite, and Singleton could become the country's top runner sooner rather than later.
He has 376 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries and is averaging 9.0 yards per attempt. Between pedestrian games against Purdue and Central Michigan, Singleton torched Auburn and Ohio for a combined 303 yards and four scores.
Pair him with classmate Kaytron Allen (who also could be on this list), and you've got two backfield dynamos. Allen already has 217 yards, three scores and a 6.0-per-carry average and was the team's leading rusher against Central Michigan this past week.
Franklin told reporters recently:
"No I have not seen two guys have this kind of success [early] in their careers. We were pretty excited obviously signing them and we were pretty excited once they got on campus, because recruiting is wonderful but you never truly know until they show up on campus. Then they kept making plays and doing things."
Malaki Starks, Georgia Safety
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Arguably the most talented true freshman defender in the country is helping the nation's top-ranked team reload on defense.
The national champion Georgia Bulldogs lost eight defenders to this year's NFL draft, including a record five in the first round. If you're asking, "How do you replace production like that?" the answer so far for coach Kirby Smart and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp hasn't been a problem.
Guys like Malaki Starks help immensely.
The 6'1", 205-pound Jefferson, Georgia, safety was a top athlete and a 5-star prospect coming out of high school (No. 19 overall).
He's slotted into the back end of Georgia's defense and become a superstar, intercepting two passes in four games. It took him all of two contests to earn his first start.
“Malaki needs all the football he can play,” Smart said, according to Dawg Nation's Connor Riley. “He still hasn’t seen everything, done everything. Tremendous talent and continues to stay level-headed and work really hard.”
Starks also has 17 tackles and two pass deflections and is all around the football. While "ball hawk" may be a cliche, he is in on play after play after play. He pops on film, has elite athleticism and is the type of playmaker you can't keep off the field.
He'll be a force in the Dawgs secondary for years before heading to the NFL.
AJ Swann, Vanderbilt Quarterback
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At Vanderbilt, good quarterbacks are extremely difficult to find.
The Commodores had one way back when with Jay Cutler, and then had Kyle Shurmur a couple of years ago. That's pretty much the list of impact guys at the perennial SEC cellar-dweller.
This year, it looks like second-year coach Clark Lea has found a potential star in AJ Swann.
The 6'3", 225-pound signal-caller from Georgia surprised many when, as a 4-star prospect, he pledged to the Commodores. He was the nation's No. 23 quarterback and had offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland, Colorado and others.
He originally committed to the Terps but backed off. Lea is thankful he did, as he overtook Mike Wright recently.
Swann has 567 passing yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions and has been the primary quarterback through the past two games. Though he was humbled a bit against Alabama, completing just 50 percent of his passes for 115 yards and no touchdowns, he was dynamite before that.
Swann saw his first lengthy action against Wake Forest and tossed a couple of touchdowns, and then he was great in a win over Northern Illinois. Will his success continue through a grueling SEC slate, or will the struggles he saw against Alabama be the norm?
It's probably somewhere in the middle. Swann has a lot of talent and can spin it, but the Commodores don't have great support around him. This year is probably going to be a work in progress for the entire team, but Lea has a building block around which to lay the foundation of his program.
All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference. Player rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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