B/R CFB Recruiting: Top 11 Uncommitted Instant-Impact Recruits Flying Under the Radar
While college football teams either look to position themselves for the postseason or focus on the future, recruiting is in its final stages before December's early signing period.
Everybody knows the hot battles at the top of the rankings. But there are plenty of excellent players in the 3- and 4-star groupings who may be outside the 247Sports composite's top 250 prospects but are still good enough to carve an immediate role.
A handful of those are uncommitted, and that's who we're here to examine.
Johnny Bowens, Defensive Tackle (Judson HS), Converse, Texas
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Anytime a potentially elite defensive tackle is available at this stage of the recruiting game, you've got to realize the competition is hot and heavy.
That's the case for Johnny Bowens, who is back on the market after decommitting from a Texas A&M team having a horrific season.
While coach Jimbo Fisher's Aggies are still in the mix for the 6'3", 265-pound Converse, Texas, native who is the nation's No. 295 overall prospect, Bowens could wind up far from the Lone Star State.
Of course, the Longhorns and Aggies remain in the final three, so he's a safe bet to play close to home, but Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks are coming on strong too. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports recently noted Bowens is expected to commit to his school of choice on Thanksgiving.
Bowens' only Crystal Ball projection on his 247Sports profile has him rejoining Texas A&M, the school from which he backed off his pledge in June. Texas is hot on the trail, so you can't count out the Longhorns either.
Whoever lands Bowens will get a defensive tackle who's better than his ranking and could carve out a role early. But if it's the Aggies, he'll have to wade through all those 5-star linemen from 2022's class.
Arion Carter, Linebacker (Smyrna HS), Smyrna, Tennessee
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Arion Carter is a late-blooming, fast-rising prospect who had an explosive senior season at Smyrna High School in Tennessee and hit everyone's radar.
The 6'1", 210-pound second-level defender decommitted from Memphis on Wednesday and is an explosive sideline-to-sideline 'backer who excelled as a running back but is almost certain to play defense.
247Sports' Steve Wiltfong wrote recently following Carter's official visit to Ohio State that the linebacker is focusing on and will visit four schools.
He will head to Michigan next to check on the Wolverines, followed by Alabama, which is the favorite on the 247Sports composite rankings. The home-state Tennessee Vols have a lot of ties to the mid-state, though, and Carter is interested in Josh Heupel's program.
Getting the final visit on December 2 is massive for Tennessee, as the Vols desperately need another linebacker in the '23 class.
It will be a heated battle to land Carter, who surged up the rankings and is the No. 317 overall prospect. His late interest list shows many teams believe he's much better than that.
Nathan Efobi, Guard (South Forsyth HS), Cumming, Georgia
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It's super difficult to step onto a major college campus and be a key part of an offensive line. That's even tougher at a place such as Michigan, where the Wolverines have a lot of quality players on one of the nation's best units.
Still, head coach Jim Harbaugh wouldn't be after Nathan Efobi if he didn't think he was good enough to contribute soon.
The Wolverines are the favorites for the Cumming, Georgia, native, and the 6'3½", 282-pound guard prospect is a better player than his rating, which pegs him as the nation's No. 463 overall recruit and a 3-star prospect. Development is a big reason.
“Watching the offensive line has been incredible,” Efobi told Michigan Insider Brice Marich of the Wolverines' unit. “They really have been showing out.”
Efobi has offers from Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Penn State, and others, but he told Marich the Wolverines are out front. You have to think he could commit soon since there aren't really a lot of other teams hot on his trail that he's mentioned in recent reports.
The Wolverines could get a steal, but the Hurricanes have been a player recently with Mario Cristobal coaching and NIL money flowing in Coral Gables, so you can't discount them.
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Malik Elzy, Wide Receiver (Simeon HS), Chicago
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When you think of recruiting in Chicagoland, football doesn't come to mind. That's a basketball hotbed, but the city does produce elite talent from time to time, and one of cycle's most underrated players hails from the Windy City.
I was extremely high on Malik Elzy early in the recruiting process, and he's still an absolute playmaker who rejoined the board after he backed off his pledge to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
He's a big, fast, explosive pass-catcher who can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands and would've dominated the AAC.
The big beneficiary of his rethinking could be the home-state Illinois Fighting Illini. Though they have cooled a bit from their hot start and fell back into a race in the Big Ten West, what coach Bret Bielema has done in Champaign in just two years is remarkable.
Elzy and guys like him obviously are taking notice.
The 6'3", 198-pound receiver is the No. 299 prospect in the class and a 4-star player. The Illini hold 100 percent of his Crystal Ball projections. Rivals' Adam Gorney said Tennessee, Oregon and Ole Miss could get involved, but it's looking good for the Illini.
Randon Fontenette, Safety (Brazosport HS), Freeport, Texas
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When you turn heads on the field, chances are a bit of a recruiting surge is not far behind.
That's something TCU fans and first-year coach Sonny Dykes are hoping for following an unbelievable season that has the Horned Frogs sitting fourth in the College Football Playoff standings and coming off a win at Texas.
Right now, the Frogs are the program with the most flex in the Lone Star State, and while Dykes' focus is likely on the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he'll extend that arm as far as it will go.
One place it may reach is the Gulf of Mexico beachside city of Freeport, Texas. That's where star safety Randon Fontenette resides, and with his recent decommitment from the Utah Utes, the vibes seem in TCU's favor.
The 6'1", 189-pound defensive back is a 4-star prospect, the No. 314 player and 32nd-rated safety and was going to be a key part of the Utes' class and maybe the only safety coach Kyle Whittingham took.
Instead, Fontenette is focusing on TCU and Vanderbilt, according to Rivals' Adam Gorney, and looks like he could stay in-state, "It certainly has not hurt TCU’s chances with the in-state prospect that it has been playing so well this season and some signs point to the Horned Frogs being the main player for the 4-star prospect."
That would be a big, late pull for Dykes.
Christopher Johnson, Running Back (Dillard HS), Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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When you've got Road Runner-type speed, you're normally a coveted prospect and coaches look for ways to get you involved in the game plan early.
Just look at true freshmen Raleek Brown (USC), Barion Brown (Kentucky) and Squirrel White (Tennessee). Those guys may not be ready to be every-down players, but the coaches know when they turn on the afterburners, it's game over.
A player such as Texas A&M receiver Evan Stewart is an immediate-impact player, chiefly because of speed.
This year, the fastest '23 recruit in Florida remains uncommitted, but running back Christopher Johnson of Fort Lauderdale has plenty of suitors. The 5'11", 178-pound runner is the defending Florida Class 3A 100- and 200-meter dash champion, and teams around the country want to utilize his speed in a huge way.
It looks like Miami, Ole Miss and perhaps Penn State (where an official visit is reportedly in the works, according to 247Sports' Tyler Calvaruso) are the front-runners for his services, and others such as Clemson and Alabama have reported offers.
Johnson needs to add upper-body strength to be an every-down back in the Power Five, but he's exactly the type of player who can have special plays designed for him right away. Going to play for a coach such as Lane Kiffin in Oxford would be a benefit for him if he wants immediate reps.
Miami is the heavy Crystal Ball favorite to land him, but the Rebels are in the mix too. Whoever gets him will have a game-breaking guy.
Jamel Johnson, Safety (Seguin HS), Arlington, Texas
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Jamel Johnson has been set to stay home and play for the Texas Longhorns since November 2021.
But that changed recently when the 6'1", 185-pound playmaker decided he didn't want to be a Longhorn anymore.
Now, it looks as if he may be headed to Oxford, Mississippi, to play for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. Once he decommitted, 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball projection for Ole Miss.
The nation's 22nd-ranked safety and No. 255 recruit will be a great player for whoever lands him. He already has a college-ready body, and at more than 6 feet, he could add 15-20 pounds and still stay on the back end.
His ability to track balls, close on receivers and deliver the boom once he gets there are the type of traits every team needs, and while he projects more as an in-the-box safety, he has a lot of long-term upside.
Right away, he'll play in run scenarios and is athletic enough to get after quarterbacks off the edge. While he's maybe not the "twitchiest" player out there, Johnson is the kind of player coaches find ways to get on the field, whether it be special teams or special defensive packages.
Development is needed, sure, but Johnson is a physically ready player who looks like an SEC-caliber athlete getting off the bus.
Edwin Joseph, Athlete (Chaminade-Madonna Prep), Hollywood, Florida
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Edwin Joseph is only rated the nation's No. 449 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite ranking and a 3-star prospect.
That's too low.
On3 has him as the nation's No. 265-rated overall player and a 4-star, and that is where a player of his ilk should be. He's an explosive athlete who could play on either side of the ball but most likely projects as a receiver.
The Hollywood, Florida, native (same hometown as Marquise "Hollywood" Brown) could stay close to home and suit up for Miami, which holds 100 percent of his Crystal Ball projections.
But he has plenty of other options too.
Joseph told On3's Chad Simmons in September he expects to take multiple visits to Louisville, and he seems like a Penn State priority. Utah is another school he mentioned prominently while saying Alabama, Ohio State and Colorado were talking to him.
Miami seems like the likeliest of destinations, and if they can land him, the Hurricanes have got to feed him the ball to immediately. At 6'0", 178 pounds and with the shiftiness in space, he's a difference-maker.
Taeshawn Lyons, Wide Receiver (Tennyson HS), Hayward, California
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When you produce as much top-end talent as the state of California does, there will always be some kids who sneak up on you ability-wise.
One player who fits that mold this year is Hayward product Taeshaun Lyons, a 6'2½", 165-pound pass-catcher who needs to add 25-30 pounds but has the weaponry to make somebody extremely happy with his size, frame and skill set.
The Bay Area doesn't produce a high volume of football talent, but Lyons will have his choice of some great destinations.
Notre Dame seems like a potential front-runner for his ability, and the Fighting Irish would love to add him to an already sparkling class. According to Bruin Report, Lyons has a top eight of Arizona State, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Utah and Washington. UCLA could enter the mix too.
Lyons told Inside the U's Gaby Urrutia following his Miami visit the Hurricanes made an impression on him, and he would like to visit Washington next.
If the Irish have other players higher on their list than Smith, that opens things up. They may be filling up at wide receiver with several targets on their board, which would lead one to think the Hurricanes and Huskies become more of a threat.
It's going to be interesting to watch the close of Lyons' recruitment and how he develops once he lands. He has one of the highest upsides of any second-tier receiver who isn't discussed a lot. He's the No. 263 prospect in the nation because of potential, and production hasn't been an issue in high school.
He could become a fast riser in college.
Tyler Scott, Safety (Pebblebrook HS), Mableton, Georgia
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Speaking of rising fast, Tyler Scott's recruitment has launched into the stratosphere.
His senior film has everybody talking and, most importantly, everybody offering.
Tennessee holds the only 247Sports Crystal Ball projection for the Pebblebrook (Georgia) High School safety, but he could still go anywhere. Scott's recruitment is just getting off the ground, and he'll have some big-time opportunities.
At 6'2", 185 pounds, Scott has terrific size, and he's fast too. His top-seven would be the envy of most prospects.
Scott visited Texas on November 12 and has another official visit set up to Alabama on November 26. The rest of his schedule is still getting planned, but he'll provide the type of late-blooming, high-temperature recruiting battle we love to watch late.
The former Arkansas State commitment is back on the market, and he's no longer considering the Red Wolves. What makes him such a coveted player is his size and ability to play either safety or cornerback, the position some schools like him at most.
That type of versatility is hard to find, and somebody will get a dynamic player who's much better than his No. 630 overall ranking.
Leviticus Su'a, Linebacker (Mater Dei HS), Santa Ana, California
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When Leviticus Su'a hits running backs, he goes Old Testament on them.
He's exactly the type of run-stuffing linebacker many teams covet, and it appears the defender from prestigious Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, will make some team out West incredibly happy.
While Louisville is in the mix for his services, Su'a also favors Arizona, Stanford, UCLA and Washington. The 4-star linebacker is the nation's No. 389 player and the 34th-rated linebacker, but at 6'½", 225 pounds and possessing huge leadership intangibles, he could outperform those rankings.
According to 247Sports, Su'a "has been a captain since his sophomore year and is the heart and soul of the Monarchs defense," which is no small feat at a school that wins as many games as Mater Dei. He's excelled at a very high level.
Even if there are some recruits more athletic than him, Su'a just produces.
He's been to Arizona and Stanford, and he may visit Oregon, Washington and Louisville, according to SI.com's Max Torres. When UCLA offered, though, Su'a told 247Sports' Greg Biggins it was "big." That's local, and it may be hard to pull him away from home.
No matter where Su'a lands, he may not jump out at you physically, but the man will get tackles and impress you everywhere else. He's going to be a great college player.
All stats courtesy of cfbstats and Sports Reference. Player rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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