B/R Recruiting: Underrated Commits Who Could Play Key Roles for 2023 Title Contenders
It's never easy rolling the dice on which unexpected players are going to provide quality depth or star power right away out of high school.
Things get even dicier when talking about doing it for good teams, too.
Yet there are always recruits who step into college and right onto the field, even for the best teams in college football. So, who will they be from the 2023 recruiting class?
The players on the following slides are ranked outside of the 247Sports composite top 250 prospects in the nation, but they are heading to quality teams that could be competing for the College Football Playoff or at least conference title games a year from now.
Not all contenders are accounted for on this list because some don't have impact commits who fit the criteria (such as Alabama and Georgia, which claimed many of the commits inside the top 250).
No matter how these players are rated, there's something about their games that makes them stand out and gives them the potential to play an impact role right away, especially if they're stepping into a favorable situation.
Here are some underrated players who could play key roles for title contenders a year from now.
Note: Slides refer to prospects as playing for the programs to which they are committed; verbal commitments are non-binding, and none of the listed players have signed scholarship papers.
Semaj Bridgeman, Michigan Wolverines Linebacker
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Considering the Michigan Wolverines made it to last year's College Football Playoff and are riding an undefeated record again this year, you'd think they'd be tearing it up on the recruiting trail.
For whatever reason, though, coach Jim Harbaugh's team hasn't been as hot as you'd expect, ranking 24th nationally. It's a top-heavy class, too.
But mining far into the ranks for guys who could be difference-makers next year, even on a defense as salty as Michigan's, the pendulum stops on linebacker Semaj Bridgeman, a 6'2", 230-pound linebacker from Philadelphia who had offers from all over the country.
He's the nation's No. 22-ranked linebacker and the 297th-rated player overall, so while he is still a 4-star prospect, he isn't as highly regarded as a lot of the big-name guys.
There could be available snaps with Wolverines 'backers like Michael Barrett and Mike Morris potentially heading out, and while nobody in Ann Arbor expects a true freshman to step in and anchor the defense, Bridgeman has a nice skill set.
He's big, strong and moves well sideline-to-sideline. He may be able to step in and provide quality stats right away as well as some key depth for a Wolverines team that doesn't really have a lot of elite prospects committed yet in this class.
Cameron Cook, TCU Horned Frogs Running Back
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Kendre Miller showed plenty of flashes of being a great player during his first two seasons. This year, though, the junior TCU running back is a superstar and one of the primary catalysts to the Horned Frogs' undefeated resurgence.
A season like this could wind up in Miller opting for the NFL draft, and that's exactly where he should go. If that happens, carries will be up for grabs in Fort Worth. Emari Demercado is a senior, too, so they are going to be reloading that room.
One of the biggest pledges in TCU's recruiting class could help right away. That's Cameron Cook, a 5'10", 180-pound Round Rock, Texas, native who has some explosion when he touches the ball.
Is Cook big and developed enough yet to be an every-down back? No, but he likely won't be asked to shoulder that load during his first season playing for Sonny Dykes. Junior Emani Bailey is the only non-senior runner besides Miller to have more than 100 rushing yards this year.
TCU likely will be an attractive destination for a transfer-portal running back. However, with Cook's athleticism and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, Dykes could deploy him to not only can help them win games, but also show recruits he isn't afraid to utilize youngsters.
This could be a win-win situation for Cook and the Frogs.
Maliki Crawford, USC Trojans Cornerback
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There's no question the USC Trojans are young and talented on the back end of the defense, especially at safety. But while coach Lincoln Riley's team has made major strides in getting back to into the national spotlight in his first season, there are still holes.
Pass defense is definitely one of them, as the Trojans are ranked outside the top 100 nationally.
Any talented defensive back should be able to come into Los Angeles and carve out some significant snaps if they prove they're elite. While guys like Ceyair Wright and Domani Jackson are the future, there could be other rotational players in the 2023 class.
Maliki Crawford is an extremely intriguing prospect who could find a role at cornerback or safety for the Trojans. At a shade under 6'4" and 180 pounds, the Oxnard, California, prospect is a tall defender who has nice athletic ability, physicality and elite length and wingspan.
He wasn't a prospect everybody around the nation circled, either, as he ranks No. 325 in the nation overall and is the 33rd-rated cornerback. Yet, he still landed at a destination school, and he's a unique, tantalizing prospect at his position.
If things click quickly, he could take off.
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Cooper Flanagan, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Tight End
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have produced a bunch of quality tight ends over the past several years, and they probably have the top prospect at the position in the upcoming NFL draft with elite pass-catcher Michael Mayer.
He's as good as they come, and it's going to be tough for the Irish to replace him.
One super-talented prospect who could help fill the void is Cooper Flanagan. The 6'5", 228-pound tight end hails from Concord, California, where he plays for longtime powerhouse De La Salle High School. That program has churned out tons of Division I prospects, and Flanagan may be the next great one.
Teams from around the country like Alabama, LSU, Miami, USC and others extended offers to Flanagan, but he stuck with the Irish through a tough start, and he is poised to be a big piece of coach Marcus Freeman's future, maybe as early as 2023.
Flanagan is the nation's No. 258 overall player and the 14th-rated tight end. Though he's not an explosive pass-catcher, Flanagan is a great route runner, very smart and is powerful enough to get some yards after the catch.
Most importantly, he's already a tough, physical blocker that will benefit him carving out an early role in South Bend where no tight end besides Mayer has more than four catches this season.
Ronan Hanafin, Clemson Tigers Wide Receiver
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The Clemson Tigers need a "Help Wanted" sign flashing over any offensive skill positions. They simply haven't trotted out enough difference-makers on that side of the ball the past two years to be a national title contender.
While guys like Antonio Williams and Beaux Collins look like wide receiver weapons for at least the next couple of years, the Tigers need gamers out there and several more talented playmakers.
The problem is they don't seem to be striking gold with high-level, marquee players at the position. But that doesn't mean the cupboard is empty. While Noble Johnson is listed as a receiver in the 247Sports rankings, athlete Ronan Hanafin is going to start out at the position, too.
Hanafin hails from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he plays at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. The 6'3", 210-pound athlete could play linebacker, safety or wide receiver on the next level, but the Tigers like him as a pass-catcher.
He is fast, athletic and is a twitchy athlete who actually could play at 225 pounds and not lose much. Hanafin had offers from everywhere including Notre Dame and Alabama, so he's a major pull for coach Dabo Swinney. Look for him to contribute right away.
Cedrick Hawkins, Ohio State Buckeyes Safety
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The Ohio State Buckeyes aren't afraid to play freshmen, and they are trying to rekindle the ingredients on the back end of the defense that routinely churned out first-round talent under former coach Urban Meyer.
This week, they had four freshmen (either redshirts or true) in the two-deep for the game against Maryland. On one hand, it means coach Ryan Day's team is young, especially at that position. On the other, it proves he isn't scared to play guys who earn it, no matter their age.
One such player who could get valuable reps in his first season in Columbus next year is 4-star Florida native Cedrick Hawkins, a 6'0", 175-pound ball-hawking safety from Cocoa High School in Titusville.
While he probably projects as a safety, Hawkins has the athleticism and speed to play nickelback, as well. He was a mass-producer for one of the best 4A programs in one of the best states to play high school football, and he had a big offer sheet.
Hawkins is the No. 255-ranked overall player and the 21st-rated safety, but while he needs to add a little weight to be a physical enforcer, there are a lot of things he can do.
At least expect him to play on special teams, and the guess here is he is able to do a lot more.
Trey Holly, LSU Tigers Running Back
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People have been doubting Trey Holly for years.
The running back from Farmerville, Louisiana, and Union Parish High School is only 5'8", 180 pounds, and that lack of elite size is a chief reason why he wasn't rated higher than the No. 273-ranked overall player and the 16th-rated running back in the nation.
But Holly is a straight-up winner, and he is the type of player you want on your team. Just how productive is he? He's been playing high school football since his eighth grade year and was voted Most Outstanding Player in Louisiana for the 2021 3A state championship game.
He finished his career as the state's all-time rushing leader. That's amazing for a state that churns out elite talent year after year.
Unbelievably, he already has nearly 10,000 career rushing yards and broke the all-time record way back in September.
While coach Brian Kelly's Tigers have a commitment from Baton Rouge runner Kaleb Jackson, who is more highly rated, look for Holly to find the field first. He's a small, speedy back who can be a special teams dynamo, catch the ball out of the backfield and do it all.
This is the perfect player for Kelly to move around in space as a first-year player for his home-state school.
Kaveion Keys, North Carolina Tar Heels Linebacker
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North Carolina is currently in a battle to keep its top-rated linebacker commitment, as Kaveion Keys is courted by Penn State, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Florida.
If the 6'3", 205-pound ultra-athletic second-level defender elects to play his college days in Chapel Hill, he's the kind of player who can help coach Mack Brown and defensive coordinator Gene Chizik turn around a porous defense quicker.
Keys hails from Richmond, Virginia, which is in fairly close proximity to UNC, so the Tar Heels have that working for them. But PSU's James Franklin has a propensity to pull recruits from the Commonwealth, too. So, he's one to watch.
The way coach Billy Napier's Gators are hot on the trail, they're worth watching, too.
But Keys is a coup, no matter where he goes. If Brown can get him to stick, he could add 20 or 25 pounds and still be an elite sideline-to-sideline linebacker who is nearly impossible to keep off the field.
His closing speed to ball-carriers is elite, and while he isn't the biggest linebacker who can fight off blocks, he will be much bigger and equipped to handle every down once he gets in a college strength and conditioning program.
This is going to be one to watch, but if Keys makes it onto campus, he's the type of defender North Carolina needs.
Blake Purchase, Oregon Ducks EDGE/Linebacker
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The Oregon Ducks are going to have to inject some defensive reinforcements next year in coach Dan Lanning's second season. With all the offensive firepower they have in Eugene, you know the defensive-minded Lanning wants to rebuild the defense the right way.
Getting athletes like Blake Purchase will help.
The 6'2.5", 240-pound edge-rusher is athletic enough to stand up and rush from the second level and play outside linebacker, too. While he isn't as athletic as Kayvon Thibodeaux, he will give the Ducks the twitchiest athlete at that position they've had since then.
He is a heat-seeking missile off the edge, and I believe his lack of competition in Englewood, Colorado, where he is the top-rated player in that state, keeps his ranking lower than it should be at No. 288 and the 32nd-rated edge-rusher.
Purchase is a highly productive player statistically and is versatile enough to play even at 265 pounds, so he not only has the speed to contribute right away from the edge, but also the long-term versatility to change his body and be a force all along either level.
This is one of the biggest sleepers of the class, and Purchase is going to make the Ducks quite happy—maybe as quickly as next season.
Shamurad Umarov, Tennessee Volunteers Offensive Lineman
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The Tennessee Volunteers have enjoyed one of the biggest surprise seasons in college football. Despite an upset loss to South Carolina this weekend and starting quarterback Hendon Hooker's ACL injury, the program is headed in the right direction.
An underrated reason for coach Josh Heupel's second-year surge and the offense's domination is the offensive line, which has grown leaps and bounds over the past year and is in the final nine for the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the nation's top unit.
The Vols likely will lose a couple of players off the offensive front in the offseason with Jerome Carvin out of eligibility and Darnell Wright having NFL aspirations, opening opportunity along the line. Enter Shamurad Umarov, who goes by "Sham."
The 6'6", 335-pound lineman who lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, has a father who was born in Kazakhstan and mother born in Uzbekistan. He is big, powerful and versatile and could play on the outside or the interior, and he is already built like a college-ready lineman.
That's why teams like Georgia, Michigan State and several others wanted him.
Tennessee has several options for this list like linebacker Jalen Smith and cornerback Rickey Gibson, who are guys who could play immediately in Neyland Stadium. But Umarov is prepared physically to step in and take on a big-time demanding role.
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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