National Signing Day 2023: Predictions for Top Recruits Before CFP Championship

The college football world will be locked onto Monday's championship clash between the TCU Horned Frogs and Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

However, as the confetti is swept up and celebrations subside, headlines will shift to February's national signing day.

Heading into the traditional signing window, three 5-stars—Duce Robinson, Nyckoles Harbor and Cormani McClain—remain on the board. We're looking ahead to where each prospect may land.

One of the potential champions is heavily involved for one of the premier talents, too.

Duce Robinson, TE

The early signing period is a chaotic time, particularly for prospects who might not be guaranteed a scholarship at a certain program if they wait until February.

On the other hand, elite talents can be methodical. Duce Robinson has embraced that mindset.

"I'm not an early grad so there's never been a rush," he recently told Greg Biggins of 247Sports. "The coaching carousel is pretty crazy and if a coach were to leave, it would affect my recruitment so that's why I want to wait this out."

His primary contenders—Georgia, Texas and USC—are each relatively stable on that front. It's possible UGA deals with personnel changes after the national championship, but head coach Kirby Smart certainly isn't leaving and position coach Todd Hartley seems unlikely to depart.

Given its development of All-American tight end Brock Bowers and former top prospect Darnell Washington, Georgia is a deserving front-runner in the chase for Robinson.

Prediction: Georgia

Nyckoles Harbor, ATH

Nyckoles Harbor has a fascinating recruitment.

Capable of playing on either side of the ball, he's a coveted two-way prospect. He is a promising tight end, yet he's also a tantalizing edge-rusher. It's a great problem for his eventual college destination.

For now, though, the latter part is even more uncertain. Maryland, Michigan and South Carolina are solidly in the hunt, and Oregon is scheduled to bring him in for an official visit in January. It's possible either Miami or LSU is a late riser, but Harbor has a single OV remaining and would need to make an unofficial trip to those programs.

Maryland has stood out as a prime contender for the Washington D.C.-area product. Throw in the uncertainty around Jim Harbaugh's future in Ann Arbor, and the Terps have a strong chance to snag Harbor.

Prediction: Maryland

Cormani McClain, CB

Back in October, cornerback Cormani McClain shocked the recruiting universe. The nation's top-rated non-quarterback picked Miami over heavily favored Florida, as well as Alabama.

However, he didn't sign in December.

Miami may remain optimistic about keeping McClain. Nevertheless, there is a growing suspicion that new Colorado coach Deion Sanders—who shockingly flipped Travis Hunter from Florida State late in the 2022 recruiting cycle—might do it again here.

While at the Under Armour All-America Game, McClain told Matt Schick of ESPN that he plans to sign on Jan. 15 and is only considering Miami (h/t Marcus Benjamin of Rivals). He is, without a doubt, saying the right things.

Maybe he really is telling the truth, but recruiting sagas of this nature have a habit of leading away from a verbal pledge.

Prediction: Colorado