Ranking Top 25 Recruiting Classes Heading into 2023 Early Signing Period

Later this week, some of the nation's top high school football players will make their college commitments official during the official Early Signing Period, with the early window for players to make their verbal commitments official running from Dec. 20-22.

It's a chance for some of the nation's top uncommitted recruits to make their decision, and also a source of some potential drama as there will inevitably be a handful of longtime commitments that are backed out of in favor of a new landing spot.

That exact thing happened on Monday when 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipped from Georgia to Nebraska, and while that might end up being the biggest flip of the early signing period, it won't be the last.

Ahead we've provided a quick overview of the top 25 recruiting classes entering the early signing period, based on the composite rankings from 247sports and the following simple point system:

• 5-star: 10 points
• 4-star: 4 points
• 3-star: 1 point

It's a slightly more straightforward way to look at the top classes as opposed to the more in-depth point system used at 247sports, but it will serve the purpose of showing a snapshot of the current recruiting landscape.

Nos. 25-21

25. Wisconsin Badgers

Class Size: 20 (7 4-star, 13 3-star)

Top Recruit: RB Dillin Jones (4-star, No. 158 overall)

The Badgers may have found their next standout running back in Dillin Jones who rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns for Our Lady Good Counsel High School out of the stacked WCAC conference. They have also landed a pair of massive 4-star offensive linemen in Kevin Heywood (6'7", 290 pounds) and Emerson Mandell (6'5", 295 pounds).

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24. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Class Size: 21 (1 5-star, 5 4-star, 14 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Micah Hudson (5-star, No. 7 overall)

The third-ranked wide receiver in this recruiting cycle and one of the top 20 players overall in this class, Micah Hudson has big-play potential and has drawn comparisons to New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Their recruiting haul also includes 4-star Will Hammond who is the No. 15 quarterback in the 2024 class.

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23. UCF Knights

Class Size: 19 (9 4-star, 10 3-star)

Top Recruit: CB Jaylen Hayward (4-star, No. 201 overall)

The Knights have made a significant move up the recruiting rankings after finishing with the No. 50 class in 2023. Their move to a Power Five conference has no doubt helped, but Gus Malzahn has always been a strong recruiter going back to his days at Auburn. Their class includes a pair of 4-star running backs in Stacy Gage (No. 28 RB) and Frankie Arthur (No. 32 RB).

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22. North Carolina Tar Heels

Class Size: 27 (8 4-star, 19 3-star)

Top Recruit: S Malcolm Ziglar (4-star, No. 166 overall)

The Tar Heels top recruit is safety Malcolm Ziglar, but looking at the 2024 class as a whole they have done a great job restocking the offensive skill positions with wide receivers Jordan Shipp (4-star, No. 36 WR) and Alex Taylor (4-star, No. 59 WR), as well as running back Davion Gause (4-star, No. 30 RB).

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21. Ole Miss Rebels

Class Size: 21 (11 4-star, 9 3-star)

Top Recruit: DL Kamarion Franklin (4-star, No. 52 overall)

The Rebels currently have the nation's No. 1-ranked transfer class, so the fact that they also check in with a top-25 recruiting class is a testament to the work going on behind the scenes in Oxford. They have also secured the nation's top JUCO prospect in wide receiver Deion Smith out of Holmes Community College in Mississippi.

Nos. 20-16

20. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Class Size: 26 (1 5-star, 7 4-star, 18 3-star)

Top Recruit: QB Dylan Raiola (5-star, No. 6 overall)

The Cornhuskers made waves on Monday when they flipped 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola from a commitment to Georgia, and he immediately becomes the face of their program. Matt Rhule has also done a nice job mining the Midwest for talent with a class that includes the top Nebraska prospect in tight end Carter Nelson (No. 4 TE, No. 61 overall) and the top Iowa prospect in offensive tackle Grant Brix (No. 5 OT, No. 78 overall).

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19. USC Trojans

Class Size: 21 (13 4-star, 8 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Xavier Jordan (4-star, No. 67 overall)

The Trojans are poised to add two of the best wide receivers of the 2024 class in Xavier Jordan (4-star, No. 15 WR) and Ryan Pellum (4-star, No. 19 WR) who are both top 100 recruits nationally. Those two along with cornerback Marcelles Williams (4-star, No. 9 CB) are three of the top 11 players out of the state of California.

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18. South Carolina Gamecocks

Class Size: 17 (2 5-star, 9 4-star, 5 3-star)

Top Recruit: EDGE Dylan Stewart (5-star, No. 17 overall)

The Gamecocks' class is headlined by a pair of 5-star recruits in Washington D.C. area edge rusher Dylan Stewart (6'5", 235 pounds) and offensive lineman Josiah Thompson (6'6" 280 pounds) who is the top-ranked prospect in South Carolina. Stewart also took visits to Georgia, Miami and Ohio State before committing in August.

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17. Texas A&M Aggies

Class Size: 14 (2 5-star, 11 4-star, 1 3-star)

Top Recruit: CB Terry Bussey (5-star, No. 19 overall)

The Texas A&M recruiting class is very much up in the air after head coach Jimbo FIsher was fired last month and replaced by Duke head coach Mike Elko. Other schools have been pushing hard to flip the commitment of 5-star cornerback Terry Bussey and it remains to be seen how many of the 14 commits still tied to the Aggies will actually sign. Expect this ranking to shift in the coming days.

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16. Clemson Tigers

Class Size: 18 (2 5-star, 10 4-star, 6 3-star)

Top Recruit: LB Sammy Brown (5-star, No. 16 overall)

Linebacker Sammy Brown (5-star, No. 2 LB) and wide receiver Bryant Wesco (5-star, No. 6 WR) are the top additions for the Tigers following a disappointing 2023 season. The offense also stands to add wide receiver TJ Moore (4-star, No. 18 WR) and tight end Christian Bentancur (4-star, No. 7 TE), though defense is the strength of Clemson's 2024 class top-to-bottom.

Nos. 15-11

15. Miami Hurricanes

Class Size: 26 (1 5-star, 11 4-star, 14 3-star)

Top Recruit: DL Justin Scott (5-star, No. 15 overall)

Imposing 6'4", 310-pound defensive lineman Justin Scott (5-star, No. 3 DL) is the top pickup in a Hurricanes recruiting class that also features three 4-star edge rushers and two 4-star defensive linemen. Upgrading the defense at the point of attack was a clear priority for head coach Mario Cristobal.

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14. Florida Gators

Class Size: 19 (2 5-star, 11 4-star, 6 3-star)

Top Recruit: QB DJ Lagway (5-star, No. 10 overall)

The Gators have seven players ranked among the top 100 recruits in the 2024 class, and outside of quarterback DJ Lagway (5-star, No. 3 QB) and tight end Amir Jackson (4-star, No. 8 TE) they are all defensive players. Defensive lineman LJ McCray is their other 5-star recruit, though he will likely need some time to grow into his 6'6", 260-pound frame.

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13. Tennessee Volunteers

Class Size: 20 (2 5-star, 11 4-star, 7 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Mike Matthews (5-star, No. 20 overall)

Wide receiver Mike Matthews (5-star, No. 5 WR) and quarterback Jake Merklinger (4-star, No. 10 QB) could make some serious noise for the Volunteers in a few years. Meanwhile, cornerback Jordan Ross (5-star, No. 3 EDGE) is one of the best players out of Alabama this recruiting cycle and he picked Tennessee after also visiting Florida, Georgia and Texas.

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12. Auburn Tigers

Class Size: 20 (2 5-star, 12 4-star, 6 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Cam Coleman (5-star, No. 4 overall)

Earlier this month, the Tigers picked up a commitment from wide receiver Cam Coleman (5-star, No. 2 WR) who joins Perry Thompson (5-star, No. 10 WR) to give the team a pair of dynamic incoming pass catchers. Coleman flipped from a Texas A&M commitment after Jimbo Fisher was fired, and he should be an immediate in the passing game with his impressive combination of size, speed and ball skills.

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11. Penn State Nittany Lions

Class Size: 25 (17 4-star, 8 3-star)

Top Recruit: RB Quinton Martin (4-star, No. 56 overall)

The top five recruits for James Franklin are all on the offensive side of the ball, with running back Quinton Martin (4-star, No. 4 RB), tight end Luke Reynolds (4-star, No. 6 TE) and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (4-star, No. 8 QB) the top commits. All three of those players were early commits who chose Penn State before June 1.

Nos. 10-6

10. Michigan Wolverines

Class Size: 26 (17 4-star, 9 3-star)

Top Recruit: RB Jordan Marshall (4-star, No. 83 overall)

Running back Jordan Marshall (No. 6 RB), quarterback Jadyn Davis (No. 7 QB) and potential left tackle Andrew Sprague (No. 8 OT) could help give the Wolverines a reset at a trio of key positions in a couple years. They only have two top 100 recruits, but have done a great job piling up 4-star talents with impact upside.

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9. Oregon Ducks

Class Size: 23 (18 4-star, 5 3-star)

Top Recruit: EDGE Elijah Rushing (4-star, No. 37 overall)

Oregon may not have a 5-star recruit in their 2024 class, but only Georgia (20) has more 4-star commitments than the 19 the Ducks have secured. Edge rusher Elijah Rushing (No. 4 EDGE), defensive lineman Aydin Breland (No. 9 DL), safety Aaron Flowers (No. 7 S) and cornerback Dakota Fields (No. 7 CB) are the team's top four recruits as defensive-minded head coach Dan Lanning continues to put his stamp on the program.

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8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Class Size: 23 (1 5-star, 15 4-star, 7 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Cam Williams (5-star, No. 29 overall)

Wide receiver Cam Williams (5-star, No. 9 WR) out of Illinois and quarterback CJ Carr (4-star, No. 6 QB) out of Michigan were two of the better offensive prospects in the Midwest, so props to the Fighting Irish for keeping them close to home. Their top 16 recruits are from 11 different states, showcasing the program's national reach.

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7. LSU Tigers

Class Size: 27 (18 4-star, 9 3-star)

Top Recruit: TE Trey'Dez Green (4-star, No. 44 overall)

Few 2024 recruits offer as much long-term offensive upside as Trey'Dez Green who has a 6'6.5", 225-pound frame, who could legitimately be used as a wide receiver given his elite athleticism and ability to create separation. Regardless of how he is utilized, he can be an immediate weapon in Baton Rouge.

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6. Florida State Seminoles

Class Size: 23 (2 5-star, 15 4-star, 6 3-star)

Top Recruit: S KJ Bolden (5-star, No. 14 overall)

The Seminoles are poised to reel in a top-10 recruiting class for the first time since 2017 when 5-star running back Cam Akers headlined a class that finished No. 6 in the composite rankings. Safety KJ Bolden (5-star, No. 1 S), edge rusher Armondo Blount (No. 4 EDGE) and cornerback Charles Lester III (4-star, No. 3 CB) are all top 50 recruits in the 2024 class, while Luke Kromenhoek (4-star, No. 5 QB) could be the quarterback of the future in Tallahassee.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Class Size: 21 (3 5-star, 13 4-star, 5 3-star)

Top Recruit: QB Julian Sayin (5-star, No. 5 overall)

The Crimson Tide class includes the nation's top quarterback Julian Sayin (No. 5 overall), top cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 18 overall) and top interior offensive lineman Casey Poe (No. 85 overall).

Wide receiver Ryan Williams (No. 12 overall), tight end Caleb Odom (No. 47 overall) and cornerback Zabien Brown (No. 62 overall) also rank among the top five at their respective positions. Other teams have deeper classes, but they stack up to anyone in terms of top-end talent.

4. Oklahoma Sooners

Class Size: 28 (1 5-star, 18 4-star, 9 3-star)

Top Recruit: DL David Stone (5-star, No. 9 overall)

There may be only one 5-star recruit in the Oklahoma Sooners recruiting class, but Brent Venables has done an excellent job stockpiling talent with 20 players ranked in the top 500 nationally.

IMG Academy standout David Stone is their top recruit and a top 10 player overall in the 2024 class, and he moves better than his 6'4", 275-pound frame might suggest. How he grows into his frame will determine his future position, but he checks all the boxes to be a disruptive force along the defensive line.

3. Texas Longhorns

Class Size: 22 (4 5-star, 15 4-star, 3 3-star)

Top Recruit: LB Colin Simmons (5-star, No. 13 overall)

The Texas Longhorns secured a commitment from 5-star safety Xavier Filsaime (No. 32 overall, No. 2 S) on Monday to vault them to the No. 3 spot in these rankings and tie them for second in the recruiting cycle with four 5-star recruits.

Linebacker Colin Simmons (No. 13 overall, No. 1 LB), wide receiver Ryan Wingo (No. 24 overall, No. 8 WR) and offensive tackle Brandon Baker (No. 25 overall, No. 2 OT) round out the rest of their elite-level recruits.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Class Size: 23 (5 5-star, 13 4-star, 4 3-star)

Top Recruit: WR Jeremiah Smith (5-star, No. 1 overall)

The Ohio State Buckeyes lead the 2024 recruiting cycle with five 5-star recruits, including the top overall player in the class in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The 6'3", 198-pound Florida prep standout tallied 177 catches for 3,116 yards and 46 touchdowns in three seasons, according to 247Sports.

Fellow 5-star wideout Mylan Graham (No. 23 overall, No. 7 WR) will join him in keeping the elite Ohio State wide receiver pipeline alive and well, while quarterback Air Noland (5-star, No. 4 QB) could be the one throwing them the ball if he develops as hoped.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Class Size: 28 (4 5-star, 20 4-star, 4 3-star)

Top Recruit: CB Ellis Robinson IV (5-star, No. 3 overall)

Even after 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipped to Nebraska on Monday, the Georgia Bulldogs still have the nation's best recruiting class.

They have secured commitments from 18 players ranked in the top 200 nationally, led by IMG Academy cornerback Ellis Robinson IV (No. 3 overall) and linebacker Justin Williams (No. 8 overall) who are among the nation's top 10 overall.

They also still have a 4-star quarterback recruit in Ryan Puglisi (No. 9 QB), which helps ease the loss of Raiola a bit.