Top 2022 recruits electrify in track and field

While many top football recruits from the 2022 cycle were on campus this semester as early enrollees, the majority of the majority of the class was still in high school – often participating in spring sports. A significant portion of those still in high school took part in track and field this spring. Several prospects from the 2022 On300 turned in outstanding results on the track this spring.

We combed through the results in order to highlight prospects who put up impressive numbers on the track. In many cases, prospects made considerable improvements from the junior to senior years, which is often the case.

Please note that these results are strictly from this spring and do not include early enrollees.

Top 100 prospects with elite spring track results

OT Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame signee
On300 ranking: 5-star, No. 29 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 62-6 foot shot put, 156-5 foot discus

Wagner is one of the functionally stronger linemen in the 2022 cycle with natural power that belies his 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame. We saw his strength on display at the All-American Bowl back in January. Wagner showed the ability to anchor and at times stun much heavier defensive linemen. He’s also an explosive athlete who moves very well. It’s possible Wagner could post even better results given his track season is not over.

CB Jalil Tucker, Oregon signee
On300 ranking: No. 50 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.51 second 100m, 21.47 second 200m, 23-7.5 foot long jump

Tucker has a well-earned reputation as a highly athletic prospect, dating back to his freshman year, when he posted several sub-11.0-second 100 meter times. He only had a few times since then, perhaps due in part to no spring track season in 2020 in California. Tucker made up for it this year, though. He posted two 100 meter times under 10.6 seconds (at least one was wind-aided) in addition to several strong marks in the 200 meters along with a great long jump. Tucker looks like one of the more athletic cornerback prospects in the cycle.

WR Brenen Thompson, Texas signee
On300 ranking: No. 71 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.24 second 100m, 20.73 second 200m

Thompson has been considered as one of, if not the fastest prospect in the cycle for a few years. He dealt with injuries for much of 2021 (both in track and football) but was healthy enough to defend his state titles in the 100 and 200 meters. His 10.24 second time in the 100 meters would rank 5th nationally this spring while the 20.73 mark in the 200 would rank 6th.

EDGE Darris Smith, Georgia signee
On300 ranking: No. 81 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 11.12 second 100m, 21.85 second 200m, 49.17 second 400m

Darris Smith may be the freakiest jumbo athlete in the 2022 cycle. He won a state title in the 400 meters at around 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. And the 400 time may not be his most impressive feat, considering the 100 and 200 meter times at that size. Smith is a three-sport standout (also stars in basketball) and has unique dimensions with a 34.75-inch arm length. I wrote back in February that he has the physical upside to develop into a top ten pick. That remains the case, now more than ever. We ranked Smith the highest relative to the rest of the recruiting industry, but had we known he would post these types of times, he would’ve been a top 50 prospect despite still being relatively undeveloped as a pass rusher.

DL Kristopher Ross, Texas signee
On300 ranking: No. 62 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 58-10 foot shot put

Ross is one of the more athletic and powerful defensive linemen in the 2022 cycle. His mother, Tinnequo Ross, is a is a former assistant track coach at Southern University.

IOL Devon Campbell, Texas signee
On300 ranking: No. 34 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 54-5.75 foot shot put, 156-7 foot discus

Campbell is a tightly-coiled, powerfully explosive interior lineman who uses a a strong punch to neutralize defensive linemen. His strength shows on the track, where made considerable improvement as a senior – adding nearly seven feet to his shot put throw and over 30 feet to his discus toss.

WR Barion Brown, Kentucky signee
On300 ranking: No. 91 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.68 second 100m, 21.33 second 200m, 48.78 second 400m

Few football prospects have been more dominant in multiple sprint events than Brown, who swept state titles in the 100 (10.83), 200 (21.70) and 400 (49.32) last week. The Kentucky signee has won five individual state titles over the last two seasons. The speed shows up on the field, too. Brown is one of the more dangerous open-field receivers in the cycle.

Top On300

WR Jeremiah Dillon, Ole Miss signee
On300 ranking: No. 103 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.52 second 100m, 21.31 second 200m

Dillon is the second fastest sprinter in the state of Mississippi, behind his teammate and cousin, Kentucky signee Jordan Anthony. The 6-foot-1.5, 170-pound Dillon came in second in the 100 and 200 meters in the state championships, with Anthony taking both crowns. Dillon’s top 100 meter time of the spring, was a wind-aided 10.39. He was a continual riser in the On300 rankings and turned in a strong senior season with 1,040 yards and 21 touchdowns. Dillon is younger for the class, yet to turn 18 years-old.

OT Tony Nelson, Minnesota signee
On300 ranking: No. 217 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 64-0.5 foot shot put, 169-1 foot discus

As far as we can tell, Tony Nelson is currently the top shot put thrower among blue-chip football recruits in high school football. Nelson’s 64-0.5 mark is good for 18th nationally. He could improve, too as the state of Minnesota is still competing. Nelson is a high upside athlete – Minnesota pushed for his commitment after an impressive showing at the Golden Gophers’ camp. He projects as an offensive tackle long-term and has the physical tools to develop into a top talent at the position.

CB Khamari Terrell, Oregon signee
On300 ranking: No. 110 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 20.73 second 200m

Terrell was initially viewed as a track prospect before seeing his football stock blow up as a senior. His 20.73 time in the 200 meters is good for 4th nationally. Oregon may have the most athletic group of incoming corners between Terrell, Jalil Tucker and early enrollee Jahlil Florence.

DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan signee
On300 ranking: No. 102 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 58-6.75 foot shot put

Few prospects in the 2022 cycle are more powerful than Kenneth Grant on the football field. The same can be said for the track. The 6-foot-4, 350-pounder is an explosive, twitchy big man who projects as a pocket-pushing nose tackle.

QB Nate Johnson, Utah signee
On300 ranking: No. 268 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.36 second 100m, 22-5.75 foot long jump

The title of fastest quarterback goes to Nate Johnson in a landslide. The Utah signee is blazing fast, having run a bunch of sub-10.8-second times in the 100 meters over the last two years. You can see the speed on the field as Johnson can pull away from defensive backs once he reaches the second level.

WR Isaiah Satgena, Arkansas signee
On300 ranking: No. 213 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.80 second 100m, 21.83 second 200m, 24-8 foot long jump

Sategna is likely the most well-rounded track athlete among blue chip recruits. He won state titles in the 100 meters, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump. Sategna comes by it honest – his father is a long-time college track coach, including a stop as the head coach at Texas. His mother ran in the 1992 Olympics.

CB Oliver Bridges, Cincinnati signee
On300 ranking: No. 281 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.56 second 100m, 21.88 second 200m

Cincinnati just had three defensive backs drafted, including No. 4 pick Sauce Gardner. Luke Fickell and staff clearly know what they’re doing in evaluating and developing within the secondary. We moved Bridges into the On300 due to strong senior video and athletic testing. His times on the track a senior validate the athleticism.

S Croix Stewart, UCLA signee
On300 ranking: No. 197 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.61 second 100m, 21.98 second 200m

Stewart is a fast and active defender in the back half with the the ability to make impressive plays in pursuit. That speed shows up on the track as well.

IOL Patrick Kutas, Arkansas signee
On300 ranking: No. 215 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 54-3.5 foot shot put, 177-5 foot discus

Kutas is a two-way standout on both lines of scrimmage, but projects as an offensive lineman for Arkansas. He finished third in the state meet in the shot put and discus.

WR Marquez Dortch, Mississippi State signee
On300 ranking: No. 218 overall
Industry Comparison
Results: 10.77 second 100m, 23-9 foot long jump

Dortch is one of several athletic pass catchers in the state of Mississippi’s 2022 cycle. The one-time Ole Miss commit won the 5A state title in the long jump.

Track stars outside the On300

WR Jordan Anthony, Kentucky signee: 10.14 second 100m, 20.52 second 200m

Anthony is just the fastest 2022 prospect – he’s one of the fastest high school track athletes nationally. His 10.14 100 meter time is tied for second (with 2023 prospect Rodrick Pleasant) this spring. The 20.52 second 200 meter mark is second nationally, only behind pleasant. The 5-foot-9, 142-pound Anthony won Mississippi state titles in the 100 and 200 meters, running into to the wind.

S Pierre Goree, SMU signee: 10.22 second 100m

Goree was the Texas 6A state champion in 100 meters. He actually ran a wind-aided 10.09 time at a district meet earlier in the spring. Goree also helped Duncanville turn in the nation’s top 4×100 relay time.

WR Che Nwabuko, Pitt signee: 10.17 second 100m, 20.53 second 200m

Nwabuko won Texas 5A state titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

RB Rayshon Luke, Arizona signee: 10.32 second 100m, 21.69 second 200m

CB Andre Hodge, Wake Forest signee: 10.40 second 100m, 21.33 second 200m

Hodge won South Carolina’s 4A state titles in both the 100 and 200 meters. This came while running track for the first time since his freshman season. Hodge looks like quite the coup for the Wake Forest staff, who signed two On300 prospects in wide receiver Wesley Grimes (No. 36) and running back Demond Claiborne (No. 105).

CB Jamari Sharpe, Indiana signee: 10.63 second 100m, 21.58 second 200m

Sharpe finished 3rd in Florida’s 3A 100 meter finals and 8th in the 200 meter finals.

DL Paul Oyewale, TCU signee: 53-7 foot shot put

WR C.J. Nelson, Houston signee: 45-3.25 foot triple jump

DL Quardale Patt, Houston signee: 55-8.75 foot shot put

More On300 track results of note

WR Isaiah Bond, Alabama signee: 10.78 second 100m, 21.04 second 200m

Bond won the 100 and 200 meter state titles as a junior but reportedly had an injury this season.

IOL Tristan Wilson, Missouri signee: 51-1 foot shot put

IOL Joe Brunner, Wisconsin signee: 52-0 foot shot put , 161-3 foot discus

ATH Major Everhart, TCU signee: 10.56 second 100m, 21.94 second 200m

OT Alvin Ebosele, Baylor signee: 50-4 foot shot put

OT Jacarrius Peak, NC State signee: 50-9 foot shot put

CB Julian Humphrey, Georgia signee: 21.44 second 200m

RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina signee: 10.93 second 100m, 22.47 200m

S Chace Biddle, TCU signee: 10.64 second 100m, 22.55 second 200m

WR Tobias Merriweather, Notre Dame signee: 11.07 second 100m, 22.32 second 200m

LB Tobi Osunsanmi, Kansas State signee: 10.93 second 100m, 22.85 second 200m

EDGE Kaian Roberts-Day, Baylor signee: 52-2 foot shot put