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Midway junior season evaluations drive 2025 On300 rankings update

charles power hsby:Charles Power10/16/23

CharlesPower

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On3 has updated its On300 football prospect rankings for the 2025 cycle. This marks the third update of the cycle and the first since May. Needless to say, a lot has transpired over the past five months. We had the opportunity to see many 2025 prospects at off-season events in June and July and we’re now two months into most junior seasons.

Updated 2025 On300

This update saw 48 prospects move into the On300 with dozens more On300 members adding a fourth star. Rankings updates early in the cycle tend to see a bunch of change as hundreds of prospects emerge throughout the junior season. The upcoming On300 overhaul after the junior season has concluded will see similar, if not more movement. The objective of this update is to help set the table for that release, which is typically one of the more consequential rankings each cycle.

There’s a ton of football left to be played, as about 15 months remain in 2025 cycle. Prospects develop and emerge at different rates. As we move forward, how prospects progress will always hold precedence over an early ranking that was based on a sophomore and freshman season evaluations.

Let’s take a look at some storylines within this update.

Underwood holds top spot, WR earns 5th star

Bryce Underwood continues to hold down the No. 1 overall spot in the 2025 On300. The Belleville (Mich.) High signal caller looks like the top physical talent at the position in high school football, regardless of cycle. Underwood is playing at a high level as a junior, leading Belleville to a 8-0 start in their quest for a third-straight state title. Underwood flashes his elite arm talent with regularity, making eye-popping throws on a weekly basis. The ball fires out of his hand with palpable zip as he uncoils to make throws 60 yards downfield without strain. The special arm talent along with his athletic upside make Underwood a viable candidate to be a wire-to-wire No. 1 overall prospect for On3 if he continues to play and develop at this rate. Underwood has taken in games at Michigan State, Penn State, Colorado and most recently, LSU. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine gives in-state Michigan the edge.

Defensive lineman Elijah Griffin and Alabama wide receiver commit Ryan Williams remain at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Griffin continues to look like a physically-advanced, disruptive presence on the defensive line, while Williams is still one of the most dynamic skill players in the nation.

In a move that was a long time coming, LSU wide receiver commit Dakorien Moore earns his fifth star from On3, checking in at No. 4 overall. The Duncanville (Texas) High standout is also minted as a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. Moore had a phenomenal summer camp circuit, with dominant showings at Overtime’s OT7 Finals and Under Armour’s Future 50 event. He’s continued to build off that momentum with a huge start to his junior season. Moore has made a case as one of the most dangerous big-play receivers in the nation, racking up 702 yards and nine touchdowns on just 24 catches. That’s one touchdown every 2.7 reception and a gaudy 29.3 yards per catch. Moore has shown the ability to win in every phase. His high-end track athleticism (10.67 second 100 meter time) seamlessly transfers over to the field. Moore harnesses his speed in a functional way and changes direction with ease. He’s a major deep threat and and is highly dangerous after the catch. We’ve also seen him come down with acrobatic catches, flashing bounce, coordination and strong hands at the catch point.

Cornerback Na’eem Offord (No. 5) and Miami defensive line pledge Armondo Blount (No. 6) round out the current five-star prospects in the On300.

Big risers in the updated 2025 On300

This update to the 2025 On300 saw several prospects make notable rises and debuts into the top 100.

Ohio State quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair makes a huge jump, moving up to No. 12 overall. He also checks in as the No. 2 quarterback prospect behind Bryce Underwood. St. Clair made an obvious jump in development during the offseason and it’s carried over to his junior season at Bellefontaine (Ohio) High. At 6-foot-3.5, 210 pounds, St. Clair is a pure passer with prototypical tools. He’s very smooth and tight mechanically, leading to a quick release and natural accuracy. A three-sport standout (basketball/baseball), St. Clair is off to a strong start as a junior and looks to be an ideal fit in Ryan Day’s offensive scheme.

Andrew Babalola had yet to play varsity football at the time of our last 2025 On300 update. At 6-foot-5.5, 280 pounds with plus length and a basketball background, we considered Babalola as a high upside prospect, but a relative unknown on the football field. Fast forward a few months later and the Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley West standout looks like one of the most gifted offensive tackle prospects in what appears to be a strong cycle at the position. Babalola checks in at No. 23 overall in this On300 update. He’s a natural, twitchy mover and plays with a surprising amount of strength and physicality. Babalola fires through his core and plants defenders. He’s still developing from a technical standpoint, but the upside is as high as any offensive tackle in the cycle.

Defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall moves up around 100 spots, checking in at No. 31. The Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick product is a fluid, explosive mover at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds. Marshall has flashed quick, violent hands both on Friday nights and in camp settings. In addition to being a disruptive presence on defense, Marshall shows his athleticism as a pass catcher.
Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick.

Elijah Melendez (No. 50) is a big mover at linebacker. The play speed and physicality jump off the film. Melendez shows outstanding play speed, closing quickly and showing the ability to stroke down ball carries from sideline-to-sideline. He triggers quickly and seeks out contact as a run defender. The Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola backed up his on-field athleticism on the camp circuit posting an electronically-timed 4.59 second 40-yard dash at Under Armour’s Orlando camp.

Tyler Miller (No. 52) has one of the hottest recruitments among 2025 offensive linemen and with good reason. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds with elite length, Miller is a light-footed, fluid athlete with upside as a pass blocker and in the run game. Miller hails from Laurel (Miss.) High, the same program that produced
Laurel (Miss.) former five-star offensive tackle and first-round pick Charles Cross. He’s added offers from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU over the past month.

Travis Smith (No. 75) looks like one of the more talented outside receivers in the cycle. The Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake pass catcher has projectable size and length at over 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Smith looks like a true X-receiver. The catch radius is large, as he has come down with some impressive acrobatic grabs in contested situations. The ball tracking also looks to be advanced. While he may not be a burner, Smith runs well and shows nice functional movement skills with the ability to change directions and drop his weight within routes.

Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma lead 2025 On300 commits

The majority of the 2025 On300 are uncommitted. With that said a few programs are off to quick starts.

Georgia (7), Alabama (6) and Oklahoma (4) lead the way with the most commits within the On300. LSU and Oregon round out the top five with three commits apiece within this update of the On300.

For a further look at early classes, check out the 2025 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.