2023 signees primed to make an instant impact

The majority of top prospects in the 2023 cycle have put pen to paper in the Early Signing Period, signing National Letters of Intent with college programs. With players now locked into their college destinations, let’s take a look at some prospects we feel are best situated to make an instant impact on Saturdays next fall as true freshmen.

S Caleb Downs – Alabama

If I had to pick one prospect in the 2023 cycle with the ability to start for any team in college football next season, it would be Caleb Downs. The Alabama safety signee has an argument as the nation’s best high school football player. He’s an intelligent, advanced safety with a complete skill set. Downs was a dominant two-way player of the course of his high school career at Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek leading the Hawks to a state title in Georgia’s highest classification as a senior. Downs accounted for over 1,000 total yards and 24 touchdowns from scrimmage (20 rushing, three receiving and one passing) this fall. On defense he tallied 83 tackles and five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. Downs is ranked as the top prospect in the state of Georgia and certainly played like it as a senior. His ability to make plays with the ball in his hands paired with the instincts, physicality and coverage skills make for a prospect primed to play as a freshman, even at a top program like Alabama. Don’t be surprised to see Downs patrolling the secondary in Tuscaloosa early next fall.

A Five-Star Plus+ prospect, Downs ranks as the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 1 safety in the On300.

QB Jackson Arnold – Oklahoma

Jackson Arnold is a huge signee for Brent Venables and Oklahoma. The Denton (Texas) Guyer product could be in line to start as a freshman in Norman. Arnold is the most battle-tested top quarterback in the 2023 cycle. He’s been productive against top competition in the state of Texas both as a passer and rusher. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has a live arm, quick release and the ability to pick up yards with his legs on designed runs. To make the transition even smoother, Arnold runs a variation of Oklahoma’s offense at Denton Guyer. He should have little adjustment – if any – from a X’s and O’s perspective. With Oklahoma looking for a shot in the arm offensively, we’re betting on Arnold playing sooner than later.

Arnold ranks as a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He’s the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 3 quarterback in the On300.

RB Cedric Baxter Jr. – Texas

Texas is looking to replace Doak Walker Award winner and likely first-round pick Bijan Robinson. They’re big shoes to fill, but Cedric Baxter Jr. may be up to the task. On3’s top-ranked running back prospect in the 2023 cycle was hand-picked by Steve Sarkisian and position coach Tashard Choice and looks to be an ideal fit in the offensive scheme. Baxter is a big back with power, burst and every down ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Think about how Sarkisian used Najee Harris – another big, pass-catching back – in his final season at Alabama. That’s the role Baxter could see in Austin. Granted, it’s not as though he won’t have some competition for carries. We were high on Jonathon Brooks in the 2021 cycle. At the minimum Texas should have a promising 1-2 punch in replacing Robinson and Roschon Johnson.

Baxter ranks as the No. 1 running back and No. 24 overall prospect in the On300.

WR Zachariah Branch – USC

Zachariah Branch is one of the most well-known commodities in the 2023 recruiting cycle. The Las Vegas native has the most electric skill player in high school football for a few years. Branch has the ability to add a different dimension to USC’s offense as early as next fall. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder has the ability to take the top off of defenses as a deep threat with his 10.33 speed. He’s extremely shifty as a route-runner in the slot and perhaps the most difficult 2023 prospect to corral in the open field. Adding Branch into a Lincoln Riley offense with a third-year Caleb Williams behind center should lead to plenty of fireworks in the Coliseum.

Branch is a Five-Star Plus+ prospect who ranks as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 receiver in the On300.

WR Eugene Wilson III – Florida

Eugene Wilson III is a smooth operator as a two-way star at Tampa Gaither. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder has high-end functional movement skills with the ability to create separation within his routes. He’s also shown plus ball skills and the ability make defenders miss in space with regularity. He’s also a highly competitive player who often does not leave the field on Friday nights. The overall advanced nature of his game shouldn’t come as a surprise, given his father, Eugene Wilson won two Super Bowls as a safety with the New England Patriots. Given his technical ability and Florida’s need for a slot receiver, we would not be surprised to see Wilson getting on the field early on in his career as a Gator.

Wilson checks in as the No. 31 overall prospect and No. 5 wide receiver in the On300.

S Peyton Bowen – Oklahoma

Peyton Bowen‘s recruitment was wild with a flip from Notre Dame to Oregon on National Signing Day, only to switch to Oklahoma a day later and ink with the Sooners. Though Bowen ultimately picked Oklahoma – he was going to be on this list regardless. Similar to Caleb Downs, Bowen has the ability to step in and start at any of his three finalists. He’s the definition of a playmaking safety, using his excellent athleticism and instincts to tilt games both in coverage and on special teams. Every Friday night this fall, it seemed like Bowen was making a huge play. For some reason, opposing coaches continued to kick to him, leading to a number of touchdowns on returns. Bowen will give an instant boost to the Sooners secondary and perhaps special teams, as well.

Bowen ranks as the No. 13 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the On300.

QB Nico Iamaleava – Tennessee

Nico Iamaleava could be pressed into duty as a true freshman, pending how well senior quarterback Joe Milton plays early on in the 2023 season. The incoming five-star prospect arrived in Knoxville last week with lofty expectations as a five-star and the No. 2 overall prospect in the On300. Iamaleava’s physical talent is well known and looks to be a nice fit in Josh Heupel’s offense. While the Downey (Calif.) Warren product could ideally use some time to develop before being thrown into the fire, the scheme in Knoxville should be tailored to shorten the learning curve while accentuating Iamaleava’s strengths as a quarterback.

Iamaleava is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2023 On300.

OT Francis Mauigoa – Miami

Based off what we’ve seen to this point, Francis Mauigoa looks like the most ready to play offensive lineman in the 2023 cycle. That’s just what the doctor ordered for Miami as Mario Cristobal looks to build up his offensive line and establish a big, physical presence on offense. Mauigoa has the look of a foundational piece on the Hurricanes’ front and it would be an upset if he didn’t start as a true freshman. At 6-foot-5, 325-pounds, Mauigoa has readymade size. There’s little projection there. He’s also been honing his skills against top competition at IMG Academy for the past two years. Not only does Mauigoa face some top pass rushers on Friday nights, he goes against blue-chip talents at practice every day. Given his size, play strength, quickness and experience against top competition, Mauigoa is a safe bet to see the field when the Hurricanes kick off next fall. The same could be said for fellow touted offensive line signee Samson Okunlola.

Mauigoa is one of eight Five-Star Plus+ prospects. He ranks as the No. 14 overall prospect and No. 2 offensive tackle in the On300.

EDGE Keon Keeley – Alabama

Several members of Alabama’s No. 1 recruiting class could play early. It wouldn’t be surprising to see prospects like James Smith and Kadyn Proctor also make an impact on the lines of scrimmage. Though he will have some competition at his position, EDGE Keon Keeley comes into Tuscaloosa with a physical makeup and high school resume that points to a potential early impact. Keeley is a big, well-built pass rusher at close to 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. He’s been dominant at the high school level with 33.5 sacks over the past two seasons. The pass rush ability along with the upside as a run defender at his size puts Keeley in position to help Alabama soften the loss of all-everything Jack linebacker Will Anderson.

Keeley is the highest-rated non-quarterback in the On300, ranking as the No. 3 overall prospect.

LB Suntarine Perkins – Ole Miss

Suntarine Perkins has the look of a day one contributor in Oxford. The in-state star is fresh off of a dominant senior season and stellar showing at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. To put it plainly, Perkins looks like one of the top linebackers in the 2023 cycle. That, paired with a need at Ole Miss, makes for a likely early impact next fall. Perkins will need to add some mass and will benefit from time in Ole Miss’ strength program. Still, he is too talented and too advanced to keep off the field. The play speed, instincts, versatility and physicality make for an exciting addition to the Rebels’ linebacker room.

Perkins ranks as the No. 78 overall prospect as as the top player in the state of Mississippi according to On3.

EDGE Dashawn Womack – LSU

Dashawn Womack has a case as the most ready to play EDGE prospect in the class. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Womack is not a projection physically. He registers as a top athlete in the combine setting and carries that athleticism over to the field. Womack was dominant as a senior, tallying 15 sacks while playing a national schedule at Baltimore St. Frances Academy. The LSU signee has some technical refinement with quick hands and pass rush moves. The ability to create pressure off the edge and finish with violence puts him in a good position to fill BJ Ojulari‘s role in LSU’s defense.

Womack ranks as a five-star prospect and checks in at No. 22 overall in the On300.

DL Peter Woods – Clemson

Peter Woods was the On3 MVP at Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game practices earlier in the month. Woods was virtually unblockable particularly on pass downs, using his quick first step, technical polish and high effort level to generate pressure on seemingly every snap. He’s been very well coached while playing at perennial state champion Thompson High in Alabama, and it shows. While Woods may not have the high-end physical tools of some other top defensive linemen, he has the look of a player ready to contribute early on in his career. Given Clemson’s losses on the defensive line, Woods’ number could be called early on in his career as a Tiger.

Woods is the No. 48 overall prospect and No. 8 defensive lineman in the On300.

RB Justice Haynes – Alabama

There’s a bunch of carries up for grabs at Alabama next season as the Crimson Tide look to replace Jahmyr Gibbs. Justice Haynes arrives in right on time in Tuscaloosa, giving Nick Saban a highly-developed and accomplished freshman back. Haynes is a stoutly built runner at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. He runs with strong instincts and vision. The NFL legacy has also shown advanced contact balance, breaking tackles at a high rate. He’s one of the most productive running backs to come from the state of Georgia in recent memory, rushing for over 7,400 yards (9.5 yards per carry) and 91 touchdowns in his four-year high school career.

IOL Chase Bisontis – Texas A&M

It’s always tougher for offensive linemen to get on the field as freshmen, given the developmental nature of the position. With that said, Chase Bisontis has the look of one of the more advanced offensive line prospects in what is a banner cycle at the position nationally. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder is bull strong and dominates opposing defensive linemen. He is capable of playing multiple spots on the offensive line and has the skill set to kick inside if needed. Bisontis has also fared well against top competition while playing at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. If Texas A&M is looking to add some new juice to their offensive front, we would not be shocked to see Bisontis in the starting five at some point next fall.

Bisontis ranks as the No. 52 overall prospect in the On300.