Key recruiting battles that will determine top 10 classes

With the early signing period opening up in just 36 days, recruiters are doing everything they can to win fights for top uncommitted prospects on their recruiting board. There’s a group of elite recruits that will go a long way toward shaping what the 2022 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking looks like. On3 breaks down the key recruiting battles that will determine the top 10 recruiting classes when signing day arrives.

WR Evan Stewart

Background: Frisco (Texas) Liberty
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 3
The Skinny: When Walter Nolen committed this past weekend, On3 Five Star Plus+ prospect Evan Stewart became the top-ranked uncommitted prospect in the country still on the board. His decision will definitely have an impact on how the top 10, even the top five, looks when the signing period arrives.

Stewart is expected to pick between Texas A&M and Texas. But the Aggies are the trending team, according to On3 National Analyst Gerry Hamilton.

The Aggies currently sit at No. 3 in the Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. Landing Stewart could put them in legitimate consideration for the nation’s top overall class.

For the Longhorns, landing Stewart – who was at one time committed to Texas – would likely cement them as one of the nation’s top 10 classes. Texas is currently No. 9, but recent struggles on the field have slowed down the Longhorns’ recruiting momentum.

At one point, there were dreams of a potential No. 1 class and multiple five-star prospects, like Stewart, coming UT’s way. Steve Sarkisian is going to have to work some recruiting magic to flip the script with Stewart.

CB Domani Jackson

Background: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 5
The Skinny: Domani Jackson is one of the most decorated players ever to come out of one of the top high school football programs in the country. Jackson, an On3 Consensus five-star, has been a longtime commitment to USC. But with the coaching change in Los Angeles, he’s taken official visits to Michigan and Alabama.

Keeping Jackson on board is the biggest piece of the puzzle for USC to land a top-10 class – no matter who the head coach is. The Trojans are No. 15 in the Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking and losing him would be a devastating blow to the class. It’s a battle USC must win because it could thwart momentum with other elite players in the Southland.

On the flip side, if Alabama can convince him to come to the Capstone, the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 ranked class gets even stronger. It might be just enough of a boost to keep No. 2 Georgia or No. 3 A&M from the top spot.

If Michigan were to land Jackson, they would still need more pieces to jump into the top 10. But it still would be a big boost to their class that currently ranks No. 18.

EDGE Shemar Stewart

Background: Opa Locka (Fla.) Monsignor Pace
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 6
The Skinny: If you like twists and turns, then five-star EDGE Shemar Stewart’s recruitment is for you.

Early spring the buzz was around Georgia. Then, leading into the summer, LSU was the school trending. Stewart took an official visit to Baton Rouge and the vibe wasn’t for him. Late in the summer, Miami, his hometown school, looked to be the favorite. But the Canes’ season struggles hurt their chances, but Miami is hanging around. Ohio State was right there with, or slightly behind Miami late in the summer. The Buckeyes were then in the top two with Texas A&M early in the season.

But now it’s A&M that’s trending with Stewart.

And much like Evan Stewart’s decision, Shemar Stewart’s pick will have a big impact on the ordering of the top 10 classes in the country.

If he goes to the Aggies, it’ll again put them in contention for the nation’s top class. His addition would also boost Ohio State’s fourth-ranked class. And if Miami could keep him at home, the Canes can make a legitimate push toward a top-15 class and erase the disappointment label that has been put on the class so far.

Linebacker Harold Perkins

Background: Cypress (Texas) Cy Park
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 7
The Skinny: The battle for five-star linebacker Harold Perkins has also been all over the map. His decision also greatly impacts how the top 10 will look on signing day.

Perkins’ top three schools are believed to be LSU, Texas and Texas A&M. On3’s Gerry Hamilton wrote about where Perkins is at with each program.

“The LSU head coaching hire looms large here,” Hamilton said. “The Aggies have held a lead since June over LSU and Texas. Texas A&M will keep riding the wave of momentum, and staff continuity. It is an interesting recruitment. Perkins’ favorite school and program is LSU, and his favorite college town/city is Austin.”

Offensive lineman Devon Campbell

Background: Arlington (Texas) Bowie
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 9
The Skinny: Texas appears to be the team to beat for five-star interior offensive lineman Devon Campbell. Oklahoma, LSU and USC are also in the hunt. But Campbell is a must-get for Sark and Co. and their push for a top 10 class.

Oklahoma has the No. 6 class in the country, and the Sooners could push into the top five if Campbell comes on board. LSU could be a team to watch with Campbell if the right hire is made. The Tigers have the No. 12 class and landing Campbell would definitely put them in top-10 contention. The same is true about USC, a school that he visited officially this summer and remains on his list despite the coaching change.

But this is one that Texas can’t miss on if it wants to keep a spot in the top 10.

Offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin

Background: Charlestown (Ind.) High
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 14
The Skinny: Kiyaunta Goodwin has already taken visits to Alabama and Michigan State, despite being a longtime Kentucky commitment.

Goodwin has three more officially booked to Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan. His visit to Kentucky will be the next chance for the Wildcats to leave another strong impression on Goodwin, who was blown away by the atmosphere during their win over Florida. That trip to Lexington could go a long, long way toward determining where he ends up at.

There are even whispers that Alabama could get him back on campus again before the early signing period, and we know how Nick Saban usually gets what Nick Saban wants.

Kentucky has one of the surprise classes in the country with Goodwin on board. If he bolts, then the Wildcats’ No. 16 class could take a big dip. Michigan’s class would get a major bump from the No. 18 spot with Goodwin in it, and Michigan State likely would lock up a top 25 class. Ohio State could also push toward the top three with Goodwin in their class.

But if Saban can lure Goodwin to Tuscaloosa, it might just be enough to secure another No. 1 class for Alabama.

There’s no question what happens with Goodwin will greatly shape how the top 10 looks.

Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks

Background: Humble (Texas) Summer
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 14
The Skinny: Five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks made national headlines when spurned local schools Texas and Texas A&M to commit to Mario Cristobal and the Oregon Ducks on July 4.

Texas, which needs franchise offensive linemen like Banks, has yet to relent in its pursuit of the Houston area star. Neither has Texas A&M. Intel indicates there are some family dynamics that might keep Banks close to home.

If they play out, that could mean good news for the Longhorns and Aggies in their pursuit of elite classes. It’d bad news for the Ducks, who are just outside the top 10 at 11th.

Cornerback Jaheim Singletary

Background: Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverside
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 19
The Skinny: Five-star cornerback Jaheim Singletary is Georgia’s to lose, according to On3’s Chad Simmons.

The former Ohio State commit was at one time considering Florida and Miami, but the Bulldogs look to be in the driver’s seat here.

After a recruiting run to remember in October, the Dawgs are just 0.365 points behind Alabama for the nation’s top-ranked class. Singletary would be a welcome addition to UGA’s pursuit of the No. 1 class. He’ll likely be needed to make that push with Alabama and A&M seemingly still having so many prospects in play.

Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

Background: Seattle Rainier Beach
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 20
The Skinny: Josh Conerly Jr., another five-star recruit, appears to be wide open between Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Oklahoma and USC. All those schools, expect for UDub, have chances to land top 10 classes. Adding Conerly would be huge in solidifying that pursuit, especially for Oregon, Michigan and USC.

The Huskies currently have the No. 31 class in the country. But keeping Conerly at home would send a signal that things are on the right track from a recruit’s perspective under Jimmy Lake.

Marvin Jones Jr.

Background: Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 33
The Skinny: Marvin Jones Jr. is ranked as the No. 1 player in the country by On3, and he’s the No. 33 player in the On3 Consensus. He has a who’s who of recruiting elites on his list – Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Florida State.

Many believe Florida State – where Jones’ father was a star linebacker in the 1990s – is the team to beat. If the Seminoles want to sign a top 10 class, they can’t afford to miss on Jones. FSU currently has the 12th best class in the country, but they are not far outside of the top 10.

Landing Jones would give them a nice boost and potentially could help get other players to jump on board down the stretch. That momentum could propel the Noles into the top 10.

Quarterback Devin Brown

Background: Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 59
The Skinny: Four-star quarterback Devin Brown says he’s still committed to USC. But until the Trojans have a coach, other schools – namely Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Notre Dame, BYU and UCLA – aren’t going to stop pursuing him.

Brown raved about his official visit in October to Ole Miss, and he’ll potentially see Ohio State and possibly Texas and A&M.

Brown still says all the right things about USC and his commitment, but who the Trojans hire likely will go a long way toward where he officially lands.

His recruitment feels like one that has plenty of twists left before he signs with somebody. And with so many teams on his list in contention for top 10 classes, his decision will definitely shape how things look come signing day.