2023 prospects on the cusp of adding a 5th star

On3 released an update of the 2023 On300. The updated ranking saw six prospects earn their fifth star from On3, bringing the current total to 21 entering the fall. We’ll ultimately finish with 32 five-stars every cycle. Important evaluation points like the senior season and national all-star games remain.

There’s typically a few off-the-radar prospects who end up as five-stars. As much as we know about the cycle to date, there’s still a bunch of football left to be played. With that said, here’s a few prospects enter their senior season knocking on the door of five-star status.

QB Christopher Vizzina – Clemson

No quarterback added or lost a fifth star in the updated On300. Christopher Vizzina (No. 22) is the highest-rated four-star in this update. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Clemson commit turned in a strong showing at the Elite 11 Finals back in June and has had an ascending trajectory for the past six months. Vizzina has shown a well-rounded passing skill set to go with his movement skills and advanced pocket feel on Friday nights. He’s shown projectable traits and skills in every setting to date and could make a move into five-star range with a great senior season at Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian.

DL Kamran James

Kamran James (No. 23) was one of the biggest risers in this update, jumping over 100 spots into the top 30. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder combines plus size and length (34.5-inch arms) with top-notch athleticism. We saw this show up both on in the combine setting and on the field. James ripped off a very impressive electronically-timed sub 5.0-second 40-yard dash back in the spring. He plays that fast on Friday nights, running down ball carriers from behind and making plays behind the line of scrimmage at a high rate. James finished his junior season at Orlando Olympia with 21 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. We wouldn’t be surprised to see 17-year-old turn in a big senior campaign.

Florida leads in James’ On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

TE Duce Robinson

Duce Robinson (No. 24) remains the top-rated tight end in the cycle. We had the chance to watch the Phoenix Pinnacle multi-sport star catch a ton of passes over three days at the Elite 11 Finals. There’s no question Robinson is a top athlete at the position. He runs like a wide receiver and impressed with his movement skills and stamina. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder is more of a separator than a contested catch ball-winner at this point. He remains on the five-star radar heading into the fall.

USC leads in Robinson’s On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

LB Raylen Wilson – Georgia

Similar to James, Georgia commit Raylen Wilson (No. 25) was a big riser within this update. The Tallahassee Lincoln defender has shown steady physical and athletic progression over the past year. That growth is easily explained by the fact that Wilson is significantly younger for the class, recently turning 17-years-old. He’s always been a productive defender, but we saw Wilson take a jump this spring getting up to 6-foot-1, 220 pounds and turning in some impressive track times at that size. The NFL legacy ran personal bests of 10.91 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.07 seconds in the 200 meters in addition to other strong marks. Wilson also put together some outstanding spring video, showing high level play speed. The 2023 linebacker group has been a tough one to parse, but Wilson has the look of an ascending prospect heading into the season.

S Derek Williams – Texas

Safety is one of the deepest, if not the deepest position in the 2023 cycle. Two safeties, Caleb Downs and Notre Dame commit Peyton Bowen currently rank as five-stars for On3. Both Downs and Bowen have set high bars at the position both as juniors and with in-person evals. With that said, Texas commit Derek Williams (No. 26) is one of the top challengers at the loaded position. The New Iberia (La.) Westate standout has been a top 30 prospect for On3 for some time. Williams has a big frame at around 6-foot-1, 185 pounds with plus length and big hands. He’s a highly productive and impactful high school player. We haven’t had quite the exposure level to Williams as a few of the other top safeties to this point, so he could make a rise with a big senior year and all-star game showing alongside the other top prospects at the position.

DL Jordan Hall

On3 has been high on defensive lineman Jordan Hall (No. 27) from the jump, ranking the Jacksonville Westside standout in the top 100 prior to his junior season. The 6-foot-3.5 310-pounder continues to flash what is perhaps the best first-step among defensive linemen in the cycle. Hall continued to show his ability as a natural disruptor throughout the spring and looks like he could be in line for a dominant final season of high school football.

On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine is split between several schools.

RB Cedric Baxter Jr.

No running back current rates as a five-star for On3. Cedric Baxter Jr. (No. 28) has been On3’s top-ranked running back in the cycle since early last season and is best positioned to make a move among the group. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pounder had a breakout junior season against top competition at Orlando Edgewater, rushing for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns on 199 carries. Baxter’s 2021 campaign looks even more impressive when you consider it was his first full-time season as a varsity running back. We could see Baxter make another jump in his second season as a full-time as a ball carrier this fall.

Offensive linemen with 5-star upside

We feel that the 2023 is a strong cycle on the offensive line. Four linemen currently rank as five-star prospect for On3. While the summer offered several evaluation opportunities for skill players, things are largely status quo with most of the top linemen. Three more offensive linemen are with earshot of five-star range entering the fall. Penn State interior offensive line commit Alex Birchmeier (No. 29) is one of the higher-floor prospects at the position. Birchmeier has a strong combination of size and movement skills at 6-foot-5.5, 275 pounds and is a back-to-back state champion wrestler. Iowa offensive tackle commit Kadyn Proctor (No. 33) is one of the more physically-developed and powerful offensive linemen in the class. Monroe Freeling (No. 35) has a unique among the group at 6-foot-7.5, 285 pounds with bouncy athleticism.

More quarterbacks to watch

Quarterbacks are always live to move into the five-star range. Iowa State commit JJ Kohl (No. 36) is the fifth-ranked signal caller in the On300. Kohl rose on the heels of an On3 MVP showing at the Elite 11 Finals in addition to a strong showing in live situations at Under Armour Future 50 last weekend. The 6-foot-6.5, 230-pounder has showed off advanced passing skills and processing ability this summer. He’ll be in his second year as a full-time starter at Ankeny (Iowa) High this fall and is showing signs of continued development heading into his senior season. Oregon commit Dante Moore (No. 43) and Oklahoma pledge Jackson Arnold (No. 48) are two more quarterbacks in the top 50. We’re looking to gauge Moore’s mobility and functional athleticism moving forward. Arnold has shown a live arm and should be primed for another big season at Denton (Texas) Guyer.

Who will be the other 5-star corners?

Cornerback is one of the murkier positions to this point in the cycle. Cormani McClain is the only corner who currently ranks as a five-star for On3. The position looks wide open as we enter the season. We got looks at both Malik Muhammad (No. 30) and Alabama commit Jahlil Hurley (No. 32) this summer with both turning in good showings at Overtime’s OT7 7-on-7 tournament. Georgia commit Daniel Harris (No. 38), Ohio State commit Calvin Simpson-Hunt (No. 42) and Texas A&M pledge Bravion Rogers (No. 45) are three more in the top 50 who could impress as seniors or on the all-star circuit. All three have strong verified track speed with Harris and Simpson-Hunt also having plus length for the position. Given the nature of cornerback evaluations, the position may not be truly settled until national all-star games.