New 5-stars emerge in the Class of 2023 On300
On3 has expanded prospect rankings in the Class of 2023 from a top 100 to the On300. With the expanded rankings come prospect additions and movement. The initial On3 Top 100 for the 2023 cycle included 10 prospects rated as five stars. That list has grown to 13, with three prospects having been elevated to five-star status. Here’s a look at the newest five stars.
EDGE Keon Keeley now 5-star
In a class loaded with depth at the EDGE position, Notre Dame verbal Keon Keeley (Tampo, Fla./Berkeley Prep) has the highest upside. The latest nationally recruited prospect out of Berkeley Prep jumps to No. 5 overall after being ranked No. 18 in the initial release of the 2023 rankings in August.
Not only is Keeley blessed with a frame college coaches covet, but he has the quick feet, change of direction, closing burst and advanced understanding of pass rush to go with it.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder with long arms has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the Southeast this season for the Buccaneers. He has amassed 44 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in just seven games. And he’s doing all of that for an undefeated Berkeley Prep team.
On the recruiting front, Keeley remains a Notre Dame commitment. The Fighting Irish will have to work to keep Keeley in the boat with Georgia, Clemson, and many others lining up to try and flip the five-star prospect.
Keeley is also more than a football player. He’s a three-sport athlete that has competed in basketball and volleyball in high school.
Keeley will take the field Friday against No. 1 overall Arch Manning and Isidore Newman on the ESPN family of networks.
Best athlete in nation now a 5-star
When talking about the best athletes in the country playing high school football, EDGE prospect Nyckoles Harbor (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll) is where the conversation begins.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder with long arms is not only starring on the football field this season but has put up otherworldly track times at his size. Harbor has a 6.85-second time in the 60 meters, a jaw-dropping 10.38 100 meter, and a 21.36-second 200 meter to his credit in the spring of his sophomore year.
On the gridiron, Harbour is an explosive EDGE prospect with tremendous closing speed, the arm-length to wrap and bring down ball carries and a developing first step that places offensive tackles in a reactive and recovering position immediately.
Harbor has starred on the field this season for the Lions. He totaled more than 15 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks through the first five games. That includes a dominant performance against Bishop McNamara. He posted eight tackles for loss and five sacks in the 21-0 victory. He added a 47-yard catch and run for a touchdown on offense.
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Harbor was ranked No. 11 in the August release of the On3 Top 100 before making the move to No. 8.
On the recruiting front, he has more than 20 offers to date with many more expected. The offer list includes Penn State, where his older sister attended college. Harbor has made unofficial visits this season to Penn State, Michigan and Oklahoma. His most recent offer was by Ohio State. That offer came in the first week of October.
Peach State safety elevated to 5-star
The 2023 cycle is loaded with top-tier talent and depth at the safety position. And the highest-ranked of the group is new five star Caleb Downs (Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek).
The 5-foot-11.5, 185-pound Downs is a tough, instinctive safety that displays high-end playmaking ability. He’s not only a ball hawk in coverage but will close quickly and strike in the run game. He possesses very good eyes and awareness.
Downs has been productive for Mill Creek since his freshman year. He has more than 40 tackles this season, including a pair of tackles for loss and two interceptions. He’s added three touchdowns on offense. Downs has picked off 11 passes in his career, thus far.
The playmaker has more than 30 offers. The list includes Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Georgia and Ohio State. He has made unofficial visits to North Carolina and Clemson this season.
Downs family has plenty of connections to the Tar Heel State. Both parents attended college at NC State and his older brother Josh Downs is a star sophomore receiver for North Carolina.