Top 10 Committed Recruits in the 2023 Class

QB Malachi Nelson- USC

On3 Consensus: No.3 NATL., No. 2 QB

NIL Valuation: $99,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Quick-armed, accurate passer with strong functional movement skills. Considered one of the more talented quarterback prospects in high school football dating back to his early high school career. A natural, nuanced passer with a quick release. Shows some aggressive tendencies in throwing downfield. Has touch with the ability to layer his throws. Accurate with good ball placement dating back to his sophomore spring season which was shortened due to COVID-19. Good arm strength, which could improve with overall strength progression. Adept at running the quick game out of spread looks, flipping the ball out quick to the boundary. Loose and fluid in his movements. Plays with bouncy footwork and lower body twitch. Looks to pass first, but has good burst as a runner with the ability to run zone read or pick up yards when the play breaks down. Plays at a relaxed pace and typically seems unbothered in the pocket. Has a lean, streamline frame and will need to continue adding mass. Throwing to two blue-chip receivers in fellow 2023 Oklahoma commits, Makai Lemon and Deandre Moore, Jr.

EDGE Keon Keeley- Notre Dame

On3 Consensus: No.7 NATL., No. 1 Edge

NIL Valuation: $23,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Long pass rusher with high-end flexibility and finishing ability behind the line of scrimmage. Has a big frame at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with outstanding length (7-foot wing-span). Plays with advanced bend and flexibility, sinking his hips and using his supreme length to create disruption off the edge. Already shows signs of some technical acuity with quick hands and pass rush moves. Displays strong closing speed and finishes plays behind the line of scrimmage at a high rate. Among the more productive pass rushers in the nation as a junior. Also a bouncy athlete with a basketball background.

WR Zachariah Branch

On3 Consensus: No. 12 NATL., No. 1 WR

NIL Valuation: $48,000

On3 Scouting Summary: One of the more dynamic receiver prospects in the nation, regardless of class. Built like a traditional slot wide receiver at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. An elite track athlete with a 10.33 second 100 meter mark and a 24 foot long jump as a sophomore. Is able to harness that speed on the football field with his high-end change of direction. Creates big plays as a deep threat and after the catch. Very difficult for defenders to tackle in space. A fluid mover with route-running and true wide receiver skills in addition to the considerable athleticism. Shows good ball skills with the ability to track and make extended catches in traffic. Plays at powerhouse Bishop Gorman and was a standout performer in four games against national competition in addition to the state title game. Looks like one of the best sub 5-foot-11 wide receiver prospects in several cycles.

CB Jahlil Hurley- Alabama

On3 Consensus: No. 20 NATL., No. 2 CB

NIL Valuation: $26,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Taller cornerback with high-end coordination and ball skills. Does not have verified measurements, but looks to be well over 6-feet tall with a lean build and length for the position. Primarily played at corner as a sophomore prior to moving around much more as a junior. Advanced as a ball tracker at corner with the ability to turn and locate the ball in coverage. An instinctual defender who sees things quickly. Also lined up at safety, receiver and even took some direct snaps as a junior. Does not give up many catches in coverage over the course of his sophomore and junior seasons. Will need to continue adding size. Does not have verified athletic markers as he enters his senior season. Looks to have adequate to good play speed but can continue improving his top end speed. Will also need to continue adding strength and size.

IOL Alex Birchmeier- Penn State

On3 Consensus: No. 25 NATL., No. 2 IOL

NIL Valuation: $18,400

On3 Scouting Summary: Well-rounded offensive lineman with advanced movement skills and functional strength. Was identified as one of the cycle’s top offensive line prospects early in his high school career, mainly due to his projectable athleticism. Primarily lines up at guard for his high school team. Excels as a puller in the run game and gets to the second level with ease. Displays strong initial quickness and footwork. Technical with his hands and finishes blocks at a high rate. Has validated his athleticism and quickness in the combine setting with good marks in the short shuttle. Also doubles as a top wrestler and back-to-back state champion as a sophomore and junior. Has solid length and projects on the interior at the next level. 

IOL Luke Montgomery- Ohio State

On3 Consensus: No. 35 NATL., No. 3 IOL

NIL Valuation: $37,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Athletic multi-positional jumbo athlete who projects as a high upside offensive lineman long-term. Plays all over both lines of scrimmage for his high school team. Shows some of the best movement skills among offensive line prospects in the 2023 cycle. An effortless mover to the second level, showing quick feet and fluidity. Plays offensive line with the athleticism of a Power 5 defensive lineman. Employs considerable core strength and pop in his hands as a block finisher. Plays with impressive effort level and stamina considering his role as a two-way player. Relatively lean with the frame to add considerable weight once in a Power 5 strength program. Could project at multiple spots on the offensive line in college due to his versatile skill set and movement skills. 

WR Makai Lemon- USC

On3 Consensus: No. 38 NATL., No. 6 WR

NIL Valuation: $24,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Arguably the top two-way high school football player on the West Coast. Stars as a receiver and defensive back. Savvy with advanced ball tracking skills. Does not test as a top athlete, but shows play speed that belies what he does in the combine setting. Smooth mover with the ability to create separation with route-running and acceleration. Totaled over 1,000 receiving yards in addition to four interceptions as a junior. Consistently produces and performs well against top talent. Likely projects as a slot receiver long-term. Does not have a separating physical trait when it comes to size, length or speed/athleticism.

S Peyton Bowen- Notre Dame

On3 Consensus: No. 48 NATL., No. 4 S

NIL Valuation: $18,400

On3 Scouting Summary: Athletic safety who stars for one of the best high school defenses in the state of Texas. Pairs solid size with some of the better combine athleticism we’ve seen among 2023 safeties.Carries over the twitchy athleticism onto the field. Is a dynamic return man, taking several kicks to the house as a junior. Plays with outstanding range, showing the ability to cover from the hash to the boundary with ease. Has awareness in coverage to recognize route combinations. Shows ball skills in deep coverage in addition to playing sparingly on offense in key spots. Stood out in the state championship game as a junior, making a number of explosive plays with the ball in his hands. Projects as one of the best defensive backs in the state of Texas in the 2023 cycle.

QB Jackson Arnold- Oklahoma

On3 Consensus: No. 50 NATL., No. 6 QB

NIL Valuation: $37,000

On3 Scouting Summary: Tough, live-armed quarterback who quickly rose to be the top 2023 signal caller in Texas in his first year as a starter. Plays for one of the top high school programs in the Dallas Metroplex and led his team to the state title game as a junior. Plays in a spread-iso offensive scheme that heavily utilizes play action downfield passes and power running between the tackles. Shows a strong arm with the ability to generate velocity on intermediate and downfield throws. A light-footed athlete who consistently escapes pressure and makes plays out of the pocket. One of the tougher top quarterbacks in the 2023 cycle, carrying a considerable rushing load. A physical runner who embraces contact. Hit the ground running in his first year as a varsity starter against top competition. Has a smaller frame than some other top quarterbacks in the cycle. 

CB Marcus Washington- Georgia

On3 Consensus: No. 54 NATL., No. 7 CB

NIL Valuation: N/A

On3 Scouting Summary: Among the more athletic top cornerbacks in the 2023 cycle. Consistently turns in sub-11.0 second 100-meter times with a personal best of 10.76 as a sophomore. Also tests as a top athlete in the combine setting. Pairs that athleticism with good size at 6-foot, 180 pounds. Primarily plays as a corner and safety for his high school. Shows some physicality as a run defender and on special teams. Relatively low impact in other phases of the game compared to other top corners who often play on both sides of the ball. Will need to continue improving his ball skills and overall playmaking ability.