Where things stand in 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking

After four-star offensive lineman Luke Montgomery picked Ohio State over rival Michigan and a host of national programs, it felt like a good time to check in on the updated 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. The commitment moved the Buckeyes into the No. 4 spot overall and further strengthened their spot as one of the best early 2023 classes. Texas Tech also saw a big climb in the rankings and is just outside of the top 10. Here are the top 20 teams in the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

No. 1 USC

Ranking last week: No. 1
Top-ranked commit: Five-Star Plus+ QB Malachi Nelson
The Skinny: The Trojans have early commitments from the nation’s No. 2 quarterback, No. 2 receiver (Zachariah Branch) and No. 7 receiver (Makai Lemon). It’s a great foundation for what is expected to be a banner crop for new coach Lincoln Riley.

No. 2 Notre Dame

Ranking last week: No. 2
Top-ranked commit: Five-star EDGE Keon Keeley
The Skinny: The Fighting Irish already have nine commits on board for the 2023 class, including Keeley, four-star linebacker Drayk Bowen, four-star safety Peyton Bowen, four-star corner Justyn Rhett and others. It’s the type of early start on the recruiting trail that should give Marcus Freeman momentum to close build a potential top-five class.

No. 3 Georgia

Ranking last week: No. 3
Top-ranked commit: Four-star CB Marcus Washington
The Skinny: UGA knows most of the elite players on its board will probably go through much of the recruiting process. But the early start with Washington, four-star OT Bo Hughley, four-star TE Pearce Spurlin, four-star WR Raymond Cottrell and others is enough to put the Dawgs in content for the nation’s No. 1 class later on down the road.

No. 4 Ohio State

Ranking last week: No. 8
Top-ranked commit: Four-star IOL Luke Montgomery
The Skinny: After the No. 4 class in 2022, Ohio State is primed for another chase toward the top of the recruiting rankings. Like Georgia, we’ll probably have to wait a little while for some of the blue-chippers on the Buckeyes’ list. But getting Montgomery, Josh Padilla, four-star TE Ty Lockwood and four-star safety Cedrick Hawkins is a great start.

No. 5 Penn State

Ranking last week: No. 4
Top-ranked commit:  Four-star IOL Alex Birchmeier
The Skinny: Like Notre Dame, Penn State is doing a good job laying the foundation for another elite recruiting class. The Nittany Lions already have eight commits for 2023, including talented four stars like Birchmeier, IOL Jven Williams, TE Neeo Avery and others.

No. 6 Michigan

Ranking last week: No. 11
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Raylen Wilson
The Skinny: The biggest question with the Wolverines will be whether or not Jim Harbaugh flirting with the Minnesota Vikings will come back to bite him in the butt on the recruiting trail. Initially, it hasn’t, and the Wolverines have five early commits. Michigan did see a climb in the team rankings this week after an update in the On3 Consensus player rankings.

No. 7 Oklahoma

Ranking last week: No. 9
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Jackson Arnold
The Skinny: The Sooners at one point had the No. 1 class, including commits from Nelson and Lemon. Then Riley left for USC. But Brent Venables has done a quality job early on with 2023 with Arnold, four-star receiver Ashton Cozart and in-state running back Erik McCarty committing over the past three weeks. Like Michigan, the Sooners also saw bump this week after some players climbed in the On3 Consensus player rankings.

No. 8 Arkansas

Ranking last week: No. 5
Top-ranked commit: Four-star TE Shemar Easter
The Skinny: The Hogs locked up in-state coveted recruit Easter in August of last year and haven’t stopped with their momentum since. Four-star Luke Hasz was previously committed to Oklahoma, and four-star CB Dallas Young was a good early get from Alabama. Now the Hogs are hunting for their quarterback of the class and have their sights set on four-star Avery Johnson. Instate EDGE Quincy Rhodes Jr. also committed this week to the Hogs.

No. 9 Texas A&M

Ranking last week: No. 6
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Eli Holstein
The Skinny: Can the Aggies replicate the success they had in 2023 after signing the best ever class in recruiting history in 2022? It’s going to be tough to match or come close. But there’s no question the Aggies are building the base for another elite class, especially upfront with key early commits from four-star defensive lineman Anthony James and Johnny Bowens.

No. 10 Kentucky

Ranking last week: No. 7
Top-ranked commit: Four-star WR Shamar Porter
The Skinny: While the Wildcats only have three early commits, it’s already shaping up as another banner group for Mark Stoops. UK signed the No. 14 class in 2022 and there’s a good chance the Wildcats can be in the same vicinity after this good start.

No. 11 Texas Tech

Ranking last week: No. 17
Top-ranked commit: Four-star EDGE Isaiah Crawford
The Skinny: Joey McGuire immediately went to work on 2023 prospects after he got hired. It’s paid off. The Red Raiders have 13 early commits for the 2023 class, including Crawford, four-star WR Tyrone West, four-star CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt and coveted quarterback Jake Strong. The Red Raiders climbed quite a bit in the rankings this week, thanks to the addition of four-star safety Brenden Jordan, four-star athlete Jmaury Davis and athlete Marcus Ramon-Edwards.

No. 12 Michigan State

Ranking last week: No. 10
Top-ranked commit: Four-star EDGE Andrew Depaepe
The Skinny: The Spartans went into Iowa to land Andrew Depaepe, which is a big head-to-head win over B1G recruiting rivals. Sparty has also landed its quarterback in the class – three-star Bo Edmundson, who some insiders believe will be ranked in the four-star range soon.

No. 13 Louisville

Ranking last week: No. 13
Top-ranked commit: Four-star QB Pierce Clarkson
The Skinny: Scott Satterfield got a major early 2023 commitment in late January from Clarkson, one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He’s also from California and going to help the Cards recruit in the Golden State. Louisville also has pledges from three quality recruits from Georgia, including three-star safety Jayden Davis.

No. 14 Florida State

Ranking last week: No. 14
Top-ranked commit: Four-star EDGE Lamont Green Jr.
The Skinny: This is going to be an important class for Mike Norvell. Not just from a talent standpoint, but also from a perception standpoint. The Noles took a major black eye when they lost 2022 No. 1, Travis Hunter, to Jackson State. Now FSU must work to rebuild momentum in their backyard against new coaching staffs at Florida and Miami. The good news is that the Noles do have four early commits, including four-star QB Chris Parson.

No. 15 Tennessee

Ranking last week: No. 15
Top-ranked commit: Four-star TE Ethan Davis
The Skinny: Josh Heupel led the Vols to the No. 16 class in 2022, but he’s got his sights set on an even higher ranking in 2023. Davis is one of the top-10 players in Georgia, so that’s a good start. Plus, in-state OT Ayden Bussell has already committed.

No. 16 Boston College

Ranking last week: No. 12
Top-ranked commit: Four-star DL Boubacar Traore
The Skinny: The Eagles have jumped out early the past few classes and faded down the stretch. Jeff Hafley is hoping to turn that around with the 2023 class. It’s a good start with commits from Traore and three-star running back Datrell Jones – both local priority targets. The Eagles did slide a few spots, largely because of updated player rankings in classes ahead of them.

No. 17 Iowa

Ranking last week: No. 19
Top-ranked commit: Four-star ATH Alex Mota
The Skinny: Iowa has five quality 2023 commits on board already. Marco Lainez III is one of the top quarterbacks on the East Coast. Three stars Maddux Borcherding-Johnson and Ben Kueter were good in-state gets to star the class off. And then four-star in-state athlete Alex Mota jumped on board this week, which was another huge early local commitment.

No. 18 Northwestern

Ranking last week: No. 16
Top-ranked commit: Four-star IOL Dylan Senda
The Skinny: Pat Fitzgerald landed a big one early on with Senda. But there’s also a talented local quarterback in the class with Aidan Gray out of Naperville (Ill.) North

No. 19 Baylor

Ranking last week: No. 18
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Christian Brathwaite
The Skinny: Dave Aranda is building a quality 2023 class with eight commits already. The key, as we saw with last year’s crop, is keeping the early commits on board to Signing Day next February. For example, the Bears lost a commitment this week from Daingerfield, Texas, receiver Jakevian Rodgers. But there’s a lot to like about what the Bears have done so far. Keep an eye on QB Austin Novosad. A lot of insiders really like him and think he could compete for four-star status.

No. 20 Cincinnati

Ranking last week: No. 20
Top-ranked commit: Four-star LB Trevor Carter
The Skinny: Carter is one of the top-ranked in-state recruits that Luke Fickell has ever landed. Carter is the sixth-best recruit in Ohio’s 2023 class. Four of the Bearcats’ five commits are from in-state players, including three-star OL A.J. Salley.