It's a little later in the calendar year than college football fans are accustomed to, but Christmas has once again come for those awaiting the newest players to sign with their respective programs.
The early signing period is here, running Wednesday through Friday. As always, fans will wait with bated breath on whether their longtime recruiting targets will honor their verbal or break their hearts.
Another commonality from previous early signing periods: Alabama is challenging for the top overall class alongside No. 2 Georgia, No. 5 LSU and No. 9 Tennessee, all SEC programs within the top 10 recruiting classes — for now. Elsewhere, teams such as Texas and Miami have experienced recruiting booms under Steve Sarkisian and Mario Cristobal, respectively.
MORE: AllSportsPeople 2022 College Football All-America Team
Speaking of the Longhorns, they may have the biggest prize of the 2023 recruiting class: No. 1 overall recruit Arch Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli. The New Orleans Isidore Newman quarterback is expected to enroll early for the Longhorns.
That said, there are several unclaimed recruits who could make — or break — the hearts of thousands of college football fans nationwide.
AllSportsPeople is here to track all the team recruiting rankings and signings — including surprise flips — throughout the 72-hour early signing period:
MORE: Tracking Deion Sanders' Colorado recruits
Texas lands nation's top prospect
It was a big day for the Longhorns, who secured the signing of Arch Manning, the No. 1 QB and No. 1 overall prospect in the country according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Welcome Home, @ArchManning 🤘#AllGas23 pic.twitter.com/kHwJQSX59h
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 21, 2022
But their day got even better from there. Texas also got signings from Anthony Hill (No. 1 LB, No. 19 overall) and Cedric Baxter Jr. (No. 1 RB, No. 21 overall). That means the top quarterback, running back and linebacker prospects in the country will all be suiting up in Austin next year.
USC gets two big signings on offense
The Trojans also had a fine signing day, landing two of the best offensive prospects in this year's class.
Great day to be a Trojan ✌️ https://t.co/DcZKKnNlS4
— malachi nelson (@Malachi) December 21, 2022
First up was Malachi Nelson (No. 2 QB, No. 3 overall), who was then followed shortly after by Zachariah Branch (No. 1 WR, No. 5 overall). Looks like Lincoln Riley will have plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal in the years to come.
Alabama leads the way
As expected, the Crimson Tide have the best incoming class in the country, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. They sit just ahead of SEC rival Georgia, with Miami, Texas and Ohio State rounding out the top 5.
Nick Saban was on a mission right before and on Early Signing Day.
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) December 21, 2022
Alabama’s latest commits:
5-Star Edge Rusher Keon Keeley
5-Star OL Kadyn Proctor
5-Star DL James Smith
5-Star LB Qua Russaw
National Signing Day: Top 100 commits from early signing period
Player ratings reflect 247Sports Composite rankings.
| Player (Position rank) | Star rating | Committed to | Signed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Arch Manning (No. 1 QB) | 5-star | Texas | Texas |
| 2. Cormani McClain (No. 1 CB) | 5-star | Miami (FL) | |
| 3. Malachi Nelson (No. 2 QB) | 5-star | USC | USC |
| 4. Nicholaus Iamaleava (No. 3 QB) | 5-star | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| 5. Zachariah Branch (No. 1 WR) | 5-star | USC | USC |
| 6. Caleb Downs (No. 1 S) | 5-star | Alabama | Alabama |
| 7. Jackson Arnold (No. 4 QB) | 5-star | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 8. Francis Mauigoa (No. 1 OT) | 5-star | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) |
| 9. David Hicks (No. 1 DL) | 5-star | Texas A&M | |
| 10. Keon Keeley (No. 1 EDGE) | 5-star | Alabama | Alabama |
| 11. Dante Moore (No. 5 QB) | 5-star | UCLA | UCLA |
| 12. Kadyn Proctor (No. 2 OT) | 5-star | Alabama | |
| 13. Damon Wilson (No. 2 EDGE) | 5-star | Georgia | Georgia |
| 14. Peyton Bowen (No. 2 S) | 5-star | Oregon | |
| 15. Jurrion Dickey (No. 2 WR) | 5-star | Oregon | Oregon |
| 16. Nyckoles Harbor (No. 1 ATH) | 5-star | — | |
| 17. Duce Robinson (No. 1 TE) | 5-star | — | |
| 18. James Smith (No. 2 DL) | 5-star | Alabama | |
| 19. Anthony Hill (No. 1 LB) | 5-star | Texas | Texas |
| 20. Samson Okunlola (No. 3 OT) | 5-star | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) |
| 21. Cedric Baxter Jr. (No. 1 RB) | 5-star | Texas | Texas |
| 22. Qua Russaw (No. 3 EDGE) | 5-star | Alabama | |
| 23. Desmond Ricks (No. 2 CB) | 5-star | — | |
| 24. Rueben Owens (No. 2 RB) | 5-star | Texas A&M | Texas A&M |
| 25. Justice Haynes (No. 3 RB) | 5-star | Alabama | |
| 26. Adepoju Adebawore (No. 4 EDGE) | 5-star | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 27. Hykeem Williams (No. 3 WR) | 5-star | Florida State | |
| 28. Zalance Heard (No. 4 OT) | 5-star | LSU | |
| 29. Brandon Inniss (No. 4 WR) | 5-star | Ohio State | |
| 30. J'ven Williams (No. 5 OT) | 5-star | Penn State | Penn State |
| 31. Matayo Uiagalelei (No. 5 EDGE) | 5-star | Oregon | |
| 32. AJ Harris (No. 3 CB) | 5-star | Georgia | |
| 33. Peter Woods (No. 3 DL) | 5-star | Clemson | Clemson |
| 34. Makai Lemon (No. 5 WR) | 5-star | USC | |
| 35. Johntay Cook II (No. 6 WR) | 5-star | Texas | Texas |
| 36. Samuel M'Pemba (No. 6 EDGE) | 4-star | Georgia | |
| 37. Dashawn Womack (No. 7 EDGE) | 4-star | LSU | LSU |
| 38. Jahlil Hurley (No. 4 CB) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 39. Christopher Vizzina (No. 6 QB) | 4-star | Clemson | Clemson |
| 40. Jalen Hale (No. 7 WR) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 41. Derek Williams (No. 3 S) | 4-star | Texas | Texas |
| 42. Malik Muhammad (No. 5 CB) | 4-star | Texas | |
| 43. Shelton Sampson Jr. (No. 8 WR) | 4-star | LSU | |
| 44. Alex Birchmeier (No. 1 IOL) | 4-star | Penn State | Penn State |
| 45. Noah Rogers (No. 9 WR) | 4-star | Ohio State | |
| 46. Joenel Aguero (No. 4 S) | 4-star | Georgia | Georgia |
| 47. Suntarine Perkins (No. 2 LB) | 4-star | Ole Miss | |
| 48. Richard Young (No. 4 RB) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 49. Charles Jagusah (No. 6 OT) | 4-star | Notre Dame | |
| 50. Chase Bisontis (No. 2 IOL) | 4-star | Texas A&M | |
| 51. Daevin Hobbs (No. 4 DL) | 4-star | Tennessee | |
| 52. Luke Montgomery (No. 3 IOL) | 4-star | Ohio State | |
| 53. Raylen Wilson (No. 3 LB) | 4-star | Georgia | |
| 54. Tony Mitchell (No. 5 S) | 4-star | Alabama | Alabama |
| 55. Vic Burley (No. 5 DL) | 4-star | Clemson | |
| 56. Jaden Rashada (No. 7 QB) | 4-star | Florida | |
| 57. Monroe Freeling (No. 7 OT) | 4-star | Georgia | Georgia |
| 58. Javien Toviano (No. 6 CB) | 4-star | LSU | |
| 59. Yhonzae Pierre (No. 8 EDGE) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 60. Kelby Collins (No. 6 DL) | 4-star | Florida | |
| 61. Carnell Tate (No. 10 WR) | 4-star | Ohio State | Ohio State |
| 62. Jordan Renaud (No. 7 DL) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 63. Troy Bowles (No. 4 LB) | 4-star | Georgia | |
| 64. Bravion Rogers (No. 7 CB) | 4-star | Texas A&M | |
| 65. Jason Moore (No. 8 DL) | 4-star | Ohio State | |
| 66. Jaquaize Pettaway (No. 11 WR) | 4-star | Oklahoma | |
| 67. Ryan Niblett (No. 12 WR) | 4-star | Texas | |
| 68. Jeremiyah Love (No. 5 RB) | 4-star | Notre Dame | |
| 69. Avery Johnson (No. 8 QB) | 4-star | Kansas State | |
| 70. Rueben Bain (No. 9 EDGE) | 4-star | Miami (FL) | |
| 71. Chandavian Bradley (No. 10 EDGE) | 4-star | Tennessee | |
| 72. Jayden Wayne (No. 11 EDGE) | 4-star | Miami (FL) | |
| 73. Jordan Hall (No. 9 DL) | 4-star | Michigan State | Michigan State |
| 74. Eli Holstein (No. 9 QB) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 75. Caleb Herring (No. 12 EDGE) | 4-star | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| 76. Braylan Shelby (No. 13 EDGE) | 4-star | USC | |
| 77. Wilkin Formby (No. 8 OT) | 4-star | Alabama | |
| 78. CJ Allen (No. 5 LB) | 4-star | Georgia | |
| 79. Calvin Simpson-Hunt (No. 8 CB) | 4-star | Ohio State | |
| 80. Cayden Green (No. 9 OT) | 4-star | Oklahoma | |
| 81. Keldric Faulk (No. 10 DL) | 4-star | Auburn | |
| 82. Bai Jobe (No. 14 EDGE) | 4-star | Michigan State | Michigan State |
| 83. Jalen Brown (No. 13 WR) | 4-star | LSU | |
| 84. Malachi Coleman (No. 2 ATH) | 4-star | Nebraska | |
| 85. Tyler Williams (No. 14 WR) | 4-star | Georgia | Georgia |
| 86. Rodrick Pleasant (No. 9 CB) | 4-star | — | |
| 87. Dalton Brooks (No. 3 ATH) | 4-star | Texas A&M | |
| 88. Gabriel Harris (No. 15 EDGE) | 4-star | Georgia | |
| 89. Makari Vickers (No. 6 S) | 4-star | Oklahoma | |
| 90. Ayden Williams (No. 15 WR) | 4-star | Ole Miss | |
| 91. Jacobe Johnson (No. 4 ATH) | 4-star | Oklahoma | |
| 92. Tony Rojas (No. 6 LB) | 4-star | Penn State | Penn State |
| 93. Samuel Omosigho (No. 7 LB) | 4-star | Oklahoma | |
| 94. Aidan Mizell (No. 16 WR) | 4-star | Florida | |
| 95. DeAndre Moore Jr. (No. 17 WR) | 4-star | Louisville | |
| 96. Drayk Bowen (No. 8 LB) | 4-star | Notre Dame | |
| 97. Tomarrion Parker (No. 11 DL) | 4-star | Clemson | |
| 98. Dijon Johnson (No. 7 S) | 4-star | Florida | |
| 99. Jelani Thurman (No. 2 TE) | 4-star | Ohio State | |
| 100. Christian Gray (No. 10 CB) | 4-star | Notre Dame |
MORE: College football bowl picks, predictions for all 41 postseason games in 2022-23
National Signing Day: Top 10 classes from early signing period
Team ratings reflect 247Sports Composite rankings.
| Rank (Conference rank) | Commits | 5-stars | Top-100 | 4-stars | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Alabama (No. 1 SEC) | 27 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 326.06 |
| 2. Georgia (No. 2 SEC) | 25 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 303.99 |
| 3. Miami (No. 1 ACC) | 26 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 294.85 |
| 4. Texas (No. 1 Big 12) | 21 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 292.60 |
| 5. Ohio State (No. 1 Big Ten) | 20 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 287.66 |
| 6. LSU (No. 3 SEC) | 25 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 286.27 |
| 7. Oklahoma (No. 2 Big 12) | 24 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 281.53 |
| 8. Notre Dame (No. 1 Independent) | 25 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 280.82 |
| 9. Oregon (No. 1 Pacific-12) | 26 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 280.56 |
| 10. Tennessee (No. 4 SEC) | 25 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 277.39 |