College football's early signing period starts on Dec. 15, and coaches are starting to put the foot down on the gas pedal with their recruiting efforts to finish strong.
It has been a unique recruiting process that has gone through a mandated dead period that lasted over a year, official visits in June and now an accelerated coaching carousel with openings at some big programs.
Despite the obstacles, 236 of the ESPN 300 recruits have made a commitment -- including eight of the 15 five-stars, 37 of the top 50 recruits and 73 of the top 100 recruits.
To get you caught up on where things stand, we break down how the 2022 cycle started and how the top five classes have evolved since the spring. We also look at the prospects remaining and what's next for the top teams.
April 14: Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State
This was the first version of the class rankings that had Ohio State with the No. 1-ranked class overall, followed by Georgia at No. 2, LSU, Notre Dame and Penn State.
The Nittany Lions showing up in the top five was significant because the coaches finished outside the top 25 in the class rankings for the 2021 cycle. They got off to a fast start, and quarterback was a main priority for 2022.
The coaches were able to get ESPN 300 quarterback Drew Allar and four-star Beau Pribula committed by the time these rankings came out. The coaches had seven ESPN 300 commitments in the class, led by wide receiver Kaden Saunders. At this point, Penn State had only lost a commitment from ESPN 300 tight end Holden Staes, who eventually committed to Notre Dame.
The Buckeyes had the top class on April 14, though, and a big part of that was landing the No. 1 overall prospect in quarterback Quinn Ewers out of Texas. Ewers had been committed to Texas, decommitted and committed to Ohio State in November 2020. The Ohio State coaches also had ESPN 300 linebacker C.J. Hicks, the No. 25 prospect overall, as well as four other ESPN 300 commitments.
At this stage in the recruiting cycle, LSU was somewhat of a surprise to be holding on to the No. 3 class after going 5-5 in 2020 and dealing with coaching changes in the offseason. In April, LSU had five ESPN 300 commitments, including quarterback Walker Howard. The team probably would have been ranked higher, but it dealt with a few decommitments earlier in the year with safeties Bryan Allen Jr. and Bryce Anderson, corner Khamauri Rogers and defensive lineman Shone Washington.
June 7: Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State
July 1: Ohio State, Notre Dame, LSU, Georgia, Florida State
This update saw some movement in the top five with Notre Dame moving up, Georgia moving back, Penn State moving out and Florida State moving in.
From April 14 to July 1, Notre Dame added two ESPN 300 commitments in linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka, and Staes, which helped knock Penn State out of the top five. The Irish also landed three-stars Donovan Hinish and Ashton Craig.
Florida State added ESPN 300 quarterback A.J. Duffy and six three-star recruits that helped the coaches move into the top five. It wasn't all positive, though, as they also lost commitments from April 14 to July 1, from defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly to quarterback Nicco Marchiol.
Georgia dropped in the rankings after losing commitments from safety Deyon Bouie and defensive lineman Bear Alexander, both prospects in the ESPN 300.
July 16: Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Alabama
Aug. 13: Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma
Penn State had gone on a tear between July 1 and Aug. 13, landing five ESPN 300 recruits and two four-stars. The staff added running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, as well as safety Cristian Driver, the son of Donald Driver.
That, along with the fact that Ewers reclassified into the 2021 class, helped propel Penn State up to the No. 1-ranked class.
Alabama made a big surge in that month and a half as well, adding five-stars Tyler Booker and Jeremiah Alexander, as well as four-stars Shawn Murphy, Antonio Kite, Dayne Shor and Kobe Prentice.
Alabama was starting to surge, and there was a noticeable jump in the rankings from the Crimson Tide. Oklahoma added four ESPN 300 commitments to its class, which was why the Sooners jumped into the top five.
Aug. 25: Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon
Sept. 15: Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Texas, Oregon
Oct. 13: Penn State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon
Oct. 27: Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon
This was the first time since the original rankings were released that a Big Ten team was not holding the No. 1 class, as Georgia shot back up to No. 1 overall and Penn State fell to No. 3.
Georgia was able to get ESPN 300 defensive tackle Bear Alexander back in the class after he decommitted in June. The staff also added ESPN 300 defensive lineman Mykel Williams and tight end Oscar Delp, which helped propel the class up to No. 1.
Alabama added ESPN 300 recruits Trequon Fegans and Elijah Pritchett, but it wasn't enough yet to take the top spot.
At this point, Oregon has also risen and stayed in the top five. The Ducks added ESPN 300 linebacker Devon Jackson, athlete Jalil Tucker and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to move into the No. 5 spot.
1. Alabama
ESPN 300 commitments: 14
Alabama is tied with Notre Dame for the most ESPN 300 commitments in the class with 14, but the Crimson Tide still have a lot of big prospects on the board.
The staff already has two five-stars committed in Booker and Alexander, but are still in the running with five-star corner Domani Jackson, who recently decommitted from USC after taking a visit to Alabama. Jackson is ranked No. 6 overall, and Alabama has a good shot at landing him.
The staff is also in on five-stars Shazz Preston and Devon Campbell, as well as ESPN 300 recruits Denver Harris, Enai White, Shemar James and Anthony Lucas, among others. Alabama is also trying to flip Kiyaunta Goodwin, who is committed to Kentucky.
With so many top targets still on the board, it's not out of the question to think Alabama could finish No. 1 in the rankings.
2. Georgia
ESPN 300 commitments: 12
Georgia's 12 ESPN 300 commitments are tied with Texas A&M and Penn State for fourth most of any FBS program, behind Alabama, Notre Dame and Texas.
The Dawgs also have a large number of high-end targets remaining in this class. It starts with ESPN 300 safety Kamari Wilson, ranked No. 14 overall. Wilson is high on Georgia, and could very well end up in the class.
The staff is also after Shemar James, who recently decommitted from Florida, defensive lineman Christen Miller, offensive lineman Earnest Greene III, cornerback Jaheim Singletary and a few others.
No matter how this cycle finishes, this will be another excellent class for Georgia.
3. Penn State
ESPN 300 commitments: 12
The Nittany Lions have done an excellent job rebounding from a down year in the 2021 class to get themselves back into the top five.
The problem for Penn State is that there likely isn't enough left on their board to make a move up the rankings. Unless something catastrophic were to happen to Alabama or Georgia's classes, it will be difficult to overtake them.
On top of that, the teams just below Penn State are still fighting to move up, as well, and the Nittany Lions could still drop a few spots because of teams moving up. That being said, the staff is still trying to get ESPN 300 linebacker Jaishawn Barham among a few others.
The coaches already have 25 commitments in the class, so there isn't much room to expand.
4. Oklahoma
ESPN 300 commitments: 11
The Sooners have the seventh-most ESPN 300 commitments in the class, but eight of the 11 commitments are ranked in the top 150.
Oklahoma is lurking at No. 4, and the coaches have quite a bit left that could help propel them up the rankings come signing day. With eight top-150 commitments, the coaches already have a lot of high-end recruits committed, but there are still big names out there.
ESPN 300 defensive lineman Chris McClellan and ESPN 300 linebacker Marvin Jones Jr. are two important defensive recruits. Oklahoma has done a good job addressing its defensive deficiencies and already has five defensive commits ranked in the ESPN 300, including five-star defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy.
The staff is still in on ESPN 300 safety Azareyeh Thomas and defensive lineman Hero Kanu. If Oklahoma can finish with most of those targets, the coaches will have a shot at a top-three class.
5. Notre Dame
ESPN 300 commitments: 14
As mentioned above, Notre Dame is tied with Alabama for the most ESPN 300 commitments among all programs. That's a big difference from the last class, when Notre Dame had nine ESPN 300 commitments.
A big part of that change has been the staff's addition of defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, who has helped recruit quite a few of the Irish's commitments to this point.
The staff is working to flip LSU quarterback Walker Howard, as LSU has yet to name a new coach for next season after announcing Ed Orgeron will not return. Howard is an LSU legacy, but he is the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the class and would be a huge get for Notre Dame.
The Irish are also in the mix for Kanu, who is a talented defensive lineman originally from Germany, as well as ESPN 300 safety Xavier Nwankpa, who listed Notre Dame in his top three with Iowa and Ohio State. Brian Kelly and his staff got a big commitment from ESPN 300 offensive lineman Aamil Wagner recently, and Kelly would still like to add ESPN 300 lineman Billy Schrauth as well.
If Notre Dame can finish out the class on the right foot, it likely won't be enough to move to No. 1, but regardless, it's a balanced class that is an improvement over the last cycle.
Other top-five contenders
6. Texas A&M
ESPN 300 commitments: 12
The Aggies have a real shot at catapulting up the rankings as signing day nears. The staff already has the No. 1 recruit committed in Walter Nolen and the No. 1 pocket-passing quarterback in Conner Weigman.
Jimbo Fisher and his staff still has a shot at landing three more five-stars with linebacker Harold Perkins, wide receiver Evan Stewart and defensive lineman Shemar Stewart. Texas A&M is also in on ESPN 300 corner Denver Harris, safety Jacoby Mathews, defensive lineman Anthony Lucas and others.
With the number of prospects still considering the Aggies, they could be another team that could challenge for the No. 1 spot.
7. Texas
ESPN 300 commitments: 13
The Longhorns have the third-most ESPN 300 recruits of any programs. Steve Sarkisian is searching for answers on the field, but his staff has done an impressive job with this first recruiting class.
As of now, six of the 13 ESPN 300 commits are ranked in the top 150, including defensive tackle Jaray Bledsoe, the highest-ranked commitment at No. 54, and safety Bryan Allen Jr., the next-highest commitment at No. 71.
The staff is still in it for five-star offensive lineman Devon Campbell and top-five cornerback Denver Harris and. ESPN 300 offensive lineman Kam Dewberry is one of a handful of other top recruits who have Texas in their top list.
No matter how the rest of the class finishes, this is still going to be a really good first class for Sarkisian and his staff to build off of.
8. Ohio State
ESPN 300 commitments: 10
The Buckeyes might not get the No. 1 class, but it should have an asterisk next to it amid Ewers' reclassification; had he stayed in this class, Ohio State would be ranked much higher than No. 8.
Of the 10 commitments still in the class, seven are ranked in the top 150, so the Buckeyes' class features a lot of talent.
Ryan Day and his staff still have quite a bit left that could get them in the conversation to get back into the top three. Defensive end Omari Abor is the No. 26 prospect and still has Ohio State high on his list.
The Buckeyes are still involved with ESPN 300 defensive lineman Hero Kanu, Caden Curry, Christen Miller, Kiyaunta Goodwin, Xavier Nwankpa and a few other prospects. That is a strong list that could move Ohio State up the board quite a bit in December.
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November 18, 2021 at 06:59PM
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How the top college football recruiting classes have changed in the 2022 cycle - ESPN
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