Recruiting college football remains a marathon, not a sprint.
In the coming months, the rankings will change, especially with challenges that continue to arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, one thing is clear: there is no one road to success on the recruiting path. For example, Alabama’s 2021 class finished first nationally, but it took some time to develop and didn’t crack the top 10 until July.
Conversely, Tennessee and Minnesota were examples of classes emerging from the gate a year ago and making it into the top 10, before finally landing at Nos. 19 and 31, respectively, on National Signing Day in February.
Ohio State has shown that it is possible to send a strong start to an equally strong finish, and never get below number 2 during the 2021 cycle. Now the Buckeyes are aiming for an equally impressive consistency for 2022.
While time will tell how this class takes shape, here’s a look at 10 classes to keep an eye out for as they lead the pack in the early stages of the 2022 cycle.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 9
Top offensive commit: QB Quinn Ewers (No. 1)
Top defensive commit: CB Jaheim Singletary (No. 32)
The Buckeyes did not sign an overall No. 1 class in the ESPN 300 era, but they’ve come close with three No. 2 classes in the past five cycles, and they indicate that they’ll be at the top of the mix once . again.
Leader of the class is Ewers, the top-rated prospect in the ESPN Jr. 300 who was fired from Texas in October and committed to the Buckeyes in November. A balanced player with a quick, smooth release and the arm strength to make all throws, he headlines an already deep and talented class with WR Caleb Burton, a fellow Texan, who is number 42 overall.
The defense is well represented with a handful of ESPN Jr. 300 commits projected to that side of the ball, including a pair of top-12 cornerbacks in Singletary and Jyaire Brown.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 7
Top offensive commit: QB Walker Howard (No. 30)
Top defensive commit: CB JaDarian Rhym (No. 128)
Despite struggles during the 2020 season, LSU has managed to maintain a strong presence on the recruiting path, having just signed the No. 6 class. The Tigers are now on their way to one of the hottest starts for 2022.
Always hard to beat on their own turf, they have commitments from several key potential clients led by Howard and top 10 OT Will Campbell. Many eyes will be on Isidore Newman High School in the New Orleans area, as it is home to the coveted non-dedicated 2023 QB Arch Manning, but in the more near future, the Tigers are having success at that school for 2022, landing teammates OT Bo Bordelon, an aggressive and flexible big man whose father was an All-SEC offensive lineman at LSU, and WR AJ Johnson, one of Manning’s big targets.
Building on their tradition of handling excellent defensive backs, LSU has already made commitments from three four-star cornerbacks, including the tall and the instinctive Rhym.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 6
Top offensive commit: QB Gunner Stockton (# 41)
Top defensive commit: THE Tire West (No. 8)
Georgia has rounded up five consecutive top three classes and looks set to expand that streak to six. Its early success is based on talent in the state, as the Bulldogs class includes commitments from four of the state’s top 10 prospects.
One of those major home-state pickups is Stockton, a one-off South Carolina verbal who is a highly armed passer and quickly helps bolster the talent and depth in that position. Stockton will join fellow in-state 2021 four-star QB Brock Vandagriff in Athens.
The base of this class is currently on the defensive with several four-star defense line additions, led by West, the highest-rated player in the state. Deyon Bouie could play on both sides of the ball, but projects into the defense. He and his fellow in-state CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew give Georgia two ESPN Jr. 300 liabilities in secondary.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 6
Top offensive commit: QB Maalik Murphy (No. 16)
Top defensive commit: S Bryan Allen Jr. (no.78)
After guiding one of the most powerful strikes in college football as a strike coordinator in Alabama, Steve Sarkisian is now gathering his first full class as a head coach in Texas.
Violation defined this group early on. The Longhorns headed west to California for their quarterback, landing Murphy, a prospect with limited high school gaming experience so far, but someone with some impressive physical traits, including a big arm.
The class also features some big in-state offensive targets: top 10 wide receivers Evan Stewart and Armani Winfield and running Jaydon Blue, an explosive runner who also has good ball skills.
Defense isn’t overlooked either, and the Longhorns recently added one of the best defensive back prospects in the state in Allen, a top five security fluid with good instincts.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 5
Top offensive commit: WR Talyn Shettron (No. 13)
Top defensive commit: OLB Kobe McKinzie (No. 81)
Lincoln Riley may need to figure out a way to incorporate a second football into his offensive attack with the depth of playmakers he accumulates. The Sooners signed one of the best broad receiver classes in the 2021 cycle, and a number of top offensive weapons are still on board for 2022.
The class includes three ESPN Jr. 300 top-10 wide receivers: in-state prospect Shettron, Jordan Hudson from Texas and Luther Burden, a fast and smooth target from Illinois. Added to the attacking firepower is the top three RB Raleek Brown, a sudden and fast scatback type that can be dangerous in space.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 7
Top offensive commit: OT Drew Shelton (No. 97)
Top defensive commit: DE Ken Talley (No. 103)
The Nittany Lions’ 2021 class never reached above No. 15, eventually finishing outside the top 25, but they are showing signs of a stronger year on the recruitment path for 2022.
Its early success is based on in-state talent with commitments from five of the top 10 players in Pennsylvania, led by Shelton, who will play his senior year at IMG Academy in Florida, and Talley, who is an explosive defender with a good motor. . .
QB Beau Pribula is a potential one to watch as he owns some properties in the form of former Penn State QB Trace McSorley. Head coach James Franklin is on his way to assemble one of the most talented groups of catchers in this class, especially as ESPN Jr. 300 athlete Mehki Flowers is used with a wide receiver.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 5
Top offensive commit: OT PJ Williams (No. 95)
Top defensive commit: FROM Malick Sylla (No. 37)
The Aggies closed the 2021 cycle strongly, carrying that momentum into the 2022 class. All their commitments have come in the new year, and that run kicked off was Sylla, a defensive end in the state with a good first step and a nice advantage.
By adding him to a talented D-line group that has just been signed, led by five-star Shemar Turner, Texas A&M can get a formidable defensive front. The Aggies also recently added Sylla’s high school teammate to ESPN Jr. 300 defender Bobby Taylor, a long and fast cornerback.
They have their QB on board in the beginning of Conner Weigman, a powerful pitcher with good accuracy.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 5
Top offensive commit: OT Joey Tanona (No. 87)
Top defensive commit: VAN Tyson Ford (No. 148)
The Fighting Irish are pushing for back-to-back top-10 classes early on. Having drafted one of the best line of attack units during the 2020 season, they are working to keep that unit strength with a pair of ESPN Jr. 300 offensive tackles in Tanona, a big man in the state, and Ty Chan.
Running back Jadarian Price not only has good speed, but is also a tough runner who can produce after contact. The four-star Ford, a defensive lineman with a nice initial blaze and good agility, leads several commitments projected to the front seven.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 3
Top offensive commit: QB Nicco Marchiol (No. 231)
Top defensive commit: CB Travis Hunter (No. 19)
The Seminoles have struggled with the quarterback in recent years, but Mike Norvell has quickly secured his passer for the 2022 cycle in Marchiol. A lefty with a quick release and good accuracy, his stock surged during his junior season as he also demonstrated the type of mobility that also posed problems as a runner.
The Seminoles have also put in one of the best defensive prospects in its class in Hunter, which has an excellent blend of speed, speed, length and toughness. The addition of top-five athlete Sam McCall, who is an explosive player who can be a sideline, could give the Seminoles two great playmakers in their secondary. Among the good early defensive pickups are a pair of four-star in-state defensive linemen in Nyjalik Kelly and Aaron Hester.
ESPN Jr. 300 undertakes: 2
Top offensive commit: WR Taylor Groves (four stars)
Top defensive commit: CB William Johnson (No. 29)
The Wolverines signed Class No. 2 in the Big Ten for the 2021 cycle, and they are staying near the top of the conference early on.
The secondary has benefited with two strong pickups in Johnson and fellow ESPN 300 prospect Kody Jones. The lean and boisterous Johnson is a major dedication, as he is not only among the top five cornerback prospects in the class, but is also the highest rated player in the state of Michigan. Jones, who has excellent speed, is listed as an athlete but projects to corner.
Michigan has two Tennessee four-star commitments in Jones and Groves, who is a long-term, reliable target with his ball skills. TE Marlin Klein is a commitment to keep an eye on. Originally from Germany, he now plays high school football in Georgia and is a prospect with promising benefits; Weighing in at 1.86 meters, 220 pounds, it displays the physical tools to grow into a versatile and physical assault weapon.