Breaking down the latest with five-star quarterbacks Arch Manning and Dante Moore, as well as other elite QBs in the 2023 college football recruiting class.
It was another busy weekend for college football recruiting and of course, there was a lot happening with big-time quarterback recruits such as Dante Moore, Arch Manning, and others.
As of right now, just four of the top 10 quarterbacks in the 2023 college football recruiting class have committed and there should be some movement in that area in the next few months.
Quarterbacks tend to make some of the earliest decisions when it comes to college football recruiting and we have seen that already with Tennessee, Oklahoma, and USC already getting pledges. The Trojans have already landed five-star Malachi Nelson and the Vols recently got the verbal commitment of five-star Nicholaus Iamaleava.
There are five total five-star quarterback recruits according to the 247 sports composite rankings and two are committed. However, the biggest prize is still on the board in Arch Manning, while Dante Moore, another five-star is still out there as is Jaden Rashada.
Just about every top-10 quarterback recruit was on a visit this weekend or recently, and here’s an update on each elite QB prospect (top 10) in the 2023 college football recruiting class.
Dante Moore
Dante Moore visited Notre Dame last weekend and the Irish have been surging in his recruitment and now have a strong lead according to the On3 prediction machine.
Yet, there is a long way to go in this recruitment. In-state school Michigan is still in the mix, as are Oregon, LSU, and Ohio State, which hosted Moore for a visit this past weekend.
The Irish still are the favorite and the coaching staff has done a great job of building that relationship but between On3 and 247 sports, there is just one expert projection and that’s because it’s still hard to get a read on this recruitment.
Notre Dame football has to feel good about where it stands, but in college football recruiting, that only means so much until the kid is committed and signed.
Arch Manning visits Alabama
The recruiting tour of Arch Manning continued this weekend as he visited the campus of Alabama. Manning was in Texas visiting the Longhorns before that and these visits are going to play a key role in his decision.
Prior to visiting Texas, Manning was in Georgia, and for all intents and purposes, it feels like his recruitment is coming down to the Bulldogs, Longhorns, and Crimson Tide.
LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida are some other schools that have been mentioned as being in the mix for Arch Manning but they just don’t seem to be serious options at this point and that’s reflected in the On3.com prediction machine.
Things have gone back and forth but Alabama is back in the lead over Texas at 35 percent to 31. Remember, On3 uses expert picks but its prediciton machine is based on other factors too such as visits. So it’s more comprehensive.
Georgia is also right there at 27 percent so don’t forget about the Bulldogs. All three programs have something unique to sell: Alabama with its proven history of developing QBs; Georgia can sell its recent championship and likely opening in 2023 at QB, plus Texas can sell Arch on being the guy to finally bring Texas a national championship again.
It’s hard to pick out a favorite. My guess right now is Alabama but things feel very fluid.
Miami, Oregon making move for Jaden Rashada
Jaden Rashada is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the entire 2023 college football recruiting class and probably isn’t talked about enough.
While Alabama and some other schools were putting all their eggs in the Arch Manning basket, Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have done some really good work recruiting Rashada, who is ranked 31st overall according to the 247 sports composite rankings.
However, the Ole Miss advantage with Rashada seems to be waning. The Rebels were the big leader according to the 0n3.com prediction machine but now their percentage of landing the five-star quarterback from California, who is 6-foot-5, 173 pounds, is 48 percent.
Miami has been making a move in this and that’s not a surprise with the way Mario Cristobal used to recruit the West coast. The Hurricanes hosted him this weekend but he’ll head to Oregon later this month. Both the Ducks and Canes are at 22 percent and rising.
However, Oregon is also making a push with Dante Moore and has moved ahead of Michigan in the On3 prediction machine percentages, so don’t forget about the Ducks there either.
Christopher Vizzina
After not making the cut in the Arch Manning sweepstakes, the Clemson Tigers went to work on finding another top-10 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class and that appears to have worked with Christopher Vizzina.
Vizzina is ranked as a four-star prospect but is fifth overall among quarterbacks according to the On3.com rankings and his prediction machine has seen the Tigers surge recently with momentum as they now have a 47 percent chance of getting his commitment.
On the heels of a visit this past weekend, that percentage could move even higher.
Dylan Lonergan suitors expand
One of the most interesting quarterback recruitments in the 2023 class is that of Dylan Lonergan, who was also in Alabama over the weekend at the same time as Arch Manning.
Nick Saban already said that Alabama won’t take a quarterback until Arch makes up his mind and right now, South Carolina is the leader according to the 0n3.com prediction machine. However, the prospect from Georgia also has interest from the Bulldogs, Ohio State, and many others.
Georgia is lurking with a few of these quarterbacks ranked slightly lower than Manning and if UGA really goes all-in with Lonergan, you have to wonder if South Carolina and others would be able to win that battle. Ohio State is a threat too but Lonergan is one that’s waiting for the Manning domino to fall unless he decides to get ahead of it and pledge to the Gamecocks.
Eli Holstein is also in a wait-and-see mode
Holstein decommitted from Texas A&M and Alabama is seen as the favorite, if, of course, Arch Manning doesn’t wind up in the class.
Texas A&M is still in the mix too and some others SEC are a factor too. But it feels like this could be the No. 2 option for Alabama if it misses on Manning, although LSU now has a 27-percent chance of winning this recruitment, and the Tigers, who aren’t sitting very well with any of the other elite 2023 quarterbacks, would be smart to push for a commitment.
Yet, it’s hard to see it happening before Arch Manning makes his decision. That’s just where things stand right now.