College football recruiting remains a marathon and not a sprint.
Over the coming months, rankings will change, especially with challenges that continue to be presented because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One thing is clear, though: There is no one path to success on the recruiting trail. Alabama‘s 2021 class, for example, finished first nationally but took some time to develop and didn’t crack the top 10 until last July.
Conversely, Tennessee and Minnesota were examples of classes that came out the gate ranked among the top 10 a year ago before ultimately landing at Nos. 19 and 31, respectively, on national signing day in February.
Ohio State has shown it’s possible to steer a strong start to an equally strong finish, never falling below No. 2 during the 2021 cycle. Now, the Buckeyes are striving to exhibit equally impressive consistency for 2022.
While time will tell how this class takes shape, here is a look at 10 classes to keep an eye on as they are leading the pack in the early stages of the 2022 cycle.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 9
Top offensive commit: QB Quinn Ewers (No. 1)
Top defensive commit: CB Jaheim Singletary (No. 32)
The Buckeyes have not signed a No. 1 overall class in the ESPN 300 era, but they have come close with three No. 2-ranked classes over the previous five cycles, and they are indicating they will be in the mix at the top once again.
Leading the class is Ewers, the top-rated prospect in the ESPN Jr. 300 who decommitted from Texas in October and committed to the Buckeyes in November. A poised player with a quick, smooth release and the arm strength to make all the throws, he headlines an already deep and talented class that includes WR Caleb Burton, a fellow Texan, who is ranked No. 42 overall.
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 commits: 7
Top offensive commit: QB Walker Howard (No. 30)
Top defensive commit: CB JaDarian Rhym (No. 128)
Despite struggling during the 2020 season, LSU has been able to maintain a strong presence on the recruiting trail, having just signed the No. 6 class. The Tigers are now off to one of the hottest starts for 2022.
Always tough to beat on their home turf, they have commitments from several key in-state prospects, led by Howard and top-10 OT Will Campbell. A lot of eyes will be on New Orleans area high school Isidore Newman, as it’s home to coveted uncommitted 2023 QB Arch Manning, but in the more immediate future, the Tigers have had 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 A.J. Johnson, one of Manning’s big-play targets.
Building off their tradition of fielding excellent defensive backs, LSU already holds commitments from three four-star cornerbacks including the lengthy and the instinctive Rhym.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 6
Top offensive commit: QB Gunner Stockton (No. 41)
Top defensive commit: DE Tyre West (No. 8)
Georgia has strung together five straight top-three classes and looks ready to extend that streak to six. Its early success is built off in-state talent, as the Bulldogs’ class includes commitments from four of the state’s top-10 prospects.
One of those key home-state pickups is Stockton, a onetime South Carolina verbal who is a strong-armed passer and helps quickly strengthen the talent and depth at that position. Stockton will join fellow in-state 2021 four-star QB Brock Vandagriff in Athens.
The foundation of this class is currently on defense with several four-star defensive line additions, led by West, the top-rated player in the state. Deyon Bouie could play on either side of the ball but projects to defense. He and fellow in-state CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew give Georgia two ESPN Jr. 300 commitments in the secondary.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 6
Top offensive commit: QB Maalik Murphy (No. 16)
Top defensive commit: S Bryan Allen Jr. (No. 78)
After guiding one of the most high-powered attacks in college football as offensive coordinator at Alabama, Steve Sarkisian is now assembling his first full class as head coach at Texas.
Offense defines this group early on. The Longhorns went out west to California for their quarterback, landing Murphy, a prospect with limited high school game experience thus far but someone who possesses some impressive physical traits, including a big arm.
The class also features some big-play offensive targets from in-state: top-10 wide receivers Evan Stewart and Armani Winfield and running back Jaydon Blue, an explosive runner who also has good ball skills.
Defense is not being overlooked either, and the Longhorns recently added one of the top defensive back prospects in the state in Allen, a top-five safety who is fluid with good instincts.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 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 is amassing. The Sooners signed one of the best wide receiver classes in the 2021 cycle, and several more top offensive weapons are on board for 2022.
The class includes three ESPN Jr. 300 top-10 wide receivers: in-state prospect Shettron, Jordan Hudson out of Texas and Luther Burden, a fast and smooth target out of Illinois. Adding to the offensive firepower is top-three RB Raleek Brown, a sudden and speedy scatback-type who can be dangerous in space.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 7
Top offensive commit: OT Drew Shelton (No. 97)
Top defensive commit: DE Ken Talley (No. 103)
The Nittany Lions’ 2021 class never reached higher than No. 15 and ultimately finished outside the top 25, but they are showing signs of a stronger year on the recruiting trail for 2022.
The early success is built off 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 prospect to watch, as he possesses some traits in the mold of former Penn State QB Trace McSorley. Head coach James Franklin is on his way to assembling one of the most talented groups of pass catchers in this class, especially if ESPN Jr. 300 athlete Mehki Flowers is utilized at wide receiver.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 5
Top offensive commit: OT P.J. Williams (No. 95)
Top defensive commit: DE Malick Sylla (No. 37)
The Aggies finished the 2021 cycle strong and are carrying that momentum into the 2022 class. All their commitments have come in the new year, and kicking off that run was Sylla, an in-state defensive end with a good first step and nice upside.
Adding him to a talented D-line group that was just signed, led by five-star Shemar Turner, can give Texas A&M a formidable defensive front. The Aggies also recently added Sylla’s high school teammate in ESPN Jr. 300 defender Bobby Taylor, a lengthy and quick-footed cornerback.
They have their QB on board in the early going in Conner Weigman, a powerful thrower with good accuracy.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 5
Top offensive commit: OT Joey Tanona (No. 87)
Top defensive commit: DE Tyson Ford (No. 148)
The Fighting Irish are making an early push for back-to-back top-10 classes. Having fielded one of the top offensive line units during the 2020 season, they’re working to keep that unit a strength with a pair of ESPN Jr. 300 offensive tackle commits in Tanona, an in-state big man, and Ty Chan.
Running back Jadarian Price not only possesses good speed, but is also a tough runner who can produce after contact. The four-star Ford, a defensive lineman with a nice initial burst as well good agility, leads several commitments projected to the front seven.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 3
Top offensive commit: QB Nicco Marchiol (No. 231)
Top defensive commit: CB Travis Hunter (No. 19)
The Seminoles have had struggles at 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 rose during his junior season, as he also demonstrated the type of mobility to present problems as a runner as well.
The Seminoles also have landed one of the top defensive prospects in this class in Hunter, who possesses an excellent blend of speed, quickness, length and toughness. The addition of top-five athlete Sam McCall, who is an explosive player that can be a sideline-to-sideline presence, can give the Seminoles two big-time playmakers in their secondary. Among good early defensive pickups are a pair of four-star in-state defensive linemen in Nyjalik Kelly and Aaron Hester.
ESPN Jr. 300 commits: 2
Top offensive commit: WR Taylor Groves (four stars)
Top defensive commit: CB William Johnson (No. 29)
The Wolverines signed the No. 2 class in the Big Ten for the 2021 cycle, and they remain near the top within the conference early on this time around.
The secondary has benefited with two strong pickups in Johnson and fellow ESPN 300 prospect Kody Jones. The rangy and heady Johnson is a key commitment, as he is not only among the top five cornerback prospects in the class, but is also the top-rated player in the state of Michigan. Jones, who possesses excellent quickness, is listed as an athlete but projects to cornerback.
Michigan has two four-star commitments out of Tennessee in Jones and Groves, who is a lengthy, reliable target with his ball skills. TE Marlin Klein is a commit to keep an eye on. Originally from Germany but now playing his high school football in Georgia, he is a prospect with promising upside; at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, he displays the physical tools to grow into a versatile and physical offensive weapon.