The schools that landed the standouts and sleepers at each position in 2023 recruiting
College football‘s 2023 recruiting cycle has come and gone, with Alabama signing the No. 1 class for the eighth time in the Nick Saban era.
The Crimson Tide locked up the No. 1-ranked prospect at four different positions, and while quarterback was not one of those, they might have brought in the most impressive group of quarterbacks this cycle.
Here, Tom VanHaaren, Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert analyze the teams that stood out in the 2023 recruiting cycle, breaking down the schools that landed the highest-ranked prospect at each position, the schools that had the most impressive group at each position and a school with a sleeper haul.
Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
DE | DT | LB | CB | S
Quarterback
Team with the highest-ranked QB: USC (Malachi Nelson, No. 1 overall). Nelson is such a naturally fluid thrower of the football. He can change arm angles and make all the throws. At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, he has tremendous physical upside to get bigger and stronger, which will only enhance his innate talents.
With the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams back in 2023, we expect Nelson to compete to be the backup, eventually play in four games and redshirt, which is the ideal situation for any quarterback regardless of how talented he is. — Luginbill
Team with the most impressive QB haul: Alabama. The Crimson Tide didn’t use the transfer portal for a quarterback to replace Bryce Young, so the coaching staff made sure they added two high school prospects in the 2023 class. Alabama is one of a few teams to add two quarterbacks and the only team with two ESPN 300 commits.
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Andrea Adelson
The father of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard was on the sideline Saturday for the Seminoles’ game against East Texas A&M.
Earl Pritchard and another family member were on the sideline wearing his son’s No. 35 jersey. Ethan Pritchard remains hospitalized in Tallahassee after surviving a gunshot wound to the head last weekend.
Prayers up. pic.twitter.com/NCTZyoxiTV
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) September 6, 2025
Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. brought out a No. 35 jersey to midfield for the coin toss, and Florida State players wore No. 35 wristbands to honor their teammate.
All Garnet with the Gold lids
Continuing to think about Ethan 🙏🏼#NoleFamily | #KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/FD6GSNpo5F
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) September 6, 2025
#NoleFamily 🍢 pic.twitter.com/HSTjx9e7xp
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) September 6, 2025
Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. wore a T-shirt with Pritchard’s face on it during pregame warmups.
According to Earl Pritchard, Ethan Pritchard was driving his aunt home when he was shot in the back of the head in Havana, Florida, 16 miles from Tallahassee, on Sunday night.
The Seminoles routed East Texas A&M 77-3 on Saturday, after which coach Mike Norvell presented Earl Pritchard with the game ball, and asked him to break the rock – a tradition generally given to the player of the game after each Seminoles victory.
💛♥️ #NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/kg2kJtMNRA
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) September 6, 2025
Norvell grew emotional as he discussed Pritchard during his postgame media availability.
“The way that he plays the game … he loves it, he absolutely loves it. To know that right now that’s taken away from him in a senseless act, you don’t always know why you have to go through things in life but I do believe God has his hand over Ethan and this football team,” Norvell said.
“To have Earl here today – He’s a wonderful man, and being with him I know it’s so very hard. I know it’s hard for anybody to have to go through, but he told me early in this week, ‘I know where my boy wants to be so I’m going to go stand in his place for him.'”
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams is not expected to play against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday as he works through the protocol from a concussion suffered against Florida State, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Williams, a preseason Associated Press All-American, was helped off the field midway through the fourth quarter of the 31-17 loss last Saturday after his helmet slammed into the ground following his third dropped pass of the game. Florida State safety Earl Little was flagged for targeting on the play, but the penalty was overturned after review.
Williams had five receptions for 30 yards before leaving the game. As a freshman in 2024, Williams led Alabama with 865 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
“This week will be a little trickier with him getting limited opportunities,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday. “But that’s going to allow someone else to step up and kind of continue to figure out the dynamics of how we feel with our receiving core and the people that should be out there.”
Wide receiver Isaiah Horton, who left against the Seminoles with a lower body injury but returned, is expected to play against Louisiana-Monroe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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