Recruiting college football remains a marathon and not a sprint.
In the coming months, the ranking will change, especially with challenges that continue to arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One thing is clear, though: there is no way to success on the recruitment path. The Alabama 2021 class, for example, finished first nationally, but took some time to develop and did not break the top 10 until last July.
Instead, Tennessee and Minnesota were examples of classes that came out on top in the top 10 a year ago, before landing at no. 19 and 31, respectively, on the day of the national signing in February.
The state of Ohio has shown that it is possible to lead a strong start to an equally strong end, without ever falling below number 2 during the 202 cycle. Now, the Buckeyes are striving to present an equally impressive consistency for 2022.
As time shows us how this class is shaping up, here’s a look at 10 classes to keep an eye on as they lead the way in the early stages of the 2022 cycle.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 9
Top offensive committee: QB Quinn Ewers (no. 1)
Top Defense Committee: CB Jaheim Singletary (no. 32)
The Buckeyes did not sign a No. 1 overall class in the ESPN 300 era, but came close with three 2nd-place finishes in the last five rounds and indicate they will be in the top mix once again.
At the head of the class is Ewers, the most appreciated potential in ESPN Jr. 300, who disconnected from Texas in October and joined the Buckeyes in November. A balanced player with a quick release, smoothness and arm strength to make all the throws, he heads an already deep and talented class, which includes WR Caleb Burton, a fellow Texan who is ranked 42nd overall.
The defense is well represented with a handful of ESPN Jr. 300 commitments designed to that part of the ball, including a pair of top 12 defenders in Singletary and Jyaire Brown.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 7
Top offensive committee: QB Walker Howard (No. 30)
Top Defense Committee: CB JaDarian Rhym (No. 128)
Despite the difficulties during the 2020 season, LSU managed to maintain a strong presence on the recruitment route, just signed class no. 6. The Tigers have now started one of the hottest beginnings for 2022.
Always hard to beat on the home turf, they have commitments from several key perspectives in the state, led by Howard and top-10 OT Will Campbell. Lots of eyes will be on Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans as it hosts the coveted 2023 QB Arch Manning, but in the immediate future, the Tigers were successful at that school for 2022, landing teammates OT Bo Bordelon, an aggressive big man and flexible whose father was an All-SEC offensive line officer at LSU and WR AJ Johnson, one of Manning’s big targets.
Building on its tradition of providing excellent defensive backs, LSU already has commitments from three four-star defenders, including long and instinctive Rhym.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 6
Top offensive committee: QB Gunner Stockton (nr. 41)
Top Defense Committee: DE Tire West (No. 8)
Georgia has collected five categories in the top three and seems ready to extend that series to six. Its early success is based on state talent, as the Bulldogs class includes commitments from four of the state’s top 10 prospects.
One of those key pickups for the home state is Stockton, a South Carolina verbal who was a strong-armed passer-by and helps quickly consolidate talent and depth in that position. Stockton will join his 2021 four-star QB Brock Vandagriff in Athens.
The foundation of this class is currently in defense, with a few additions of four-star defensive line, led by West, the top player in the state. Deyon Bouie could play on both sides of the ball, but he projects himself in defense. He and his state colleague CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew give Georgia two ESPN Jr. 300 secondary commitments.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 6
Top offensive committee: QB Maalik Murphy (nr. 16)
Top Defense Committee: S Bryan Allen Jr. (No. 78)
After leading one of the strongest attacks in college football as an offensive coordinator in Alabama, Steve Sarkisian is now assembling his first full class as head coach in Texas.
Crime defines this group from the beginning. The Longhorns headed west to California for their defender, landing Murphy, a prospect with limited high school gaming experience so far, but someone who possesses some impressive physical traits, including a big arm.
The class also has some big offensive targets from the state: the top 10 wide receivers Evan Stewart and Armani Winfield and defender Jaydon Blue, an explosive runner who also has good ball skills.
The defense is not overlooked either, and Longhorns recently added one of the best defensive potentials in the state to Allen, a safety top that is fluid, with good instincts.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 5
Top offensive committee: WR Talyn Shettron (No. 13)
Top Defense Committee: OLB Kobe McKinzie (No. 81)
Lincoln Riley may need to find a way to incorporate a second football into his offensive attack, with the depth of the players he gathers. Sooners has signed one of the best classes of wide receivers in the 2021 cycle and several top offensive weapons are on board for 2022.
The class includes three top-10 ESPN Jr. 300 receivers: Shettron State Prospect, Texas Jordan Hudson and Luther Burden, a fast and smooth Illinois target. To the offensive firepower is added the first three Raleek Brown RBs, a sudden and rapid scatback type that can be dangerous in space.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 7
Top offensive committee: OT Drew Shelton (No. 97)
Top Defense Committee: DE Ken Talley (No. 103)
The Nittany Lions’ 2021 class never reached more than number 15 and ended up in the top 25, but it shows signs of a stronger year on the 2022 recruitment path.
Early success is based on state talent, with commitments from five of Pennsylvania’s top 10 players, led by Shelton, who will play his final year at IMG Academy in Florida, and Talley, who is an explosive defender with a good engine.
QB Beau Pribula is a prospect to follow, as he has a few traits in the mold of former Penn State QB Trace McSorley. Head coach James Franklin is about to gather one of the most talented groups of passing catchers in this class, especially if ESPN Jr. 300 athlete Mehki Flowers is used on the wide receiver.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 5
Top offensive committee: OT PJ Williams (No. 95)
Top Defense Committee: DIN Malick Sylla (no. 37)
Aggies have strongly completed the 2021 cycle and are carrying that momentum in the 2022 class. All their commitments have come in the new year, and the start of that race was Sylla, a defensive end in the state, with a good first step and a positive advantage.
Adding him to a newly signed talented D-Line group led by five-star Shemar Turner can give Texas A&M a formidable defensive front. Aggies also recently added high school teammate Sylla to ESPN Jr. 300 defender Bobby Taylor, a long, fast corner defender.
They have the QB on board at the start of the run in Conner Weigman, a powerful pitcher with good accuracy.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 5
Top offensive committee: OT Joey Tanona (No. 87)
Top Defense Committee: OF Tyson Ford (No. 148)
Fighting Irish makes an early push for the top-10 back-to-back classes. After launching one of the best offensive line units in the 2020 season, he is working to maintain that unit with a pair of ESPN Jr. 300 offensive attacks committed in Tanona, a great man in the state and Ty Chan.
Running back Jadarian Price not only has a good speed, but it is also a tough runner that can produce after contact. The four-star Ford, a defensive linear, with a beautiful initial explosion, as well as good agility, drives several commitments projected in the first seven.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 3
Top offensive committee: QB Nicco Marchiol (nr. 231)
Top Defense Committee: CB Travis Hunter (no. 19)
The Seminoles have faced defenders in recent years, but Mike Norvell has quickly secured his place in the 2022 cycle in Marchiol. A left with a quick release and good accuracy, his stock increased in his junior season, as he also demonstrated the type of mobility to present problems and as a runner.
The Seminoles also got one of the top defensive prospects in this class in Hunter, which possesses an excellent mix of speed, speed, length and toughness. The addition of the top five athletes Sam McCall, who is an explosive player who can be a presence from one line to another, can give the Seminoles two big players in a second. Good early defense pickups include a pair of four-star defensive linemen from Nyjalik Kelly and Aaron Hester.
ESPN Jr. 300 Committee: 2
Top offensive committee: WR Taylor Groves (four stars)
Top Defense Committee: CB William Johnson (no. 29)
Wolverines signed class no. 2 in the Big Ten for the 2021 cycle and remain close to the top at the conference at the beginning of this period.
The secondary benefited from two strong pickups in Johnson and his fellow ESPN 300 prospect, Kody Jones. Johnson is a key commitment because he is not only among the top five employees in the class, but he is also the top player in the state of Michigan. Jones, who has excellent speed, is listed as an athlete, but designs for the defender.
Michigan has two four-star Tennessee engagements in Jones and Groves, which is a long and reliable target with its ball skills. TE Marlin Klein is a commitment to keep an eye on. Originally from Germany, but now playing football in high school in Georgia, he is a promising forward; at 6 feet-6, 220 kilograms, he displays physical tools to become a versatile and physical offensive weapon.