The final rankings for the 2023 class are being released this week and today we begin as always with the five-star countdown. There are 32 five-stars and we will be unveiling them one at a time in reverse order throughout the day, until we finish with the player who will go down in Rivals’ history as the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class. Rivals recruiting director Adam Gorney will give his thoughts on each five-star, as well.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK SCHEDULE
Monday: Five-star countdown | Introducing the new five-stars
Tuesday: Final Rivals250 for 2023 revealed | Gorney’s thoughts
Wednesday: Final offensive position rankings for 2023
Thursday: Final defensive position rankings for 2023
Friday: Final state rankings for 2023
Saturday: Final JUCO rankings for 2023
Sunday: Initial 2023 transfer portal team rankings
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28. OL SAMSON OKUNLOLA (Miami)
Gorney’s Take: Samson Okunlola was a little anonymous at the All-American Bowl and did not dominate as much as other offensive linemen at the major all-star events, but his catalog of work over the years keeps him as a five-star prospect and someone who is still one of the best players at his position in this class. The Miami signee has the size and the power, and he’s continuing to develop the footwork to be elite. As a projection, in three or four years down the road, we think he could be one of the best offensive tackles in the class.
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29. TE NYCKOLES HARBOR (Undecided)
Gorney’s Take: Nyckoles Harbor is still developing as a football player and he has some work to do if he’s going to stay on the offensive side of the ball as a pass catcher. But he’s such an incredibly rare athlete that he has first-round projection written all over him. He’s one of the best-looking players in this class and a world-class track star. As he continues to learn the intricacies at tight end or as a big receiver, Harbor has plenty of upside to blossom into a superstar. Michigan, South Carolina, Maryland, Oregon and others are involved.
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30. CB DESMOND RICKS (Alabama)
Gorney’s Take: The Alabama signee remains a five-star because of his incredible physical tools and his competitiveness that we’ve seen over the years, even as Desmond Ricks reclassified from the 2024 to the 2023 class. With his speed and ability to cover plus play on an island, Ricks has the potential to be really special even though some elite receivers got the best of him at the Under Armour Game. As he develops under coach Nick Saban, Ricks has the length, the want-to and the ability to be special in Tuscaloosa.
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31. DE YHONZAE PIERRE (Alabama)
Gorney’s Take: Yhonzae Pierre’s reputation as a potential five-star really started in his junior season, then he dominated at Alabama’s summer camp, then he was outstanding as a senior and then finally turned in an incredible performance all week at the All-American Bowl. Not only is the Crimson Tide signee a high-level athlete and physical force but he’s so fast off the snap that he was winning some one-on-one reps by hardly being touched. He can get to the edge, he can spin, he can go inside and his productivity is simply off the charts.
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32. LB SUNTARINE PERKINS (Ole Miss)
Gorney’s Take: If you go to a lab and draw up what an outside linebacker is supposed to look and play like, it would be Suntarine Perkins. The Ole Miss signee, who was pushed hard by Alabama until the end, is all of 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He has length and covers ground so incredibly well. Not only was Perkins an excellent linebacker at Raleigh, Miss., but he was also a phenomenal running back, maybe one of the best in the country.
Rivals.com, Staff
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