Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars | Latest recruiting news on five-stars
Tuesday: Rivals250 released | Biggest Movers | Gorney’s thoughts
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings released
Saturday: Roundtable
*****
Gorney’sTake: In one-on-one situations, Zachariah Branch is nearly unstoppable to slow down because of his speed, athletic ability and how he maneuvers around the field. That’s why the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman receiver could be so special in coach Lincoln Riley’s offense – in space with the ball in his hands, Branch can do special things.
Gorney’sTake: Samson Okunlola has the best of both worlds because he’s not only big and physical but he’s also long and athletic. Okunlola likes to push people around and dominate physically, but also has the footwork, length and speed to handle edge rushers with ease.
Miami, Ohio State and others have made him a top target because Okunlola can do so much along the offensive line.
Gorney’sTake: The Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco prospect was so good, so dominant and so unstoppable in a regular season game coming off the edge against Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei that if we could’ve changed his ranking then, we would’ve made him a five-star that day. In a playoff win over Mater Dei, Matayo Uiagalelei was great on defense and also caught a touchdown pass because he’s such a natural athlete.
Now he’s paired that with his elite physical tools to become one of the best players in the class. He’s like a more athletic JT Tuimoloau at Ohio State.
Gorney’sTake: Desmond Ricks, the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star cornerback, reclassified from the 2024 class and yet he still is among the top group in 2023 because of all his special ability.
He already has the size to make an impact in college. He’s aggressive and confident in his abilities. Ricks can play on an island and he’s really competitive and tough when the ball is in the air.
Gorney’sTake: Originally from American Samoa, Francis Mauigoa started as a defensive end at San Bernardino (Calif.) Aquinas. Mauigoa has come a long way quickly as an offensive tackle and is now one of the best in the 2023 class.
Mauigoa is big, strong, plays with intensity and toughness, and probably projects as a right tackle for the Hurricanes and beyond.
Gorney’sTake: The former Notre Dame commit, who’s high on Alabama and Georgia now, has essentially the same wingspan as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Travon Walker. Keon Keeley has so many other special qualities as well.
The Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep standout is excellent off the edge, he has rare physical tools and athleticism, and surprising power when needed to go back inside to make plays. That wingspan is going to have a lot of coaches and NFL executives interested.
Gorney’s Take: There might not be a more focused competitor in the 2023 class than TJ Shanahan, who does his best work as an interior offensive lineman because he can exert his power and will over his opponents and dominate with his physical ability.
The Texas A&M commit is as fierce and determined as they come and by the fourth quarter he’s still going to be looking to go to battle against defensive linemen. In a pinch, Shanahan can move outside but the five-star does his best work in the trenches.
Gorney’sTake: One of the best-looking receivers not only in this class but recently, Hykeem Williams has the size and length to really make an impact as an outside receiver. What some people forget about the Florida State commit is that he has the ability to run by defenders whether it’s catching a short pass and making a move or stretching the field with the deep ball.
Gorney’s Take: It’s almost unfair to rank Duce Robinson as a tight end because he plays more as a split-out wide receiver and he has the athleticism to do it as well. His size and athletic ability are so unique that it’s hard to find a comparison especially among tight ends.
Robinson moves so well and he’s so productive – 64 catches for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. That’s more than 19 yards per catch; not someone who’s just moving the chains down the field.
Gorney’s Take: Over the long term, Javien Toviano might stay at cornerback or he might move to safety but either way, the Arlington (Texas) Martin standout is going to make an impact in the secondary.
Toviano has the length and fluidity to stay at cornerback and he can run with almost any receiver but if he continues to develop physically, moving him to safety just means a team is going to have a really fast and instinctual player in the back.
Gorney’sTake: Nyckoles Harbor could make an impact at tight end or defensive end and he’s legitimately one of the best athletes in Rivals’ history, as his track times put him in elite company.
As a defensive end, his get-off and pursuit is excellent and while he’s still developing as a tight end, having that speed and playmaking ability is special.
