Massive Movement in 2022 Recruiting Class with Top 4-Stars Committing
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
While the rest of us were looking at the 2021 recruiting class leading up to and on National Signing Day, college football programs across the country were moving ahead working on the 2022 cycle. Building the foundation for the future, LSU, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Texas, Georgia, and Michigan have wrapped up verbal commitments for the next class over the last week.
The 2021 recruiting class closed with a Top 10 of Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, Orgon, Texas A&M, USC, Notre Dame, and Michigan. Early in the process for the next round, Alabama is nowhere to be found slotted at No. 31 with two commits, including a four-star. Back at the top, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, and Notre Dame are sitting in the Top 5 with the Buckeyes and Bulldogs being the clear frontrunners.
At the pace OSU is on, Ohio State’s 2022 class will be a sight to see. Already, 10 players are attached with three five-stars and six four-star players. Behind the Buckeyes pushing for that supremacy on the recruiting trail is UGA. The Bulldogs have two five-stars and five four-stars. Georgia helped bolster their class on NSD receiving a verbal commitment from four-star defensive tackle Bear Alexander out of Ryan High School (TX). The big addition was on Jan. 28 when five-star quarterback Gunner Stockton said he was going to Athens.
LSU shot up the rankings after picking up key recruits on back-to-back days first getting a yes from four-star Neville (LA) offensive tackle Will Campbell on Jan. 30 followed by three-star interior lineman Bo Bordelon out of Isidore Newman (LA). The Tigers now have nine commitments, five four-stars and three three-stars.
Producing a solid 2021 recruiting class ranked No. 22, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell needed a big win along the trail. That win came on Jan. 31 when Arizona four-star quarterback Nicco Marchiol committed. Marchiol is the ninth rated pro-style QB in his class.
Perhaps destined to be a five-star, the Longhorns jumped on in-state running back Jaydon Blue with an affirmation on Feb. 2. Blue had a ridiculous 2020 season rolling for 2,155 yards and 30 TDs on the ground. His recruiting process has been a hot one with 35 announced offers.
Keeping the heat on the Lone Star State, A&M got their QB of the future in four-star Conner Weigman. Weigman, out of Bridgeland (TX), is the fifth rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation. The 6-2, 205-pound, talent skipped past offers from Baylor, Auburn, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas to side with the Aggies.
It was “Friday Fun Day” in Ann Arbor for head coach Jim Harbaugh netting two four-stars out of Tennessee; safety Taylor Groves and athlete Kody Jones. Groves, a top player for East Robertson, had 25-plus offers reported and Germantown’s Jones was at the 30-offer mark.
Other key commitments over the past week:
OT Nelson Monegro – Union City (NJ) – 3-Star – Rutgers
OT Taj White – Hudson Catholic (NJ) – 3-Star – Rutgers
LB Dylan Dixson – Pearland (TX) – 3-Star – Colorado
RB Ollie Gordon – Trinity (TX) – 3-Star – Oklahoma State
QB Holden Geriner – Benedictine Military (GA) – Auburn
QB Myles Burkett – Franklin (WI) – Wisconsin
Photo credit: Twitter/Blue family; Jaydon Blue (2020)