Published Aug 11, 2021
Rivals Rankings Week: Programs with most Rivals250 commits
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Sam Spiegelman  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Analyst
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@samspiegs

The initial Rivals250 for the class of 2023 has been released this week, and although it remains early in the recruiting cycle for the class, we are beginning to notice a trend as the top classes begin to take shape.

Lincoln Riley has already landed a five-star commitment to kick off the 2023 class and leads the country with four commitments to date. In addition to Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M have multiple commitments from the Rivals250 and more than a dozen total programs are represented in the rankings.

Here's more on the Sooners' top-ranked class and other programs making a mark with their early recruiting coups.

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK

Monday: Five-star countdown | Arch Manning is new No. 1

Tuesday: Rivals250 unveiled | Gorney's thoughts | Meet the new five-stars | Top player at each position | Could there be five five-stars from Alabama?

Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released

Thursday: Defensive position rankings released

Friday: State rankings

Saturday: Rivals Roundtable

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CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250

RIVALS TRANSFER TRACKER: Stories/coverage | Message board

RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info/coverage on 2021 camp series

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Oklahoma leads the way with four Rivals250 commits

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Oklahoma has an early grip on the nation's top 2023 recruiting haul thanks to a red-hot July in which Lincoln Riley has added pledges from five-star California quarterback Malachi Nelson and four-star offensive weapons in Treyaun Webb, Luke Hasz and Nelson's high school teammate, Makai Lemon. As it stands today, no program in the country has more commitments than the Sooners, who have a country-best 4.25 average rankings per commitment.

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Bulldogs also off to a fast start

Kirby Smart's program has historically found its way at or close to the top of the recruiting rankings and the 2023 class is off to yet another fast start. Georgia has already secured pledges from legacy defensive back Marcus Washington and also with Peach State native-now-Florida four-star tight end Pearce Spurlin as well as fellow Sunshine State four-star pass-catcher Daquayvious Sorey.

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Texas A&M makes a statement with early 2023 win

Jimbo Fisher made waves early winning a heated recruiting battle with LSU and Ohio State for Rivals100 passer Eli Holstein. Holstein is one of three four-star commitments in place for the Aggies, who have surged in the recruiting ranks and as SEC contenders since Fisher arrived in College Station.

Four-star Dallas defensive end Anthony James and four-star San Antonio road-grader Colton Thomasson are other big gets for A&M early on, and if the 2022 class is any indicator then the Aggies will continue to make waves until National Signing Day.

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Fighting Irish have early makings of a stellar defensive line class 

Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston has made quick work of his 2023 class with two early commitments from two of the best ends in the nation. Brenan Vernon, a high four-star out of Ohio, is a top-10 prospect in the class and is already on board for the Irish.

Elston also dipped into the Sunshine State to reel in four-star edge defender Keon Keeley, who along with Vernon make for a top-five class in the country.

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Strong finish to July jumpstarts Gators' 2023 class 

Florida is off to a quick start with its 2023 class after landing a pair of commitments at the tail end of July to vault Dan Mullen's program into the early recruiting race. Mac Markway, a four-star tight end from the Midwest, gives Tim Brewster a talented pass-catcher after featuring Kyle Pitts in the offense a year ago. Raymond Cottrell, a top in-state target for Florida, is another key foundational piece.