Rivals Rankings Week: Roundtable on the 2023 rankings

Rivals Rankings Week is wrapped up, but there are still plenty of storylines to discuss as the calendar year draws to a close. Our analysts – Clint Cosgrove, Adam Friedman, Adam Gorney, Sam Spiegelman and Ryan Wright – sit down at the Rivals Roundtable and discuss.

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK

Sunday: Who should be the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class?

Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Introducing the new five-stars

Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Gorney's thoughts | Biggest movers in new ranking | Five teams that should be pleased

Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | QB Rankings Breakdown | RB Rankings Breakdown | WR/TE Breakdown | OL Breakdown | Who should be the No. 1 QB?

Thursday: Defensive position rankings released | DL Rankings Breakdown | LB Rankings Breakdown | DB Rankings Breakdown | ATH Rankings Breakdown | Who should be the No. 1 DE? | Gorney-Friedman debate

Friday: State rankings released

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Cosgrove: WDE Isaiah Crawford. Let me start out by saying that Crawford has incredible potential and is a spectacular athlete. At the same time he is extremely raw as a football player. He will need to develop his hands, and increase the tools in his pass rush arsenal, as he will not be able to simply win with a speed rush in college. Although Crawford's upside is definitely there, there are other players ranked below him that are further along in their development, and are more of a sure thing when it comes to making an immediate impact.

Friedman: There is a lot to like about Luke Hasz's game. He brings versatility to the field and does a great job blocking and catching the ball down the field but there are some other players behind him that have higher ceilings that should be in the Rivals100 instead. There's a long way to go before the 2023 rankings are final and there will be plenty of moves in the rankings down the road. Hasz, an Oklahoma commit, has plenty of time to continue to develop and prove he should finish in the Rivals100 but at this point it feels like his ranking is too high.

Gorney: I'm looking at some of the outstanding prospects behind Lebbeus Overton and think they should be even higher in the rankings which means I would put the Milton, Ga., five-star defensive end somewhere right outside the top 10. That's not a big drop because Overton is still a dominant force coming off the edge but Jayden Wayne is much taller and longer so that would be one slight adjustment I'd make in the top 10.

Spiegelman: Monroe Freeling has a lot of traits coveted by offensive tackles, especially with his size, his length and room to tack onto his frame. However, we may be projecting a bit this high in the Rivals250. Nonetheless, he's a player that when it clicks could certainly justify this spot.

Wright: There are some fantastic players sitting outside the Rivals100 that could take Platte County (Mo.) end/outside linebacker Chadavian Bradley’s place. As a player, Bradley has the athleticism, speed, length and playmaking abilities to be a top impact player at the next level but will need to spend more time in the weight room. The big question with Bradley, is he a superior athlete taking on far less talented competition, or is he as good as what is showing on game film?

Cosgrove: ATH Malachi Coleman. Malachi Coleman is relatively new to the recruiting scene after a a huge coming out party during his junior season. The 6-foot-4 athlete is somewhat of a late bloomer on the football field, but has a big time frame with elite athleticism to match. When you watch the film you see incredible progression throughout the season, and at this rate of development, he could put himself in the mid to high four-star conversation in future rankings. I expect big things from Coleman moving forward and he has all of the tools to become a big name recruit when it is all said and done.

Friedman: There are a few prospects in the top 40 that aren't five-star yet but I think will finish there but further down the Rivals100 is Chandavian Bradley. At No. 90, I think that is way too low for the pass rusher out of Missouri. His measurables are off the charts and he is only getting better. Bradley, whose recruitment is wide open at this point, has outstanding length and quickness for a player that tips the scales at 6-foot-6, 210-pounds. He is too much for nearly every offensive tackle to handle and I expect he'll continue to rise in the rankings as the process goes forward.

Gorney: Francis Mauigoa should be higher and I hope we're not missing the boat on him because with his size, versatility and physical presence, we could be talking about one of the best overall prospects in the entire 2023 class. Mauigoa used to play defensive line but he recently switched over permanently to the offensive line and the reports I've gotten is that he can dominate at will. Sure, he's still learning the position but that makes his ceiling that much higher and I would expect to see him move up as this cycle continues.

Spiegelman: Jaiden Ausberry is one of the best defenders in this 2023 class, especially in what's shaping up to be an absolutely talented group of outside linebackers. We have yet to name a five-star at the position, but Ausberry -- along with fellow Louisiana linebacker Tackett Curtis, Malik Bryant and Drayk Bowen -- are all top-40 prospects nationally. Ausberry, at No. 35, feels too low for an impact defender that can defend the run, rush the quarterback and drop back into coverage and make plays.

Wright: There is a reason Thompson High School defensive lineman Peter Woods has breached the 40-offer mark. He plays the game with an aggression and determination that is hard to match. Mix his motor in with use of different hand fighting techniques and strength, Woods is one of the best in the 2023 class. Listed at 6-foot, 2-inches, 263 pounds, Woods will be a collegiate end but his versatility in the trenches at the high school level, also playing defensive tackle, will help him when he takes that next step in a three- or four-man front.

Cosgrove: DE Chandavion Bradley. I love everything that I have seen from him this season. Pass rushers come at a premium, and Bradley has a skill-set that could eventually make him the best pass rusher in the entire 2023 class. He is long, twitched up, has great lateral movement, and is a mismatch for any offensive tackle who attempts to block him one on one. Bradley isn't limited to being a pass-rush specialist either, as he is a great space defender who excels at tackling in the open field. The most exciting thing about Bradley is that he is far from being a finished product physically, and will thrive when he adds mass in a college weight program. Bradley jumped over 100 spots in the latest rankings and he is definitely worthy of being a Rivals100 prospect.

Friedman: There have been a couple really impressive receivers in the Carolinas in the last few recruiting cycles and Noah Rogers is the next one up. He made a big jump up to No. 65 in this rankings update and he still might be a little too low. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver out of the Raleigh area can beat defensive backs with his size but he also has the skill set to get open with his surprising quickness for a player that big. Once Rogers gets the ball in his hands, he's very difficult to get to the ground. It's not surprising to see teams like Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan and many others coming after him. His offer sheet isn't done growing either.

Gorney: Zachariah Branch moved up 59 spots and up to the fourth-best receiver in the 2023 class and it might not be far enough. He reminds me of Marquise "Hollywood" Brown at the same stage, just a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands, make-you-miss ability, elite speed and route running and even with a small catch radius it's usually easy to get him the ball because he creates such massive separation. In just a couple years, Branch went from being Zion's little brother to being a force of nature by himself and he's had a huge junior season as well.

Spiegelman: There are some elite players emerging in the state of Louisiana and following trends, running back is one position of strength. Kaleb Jackson and Trey Holly are both coveted by programs nationally, but Jackson had an absolutely dominant season for Baton Rouge (La.) Liberty as the driving force of their offense. He piled up more than 2,000 yards rushing, averaging 14.7 yards per clip and 185 per game. He added another 400 yards and four touchdowns receiving on 21 receptions. He is built in the same mold as Jonathan Taylor and despite the vast comparison, I feel strongly that Jackson will have a similar future.

Wright: Slinging the ball around in the Briarwood Christian offense may never have Christopher Vizzina close to any single-season or career passing numbers in Alabama, but he can deliver it. A true pocket passer with very good footwork and a smooth release, Vizzina has an added weapon in his arsenal, his legs. As impressive as it was to see him complete 68 percent of his passes against 6A teams, knowing that he rushed for 600 yards putting 15 more scores on the board cements him as one of the top playmakers at his position among the 2023 prospects.