There were plenty of impressive recruits vying for a place in the first 2023 Rivals100 but there wasn’t room for everybody. Members of the Rivals analyst team single out a few players that just missed out on making the prestigious list.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Five-star countdown
Tuesday: Rivals100 revealed | Gorney's thoughts | Top player at each position
Wednesday: Recruiting updates on offensive players in the ranking | Positions producing the most 2023 talent | DE is among loaded positions in 2023
Thursday: Recruiting updates on defensive players in the ranking
Friday: Rankings roundtable
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CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals100
RIVALS TRANSFER TRACKER: Stories/coverage | Message board
RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info/coverage on 2021 camp series
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“Pierce Clarkson has been splitting time with 2022 three-star Katin Houser and that's not a knock on either quarterback – both are just really skilled and do a great job running the offense at Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco.
"Clarkson has an advanced feel for the position. His dad, Steve Clarkson, is a quarterback trainer so that definitely helps and over the last year he has noticeably matured physically. Besides being able to make tough throws against excellent competition as a sophomore, Clarkson is also a really good athlete who can run to pick up yards.” – Adam Gorney, National Recruiting Director
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“The state of Michigan places just one prospect in the initial Rivals100, but there are others who could push for inclusion at that level later in the process. Offensive guard Cole Dellinger is one of those prospects. He played on an offensive line that included his brother, four-star 2021 LSU signee Garrett Dellinger, and Rivals100 offensive guard Rocco Spindler. LSU has already offered the younger Dellinger, as have in-state Big Ten programs Michigan and Michigan State.” – Josh Helmholdt, National Recruiting Analyst
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“Illinois was one of the states that did not play a season last fall, so Chicago wide receiver Malik Elzy is just starting his sophomore campaign this spring. Off-season camps gave us a chance to get a preview of that season, though, and Elzy shows high-level potential.
"A tall, smooth athlete, Elzy is a technician at the position and a very difficult man-on-man cover for defensive backs. Michigan jumped in with the first offer before his sophomore season started this spring.” – Helmholdt
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“Gabarri Johnson was excellent at the Pylon 7v7 event in Arizona a month ago and he's now off to a hot start in his sophomore campaign. He is not going to blow you away physically but he has a great arm and what stands out most about his game is his decision-making. He does a great job scanning the field, finding the open receiver and then throwing a strike almost every time.” – Gorney
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Will Norman
“A big, strong defensive end with quickness to the inside and outside, Will Norman has the tools to be a dominant defensive lineman. He is ironing out the technical aspects of his game but once he puts everything together, he could end up one of the highest-rated defensive linemen in this class.
"Norman has the frame to bump inside if he keeps adding mass but right now he is at his most effective playing end and pushing around offensive tackles.” – Adam Friedman, National Recruiting Analyst, Rankings Director
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“An early Boston College commit, Boubacar Traore has pretty much shut down his recruitment even though there will be many teams that try to pry him away from Jeff Hafley and his staff. He is a big, physical, athletic defensive end with the length to give any offensive lineman difficulties. Without a season in Massachusetts, Traore is finding his way to some camps and has been very impressive each time we’ve seen him.” – Friedman
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“Rico Walker is a very interesting prospect that started out wanting to play tight end at the college level. He is now transitioning to the defensive side of the ball and his recruitment is taking off because of it. Now that he is buying into his future as an edge defender, Walker is blossoming into the rangy tackling machine he looked like he could become.
"Look for Walker to get more comfortable playing in space and become more of a pass rusher as time goes on and, as he refines these skills, he could see his ranking rise.” – Friedman
