Early National Signing Day 2023: Grading Every Top 25 Team's Recruiting Class Day 1 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Emily Beck
Published Mar 24, 2026
No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Key signees: 3-star QB Maealiuaki Smith, 3-star S Landyn Cleveland, 3-star OT Caleb Hackleman
Analysis: Coach Mike Gundy's Cowboys came from out of nowhere this year to have a stellar season despite nobody talking about them. They didn't have as strong of a showing on the recruiting trail, though.
For the second year in a row, the former Big 12 power that used to put together top-35 classes is nowhere near that number and doesn't have a single 4-star prospect. Smith looks like a quality QB prospect, but there's not enough meat on the bone for this to be considered a good class.
The best parts of this group are the offensive line (Hackleman, Chauncey Johnson, Nuku Mafi) and defensive backfield (Cleveland, David Kabongo and Willie Nelson), where there are some quality prospects. But it's just not enough.
No. 19 Oregon State Beavers
Key signees: 3-star WR Malachi Durant, 3-star CB Exodus Ayers, 3-star IOL Dylan Sikorski
Analysis: It's easy to look around at all the buzz surrounding college football like conference realignment, playoff expansion, NIL and the transfer portal and get excited. But there's sometimes a flip side, and the Oregon State Beavers are caught on the wrong side.
Conference realignment came and missed the Beavers, and their favorite-son coach, Jonathan Smith, left Corvallis for Michigan State. Their recruiting class and roster have crumbled in the wake of those decisions.
Durant is a good-looking prospect, and Ayers will help immediately in the secondary, but beyond them, there just isn't any quality or depth. It's a shame what this program is having to endure until more dominoes fall.
No. 18 North Carolina State Wolfpack
Key signees: 4-star WR Terrell Anderson, 4-star LB Elijah Groves, 4-star ATH Jonathan Paylor
Analysis: This is the best class Dave Doeren has put together since 2018 in Raleigh, a group that is on the cusp of the top 25 and is chock-full of potential playmakers. There is plenty of reason for excitement around the future of the program after Doeren piece-mealed another winning campaign in '23.
The expectations aren't top-tier classes in Raleigh, but this is an excellent one, spearheaded by Anderson and Paylor, who is expected to catch passes on offense. Groves should carry the torch in a long line of great linebackers, and Ronnie Royal III is a two-way athlete who could be a force at safety.
Love QB Cedrick Bailey's upside, too. Up and down, this is a very nice class.
No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes
Key signees: 4-star LB Derek Weisskopf, 4-star TE Gavin Hoffman, 4-star OT Will Nolan
Analysis: If Iowa is going to break through and do more than just survive a super-mid Big Ten West, it's going to have to improve drastically on offense, but coach Kirk Ferentz proved in this '24 cycle he hasn't lost his touch luring prospects.
On that side of the ball, QB James Resar has a lot of ability, and Hoffman could be the next great Iowa tight end in a program that churns out NFL players every year. Nolan and Cody Fox will anchor the line.
Defensively, Weisskopf and Cam Buffington are two exceptional linebacker prospects, and Joseph Anderson is another 4-star player at edge. Iowa has a bunch of impact guys in the fold.
No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Key signees: 4-star QB CJ Carr, 4-star WR Cam Williams, 4-star DL Bryce Young
Analysis: You may wonder if Notre Dame is ever going to compete for national championships again, but with the way Marcus Freeman is recruiting, the talent is going to be there. The Fighting Irish are making a splash in the transfer portal, too.
While former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard will be the man in '24, he's bridging the gap to the Carr era in South Bend. The incoming freshman has special ability, and an impact guy like Williams in the receiving corps can play immediate dividends. Waves of playmakers like wide receiver Micah Gilbert and running backs Kedren Young and Aneyas Williams dot this class.
There are terrific, first-year contributors on defense like Young and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and safety Brauntae Johnson. With 11 4-star players and eight in the Top 247, this class is deep and strong.
