SI Releases 2023 Football Recruiting Class Rankings; Where is Baylor?
Considering the 2022 college football season has yet to officially kick off, the Bears have to feel pretty content with a No. 16 ranking by Sports Illustrated for the team's 2023 recruiting class.
Baylor coach Dave Aranda and the Bears are fully loaded in 2022 and appear to be getting even better in 2023, with 23 verbal commitments and seven premium position pledges.
"The Bears loaded up relatively early in the class and are holding strong at the end of the summer in numbers and quality talent," John Garcia Jr. wrote in his SI story on Tuesday. "Elite 11 passer Austin Novosad continues to be its headliner and despite continued flip attempts by others, he was back in Waco recruiting for BU over the weekend.
"The Bear class has gems at many spots, like offensive tackle Zay Robinson, but the back-seven defensive class is where the strength of the class lies. Retaining Novosad's pledge, which he affirmed Monday night, may be Baylor's biggest individual recruiting win under Dave Aranda."
Novosad made headlines on Monday with his Twitter post letting the whole world know he plans to don green and gold once he graduates from high school.
100% Locked In!!! Let’s go Waco! 🐻🐻 #SicEm pic.twitter.com/DWpoFlpKJc
— Austin Novosad (@Austin2novosad) August 2, 2022
"The coaching staff was a huge reason and the relationships I have with them as well as how I fit into the program and offense," Novosad told Sports Illustrated on Monday. "Another reason is the academics and what the Baylor degree can do for me after football is over."
Below is a complete list of the top 25 NCAA football recruiting classes of 2023 according to Sports Illustrated.
No. 1: Alabama.
No. 2: Ohio State.
No. 3: Notre Dame.
No. 4: Texas.
No. 5: Georgia.
No. 6: Clemson.
No. 7: Oklahoma.
No. 8: Miami.
No. 9: Tennessee.
No. 10: Penn State.
No. 11: Arkansas.
No. 12: USC.
No. 13: Florida.
No. 14: LSU.
No. 15: Cincinnati.
No. 16: Baylor.
No. 17: Washington.
No. 18: North Carolina.
No. 19: Texas Tech.
No. 20: Oregon.
No. 21: Louisville.
No. 22: Iowa.
No. 23: Northwestern.
No. 24: Pitt.
No. 25: Duke.
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Denton Ramsey has been a journalist for over 20 years with a decade of experience as a sports writer and editor for a plethora of newspapers throughout Texas and Alabama. Growing up in Houston and attending Baylor University, Ramsey is a die-hard sports fan with a true passion for writing. He may be reached via email at denton.itb@gmail.com