The major quarterback dominoes in the recruiting class of 2023 are starting to crumble. The landscape at this position is beginning to take shape as college football programs have identified who they are contacting and have deployed their efforts to land as the top passer on their respective boards.

While the recruitment of the n°1 recruit of 247Sports Composite Manning Arch really hot, five star quarterback Malachi Nelson was the first major domino to fall (twice in fact – first at Oklahoma then at USC) and on Monday another fell in five-star quarterback Nico Yamaleava at Tennessee.

247Sports studies the landscape of the quarterback recruiting scene and keeps you up to date on all the moves, with the big chunks still on the board obviously being Manning, Dante Moore, Jaden Rashada, Christophe Vizzina, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan. Ranking of positions is done via the 247Sports Composite.

MALACHI NELSON’S IMPACT ON THE CLASS

The No. 2 player overall in the class, the Los Alamitos (California) High player was one of the first prospects, regardless of position, to see his recruiting go national and when he jumped for lincoln riley and the Sooners in July on a who’s who of elite contenders. Riley was the difference in this recruiting, so it’s no surprise that Nelson chose to spend his next act at USC and play for the head coach he adores.

“In my opinion, it’s his football IQ,” Nelson told 247Sports of Riley. “He just sees the game differently than any coach. He also has the ability to teach, explain and coach hard things and make them easy.

As for Nelson’s move, a few more dominoes fell.

Three days after Nelson gave Oklahoma a verbal, Brentwood (Florida) quarterback Ravenwood Chris Parson (#17 QB) gave his promise to Florida State.

Obviously, Oklahoma’s new coaching staff had to go out and find another flagger. That’s exactly what Brent Venables & Co. did, earning a promise from another of America’s finest at Denton (Texas) Guyer’s Jackson Arnold (Number 6). Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby prioritized Arnold alongside Manning when he was Ole Miss’ offensive coordinator, and that relationship continued when he made the sideways move to Norman. Arnold joined the group on January 24, choosing Oklahoma over Notre Dame and Ohio State.

JACKSON ARNOLD WAS ALSO A DOMINO

There are a lot of good quarterbacks in this class. Only a few held QB1 status on a few tips. 247Sports confirmed Arnold as the No. 1 guy overall for at least a few programs after throwing for 3,921 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior in leading Guyer to the state championship game in the Lone Star’s biggest class. State. Arnold also rushed for 659 yards and 12 other scores.

At one point, Arnold’s recruitment also appeared to be happening in the spring. He wanted to go back to Notre Dame and he wanted to go see Ohio State for the first time. But Lebby’s return to his alma mater, the bond between these two, the excitement around Brent Venables taking the program, the tradition, and the fact that Norman is only two hours away, Arnold l closed early, breaking a few hearts in the Midwest along the way.

Arnold was coveted in Columbus and the Buckeyes have since stepped things up with guys like the Top247 passer Christophe Vizzina (No. 7), who visited on March 12 and was offered. Five stars Dante Moore (N°3) and Top247 passers Eli Holstein (#8) and Dylan Lonergan (No. 9) are also a few other members of the Ohio State Board of Trustees. Lonergan will return to OSU on April 8. Holstein reopened its process last Friday, waiving a long-standing verbal order at Texas A&M.

Notre Dame focused on Moore and maintained contact with Vizzina. If Notre Dame is to finish No. 1 in the 247Sports Composite class standings, getting one of these will be crucial in that pursuit.

THE IAMALEAVA IMPACT

As we move from one five-star California domino to another, watch how Nicholaus Yamaleava’s commitment to the Flights is shaking things up nationally.

At one point, it looked like Oregon was going to keep quarterback Poly from Long Beach (California) in the West, but Tennessee won, with Alabama and Georgia being two other than Iamaleava (n ° 4) was considering. However, none of these programs had all of their eggs in Nico’s basket.

The Ducks bet it all on Moore and another five-star in Jaden Rashada (No. 5). Holstein was also offered in the last two weeks. All three have the Ducks on their shortlist.

Alabama and Georgia both swing hard and prioritize Manning. The Crimson Tide also recently had Holstein on campus and was a Top247 quarterback. Dylan Lonergan for a certain time. Georgia has brought in Lonergan a few times, including as part of a small group of prospects present for the national championship celebration. The Bulldogs also recently offered Vizzina. Maybe Bama too.

HOW ARCH MANNING COULD IMPACT THE CLASS

Contenders for the five-star Isidore Newman of New Orleans (La.) include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss. This weekend.

Texas put all of their marbles in the Manning basket. Steve Sarkisian and his team have yet to award another caller who included the Lone Star State’s top passer (Arnold). If the Longhorns miss Manning, they could definitely bring in another signalman from that group. They also brought two smugglers into the 2022 cycle on a five-star transfer Quinn ewers and four stars Malik Murphy prep ranks so Sarkisian has the luxury of chasing Manning and if that doesn’t materialize the Longhorns could survive with a year off and then push hard for one of the best of the 2024 cycle in Dylan Raiola, on who they are already.

If Alabama or Georgia miss Manning, we already have an idea of ​​their direction. The Crimson Tide seems to like Holstein and Lonergan. It’s reciprocal there. Georgia recently ramped things up with Vizzina. Coaches Todd Monken and Buster Faulkner are a two-headed monster on the Athens track, building great relationships with the guys they meet. I feel like UGA could raise for Vizzinia, as he’s trailing for Lonergan right now.

I don’t think Ole Miss is waiting to see what Manning does. Sure, the Rebels would love to have the legacy rookie, but they’re also courting Vizzina as hard as any school recruiting Christian talent from Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood. Head coach Lane Kiffin and new OC Charlie Weis Jr. are in regular contact with Vizzina.

At one point, Florida and LSU weren’t even a factor, but with the changes at the helm of each program, those schools are on the rise for Manning. LSU is also near the top for Dante Moore, hosting him with his father for a weekend earlier this spring. Moore stopped in Gainesville as part of a bus tour last week. Florida and LSU are also trying to get Vizzina locked up for an official. The Gators are also bringing in Lonergan this weekend. Top247 ferryman Marcus Stokes (No. 18) is another name to know on the UF front and he also plans to visit this weekend.

Manning at one point had Clemson in his lead group, and once he informed the Tigers they were out, Dabo Swinney and his team pivoted to Vizzina.

WAITING ON DANTE MOORE FOR POP

Speaking to a Detroit King staffer, I wouldn’t be surprised if Moore leaves the board sooner rather than later. Obviously, there’s been a lot of buzz at Notre Dame. Head Coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish are all here. If that goes wrong, Vizzina is still in play and they’re also working to field an official with him.

Michigan does not have an active offer for a quarterback other than Moore. They had also given a scholarship to Nelson and William Watson III (#33), which is in the Nebraska fold.

Michigan State loves Moore, but they weren’t going to wait and coming back in early February took Bo Edmundson (#25) from Lake Travis (Texas) High, which produced the likes of Baker Mayfield, Garrett Gilbert, and Hudson Card.

Moore is on a bus tour that includes trips to Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Miami, and with Oregon and LSU there are several challengers for the Irish on the stretch. Moore came out to Oregon in January for a weekend, and Ducks offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham signed him as long as any passer he’s been on in the 2022 cycle. As a junior on the way toward a state championship, Moore threw for 3,050 yards and 40 touchdowns for just three interceptions. It is worth the trip for these schools. Texas A&M offered on Monday as they tried to find their guy after losing Holstein.

OTHER KEY NAMES TO KNOW

• Jaden Rashada’s shortlist includes Cal, Miami and Ole Miss with BYU, Oregon and Stanford also pictured with the Ducks possibly having the track to ride there. The Bears and Hurricanes may be in the best position right now, but he certainly dialogues with all of those programs. Cal to keep a five-star in the state would obviously be huge, and for Miami and new head coach Mario Cristobal, they inherited one of college football’s best signallers, but behind Tyler Van Dyke, no one is proven. .
• Auburn prioritizes Christopher Vizzina in the state. Ole Miss and Clemson are too. Georgia and Ohio State are on the rise in this recruiting. I think we’ll see him head to practices at Clemson, Ole Miss and Georgia after visits to see Auburn and the Buckeyes last week. There are also storylines with Florida, LSU and Notre Dame.
• Dylan Lonergan is interested in South Carolina, Stanford (I like where both are), Ohio State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida and Alabama. He will also play baseball at the school of his choice.
• Eli Holstein signed on with Texas A&M last summer, but reopened the process last Friday. Possibly the most athletic quarterback in the class with the Sparq rating to back him up, Texas A&M remains in play, but Holstein is also eyeing Alabama and Miami and has a recent offer from Oregon and Stanford .
• As these names begin to drop, the next wave of potentially seeing their stock rise could include Marcus Stokes and JJ Kohl. Maybe there will be another flip there too.