A Rundown of the Top 25-Ranked 2023 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For those new to the Prep Redzone Colorado scene and interested in a subscription, use code <strong>WESLEY30</strong> for 30% off your first subscription!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final update for the class of 2023 is finally here! There were 45 new additions to the rankings, taking the total ranked list from 285 to 330 with a total of 373 players listed overall. It is important to note that Colorado's lists are prospect rankings and not player rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An individual's positioning within the prospect rankings is not a direct reflection of their status, value, or talent level as a player. Their positioning is significantly influenced by their recruiting, which is evident in the level of colleges the players have been offered from and the level of programs they have committed to attend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like most ranking lists, the class of 2023 saw significant movement throughout the ranks, including the addition of new players and familiar players raising their stock value as recruits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top four players remained the same, with Oregon commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62241' first='Blake' last='Purchase']</strong> (EDGE) staying in the number-one spot, followed by Arizona commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22744' first='Brayden' last='Dorman'] </strong>(QB), Oklahoma commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='147176' first='Joshua' last='Bates']</strong> (OL), and BYU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22775' first='Ethan' last='Thomason']</strong> (OL). Iowa commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150256' first='Chase' last='Brackney'] </strong>(DL) has moved up and secured the fifth-ranked spot, while teammate and Kansas commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62213' first='Logan' last='Brantley'] </strong>(LB/SS) landed sixth on the list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more significant jumps in the top 25 is Wisconsin commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62228' first='Cole' last='LaCrue']</strong> (QB) moving from 37th overall and fourth in position to seventh overall and second in position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22761' first='Ismael' last='Cisse']</strong> (Stanford WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='43841' first='Hayden' last='Moore'] </strong>(Michigan LB), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='43842' first='Andrew' last='Metzger']</strong> (Kansas St TE) close out the top 10, with Moore and Metzger moving up from the top 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62220' first='Tai' last='Faavae']</strong> (Washington St LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247200' first='Zachary' last='Henning']</strong> (Washington OL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149311' first='Hank' last='Zilinskas']</strong> (Colorado OL),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='22764' first='Brandon' last='Hills']</strong> (Washington St WR), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246892' first='D'Andre' last='Barnes']</strong> (Nebraska WR) close out the top 15 of the list. Barnes is the second player to land in the top 15 who was not there previously.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230277' first='Walker' last='Himebauch'] </strong>(Kentucky LS) had the second-largest leap for players within the top 25. Not only did he move from outside the top 50, Himebauch is the highest-ranked specialist in the state. Florida International commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='706638' first='Rowdy' last='Beers']</strong> (TE) landed the 17th-ranked spot as a new addition to the list, making him the highest-ranked newcomer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288459' first='Rocky' last='Shields']</strong> (Washington St DL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303218' first='Russ' last='Woodward']</strong> (Army DL), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150482' first='Silas' last='Evans III'] </strong>(Colorado St WR/ATH) close out the top 20. Colorado State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='706639' first='Tanner' last='Morley']</strong> (OL) is the only other newcomer to land in the top 25, securing the 21st spot in the overall rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 22nd and 23rd spots belong to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150254' first='Jackson' last='St. Aubyn']</strong> (Yale OL) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149357' first='Tommy' last='Poholsky'] </strong>(Iowa QB), while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62223' first='Garrett' last='Harstad'] </strong>(Kansas St ATH) is the player who made the most significant jump into the top 25. Harstad went from starting the year ranked 231st overall as a quarterback to landing the 24th overall spot and second-ranked in the ATH position group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top 25 for the class of 2023 closes out with New Mexico State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150074' first='Hudson' last='Voggesser']</strong> (LB/SS), who entered his senior year as the 28th player before finishing 25th overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->