Ohio State Has Fourth-Ranked 2022 Class Through Early Signing Period

Ohio State signed 17 recruits on Wednesday as part of college football’s early signing period, which gives the program the No. 4 recruiting class behind Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia in 247Sports’ composite rankings.

The Buckeye signees include two five stars, 13 four stars and a pair of three stars that combine for 289.58 points and a 94.04 average for each recruit. Ohio State will also add Marysville (Ohio) four-star linebacker Gabe Powers to the class on Friday.

Ohio State has the best class in the Big Ten, ranking two spots ahead of Penn State (276.81 points) and five ahead of Michigan (258.69). Indiana has the fourth-best class in the conference, followed by Michigan State, Iowa, Rutgers, Maryland and the six remaining Big Ten West teams.

Here is how the Buckeyes’ 2022 class stacks up in the national rankings:

1. Texas A&M

SEC Rank: 1

Head coach: Jimbo Fisher

Director of Player Personnel: Marshall Malchow

The Aggies signed three five-star recruits in the 2022 class, including Powell (Tenn.) defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Lakeland (Fla.) defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland quarterback Conner Weigman.

Nolen and Brownlow-Dindy are two of the class’ best defensive linemen. The former will come to College Station as the No. 2 overall recruit and No. 1 defensive lineman, and the latter will arrive as the No. 16 national prospect and No. 4 defensive lineman.

Weigman is the No. 19 overall recruit in the class and second-best quarterback behind Austin (Texas) Westlake five-star Cade Klubnik, who signed with Clemson on Wednesday afternoon.

Texas A&M will add one more hard commit in Frisco (Texas) Liberty five-star Evan Stewart signs his letter of intent, further solidifying the program as the nation’s top class. The Aggies also have 19 four stars and a trio of three stars, giving them 26 total commits.

2. Alabama

SEC Rank: 2

Head coach: Nick Saban

Director of Player Personnel: Bob Welton

The Crimson Tide signed three five-star recruits in the 2022 class, including Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander, Martin (Tenn.) Westview quarterback Ty Simpson and Hartford (Ala.) Geneva County running back Emmanuel Henderson.

Alexander is the No. 8 overall recruit and the top-ranked edge rusher for 2022. Simpson is the No. 24 overall prospect and No. 3 quarterback who will play college football next season. He only sits behind Klubnik and Weigman in this year’s class.

Henderson is the No. 20 overall recruit but claims the title for the nation’s best 2022 running back. He and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei prospect Raleek Brown, who is currently uncommitted and unsigned, is the only five-star ball carrier in the class.

Alabama will add two more hard commits in Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star tight end and Lafayette (La.) four-star defensive lineman Walter Bob before next season starts, giving the Tide 24 total commits with a trio of five stars, 19 four stars and a pair of three stars.

3. Georgia

SEC Rank: 3

The Bulldogs have the most five-star recruits of any school through the early signing period. Jefferson (Ga.) athlete Malaki Starks, Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverside corner back Jaheim Singletary, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr., Columbus (Ga.) Hardaway Mykel Williams and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy cornerback Daylen Everette.

Starks is the No. 14 overall recruit and top-ranked athlete. Singletary (a former Ohio State commit who de-committed in August) is the No. 5 cornerback. Jones Jr. is the No. 2 edge rusher, Williams is the No. 5 defensive lineman and Everette is the No. 6 cornerback.

Georgia’s 2022 class has fourteen four-star recruits and seven three-star recruits, giving the program 26 total recruits — matching Texas A&M and trailing only Texas (27) for the most commitments in this year’s recruiting class.

Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland four-star running back Jordan James, Bexley (Ga.) Appling County four-star edge rusher Darris Smith and Houston (Texas) Kinkaid School three-star wide receiver Dillon Bell will join Kirby Smart’s program when they sign their national letter of intent.

4. Ohio State

Learn all about Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class on the Early Signing Period module on the BuckeyeSports.com website. Head coach Ryan Day offered his thoughts on the signings during a Wednesday press conference.

5. Texas

Big-12 Rank: 1

Head coach: Steve Sarkisian

Director of Player Personnel: Billy Glasscock

The Longhorns lead the FBS with 27 total commits. Humble (Texas) Summer Creek offensive tackle Kelvin Banks is the lone five star.

Texas has 17 four stars to the 2022 class led by Little Elm (Texas) cornerback Terrance Brooks, who flipped from Ohio State on Wednesday hours before signing his letter of intent to the Buckeyes. The program also features eight three-star recruits.

Sarkisian’s 2022 class combines to create 281.97 points — only 7.61 total points behind Ohio State — and a 90.37 average rating for its 27 players.