Los Alamitos football teammates Makai Lemon (left) and Malachi Nelson are interviewed on KCAL 9. They are starting the 2021 season considered as the No. 1 and No. 2 college prospects in the state for the Class of 2023. Photo: KCAL 9 TV.
Here is our first deep dive into the top 100 ranked football recruits from California for the Class of 2023. These juniors have all played fewer games than any other previous classes due to the pandemic and only in the last few months have been able to get busy attending various showcase events plus 7-on-7s. The big news is that the No. 1 and No. 2 positions are occupied by teammates and that they don’t go to either Mater Dei or St. John Bosco. The future also looks good at Pittsburg and Corona Centennial if you’re just going off of recruiting rankings.
To see final Class of 2021 Hot 100 player rankings for Gold Club members only that also was completed earlier this month, CLICK HERE.
To see updated, preseason Class of 2022 Hot 100 player rankings for Gold Club members only that also was completed earlier this month, CLICK HERE.
Note: We also have player rankings for boys basketball and softball. All player ranking charts (past and present) are for Gold Club members only. This is a great time to sign up and you can get all of our content for just $3.99 for one month. For details, CLICK HERE.
It was a close call for the most recent State Sophomore of the Year honor as St. John Bosco of Bellflower’s two-way star, Matayo Uiagalelei, edged record-breaking quarterback Malachi Nelson of Los Alamitos.
In looking at it from the perspective of recruiting rankings, however, it’s not that close. Nelson is the top-ranked player from California in all three of the major national networks at 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. Nelson, who just committed to Oklahoma, isn’t No. 1 in the nation in any of the three, but is No. 5 by 247Sports (just behind Arch Manning of Louisiana as the top QB); No. 2 by Rivals (DE Lebbeus Overton of Georgia is No. 1); and No. 17 by ESPN (still highest among California players).
