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Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Every year, college football fans across the country get excited for the upcoming recruiting class — eager to see the next star of their favorite show.
The best of these recruits are rated five stars. There are about 32 five-star players each year, making them essentially college football’s version of first-round picks.
We’ve already learned about the 2022 and 2021 classes, but the 2020 class is unique because many have wrapped up their college careers and will be drafted in next month’s 2023 NFL Draft.
With that in mind, here’s how every five-star player in the 2020 class has performed so far in their careers.
(Note: On3 Sports’ industry rating is used here, and On3 Sports, 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals are combined into one ranking.)
1.DI Brian Bracey, clemson tigers
Career Rating: 73.6 (912 dunks)
Bracey made an immediate impact as a true freshman, leading all ACC interior defenders in pass rush rating of 81.2. His 26 pressures in 2020 also tied for fourth among all Power Five interior defenders.
He didn’t have much chance to build on that as a sophomore after tearing his ACL in Game 4 of the 2021 season. Bracey, though, has once again been an excellent pass rusher this past year, as his 12.4 percent pressure rate ranks ninth among top-five interior defenders. He’s currently a top-20 prospect in PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft.
A 6-foot-5, 300-pound person shouldn’t be able to move like that.
Bryan Bresee (#11) is about to have a massive comeback season. pic.twitter.com/nngBJLwLsV
– Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) May 9, 2022
2. Quarterback Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide
Career Rating: 93.1 (1,897 dunks)
Young spent his true freshman season as Mike Jones’ backup in Alabama’s national championship run.
He then took over as the starter for the Crimson Tide in 2021 and became the first Alabama quarterback to bring home the Heisman Trophy. That season, his 92.2 grade tied with CJ Stroud and Kenny Pickett for the highest grade among quarterbacks in the country. Young also tied for the most pitches among the Final Five that year with 36.
Young’s 91.3 passer rating last season was tied for the highest among quarterbacks in the country. He’s currently the No. 1 overall prospect on our big board.
Several examples of Bryce Young being superman against Texas is exactly who Alabama needs him to be this season pic.twitter.com/kESYScRJut
— Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) September 12, 2022
3. Office buildings Julian Fleming, Ohio State Buckeyes
Career Rating: 67.2 (808 dunks)
Fleming was Ohio State’s No. 5 receiver as a true freshman behind three top-15 picks in Chris Olaf, Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams, plus Another prospect this year is Jaxon Smith-Nziba. He finished the season catching seven of 13 targets for 74 yards.
Fleming remains the Buckeyes’ fifth receiver as a sophomore after a lingering shoulder injury sidelined him for five games in 2021. He ended up catching 12 of 19 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown that season. Fleming missed a few games last season because of the same shoulder problem, but he was Ohio State’s third-leading receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. He caught 34 of 52 targets for 533 yards and six touchdowns. Fleming should be the Buckeyes’ No. 3 receiver again in 2023, joining Harrison and Egbuka.
Julian Fleming. Continue to accumulate for several weeks. pic.twitter.com/DQ8QaXEBmZ
— Menace 2 Sports (@Menace2Sports) October 8, 2022
4. CB kelly ringo, Georgia Bulldog
Career Rating: 78.7 (1,620 dunks)
Ringo missed his entire freshman season after tearing his labrum in August 2020. He returns in 2021 and was the starting cornerback in each of the Bulldogs’ national championship seasons. In fact, in the 2021 national title game, Ringo took the game-deciding sixth pick from Bryce Young.
When Kelee Ringo calls the game? ? ? ? ? ? @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/eFfJIlgFUr
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 12, 2022
As a redshirt freshman, he shot just 20.3 percent from the field, good for sixth among top five corners. Ringo has struggled more this season, with a coverage rate of 73.3. Still, at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, he still has the weird tools for the position in a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He is a top 75 prospect on PFF’s large board.
5.TE aric gilbert, LSU Tigers
Career Rating: 70.5 (581 dunks)
Gilbert enters Baton Rouge as the highest-rated tight end recruit since Martellus Bennett in 2005. He started for LSU in his first year and led all true freshman tight ends in the country with 11 catches of 15-plus yards. Overall, he caught 35 of 53 targets for 368 yards and two touchdowns.
After the season, he entered the transfer portal, initially committed to Florida, re-entered the transfer portal a month later and settled in Georgia. He missed the entire 2021 season due to what head coach Kirby Smart called “personal issues” before rejoining the Bulldogs last season. Gilbert, though, played just 31 snaps in three games and finished his time at Georgia with two catches and a touchdown on four targets for 16 yards.
Gilbert, who entered the transfer portal for the third time in two years this offseason, will try to revive his career at Nebraska in 2023.
Arik Gilbert’s body advantage at tight end? ? ? ?
Will his addition to #UGA make them national title contenders? ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/mRzqqx0m2C
— 247Sports (@247Sports) June 1, 2021
6. lbs Justin Flo, oregon duck
Career Rating: 46.0​​ (244 dunks)
Flowe had the worst luck on this list. After just two injuries during his freshman year, he tore the meniscus in his right knee and missed the rest of the season. In the first game of the following season, he suffered a season-ending foot injury.
He finally played in multiple games in 2022, but had just the fourth-most snaps among Oregon linebackers as he battled injuries again. Flowe hasn’t been particularly impressive on those snaps either, as his 32.5 coverage rating and 45.6 pass rush rating are among the five worst marks among FBS linebackers with at least 175 snaps. Despite his admirable performance as a run defender, his 75.1 run defense rating ranks third among Pac-12 linebackers with at least 175 snaps.
Flowe will play for Arizona’s other Pac-12 team next season.
Future star of WWE Justin Flowe pic.twitter.com/gX3cKPz1z4
— The Flock Pod (@TheFlockPod) October 10, 2022
7. DI Gervon Dexter Sr., florida gators
Career Rating: 68.0 (1,417 dunks)
Dexter saw a healthy 254 snaps as a backup in his true freshman season before taking over as a starter in 2021.
He had arguably his best sophomore season when his 12 sacks/hits ranked third among SEC interior defenders while his 13.5 percent pass completion rate and 10.6 percent pressure rate ranked fifth. While he improved slightly as a run defender as a junior, his pass rush rating dropped more than 20 points to 55.2. He’s a fourth-round prospect on the PFF Big Board.
Watch how quickly DT Gervon Dexter recovers and gets back into the game. pic.twitter.com/xLPdilbCXS
— Cover 1 (@Cover1) March 22, 2023
8. Edge Miles Murphy, clemson tigers
Career rating: 88.4 (1,561 steals)
Murphy was absolutely dominant as a run defender as a freshman, as his 92.5 run defense rating led all edge defenders in the country in 2020.
He never hit that high again, as his run defense grade dipped to 84.1 as a sophomore before dropping to 72.8 last season. However, he has steadily improved as a pass rusher. His 13 sacks/hits in 2022 are tied for seventh among ACC edge defenders, and he has a career-best 78.5 pass rush rating. He’s currently among our top 25 prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy’s long arm helps easily pic.twitter.com/LodVjLaUz8
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) July 12, 2022
9. Overtime broderick jones, Georgia Bulldog
Career Rating: 82.3 (1,396 dunks)
Jones played 25 snaps as a backup right tackle during his freshman season. He remains a backup in 2021, primarily as a left tackle. The redshirt freshman saw the number of starters that year (438) and scored an impressive 78.8 points.
He takes over as full-time blindside protector from Stetson Bennett in 2022 and has done a great job at it. Jones’ 99.0 pass block efficiency rating and 2 percent pressure allowable rate both ranked in the top five among top-five tacklers last season. He also didn’t allow sacks on 449 pass-blocking dunks. Jones currently ranks in the top 25 on PFF’s roster.
Love what Broderick Jones is doing behind the scenes – Derick Hall’s tough rep pic.twitter.com/NLcRweuNTW
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 9, 2023
10. Overtime Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
Career Rating: 86.7 (1,621 dunks)
Johnson played 26 snaps off the bench in his true freshman season, mostly at linebacker. He takes over as the starting right guard in 2021 and has impressed with a 79.1 ERA, sixth best among Big Ten guards.
He played left tackle this past season and ranked fifth among the top five tackles (83.0). Johnson’s 11 important blocks that season (the highest in PFF’s class) ranked third in the same group. He’s a top 20 pick in our 2023 NFL Draft.
Hello Paris Johnson Jr. pic.twitter.com/LoiGrrh41i
— Cory (@realcorykinnan) September 11, 2022
11. Edge jordan burch, South Carolina Gamecock
Career Rating: 71.9 (1,301 steals)
Birch ranked third in South Carolina’s rotation at edge back during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
He emerged as a starter last season and tied for fifth most pressure among SEC edge defenders (40). He also tied for the most stops with 22 runs. Burch moved to Oregon in January.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/9pAcDwDeeL
— Jordan Birch (@JordanB1505) January 11, 2023
12. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, clemson tigers
Career Rating: 75.9 (1,905 dunks)
A true freshman, Uiagalelei was Trevor Lawrence’s backup and even started a few games when Lawrence contracted COVID-19.
He was a starter in his sophomore year and struggled with accuracy. Uiagalelei’s 26.6 percent uncatchable pass rate ranks ninth among the top five quarterbacks. He took a step forward as a junior with a 79.6 ERA last season, more than 13 points higher than his 2021 mark. Uiagalelei moved to Oregon this offseason.
DJ Uiagalelei dropped this in the bucket 6???? pic.twitter.com/eNUVkHMAQa
— ESPN (@espn) October 9, 2022
13. RB Zach Evans, TCU Horned Frog
Career Rating: 85.4 (668 dunks)
Of all the players on this list, Evans has had the most volatile recruiting journey. After silently signing with Georgia in the early stages of the signing, he asked to be released from the letter of intent just 10 days later. Four months later, he ended up in TCU.
A true freshman, Evans was one of the backup running backs, but he still impresses, ranking fifth among FBS running backs with at least 50 attempts (7.7). The following year, Evans led the nation with 7.0 yards per attempt (minimum 90 carries).
He spent his final season at Ole Miss, but was again the No. 2 running back behind freshman Quinshon Judkins. Evans still ran for 930 yards and scored a first touchdown on 36.8 percent of his attempts, fifth among Power Five backs. He’s a fourth-round prospect on the PFF Big Board.
Zach Evans breaks through the defense with ease. He didn’t even stop when he cut into the open. pic.twitter.com/0k2KfiVuxn
— Ladies Full Time ???? (@DP_NFL) September 3, 2022
14. Dee Jaylen Carter, Georgia Bulldog
Career Rating: 91.4 (1,075 steals)
Carter started immediately as Georgia’s true freshman, posting a respectable 71.4 points. Then he exploded as a sophomore, as his 90.0 passer grade and 18.9%…
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