The messy finish of Nico Iamaleava’s Tennessee profession created an eye-opening statistic: Of the highest eight quarterback recruits within the 2023 class (per 247Sports), just one continues to be on the program he signed with — Arch Manning.
The beginning-or-depart mentality has outlined many quarterback transactions of the final decade-plus, however the loosening of switch restrictions and introduction of compensation by way of identify, picture and likeness offers (and an upcoming system of direct income sharing) have helped create much more volatility on the place.
So what occurred to all these quarterbacks, and what does it say concerning the state of school soccer? Right here’s a case-by-case take a look at every of the highest eight QB recruits of 2023.
Notice: All rankings are by way of 247Sports.
Arch Manning
Class of 2023 rating: 5-star, No. 1 general, No. 1 QBSigned with: TexasCurrent faculty: Texas
Manning is the unicorn of this group for a number of causes. He has the good fortune of getting three former NFL quarterbacks in his household: grandfather Archie Manning and uncles Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. So it stands to motive he discovered a factor or two from them alongside the way in which.
Arch’s father, Cooper Manning, requested a “Nineteen Seventies-(fashion) recruitment” out of highschool, with out all of the social media bells and whistles which are commonplace in at present’s courtships. The Mannings pulled that off, and Arch’s Texas profession has had a decidedly old-school aptitude, too. He spent his first season because the third-string quarterback behind established starter Quinn Ewers and backup Maalik Murphy. When Ewers returned in 2024 and Murphy transferred, Manning grew to become the backup. He began two video games and completed one other when Ewers was out on account of damage and had a job in short-yardage packages, however he in any other case remained on the sideline as Ewers led Texas to a second consecutive look within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinals.
Now, heading into his redshirt sophomore season, Manning is QB1.
Why he stayed: Regardless of loads of wish-casting on the contrary, Manning by no means severely thought of transferring. He rigorously selected Texas after a radical recruiting course of, largely to play for Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns head coach has a protracted record of profitable pupils in his teaching profession: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, Jake Locker, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and extra. Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee, who was additionally closely concerned in his recruitment, have coached Manning arduous and developed him during the last two years.
“There’s nowhere else I need to be,” Manning instructed reporters final week. “I really like this place. So I need to be the quarterback on the College of Texas.”
The Mannings have been additionally keen to be affected person, understanding that the gifted Ewers was there when Arch arrived. There was no want to hurry Arch onto the sector earlier than he was prepared. Now that he’s ready to take the reins, that endurance ought to repay.
Nico Iamaleava
Class of 2023 rating: 5-star, No. 2 general, No. 2 QBSigned with: TennesseeCurrent faculty: To be decided
Iamaleava arrived in Knoxville to nice fanfare after inking a four-year, $8 million NIL contract. He redshirted his freshman 12 months however began the Citrus Bowl when Joe Milton opted out. He took over because the starter in 2024 and supplied combined outcomes: 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with a 63.8 % completion price. In eight video games towards bowl groups, he threw eight landing passes and averaged 6.7 yards per try. However Tennessee went 10-3 with Iamaleava and made the Playoff.
Why he transferred: Iamaleava, who was due $2.2 million in 2025, sought to renegotiate his cope with the aim of constructing $4 million. Tennessee held its floor, and when Iamaleava didn’t present as much as observe on Friday with out prior discover, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel determined the Vols would transfer on. Iamaleava is a promising expertise, and there might be a marketplace for his providers within the spring switch portal, however he overplayed his hand.
Iamaleava’s NFL-style holdout was new to varsity soccer, and a few imagine it may turn out to be a development. However Tennessee nipped it within the bud, and now Iamaleava is searching for a brand new residence.
Dante Moore
Class of 2023 rating: 5-star, No. 4 general, No. 3 QBSigned with: UCLACurrent faculty: Oregon
Out of all the highest 2023 quarterback signees, Moore was one of many few who stepped right into a state of affairs the place he may play straight away, as probably the most high-profile signee of Chip Kelly’s tenure at UCLA. However Moore might need been thrown into the hearth too quickly. He grew to become the starter after one recreation in his true freshman season however performed poorly over the subsequent few weeks and was benched. He completed 2023 with 1,610 yards passing, 11 landing passes and 9 interceptions with a 53.5 completion proportion. Moore was the newest instance of how tough it may be for true freshmen to step in and play proper means at quarterback — irrespective of how gifted or promising they might be.
Why he transferred: Moore wasn’t good, however UCLA’s offense was a complete mess in 2023, with no indication it might enhance in ’24. It was additionally fairly clear that winter that Kelly needed out at UCLA. So Moore entered the portal and made the more and more uncommon determination to prioritize his improvement. He transferred to Oregon, the place he’d dedicated earlier than flipping to UCLA late within the 2023 recruiting cycle, regardless that he knew he’d again up Dillon Gabriel. He’s the favourite to win the beginning job for the Geese in 2025. His journey may function a cautionary story for the way a lot match nonetheless issues, even for among the most gifted quarterbacks.
Jackson Arnold
Class of 2023 rating: 5-star, No. 10 general, No. 4 QBSigned with: OklahomaCurrent faculty: Auburn
Arnold was set to be the subsequent star quarterback at Oklahoma. He had a adorned Texas highschool profession, was the Gatorade nationwide participant of the 12 months as a senior and confirmed flashes of his expertise as a real freshman backup to Dillon Gabriel in 2023. When Gabriel transferred to Oregon, Arnold took the reins, however he was benched 4 begins into the 2024 season for true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Two video games later, Oklahoma went again to Arnold for the remainder of the season.
Why he transferred: It was a tough time throughout for the Sooners final season. Arnold struggled, however so did the offensive line and the receiving corps‚ which have been each ravaged by accidents. Head coach Brent Venables fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell in the course of the season. A change of surroundings appeared applicable for Arnold, who instructed AL.com that he wanted a “arduous reset” after the adversity of 2024. His expertise ought to be a very good slot in Hugh Freeze’s offense.
Malachi Nelson
Class of 2023 rating: 5-star, No. 13 general, No. 5 QBSigned with: USCCurrent faculty: UTEP
Nelson arrived at USC in January 2023 as an early enrollee in line to be the inheritor obvious to Caleb Williams, however he was coming off shoulder surgical procedure, which put him delayed. Even when he have been wholesome, it might’ve been robust for him to beat out Miller Moss for the backup job. He didn’t, and when head coach Lincoln Riley began searching for a starter-caliber switch QB in December 2023, Nelson determined to enter the portal. He transferred to Boise State, which was considered as a large win for the Broncos on the time — besides Maddux Madsen received the beginning job throughout coaching camp, and it was clear Nelson’s time there wouldn’t final past the season. He entered the portal in December and landed at UTEP.
Why he transferred: Nelson must play sooner or later. He has not had a strong marketplace for his providers the 2 instances he has entered the portal, which could counsel how applications actually really feel about his talent set. In El Paso, he’ll must beat out returning starter Skyler Locklear, who has extra expertise within the system — a standard theme within the competitions Nelson has misplaced the previous two years. Typically recruiting providers — and faculty coaches — simply miss on their evaluations. Except Nelson dramatically turns issues round, he may very well be the newest instance of a five-star miss.
Jaden Rashada
Class of 2023 rating: 4-star No. 44 general, No. 6 QBSigned with: FloridaCurrent faculty: To be decided
Rashada has made probably the most stops of any of the highest 10 quarterbacks within the 2023 class. He signed with Florida however received out of his letter of intent after an NIL collective, which signed him to a deal price greater than $13 million, then terminated the settlement weeks earlier than he was to enroll.
Rashada later signed with Arizona State, the place he began the primary two video games of the 2023 season and appeared in one other earlier than transferring to Georgia within the spring of 2024. Rashada spent only one semester at Georgia, the place he was behind Carson Beck, Gunnar Stockton and Ryan Puglisi. He entered the portal a second time and continues to be trying to find his subsequent cease.
Why he transferred: Rashada’s would-be Florida profession was an NIL casualty, however not by his doing. Profitable the beginning job out of coaching camp at Arizona State was promising, however the Solar Devils sought upgrades on the place after the 2023 season, bringing in Sam Leavitt and Jeff Sims (Leavitt took Arizona State to the Faculty Soccer Playoff and returns for 2025). Rashada selected Georgia understanding that he wouldn’t begin, however he was thus far down the depth chart that enjoying time appeared like a distant chance. He’ll probably select someplace he can get on the sector in 2025.
Aidan Chiles
Class of 2023 rating: 4-star, No. 58 general, No. 7 QBSigned with: Oregon StatePresent faculty: Michigan State
Chiles was a big recruiting triumph for Oregon State, which held off brand-name applications that attempted to make a push for him late within the 2023 cycle. Coach Jonathan Smith discovered methods to get Chiles on the sector as a real freshman regardless that DJ Uiagalelei was the starter. It wasn’t tough to search out individuals who thought Chiles had extra upside of the 2. After the common season ended, Smith took the Michigan State job, and Chiles adopted him to East Lansing. Chiles handed for two,415 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his first season as a full-time starter in 2024. He additionally rushed for 225 yards and three scores.
Why he transferred: Chiles was simply the newest in a development we’ve seen throughout the game the place quarterbacks will comply with the pinnacle coach or offensive coordinator with whom they’ve constructed a relationship to a brand new faculty. Smith evaluated Chiles in highschool and constructed a robust sufficient rapport with him that Chiles caught with Oregon State within the recruiting course of. So it’s no shock that Chiles adopted Smith to Michigan State. However as expectations for the Spartans rise, Chiles might be in for an vital season.
Austin Mack
Class of 2023 rating: 4-star, No. 73 general, No. 8 QBSigned with: WashingtonCurrent faculty: Alabama
Mack was initially a member of the 2024 recruiting cycle however reclassified to 2023 and signed with Washington. He didn’t play as a freshman, buried on the depth chart behind Michael Penix Jr. and Dylan Morris, however earned loads of buzz. He transferred to Alabama after the 2023 season when Kalen DeBoer left for Tuscaloosa. He tried three passes in 2024 and is a part of a three-man QB competitors for the job this offseason.
Why he transferred: Mack, like Chiles, adopted the coach who signed him out of highschool. He has spent the previous two years with DeBoer and is now reunited with the offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, who recruited him to Washington. Mack has been affected person thus far, however will probably be fascinating to see how for much longer he sticks with DeBoer ought to he end second or third in Alabama’s quarterback race this offseason.
Different notable 2023 QB recruits
The 2 quarterbacks who rounded out 247Sports’ high 10 in 2023 are nonetheless at their authentic colleges: Avery Johnson (Kansas State) and Christopher Vizzina (Clemson). They’ve had contrasting journeys so far.
Johnson performed in eight video games as a freshman and began two, however Will Howard took the majority of the snaps. Nonetheless, Johnson’s expertise was attractive and Howard transferred to Ohio State, opening the door for Johnson to take over in 2024. He threw for two,712 yards and a school-record 25 touchdowns however accomplished simply 58 % of his passes. His athleticism (605 dashing yards, seven touchdowns) makes him a problem for opposing defenses, however he’ll must take higher care of the ball (10 interceptions).
Vizzina is taking a extra methodical strategy, just like Manning. Vizzina redshirted in 2023 and performed in seven video games in 2024 behind starter Cade Klubnik. Vizzina will stay the backup as Klubnik returns in 2025 and Clemson hopes to return to the Playoff. He ought to be in place to be the starter in 2026.
(Photographs: Johnnie Izquierdo, Tim Warner / Getty Pictures)
