Ranking the No. 1 college football recruits in the ESPN era: Who’s the best?

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in June 2020. It has been updated with NFL statistics and the inclusion of recruits from the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Evaluating college football prospects has proved to be an inexact science. It’s extremely difficult to predict how 18-year-old high school players will adjust to all the unknown variables at the college level.

But No. 1 talent level on tape will stand out to even the most inexperienced scout in the room. Each of the players listed here dominated the high school landscape and had the physical skills and transferable talent to project highly as college prospects.

We ranked our former No. 1 prospects dating back to the 2006 recruiting cycle, the first year ESPN began ranking recruits. (We omitted quarterback Malachi Nelson, the top-rated prospect in the Class of 2023, as his freshman season at Southern California has yet to begin.)

Some maximized the elite potential they showed. Others failed to meet the lofty expectations set by the ESPN No. 1 overall ranking — whether the talent bar was simply set too high, they didn’t have the right circumstances or the lack of intangibles was simply too hard to mask when the competition stepped up. While some lacked that “it” factor, others possessed it to the highest degree. In the case of Myron Rolle, those attributes led to an even more impactful career off the field.

South Carolina | Class of 2011

Clowney came out of South Pointe High in South Carolina as a 6-foot-6, 240-pound defensive end with an otherworldly first step and the ability to be a dominant edge rusher. After choosing South Carolina over Clemson and Alabama, Clowney was an impact player for the Gamecocks, earning SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC second-team honors in 2011.

The 2012 season would be Clowney’s most productive in Columbia, as he finished with 54 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and took home the Ted Hendricks Award for college football’s top defensive end. In three seasons with South Carolina, Clowney recorded 47 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. He was selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. After battling injuries during his first two seasons in the NFL, Clowney was named to the Pro Bowl the next three seasons (2016 to 2018). In his career, Clowney has recorded 43 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and 320 total tackles in 109 games for the Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.

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Oregon | Class of 2019

When the 6-5, 234-pound defensive end from the Los Angeles area chose Oregon over Alabama, USC, Florida State and Florida, it was considered a program-defining win for the Ducks in the state of California under the direction of coach Mario Cristobal.

After starring at the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game, Thibodeaux was a difference-maker with Oregon, posting nine sacks as a freshman, finishing his three-year career with 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for a loss in 30 games and being named a consensus All-American in 2021. The New York Giants drafted him fifth overall in 2022, and as a rookie, he recorded four sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games.

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Georgia/Ohio State | Class of 2018

Fields, who overtook Trevor Lawrence for the No. 1 ranking in the 2018 class, signed with Georgia over LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Penn State in what was at the time a huge win in Athens for Kirby Smart. Fields, an Under Armour All-America Game alumnus, played behind Jake Fromm as a true freshman, passing for 328 yards and four touchdowns, as well as rushing for 266 yards and four scores, before transferring to Ohio State.

In his first season in Columbus, Fields became one of the brightest stars in college football, leading the Buckeyes to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. He threw for 5,373 yards and 63 touchdowns and ran for 867 yards and 15 TDs in 22 games with the Buckeyes. Though Fields, the 11th overall pick in 2021 to the Chicago Bears, struggled as a rookie, he took a massive leap in 2022, becoming only the third quarterback to ever run for 1,000 yards in a season and scoring 25 total touchdowns (17 passing, eight rushing).

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LSU | Class of 2014

The Louisiana star, from Saint Augustine High in New Orleans, was a massive win for LSU over Nick Saban-coached Alabama in 2014. Fournette, who possesses a rare blend of power on contact and long speed, was faced with unrealistic expectations early on in his Tigers career.

Fournette started his college career with 1,034 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, but the 2015 season would prove to be his best, as he ran for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 12 games, earning consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC honors. He entered the 2017 NFL draft after an injury-plagued junior season and was selected fourth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. After three seasons with Jacksonville, he spent the next three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scoring a touchdown in a Super Bowl LV victory. He has 4,478 career rushing yards, 2,219 receiving yards and 41 total touchdowns.

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Michigan | Class of 2016

At the time, Gary was a 6-4, 287-pound defensive end out of New Jersey with scheme versatility. His nationally followed recruitment came down to the wire between Michigan and Clemson, while USC, Auburn and Ole Miss were also seriously considered.

After choosing the Jim Harbaugh-led Wolverines, Gary didn’t become the impact player as a freshman many expected, but inched closer to the lofty expectations as a sophomore when he posted 66 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. Gary finished his three-year career in Ann Arbor with more than 120 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Following a jaw-dropping performance at the NFL scouting combine, Gary was selected No. 12 overall in the 2019 draft by the Green Bay Packers. He has recorded at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons, including 9.5 in a breakout 2021 campaign.

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Tennessee | Class of 2017

Smith was a 6-6, 299-pound, physically dominant offensive lineman out of University School of Jackson in Tennessee. He was a massive recruiting win for home-state Tennessee over Alabama, Ole Miss and Ohio State.

Smith started 19 games in a row for the Volunteers before a career-threatening blood clot condition ended his 2018 season. Smith returned to the field in 2019 and captured All-SEC first-team honors, starting 12 games at left guard after starting at both tackle and guard in previous seasons, then returned in 2020 to start 10 games. Since the Kansas City Chiefs drafted him in the sixth round in 2021, Smith has started all 33 games. He was a critical player along the line for the Super Bowl LVII champions.

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Clemson | Class of 2008

Bowers was ranked No. 1 in the 2008 class out of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High in South Carolina. He was a force on the defensive line as a senior (14 sacks) and a 1,000-yeard rusher on offense. He was offered by nearly every top national program but chose to stay home and play for Clemson over Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and South Carolina.

After getting off to a slow start as a freshman, the 6-4, 280-pound defensive end posted 46 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore before becoming a dominant force as a junior. He was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was named unanimous All-American in 2010, when he posted 67 tackles, 236 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Bowers was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played five injury-plagued seasons. He was recently hired to coach the defensive line at South Florida under Jeff Scott, who spent time with Bowers at Clemson.

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USC | Class of 2009

Barkley, who played for Southern California power Mater Dei High School, signed with Pete Carroll and USC over many of the nation’s other top programs. He became the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener in the storied history of Trojans football.

Barkley passed for 12,327 yards and 116 touchdowns against 48 interceptions in four seasons for the Trojans. Despite putting up impressive stats, Barkley led USC to only one 10-win season. Barkley was drafted in the fourth round in 2013 by the Philadelphia Eagles. He has attempted 363 career passes in parts of seven seasons in the NFL, primarily in a backup role.

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Ole Miss | Class of 2013

Nkemdiche, a 6-5, 265-pound defensive end, came out of the Atlanta area as one of the most contested recruitments in a few years, with Ole Miss winning out over Clemson, LSU, Florida, Alabama, Auburn and USC, among others. He possessed a rare combination of initial quickness, power, the ability to pursue and advanced hand technique thanks to terrific coaching at Grayson High School.

In three seasons at Ole Miss, Nkemdiche posted 81 tackles, 16 tackles and six sacks, but never played a full season due to injury or suspension. In 2016, he was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Cardinals. He has had an inconsistent and injury-plagued NFL career.

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Florida State | Class of 2006

Rolle signed with Florida State over every national power. Coming out of The Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, he was considered one of the more accomplished student-athletes in quite some time.

The high performance on the field and scholastic achievement off it continued, as the 6-2, 205-pound safety amassed 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception as a freshman in 2006, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In three seasons, Rolle totaled 206 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and one interception.

Rolle was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft, but his career was already trending toward medicine. The only Seminoles football player to be awarded the Rhodes scholarship, Rolle is now in his third year at Harvard Medical School as a neurosurgery resident. He is currently on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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USC | Class of 2007

When the electric running back chose USC over LSU out of Louisiana power John Curtis Christian High School, it was seen as another show of Pete Carroll’s recruiting muscle for the Trojans over longtime favorite LSU.

In Los Angeles, McKnight never lived up to the immense expectations while following in the Heisman Trophy-winning footsteps of Reggie Bush. In three seasons, McKnight rushed for 2,213 yards and 13 touchdowns, and added 542 yards receiving. McKnight was drafted in the fourth round in 2010 and totaled 505 rushing yards and over 2,300 return yards in four seasons in the NFL. McKnight was fatally shot on Dec. 1, 2016, in Terrytown, Louisiana.

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Florida State | Class of 2012

Edwards was considered a near lock for Florida State over Texas, Oklahoma and LSU for the majority of the recruiting process, being the son of former Seminoles standout defensive back Mario Edwards. In Tallahassee, the Lone Star State product was the only true freshman to earn a start in 2012.

Edwards followed that with All-ACC third-team honors in 2013 and All-ACC first-team honors in 2014, finishing his Seminoles career with 89 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He was selected by the Raiders early in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, and he has appeared in 99 games with 19.5 sacks in eight seasons. He last played for the Tennessee Titans.

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Texas A&M | Class of 2022

Nolen was a dominant force out of high school with a rare blend of size (6-4, 325), speed and power reminiscent of some of the players sitting at the top of this list. The Under Armour All-American posted 33 tackles for loss and 17 sacks as a senior for Powell High School (Tennessee) and was part of Jimbo Fisher’s historic No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Nolen quietly made four starts and appeared in 10 games as a true freshman. In his first career start versus Alabama, he forced a fumble and made three tackles. While Nolen was voted the top newcomer for Texas A&M last season, many thought he would take home that honor nationally. As young as he is, we still expect Nolen to climb into the top 10 of this ranking of No. 1 recruits when all is said and done.

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Florida | Class of 2010

Powell was a member of Urban Meyer’s No. 1-ranked Gators recruiting class in 2010 coming out of Rancho Verde High in California. After signing with Florida over Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Miami, UCLA and USC, the 6-3, 237-pound hybrid edge defender was selected to the freshman All-SEC team in 2010.

However, Powell battled ACL injuries throughout his time in Gainesville. He was picked in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft by New Orleans. He played parts of three seasons, again battling injury, and finished his NFL career with two tackles.

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Auburn/Maryland | Class of 2015

Cowart, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end, came out of Sunshine State power Armwood High as Auburn beat out Florida, Florida State, Alabama and Maryland in a fierce recruiting battle.

He was considered one of the biggest recruiting busts during his three seasons for the Tigers, registering just 15 tackles in three seasons before transferring to Maryland for his senior campaign. Cowart began to realize his potential with the Terrapins in 2018, totaling 38 tackles and three sacks. Selected in the fifth round in 2019, he recorded 29 total tackles in 19 games with the New England Patriots. After missing the 2021 season, he totaled four sacks and 12 total tackles with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in March.

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Ohio State | Class of 2021

Sawyer was a nightmare off the edge as a high school prospect. He possessed an uncommon combination of size (6-5, 230), length and range, and he employed those physical traits with an intense motor. He also played quarterback for Pinkerton North High School (Ohio) and excelled on the basketball court.

Like Nolen, Sawyer’s freshman season didn’t meet the expectations of the nation’s No. 1 prospect. He played in all 13 games but tallied only 13 tackles and three sacks. To get that defensive playmaker on the field, Sawyer moved to linebacker as a sophomore and again had just modest production (4.5 sacks and 24 tackles), and his playing time diminished toward the end of the season. We feel he is more natural with his hand in the dirt, and he has moved back down to defensive end this spring. Sawyer is too big and too fast not to be a disruptive presence for the Buckeyes, and he could break out in 2023.

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Ohio State | Class of 2020

It was hard to find physical flaws in Fleming’s game out of high school. He had exceptional hands, route-running skill and a large frame to create mismatches when in one-on-one situations. Even against the top competition in the Under Armour All-American Game, he dazzled with 62 yards on only three catches, including a 42-yard touchdown.

Injuries have hampered Fleming’s production, and he also has been buried by a depth chart littered with first-round NFL talent. He is back for a fourth season in Columbus yet is once again on the sidelines, with a shoulder injury. Last season was his best when he snagged 34 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns. He could be a rare player who produces better in the NFL than in college — just like former Buckeye wideout Terry McLaurin, who failed to have a 1,000-yard season in college but has had three straight with the Washington Commanders.