The JUCO additions who will make the quickest impact in 2023
247Sports has ranked over 300 JUCO players in the class of 2023. With schools looking for depth and filling post-spring holes, there were quite a few late signees who were intriguing additions to rosters.
With those late additions, the evaluation process for JUCO recruits went late into the cycle. Despite having less time to reach their upside than high school recruits, the process for rating JUCOs utilized much of the same criteria as high school recruits. It comes down to their tools, skill sets and ultimately how that plays into NFL upside and projection. The higher we think they have a chance to go in the draft, the higher they are ranked. With many former JUCO recruits going highly in the NFL Draft – notably players like quarterback Josh Allen and defensive end Jermaine Johnson — we know it can be done to go from JUCO to a first-round pick.
With the amount of JUCOs to now evaluate, and the amount who are coming in as depth, instant impact was not as much of a factor as projectable upside. While many of the 300-plus players who got rated are depth and down-the-line projections, there are also quite a few we expect to play major roles in the fall.
Here are two JUCO signees per conference that college football fans should expect to see on the field this season.
ACC: Bishop Fitzgerald, S, NC State
JUCO RANK: No. 1 safety, No. 26 overall
Bishop Fitzgerald was the No. 1 JUCO safety and he held serve in the spring, impressing with his speed and playmaking skills. He is locked in a battle for the strong safety position in fall camp but he’s right there to earn a starting role or playing time at the least. Fitzgerald comes from Coffeyville C.C.
ACC: Ashlynd Barker, S, Florida State
JUCO RANK: No. 57 overall, No. 6 safety
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell has had praise for Ashlynd Barker, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound addition who will give the Seminoles depth and will have a chance to see the field frequently. He was 247Sports' No. 6 safety coming out of Iowa Western.
Big Ten: Keyshawn Blackstock, OT, Michigan State
JUCO RANK: No. 7 overall, No. 1 interior offensive lineman
The question is not if Keyshawn Blackstock will play or even start, but where. He can go on either side and will be in the rotation even if he does not win an outright starting job. He was a major pickup for the Spartans and was ranked the No. 1 interior offensive line JUCO prospect by 247Sports. Blackstock played his JUCO ball at Coffeyville.
Big Ten: Will Leys, C, Illinois
JUCO RANK: No. 109 overall, No. 10 interior offensive lineman
There is competition for the starting center job in Champaign and Will Leys will be battling it out with Josh Kreutz, son of NFL great Olin Kreutz. Kreutz has been in the program while Leys is a new face, but he was brought in to provide competition and has the tenacity and approach to make this a battle. Leys' most recent stop was Saddleback College.
Big 12: Tanner Hughes, QB, Iowa State
JUCO RANK: No. 114 overall, No. 1 QB
The loaded question here is whether incumbent starter Hunter Dekkers will be able to play amid an investigation into gambling. If he is unable to participate, Tanner Hughes, a transfer from Butte, will have a strong opportunity to compete for the job with redshirt freshman Rocco Becht and true freshman J.J. Kohl. Hughes would be the oldest and most experienced of those options. An Iowa native, he threw for 25 touchdowns to only five interceptions at Butte.
Big 12: Will Lee, CB, Kansas State
JUCO RANK: No. 114 overall, No. 12 safety
Will Lee was a nice recruiting win for the Wildcats as he had several other major offers. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he brings size and physicality to a competition for one of the starting cornerback jobs that Wildcat insiders believe he can win by opening day. Lee played his JUCO ball not too far down the road at Iowa Western.
Pac-12: Esa Pole, OT, Washington State
JUCO RANK: No. 34 overall, No. 12 OT
Esa Pole is competing with Christian Hilborn for the left tackle spot. Pole worked there for the entirety of the spring while Hilborn also can play guard so if he kicks inside, the 6-foot-7, 325-pound Pole will have a chance to be the blind side protector for the Cougars.
Pac-12: Tyrice Ivy, CB, Oregon State
JUCO RANK: No. 60 overall, No. 10 CB
A big, long, 6-foot-3 cornerback, Tyrice Ivy was with the first team for the entirety of spring ball and had two interceptions in the Beavers’ spring showcase. The College of San Mateo product is one of the best bets of any JUCO prospect to make an impact this season.
SEC: Malik Benson, WR, Alabama
JUCO RANK: No. 1 overall, No. 1 WR
The No. 1 JUCO recruit in the country, Malik Benson has electrifying speed and playmaking ability and is coming into a situation where he not only has a chance to start, but should be one of the go-to targets for the Crimson Tide. We profiled Benson's breakout potential earlier this offseason. Benson played his JUCO ball at Hutchinson C.C.
SEC: Elijah Davis, DL, South Carolina
JUCO RANK: No. 4 overall, No. 1 DL
Elijah Davis was a four-star and top five JUCO recruit. He will be in the rotation for the Gamecocks quite heavily and had an excellent spring game. He gives them the ability to move him and get creative so expect to see a lot of him this fall. Davis played JUCO at East Mississippi C.C., of Last Chance U fame.
G5 JUCO ADDItions to watch
Derick Hunter Jr., DT, Memphis
Hunter was 247Sports’ No. 6 overall JUCO recruit and a former high school four-star who played some at Texas A&M. He brings that SEC experience and his pedigree and upside to Memphis where he has a strong chance to be a major contributor for the Tigers.
Daniel Ogundipe, OT, UTSA
A top ten JUCO recruit, Ogundipe was a major addition for the Roadrunners and acquitted himself well during the spring. His athleticism and mobility should be assets as he could develop into a potential next-level player.
