Arch Manning, Lebbeus Overton among headliners in initial 247Sports Class of 2023 player rankings

Pair of Alabama defensive tackles earn Top 5 billing.

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Aug 19, 2020, 10:00am
247Sports released its initial Top 100 player rankings for high school football's Class of 2023 on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a multi-year evaluation process for the sophomore contingent. Among the headliners at the top of the list are No. 1 overall Lebbeus Overton and 2019 MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year Arch Manning.

As a freshman at Bessemer Academy (Bessemer, Ala.), Overton piled up 105 tackles, 42 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in just 13 games. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound prospect transferred to Milton (Ga.) last winter and immediately made an impact on the school's varsity basketball team.

Manning, the highest ranked quarterback in the 247Sports rankings and No. 5 overall, threw for 2,407 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading Newman to a 9-2 record. He also rushed for six touchdowns.

Arch is the son of the Cooper Manning – the older brother of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.

A pair of defensive linemen from Alabama also earned a spot among the top five in No. 2 Peter Woods of Thompson (Alabaster) and James Smith of Carver (Montgomery). Woods tallied 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season for the state's Class 7A state champions.

Cornerback Shawn Russ is the highest-rated player already committed to a college program. Regarded as the No. 30 prospect overall, the 6-2, 185-pound Dunbar (Fort Myers, Fla.) standout plans to play for the Florida Gators.

MORE: 247Sports Class of 2023 Top 100
Arch Manning is the highest rated quarterback in the initial 247Sports Class of 2023 rankings.
Arch Manning is the highest rated quarterback in the initial 247Sports Class of 2023 rankings.
Photo by Kenneth P. Steib

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