Recruits, transfers and the building of the College Football Playoff teams

With the College Football Playoff semifinals a small implicit a week away, it's clip to look astatine the 4 teams and their antithetic paths to assemblage football's eventual goal.

Georgia and Ohio State volition lucifer up successful the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and Michigan and TCU volition conscionable successful the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Each squad had varying degrees of occurrence successful recruiting and successful the transportation portal implicit the past 3 seasons.

Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State each person aggregate CFP appearances, and that has had a large interaction connected the recruiting way recently. Meanwhile, TCU and first-year manager Sonny Dykes had to deed the portal hard this past offseason, and the benefits were instantly apparent.

No 2 roads to the playoff are precisely the same, and though immoderate stock similarities, they're inactive antithetic successful their ain unsocial ways. This is however Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State recovered their mode to this season's College Football Playoff.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Recent ESPN recruiting rankings

2022 class: 3rd
2021 class: 3rd
2020 class: 2nd

Highest-rated enlistee connected existent roster: CB Kelee Ringo (No. 8 overall, No. 1 cornerback successful 2020)

Most important transfer: DB Tykee Smith (West Virginia)

Recruiting breakdown: It's not a coincidence that the highest-rated subordinate successful each of Georgia's signing classes from 2020-22 has been a antiaircraft subordinate (Malaki Starks, Smael Mondon, Kelee Ringo). Georgia manager Kirby Smart played antiaircraft backmost and spent 11 seasons arsenic a antiaircraft adjunct nether Nick Saban. And it's a bully happening Smart went truthful dense connected defense. That's not lone however you tract past season's record-setting defence but besides however you suffer 5 first-round picks disconnected that defence and don't miss a bushed the adjacent twelvemonth with underclassmen specified arsenic Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Javon Bullard stepping into larger roles. Other areas of accent dovetail with Smart's hard-nosed coaching philosophy: violative enactment and moving back. The Bulldogs signed the top-rated violative tackle successful 2020 (Broderick Jones) and the No. 3-rated tackle successful 2021 (Amarius Mims). Two of Georgia's apical 3 moving backs were ranked successful the apical 15 astatine their presumption (Kendall Milton, Kenny McIntosh), and Daijun Edwards has proved to beryllium a large find arsenic the No. 33 backmost successful the 2020 class. When Smart got the job, helium knew however fertile a authorities Georgia was for shot talent, but helium besides knew however competitory it was. In 2021, helium signed 3 of the apical 4 players from Georgia. In 2022, helium signed 2 of the apical four. But helium has done good going extracurricular the state, too, getting starring receiver Brock Bowers from California and starring tackler Dumas-Johnson from Maryland. The extent is noticeable, with 47 ESPN 300 signees from 2020 to 2022.

Under-the-radar recruiting occurrence story: Without Brock Bowers, wherever would Georgia be? The discourtesy would beryllium successful trouble, that's for sure. Bowers is not lone the champion choky extremity successful the state but besides leads the Bulldogs successful receptions (52), receiving yards (726) and receiving touchdowns (6). Oh, and helium has rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown. And to deliberation that Bowers, who looks similar a surefire first-round prime now, wasn't adjacent the highest-rated choky extremity successful his class. He was 4th -- and 210th overall. Credit Georgia for seeing thing successful his accomplishment acceptable (he played Wildcat backmost and moving backmost successful precocious school) and going each the mode to Napa, California, to get him. Otherwise, helium mightiness beryllium a Washington Husky close present and Georgia mightiness not beryllium successful the playoff.

How they landed their QB: Georgia didn't precisely spell hard aft Stetson Bennett. The undersized backmost from Blackshear, Georgia, was nary one's thought of a coveted recruit. He walked connected to the squad successful 2017, redshirted and decided to leave, transferring to a inferior assemblage successful Mississippi. And adjacent aft proving to himself that helium could play, scoring 20 touchdowns, Bennett was prepared to motion astatine the University of Louisiana. But connected the archetypal time of the aboriginal signing period, Smart swooped successful with a assistance offer. It was much astir adding extent than thing else. No. 1-ranked backmost Justin Fields was portion of the 2018 class. But Bennett outlasted Fields and, eventually, helium outlasted prima transfers JT Daniels and Jamie Newman to go the eventual underdog communicative helium is today.

Portal power: What portal power? Georgia was the lone squad successful the Power 5 not to motion a azygous transportation subordinate this past offseason. Tykee Smith -- the "Most important transfer" listed supra -- came to the programme successful 2020. And adjacent then, helium has started lone 4 games this season. Although Smart has dipped into the portal successful the past, occurrence has been mixed. All of this year's squad is homegrown talent. (That whitethorn alteration adjacent twelvemonth -- earlier this week the Dawgs landed 2 dynamic wide receivers from the portal.) -- Alex Scarborough

2. Michigan Wolverines

Recent ESPN recruiting rankings

2022 class: 8th
2021 class: 14th
2020 class: 11th

Highest-rated enlistee connected existent roster: DE Derrick Moore (No. 20 overall, No. 4 DE successful 2022)

Most important transfer: C Olusegun Oluwatimi (Virginia)

Recruiting breakdown: Over the past 3 recruiting cycles, Jim Harbaugh has reeled successful 28 ESPN 300 recruits, with lone 1 of the 3 classes residing successful the apical 10 (eighth successful 2022). The Wolverines' emergence to back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances person travel with subordinate improvement astatine the forefront. Only six top-100 recruits person signed with Michigan since 2020. By comparison, Georgia has signed 31 top-100 prospects and Ohio State has signed 22 top-100 prospects during that clip frame. So that puts Michigan's 2 wins implicit Ohio State and its blowout nonaccomplishment to Georgia successful past season's College Football Playoff successful amended perspective. Michigan has genuinely gotten backmost to the nationalist signifier arsenic a sum of its parts. Eleven players wrong the apical 10 astatine their respective positions -- led by J.J. McCarthy, the second-best dual-threat backmost successful 2021 -- person signed with Michigan wrong the past 3 years. Four ESPN 300 safeties -- Jordan Morant (No. 190 overall, No. 9 S successful 2020), Makari Paige (No. 231 overall, No. 14 S successful 2020), Keon Sabb (No. 100 overall, No. 6 S successful 2022) and Zeke Berry (No. 290 overall, No. 21 S successful 2022) -- person signed with the Wolverines wrong the past 3 recruiting cycles.

Under-the-radar recruiting occurrence story: Kris Jenkins, whose begetter played 10 years successful the NFL, came to Ann Arbor arsenic a three-star enlistee retired of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School successful Olney, Maryland, arsenic portion of Michigan's 2020 class. Jenkins, the No. 53 antiaircraft tackle successful ESPN's rankings, contributed considerably this play to the Wolverines' stout defense. Jenkins, who is 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, recorded 50 tackles (27 solo) with 2 sacks for a portion that was 3rd successful full defence (277.1 yards per game) successful FBS. He has provided assistance to 2019 ESPN 300 enlistee Mazi Smith (No. 45 overall, No. 4 DT) and 2022 three-star enlistee Mason Graham connected the antiaircraft line.

How they landed their QB: J.J. McCarthy, primitively from Nazareth Academy successful La Grange Park, Illinois, transferred to IMG Academy during the tallness of the COVID-19 pandemic. McCarthy (No. 25 wide successful 2021 ESPN 300) was the Wolverines' highest enlistee successful the 2021 class. Bypassing offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, LSU, Texas and Wisconsin, helium was the highest-ranked backmost successful Jim Harbaugh's tenure and the highest-ranked backmost to motion with the Wolverines since Ryan Mallett (No. 12 overall) successful 2007. After Michigan won the Big Ten rubric and went to the College Football Playoff successful 2021, McCarthy bushed retired Cade McNamara, who yet transferred to Iowa aft this season, to triumph the starting job. McCarthy threw for 2,376 yards with 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this play arsenic Michigan went undefeated successful the regular play for the archetypal clip since 1997.

Portal power: Center Olusegun Oluwatimi was a postgraduate transportation from Virginia who didn't disappoint. Oluwatimi won the Rimington Trophy (third successful Michigan history) and the Outland Trophy (first successful Michigan history) this play arsenic the Wolverines averaged 243 rushing yards a crippled -- 5th successful the FBS. -- Blake Baumgartner

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Gene Wojciechowski sits down with Michigan manager Jim Harbaugh to sermon what's astatine involvement heading into the 2023 Fiesta Bowl.

3. TCU Horned Frogs

Recent ESPN recruiting rankings

2022 class: 57th
2021 class: 49th
2020 class: 31st

Highest rated enlistee connected existent roster: WR Quentin Johnston (No. 63 overall, No. 7 WR successful 2020)

Most important transfer: LB Johnny Hodges (Navy)

Recruiting breakdown: Under erstwhile manager Gary Patterson, TCU had a estimation for uncovering diamonds successful the rough, with a absorption connected athleticism and development. That has paid dividends connected a roster with a batch of velocity connected the apical end. There were a fewer large wins (Johnston flipped from Texas and was the highest-rated enlistee of Patterson's TCU era), but the Frogs signed conscionable 15 four-star players successful the past 3 years (including conscionable 9 ESPN 300 recruits, with Michigan's 28 the fewest among the different 3 CFP teams). But TCU has molded those players into productive stars similar Thorpe Award victor Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and All-Big 12 moving backmost Kendre Miller (1,342 yards, 17 TDs), who was a three-star and the No. 65 jock successful the 2020 class. Dee Winters, the No. 109 WR successful the 2019 class, is present a 6-1, 230-pound first-team All-Big 12 linebacker who had 65 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, and 7.5 sacks. Derius Davis, a 5-9, 145-pound three-star enlistee ranked arsenic the No. 94 CB successful 2018, has six vocation instrumentality TDs and was a first-team All-American punt returner this year, adding 418 receiving yards and 5 TD catches.

Under-the-radar recruiting occurrence story: Hodges-Tomlinson was an undersized information imaginable astatine 5-9, 171 who was ranked arsenic the No. 42 information successful the state and No. 77 subordinate successful Texas. He had conscionable 3 offers, Baylor successful his hometown of Waco, Kansas State and Texas State, until his uncle, legendary TCU alum LaDainian Tomlinson, called Patterson and told him helium couldn't carnivore his nephew going to Baylor, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Hodges-Tomlinson received an connection astir a period earlier signing day, jumped connected it and has since go a lockdown country who was first-team All-Big 12 the past 3 seasons, including All-American honors successful 2020 and 2022. He allowed conscionable a 38.9 passer standing this year, champion successful the Big 12.

How they landed their QB: Max Duggan was a highly recruited subordinate retired of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and opted to spell acold from home, successful hunt of a larger metropolis to play in. He loved Fort Worth, and existent Louisiana Tech manager Sonny Cumbie, past the Frogs' violative coordinator, thought helium was a bully acceptable for the Air Raid, and TCU had had caller occurrence with dual-threat QBs specified arsenic Trevone Boykin and Kenny Hill. He chose the Horned Frogs implicit Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska, a large triumph for Patterson.

Portal power: That developmental recruiting became challenging erstwhile the Frogs needed a speedy turnaround. The Frogs were 16-18 successful the 3 seasons earlier caller manager Sonny Dykes arrived, and determination were holes to fill, particularly astatine linebacker and antiaircraft line. After Dykes arrived successful December 2021, TCU took 14 transfers, and Hodges was the biggest find, a erstwhile Navy lacrosse subordinate who joined the shot squad and was a part-time starter, past went into the transportation portal but got nary offers until TCU came along. He led the squad successful tackles with 76, contempt missing the Big 12 title crippled with an injury, and was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Josh Newton, a country from Louisiana-Monroe, was All-Big 12 other Hodges-Tomlinson, giving TCU a formidable brace and the quality to beryllium much assertive successful the walk rush. Transfers from UConn (Lwal Uguak) and Stephen F. Austin (Caleb Fox) were cardinal rotation players connected the antiaircraft line. Alan Ali, who started 39 games astatine SMU nether Dykes, transferred for his last play and helped with the transition. Dykes volition proceed to excavation the portal for talent, particularly for section players who privation to travel home, similar this week, erstwhile TCU landed Alabama transfers JoJo Earle, a top-75 nationalist recruit, and tackle Tommy Brockermeyer, who was No. 2 successful the 2021 ESPN 300; some are from the Fort Worth area. They won't assistance this year, but it's wide the Frogs' play made them a morganatic transportation information going forward. -- Dave Wilson

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

Recent ESPN recruiting rankings

2022 class: 4th
2021 class: 2nd
2020 class: 5th

Highest-rated enlistee connected existent roster: WR Julian Fleming (No. 1 overall, No. 1 WR successful 2020)

Most important transfer: N/A

Recruiting breakdown: Ohio State owns 3 top-10 classes implicit the past 3 years, highlighted by ranking 2nd successful 2021. A twelvemonth aft signing Fleming, the No. 1 enlistee successful 2020, Ohio State signed the No. 1 subordinate astatine 4 positions (quarterback, antiaircraft end, antiaircraft tackle and moving back) successful 2021 -- including antiaircraft extremity Jack Sawyer, the No. 1 wide prospect. Of those 4 players, Texas backmost Quinn Ewers (No. 2 overall, No. 1 QB-PP) is the lone 1 not connected the existent roster. The Buckeyes person signed 48 ESPN 300 prospects implicit the three-year period, with wide receiver being the biggest stronghold. Nine wide receivers -- 3 apiece successful each of the 3 recruiting cycles -- person made their mode to Columbus, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka person near indelible impressions. A brace of top-five cornerbacks, Jakailin Johnson (No. 88 overall, No. 4 CB) and Jordan Hancock (No. 101st overall, No. 5 CB), were signed successful 2021. Both lines of scrimmage are areas wherever salient prospects person travel successful and excelled. Luke Wypler (No. 58 overall, No. 1 C) and Paris Johnson Jr. (No. 11 overall, No. 2 OT) highlighted the 2020 class, which ESPN ranked fifth, and Donovan Jackson (No. 70 overall, No. 2 OG) followed 1 twelvemonth later. Six top-10 antiaircraft linemen person been signed implicit the past 2 seasons (Sawyer, No. 1 overall, No. 1 DE successful 2021; J.T. Tuimoloau, No. 4 overall, No. 1 DT successful 2021; Michael Hall Jr. No. 81 overall, No. 8 DT successful 2021; Omari Abor, No. 26 overall, No. 5 DE successful 2022; Kenyatta Jackson, No. 68 overall, No. 8 DE successful 2022; Hero Kanu, No. 109 overall, No. 10 DT successful 2022).

Under-the-radar recruiting occurrence story: A three-star recruit, Miyan Williams was the 57th-best moving backmost successful the 2020 people upon graduating from Cincinnati's Winton Woods High School. The 5-9, 205-pound subordinate proved his worthy this play astatine the astir opportune clip with TreVeyon Henderson (No. 9 overall, No. 1 RB successful 2021) battling injuries connected and disconnected this play arsenic helium was constricted to 8 games and 571 yards aft moving for 1,248 yards during his freshman year. Williams rushed for 817 yards (12th successful Big Ten) and 13 touchdowns (third successful Big Ten) connected 125 carries this season. His 189 yards and a school-record 5 touchdowns successful a 49-10 triumph implicit Rutgers was 1 of 4 100-yard rushing games for the third-year Buckeye. His quality to transportation the load successful Henderson's stead was 1 of the reasons Ohio State was inactive capable to mean 198.5 rushing yards a game, which ranked 3rd successful the Big Ten.

How they landed their QB: Junior C.J. Stroud (No. 104 overall, No. 2 QB-PP) came from Rancho Cucamonga (California) High School arsenic 1 of 2 ESPN 300 quarterbacks (Jack Miller) successful Ohio State's top-five 2020 class. The Buckeyes won retired for Stroud's services implicit Michigan and Georgia. All Stroud has done successful his 2 years arsenic the starter is rewrite the Ohio State grounds book. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and two-time Graham-George Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Stroud has 3 vocation six-touchdown games and acceptable a programme and Rose Bowl grounds with 573 passing yards and six touchdown passes. This season, Stroud has thrown for 3,340 yards and 37 touchdowns with six interceptions arsenic helium helped pb the Buckeyes backmost to the College Football Playoff.

Portal power: Transfers haven't played a immense portion for the Buckeyes due to the fact that recruiting has been truthful bully successful Columbus. Wide receivers manager Brian Hartline has had ample endowment to enactment with astatine that presumption arsenic the Buckeyes person maintained 1 of the astir lethal offenses successful the country. With Hartline's help, Ryan Day's programme has signed 9 ESPN 300 receivers since 2020. -- Baumgartner