USA Today Top 100: Welcome to the Year of the Wide Receiver

The Chinese Calendar says 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, but for recruiting purposes this most definitely is the Year of the Wide Receiver. 

Twenty three wide receivers are listed on the USA Today Florida Network pre-spring Top 100 — a list of the state's top college prospects in the class of 2023. That number doesn't include hybrid tight ends or athletes who could play multiple positions in college such as Eau Gallie's Robert Stafford, Miami Killian's Robby Washington and Gaither's Eugene Wilson III. 

By comparison, 13 wide receivers and pass-catching tight ends made the top 100 in 2022 and only two cracked the top 20.

A trio of wide receivers are in the top 10 in the class of 2023: IMG's Carnell Tate (No. 4), Plantation-American Heritage standout Brandon Inniss (No. 7) and Gulliver Prep's Jalen Brown (No. 10). 

Lake Gibson cornerback Cormani McClain holds down the No. 1 spot on the list.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder has won the Lakeland Ledger's Big School Defensive Player of the Year award the past two seasons. He recorded 29 tackles and 10 interceptions last fall. The interceptions set a new school record — breaking  McClain's previous best of nine in 2020.

McClain has narrowed his list to eight schools: Alabama, BYU, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon.

This is the second consecutive year that a Lakeland-area player is ranked No. 1 on the USA Today list. Lakeland defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who signed with Texas A&M, was the top player in the class of 2022. 

USA TODAY Florida Network Top 100

No. 1-10

1. Cormani McClain (Lake Gibson CB)

6-foot-1, 165 pounds

Top 8 schools: Alabama, BYU, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon

2. Francis Mauigoa (IMG OT)

6-foot-5, 330 pounds

Top 13 schools: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC

3. Keon Keeley (Berkeley Prep EDGE)

6-foot-5, 240 pounds

Verbal commitment: Notre Dame

4. Carnell Tate (IMG WR)

6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Top 5 schools: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee

5. Damon Wilson (Venice EDGE)

6-foot-4, 230 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, USC

6. Samuel M’Pemba (IMG ATH)

6-foot-4, 230 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas A&M

7. Brandon Inniss (American Heritage WR)

6-foot, 190 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC

8. Cedric Baxter (Edgewater RB)

6-foot-1, 215 pounds

Top 5 schools: Arkansas, Florida, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M

9. Malik Bryant (Jones LB/EDGE)

6-foot-2, 235 pounds

Top 10 schools: Alabama, Arizona State, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Ohio State,  Oklahoma, Oregon

10. Jalen Brown (Gulliver Prep WR)

6-foot-1, 170 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Texas A&M

No. 11-20

11. Richard Young (Lehigh RB)

5-foot-11, 200 pounds

Top 7 schools: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M

12. Troy Bowles (Jesuit LB)

6-foot-2, 206 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M

13. John Walker (Osceola DL)

6-foot-3, 310 pounds

Top 5 schools: Alabama, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State, UCF

14. Raylen Wilson (Lincoln LB)

6-foot-2, 213 pounds

Verbal commitment: Michigan

15. Hykeem Williams (Stranahan WR)

6-foot-3, 195 pounds

Top 10 schools: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Texas A&M, USC

16. Jordan Hall (Westside DL)

6-foot-4, 300 pounds

Top 12 schools: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, South Carolina, USC

17. Derrick LeBlanc (Oscoela DL)

6-foot-4, 270 pounds

Top 7 schools: Clemson, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, UCF

18. Dijon Johnson (Wharton CB)

6-foot-1, 190 pounds

Verbal commitment: Ohio State

19. Aiden Mizell (Boone WR)

6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Baylor, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, USC, UCF

20. Will Norman (IMG DL)

6-foot-5, 290 pounds

Top 7 schools: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Texas A&M

No. 21-30

21. Lewis Carter (Tampa Catholic LB)

6-foot, 200 pounds

Offers include: Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Miami, Ohio State

22. Nathaniel Joseph (Miami Edison WR)

5-foot-9, 170 pounds

Verbal commitment: Clemson

23.  Pearce Spurlin (South Walton TE)

6-foot-6, 216 pounds

Verbal commitment: Georgia

24. Sam Singleton (Fleming Island RB)

5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee

25. Elliot Washington (Venice S)

5-foot-11, 195 pounds

Verbal commitment: Alabama

26. Lucas Simmons (Clearwater Academy International OT)

6-foot-8, 295 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC

27. Tyler Williams (Lakeland WR)

6-foot-3, 180 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami

28. Daquayvious Sorey (Chipley WR)

6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M

29. Mark Fletcher Jr. (Plantation-American Heritage RB)

6-foot-1, 225 pounds

Verbal commitment: Ohio State

30. Reuben Bain (Miami Central EDGE)

6-foot-2, 250 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma

No. 31-40

31. Raymond Cottrell (Milton WR)

6-foot-2, 203 pounds

Verbal commitment: Georgia

32. Andrew Harris (Lake Brantley LB)

6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Offers include: Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas A&M

33. Roderick Kearney (Orange Park OT)

6-foot-4, 300 pounds

Offers include: Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M

34. Robert Stafford (Eau Gallie ATH)

5-foot-11, 170 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State

35. Makari Vickers (Pope John Paul II DB)

6-foot-1, 180 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma

36. Treyaun Webb (Trinity Christian RB)

6-foot-1, 205 pounds

Top 5 schools: Baylor, Florida, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee

37. Robby Washington (Miami ATH)

5-foot-10, 170 pounds

 Verbal commitment: Miami

38. Jayvant Brown (St. Thomas Aquinas LB)

6-foot, 220 pounds

Top 7 schools: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State

39. Lamont Green Jr. (Gulliver Prep EDGE)

6-foot-5, 220 pounds

Verbal commitment: Florida State

40. Payton Kirkland (Dr. Phillips OT)

6-foot-7, 355 pounds

Top 5: Alabama, Florida, Miami, Michigan State, Oklahoma

No. 41-50

41. Cedrick Hawkins (Cocoa S)

5-foot-11, 163 pounds

Verbal commitment: Ohio State

42. Michael Harris (Lake Brantley LB)

6-foot, 195 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Texas A&M

43. Devin Hyatt (IMG WR)

6-foot-2, 194 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee

44. Damari Brown (Plantation-American Heritage CB)

6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami

45. Gavin Hill (Buchholz DL)

6-foot-4, 245 pounds

Offers include: Arizona, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami, Mississippi State, UCF

46. Jaremiah Anglin (Lake Wales S)

6-foot-1, 184 pounds

Offers include: Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee

47. Sharif Denson (Bartram Trail CB)

5-foot-11, 170 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan State

48. Cameron Lenhardt (IMG EDGE)

6-foot-3, 240 pounds

Offers include: Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers

49. Jordan Hall (IMG LB)

6-foot-2, 225 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State, Virginia

50. Eugene Wilson III (Gaither ATH)

5-foot-11, 165 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State

No. 51-60

51. Grayson Howard (Andrew Jackson LB)

6-foot-3, 223 pounds

Offers include: Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina

52. Wilky Denaud (John Carroll Catholic DL)

6-foot-4, 245 pounds

Offers include: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, South Carolina

53. Bryson Rodgers (Wiregrass Ranch WR)

6-foot-2, 170 pounds

Verbal commitment: Ohio State

54. Sedrick Irvin Jr. (Columbus RB)

5-foot-10, 190 pounds

Verbal commitment: Notre Dame

55. Dale Miller (IMG CB)

5-foot-10, 162 pounds

Offers include: Auburn, Arkansas, Florida State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, USC

56. Keyon Brown (Rickards WR)

6-foot-3, 188 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee

57. Marcus Stokes (Nease QB)

6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Verbal commitment: Penn State

58. Isaiah Nixon (Lakewood EDGE)

6-foot-4, 215 pounds

Verbal commitment: UCF

59. Jaden Robinson (Columbia LB)

6-foot-1, 215 pounds

Offers include: LSU, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M

60. Shawn Russ (Dunbar CB)

6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, South Carolina

No. 61-70

61. Kelton Henderson (Lehigh ATH)

5-foot-11, 175 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee

62. Ahmari Borden (Munroe WR)

6-foot-3, 180 pounds

Verbal commitment: Stanford 

63. Daemon Fagan (Plantation-American Heritage S)

6-foot-3, 175 pounds

Top 8 schools: Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, N.C. State, Ohio State, Penn State, UCF

64. Kenton Kirkland (Raines S)

6-foot-1, 180 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Miami

65. Kaven Call (Apopka EDGE)

6-foot-2, 240 pounds

Verbal commitment: UCF

66. Stanquan Clark (Miami Killian LB)

6-foot-1, 210 pounds

Offers include: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Penn State

67. Jordan Castell (West Orange S)

6-foot-2, 195 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State

68. William Fowles (Dade Christian WR)

6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

69. Darren Lawrence (Seminole WR)

6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Verbal commitment: Florida State

70. Braeden Marshall (Lake Mary CB)

5-foot-10, 170 pounds

Offers include: Clemson, Indiana, Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee, UCF

No. 71-80

71. Conrad Hussey (St. Thomas Aquinas S)

6-foot, 190 pounds

Verbal commitment: Penn State 

72. Clay Wedin (Carrollwood Day OL)

6-foot-6, 295 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State

73. Randy Pittman (Mosley TE)

6-foot-2, 230 pounds

Verbal commitment: Florida State

74. King Mack (St. Thomas Aquinas S)

5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame

75. Micah Mays (Benjamin ATH)

6-foot-2, 175 pounds

Offers include: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Indiana, N.C. State, Wake Forest, West Virginia

76. Daniel Harris (Palm Bay ATH)

6-foot-5, 180 pounds

Offers include: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee

77. Lamar Seymore (Miami Central WR)

6-foot, 170 pounds

Verbal commitment: Miami

78. Olsen Patt Henry (First Baptist WR)

6-foot-3, 210 pounds

Offers include: Alabama, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Rutgers, West Virginia

79. Kendrick Raphael (Naples RB)

5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Offers include: Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, N.C. State, Pitt, West Virginia

80. Kerrington Lee (Dwyer EDGE)

6-foot-5, 225 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas, Boston College, Indiana, Utah, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest

No. 81-90

81. Traylon Ray (North Florida Christian WR)

6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Tennessee, UCF

82. Bobby Washington (Miami Killian LB)

6-foot-3, 215 pounds

Verbal commitment: Miami

83. Andy Jean (Miami Northwestern WR)

6-foot-1, 180 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Texas A&M

84. Knijeah Harris (IMG OL)

6-foot-3, 335 pounds

Top 6 schools: Alabama, Florida, Miami, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M

85. Luke Evans (Chaminade-Madonna CB)

6-foot-2, 165 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi State, Penn State, Texas A&M

86. Bryce Lovett (Rockledge OT)

6-foot-6, 330 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas, Florida, Iowa State, Missouri, Vanderbilt, West Virginia

87. Antonio Robinson (Florida Christian CB)

5-foot-10, 170 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee

88. Creed Whittemore (Buchholz ATH)

6-foot, 175 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Miami, Texas A&M, UCF, Wake Forest, West Virginia

89. Vandrevious Jacobs (Vero Beach WR)

6-foot, 170 pounds

Verbally committed: Florida State

90. Javin Simpkins (Miami Norland RB)

5-foot-9, 175 pounds  

Offers include: Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M

No. 91-100

91. Edwin Joseph (Chaminade-Madonna WR)

6-foot, 175 pounds

Offers include: Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Texas A&M, Utah  

92. Richard Dandridge (Homestead WR)

5-foot-10, 155 pounds

Offers include: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, Texas A&<, West Virginia

93. Tyree Patterson (Eustis WR)

6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Verbal commitment: Florida 

94. Amare Ferrell (Columbia S)

6-foot-2, 195 pounds

Offers include: Arizona, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee

95. Jonas Duclona (Naples CB)

6-foot, 175 pounds

Offers include: Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Wisconsin

96. Isaiah Augustave (Naples RB)

6-foot-1, 190 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Pitt, Utah

97. Amaris Shaw (Winter Park ATH)

6-foot, 170 pounds

Offers include: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, UCF, West Virginia

98. Dwight Bootle II (Miami Killian CB)

5-foot-10, 165 pounds

Verbal commitment: Nebraska

99. Zachary Tobe (Ocoee S)

6-foot-1, 175 pounds

Offers include: Arkansas, Iowa State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, UCF

100. Jaden Booker (Palmetto Ridge RB)

5-foot-10, 195 pounds

Offers include: Georgia Tech, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia