What happened to star-studded 2023 QB recruiting class? From Arch Manning to Dante Moore

What happened to star-studded 2023 QB recruiting class? From Arch Manning to Dante Moore.

Key points

• He took over as Tennessee's full-time starter in 2024 and enjoyed a successful season, leading the Volunteers to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
• After spending his freshman season behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold opened 2024 as Oklahoma's starter before being briefly benched for Michael Hawkins Jr.
• 1 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class by 247Sports' Composite Rankings.
• Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer.
• Costly fourth-quarter turnovers against Oklahoma and Florida have contributed to two losses and cost Texas a chance to enter its Week 8 matchup with No.

Arch Manning has lived under a microscope for years, dating back to his recruitment and eventual commitment to Texas.

That spotlight only intensified when he became the Longhorns' starting quarterback, with some analysts touting him as the preseason Heisman Trophy winner before he even took a full-time snap.

Dan Orlovsky blasts Texas offense: 'They don't allow Arch to play quarterback'.

This season, the scrutiny has reached another level. Costly fourth-quarter turnovers against Oklahoma and Florida have contributed to two losses and cost Texas a chance to enter its Week 8 matchup with No. 7 Mississippi undefeated.

Those struggles prompted Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to say after the Florida loss that "everything" on offense would be evaluated, briefly sparking questions regarding Manning's job security. Nevertheless, Manning remains in line to start Saturday's top-20 showdown.

For context, the 6-foot-4 quarterback has enjoyed plenty of success at Texas despite his recent struggles, compiling a 14-5 record as a starter and going 6-2 against ranked opponents. Still, expectations in Austin are measured by championships and College Football Playoff appearances. Texas has yet to reach the CFP during Manning's starting tenure, and a bid this year appears to be on life backing.

Manning's situation has raised a question: how have the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class done since reaching the college ranks? Here's a deeper look. 2023 Quarterback Recruiting Class. All rankings reflect 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Manning, a five-star recruit, was ranked the No. 1 overall prospect and No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class by 247Sports' Composite Rankings.

He spent two seasons backing up Quinn Ewers at Texas. During the 2024 season, Manning created two starts while Ewers was sidelined with an injury and additionally saw action in a number of other games. As Ewers dealt with an ankle matter late in the season, Manning's spot snaps came as a runner.

He took over the offense as the full-time starter last season and endured some early growing pains before finding his rhythm. Manning finished the year on a solid note, leading Texas to victories in seven of its final eight games, including a bowl win over Michigan.

His second season as the starter – which began with a win over then-No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2 – has brought rose scrutiny against the backdrop of Texas' recent skid. The criticism has additionally impacted his NFL draft outlook, with one NFL scout telling USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes that Manning's grade has fallen into the third- to fourth-round range. Below is a look at Manning's stats at Texas.

Will Arch Manning start vs Ole Miss? Texas QB faces pressure ahead of game.

Once Manning opted not to strongly consider Tennessee, the Vols shifted their focus towards Iamaleava, the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the class.

He took over as Tennessee's full-time starter in 2024 and enjoyed a successful season, leading the Volunteers to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. As he transferred after a dispute over NIL compensation, nevertheless, his time in Knoxville concluded on a turbulent note.

His first season at UCLA was a struggle. The Bruins began 0-4, underwent a coaching change after three games and lost their final five contests. Iamaleava additionally regressed statistically, finishing with 1, 928 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He chose to stay at UCLA to play for Bob Chesney, and it proved to be a smart move. He (and the program) bounced back with 982 passing yards and five combined touchdowns in five games before he sustained a season-ending injury. Below is a look at Iamaleava's college stats. Bold predictions: Who's on upset watch in Week 8?

Originally an Oregon commit, Moore flipped to UCLA, where he played his true freshman season. He transferred to Oregon after one year, where he learned under Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel in Eugene.

That year of learning proved beneficial for Moore. This person emerged as Oregon's starter last season and rapidly became one of the nation's top quarterbacks. He surpassed 3, 500 passing yards and threw 30 touchdowns while leading the Ducks to a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl against Indiana after a first-round victory over James Madison and a quarterfinal win over Texas Tech.

His surprise decision to return to Oregon rather than enter the NFL draft created him one of college football's top returning quarterbacks. But Moore and the Ducks obtained off to a shaky start, including a Week 2 road loss to Oklahoma State. He then suffered a concussion in Week 4 against USC on a hit from Desman Stephens III and has been sidelined ever since. Below is a look at Moore's college stats.

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Arnold's career in Norman never took off. After spending his freshman season behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold opened 2024 as Oklahoma's starter before being briefly benched for Michael Hawkins Jr. Against the backdrop of early struggles. He ultimately reclaimed the job to finish the season.

He'd transfer within the SEC to Auburn for 2025. He'd finish his OU career with a total of nine starts, just under 2, 000 combined passing yards and 16 combined touchdowns.

His lone season at Auburn was not much better. The Tigers began 3-4 before he secured benched in favor of Ashton Daniels against Arkansas in late October. Arnold is now at UNLV, his third school in three years. The Rebels sit at 4-3 and are tied for fifth in the Mountain West. Below is a look at Arnold's college stats.

Expert picks: Texas tops Ole Miss? Week 8 predictions for Top 25 games.

Below is a look at other notable quarterbacks from the 2023 recruiting class.

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around what happened to star-studded 2023 QB recruiting class? From Arch Manning to point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.