Best plays and highlights by top college football recruits on Friday

Before they take the field as college football players on Saturdays, some of the top recruits in the 2023 ESPN 300 rankings are playing underneath the lights on weeknights.

Arch Manning’s (ESPN 300 No. 2) senior season finally got underway on Friday night, and Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew didn’t disappoint. The heralded Texas commit tossed three touchdown passes in Isidore Newman School’s (Louisiana) 35-14 victory over Hahnville High School (Louisiana).

While Manning was doing things through the air, Buford High School’s (Georgia) Justice Haynes was dominating on the ground. Haynes, one of two ESPN 300 running backs committed to Alabama (No. 18) — right behind Richard Young (No. 14) — accounted for all three touchdowns in Buford’s 21-14 victory over North Cobb (Georgia).

Here’s how some other of the nation’s top recruits looked on Friday night, along with a few notes on uncommitted prospects visiting big Week 1 college football games:

Buckeye burners

In American Heritage High School (Florida)’s game against Lake Gibson High School (Florida) on Friday, wide receiver Brandon Inniss, an Ohio State commit, displayed some of the skill set that should have Buckeyes fans excited.

Inniss took a kickoff to the house for 95 yards during the Patriots’ win over the Braves.

.@brandon5star2 doing what Brandon Inniss does. A 95yd kickoff return to put heritage up 21-6 pic.twitter.com/4jKFO3xd0X

— Andrew Ferrelli (@Andrew_Ferrelli) September 3, 2022

The 6-foot, 190-pound Inniss (No. 34) was one of three ESPN 300 wide receivers to commit to the Buckeyes on three consecutive days back in June.

His senior year at American Heritage has gotten off to a strong start as he has hauled in eight passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns over the first two games.

Longhorn, long run

Cedric Baxter, Jr. is one of the many offensive talents — led by Manning — ticketed for Texas next fall. Baxter (No. 58, 2023) found some room to run during this 59-yard TD jaunt on Friday night as Edgewater High…