Recruiting Rumor Mill: Big offers upending high-profile recruitments
So much is going on in the recruiting world that a second Recruiting Rumor Mill is needed this week. Here's the latest from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney.
Advertisement
MORE RUMOR MILLS: Monday's national news | Intel from the Carolinas
MORE: National champions make move for five-star DE Richard Wesley
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker
Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and a whole host of other programs are going to be involved with Alston but a new offer from Ohio State could be a game-changer.
The Buckeyes are 'definitely in the mix with the top schools' for the 2027 four-star defensive back from Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson. If the momentum continues this way, Ohio State does look strong for the local recruit.
The 2027 defensive back from Birmingham (Ala.) Oak Mountain has seen his recruitment take off recently which makes things even more fluid, but two programs are standing out most early on: USC and Georgia.
Advertisement
Aparicio-Bailey just got back from a great visit to USC where he has built a strong relationship with position coach Trovon Reed. He also has a fantastic bond with UGA position coach Donte Williams.
Those two stand out now, but Vanderbilt and others should be watched as well.
Texas A&M continues to be a major player in Arrington's recruitment but a source close to him disputes that the Aggies are the clear leader right now. The Spring Valley (Calif.) Mount Miguel five-star loved his weekend visit to College Station where he keeps building a strong relationship with coach Mike Elko and his position coach.
Advertisement
But USC could be surging as it's been his dream school and he's visiting Oregon in a couple weeks.
Georgia might be impossible to beat but a host of SEC programs, Clemson and others are involved with the five-star linebacker.
However, he's just returning from a great visit to USC as well. The NFL knowledge on the coaching staff and the opportunities in Los Angeles from an NIL perspective are considerable. The coaches feel the Loganville (Ga.) Grayson standout is a 'key piece' to the defense but can anyone beat the Bulldogs?
A new offer from Michigan is huge in Bernhard's recruitment and he's going to learn more about that situation with the Wolverines in the coming days. But one other program is interesting as well.
Advertisement
Minutes after getting his Michigan offer, the three-star QB from Ashland, Ohio, was contacted by Ohio State. After Sunday's Elite 11 in Columbus, Bernhard should learn more about exactly where the Buckeyes stand with him.
Oklahoma has been the front-runner for Branch and the Sooners continue to be right there but Penn State is surging in his recruitment, especially after visiting over the weekend and hitting it off with coach James Franklin and position coach Phil Trautwein.
The Taylor (Pa.) Riverside offensive lineman feels like a 'top priority' by the Penn State coaches and now the Nittany Lions are 'very high' on his list.
The four-star receiver from Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington doesn't talk much about his recruitment but the word is that Auburn and Florida are standing out most. The overwhelming feeling, though, is that the Tigers lead significantly here and his former teammate, Joe Phillips, is already on The Plains.
A big step recently happened in Gaston's recruitment as his father had the opportunity to take time off work and visit Georgia with him since it's the leader in his recruitment. The four-star offensive tackle from North Augusta, S.C., and his dad hit it off again with position coach Stacy Searels who 'acts just like my dad' as the Dawgs continue to push very hard as the leader in his recruitment.
Maybe Michigan with star quarterback Bryce Underwood there now will be too much to overcome but the 2027 four-star receiver had an awesome time at Oregon over the weekend and now the Ducks are near the top of his recruitment.
Advertisement
The coaching staff made it clear that Guerrant was No. 1 on the receiver board and new position coach Ross Douglas told Guerrant he's going to make Oregon 'WRU.' The Ducks definitely moved way up after this trip.
South Carolina is going to battle until the end and his relationships in Columbia are fantastic but a recent visit to Ohio State made a massive impression on the high four-star offensive lineman from Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's.
Gray has known new position coach Tyler Bowen for years so that's going to help the Buckeyes immensely and the 'people in the building' really impressed him.
Advertisement
LSU and Tennessee are the others to watch in a top four right now.
There has been a ton of talk around Alabama as the team to beat in Hall's recruitment and Florida State is right there as well. But a weekend trip to Florida went really well. He loved the interactions between the coaches and players, and really got a better understanding of how he'd be used by position coach Vinnie Sunseri.
The Gators are 'definitely one of my teams in the final five' and will get an official visit.
South Carolina and NC State are the two standouts right now for the high four-star defensive end who wants to play with his brother, Andrew, in college. Ohio State had been considered the clear front-runner but things with the Buckeyes have slowed.
Advertisement
The Gamecocks and Wolfpack look best for the Matthews (N.C.) Weddington standout but other visits should happen, too.
Cal and others are going to make a major play for the Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne defensive lineman but Arizona is now the team to watch. Harris has totally hit it off with position coach Joe Salave'a and that could be the determining factor for the four-star defensive lineman when he's ready to make his commitment.
Ohio State has not offered yet but if the Buckeyes do come through then they could be tough to beat for the 2027 safety from Cibolo (Texas) Steele.
Oklahoma, TCU and others are already very involved but Johnson's visit to Columbus was great. He thought the tempo of practice was like watching the Buckeyes play in a game and he hit it off with position coach Matt Guerrieri.
Oregon is the front-runner for the 2027 offensive lineman from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei who was excellent at the Rivals Camp Series event in Los Angeles. After visiting Eugene recently, Mailangi loved watching the practice most and saw how organized and intense everything was which was a major selling point for him.
Advertisement
Tennessee and Alabama are also sticking out early on but the Ducks are on top.
Texas A&M is definitely a major standout for the four-star offensive tackle from Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point, especially after recently visiting College Station and seeing how technical position coach Adam Cushing is with his players.
Morcho thinks Cushing is an 'amazing coach' and coach Mike Elko told the four-star to keep visiting as much as possible.
SMU, Florida State, Alabama and TCU also stand out but Texas A&M is the one to watch.
Tennessee is the clear front-runner for the 2027 running back from Montezuma (Ga.) Macon County, especially after his weekend visit to Knoxville. Parker loved how much excitement and energy he was shown during his visit and just sitting in the running back room was a huge deal to Parker, who has also liked Florida State and others in the past.
After visiting North Carolina over the weekend, Seck believes the Tar Heels will be one of the best teams in the country in three or four years and that could be a major draw.
Advertisement
But right now, Auburn is the leader for the massive interior offensive lineman and then the Tigers are followed by Syracuse.
Days after committing to UCF, the three-star receiver from Sarasota (Fla.) Booker landed an offer from Georgia and is now considering the Bulldogs. Wortham had a great first talk with position coach James Coley and he believes coach Kirby Smart is 'one of the best coaches to ever do it' so while Worth loves UCF and coach Scott Frost, if Georgia pushes this could be one to watch.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UCF FANS AT UCFSPORTS.COM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sayin named QB1, but Kienholz will be a factor in Ohio State's offense
Ohio State vs. Texas is 10 days out and it's time to breakdown the Buckeyes roster. We start with the quarterback room, that has their starter, Julian Sayin and a change of pace, Lincoln Kienholz. Texas is 10 days out from walking into the Horseshoe to face off against Ohio State in a Cotton Bowl rematch. I thought it would be a good time to run through the Ohio State position groups and give the Texas fans an overview of what they are likely to see on August 30th from the Buckeyes. The biggest piece of that is officially naming their QB1 for the season, Julian Sayin. Julian Sayin, as Sarkisian said early this week, is an 'elite thrower' of football. He has the ability to put the ball just about wherever he would like to with tons of accuracy. He is someone that has shades of Bryce Young, someone that can navigate the pocket well and be incredibly accurate. He might not have the most supreme arm strength, but when it comes to arm talent, he is up there with anyone else in the country. The bigger question comes in when you look at his size. Sayin is listed at 6 '1', 208lbs right now on the Ohio State roster. I would be willing to bet he is not quite up to 6'1' once he measures out at the combine in a few years. He is definitely 'undersized' comparative to the rest of the QBs in the country. That being said, he does plenty to make that a non-issue with his movement and football IQ. It will be something to watch heading into the matchup. Julian Sayin will be the starter, and he will get the vast majority of the snaps this year for the Buckeyes. I don't think that means Lincoln Kienholz will not be a part of the equation at all. In fact, I think it is very unlikely that Texas doesn't see Kienholz at some point on August 30th. His athletic ability and better size makes him a great choice for red-zone or short yardage situations for the Buckeyes. It is very likely he is used in packages for the Buckeyes to give them that curveball in the offense. It's hard to say much of anything about Julian Sayin with the utmost confidence. He has thrown 12 college football passes in blowout games. That is unknown, no matter how talented he looks going into the season. What I will say with plenty of confidence is he is the most talented QB they've had since CJ Stroud. I can also say if there is a time to play Julian Sayin, it would be in Week 1. Bottom line, Sayin does not lack talent. He has the capability to be, and I think he will be, a top 10 QB in the country by the end of the year. The question is how quickly can he reach his potential? That is unknown, but Texas will do their best to make the redshirt freshman's first start one he'd like to forget.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith Doesn't Hold Back on Michigan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jeremiah Smith, who has played one season in the rivalry between Ohio State and the University of Michigan, shared his honest thoughts on the Wolverines heading into the 2025 college football season. Smith recently appeared on "The Triple Option," where former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer asked him about Michigan, and he didn't hold any punches with his response. Read More: Notre Dame Gets Honest Take From CBS Sports Analyst on CJ Carr Decision "Hate," Jeremiah Smith said. "You know. With everything in me, I hate them." The hate shouldn't come as a surprise as Michigan was one of the most frustrating games that Smith had in Year 1 at Ohio State. The teenage wide out recorded five interceptions and 35 receiving yards. However, he did record a touchdown in the 13-10 loss to the Wolverines. Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. Photo by Brandon Sloter/ImageLast season, Smith put up impressive numbers as a freshman, recording 76 receptions, 1,315 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. With Emeka Egbuka now in the NFL, Smith will become the No. 1 guy, and more importantly, it could allow him to have that marquee performance against Michigan to make up for the performance from last season's game. Read More: Penn State's James Franklin Under Fire Heading into 2025 Season Furthermore, the wide receiver's stance on Michigan has stayed consistent. Earlier this summer, he made it clear that he has no intention of losing to Michigan again, following last season's tightly contested defeat, regardless of how long his college career may last. "I'm not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy," Smith said (h/t On3). "In the end, I think it really helped us play the way we did in the playoffs. But I didn't want to go to Ohio State and lose to That Team Up North. I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can't lose to them in the next two years." For more on college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Buckeyes seek to make their own legacy in 2025 instead of being defending champs
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Ryan Day has tried to make one thing clear: This season's team is the 2025 Buckeyes, not the defending national champions. 'The team we have currently wants to leave their own legacy. They've made that clear,' Day said. 'We've said before that we're not defending national champions because we're not defending anything. They can't take the trophy away, but we're looking to add to it and winning a championship with this team.' The third-ranked Buckeyes go into their Aug. 30 titanic matchup against No. 1 Texas a much different squad than the one that beat Notre Dame to win the program's eighth national championship. They had 14 players selected in the NFL draft in April, tied for the most in program history and one off the all-time mark held by Georgia in 2023. Ohio State also lost both coordinators. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly went to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jim Knowles became the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football with his move to No. 2 Penn State. The Buckeyes' cupboard though is far from empty. Sophomore Jeremiah Smith established himself as one of the top wide receivers in college football last year and safety Caleb Downs is projected as a top five pick in next year's draft. Sophomore Julian Sayin will be responsible getting the ball to Smith and the rest of the Buckeyes' skill players. Day said Sayin has been very accurate passing as well as being quick in his decision making. Lincoln Kienholz will back up Sayin, but Day said he expects the junior to get playing time throughout the season. Day would like to continue to develop quarterbacks throughout all four years, but he has realized the game has changed. 'In a perfect world, we would love to recruit high school players, develop them in the program for a few years and then watch them grow and build. But there's no time. I mean, you got to win now,' Day said. 'The best players play and that's the way we look at it. But as you know, we want to make sure we want to have the best players in the country, developing them and retaining them, because that's how you keep a culture in place.' Smith will continue to generate plenty of attention after having 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. That should give more opportunities for junior Carnell Tate, who had 52 catches last year. Purdue transfer Max Klare should also factor into the passing attack as a good underneath option. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has had the most daunting task of the preseason with the departure of all four starters, who were drafted in the first five rounds. The defensive line has plenty of bodies, including defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. Johnson's biggest concern has been finding a group that can play cohesively. Defensive end Eddrick Houston has been dealing with a leg injury, but could be ready against Texas. 'We're not worrying about how many reps they haven't had, how many games they haven't played. The whole idea is to get them ready to play one game and hope we can carry from there,' Johnson said. Ohio State has a national championship and two trips to the College Football Playoff since 2021, but it hasn't won a Big Ten title the past four seasons. The last time the Buckeyes went that long without a conference championship was the six years from 1987 through 1992. After the opener against Texas, the most-anticipated games will be Nov. 1 against No. 2 Penn State and Nov. 29 at 14th-ranked Michigan. Also not to be overlooked is an Oct. 11 trip to No. 12 Illinois. The Buckeyes open Big Ten play on Sept. 27 at Washington. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
