Getting caught up on Central Indiana high school football commitments, recruitments to watch
Expect an on-rush of football commitments over the coming weeks as college programs look to get a handle on the 2026 class.
A few recent commitments from Central Indiana players in the rising senior class:
∎ Kaiden Bower, Carmel: The 6-3, 250-pound defensive end committed to Charlotte over offers from Air Force, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio) Toledo and Troy. Bower finished last season with 55 tackles (24 solo), 4 ½ sacks, 6 ½ tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hurries. Bower, a three-star prospect, is one of 10 commits in Charlotte's current class for new coach Tim Albin. The 49ers were 5-7 last season.
'Finding the right program and school is so important,' Bower said. 'I visited a lot of schools so I could make the best-informed decision. From the moment I walked onto Charlotte's campus it really felt like home. The coaches and the recruiting staff were fantastic. The practice I watched was very fast paced and aggressive. The coaches pushed the players on each rep and were focused on player development, which is very important to me. You can tell Coach Albin has a clear vision and is building a strong program. The strength coach was really energetic and was pushing development in the weight room too. You could tell that there is a very high standard being set. The campus is really amazing, and the university has a great business school. Charlotte has all the resources that I need to succeed on the football field, in the classroom and at life.'
∎ C.J Scifres, Center Grove: Scifres posted his decision on social media after taking an official visit over the weekend. The 6-6, 325-pound offensive lineman is a three-star recruit, per 247Sports, and not rated by On3. Scifres was named to the IFCA's Top 50 All-State team as a junior as he did not allow a sack all season for a team that threw for more than 3,000 yards and won a Class 6A regional.
∎ Job Mavrick, Westfield: The 6-2, 280-pound offensive lineman, who transferred from Culver Academy to Westfield prior to his junior year, committed to Ohio over offers from Cornell, Mercyhurst and Western Illinois. Ohio won at least 10 games and played in a bowl game each of the past three seasons under Albin.
∎ Avin Robinson, Brownsburg: The 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver committed to Central Michigan over and offer from Kent State. Robinson caught 41 passes for 933 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior on Brownsburg's Class 6A state championship team.
∎ William Johnson III, Avon: The 6-4, 270-pound Williams committed to Kent State over offers from Akron, Central Michigan, Fordham, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and UMass.
Also, Bloomington South receiver Jalen Williams committed to South Florida. The 6-5 Williams caught 21 passes for 370 yards and six TDs as a junior at Bloomington North.
∎ Heritage Hills duo: Two of the state's top recruits play for Heritage Hills, the defending Class 3A state champion (will play in 4A the next two-year cycle). Tight end Tyler Ruxer, rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state by On3sports, plans to make his announcement on July 7 at the Heritage Hills Auditorium. His teammate, quarterback/athlete Jett Goldsberry, also a top 10 in-state prospect, will also make his announcement on July 7. Ruxer has taken official visits to Duke, Northwestern and Oklahoma with Minnesota planned for this weekend. He also has Purdue and West Virginia in the mix.
Goldsberry, likely one of the favorites for Mr. Football going into the season, has an official visit scheduled for Ole Miss this weekend. He also has taken official visits to Purdue and Rutgers and is visiting North Carolina (official visit June 21-22), Wake Forest (official visit June 19-20) and West Virginia (official visit June 17-18).
∎ Jerimy Finch Jr.: Warren Central defensive end Jerimy Finch Jr. is closing in on a decision. Finch has taken official visits to Purdue, Alabama and Michigan. He has an official visit scheduled to Tennessee this weekend and Miami (Fla.) the weekend of June 20.
∎ Dominick Barry: Center Grove tight end Dominick Barry has an official visit set to Wake Forest the weekend of June 20. Barry caught 31 passes for 237 yards and five touchdowns as a junior.
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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Where Miami Hurricanes' 2026 recruiting class stands. Updates on who's being pursued
For 2026, the Miami Hurricanes already have assembled one of the best offensive line classes in the country, a six-prospect group led by five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, a consensus top five player nationally. They already have secured a quarterback whose stock continues to rise (Lakeland's Dereon Coleman). They have a nonbinding pledge from a coveted linebacker (Miami Northwestern's Jordan Campbell); a run-stuffing defensive tackle (Tyson Bacon); three well-regarded cornerbacks (Seffner Armwood's Jaelan Waters, Jonesboro, Georgia-based Jontavius Wyman and Charlotte, N.C.-based cornerback Camdin Portis), plus West Boca Raton running back Javian Mallory, who said he remains committed after a weekend visit to Alabama. 247 Sports' ranks UM's 13-player class eighth in the country so far. But much work remains to be done to carve out another top-10 class. With more than 40 prospects shuffling in and out of Coral Gables this month, updates on several positions: Tight end UM's top target is Visalia (California) Redwood's Israel Briggs, who is rated by 247 as the nation's No. 6 tight end and No. 70 prospect overall for 2026. He visited UM for the third time over the weekend and called the trip 'pitch perfect' in a conversation with Canesport. He confirmed in that interview that UM and LSU are the front-runners; he will visit Michigan and Tennessee in the coming weeks. Brunswick, Georgia-based Heze Kent, a 6-3, 300-pounder, visited UM earlier this month and is considering Miami, UF and Texas. He's a behemoth in-line blocker who could also play on the offensive line. And Miami and SMU are battling for Duncanville, Texas-based Zachery Turner, a receiving threat and 247's No. 25 tight end prospect. Receiver Miami has been pursuing a handful of top prospects who visited Coral Gables in June, including Hattiesburg (Mississippi) five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys (an LSU commit who's also considering UM, Tennessee and Alabama), Miami Northwestern's five-star Calvin Russell (LSU, Oregon and UF also have hosted him), Mansfield (Texas) High's Zion Robinson and Charlotte-based Tyran Evans, an angular target at 6-4. UM emerged from the weekend hoping it can flip Evans from Tennessee; he will visit the Volunteers' campus again next weekend before deciding. As for Robinson... Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Stanford are all in the mix but the Canes aren't considered the favorite. But the Canes appear to have gained some steam with the 6-5 Russell, who is rated by 247 as the No. 3 receiver and No. 21 overall prospect. He's the jewel of the local recruiting class. 'I definitely feel better about the program, Miami, everything about it,' Russell told after his UM visit over the weekend. He will announce his selection July 5, picking among dozens of suitors. Oregon and LSU might be UM's stiffest competition; LSU remains the front-runner, according to several recruiting web sites. California-based Vance Spafford, 247 Sports' No. 12 receiver, has lined up a UM visit next weekend and the Canes hope to flip him from Georgia. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is considered the front-runner for Texas-based slot receiver Brayden Robinson, who visited UM this month. Four-star St. Augustine prospect Somourian Wingo, the No. 22 receiver, visited UM this month and is considering the Canes, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina. Running back With Mallory already committed to UM but flirting with Alabama, the Canes could end up adding two other backs. (At least one other will be signed.) Moultrie, Georgia-based Jai Lamar (247's No. 11 running back) and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna's Derek Cooper (247's No. 3 athlete in the class) have emerged as UM's top targets. Lamar told Inside the U that his trip to Coral Gables this past weekend 'definitely changed a lot. Miami is high on my board.' He will visit Georgia next weekend, and Clemson also is a serious consideration. 247 has established UM as the heavy favorite for Cooper, rated by that service as the 39th best overall in the 2026 class. Defensive line James Johnson — rated the No. 13 defensive lineman and No. 90 overall prospect — has been a priority and UM is thought to have a good chance to land the 6-3, 285-pounder. Johnson — who's also being pursued by FSU, Florida, Georgia, Penn State and others — is transferring to Miami Northwestern former North Fort Myers High. UM is a finalist for five-star defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright, who will pick among UM, Clemson, Texas and Texas A&M on July 4. 247 Sports predicts that the Buford, Ga.-based prospect will end up at Clemson. Baton Rouge-based Lamar Brown, rated the nation's No. 1 defensive lineman, visited UM earlier this month, but 247 Sports projects he will opt for LSU. And Clayton (North Carolina) defensive lineman Keshawn Stancil, 247's No. 34 defensive line prospect, remains in play; Clemson, Penn State and North Carolina State also have been under consideration, with the Tigers considered the favorite. Linebacker Baton Rouge-based inside linebacker JaMichael Garret decommitted from Auburn Thursday afternoon and will visit UM on Wednesday. LSU, Mississippi and Texas A&M are also in the mix. Orlando Edgewater's Justin Edwards also visited last week after recently committing to Rutgers. A flip to Miami is considered a possibility. Five-star Mobile-based edge player Anthony Jones visited UM earlier this month, but 247 says Auburn is the heavy favorite over UM and Alabama. Safety UM is in the mix for multiple top 35 safeties. Devin Jackson, who attends The First Academy in Orlando, is considering UM — as well as LSU, Oregon, Penn State, and Nebraska — after decommitting from Florida. He's rated by 247 at the No. 22 safety in the 2026 class. Jonesboro Georgia-Based Cortez Redding, 247's No. 20 safety, visited last weekend and is looking at UM, North Carolina State and Mississippi. Atlanta-based safety Blake Stewart, 247's No. 33 safety, made his third visit to UM last weekend, and the Canes are hoping to beat out Michigan (his next visit) and Clemson. Greensboro (North Carolina) based Kosci Barnes also visited UM last weekend. South Carolina, Kentucky and Rutgers are in play, too. Barnes can also play corner; 247 rates him as the 61st best cornerback. But 247 reports UM might not pursue him further. Three-star Buford Georgia-based prospect Tyriq Green is considering UM, FSU and Georgia, among others. He can play both safety spots and nickel corner. 247 has the Bulldogs as the heavy favorite. Cornerback Jacksonville Mandarin's Brody Jennings, rated the No. 36 cornerback in the class,remains committed to Michigan, but UM has made a very strong push. Cornelius, N.C.-based four-star prospect Samari Matthews, rated the No. 12 cornerback by 247, visited UM this month, but Clemson, South Carolina, Texas and South Carolina are formidable competition. New note Even with six offensive linemen already committed, the Canes aren't done. They are scheduled to host Bradenton IMG Academy four-star interior lineman Breck Kolojay next wekend and hope to beat out Georgia for him.
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Seven Panthers minicamp takeaways: Bryce Young's growth, tough WR decisions, secondary help
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After Carolina Panthers second-year coach Dave Canales turned players loose at the end of last week's mandatory minicamp, offensive linemen Ikem Ekwonu, Robert Hunt and Ja'Tyre Carter sprinted off the field, hopped into a golf cart and were on their way to a 5 1/2-week break. Canales hopes players will do more things like sprinting and less lounging between now and reporting day for training camp in the third week of July. Advertisement 'The biggest thing they have to realize is your vacation was after the season. You had three months off,' Canales said following the final minicamp practice. 'We're in a ramp now to training camp. So with these five weeks, you have a week of kind of reloading, then you've got to just kick back up into your training and build off of the strength and the fitness that we have.' That lean at the end 🤣 — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 12, 2025 After a five-win season in Canales' first year and a productive spring, he doesn't want to start from scratch in training camp, which will feature joint practices with the Cleveland Browns in Charlotte and the Texans in Houston. 'So that was my biggest message — readiness for camp. You can't count on camp to get you in shape,' Canales added. 'The nature of it, the mandatory days off, we have to be able to take advantage of every single practice.' As players scattered to their summer homes, vacation destinations and the gym (Canales hopes), The Athletic looks at seven takeaways from Panthers' OTAs and minicamp. Not to make too much of nine practices in May and June in shorts and helmets, but the spring sessions seemed to have a little more juice than during Canales' first year in Carolina. No one was supposed to be hitting, but a couple of players ended up on the ground. There were a couple of mini-skirmishes and lots of trash talking, much of it coming from Jaycee Horn and Chuba Hubbard. The intensity extended to the coaching staff: Canales showed up to last Wednesday's media session with a raspy voice. 'It feels like camp. A lot of meetings, a lot of practice, kind of yelling and chasing guys,' he said. 'Just trying to add to the energy of it.' Canales planned to drink some honey-infused lemon water to soothe his throat. And while Thursday's final practice was a bit calmer, it still resulted in a scrap between reserve offensive lineman Brandon Walton and backup edge rusher Thomas Incoom. Advertisement Quarterback Bryce Young also got into the jawing, showing off a side the public hasn't seen from the third-year quarterback. It was just a year ago that Jadeveon Clowney called Young a 'quiet guy' who could stand to play with more energy. 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After a tough first week in rainy and windy conditions, Fitzgerald was 9-for-10 on field goals on the skinny goal posts over the next two practices with reporters present. Advertisement Meanwhile, Wright went 3-for-5 last Wednesday, missing on both of his longer attempts. Wright's last try — from about 52 yards — was both wide right and a bit short. 'Too early to tell,' Canales said of the kicking battle. 'Let's get a real rush out there. Let's have them kicking in games, and we'll be able to make the decision.' There's no reason not to let this play out through the first couple of preseason games. But the early returns favor Fitzgerald. There were signs during the rookie minicamp that this could be a different draft class. Just ask the employees at the uptown Charlotte hotel who poked their heads into a meeting room where first-year edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen were reviewing their defensive responsibilities while using chairs as offensive linemen. Canales said in April he had run through hundreds of simulations in mock drafts and never landed on one in which the Panthers took wideout Tetairoa McMillan, Scourton and Umanmielen with the first three picks. McMillan missed the final two minicamp practices with a leg issue, but Scourton and Umanmielen received a lot of work at a position where a couple of veterans were sidelined, and Clowney is no longer on the team. Among the other rookies, former Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans saw his learning curve accelerated after Tommy Tremble's back surgery last month. Jimmy Horn was limited with a hamstring injury, but the ex-Colorado wideout, with his speed and return ability, will be someone to watch at training camp. 'I think that this is one of the best rookie groups I've been around in terms of their attention to detail, their study habits, their body prep,' Canales said. 'They're doing things that six-, seven-, eight-year veterans do before and after practice. They're curious. It's a curious bunch.' Advertisement The Panthers went into Week 1 last year with only five receivers on the active roster, then brought Jalen Coker up from the practice squad a few weeks later after Thielen was injured at Las Vegas. Canales hasn't said how many wideouts he expects to keep this year, but thinks the competition for the last couple of spots will be 'very difficult.' Thielen agrees. 'For the first time since I've been here, you look around the room and I don't know who's gonna make the team. And that's a great thing,' he said. Thielen, McMillan and Legette are locks. Horn likely is, too, given that the sixth-round pick could well be the punt returner. That leaves veterans Hunter Renfrow, Dan Chisena and Moore competing with younger players like Coker and undrafted free agent Jacolby George fighting for the final spot or two. 'Special teams is going to be such a huge piece of that puzzle. How can these guys help us in the coverage units? Can they help us as a returner?' Canales said. 'That's the part where we get to challenge our guys to find a role, take this thing seriously. 'You're not here just to catch passes. We only get so many helmets on game day, so we need all of you guys to contribute in different ways.'' There's a good chance general manager Dan Morgan adds to the defensive backfield. But the Panthers aren't inclined to pursue free-agent cornerbacks Jaire Alexander or Jalen Ramsey, who could be headed to a reunion with the Los Angeles Rams. Still, improving the corner depth would be advisable. The two safeties the Panthers had in for visits in March — Julian Blackmon and Marcus Williams — both remain unsigned but figure to be in camps at some point in August. If it's between those two, Blackmon is the better choice after ranking 23rd among 171 safeties in Pro Football Focus' coverage grades last year, when Williams ranked 162nd. Another potential option could be free-agent safety Justin Simmons, who led the league with six interceptions with Denver in 2022 when Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero held the same title with the Broncos. Simmons, who had two picks in 16 starts last year in Atlanta, also has been linked to the reigning Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Advertisement Meanwhile, a couple of the Panthers' second-year defensive backs had solid showings. Cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, claimed off waivers from the New York Jets last August, had a pair of interceptions while Chau Smith-Wade received reps at corner, nickel and safety. Horn was impressed with the jump Smith-Wade made in the spring. 'I think he's been the most impressive player from OTAs just 'cause how fast he got the defense in one year,' Horn said. 'He's out there making the calls for the safeties. … He's lining up everywhere. He's just making a lot of plays. And the communication's the biggest thing for me — a second-year player communicating like that.' The Panthers weren't taking any chances with some key players, erring on the side of caution when McMillan got kicked in the leg while going down for a ball in Tuesday's first practice. McMillan had swelling in his leg, but Canales said the first-round pick was 'fine.' Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum was held out of team drills with a back issue. Derrick Brown, the Pro Bowl defensive end, was limited to walk-throughs and light side work coming off September knee surgery. Brown plans to stay in Charlotte this summer to continue his rehab with the hopes of being ready for the start of camp. Tremble could start camp on the physically unable to perform list, while edge rusher Amare Barno's status is also in question after a clean-out procedure on his knee. But the Panthers appeared to avoid any serious injuries before the summer break. (Top photo of Bryce Young: Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Hornets Can't Rely on LaMelo Ball's Inconsistency Next Season
Hornets Can't Rely on LaMelo Ball's Inconsistency Next Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Hornets were bad at a lot of things last season. Defense, shooting, availability, vibes, but nothing crashed harder than the offense. Charlotte finished 29th in offensive efficiency, and the assist-to-turnover ratio wasn't far behind, settling at 28th. They couldn't score. They couldn't pass. And they couldn't do either without giving the ball away. Advertisement Sure, LaMelo Ball missing half the season didn't help. But even when he was available, the impact was more erratic than anything. Ball posted career worsts in both field-goal percentage (40.5) and three-point shooting (33.9), and his 4.0 turnovers per 36 minutes marked the second-worst rate of his career. The highlight passes and logo threes are still there, but so is the chaos. At his best, Ball remains the Hornets' only true offensive engine. At his worst, he's a volume shooter without a governor. Charlotte doesn't just need LaMelo back. They need a sharper, steadier, and more available version of him. To be fair, the 2024–25 season marked Year 1 of the Charles Lee experiment. It was also the first-year offensive installs rarely ran like clockwork, especially when injuries hijacked the depth chart. Still, even with some expected growing pains, this was rough. Related: Two NBA Draft Night Trade Partners Emerge for Hornets in Latest Rumors The roster around Ball didn't offer much help. No other Hornet averaged even four assists per game. Of the five players who took double-digit shots a night, only Mark Williams shot better than 44 percent from the field. And he's a big. When your only efficient scorer is a vertical spacer who needs someone to set him up, and no one else can pass, it's a problem. Advertisement All of this raises a bigger question. Is the offense too Ball-centric for its own good? Could this team benefit from a little more movement, a little more cutting, and a little less standing around while LaMelo plays high-stakes improv? Related: Max Contract Player Linked to Hornets in NBA Trade Rumors These are the kinds of structural questions Charlotte's front office has to confront this offseason. What kind of team are they building around Ball? What kind of players best compliment him? And what happens if this version of him with the flashes of brilliance wrapped in unpredictability is just who he is? For now, the scoreboard told the story. The Hornets' games averaged 223.8 combined points, and only 39 of 82 contests cleared the 226.5 mark. Translation is even the betting markets gave up on seeing fireworks in Charlotte. Let's see if the front office can spark something new before the upcoming season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
