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USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Recruiting video highlights of new running back commit Favour Akih
WATCH: Recruiting video highlights of new running back commit Favour Akih In case you missed the news, the Ohio State football program got a rather significant commitment to its 2026 recruiting class on Sunday with in-state 4-star running back Favour Akih. And while he may not be one of the 5-star talents all programs are salivating over, you can bank on OSU's coaching staff going after him because of what they have scouted. In fact, there aren't too many programs out there that do as well scouting high school players as the Buckeyes. Not only does Ohio State recruit at a high level, but it has historically been able to find players who are better than what the recruiting services say. Akih is the first running back pledge in the class, one that now has 14 members in it and is firmly ranked in the top five in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. In case you haven't seen highlights of the Rutherford B. Hayes High School product, we thought we'd share some game film from his junior season thanks to the fine folks at Hudl. Sure looks like there is some more than adequate speed, vision, and athletic ability there to work with. Is this Ohio State's next running back of the future? We shall see. Read More: Ohio State football 2026 recruiting commitment tracker Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: Tyler Warren, Ohio State, Illinois
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith has three predictions on Tyler Warren's draft stock, Ohio State landing a standout running back and Illinois' efforts with in-state four-star prospects. MORE PREDICTIONS: Portal priorities, pass rushers, Big Ten QBs WHICH METRO AREA PRODUCES THE BEST HS FOOTBALL TALENT? YOU DECIDE 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 PENN STATE TE TYLER WARREN IS A TOP-10 PICK Former Penn State superstar Tyler Warren is one of the best overall football players in this year's NFL Draft. As a tight end he caught 104 passes for 1,233 and eight touchdowns last season. He essentially was the entire passing attack for the Nittany Lions. He is also a devastating run blocker and is so athletic that the team lined him up at Wildcat to rush the ball. Advertisement Warren could be a mismatch nightmare in the NFL for a creative offensive coaching staff. That type of potential should help him shoot up draft boards and be one of the first 10 names called on April 24. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PENN STATE FANS AT FAVOUR AKIH WILL COMMIT TO OHIO STATE Favour Akih/X Favour Akih has been the hottest running back recruit in the Midwest this offseason. His recruitment is really coming down to Miami and Ohio State. The Hurricanes held a solid lead but the Buckeyes have chipped away quickly after getting him on campus a couple times. "Ohio State and Miami are doing a great job of recruiting me," Akih said. "It's very hard to turn down what Miami is offering. But it would be even better to stay home and be a Buckeye. So it's a very hard decision. Ohio State might just be a little ahead just because it's home and I grew up here so all I know is Ohio State." Advertisement Akih told me that he wants to commit in May. I've fired in a FutureCast for the Buckeyes to land his verbal commitment. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OHIO STATE FANS AT ILLINOIS MISSES OUT ON 2026 IN-STATE FOUR-STARS Illinois has been one of the talks of the offseason with how well the program has recruited. The Illini have had a nice bump on the trail after a double-digit win season last year that included a bowl win over an SEC opponent. But that momentum doesn't look like it'll translate to keeping the top prospects in the state home this cycle. There are seven four-star prospects in Illinois this cycle. QB Jonas Williams and defensive end Braeden Jones are committed to USC. Tight end Mack Sutter is trending to Alabama. Michigan and Notre Dame are out front for defensive end McHale Blade. Versatile tight end JC Anderson is being recruited hard by Ole Miss and North Carolina but Illinois is in the mix. Slot receiver Nasir Rankin was heading toward committing to Illinois early but so many other programs have gotten involved. Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oregon and others are making a strong push. I see the Illini getting shut out with the top talent in-state but still landing a solid 2026 recruiting class. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ILLINOIS FANS AT
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: Prospects mulling options after critical visits
Nick Lucero/ More news and rumors keep coming in and it's time for another Recruiting Rumor Mill. Here's the latest from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney. MORE: Ole Miss trending at the top with elite QB Landon Duckworth after visit Advertisement 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 Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, USC, Michigan State and Duke round out Abrams' top 10, which doesn't really give too much light into his favorites but the Crimson Tide will be one of them. The four-star linebacker from Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh sees Alabama as an 'NFL factory." He loved the preparation in the meetings, his interactions with coach Kalen DeBoer and especially position coach Chuck Morrell, as the Crimson Tide might have the edge right now. Ohio State, Miami and USC are the three front-runners for Akih and even if Ohio State is going to be tough to beat, the Hurricanes definitely look like No. 2 on the list – if not higher. The Delaware (Ohio) Rutherford B. Hayes four-star running back absolutely loved his trip there last week from the massive offensive line, to the weather, to how coach Mario Cristobal runs the program. Miami will be tough to turn down in his recruitment. A recent visit to Duke where Bah met with coach Manny Diaz and had a 'great meeting' with assistants Gabe Infante and Alex Devine has pushed the Blue Devils right to the top of his list. Advertisement The Germantown, Tenn., defensive tackle has Duke at No. 1 but Iowa, NC State, Georgia Tech and others also stand out. A visit to North Carolina also went well but he didn't meet with coach Bill Belichick so the jury is still out there. USC has become a major contender for the high three-star defensive back from Las Vegas (Nev.) Faith Lutheran especially after his recent visit for spring practice where he hit it off with the coaching staff and loved the plans for the new facility. The Trojans have emerged as a real player but Arizona, Iowa, Texas A&M, Arizona State and Utah are also up there. Oregon had been the program to beat in Dixon-Wyatt's recruitment but after spending time in Columbus over the last few days, Ohio State has moved to the top. The four-star receiver from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei got a clear message from coach Ryan Day and position coach Brian Hartline: That he's a must-get player. Texas A&M has been named Edwards' leader and the Aggies have only solidified that top spot after his recent visit to College Station. What the five-star safety from Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances loved the most was how coach Mike Elko was very involved and hands-on in the defensive meetings and playing for him would be a huge draw. Advertisement Auburn, Oregon, Georgia, Tennessee and others are heavily involved. Months ago, Ole Miss and Cal had emerged as the two top contenders for the four-star quarterback from Mission Viejo, Calif., but things have changed. Stanford, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Cal and Indiana are the six to watch and the word is that even though coach Troy Taylor was fired, Fahey is still heavily interested in the Cardinal and has faith that general manager Andrew Luck will find the right replacement. North Carolina, Wisconsin, SMU, Baylor and TCU are the standouts for Johnson right now but he has a big group of visits planned starting with being at USC over the weekend. A recent trip to Chapel Hill went incredibly well as he loved the town but loved the coaches even more as they 'act like brothers toward each other' and mesh together so well. Advertisement If the Tar Heels win out, meeting coach Bill Belichick could be a big reason since it was a 'surreal moment' for him. During a recent visit over to Miami, the four-star defensive tackle from Miami Northwestern loved how the defense was flying around the field and the pitch from the coaching staff is that he should commit and be a part of it all. There's a compelling case for the Hurricanes but Georgia, Florida and Syracuse are also making a big impact in his recruitment. The four-star receiver from Niceville, Fla., committed to Ole Miss in November and he's sticking with the Rebels so far but others are coming – and Legree is listening. Legree will visit Florida State on April 3 (just two hours away) and then will see Florida two days later and then head to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Advertisement The Seminoles and the Gators should be watched but Legree hasn't hinted at a flip yet. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OLE MISS FANS AT Florida State, Auburn and Pitt have been the three standouts for the four-star offensive lineman but once Georgia offered in recent weeks the Bulldogs have shot right to the top. During a recent visit, the Albany (Ga.) Westover School standout loved the culture and the standard in Athens. Georgia has always been one of his favorites. Clemson, Florida State, Texas and South Carolina are the front-runners for the high four-star cornerback and a recent visit to Tallahassee definitely helped the Seminoles. A highlight was breaking down film with coach Mike Norvell and position coach Patrick Surtain Sr. but the best part was listening to NFL players talk about their experience at FSU and what it meant to them to play there. Notre Dame not only impressed Robertson during a recent visit but The Grotto and other areas blew away the 2027 high three-star defensive tackle from Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove as the Irish have jumped out as one early favorite. Advertisement The history, the tradition and how the coaches love him in the trenches all stood out as LSU, Florida, Florida State, Miami and many others also interest him. A recent visit to Ole Miss has definitely intrigued Sneed a lot and the Rebels have 'shot up in my rankings for sure' as the Tennessee commit looks at others. Ole Miss is now a very serious player for the Nashville (Tenn.) Donelson Christian Academy four-star tight end. He's also looking at Colorado, UCLA, Miami and North Carolina. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT It's down to Miami and Florida State for the three-star offensive lineman from Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles and he just had an excellent visit with the Seminoles. Sparks respected the intensity and hunger around the team to get back to elite status and the message was clear from the coaches: If you're not ready to work and win at everything then don't come. Sparks loved the message. Nebraska looks to be in very good shape with the 2027 four-star quarterback from Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic and might have only extended its lead after a multi-day trip to Lincoln late last week. Taylor loved the sports broadcasting program there, his relationship with Dana Holgorsen and Glenn Thomas is strong and the love he gets from everyone in the state is above and beyond. Advertisement LSU is right there as well and Alabama is making a late push as well. Miami is the top program for the 2027 three-star defensive tackle from Boca Raton (Fla.) West Boca Raton especially after his recent visit to Coral Gables and it certainly doesn't hurt that his teammate, Javian Mallory, just committed there. The family feel, the opportunity to have everything close to home and the coaching staff's message that it wants him all are playing a big role. The four-star defensive back from La Verne (Calif.) Damien loved his recent visit to Texas A&M and it was sold on him that a lot of California kids are now on the roster. That could be compelling to Williams but USC looks to be the team to beat. Advertisement Oregon, Washington, Auburn and UCLA also high on the list. The connection Wilson had with the Ole Miss coaches has pushed the Rebels really high on his list as the four-star safety from Pascagoula, Miss., had great interactions with coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Pete Golding and position coach Wes Neighbors III. Ole Miss is right at the top with Clemson, Texas A&M and Auburn.
NBC Sports
04-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rivals250 Release: Ten prospects under the microscope in March
Editor's Note: This article first appeared on the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here. Camp and 7-on-7 season is well underway and many of the nation's best are out there testing themselves against the best possible competition. There are still 10 more rankings updates remaining for the 2026 class but there are plenty of players we want to learn more about in the next month. Here are 10 prospects who are under the microscope this month. 2026 RIVALS250 REFRESH: Updated Rivals250 revealed | Biggest moves | Prospects under the microscope | Analysts weigh in on biggest moves | New schedule explained NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Quarterback | Running Back | All-Purpose Back | Wide Receiver | Slot | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Interior Offensive Linemen | Defensive Tackle | Defensive End | Edge | Linebacker | Nickel | Cornerback | Safety | Athlete 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 Akih isn't in the latest Rivals250 but he probably will be before all is said and done. He had a great junior season and he's been blowing up on the recruiting trail since then. Establishing more of a track record with Akih through in-person evaluations will go a long way towards getting a feel for his short area quickness and his abilities as a pass catcher. Bell's junior season ended with a fairly serious ankle injury but now he's back and working out on the camp and 7-on-7 circuit. There is no substitute for live action but how he does the rest of the offseason will frame how the debate over his ranking will play out. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT Coming off back-to-back state championships in football and basketball, Duckworth is unquestionably one of the most athletic quarterbacks in this class. He is an immensely talented passer as well but his consistency can falter at times. Duckworth is a potential five-star prospect and developing a bit more as a refined passer could put him over the top. Elee has all the traits to be one of the more dominant pass rushers in college football. It goes without saying that he has five-star potential and he should reach that elite status if there is continued technical development. Elee has come a long way over the last year and half but banking on his ability to continuously win with an outside speed rush is not sustainable at the next level. We're all looking forward to Henry's return from a knee injury later this month. The Ohio State commit has elite measurables and has arguably the highest floor and ceiling of any prospect in this class. We're eager to see which one he is closer to, his ceiling or his floor. Hill earned his fifth star after a strong junior season and impressive performance during the preceding offseason. He's already had some ups and downs this offseason and the gap between him and the next cornerback is narrowing. Hill will continue to be tested this offseason so there will be plenty of chances to watch him face off against Power Four prospects and see if he can handle their route running abilities in man coverage. Another year, another impressive tight end prospect in Kansas. Premer is a three-sport athlete with all the traits teams are looking for in their next big time tight end. He's already ranked highly but seeing him compete against other Power Four defenders would be very informative. Prothro has added some mass to his really lean frame but he still looks more like a jumbo receiver than a tight end. That being said, he should continue to fill out as his career progresses. Projecting his physical maturity a few years down the line is futile but it will have an outsized impact on the way his future team uses him. Prothro doesn't have an overpowering style when he lines up on the field but he can still be a dominant pass catcher without physically dominating the defender. It will be interesting to see if/how long that can last. One of the most physically gifted prospects in this cycle, Russell has do-it-all ability and it's a treat when he's able to show off. Surely he wishes he could do that more often and so do we. Taking the next step in his physical development and overall consistency would go a long way towards boosting his ranking in the Rivals250. Washington has a huge frame for a safety and has advanced instincts but it will be interesting to learn more about his ability to turn and run with elite receivers. His wingspan and arm length help cover up any issues he has in this area but that will only carry him so far. Getting another look at Washington this offseason should help put this question mark to bed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Elite RB Favour Akih to visit MSU this spring
Michigan State football will reportedly host one of the top 2026 running backs for an unofficial visit this upcoming spring. Favour Akih of Delaware, Ohio will reportedly visit Michigan State during the spring, according to Jason Killop of On3. Akih is a four-star prospects in the 2026 class that is considered one of the top running backs in the class. 2026 four-star Ohio RB Favour Akih locks in Michigan State spring visit…(On3+): — Jason Killop (@KillopOn3) February 12, 2025 Akih ranks as the No. 15 running back in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2026 class. He is also listed as the No. 7 player from Ohio and No. 168 overall prospect in the class. Akih currently holds an 89 rating on 247Sports. Michigan State is one of more than 20 schools to extend an offer to Akih, according to 247Sports. He also holds notable offers from Miami (FL), Pitt, USC, Iowa State, Penn State, Indiana, Cincinnati, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri, NC State, Purdue, West Virginia and Wisconsin. According to 247Sports, Michigan State, Miami (FL), Pitt, USC, Iowa State and Penn State are the leaders in his recruitment at this time. He currently has official visits lined up with Pitt, USC and Miami (FL) for this upcoming summer. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5. This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Elite RB Favour Akih to visit MSU this spring
