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4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Storylines to follow during June's second huge visit weekend
Nick Lucero/ It's the second massive weekend of official visits and camps across the country. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney looks at 12 major storylines to watch. MORE: Several elite quarterbacks hitting the road for pivotal official visits RECRUITING RUMOR MILL: Latest buzz on nearly three dozen prospects | June kicks off with a bang | Baltimore | Detroit NEW RIVALS250 RELEASED: Ranking | Top storylines | Ten prospects who could rise with a big June 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 RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info CLOSING TIME FOR BAMA It's a big weekend at Alabama with a handful of top targets that the Crimson Tide should close on in town as well. Advertisement Five-star safety Jireh Edwards was at Auburn last weekend but the chatter is that Alabama is out front in his recruitment. Former USC four-star linebacker commit Xavier Griffin, an Alabama legacy, will also be there. He's coming off a phenomenal Ohio State trip but the Crimson Tide have the edge there, too. Four-star QB Matt Ponatoski, who wants to play baseball and football in college, is visiting as Alabama, Oregon and others are involved. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT CAN AUBURN SHOCK WITH FIVE-STAR QB? Auburn has another big weekend as coach Hugh Freeze has the recruiting train rolling strong on The Plains but the biggest outcome of this entire week could be the Tigers making a serious move with 2027 five-star quarterback Elijah Haven. Advertisement The Baton Rouge (La.) Dunham standout made his first visit to Auburn this week and already said he plans to be back because he loves coach Freeze and position coach Kent Austin. LSU is considered the front-runner and could be tough to beat but Haven has some thinking to do now. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT FLIP WATCH AND MORE AT FLORIDA Auburn defensive end commit Hezekiah Harris is coming to Gainesville as he's more seriously looking at some others. Michigan defensive back pledge Brody Jennings and Florida State receiver commit Darryon Williams will be there, too. On top of some major flip candidates, Florida will also have four-star edge rusher Jake Kreul there and while Oklahoma might have the edge and Ohio State blew him away last weekend, the Gators are making a serious move for him. High three-star offensive lineman Chancellor Campbell is coming, too, as Florida and Georgia are engaged in a major battle. Five-star receiver Cederian Morgan is expected and while Florida is a long shot, it gets its chance this weekend. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FLORIDA FANS AT 1ST AND TEN FLORIDA DL WATCH AT GEORGIA Vodney Cleveland. Dre Quinn. Kendall Guervil. PJ Dean. Ebenezer Ewetade. It's a loaded defensive line list coming to Athens this weekend and it wouldn't be a shock at all to see coach Kirby Smart and his staff close on some of those big names down the stretch. There are some others that Georgia has some work on. Four-star running back Savion Hiter is expected as Ohio State, Tennessee and others are involved there. Four-star, long, athletic defensive back Tamarion Watkins is also expected in Athens as South Carolina could have the edge there. Smart is the best recruiter in college football, though, so another big weekend awaits in Athens. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GEORGIA FANS AT FAHEY GOES TO BLOOMINGTON One of the last uncommitted quarterbacks in the class is Luke Fahey as Stanford and Indiana are the two front-runners pending a visit to Ohio State later this month. The Mission Viejo, Calif., standout had an excellent visit to Stanford last weekend and it's tough to beat sitting down with general manager Andrew Luck. But there is serious intrigue in the Hoosiers and the opportunity there. Of course, this could all collapse later this month if Ohio State offers but until then it's really a two-team race. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH INDIANA FANS AT THOMALLA BACK AT IOWA STATE Landing a commitment from four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla was a massive recruiting win for Iowa State in April. Keeping him will now be the challenge. The Omaha (Neb.) Millard South standout visited Alabama this weekend and the Crimson Tide want him to return for another trip soon. In between all this, Thomalla will be back in Ames this weekend. Advertisement Alabama is Alabama and the Crimson Tide need a quarterback so that's tempting. But Iowa State recruited Thomalla so well. How this plays out down the stretch will be interesting. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH IOWA STATE FANS AT PREMER WATCH IN LAWRENCE There has been a serious influx of tight end talent from small-town Kansas the last two recruiting cycles. Last time, four-star Linkon Cure from Goodland chose Kansas State over Oregon and others. This recruiting class, Ian Premer from Great Bend (population 14,000) has Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Michigan and Notre Dame as his favorites. Advertisement The talk, though, is that Iowa State has a slight edge over Kansas right now. This will be a crucial weekend for the Jayhawks to turn that tide ever-so-slightly in their favor to keep the talented 6-foot-5 225-pound tight end home. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH KANSAS FANS AT BENTLEY BACK AT OKLAHOMA A better understanding of where everything stands with four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley should occur after this weekend. The Celina, Texas standout was at LSU last weekend and had a fantastic visit with offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and many others. But the word has been that the Sooners hold the edge in his recruitment so it's a big weekend for new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and others. The feeling is that Arbuckle wants Bentley in this class so it's a big early test for him in Norman this weekend. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OKLAHOMA FANS AT MASSIVE WEEKEND IN EUGENE It's been written enough that Oregon has had a tough couple weeks losing quarterback Jonas Williams to USC, five-star quarterback Jared Curtis to Georgia and five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell to Miami. Now is the time for another major recruiting weekend in Eugene where the Ducks could load up. It's a huge list. Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson is coming back. Five-star defensive end Richard Wesley, who was committed to the Ducks but backed off since those close to him didn't sign off, will be back and that could be huge. Five-star athlete Brandon Arrington will be there as Texas A&M and others battle for him. Coach Dan Lanning is one of the best and weekend like this are becoming the norm. DUCKWORTH BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA Last weekend, four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth went to Auburn and got a massive recruiting pitch from coach Hugh Freeze. That could be compelling and the Jackson, Ala., standout didn't seem fazed by having Jackson Arnold and Deuce Knight in the QB room. There appears to be enough NIL money to go around. Advertisement There has been some chatter that South Carolina is once again very much in this recruitment (he was committed to the Gamecocks earlier) but Ole Miss is not going away easily. This is a crucial weekend for coach Shane Beamer and his staff. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA FANS AT BIG DOGS HEAD TO AUSTIN It's not a massive list but an important group is heading to Texas this weekend and even though there are some long shots, coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff know how to take a big swing. No. 1 running back Ezavier Crowell is coming and even though Alabama will be tough to beat and Georgia is pushing, Texas has always been held high by him. Texas A&M and LSU lead for five-star OL/DL Lamar Brown so it's crucial to get him in Austin and see what they can do. Four-star edge rusher Jamarion Carlton is a big visitor along with four-star cornerback Davon Benjamin among others. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT BIG OPPORTUNITY AT TEXAS A&M It's a huge weekend at Texas A&M with a ton of opportunities to woo recruits. Fresh off working out at Ole Miss, five-star LSU receiver commit Tristen Keys will be in College Station. So will four-star nickel Bralan Womack, four-star offensive lineman John Turntine, Tank Jones, Tank King and many others. Some big targets - like five-star Lamar Brown - are visiting elsewhere but the Aggies have a huge opportunity this weekend with so many big names. Coach Mike Elko and his staff appear to be on the verge of really turning this thing around. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five programs that are punching above their weight in recruiting
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Commitment season is here and there will be massive changes to the 2026 team rankings over the next month and a half. Taking a look at the team rankings as they stand right now, there are programs near the top of the list that haven't been associated with elite recruiting classes in recent years. Advertisement Here are five programs that are currently punching above their weight in the team rankings. RECRUITING RUMOR MILL: Latest buzz on nearly three dozen prospects | June kicks off with a bang | Baltimore | Detroit NEW RIVALS250 RELEASED: Ranking | Top storylines | Ten prospects who could rise with a big June 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 RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info ARIZONA STATE Marshall Levenson/ Advertisement RELATED: Arizona State 2026 commit list Head coach Kenny Dillingham has certainly "activated the valley" with this recruiting class, which currently sits at No. 15 in the team rankings. It's been more than 10 years since the Sun Devils have finished with a top-20 recruiting class and it's not out of the question to think Arizona State could reach that threshold this year. Just one season after its unlikely run to the College Football Playoff, Arizona State currently holds commitments from three four-star prospects, which is more than in any Arizona State class since the 2021 recruiting cycle. The Sun Devils may not be known as a recruiting power but the arrow is certainly pointing up. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA STATE FANS AT ILLINOIS Nick Lucero/ RELATED: Illinois 2026 commit list Head coach Bret Bielema has been making waves in the media this offseason but don't let that distract you from the success the Illini have been experiencing on the recruiting trail. Illinois currently has a top-10 recruiting class, something the program has never had at the end of a recruiting cycle. In fact, Illinois' highest-ranked recruiting class was in 2007 when it finished at No. 20 in the team rankings. With five four-star prospects onboard, Illinois is set up to finish with one of the best recruiting classes in program history. If they crash the College Football Playoff this season, who knows how high the Illini could finish. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ILLINOIS FANS AT LOUISVILLE Nick Lucero/ RELATED: Louisville 2026 commit list The Cardinals were fully engaged with recruiting the transfer portal earlier than the majority of college football teams and have been aggressive there over the last few years, signing just 15 or 16 high school prospects in each of the last four years. In this cycle though, head coach Jeff Brohm and company already have 17 commitments and find themselves just outside the top 10 and the team rankings. With two Rivals250 commitments and an additional four-star commitment, the Cardinals are in position for their highest-ranked recruiting class since the 2023 cycle. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LOUISVILLE FANS AT RUTGERS RELATED: Rutgers 2026 commit list Rutgers and head coach Greg Schiano have had highly ranked recruiting classes early in the recruiting process in previous years only to see teams surpass them by the time National Signing Day rolls around. Still, the Scarlet Knights have put together a strong recruiting class with five four-star prospects and currently sit inside the top 10 of the team rankings. Rutgers has never finished with a top-25 recruiting class, but there is still time for the Scarlet Knights to pick up momentum with key prospects and reel them in before the end of the recruiting cycle. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH RUTGERS FANS AT USC RELATED: USC 2026 commit list The Trojans are a far cry from the Pete Carroll years when they were consistently signing top-five recruiting classes, but head coach Lincoln Riley and general manager Chad Bowden have seemingly reversed that trend. USC currently sits at No. 1 in the team rankings with a total of 27 commitments, including two five-stars and three other top-100 prospects. The Trojans will need to continue to add elite prospects to this class if they hope to hold onto that top spot, but they've already positioned themselves to finish well inside the top 10. In the last seven recruiting classes, USC has finished in the top-10 just twice. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH USC FANS AT
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6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Quotables: The 12 best quotes from a massive visit weekend
Nick Lucero/ Hundreds of top prospects were on the road for the first weekend of official visits and school camps going on around the country. Here are a dozen quotes that stood out most. MORE GORNEY: Ten biggest pledges from the weekend 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 RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info TYLER ATKINSON ON CLEMSON 'The overall visit was incredible and more than welcoming. It was the meaning of priority. There were a lot of highlights this weekend. The way they plan on playing me in the AtkNup packages on defense really stood out. Advertisement 'I really loved the family vibes and the way my family felt there. Also, the potential class of teammates is really strong. The message to me was very clear: They genuinely want me to be there. Not just because of the way I play the game but because of the type of person I am, too.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT ADAM BALOGOUN-ALI ON NORTH CAROLINA 'What stood out most was how much coach (Bill) Belichick believed in my body frame and potential. Hearing that from the greatest coach of all-time definitely gives you crazy confidence.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UNC FANS AT DORIAN BARNEY ON GEORGIA TECH 'The comfortability I have when I go there every single time and it was no different this time. The message is that they need and want me there, I could be the face of Georgia Tech when I get there. They are still in the race with all my other schools. Let's find out July 5.' Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GEORGIA TECH FANS AT DEVIN CARTER ON GEORGIA 'Still committed to Auburn but I for sure was impressed this visit with (UGA's) detailed way of showing the guys they have developed there and are currently developing was a thumbs up and something to look at. Also, the statistics on the offensive side of the ball surprised me and the main message from coach (James) Coley is that he wants me in that wide receiver room no matter how or when we make it happen.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GEORGIA FANS AT LANDON DUCKWORTH ON AUBURN 'The environment. Auburn is like a family and in-state feel. Coach (Hugh) Freeze's message was he really wants me there to be a part of that culture he's building. Having Jackson (Arnold) and Deuce (Knight) in the room doesn't hurt. I can learn from those guys and competition will make me better.' Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH AUBURN FANS AT DAVERIN 'DEUCE' GERALDS ON LSU 'I think about the possibilities of me returning to my place of birth and coming home and possibly leading them to another championship in Baton Rouge. It's easy and just feels like home as it was for half of my life.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT XAVIER GRIFFIN ON OHIO STATE 'Being developed and coached by one of the best linebackers (James Laurinitis) to ever wear the scarlet and gray excites me. Knowing coach (Matt) Patricia has coached and been a GM in the NFL, so he has the blueprint to get me there. Being down to the top four, they are still in good standing. Gave me a lot to think about and I'm still excited about them.' Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OHIO STATE FANS AT MAXWELL HILLER ON TENNESSEE 'Flat out, this was one of the best visits I've had and was huge for Tennessee on my list. I will definitely be back sooner than later. How welcoming the whole staff was and I really enjoyed catching up with coach (Glen) Elarbee and it was great to see how he coached me and we had a personal meeting which was great.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT BRODY JENNINGS ON MIAMI 'The visit was great. I love it a lot. The highlights were how much coach (Mario) Cristobal is big on family, not just him, the coaches. Not just that, the amount DBs coach (Zac) Etheridge and coach (Will) Harris develop. Also, how much love they showed me and my family. I spent lots of time with coach Cristobal. He told me I can be very successful anywhere I go but I'll be successful in a special place. They're a school that me and my family will look into a lot.' Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT ZADEN KREMPIN ON LSU 'The attention to detail stood out the most. LSU's staff made me and my family feel right at home. Hanging out with the Bordelon and Weeks brothers was a blast. LSU is the team to beat right now. I love everything about this program.' JAKE KREUL ON OHIO STATE 'This was a really great official visit. Just seeing how they set their level for the OSU Standard is at such a high bar. They expect to be the best in the world at everything they do. I really like that because it drives you to be the best. "After spending a lot of time with coach (Matt) Patricia and coach (Larry) Johnson it is very hard to not see yourself getting developed into an NFL edge rusher.' BLAKE STEWART ON CLEMSON 'From the second I stepped onto Clemson's campus, I could feel it — this place is different. There's a real sense of purpose, a culture that pulls you in and makes you feel like you belong. The energy was authentic, from the coaches to the players to the support staff, everyone was welcoming, everyone was real. It wasn't just about football; it was about who you are and who you're becoming. Advertisement 'Coach (Dabo) Swinney and his staff had a powerful message: Development isn't just about the game, it's about leadership, about becoming the best version of yourself. They're going to push you, challenge you, but they're gonna support you while they do it. The culture they've built is about more than wins; it's about legacy, about accountability, about doing things the right way. Clemson is a place where you grow as a player and as a person, and that stuck with me.' SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: June kicks off with a bang
Nick Lucero/ The wildly busy month of June visits has kicked off and Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney has all the latest he's hearing in this Recruiting Rumor Mill. MORE: Florida surging with top targets after official visit weekend 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 RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info Clemson did everything possible to land the five-star linebacker from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson from treating him like a top priority, to showing him the AtkNup packages they would use for him on defense (that's his brand). Advertisement Atkinson felt the message to him was very clear: They want him at Clemson not only because of how he plays but because of the type of person he is, too. Georgia and Ohio State among others are definitely high as well but the Tigers remain right in this. Alabama, Clemson, Texas and USC are among the other favorites but Brooks was back at Georgia over the weekend – he's been there more than a dozen times – and it would now be a shocker if he doesn't end up in Athens. The four-star edge rusher from Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee loved how the players and coaches interacted over the weekend and his comfort level there is just so high. The four-star Mississippi State receiver commit visited Florida State and now a 'tough decision for sure' is coming up in a few weeks. Capehart had a great time in Tallahassee and now the plan is to visit Starkville on June 14 and then reach a final decision with those two leading the way. Advertisement He's been committed to the Bulldogs since mid-November. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE FANS AT Prior to this weekend, it looked like a clear Texas-Texas A&M recruiting battle for the four-star edge rusher from Temple, Texas, but now LSU is definitely in that top group after a phenomenal visit to Baton Rouge. Carlton had an 'amazing' trip to LSU not only from the hospitality and his interactions with the coaching staff but how they'd develop him along the defensive line. This very much feels like a three-team race and we'll see if LSU can keep that momentum. Alabama has been considered the far-and-away front-runner for the No. 1 running back in the class and that might not change but Crowell had an excellent time at Georgia over the weekend and the Bulldogs are moving up. Advertisement How far Georgia goes is undetermined but the coaching staff made it clear that the Jackson, Ala., standout is a priority. He feels like he fits in that offense and loves the attention to detail. This recruitment has now gotten a lot more interesting. After being committed to Mississippi State early in his recruitment, Darby flipped to LSU in November and now Alabama is working for another flip from the four-star receiver out of Bossier City (La.) Airline. Darby felt 'at home' in Tuscaloosa and he loved his interactions with the players there but it's still unclear if he's super serious about a flip as LSU continues to keep his commitment and it would still be a surprise if he flips. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT Alabama, Georgia and Oregon have emerged as the three front-runners for the five-star safety from Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances and the word is that the Crimson Tide lead in his recruitment. What's interesting is that Oregon is second on the list and if communication picked up from the Ducks they might be able to move even higher. The high four-star running back did not make his official visit to Alabama this weekend – and that might be telling unto itself – as the Crimson Tide remain among his five favorites with Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M and LSU. Advertisement The prevailing thinking for a while now is that Texas leads by a big margin for the Carthage, Texas, standout as Texas A&M and others battle hard. An argument could be made for SMU, Texas A&M or Oklahoma at the top for Evers but LSU is 'extremely high and they know it' following his weekend visit to Baton Rouge. What stood out most to the four-star offensive lineman from Flower Mound, Texas, was how much time and effort LSU spends on education and that was big because he has a GPA higher than 4.0. Auburn, Syracuse, Georgia, Iowa and Miami are others to watch but Florida remains the team to beat especially after his weekend visit to Gainesville and it could be really tough to beat the Gators. Advertisement The Cocoa, Fla., four-star DB not only feels like a priority there but the players already on the team told him how much they love being there and getting developed. Maryland and Penn State have emerged as the two early leaders for the 2027 four-star offensive tackle from Coatesville, Pa., but Tennessee has surged maybe right to the top after his weekend visit to Knoxville. Only time will tell if the Vols can keep the momentum but it was 'one of the best visits' Hiller has had and he hit it off with position coach Glen Elarbee. The four-star cornerback from Jackson (Miss.) Jackson Academy was committed to North Carolina for less than two months but has now reopened his recruitment. The word is that Tulane and Mississippi State have emerged as the new major contenders in his recruitment but Oregon State, Ole Miss, Louisville, Missouri and Tennessee have also been involved. LSU, Texas, Michigan and Texas A&M are the four standouts for Krempin but the Tigers are now the team to beat after his weekend in Baton Rouge. Krempin loves 'everything about this program' and he spent a lot of time with the Bordelon and Weeks Bros. over the weekend. Advertisement He talked a lot of football with the coaching staff as LSU has surged right to the top of his recruitment. Oklahoma has held an edge in his recruitment with Florida moving up fast for him but Ohio State really impressed him over the weekend and now it's just a question of where the Buckeyes see Kreul on their board. After spending time with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and position coach Larry Johnson, Kreul thinks it would be 'very hard to not see yourself getting developed into an NFL edge rusher.' Ole Miss has come on strong and Kreul will be taking a mid-week visit there as well. After being committed to Ole Miss since November, Legree backed off his pledge to the Rebels over the weekend. Florida has emerged as a main player for the four-star receiver from Niceville, Fla., with Miami, Mississippi State and Wisconsin all involved. Advertisement One other thing to watch: Legree is talking to Ohio State 'every day' and that could be something to follow especially if the Buckeyes keep up that interest. The 2027 four-star defensive back from Mobile (Ala.) Williamson remains committed to Florida State but the word is that his recruitment is 'still open' and that Auburn and Tennessee are the biggest threats to flip him. Scott was in Knoxville over the weekend and the Vols are showing 'constant love' as it was made clear to the four-star DB that he's a 'main priority' for that coaching staff. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FSU FANS AT Penn State and Michigan are still battling hard for the four-star offensive lineman from Leesburg (Va.) Loudoun County but Clemson is the team to beat especially after an excellent visit back there over the weekend. Advertisement Scruggs loves the culture and 'how different they are.' It's also been made clear he's the top guy and that means a lot as the Tigers have taken the lead. After backing off his pledge to Utah last week, the three-star tight end from Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian has two visits scheduled for June and maybe more will be on the way. Simpson will be at Tulane from June 12-14 and then he will head to Purdue on the final visit weekend of June as those two teams have emerged. The three-star safety from Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward remains committed to Iowa State for now but his weekend visit to Michigan State 'turned the tables' for the Spartans. Thomas loved the coaching staff and the players and how they see using him in the program. Advertisement Plus the combination of football and academics is a huge draw as well. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH IOWA STATE FANS AT Auburn and LSU are also very high on Willis' list after backing off an early pledge to Alabama and now Tennessee is definitely a major contender for him. Willis' old teammate from Moody, Ala., Sidney Walton, is already on the team and Tennessee 'feels like home really.' The Vols also laid out how they utilize a bunch of players upfront and that he can play early and that's a big draw. Ole Miss, Michigan and Miami are also main contenders in his recruitment.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: First big visit weekend is just days away
Nick Lucero/ The first big visit weekend of late May and early June is only days away but there is still a ton going on across the country. Here's the latest from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney in this Recruiting Rumor Mill. Advertisement MORE: Ohio State QB commit Brady Edmunds has some big targets 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 RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info The high three-star defensive back from Pembroke Pines (Fla.) West Broward committed to Toledo last June but now Akande has a full visit schedule this month and there's a big threat that he could flip. Akande is at UCF this weekend and that will definitely be one to watch before he sees South Florida, Toledo and FIU to close out the month. Minnesota, Kentucky and NC State are also big threats to flip him. Tennessee remains at the top of the list for Anderson and with a limited amount of other Power Four offers it would be very surprising if he didn't end up with the Volunteers if they have room in this recruiting class. Advertisement Cincinnati, Memphis and others are involved but after a recent return trip to Knoxville where he got to know the staff even better, Tennessee is the front-runner. There is a strong feeling that Miami is the front-runner for the four-star edge rusher from Venice, Fla., and it could help the Hurricanes even more since he's taking his final official visit there at the end of the month. But others are going to throw their hat in the ring as Florida gets its shot this weekend. He'll also see Louisville, Kentucky and Missouri before wrapping up the month in Coral Gables. Texas is in very good shape with the 2027 four-star defensive back from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco. Advertisement Texas A&M, Colorado, Cal and BYU round out his top five, as Davis looks to a busy round of visits. He's expected to visit the Longhorns this weekend, then head to Boston College, Arizona State and Sacramento State by the end of the month. Georgia has emerged as the front-runner for the five-star safety but Alabama is right there in his recruitment with Oregon rounding out his favorites. Texas A&M had been at the top but seems to be sliding for the Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances standout. A new visit to Florida on June 3 will be one to watch as there is a significant SEC feel now to his recruitment. Michigan is trying to make a serious run at the five-star LSU cornerback commit and while the family is listening, his commitment to the Tigers has not swayed. The Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon standout has only been committed for weeks and he was already back in Baton Rouge in recent days to firm things up even more. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT The four-star defensive tackle from Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill is kicking off his official visit schedule this weekend at LSU as the Tigers remain one of four front-runners in his recruitment. It was thought that Oklahoma might have had an edge but the Sooners have fallen off a little. LSU, Ole Miss (where he's a legacy), Oregon and Ohio State have emerged as the four to watch. The 2027 three-star running back from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman is now up to 20 offers with more very possibly on the way but so far Arizona, Notre Dame, BYU, Cal, Washington, UNLV and Arizona State have been in touch the most. Advertisement Grant is still in the early stages and doesn't want to name leaders yet, especially with Oklahoma, Oregon, USC and UCLA asking about him. Matthews has a list of favorites but this could be boiling down to a two-team race with South Carolina in the lead but Texas is making a major play for the four-star cornerback from Cornelius (N.C.) Hough. Matthews will be in Miami this weekend and that could get interesting. Some believe the Longhorns have the momentum, but South Carolina remains very appealing. Alabama, Michigan and Texas will host the four-star linebacker from Marietta (Ga.) Kell in the coming weeks before Rouse heads back to Tennessee and the Vols could be really tough to beat. Advertisement Rouse had a trip 'different from any other visit' last weekend in Knoxville that only strengthened his relationship with the coaching staff and pushed the Vols even higher among his favorites. After official visits to Washington, Stanford and UCLA, the high three-star defensive end from Seattle (Wash.) O'Dea will return home and work through a decision with his family. Washington is 'home' and that could be playing a big role in his thinking but all three schools are basically even heading into visits. The four-star Tennessee tight end commit was back in Knoxville over the weekend and he had a great time as the coaching staff is recruiting him like he hasn't made his pledge yet. Advertisement The Nashville (Tenn.) Donelson Christian Academy standout has dropped his Miami visit and has Florida, Ole Miss and a return trip back to Tennessee on the calendar. If the Vols throw more to their tight ends, then Sneed might be locked in as that has been a concern while looking at other programs. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT Theodore feels like a priority every time he's on Tennessee's campus and the Vols are very high on his list especially after being at their 865 Live event over the weekend. Tennessee looks very strong for the three-star cornerback from Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School with Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Duke and Virginia also there. The four-star offensive tackle from New Albany, Miss., has been committed to Mississippi State since February but Tucker will be at Ole Miss this weekend followed by LSU and then close out the month back in Starkville. Advertisement The word is that LSU is recruiting him the hardest so that trip to Baton Rouge will be one to watch closely and Oxford is less than an hour away. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE FANS AT Auburn will host the four-star edge rusher from Wadley, Ala., this weekend and the Tigers are definitely one of the front-runners. Texas A&M could be sneaky here and might have the advantage right now in his recruitment with Miami and the Tigers involved. This trip to The Plains could settle things for Auburn but the Aggies are a major player in his recruitment for sure.
