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New York Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2027 QB Teddy Jarrard commits to Notre Dame over Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State
When Notre Dame advanced to the College Football Playoff national championship, it created the kind of problem head coach Marcus Freeman welcomed. Spending most of January preparing for Ohio State meant the Irish coaching staff couldn't scour the country looking for its next quarterback. That put the Irish staff relatively behind when it came to assessing quarterbacks in the Class of 2027, as everybody else — other than Ohio State — got a jump on the next cycle. Advertisement Now, Notre Dame is officially caught up. On Thursday afternoon, four-star quarterback Teddy Jarrard committed to Notre Dame over finalists Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect from Kennesaw, Ga., was one of just two quarterbacks offered by the Irish this summer, along with Peyton Houston from Shreveport, La. Notre Dame didn't make those offers until mid-June. Jarrard visited Notre Dame about two weeks before picking up that offer, as part of a busy summer that included visits to his other four finalists, along with LSU, Arkansas and Clemson. Jarrard also last month attended the Rivals Five-Star Challenge in Indianapolis, where he earned quarterback MVP honors while working with prospects a year older, including Notre Dame running back commitment Javian Osborne. That recruiting showcase offered some insight into where Jarrard might be headed in the national rankings, which remain inconclusive. After the Rivals event, Jarrard jumped to No. 52 overall, No. 5 among Georgia prospects and No. 2 among quarterbacks on the network. That's in contrast to 247 Sports, which has Jarrard as a three-star prospect, No. 18 among quarterbacks and No. 35 among prospects from Georgia. Jarrard still has two more years to prove where he really belongs in those rankings. He'll finish his high school career as a four-year starter, playing two seasons at North Cobb Christian before transferring to North Cobb High School. Last fall, Jarrard led North Cobb Christian to an 11-2 record while completing 222 of 323 passes for 2,762 yards and 31 touchdowns. Jarrard is Notre Dame's third commitment in the Class of 2027, following linebacker Ellis McGaskin (Mobile, Ala.) and long snapper Sean Kraft (Asheville, N.C.).
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After huge Sunday night commitment, Texas rises to No. 4 in team recruiting rankings
The Texas Longhorns had a great weekend. Not only did former Longhorn Scottie Scheffler win the British Open, but UT got a massive five-star commitment. Derrek Cooper, the No. 2 running back in the 2026 class, committed to Texas on Sunday evening. The pledge has skyrocketed the Horns up the recruiting rankings to No. 4 overall. Cooper is now the fourth highest ranked commitment in Texas's 2026 class, behind quarterback Dia Bell, linebacker Tyler Atkinson, and EDGE Richard Wesley. Things looked kind of dark for Texas recruiting in early July. The high-profile commitment of five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo to Texas Tech stung. The Horns lost nine recruiting battles in a row after Wesley committed in late June. But things turned around 10 days ago with the commitment of four-star CB Samari Matthews. Texas beat out South Carolina, Miami and Florida State. Four days later, Atkinson committed to UT over Georgia, Clemson, and Oregon. A day later, Steve Sarkisian was able to flip five-star Georgia commit James Johnson. The flurry of commitments has lifted Texas to No. 6 in the team recruiting rankings. Cooper has given the overall class another boost to No. 4. UT also has the second most five-star commits of anyone in the nation. Sark has pledges from the No. 1 QB, No. 1 linebacker, No. 1 defensive lineman, No. 2 running back and No. 3 edge rusher. Any worries over the quality of this recruiting class has been put to rest. Many of the Texas 2026 class have also had a great summer. Bell, Arch Manning's probable heir apparent, was named the MVP of the exclusive Elite 11 QB event. His performance immediately was reflected in the rankings, as he was boosted to the No. 1 QB recruit in the country. Wesley was dominant at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. The Longhorns had the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025. And while Sark and the recruiting team at Texas isn't done yet, the past 10 days have set UT on the path to another top five class and it may end up win another recruiting title before the cycle is done. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
4 reasons Longhorns may have dodged a bullet by losing 5-star Felix Ojo to Texas Tech
On the afternoon of Independence Day, five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech. Thought to be a heavy Longhorns lean, the Mansfield, TX native reportedly accepted a late deal from the Red Raiders for $5.1 million dollars over three years. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect didn't even list Tech as a final four and told Rivals last week it was between Ohio State and Texas. In the end, Ojo took the big money from Texas Tech mega-booster and Matador Club founder Chad Campbell. Could this end up being a blessing for Texas? Ojo was reportedly the Longhorns No. 1 target during this recruiting cycle. Texas spent a lot of time, effort and capital to get him to Austin. No one blames a 17 or 18 year old for taking the biggest offer. But it is how Ojo handled himself over the past 10 days that should put up red flags. Cash over player development While taking the biggest offer is understandable, it is shortsighted. No one would say the player development at Texas Tech is as good as the Longhorns have been under Steve Sarkisian. Texas has the most NFL Draft picks over the past two years and have a great record of getting offensive lineman drafted high. Kelvin Banks Jr. went No. 9 to the Saints in the most recent draft. Ojo simply won't get the quality of coaching at Tech as he would at UT. Most agents want the biggest deal possible. It seems logical. But sometimes that goal is at odds with the player's future. The agent wants his percentage of the money to be as much and as soon as possible. Ojo's representative Derrick Shelby probably won't be his agent when it comes time to negotiate his first NFL contract. But the cost for the client, in this case Ojo, is player development. Disingenuous in the final days Bobby Burton has covered the Longhorns for decades. The media legend helped found Rivals and 247Sports. Burton says Ojo purposely strung the coaching staffs of Texas and Ohio State along in the waning stages of his recruitment, even though his camp had made the decision to head to Lubbock. Playing coy in the press and on social media is one thing. Being less than truthful with other coaching staffs for spot is another level. Disrespectful commitment ceremony Many recruits play the old "hat switcheroo" at their commitment announcement. A lot of prospects, and even fans, find it funny. But coaches HATE it and they remember it. It is patently disrespectful to the staff that spent their time, effort, money and emotions to recruit you. Of course, the losing school has a lot of self interest each time they recruit a prospect. But unless you were treated poorly, there's no need to rub it in their faces at the end. Ojo did a real song and dance with the Longhorns cap at his commitment ceremony. Recent struggles on the field Ojo really struggled at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge last week. I have been to several of these events. When a guy struggles as bad as Ojo struggled, it can mean the player is over-ranked. High School players can spend most of their career dominating the opposition in their own district. Mansfield Lake Ridge High School is in a district with other Mansfield, Crowley and Weatherford schools. It is a district with decent, but not great, opposition. Sometimes when a prospect meets elite talent for the first time at a national event, they are overwhelmed. The Five-Star challenge has the hundred best players in the nation and the defensive lineman Ojo faced ran over, around and through him all day. It was so bad Ojo had to issue a national statement after the camp. Ojo looked slow and lackadaisical and flat-out bullied. Ojo might be incredible in Lubbock. He might be the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NFL Draft. He is certainly guaranteed to make a lot of money for himself and his family. But his entire recruitment does send up some warning signs that make it less likely Texas missed out on a generational talent and more likely the Horns dodged a bullet. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Tech's new money sways 5-Star Felix Ojo as Longhorns loses another recruiting battle
🚨BREAKING🚨 5-star OT Felix Ojo has committed to Texas Tech👆Ojo is the program's highest-rated commitment in history!Read: Texas has lost yet another recruiting battle. And this is a big one ... literally. Five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo announced Friday he is committing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect reportedly received a huge offer from Texas Tech mega-booster and Matador Club founder Chad Campbell. The Mansfield, TX Lake Ridge High School standout was thought to be a Texas lean for weeks with most major recruiting analysts projecting him to the 40 Acres. Last week, Ojo listed Texas and Ohio State as the leaders over Florida and Michigan. Texas Tech wasn't even mentioned. Ojo did struggle at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge against elite competition. So much so, the blue chipper issued a statement afterwards. Did that impact his Fourth of July decision? Did Texas back off or lower its offer? Did Tech see an opportunity to step in? It definitely sounds like Texas Tech gave the recruit a historic offer. Reports started trickling in on Thursday afternoon of the about face and by nightfall, the "in-the-know" recruiting analysts all changed their crystal ball predictions to Tech. Whatever happened behind the scenes, Ojo is heading to Lubbock and Texas has lost their No. 1 recruiting priority. Ojo makes the sixth high priority Texas target to commit elsewhere in the past week. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Has Texas Tech beaten out Texas Longhorns for five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo?
For a few weeks, the Texas Longhorns looked to be in the driver's seat to land five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. The Mansfield, TX blue chipper recently took an official visit to the 40 Acres, after cancelling an official visit to Oklahoma. But it seems like a big NIL offer has come in from Texas Tech, and it may win over the lineman. Ojo spoke with Rivals analyst Sam Spiegelman at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge last week and said the race was close between Texas and Ohio State. Ojo also lists Florida and Michigan in his final four. Ojo, who struggled so badly at the Rivals' event that he issued a public statement, is the nation's No. 5 overall prospect, No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in Texas. Spiegelman and Rivals analyst Justin Wells both put in an official prediction that Texas was the choice. But with less than 24 hours until Ojo's commitment announcement, things have changed. Spiegelman and Rivals/On3 VP Steve Wiltfong have both projected Texas Tech getting the commitment out of Ojo. The assumption is billionaire Texas Tech alum Cody Campbell has made the 6-foot-6, 275-pound recruit a huge NIL offer. Campbell founded the Red Raiders NIL collective called The Matador Club. This is the same way Tech was able to pay softball pitcher NiJaree Canady $1 million dollars to transfer to Lubbock from Stanford. When an 11th hour official prediction from a well-known recruiting analyst come in, they are correct 99% of the time. It's usually because the recruit told the analyst and gave them quotes so they can get a story up as soon as the commitment occurs. We'll see at 1 p.m. CT on the 4th of July, when Ojo is schedule to commit. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
