Category: Recruiting

Ohio State football’s still incomplete 2021 recruiting class has already passed its top five 2020 one

Ohio State football’s 2021 recruiting class it’s putting together is so good it has already surpassed its top five rated 2020 one.

Have we told you lately that Ohio State football recruiting is on fire? Get this for proof; the 17-member 2021 class that’s still got plenty of room available has now surpassed its top five 2020 class from last season according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.

That’s not to take anything away from last year’s haul. Ohio State has the top wide receiver, Julian Fleming, and the top offensive lineman, Paris Johnson Jr., already enrolled. With the return of Justin Fields, a veteran offensive line, and many other weapons, this team should be just fine.

It’ll be that 2021 season that might be one of transition with Fields likely off to the NFL.

When looking a season further, Ohio State’s dominance is clear. The 25- member 2020 class had an overall rating of 295.08, while the 2021 class is sitting at 295.41. The latter has a nation-high in five and four-star recruits with three and eleven respectively. And, there’s potentially more on the way with OSU high on other four and five-star recruits’ lists.

That said, this team will be dominant for the foreseeable future.

Colby Smith commits to Tennessee

Colby Smith commits to Tennessee.

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee picked up another commitment for its 2021 recruiting class on Monday.

Colby Smith announced his commitment to the Vols on Twitter.

“And just like that we are done!!,” Smith said. “100% #Committed #ONaMIS21ON #GBO.”

Smith is a 6-foot-7, 295-pound offensive lineman from Rockingham County High School in Reidsville, North Carolina.

He has Power 5 offers from Duke, Illinois, Louisville, North Carolina State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

NEXT: Vols’ 2021 football commitment tracker

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College Football Recruiting: Five Takeaways From ESPN 300

Notre Dame landed six players on the updated ESPN 300 list for 2021. What schools are impressing and who is disappointing in ’21 recruiting?

ESPN released their “ESPN 300”, their ranking of the 300 best prospects nationally in the 2021 college football recruiting class.  Here’s what we’ll do:

Here we’ll give you where the six Notre Dame commitments that checked in rank and then we’ll share a handful of observations about national recruiting beyond that.

Deal?

Cool.

Where Notre Dame players ranked:

QB Tyler Buchner – 39
TE Cane Berrong – 51
OT Blake Fisher – 103
DT Gabriel Rubio – 163
WR Lorenzo Styles, Jr. – 243
DE David Abiara – 280

Safety Justin Walters and offensive guard Pat Coogan, both of Illinois didn’t make the ESPN 300 but are also commitments to Notre Dame’s 2021 class.

Next:  Oh my, Ohio State…

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May recruiting update: Oklahoma defensive back board full of highly recruited players

There is no position at Oklahoma under a microscope more than the defensive backs. Here is where the 2021 DB recruiting board is at for May.

There is no position at Oklahoma under a microscope more than the defensive backs.

The Sooners were second to last in the country in passing defense prior to Alex Grinch’s arrival in 2019. Oklahoma has not had a defensive back drafted higher than the third round since Brodney Pool in 2005.

The first year of Grinch’s ‘Speed D’ helped raise Parnell Motley’s draft stock, and Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator brought in high level players like safety Bryson Washington in his first recruiting class.

Here is where Oklahoma’s defensive back board stands in May for the 2021 recruiting class.

*The star and position rating is according to Rivals.com.

CORNERBACK

LATRELL MCCUTCHIN—FOUR-STAR—NO. 5 CB

Oklahoma has been pushing for the highly recruited corner out of its rivals backyard. Latrell McCutchin took the trip from Austin, Texas, to Norman in March and all the momentum remains on the Sooners side of things. There hasn’t been any indication of a commitment coming anytime soon, though.

JAYLIN DAVIES—FOUR-STAR—NO. 6 CB

The Sooners have developed a great relationship at high school powerhouse Mater Dei in California. Pulling Jaylin Davies out of southern California is going to be tough for anyone, but Oklahoma getting an official visit down the line shouldn’t be ruled out.

ISHMAEL IBRAHEEM—FOUR-STAR—NO. 16 CB

Like McCutchin, Ishmael Ibraheem took a visit to Oklahoma prior to the sports world shutting down. The long, rangy athlete hasn’t said too much in regards to his recruitment, but the Sooners getting an unofficial visit prior to the coronavirus shutdown is important.

DREYDEN NORWOOD—THREE-STAR—NO. 46 CB

Yep—the name should sound familiar. The younger brother of current Oklahoma defensive back Tre Norwood received an early offer from the Sooners. Though he has kept things close to the vest, Oklahoma continues to keep tabs.

DE’JAHN WARREN—FOUR-STAR—UNRANKED JUCO

Probably the least recognizable name on the board. There is no telling where Oklahoma stands with the top junior college player in the country, but the Pennsylvania native is going to be a tough pull from Penn State. The Sooners have a need in 2021 to start at corner, and getting Warren in for a visit shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

SAFETY

KENDAL DANIELS—THREE-STAR—NO. 27 S

In what I have labeled as Oklahoma’s can’t-miss prospect for 2021, Kendal Daniels remains the top priority on defense for Alex Grinch. The in-state prospect is getting pushed hard from Clemson, but the Sooners remain in a good spot for the Oklahoma native.

ANDREW MUKUBA—THREE-STAR—NO. 36 S

For awhile, one could have told the world that Andrew Mukuba would join teammate Latrell McCutchin and it would have been believable. Seems as if Oklahoma has recently cooled off, but Mukuba is a guy one shouldn’t be surprised by if the Sooners go back to.

TOMMI HILL—THREE-STAR—ATH

The Florida native is new to the Oklahoma board. Tommi Hill’s offer sheet doesn’t match up with his ranking, but the Sooners are already pushing for another Sunshine State player.

JORDAN MUKES—THREE-STAR—UNRANKED

Oklahoma’s second in-state commitment in the 2021 recruiting class. Jordan Mukes is new to football, but his athleticism is clear based off his basketball highlights. Mukes’ ceiling is close to endless as long as he continues to progress.

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Tennessee on recent recruiting surge; a look at Vols 2021 class

The Tennessee Volunteers now boast the No. 1 class in the SEC for the 2021 recruiting cycle

Coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee Volunteers coaching staff have been busy recruiting during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Vols have received 11 commitments in the 2021 recruiting class in the last two months, including six in the last two weeks.

Georgia fans remember Pruitt’s time as UGA’s defensive coordinator (2014-2015) under Mark Richt. Although the relationship did not work out, Pruitt was a very successful recruiter for the Bulldogs.

Fast forward to the 2021 recruiting cycle and Tennessee now has the No. 1 ranked class in the SEC and the 3rd best in the country behind Ohio State at No. 1 and Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 2.

Pruitt is a part of the same Nick Saban coaching tree that produced coaches like South Carolina’s Will Muschamp and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Saban disciples are known for a strong defensive strategy and a knack for signing elite defensive talent. So far, the Vols have received commitments from two of the top defensive players in the country: 5-star outside linebacker Terence Lewis and 5-star weak-side defensive end Dylan Brooks.

Lewis (Opa Locka, Florida) is rated as the nation’s No. 9 overall player and as the No. 1 OLB in the country. Brooks (Roanoke, AL) is rated as the No. 1 WDE and the 29th best recruit overall. Other than Lewis and Brooks, Tennessee holds commitments from 15 more recruits, four of which are 4-stars.

On Sunday, the Vols also picked up a commitment from 4-star running back Cody Brown out of Lilburn, Georgia. A few days prior to that, they received a commitment from Roswell, Georgia native 4-star wide receiver Julian Nixon.

Tennessee’s 2021 class broken down by stars:

Two 5-star commits

Four 4-star commits

Eleven 3-star commits

Tennessee finished with the No. 10 ranked recruiting class in 2020, which unfortunately for the Vols, meant a No. 7 finish in the SEC.

That should prove to be Pruitt’s biggest obstacle while at Tennessee. Georgia, LSU, Florida, Alabama and Auburn are some of college football’s best recruiting programs.

However, if Tennessee can continue to take advantage of the down time and bring in more 5-stars, it may be able to compete for the top spot when the 2021 recruiting cycle comes to an end next year.

As for Georgia, Kirby Smart has the Bulldogs sitting at No. 16 in the country, but we are not nearly close enough to signing day to think about hitting the panic button. Kirby has finished with the No. 1 class for three consecutive seasons now, so it’s safe to bet on the Dawgs turning up the heat as we creep closer to December’s early signing day.

Tennessee in final 11 for 2021 quarterback Kaidon Salter

Tennessee in final 11 for 2021 quarterback Kaidon Salter.

Tennessee has been making waves in recruiting during the dead period caused by COVID-19, securing seven highly-rated prospects in the last nine days for the 2021 recruiting class.

The momentum could continue on May 10, when 4-star dual-threat quarterback Kaidon Salter announces his destination. Tennessee is included with ten other programs in the running for Salter’s commitment.

It is a diverse list of schools, with programs from all five Power 5 programs represented. The Vols join Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss out of the SEC, while Baylor and Kansas represent the Big 12. Utah and UCLA are included out of the Pac-12, with Georgia Tech and Louisville from the ACC and Michigan State as the lone Big 10 school.

Salter’s list stretches far and wide across the United States, and for good reason. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Cedar Hill, Texas native is rated the No. 10 dual-threat quarterback in his class by the 247Sports Composite.

Certainly a pass-first signal-caller, Salter still excels when pushed out of the pocket and uses his legs to stretch defenses while showing great ability to throw on the move. Also a track and field athelte, Salter threw for over 2,500 yards and rushed for over 600 yards in 2019, while accounting for 38 total touchdowns.

Tennessee quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke is Salter’s primary recruiter, with help from offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. Tennessee has not yet secured a quarterback commitment in the 2021 class, and if Salter commits to the Vols on May 10 it would only increase the profile of an already stacked recruiting class.

Tennessee in the hunt for defensive tackle Tywone Malone

Tennessee in the hunt for defensive tackle Tywone Malone.

New Jersey native and 4-star 2021 defensive tackle Tywone Malone released his top 14 schools on Saturday, including Tennessee as the Vols look to continue building an impressive 2021 recruiting class.

Georgia, Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama and Ole Miss are the teams to beat in the SEC. Florida State, Michigan, Penn State, Virginia Tech, USA, Ohio State and Rutgers are also still in the running.

With a 6-foot-3, 300-pound frame, Malone projects as an interior defensive lineman that could contribute early in his college career. He has a quick twitch off the snap and a build that simply overpowers defenders at the high school level.

The 247Sports Composite rates Malone as a 4-star prospect, the No. 5 defensive tackle in his class, and the No. 1 overall prospect in New Jersey. Malone also is a standout baseball player at Bergen Catholic High School, the alma mater of current Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

Tennessee’s impressive 2021 class currently ranks as the best in the SEC and No. 3 in the country, is heavy on edge rushers. The Vols only have one defensive tackle currently committed in 3-star North Carolina native Isaac Washington.

NEXT: Vols’ 2021 football commitment tracker

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Clemson football coaches coming for Georgia baseball commit

Clemson football coaches are recruiting Georgia baseball commit Bubba Chandler to play QB for the Tigers.

Clemson quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott have been in touch with 2021 Georgia baseball commit Bubba Chandler.

Out of North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia, Chandler is a right-handed pitcher and shortstop. He committed to play baseball at UGA last June.

Clemson quarterback target Christian Veilleux committed to Penn State last week, leaving the Tigers looking for a signal caller in their 2021 class.

Though Chandler is committed to play baseball at Georgia, he has been picking up football offers lately from schools like UNC-Charlotte, Western Kentucky and Troy.

He said that the Auburn football program has also been recruiting him heavily.

Clemson is yet to offer Chandler, but the two sport star told TigerNet that if they do offer he would certainly give them a chance. He said he would love to play both sports in college.

Chandler has not yet been able to visit the Clemson campus, but it appears he is excited to do so when the lockdown is lifted.

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs already have another quarterback from Bogart committed in the 2021 class. That’s 5-star dual-threat Brock Vandagriff.

“I love UGA. But I love football as well,” Chandler told Clemson Insider. “I’m going to look over and consider any opportunity, such as Clemson.”

2021 SG Julian Roper commits to Northwestern

The Badgers lose out on a top 2021 target

[lawrence-newsletter]2021 SG Julian Roper has committed to Northwestern per his instagram.

Roper was a key Badger target throughout his entire recruiting process. After months of being linked to Wisconsin, in large part due to high school teammate Lorne Bowman being a 2020 Badger signee, Roper decided to go with the ‘Cats.

For months, the 247sports ‘crystal ball’ predicted that the Michigan native would land with the Badgers, but the prediction flipped to Northwestern about a week ago. The Michigan native took visits to both UW and Northwestern, touring Madison this past November and Evanston this past October. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is the first hard commit for Northwestern in the 2021 class. The Badgers currently have three 2021 commits, and all are four-star recruits, in Chris Hodges, Chucky Hepburn, and Matthew Mors. 

Georgia football offers scholarship to Caleb Johnson

Georgia football recruiting is going strong as Kirby Smart and UGA offered Caleb Johnson of the 2021 class.

The Georgia Bulldogs have extended a scholarship offer to 2021 prospect Caleb Johnson.

Johnson is a 3-star wide receiver out of Greenville, Texas.

247Sports has him as the nation’s 77th ranked wide receiver and No. 74 ranked player in Texas. 247 does not have national rankings available for Johnson at the moment.

Johnson is a speedster who is able to play on both sides of the ball.

At 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, he ran a 10.58 in the 100 meters early on this spring prior to the lockdown.

In addition to Georgia offering Johnson, Texas A&M sent an offer on Sunday. Oklahoma offered on Saturday and LSU on Friday.

Expect Johnson to climb up the rankings as more powerhouse programs begin to take notice.