Michigan football gets its first 2025 commitment

Let’s go! Big news!

The Wolverines are looking to add some pieces to their 2023 recruiting class with signing day right around the corner and Michigan has already put its stamp on the 2024 trail with four commitments.

Might as well get the 2025 class rolling too. At least that’s what 2025 cornerback Chris Ewald believes.

On Friday, Michigan received a verbal commitment from the Hollywood Chaminade Madonna (FL) four-star corner.

While it may be early, Ewald is loaded with potential and talent. According to the composite rankings, he is the 38th-ranked recruit in the entire class and the third-ranked corner in 2025.

Michigan started recruiting Ewald as a freshman and he told The Michigan Insider that he really bonded with Denard Robinson — who is also from Florida.

Ewald holds plenty of offers, but Michigan beat out teams like Georgia, Florida, and Florida State.

This is Michigan’s first commitment for the 2025 cycle.

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Friday Night Notes: Florida Gators climbing, top ’24 recruit makes his case, plus more

Florida also got commitments from two highly-ranked defensive tackles from the 2023 class.

USA TODAY High School Sports‘ Friday Night Notes is a weekly high school football recruiting recap that looks at the latest news from around the country—from the Class of 2023 to ’24 and beyond.

Last week in the recruiting landscape, the biggest riser was Texas, which scored a commitment from top-two running back recruit Cedric Baxter Jr. This week, the biggest beneficiaries of the news cycle were the Florida Gators, who had a very strong run of recruiting.

Over the last several days, Florida’s defense has scored commitments from three of ESPN’s top 300 recruits.

The most recent addition to the pool is Woodward Academy (Ga.) linebacker Myles Graham, who is the son of former Florida and NFL running back Earnest Graham. Graham (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) is a four-star recruit who is composite-ranked No. 2 among linebackers and No. 52 overall in the nation.

Hale McGranihan, 247Sports

Florida also got commitments from two highly ranked defensive tackles from the 2023 class: Kelby Collins from Gardendale (Ala.) and Will Norman from IMG Academy (Fla.). Collins posted 16 sacks last season and is their highest-ranked recruit among Seniors.

Together, these two recruits helped push the Gators up three spots from No. 13 to No. 10 in 247Sports’ composite team rankings.

Billy Napier might also be in a position to snap up another top 2024 recruit who just changed his mind about his college commitment…

Notre Dame offensive line target chooses Wisconsin

Can’t win them all…even when you are O-Line U

Notre Dame was a finalist for the services of 2022, four-star offensive tackle Joe Brunner but Brunner will instead be staying in his home state as he announced his commitment to Wisconsin.

Brunner chose Wisconsin over Notre Dame and Ohio State, his two other finalists, as he received 19 scholarship offers in total.

Brunner is listed at 6-6, 300 pounds and attends Whitefish Bay High School just outside Milwaukee.

Related:

Meet Notre Dame’s 2022 Recruiting Class Commitments

For everything related to Wisconsin Badgers athletics be sure to check out our friends over at Badgers Wire.

USC prized freshman enters transfer portal

A quick exit for a long-time USC commitment.

USC’s 2021 recruiting class appeared to get head coach Clay Helton back on track as the Trojans finished ranked in the top-10 nationally by various outlets.  A freshman defensive tackle who enrolled early and was expected to see the field often this fall has entered the transfer portal.

Defensive tackle Jay Toia, a four-star prospect from Simi Valley, California (Grace Brethren), was expected to get considerable playing time this fall after senior tackle Brandon Pili suffered an injury this spring that will keep him out of fall action.

Toia was ranked by 247Sports as a top-200 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, originally committing to USC 30 months before signing his letter of intent.

Notre Dame is set to host USC in a prime-time kick-off on October 23.  For more on Toia and everything related to USC football be sure to check out of friends at Trojans Wire.

Related:

Notre Dame’s 2021 football schedule

A Way-Too-Early Look MWC At Rosters For 2020-2021: Boise State Broncos

A Way-Too-Early Look At The Boise State Broncos Seniors back or not, this Boise State team will be stacked come fall. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Derrick Alston Jr. headlines a talented Bronco Roster in 2020-2021. Players have already …

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A Way-Too-Early Look At The Boise State Broncos


Seniors back or not, this Boise State team will be stacked come fall.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Derrick Alston Jr. headlines a talented Bronco Roster in 2020-2021.

Players have already accepted reality and have begun taking the next step in their careers as of Friday. For some that is beginning NBA draft preparations a little earlier than expected, for others it is finishing their remaining course loads online to better gear up for next semester. Though the last group of players it is looking for their next opportunity and entering the transfer portal.

After sporting leagues around the globe either canceled or postponed their seasons in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA followed suit by outright canceling scheduled spring sports but rewarding seniors another year of eligibility to return and compete next season. This was a swift and just decision in a time of uncertainty for a lot of student athletes, but there was still a group left in with uncertainty.

Winter sport athletes have currently been left with hope, given a ruling from the NCAA that would grant them any sort of extra eligibility given their abrupt cancellation of the big dance. So in the spirit of pure fun we will take a look at Mountain West team’s rosters for next season. Taking a look at both scenarios, just in case the NCAA surprises us.

2020-2021 Roster: In the event seniors are granted further eligibility

G Justinian Jessup GR 6-7 202 Longmont, CO-Longmont HS

F RJ Williams GR 6-7 215 Los Angeles, CA Price HS/East L.A. College

G Marcus Dickinson GR 6-1 183 Norman, OK-North Norman HS

G Alex Hobbs GR 6-4 188 La Porte, TX-La Porte HS

C Robin Jorch GR 6-11 245 Berlin, Germ.-International Berlin Basketball Acad. 

G Derrick Alston Jr. R-Sr. 6-9 188 Houston, TX-Strake Jesuit HS

G/F Abu Kigab Sr. 6-6 211 St. Catharines, ON-Prolific Prep

G Marcus Shaver Jr. R-Jr. 6-1 185 Phoenix, AZ-Shadow Mountain HS

G Emmanuel Akot R-Jr. 6-8 203 Winnipeg, MB-Wasatch Academy (UT) 

G Chase Berry R-Jr. 6-6 220 Lehi, UT-Skyridge HS/Utah State Eastern

F Mladen Armus R-Jr. 6-10 230 Belgrade, Serbia-SW Christian Academy

F Naje Smith Jr. 6-7 200 Spokane, WA-Lewis & Clark HS/Cochise College (AZ)

G Devonaire Doutrive R-So. 6-5 185 Dallas, TX-Birmingham HS (CA)/Arizona

F Riley Abercrombie R-So. 6-9 210 Wollongong, Australia-Clear Lake HS (TX) 

G Max Rice R-So. 6-5 189 Boise, ID-Bishop Kelly HS

G RayJ Dennis So. 6-2 177 Oswego, IL-Oswego East HS

G Kasean Pryor Fr. 6-9 179 Branson, MO-Link Year Prep 

C Burke Smith Fr. 6-11 215 Glen Allen, VA-Trinity Episcopal School 

Point Guard Shooting Guard Small Forward Power Forward Center
Marcus Shaver R-Jr. Derrick Alston Jr. R-Sr. Justinian Jessup GR RJ Williams GR Mladen Armus R-Jr.
Rayj Dennis So. Alex Hobbs GR

 

Naje Smith Jr. Emmanuel Akot R-Jr. Robin Jorch GR
Marcus Derrickson GR Devonaire Doutrive R-So.* Chase Berry Sr. Riley Abercrombie R-So. Burke Smith GR
Max Rice R-So. Donovan Ivory R-So. Kasean Pryor Fr.

Things of Note:

  • This version of the roster has 18 players on it (two walk-ons)
  • Who knows what kind of rules or regulations would come with this decision but I could imagine every player new to the roster redshirting because of a lack of minutes to go around.

I couldn’t imagine everyone returning from this year’s squad if they are afforded the opportunity to do so. Just looking at that depth chart above the Bronco’s have a second string of players that would be competitive with most teams in the Mountain West and maybe win championships in some smaller conference’s around the country.

If they were awarded extra eligibility I could imagine we would see several transfers out of the program as there is just not enough playing time to go around. Also throw in some redshirt years from some guys who would only benefit from playing around RJ Williams or Justinian Jessup for another year in practice. If no one left, this would be a tournament team no question, with the only question being how many other Mountain West teams would join them.

But in the event that the NCAA rules against awarding additional eligibility for winter sport athletes, which still seems like a possibility given how long it has taken to hear any news regarding the matter. Here is a list followed by a depth chart of the Boise State roster given their current recruiting class and who we know has entered the transfer portal.

Next: Roster and Depth Chart

Mountain West Basketball: Off Season Transfer Tracker 2019-2020

Departures around the conference and possible destinations. It is that time again, maybe a little earlier than normal but the off season is here and so the transfers begin. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Keep track of all basketball …

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Departures around the conference and possible destinations.


It is that time again, maybe a little earlier than normal but the off season is here and so the transfers begin.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Keep track of all basketball movement in and out of the conference.

College basketball’s end this past week is still a bit surreal, but as many players are already doing across the country we must plan for the future and continue coverage of the Mountain West with the current situation at hand.

So, with any tournament action or updates at a bit of a standstill, we look towards the players in this vacuum of basketball. And for those with eligibility left, this is the time to evaluate their current situations and make decisions.

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Still a point of conversation among the NCAA and player advocates, players themselves aren’t waiting around for any kind of new legislation or changes regarding their rights to transfer. As players around the country are already entering their names in the transfer portal as the 2019-2020 season comes to an end.

So we will have an ongoing transfer tracker of players leaving and entering the Mountain West going forward. So make sure to revisit this page all off season for updates as they happen.

Air Force

In: Kind of rare actually

Out: N/A

Boise State

In: N/A

Out: N/A

Colorado State

In: N/A

Out: N/A

Fresno State

In: N/A

Out:

Lozaro Rojas, Redshirt Junior Forward-Porto Seguro, Brazil

Years of Eligibility: 1

19-20 Stats: 1.0 PPG 1.2 RPG & 0.1 BPG in 10 games (0 starts)

Best Performance: 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist against Cal-State San Bernadino on Nov. 17th

Possible Destinations: No rumored interest at the time of this publication.

Rojas was buried behind a mountain of frontcourt depth this season after playing in twenty-seven games (2 starts) last season as one of only three players standing 6-7 or above on the roster. This season was a different story as there were three players standing 6-10 or above, not to mention three others at 6-7 or above. Stuck on the bench and only seeing action in ten games (5.1 MPG), it was time for a switch. As only senior Nate Grimes‘ graduation was guaranteed to free up minutes and local seven-footer Braxton Meah is set to arrive soon for next season, eating up more minutes.