Tag: Steve Wiltfong

Former Purdue DE/OLB Nic Scourton has received a prediction to land with Texas A&M

Former Purdue DE/OLB Nic Scourton has received a prediction from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong to land with Texas A&M.

Amid his visit to College Station, former star Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Nic Scourton, a native of Bryan, Texas, has received the all-important prediction from 247Sports Recruiting Director Steve Wiltfong to land with Texas A&M after his campus visit on Wednesday.

Needing another play-maker on defense after several key players have entered the transfer portal, including defensive linemen Walter Nolen (transferred to Ole Miss) and Fadil Diggs (transferred to Syracuse), Scourton’s versatility as an elite pass rusher while adding needed plug-and-play ability as a run stopper, the fact that Wilfong released his prediction on the day of Scourton’s visit is as a good a sign as ever.

In just his second collegiate season with the Boilermakers, Scourton took full advantage after earning a starting role, recording 50 tackles (33 solo tackles), 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and three pass deflections on the year while leading the Big 10 in sacks.

After less than two months on the job, Aggies head coach Mike Elko has landed eight players through the transfer portal, filling multiple holes on both sides of the ball. Still, if he can secure Scourton’s commitment, it’s time to seriously re-think any recent predictions for A&M’s chances to compete in 2024.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Oklahoma Sooners receive two predictions for 2024 4-Star safety

Oklahoma recruiting continues its hot streak, earn crystal ball predictions for 4-Star safety.

The Oklahoma Sooners had an eventful weekend. They picked up a pair of commitments on the defensive side of the ball and then defeated the UCF Knights. The Sooners also received a crystal ball prediction favoring OU in the recruitment of four-star safety Reggie Powers on Friday. Sunday evening, the Sooners picked up two more crystal ball predictions from 247Sports.

Powers is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety from Dayton, Ohio. He was once committed to the Michigan State Spartans. Right now, the Sooners are competing with the [autotag]UCLA Bruins[/autotag] for Powers’ services.

Physically strong, well-built prospect who also has a basketball background. Has been to events and verified size and also put up solid testing numbers which include good agility times at his size. Has good play speed, is aggressive and shows instincts and ability to diagnose plays in run support. Is an excellent box defender. Shows that he can also play in coverage. Ultimately is likely a strong safety or hybrid defender depending on the scheme but is a high-floor prospect who can fit into the framework of multiple defenses and be effective. – Allen Trieu National Recruiting Analyst 247Sports

The two predictions the Sooners received Sunday evening came from national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu and director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong.

Powers was in Norman over the weekend on an unofficial visit and now looks to be trending heavily toward choosing the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have been active in their pursuit of the four-star safety as they look to add him to an already strong defensive recruiting class in 2024.

There has been some speculation Sooners could go on a run in recruiting to end this month and start November. The commitments they’ve received in the last few days combined with the predictions trending for Oklahoma with Powers certainly support that speculation.

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Sooners receive crystal ball projections for pair of targets after win over Texas

Oklahoma received crystal balls for a pair of prospects on Sunday morning following their win over Texas.

The good vibes are still rolling if you’re a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners beat their rival in an instant classic of a [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] on Saturday. On Sunday, the Sooners were on the receiving end of not one but two crystal ball projections for a pair of their remaining targets.

Steve Wiltfong, director of football recruiting at 247Sports, issued crystal balls in Oklahoma’s favor for four-star offensive line prospect Eddy Pierre-Louis and four-star linebacker Michael Boganowski on Sunday morning.

Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class is ranked seventh in the nation with 24 commits and still has room for a few more.

[autotag]Pierre-Louis[/autotag] hails from Florida and attends [autotag]Tampa Catholic[/autotag], the same high school where freshman linebacker [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] came from. Pierre-Louis is a guard prospect and would be a lovely addition to the Sooners offensive line haul in 2024. Aside from the Sooners, UCF is fighting for his services the most.

Boganowski has a nice athletic frame and plays all over for his high school team. He projects best as a rangy linebacker in college with added weight. His recruitment has looked like a line graph with Kansas State gaining momentum and Oklahoma seizing momentum back. Right now, the Sooners may have regained control in the battle to land his commitment.

If the Sooners were to land commitments from both, the two pledges would be good enough for the Sooners to leap the Florida State Seminoles for sixth in 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings.

Decisions are not scheduled for either prospect, but we should gain more clarity as the days get closer to the early signing period.

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4-star Clemson cornerback target receives crystal ball from 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong

Clemson receives a Steve Wiltfong crystal ball prediction for a top recruit. Wiltfong is currently hitting at a near 97% rate with his predictions.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program await this commitment but received excellent news on Friday with this crystal ball prediction. 

247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong gave the Tigers his crystal ball prediction for four-star 2024 cornerback Corian Gipson. Wiltfong is the best in the business, currently 286 / 295 (96.95%) in the class with his predictions. 

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Gipson ranks as the No.7 cornerback and the No.67 overall player in the class. He would be an excellent addition to the Tigers’ 2024 recruiting class.

The highly touted cornerback is set to announce his commitment on July 22 at 5:00 pm, and the Tigers have as good of a chance as any to land his commitment.

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2024 5-star WR Cam Coleman discusses his commitment to Texas A&M with 247Sports

After his stunning commitment to Texas A&M on Tuesday, 2024, 5-star WR Cam Coleman discussed his decision with 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.

Suppose you’ve read anything we’ve published in the past two weeks. In that case, you’re clearing up to date with Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting hot streak, as Jimbo Fisher and his incredible staff have added eight players since Thursday, June 22, while most recently gaining by far the most talented player in the 2024 cycle (in my humble opinion), as five-star wide receiver Cameron Coleman, nicknamed “Mini-Megatron” by some, committed to the Maroon and White excitedly, on Tuesday, July 4, just hours before fireworks covered the night sky all across America.

After his stunning commitment, which, as I’ve personally dubbed “the Coleman effect,” Texas A&M now sits as the 9th-ranked class in 247Sports’ updated 2024 team rankings, and as a gentle reminder to those who still aren’t paying attention, they aren’t done yet; not even close.

In a detailed interview with 247Sports’ National Recruiting Director Steve Wiltfong, Coleman discussed what went into his decision during the final days leading up to his announcement after his official campus visit on June 16 while focusing on his relationship with Aggies’ WR coach Dameyune Craig and newly minted offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino.

“Really, the last time I went up there, I felt comfortable, and it was the place I wanted to be,” Coleman stated.

“My relationship with Coach (Dameyune) Craig was the tightest out of the bunch. They have a new offensive coordinator Coach Bobby (Petrino), and the Aggie network outside of life after football you can get a job after football, and it was a place I felt comfortable with.”

As we all know, results on the field are all that matter and will directly affect the outcome of Texas A&M’s 2024 class, but for Coleman, the Aggies’ 2022 season was clearly a result of a youthful roster finding their way, leading to what should be a very bright future.

“Last year they had a lot of freshmen starting,” Coleman stated. “It’s hard to win with all these freshmen in the SEC. Now they have experience going across the board, and they have more people coming in to help win the National Championship.”

Cameron Coleman is an absolute stud, and his recruiting ranking reflects his incredible play on the gridiron. Ranked as the No.11 player in the class, the No.3-ranked wide receiver, and the No.1-ranked player in Alabama, the sky is truly the limit for the man who shares my name. Gig ’em, Cameron!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Steve Wiltfong explains why Texas is the favorite for five-star WR Ryan Wingo

Texas has to love where they stand with five-star wide receiver Ryan Wingo.

The Longhorns have been trending for 247Sports’ No. 7 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class in five-star wide receiver Ryan Wingo.

While there is still time before he announces his commitment, Steve Sarkisian’s staff has to feel confident with where they stand in his recruitment.

Especially when you consider that 247Sports’ Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong has already entered a prediction for Wingo to end up at Texas. If you aren’t familiar with the recruiting industry, receiving a crystal ball prediction from Wiltfong is essentially the stamp of certification. He’s correct on 92% of his predictions, and he has made well over 4,000.

In an interview on 247Sports’ College Football Recruiting Show, Wilfong was asked about Texas’ lead with Wingo and what other programs are attempting to get back into the mix.

While Wingo appears to be putting out some feelers to other programs, it seems that Texas is firmly in the driver’s seat. The Longhorns currently hold the No. 28 recruiting class in the country.

Wingo is considered the No. 2 wide receiver in the country by 247Sports.

Sooners four-star DL target Xadavien Sims commits to Oregon over Oklahoma

Four-star defensive line target of the Oklahoma Sooners, Xadavien Sims, committed to Oregon on Saturday.

Oklahoma and Oregon have been doing battle for recruits quite often lately. In the latest round of head-to-head matches on the recruiting trail, the Oregon Ducks prevailed.

Four-star defensive lineman and one of the top players in Oklahoma, Xadavien Sims, committed to Oregon over Oklahoma, TCU, Vanderbilt, and Michigan State. The announcement came live at the C4Sports facility where he and there to Texarkana prospects train, including 2025 QB commit Kevin Sperry. Sims is a consensus four-star prospect and is the No. 121 overall prospect, according to 247Sports.

While it was initially thought that this battle would be an Oklahoma and Michigan State battle, Oregon entered the fray and made up significant ground. Dan Lanning’s time as the defensive coordinator at Georgia has helped give him and the Oregon defensive staff a significant boost amongst defensive recruits.

And yet, while Michigan State owned 100 percent of the crystal balls for Sims earlier this week on 247Sports, the tide shifted quickly in Oregon’s favor. A few Oklahoma predictions came in, and they seemed to be the prevailing choice but a mid-week crystal ball from national director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong, signaled that the Oregon smoke was more than just smoke.

Oregon was the last Power Five school to offer him in the winter, but they hit the ground running to catch up to Oklahoma and Michigan State. Sims’ commitment will sting for the Sooners. They’ve now lost one of the best players in the state to an out-of-state school in consecutive years. Four-star EDGE Bai Jobe committed and signed with Michigan State last year.

However, it won’t discourage the Sooners as they are still heavily in the mix for four or five other talented defensive linemen for the 2024 recruiting cycle. At the moment, they’re the favorites to land two of the best prospects in the nation, five-star defensive linemen David Stone and Williams Nwaneri. Oklahoma’s also heavily in the mix for four-star defensive linemen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye and Nigel Smith.

This is the third major recruiting battle the Sooners and the Ducks have had in the last two cycles. Oklahoma won out in the Peyton Bowen sweepstakes, flipping the five-star safety after Bowen flipped his commitment from Notre Dame to Oregon. The Ducks pulled off the flip of four-star wide receiver prospect Ashton Cozart.

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Sooners pick up another crystal ball for five-star TE Davon Mitchell

Oklahoma is the overwhelming favorite to land five-star TE Davon Mitchell after the latest crystal ball from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.

Arguably the most significant domino effect from Michael Hawkins’s commitment to Oklahoma on Saturday was how it would directly affect the race for five-star 2025 tight end Davon Mitchell.

Well, we have our answer, and Sooner fans will like what’s beginning to take shape.

Oklahoma has received its third crystal ball to land the elite tight end that plays at Los Alamitos High School in California. This particular crystal ball comes from 247Sports director of national recruiting, Steve Wiltfong.

Take the crystal balls into account and the fact that Mitchell and Hawkins have expressed sentiments about playing together in college, and you’ve got something brewing. Mitchell and Hawkins were childhood friends and former teammates at Allen High School before transferring.

There’s a clear rapport; both want to realize it in college. Alabama, Miami, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also in contention to land Mitchell’s services.

The effort by the coaching staff to prioritize Mitchell should not go unnoticed here as well. No other 2025 prospect at the tight end position is trending this hard in Oklahoma’s way, either. There also is the possibility that Mitchell reclassifies to the 2024 class and could join Oklahoma as they move to the SEC next year.

In landing Mitchell, the Sooners would get a dynamic tight end that can line up inline or out wide. He showcases a large catch radius and the ability to get behind defenses. He also uses his 6-foot-4, 245-pound body for leverage and showcases a desire to be physical at the point of attack in the run game.

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Sooners overwhelming favorite to land four-star CB Jeremiah Newcombe

Oklahoma is trending as the overwhelming favorite to land 2024 four-star CB Jeremiah Newcombe out of Arizona.

Sometimes a recruitment doesn’t have to drag on. In the case of four-star cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe that very well could be the case as the Oklahoma Sooners look like a heavy favorite. A flurry of predictions from 247Sports and On3 came through Friday evening favoring the Sooners.

The 5-foot-11 cornerback received an offer from Oklahoma in November. While things were relatively quiet on that front, a visit this week to Norman must have struck all the right notes as recruiting insiders from across the industry popped projections for Oklahoma to land the talented corner from the state of Arizona.

“Lanky frame with high upside length,” says mountain region recruiting analyst for 247Sports Blair Angulo. “Thin build with plenty of room to add muscle mass. Two-way playmaker and on-field production. Flashes very good top-end speed. Closes quickly on the football and reacts to plays underneath. Shows terrific hand-eye coordination and catch window concentration. Looks comfortable and smooth through his backpedal. Doesn’t panic as he dissects routes. Primarily a finesse player but has some toughness to his game. Could continue to fill out physically and improve in press coverage. Potential multi-year starter at elite Power Five level.”

With no cornerbacks committed for 2024 and the Sooners losing Jaden Davis and Woodi Washington after the 2023 season, adding Newcombe would be a big boost for the Oklahoma secondary.

247Sports Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong, Brandon Drumm of OUInsider, and Chris Karpman of SunDevilSource.com all logged crystal balls for OU Friday evening. On3’s Director of Recruiting, Chad Simmons,  also predicted this would go Oklahoma’s way. With that level of momentum, it’s possible Newcombe could commit at any time.

Newcombe is in Norman this weekend and it looks like the Sooners have made a strong impression.

The Arizona native has been recruited heavily in the southwest by Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, and USC. He also has offers from Notre Dame and Michigan as well.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong predicts No. 1 RB Jerrick Gibson to Texas

The nation’s No. 1 RB for the 2024 class continues to trend to Texas.

247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong likes Texas’ chances for the nation’s top running back in the 2024 class. On Monday morning we learned Wiltfong had placed a prediction for Jerrick Gibson in favor of the Longhorns.

The prediction is one of a few positives favoring Texas in their recruitment of the elite back.

Among recruiting analysts and insiders, Wiltfong is well regarded as one of the more reliable sources for recruiting. It would appear he has enough information to have an opinion on the recruitment of Gibson.

The prediction strengthens the reliability of yesterday’s Rivals prediction that we noted earlier. 247Sports joins Rivals and On3 Sports in hinting at the Longhorns’ strong chances to win out for the five-star running back.

There’s still plenty of time until Texas reaches the finish line, and Gibson could certain change his mind. Nevertheless, the tea leaves indicate the nation’s top back could choose the Longhorns in back-to-back recruiting cycles.

The 2024 recruiting class is off to a strong start in becoming the final piece to a championship roster for 2024.

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