2025 On300: Latest recruiting intel on the top rising juniors

The 2024 cycle is now fully in swing, with official visits set to begin in just a few days. But the 2025 class is drawing plenty of attention from coaching staffs around the country already. As they’re only finishing their sophomore seasons, recruiting intel is a little sparse for most prospects early on, but a programs a starting to stand out to some of the country’s top prospects.

On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons has the latest on some key names to watch over the next 18-24 months.

5-star QB Bryce Underwood

The buzz: Bryce Underwood has a lot of eyes on him. He is a five-star quarterback with close to three dozen offers and he likes to keep his recruitment to himself. Michigan is an in-state school, and he has visited more than anyone else. He is starting to build a relationship with new quarterback Kirk Campbell and will visit Ann Arbor again in the coming months. He visited LSU for the first time early in March and he is planning another trip to Baton Rouge next month (April 22). Joe Burrow is expected in town that weekend, and Underwood is looking forward to spending time with him. Ohio State is likely the next stop. He is expected back in Columbus on April 1. Those are three schools very much in this. Penn State is another one. He could take more of a look nationally over the summer.

5-star DL Elijah Griffin

The buzz: It is early, but Georgia could be tough to beat for Elijah Griffin. He has visited Athens close to half a dozen times, and Tray Scott has done a great job early connecting with Griffin and his mother. Griffin is set to return to Georgia in April. There is another SEC school to keep an eye on too. That is South Carolina. He was in Columbia in January and he likes Jimmy Lindsey a lot. He will visit South Carolina again. Alabama had Griffin on campus early in March. Tennessee is another SEC program he wants to visit soon. Georgia, the in-state school, is trending early.

5-star WR Ryan Williams

The buzz: Ryan Williams committed to Alabama last fall and the Auburn legacy remains committed to the Crimson Tide. He was back at Auburn recently and is expected to return this summer. The new staff has his attention, but Williams still feels good about his commitment to Nick Saban. Williams is also set to visit Georgia next month. He is going to be recruited hard until the day he signs. Alabama is the leader, but others are not going to give up. Auburn is the biggest threat at this time.

5-star CB Na’Eem Offord

The buzz: Na’Eem Offord has visited Auburn and Tennessee in March. His next visit could be to Georgia. He has not received an offer from the Bulldogs yet, but he expects one when he gets to Athens. That would be big for Offord because he grew up a fan of Georgia. In-state schools Alabama and Auburn are both high on Offord’s list. Auburn is recruiting him very hard and making him feel wanted early. He is expected back at both schools over the summer. Tennessee is doing a great job recruiting Offord. Josh Heupel is already heavily involved and that means a lot to the five-star cornerback out of Birmingham (Ala.) Parker.

5-star EDGE Zayden Walker

The buzz: Zayden Walker visited Florida over the weekend. He tripped to Florida State earlier this month as well. Walker is high on multiple schools in the Sunshine State. Miami is a school that has come on strong early in 2023 as well. He is looking to take his first visit to Coral Gables in the coming months. With Walker, you have to start at home. He is from Georgia, they were the first to offer and the Bulldogs have had him on campus numerous times. Kirby Smart’s program is expected to be in this to the end. He is close with Jalewis Solomon, his older brother that is a four-star in the 2024 class. The two at one time were looked at as more of a package deal, but they have now decided to make decisions on their own.

4-star OT David Sanders

The buzz: David Sanders was at Georgia for the second time over the weekend and the Bulldogs have set the bar high. It is too early for name a favorite for the elite offensive tackle out of Charlotte Providence Day, but Georgia is expected to be a strong contender. He loves the practice style and he has a strong relationship with Stacy Searels. He has visits to Clemson and Ohio State coming up. The Tigers have not offered, but they will. He has already visited there three times. It will be his first time to Columbus and he is very intrigued by the Buckeyes. Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee are some others to keep en eye on.

4-star DL Armondo Blount

The buzz: Armondo Blount is from Miami Central, so the big three in Florida are going to do all they can to keep him at home. He has 31 offers and he has only visited Florida (twice), Florida State (twice) and Miami (four times) so far. Blount has not visited any schools outside the Sunshine State, so the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes have an early advantage. Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and some others are on his list that he wants to visit. It is very early and Blount is wide open, but the early buzz is around Mario Cristobal’s program. It is close to home and he is already getting to know the staff well.

4-star EDGE Ari Watford

The buzz: Ari Watford is the No. 1 prospect in Virginia and the school he has visited most is Virginia Tech. Brent Pry is working hard to get top in-state talent to Blacksburg and the Hokies have Watford’s attention. Tennessee had him on campus early in March and the attention the Vols showed him made a strong impression. The only other school Watford has visited is North Carolina. He wants to see many more schools. Schools like Clemson, Georgia, Florida State and Notre Dame are among those he wants to visit. Watford already has over 30 offers.

4-star ATH DJ Pickett

The buzz: It seems like DJ Pickett is further along than a recruit on the back end of his sophomore year. The star out of Zephyrhills (Fla.) was picking up offers before he started high school and he has visited over 10 schools already. Michigan is a school to keep an eye on. He has visited Ann Arbor, he likes the coaches, his mother went to school there and he has family about an hour from the Michigan campus. Georgia is another out-of-state school to know. He likes Fran Brown a lot and he has visited Athens multiple times. Florida is making him feel like a priority and Corey Raymond’s resume stands out to Pickett.

4-star WR Caleb Cunningham

The buzz: Caleb Cunningham has gotten out a good bit over the last six to seven months. Alabama had him on campus over the weekend and the Crimson Tide offered. He may be back in Tuscaloosa this summer. Florida State is another out-of-state school to watch with Cunningham. Mike Norvell and his staff have done an excellent job of getting the playmaker in Mississippi on campus multiple times. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are expected to be strong players in this race. He has visited each in-state program at least three times. Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee are other schools that appeal to Cunningham early.

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