Intel and predictions regarding five-star prospects and blue-chip recruits heading into the fall
The summer is winding down and Ohio State looks like they’re going to head into the season with the On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class.
That is unless the nation’s No. 2 running back Akylin Dear commits to Alabama. The Crimson Tide remain the heavy favorite for the Quitman (Miss.) High blue-chipper, and a pledge from Dear would catapult them back atop the standings. A source says something could come in August but it’s more likely in September.
With that, as we finally near time for toe to meet leather to start the upcoming 2024 college football season, here is the latest on where things stand with some of the nation’s most notable prospects still working through what they aim to be their final college decisions.
Commitment time for the nation’s No. 1 OT David Sanders Jr.
Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School five-star plus David Sanders Jr. will declare his college plans on Saturday at 12:30 pm (ET) during a ceremony at his school.
Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee are the four announced finalists. The Vols are the On3 RPM favorite including my prediction.
The Buckeyes have been the biggest challenger for Sanders, and at times perhaps gave the On3 Industry’s No. 4 ranked prospect plenty to think about, but the buzz is around the Checkered Orange.
We believe Sanders has his mind made up but the family continues to keep in contact with a few schools.
Tennessee got five visits this calendar year. Sanders has been tripping to campus since the eighth grade. The reigning North Carolina Gatorade State Player of the Year loves Head Coach Josh Heupel, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and the staff. He’s clicked with the players and current recruits including ballyhooed quarterback George MacIntyre.
Ohio State put everything into this recruitment on and off the field. Nebraska made a late charge with two summer visits. But the pulse is with Tennessee.
The Vols currently sit on On3’s No. 9 ranked recruiting class. Pairing Sanders with current interior offensive line commit Douglas Utu (No. 4 IOL) would give the program one of the top duos at the point of attack in the 2025 cycle.
Auburn working for a couple big flips
I still like my On3 RPM in favor of Auburn to flip Lucedale (Miss.) George County quarterback Deuce Knight from Notre Dame. Ole Miss is also in the equation but the intel favors the Tigers. Knight ranks as the country’s No. 7 quarterback and No. 33 prospect overall. Perhaps we see something right as the season is starting up but Knight continues to work through his process.
Hugh Freeze and the Tigers will continue to chip away at Birmingham (Ala.) Parker On300 cornerback Na’eem Offord as well. The long-time Ohio State commit took a couple visits to The Plains this summer including his official visit and then returning for Big Cat Weekend. That will be a slower play but one that could pay off big. Offord is the No. 9 overall prospect in the class.
Auburn’s class currently ranks No. 6.
Latest regarding Jonah Williams
My On3 RPM is on Texas A&M and the Aggies remain in communication with the nation’s No. 1 safety Jonah Williams, but LSU, Texas and USC appear to be in better standing ahead of his Aug. 24 commitment date.
Maybe the intel favors the Longhorns but I’m not discounting LSU and feel he really likes the new defensive staff at USC as well.
Williams is the No. 10 overall prospect in the country. Oregon rounds out the finalists and they are actually the On3 RPM favorite.
Williams father Billy told On3 all five are still in play on Wednesday night.
Less than a week until 5-star Michael Fasusi comes off the board
The buzz is starting to favor Oklahoma for the On3 Industry’s No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 12 prospect overall in Michael Fasusi. Texas A&M is working to change that narrative. They’re having regular dialogue with Fasusi.
Texas rounds out what I view to be the top three.
Alabama has a commitment from On3’s No. 2 and No. 8 offensive tackles in Ty Haywood and Jackson Lloyd. If the Sooners can grab Fasusi they’d pair him with the nation’s No. 9 offensive tackle Ryan Fodje.
Babalola still trying to decide soon
Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest five-star and the nation’s No. 4 offensive tackle Andrew Babalola continues to keep in communication with all five finalists in Auburn, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma and Stanford.
A couple sources still tell On3 they think it comes down to the Cardinal and Wolverines.
However there are others saying Auburn is right there. Babalola has given Oklahoma reason to believe they’re in it. A class of Fasusi, Babalola and Fodje headlining it could unseat Alabama as the nation’s top offensive line haul.
Perhaps he Babalola finally gets it down to one this weekend or early next week.
Texas trending for two
I like where Texas stands with Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin receiver Jaime Ffrench and my On3 RPM reflects that for the five-star prospect. Miami, LSU and Tennessee are the other finalists.
The Longhorns are also the favorite to land the nation’s No. 1 athlete Michael Terry III. Oregon and Nebraska continue to battle to change that.
Can USC hold on to QB Julian Lewis
The belief around the USC program is they can.
Carrollton (Ga.) High five-star quarterback Julian Lewis has been a verbal to the Trojans since August 2023. He has kept several programs warm during that time but I believe all the reasons he committed to Lincoln Riley nearly a year ago are still meaningful. The Heisman Trophies, the No. 1 draft picks, the offense, Riley being the head coach, the OC and the quarterbacks coach. Lewis was always Riley’s top target, first in the 2026 cycle and then again when he reclassified to 2025 the same held true. Other touted passers tried to plan a visit and Riley respectfully declined being all in on Lewis.
The Trojans and Lewis camp continue to have dialogue about how to finalizing things. In the meantime USC has started having conversations with local blue-chip passer Husan Longstreet (who will be a tough flip from Texas A&M). After not signing a quarterback in 2024, it’s pivotal for the Trojans to get one this cycle and the reigning Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year Lewis has always been the one they wanted. If Riley has to go back into the quarterback market I figure he wouldn’t have to look too long and hard for another good one.
Beyond USC, Lewis took summer official visits to Auburn, Colorado and Indiana. As it stands right now it looks like the Tigers could fill their quarterback need with Deuce Knight. That leaves the Hoosiers and the Buffaloes.
Around Bloomington there is reason to be optimistic in this recruitment. Lewis’s relationship with IU’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri dates back to when he was eight-years old. Lewis worked with him that day at Florida State’s camp and the connection has remained. Lewis is excited what new head coach Curt Cignetti has done in his past and after two visits could perhaps take a third if things go into the fall. He’s talked about the Maryland game in the past. I think folks around IU believe they’re right in the thick of it.
Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes have poured a lot of time in Lewis’s recruitment as well. They point to the success Shedeur Sanders is having on and off the field as his potential in Boulder. Lewis has been on campus three times this year including a spring practice where he felt they looked explosive. The opportunity to start right away is exciting.
Quick Hitters
The nation’s No. 11 cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. will commit on Friday and I like the way it’s trending for Florida over Miami and Louisville.
Ole Miss is the On3 RPM favorite for On300 running back Shekai Mills-Knight but Auburn is trying to chip away at that ahead of his saturday announcement.
I’m still riding with On3 RPM predictions in favor of Michigan for On300 receiver Andrew Marsh and Ohio State for receiver Phillip Bell III.
The buzz continues to pick up for Iowa regarding five-star defensive line prospect Iose Epenesa. Utah, Miami and Penn State are his other finalists. He is trying to wrap up his recruitment soon.
IMG Academy On300 linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng doesn’t look to be in any rush to decide. Notre Dame and Michigan look like the top two.
Joined colleague Chad Simmons in logging a new On3 RPM in favor of Texas for Loganville (Ga.) Grayson On300 offensive tackle Nick Brooks. He will announce his decision on Aug. 23. USC is working to change that pulse.
Starting to like my Ohio State On3 RPM in favor of four-star offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden again.
Georgia heads into the season the On3 RPM favorite for the nation’s top two defensive line prospects in in-state five-stars Elijah Griffin and Justus Terry. I look for Griffin to take his official during the season for a game. UGA looks hard to beat there but Miami and USC will continue to battle. Terry has already proven he could commit elsewhere giving the Trojans a verbal at one point, but right now I like the Bulldogs. Kirby Smart and his staff have On3’s No. 4 ranked class.
As soon as On300 defensive lineman Christian Garrett decommitted from Georgia I logged an On3 RPM in favor of Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are up to No. 22 in the On3 Recruiting Standings and Garrett would be another massive pickup. This would be the program’s first Top 25 class in the On3 era that dates back to the 2017 cycle.
Heading into the season Utah and Texas A&M are two programs prominent in the recruitment of electric receiver Jerome Myles but Georgia, Ohio State, LSU and Michigan are a few others starting to circle.
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