Overtime’s OT7 Finals: Latest recruiting buzz and intel from Day 1
LOS ANGELES — There was no shortage of talent on display during Day 1 of the Overtime OT7 Finals on Thursday in Los Angeles. Multiple five-star prospects in the 2024 and 2025 classes were on hand, along with some of the most coveted blue-chippers in the country as they took the field in 7-on-7 action.
On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons and national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman have compiled the latest intel on some of the nation’s best committed and uncommitted prospects.
OT7 Finals Day 1 Live Updates | Top Recruits to Watch in the OT7 Finals
Texas is still the favorite for four-star running back Jerrick Gibson, but Miami has made this one much more interesting. The Hurricanes have had Gibson on campus three times and they did a great job on the official visit last weekend. Next weekend at Texas will be big. Gibson has not ruled out Florida or Georgia, but the race between the Longhorns and the Hurricanes have gotten a lot tighter.
Flipping Five-Star Plus+ wideout Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State is difficult, but he is not shutting his recruitment down just yet. After taking official visits to Florida and Georgia, he tripped to Ohio State last weekend. Florida looks to be a bigger threat than Georgia, but is there really a threat? He will visit Florida State (June 20-21), Miami (June 22) and Penn State (June 23-25). Ohio State is still in a very good position to hang on to the elite wide receiver.
Michigan has been the school trending for some time with four-star wideout I’Marion Stewart. He is set to announce his commitment on Friday night. Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Michigan are Stewart’s finalists heading into his decision. The Wolverines have been very consistent with the star in Chicago. I think Jim Harbaugh’s program will be tough to beat.
Official visits to LSU and Ohio State are in the books for four-star wide reciever Jeremiah McClellan. He was planning to take an official visit to Tennessee this month too, but that is now off. The Vols are out of this race. Oregon is up next weekend and then a decision is likely in July or August. I like Ohio State’s position at this stage. Oregon has done an excellent job recruiting McClellan, but distance is a factor. Missouri is hanging around too, but likely a distant fourth.
Texas-based four-star running back Derrick McFall is coming off an official visit to Louisville, but he admits he’s likely to stay in the state of Texas. He will take an OV to Texas A&M next weekend, and Jimbo Fisher has told him he has the chance to be an early contributor. Don’t be surprised if he decides to commit soon after his visit there. TCU and Texas are also hanging around and are in contact.
Four-star cornerback Demello Jones is taking his visits, but he is going to be tough to flip from Georgia. Relationships are key and he feels best about those with the coaches in Athens. Miami is a new school that Jones is now considering for an official visit. Alabama and Tennessee are still considered the biggest threats to the Bulldogs.
UCLA continues to have the most buzz around it for SoCal-based Kwazi Gilmer. His mother went there, UCLA is in his own backyard and the staff, especially Jerry Neuheisel has done an excellent job. Michigan State made its case. Distance is a factor. Washington is a school still working to make a move. The Bruins still look like they will be tough to beat.
The race for coveted tight end Kylan Fox has gotten a little more interesting than expected. Florida State is still considered the favorite to land Fox according to sources, but UCF has really become a factor. He knows guys there, he sees the chance to play and the Knights have to be considered a player in this race. Florida State gets the last official visit though, and Mike Norvell and his staff hope to close the deal on that visit.
Four-star receiver Mario Craver is coming off an official visit to Georgia Tech and the Yellow Jackets have become a factor, but Auburn, an in-state school is still trending. He was back on the Plains last week for an unofficial visit and he is thinking about returning next before the dead period kicks in. A decision is likely this summer and Auburn, Florida and Georgia Tech are the three to watch. Auburn is setting the pace with the Gators not too far behind.
Five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV remains strong to the Bulldogs. Robinson did just take an official visit to Miami, but Georgia remains in a good position. His connection with Fran Brown, the staff in Athens, Georgia’s player development and the commitments in this class make Robinson a very tough flip. Alabama is still communicating with him as well and there is a chance he takes an official visit to Tuscaloosa later this month.
Four-star tight end KJ Duff is down to Rutgers and North Carolina. Rutgers has been in this race longer, he is very familiar with the staff there and I like the Scarlet Knights’ position. His most visit recent was to Chapel Hill, and they are still in it, but likely trialing Rutgers late.
Keep an eye on SMU early with 2025 quarterback Madden Iamaleava. He was out in Texas last week and the Mustangs impressed. Miami is another school that offered recently and the Hurricanes have his attention. He wants to check out Coral Gables soon. Auburn and Washington are two more schools on his list.
Alabama had elite 2025 tight end Davon Mitchell on campus for three days last weekend. He still has family in Alabama as well. The Crimson Tide did make a move with Mitchell, but was it big enough? Oklahoma still looks to be the team to beat. The margin may not be as big as it once was, but the Sooners will get Mitchell back on campus this weekend to try and build that back.
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