Simmons Scoop: Summer buzz as recruiting heats up

The June visits are behind us. Decisions are now being made every day. Summer is heating up, and so is recruiting as many of the top recruits in the country are closing in on commitments.

Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons unloads the latest intel on many of the top prospects inside the Top 100 of the On3 Industry Ranking as recruiting across the nation heats up.

Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith went into June committed to Ohio State and he is expected to remain a Buckeye commit as we roll into July. He did take official visits to Florida, Florida State and Miami in June and remains in contact with other staffs, but Smith will be very tough to flip from Brian Hartline and Ohio State.

What a June it has been for Five-star Plus+ defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri. He kicked off the month with an official visit to Georgia on the weekend of June 2, then ended it with an unofficial visit back to Athens. The Bulldogs are trending, and that is one of the biggest surprises of June. Oklahoma looks to be Georgia’s biggest competition. Tennessee has not given up either. The defender out of Kansas City has an official visit scheduled to Oregon for September, but I am hearing he will be committed before then.

Colin Simmons stays in the headlines. He is a big name, he is the top prospect in Texas and he has stayed on the road the last couple of months. His final visit in June was an official visit to Texas, and the Longhorns sit in a great spot. The conference, the location, the comfort for him and his family and opportunities on and off the field in Austin make the in-state program very appealing. LSU and Texas A&M remain schools to watch, but heading into July, Texas is setting the pace.

Visits look to be done for KJ Bolden, at least before he makes his decision. A July commitment is expected from the No. 1 safety in the country. Alabama got the final visit. Ohio State was the weekend before that. He tripped to Clemson, Florida State and Georgia in June as well. This continues to look like a showdown between the Bulldogs and the Buckeyes. I have had Georgia, the in-state school, on top for a few months, and I still like where Kirby Smart‘s program sits, but Ohio State is deep in this as well according to a source.

Micah Hudson had an official visit to Texas scheduled for last weekend. He did not take it. Texas Tech had Hudson on campus the weekend before, and the Red Raiders are trending for the elite playmaker. Texas Tech has been a serious contender for months. Most assumed the Longhorns would still land Hudson, but his connection with Justin Johnson, the Texas Tech offense and the road to being WR1 in Lubbock have his attention. Some thought he would be publicly committed by now, but he is now. A lot of eyes are on Hudson.

Dylan Stewart has gone back and forth on when he would like to commit. As of now, the five-star EDGE is looking to make a summer decision. He released a top five last week, but I continue to hear buzz around three schools. Those are Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina. My prediction is on the Buckeyes, and I have had it there since early spring, and there is still a level of confidence from the Big Ten program. South Carolina’s confidence is growing too, after a successful official visit last weekend. Georgia is a school you cannot sleep on. There is consistent communication there too. I hear a little more about the Buckeyes and the Gamecocks. There is still some work to be done here I and told as Stewart has not made his decision yet.

Michigan had Justin Scott on campus last weekend. The Wolverines are still working to be a player for Scott. The Chicago native almost committed to Notre Dame early in the year. After taking a multi-day visit to Miami in the spring, things quickly shifted toward the Hurricanes. Georgia has been mentioned. Last fall, Ohio State was a favorite. Both received official visits in June, but Mario Cristobal‘s program is in a great position for the five-star defensive lineman.

Cam Coleman is not expected to make a summer decision, but the five-star wide receiver in Alabama has taken some meaningful visits in June. The constant that comes up around Coleman’s name is Auburn. It is an in-state school, he is close with Marcus Davis and the Tigers are still a school high on his list. I would continue to label the Tigers as the favorite to land Coleman. Keep an eye on Florida State as well. The five-star wide reciever took an official visit to Auburn and an unofficial visit to Florida State in the same week and both have his attention. Clemson and LSU are also working to stay in the mix.

This one has been all over the place. David Stone has visited many schools, and at different times, there has been buzz around multiple schools. Oklahoma looked to be a lock to land Stone very early in this process. Michigan State, who received an official visit last weekend, came in strong early in 2023. Miami then became a hot school in the spring. Florida is another one that has tried to jump into this race. I go back to his home state, Oklahoma. His relationship with Todd Bates and others in Norman is strong. He is very familiar with the program. This one could still go a few different ways and there is no set timeline for a decision yet, so there are still a lot of eyes on the five-star defensive lineman at IMG Academy.

A decision is likely for Mike Matthews this summer. July is when the elite playmaker in Georgia could make his decision. The five-star wide receiver had a busy month of June with official visits to Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee. The Vols have been, and are, viewed as the frontrunner to land Matthews. He likes the offense, he has a good connection with Kelsey Pope and he sees a great opportunity in Knoxville. Some feel this one is done. I am not there yet, but Tennessee is in the best position.

It looks to be a two-team race for the five-star linebacker Justin Williams. He visited Georgia a couple of times in a short span and the Bulldogs have become a factor in this race. Georgia’s linebacker production has his attention. They are up against Oregon, a school that has been viewed as the favorite for many months. I still lean toward Oregon slightly, but this has gotten much tighter than expected as we entered June. Williams is expected to leave Texas to play on the next level.

Terry Bussey was at Texas this past weekend and the Longhorns remain in the race. The school with the most buzz around it has been Texas A&M. The Aggies continue to be a major player in this race and the people I talk to feel the Aggies are still the team to beat. Texas had him on campus over the weekend and the Longhorns are in play. Oklahoma is another school that stays in the conversation. The five-star athlete is not expected to make a decision before his senior season.

Aug. 22 is the date for five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston. He will commit on his birthday. There is a chance he takes and unofficial visit or two late in July when things open up again, but nothing is set. Ohio State continues to be the school to beat based on what I am hearing. Larry Johnson has made a big impact here. USC is another one that has emerged as a strong contender since the official visit in May. Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are the other three schools in the mix. None have been eliminated.

Brandon Baker has gone back and forth about committing before the season or later in the process, and after his visits in June, he is expected to make that call in the coming weeks. Oregon did not receive an official visit in June, but I still like where the Ducks sit. A’Lique Terry has come in and done a good job after Adrian Klemm left for the NFL. Ohio State and Texas are the other two to watch. I hear more about the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes are in this too.

Texas is trending for Kobe Black. He is very familiar with Austin, and he and his family were back last weekend for the official visit. It is floating around that he is considering making a decision before his senior season. If he does that, the Longhorns are in a great spot. He has an official visit scheduled with Alabama for October, but will he take his recruitment that far? Texas A&M is another in-state school he has talked about taking an official to in the fall.

Charles Lester III is set to announce his commitment on July 29. The five-star cornerback has schools like Alabama, Colorado and Georgia still on his list next to Florida State, but this has been trending toward the Seminoles for months. Lester grew up a fan of Florida State, he has visited Tallahassee over a dozen times and Mike Norvell has led the way in his recruitment. Pat Surtain has come in and done a nice job as well after taking over for Marcus Woodson.

Four-star EDGE Jordan Ross may or may not make a decision this summer. If he does, he may not make it public for some time. There is still some level of confidence in the Florida, Georgia and Tennessee camp. I continue to hear a little more about the Gators and the Vols than I do the Bulldogs, but all three are in this.

Ryan Wingo is in no rush to make a decision. The four-star wide receiver plans to take his recruitment into December. Official visits to Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Missouri were taken in June. Wingo will take advantage of the new rule where prospects can take more than five official visits. Tennessee will definitely get one. Others, like Colorado and Texas A&M have been discussed as well. This one could still go a few different ways, but the school with the most consistent buzz around it has been Tennessee.

Elijah Rushing has locked in a commitment date for July 6. According to a source, Rushing had a good visit to Tennessee over the weekend, but the Vols still appear to be behind in this race. Notre Dame was trending early, and the Irish remain in the top two, but Oregon grabbed the momentum in the spring and carried it into the summer. With a decision approaching, the Ducks look to be in the best position. The four-star EDGE in Arizona has tripped to Eugene numerous times and Dan Lanning has made him a personal target from the beginning.

Aydin Breland is leaning toward not committing before his senior year, but that could change. He is fresh off an official visit to Oregon and the Ducks are, and have been, in a good spot with the California four-star defensive lineman. Georgia is a school that has quietly snuck into this race after a strong official visit earlier this month. USC is not out of this either. Miami is a school that can’t be ruled out either.

Elite linebacker Demarcus Riddick entered June as a Georgia commit and he is still that, but Georgia holding on to the elite linebacker is not going to be easy. I still hear more about Alabama as the biggest threat, but Auburn is going on all in on the in-state defender as well. There is still communication with Georgia, but I continue to lean that Riddick ends up staying home in Alabama with the Crimson Tide or Tigers.

This one has shifted a couple of times in June. From USC after the official visit to L.A to Oklahoma once he returned from Norman. Taylor Tatum, a four-star running back in Texas, is a top target for both the Sooners and the Trojans. He is looking to play both football and baseball on the next level and that will factor into his decision. Oklahoma has been the hot name since the official visit. USC still feels they have a chance too. Xavier Robinson committed to Oklahoma on Tuesday. The Sooners are trending for running back Caden Durham as well, but he isn’t expected to make a decision soon. Then there is Tatum, another one Oklahoma looks pretty good for today as he eyes two sports in college. Keep an eye on USC though.

Kamarion Franklin could decide at any time. A July decision is a real possibility and Ole Miss is doing all it can to stay in the race for the in-state defensive lineman. You can’t rule the Rebels out, but all a source close to this point to this being a Miami vs. Tennessee battle. The four-star defensive lineman has taken visits to both programs this month (two to Miami) and both appeal to him. Some have felt Tennessee has been the favorite for some time, but Miami, after getting him back on campus recently, has made this very tight at the top. An official visit to Auburn is set for late September, but Franklin may be committed well before then.

Oregon received an official visit from Aaron Scott, but this is Michigan vs. Ohio State. He has been on each campus the last two weekends and there is confidence in Ann Arbor that they can pull him out of Ohio. Then there is confidence in Columbus that they will keep Scott home. Both Steve Clinkscale and Tim Walton have had big wins on the recruiting trail this cycle and they are going head-to-head for Scott. The four-star cornerback is still working to figure out if he will commit early or late in July.

Four-star defensive lineman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye has made no secret about his feelings for Georgia. After an unofficial visit to Athens in May, he was back for an office visit this past weekend. The Bulldogs are in a prime position to land the four-star defensive lineman out of Texas. Oklahoma is viewed as Georgia’s biggest competition, but the back-to-back national champions will be tough to beat.

Four-star offensive tackle Guerby Lambert was at Harvard for an official visit last weekend. That tells you all you need to know about this young man. He is an academic-first student-athlete out of Boston. The offensive tackle is quiet about his recruitment, but the talk has been about Notre Dame as the favorite, with Ohio State next in line. A decision will be made before his senior season, but it could happen in July or August. He is taking online classes now to be an early enrollee and Lambert is closing in on a decision.

Matt Rhule and the staff in Lincoln looks to be in line for big news on Wednesday from four-star in-state tight end Carter Nelson. This one almost ended when Nelson took his official visit to Georgia. Numerous sources felt he was very close to committing to the Bulldogs. Nebraska held him off, got him back on campus and the Cornhuskers may close the deal soon.

Nathaniel Frazier is fresh off an official visit to Alabama. The Crimson Tide has been in this as a contender for some time. Another SEC school, Georgia, has had some momentum though, since his visit to Athens earlier this month. The four-star running back has visited Georgia a couple of times in recent months and he is keeping his official visit for the season. Oregon and Texas A&M are two more schools in the mix, but Georgia still looks to be the team to beat. A decision could come this summer, but that is still to be determined.

Zabien Brown had a final four of Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. It looks to be down to the Crimson Tide and the Trojans. The local program, USC, has been on fire in recent weeks, and they would love to keep him home. There has been some chatter behind the scenes that Alabama was the favorite of Brown’s. A decision is expected in July, but is likely still a few weeks away based on what I am hearing. Alabama and USC are both in this for the four-star cornerback with a decision looming.

Visits are done for four-star defensive lineman Benedict Umeh and a decision is coming on July 8. There was talk about Penn State earlier this month being the team to beat. Wisconsin made a strong impression too. But the buzz coming out of the weekend is around Stanford. The Cardinal program has been hot pulling in national commitments in recent weeks and my prediction on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine is on the Pac 12 program in Palo Alto.

Ole Miss had the buzz last month with their approach of recruiting four-star tight end Caleb Odom to play wide receiver. Since the official visit to Alabama, the Crimson Tide has become the team to beat. I have heard nothing to that would change that on my side. Odom was back at Miami last weekend and the Hurricanes are the one to watch. Florida and Texas A&M are two more schools he remains in contact with. A decision date has not been set.

Marquise Lightfoot may or may not make a decision in July. Based on what I am hearing, the four-star EDGE is leaning toward making that decision sooner rather than later. If he does commit, who will it be to? Since the official visit to Ohio State, the Buckeyes have set the pace. Their production at his position really stands out to him. Miami got the last official visit. Playing for Jason Taylor really intrigues Lightfoot as well. Then there is USC. The Trojans are very much in this also. Winning and player development are very important to the Chicago native, so the Buckeyes could be tough to beat.

Four-star safety Zaquan Patterson was at Michigan over the weekend and the buzz around the Wolverines is big. He likes the fit, he likes the staff and playing in Ann Arbor is a real possibility. Jim Harbaugh is up against a couple of in-state schools, mainly Miami. Cristobal wants to keep Patterson home. Patterson’s feelings have been hot and cold there. Auburn and Florida State are two more schools to watch. A trip to the Plains or back to Michigan in July is being discussed. Patterson is not thinking of a commitment right now.

Could Jonathan Daniels be closing in on a decision? The chatter is picking up that, that could be in the works, but nothing has been finalized. He had very good official visits to Kentucky, Georgia and Miami over the last three weekends. There is talk that Daniels first will release an official group of finalists, then work toward a decision. Florida State is the school closest to home, the school he has visited the most, the school he has the best relationships with and still considered the frontrunner for the four-star offensive tackle.

Four-star cornerback Jamari Howard was committed to Michigan State at one time before reopening his recruitment. The Spartans looked to be out of the mix, but he was back in East Lansing for an official visit last weekend. Mel Tucker‘s program is back in this. It will not be easy to pull Howard out of Florida though. Florida and Florida State have been two talked about a lot. Miami is in this too, but two different sources say UCF is legitimately in this as well. Howard is likely to take his recruitment into the season.

Peyton Woodyard is committed to Georgia, and like numerous commitments, he has taken visits this summer. He is still considered a strong Georgia commit, but the four-star safety is at least listening to other schools. Alabama, Ohio State and USC all have his attention. It looks like Woodyard was just taking visits to take visits at first, and it still may end up being that, but communication with other schools outside of Georgia has picked up this month.

LJ McCray took official visits to Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Miami in June. He has an official visit scheduled with Florida State in October, so a summer decision is not expected. Each school impressed this month, but Florida and Georgia are the two I hear the most about. No school has been eliminated, but one source feels the Gators may have a slight edge for the four-star defensive lineman after the June visits.

Four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is done with visits and a July decision is expected for the California linebacker. USC is the safe choice. It is in his backyard and the Trojans have a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail right now. As he has progressed through his official visits in June, each school has had some buzz around it. Ohio State received the last official visit and the Buckeyes have a legit shot. Notre Dame has always been in this with their combination of academics and football. One source close to Viliamu-Asa feels it is Ohio State or USC, but that Notre Dame still has a chance as well. It is likely safe to say that a final decision still has to be made.

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