College football’s off-field recruiting stars of the 2025 cycle
Having a strong off-field recruiting department in college football has become as important as having terrific play-callers on Saturdays.
Salaries are certainly starting to reflect that. Programs competing for or building towards National Championships are investing more than ever in the right personnel to help organize, host and acquire the next wave of players whether that’s from the trail or transfer portal. Those play-callers can obviously look a lot better with the right Jims and Joes in the huddle.
The long-time unsung heroes of college football recruiting are now being valued financially. Diehard fans are starting to know their favorite team’s staffers by name.
On3 recognizes some of those off-field stars from this 2025 cycle.
Brandon Harris – Texas
In January, Texas general manager Brandon Harris signed a contract extension that also makes him one of the highest paid personnel folks in the industry.
Harris earned it.
The former LSU/North Carolina quarterback was instrumental in Texas signing On3’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class. He sets the tone for the department and has a hand in everything from organizing the board, the structure of visits and recruiting the prospects.
Harris has a ton of support. There aren’t many better off-field recruiters than Chris Gilbert. His reputation across the state is pristine and prospects and their parents love him. He had a hand in helping Texas sign several in this 2025 class.
Director of Recruiting Taylor Searels, Director of Player Personnel John Michael Jones, Director of Recruiting Ops Kyndal Perry, recruiting coordinator Jordan Mitchell and Assistant Director of Player Personnel Jackson Gleeson are some of the best in the industry. It’s truly a super team.
In the end it was a Texas class that secured an early verbal from five-star edge Lance Jackson, a program that always led for five-star receiver Kaliq Lockett, and rallied from behind to sign top-ranked safety Jonah Williams, the No. 2 defensive lineman Justus Terry and five-star cornerback Kade Phillips.
Harris led the charge.
Mark Pantoni – Ohio State
Ohio State General Manager Mark Pantoni is the industry standard, the one many try to emulate.
Pantoni is veteran that is creative, innovative with the full tool bag from being able to evaluate, recruit and oversee NIL. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leans on him for all recruiting strategy. He sets the tone for the entire off-field recruiting department in making sure everyone is on task and doing their role. He has been integral in OSU’s last two National Championships.
The Buckeyes finished with On3’s No. 5 ranked recruiting class and Pantoni is involved with every decision of how the class is constructed.
Like everywhere else it’s a tremendous group effort.
Pantonio leans on Football Recruiting Assistant Parker Wereb. Program assistant Ryan Mayhew is a big relationship guy for Ohio State, texting and communicating with commits and top targets with the ability to speak their language.
The Buckeyes are tough to beat if a prospect takes an official visit and Director of Football Recruiting and Events Morgan Phillips makes sure those go off without a hitch.
Assistant Director of Recruiting Strategy Nick Murphy and Program Assistant Gerren Duhart form meaningful relationships with top targets. They helped close and retain many of the Buckeyes top commits.
David Cooper – Georgia
When recruits get on campus at the University of Georgia, one of the first faces they see is David Cooper.
The Bulldogs Director of Recruiting Relations certainly lives up to his job title. He interacts with nearly every top target, and he’s an important part of every visit. From bringing the energy to the photoshoots to showing prospects and their families around on campus, Cooper makes everyone feel right at home. He’s a regular communicator with top targets and their circle of trust when they’re not in Athens. The former Indiana linebacker and Georgia native is a huge asset for head coach Kirby Smart and his staff.
So is Player Personnel Coordinator James Ellis. “He’s like the Steve Nash,” one of his colleagues told On3. He keeps everything organized behind the scenes from where Smart needs to be to the structure of anything on-campus with recruits.
Georgia’s Player Connection Coordinator David Hill is another that represents his title well. He helped UGA close top targets like blue-chip receiver CJ Wiley and he’s a connector for the program in the Transfer Portal. Hill helps with the running backs as well.
The Georgia class ranked No. 2 nationally headlined by five-stars in No. 1 defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, No. 1 edge Isaiah Gibson, No. 1 linebacker Zayden Walker and No. 4 receiver Talyn Taylor. UGA also signed top-ranked tight end Elyiss Williams.
Courtney Morgan – Alabama
The Crimson Tide have On3’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class headlined by five-star quarterback Keelon Russell, top-ranked interior offensive lineman Michael Carroll and the nation’s No. 4 cornerback Dijon Lee.
In the middle of everything recruiting for the Tide is General Manager Courtney Morgan.
“Courtney is such an important part of our program,” head coach Kalen DeBoer has said in the past. “He has great relationships across the country and is an essential part of helping us recruit and evaluate talent both at the high school level and in the transfer portal. Courtney is an important pillar in what we are trying to accomplish at Alabama.”
Associate Director, Player Personnel’s Eron Hodges, Director of Recruiting Strategy’s Jatavis Sanders, Assistant Director of Player Personnel Tony Jones are three others that are prominent in the Crimson Tide’s efforts to land their top targets.
Associate Director, Recruiting Operations Ashleigh Kimble is the best in the country. Of her many hats, her ability to connect with parents and bridge the current players’ families with recruits families helps DeBoer and his staff close top targets. She was incredibly impactful in the Nick Saban era and nothing has changed in this new regime.
Marshall Malchow – Oregon
An industry veteran that has worked under Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Chris Petersen, Jimbo Fisher and now Dan Lanning, the Ducks Chief of Staff Marshall Malchow in a nutshell puts the ball on the tee and to help the coaches and personnel staff hit home runs on the trail. He organizes and researches everything from evaluations to the interests of top recruits and farms out the information in a way for the staff to mow everything down on the trail.
On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator Lydia Gibbs “is the heartbeat behind Oregon recruiting” a colleague said. Gibbs talks to every parent throughout the process.
Director of Player Personnel Tyler Dean helps organize the board, is key in setting up the structure of visits and is the air traffic controller when coaches are on the road.
Defensive Analyst Connor Boyd was Oregon’s lead recruiter for five-star Na’eem Offord who was perhaps the biggest flip at the end of the cycle choosing the Ducks over Ohio State and Auburn. Graduate assistant Rashad Wadood helped with five-star safety Trey McNutt and defensive back Dorian Brew. Assistant Director of Player Personnel Coby Sayyah was in the middle of receiver and offensive line recruiting. That haul included the nation’s No. 1 receiver Dakorien Moore. The Ducks don’t land four-star linebacker Gavin Nix and offensive lineman Douglas Utu without Zac Diles.
Sean Magee – Michigan
Michigan General Manager Sean Magee returned to the program in March to help with the program’s strategy and vision within the new environment and ever-changing landscape of college football. He was there at the end having impactful conversations with top-ranked recruit and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood along with other jewels of the class in five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, On300 defensive lineman Nate Marshall and defensive backs Shamari Earls and Jordan Young who each flipped from Auburn, Georgia and Clemson respectively. Magee is on the road recruiting for the Maize and Blue and it’s paying off in a big way.
A colleague calls Director of Player Personnel Albert Karschnia “incredible” in terms of the behind the scenes work and organization of the staff. Director of Recruiting Sam Popper is involved in every one of the relationship building efforts for the prospects the Wolverines are targeting. Director of on-campus recruiting Kayli Johnson is a big part of the atmosphere head coach Sherrone Moore is trying to create.
Kenyatta Watson – Auburn
Auburn signs a second-straight Top10 recruiting class and an off-field staffer Hugh Freeze leans on is Director of Recruiting Research and Strategy Kenyatta Watson.
Watson was part of just about every blue-chip battle the Tigers were in the middle of and he was the lead recruiter for five-star quarterback Deuce Knight.
“He’s just a genuine person,” Knight’s father Justin said. “If he says it, he makes it happen. He keeps his word.”
Auburn finished with On3’s No. 7 ranked class. General manager Will Redmond oversees the operation. AK Mogulla has a keen eye for talent and Grant Miller and Aaron Pittard like Watson keep interactions going with top targets.
Austin Thomas – LSU
The Tigers Senior Associate AD Austin Thomas returned to the program in January after time spent at Ole Miss and helped get LSU organized in a lot of arenas including the NIL space. That infrastructure saw the Tigers sign On3’s No. 8 ranked recruiting class headlined by five-stars in cornerback DJ Pickett and running back Harlem Berry along with coveted offensive linemen Carius Curne and Solomon Thomas.
From personnel to recruiting, Director of Player Personnel Preston Tiffany is involved and he’s having a tremendous impact in Baton Rouge.
LSU has an army of off-field recruiters including JR Belton, Jordan Arcement, Bobby Barham and Patrick Kelly that build relationships and help court top targets.
Kianna Jasper – Texas A&M
Director of On Campus Recruiting for Texas A&M Kianna Jasper is a young star in the space. When recruits and families are on campus she makes everyone feel at home, from highlighting the program’s strengths to bonding while playing cards. If you’re visiting the Aggies campus, it’s Jasper texting you with what you need to know prior to arrival. She’s in the group chats with top prospects and is critical in the relationship portion of the process.
General Manager Derek Miller keeps everything organized behind the scenes and particularly shines on the scouting side. Director of Player Personnel Allen Gaudet and Assistant Director of Player Personnel Shaun Cook help with the film. Not many more hard-working off-field recruiters than Bryant Gross-Armiento and it’s Matt Salvaggio that does a good job maintaining those relationships with the commits.
The Aggies signed On3’s No. 6 ranked class.
Levorn Harbin – Tennessee
The Vols have as big an ace off-field recruiter as there in the country in LeVorn Harbin who is affectionally called ‘Coach Chop’ by blue-chippers across the land.
A Senior Defensive Analyst, Harbin helped recruit just about the entire defense including five-star defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell who at one point was committed to Clemson, pulling defensive linemen Mariyon Dye out of Indiana and beating Georgia and then holding on to linebacker Christian Gass out of the Peach State.
Harbin wasn’t alone in helping rock and roll on this defensive class as Senior Defensive Analyst Danny O’Rouke also works the lines of communication.
Tennessee’s Director of Recruiting Operations Janae Simmonds is front and center with so many missions, from planning visits, travel logistics, relationship building, admission processes and on-boarding players.
The Director of Personnel Jake Breske makes sure all operations run smoothy from scouting, recruiting to on-campus.
Bri Wade – Florida
Florida’s Director of Football Recruiting & External Engagement is an “elite event planner” a high-ranking source with the Gators told On3. The terrific experiences top prospects have around The Swamp are the result of her hard work and organization.
After a great cycle, head coach Billy Napier is moving Wade over to the collective side to help players with endorsements and marketing.
“Obviously one of a kind,” the father of class jewel Vernell Brown II said when describing Wade. “She’s someone who can relate to the majority of kids and families that come on campus because she looks like them and she does a great job selling the University of Florida and what it has to offer to those families.”
Florida’s General Manager Jacob LaFrance has built the infrastructure for the entire evaluation process from top to bottom. A proven talent evaluator that also helps close these recruitments down the stretch. Assistant AD of Recruiting Strategy Katie Turner is as respected as any in the industry.
Around The Top 25
Notre Dame signed the nation’s No. 12 ranked class and former General Manager Chad Bowden was a top relationship guy for the Irish. He has moved on to USC. Caleb Davis and Carter Auman are pivotal in ND’s efforts as well.
Miami has a huge off-field recruiting team with Executive Director of Football Dennis Smith leading it, Director of Player Personnel Mike Rumph giving the tours while talking about his alma mater and Executive Director/Football Recruiting Stephen Field among others helping sign top prospects. The Hurricanes finished No. 13 in the On3 Standings.
Penn State General Manager Andy Frank, Director of Player Personnel Kenny Sanders and Recruiting Coordinator Alan Zemaitis are as good a team as you’ll find. Rashad Elby has been key in NIL discussions.
USC’s Director of Player Personnel Weston Zernechel maintains relationships with the majority of the program’s top targets and he also helps in the identification of prospects. He’s a favorite personality among blue-chippers. General manager Dave Emerick talks to recruits, parents and agents daily.
Offensive GA Clayton Woods helped Oklahoma sign one of the top offensive line classes in the country. Defensive Analyst Trent Simpson impresses as a thorough evaluator.
There is not many better on-campus than South Carolina’s Jessica Jackson. Visits to Columbia garner some of the best reaction from blue-chip prospects and Jackson runs the operation for the Gamecocks. From compliance to game-day operations she’s on it. Jordan Dove and Sam Serbay are in the middle of it for top defensive and offensive line recruits respectively.
Missouri signed the nation’s No. 18 ranked recruiting class. Director of Recruiting Communications and Strategy Maurey Bland is a terrific ambassador for the program. He recruits every player Mizzou signs alongside the position coaches. Prospects that come on campus love spending time with Assistant Director of Player and Recruiting Relations Evan Boehm. On-Campus Director of Recruiting Operations Olivia Ohlsen keeps all the trips organized.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin brought in Billy Glasscock as his (NFL style) General Manager to oversee everything in the program from recruiting, scouting, NIL and coaching staff. He’s an industry veteran that shined at Minnesota and Texas prior. Director of Player Personnel Alex Brown wears a lot of hats as well. Mike Williams runs the scouting department and has 15-years of NFL experience. Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy Kelvin Bolden is one of the SEC’s best relationship guys. The Rebels signed On3’s No. 19 class.
Director of Player Personnel Keith Williams is an ace for the Huskers in courting their targets to Lincoln. Senior Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting Vince Guinta makes sure everything is organized.
Key staffers that helped Mississippi State sign the nation’s No. 22 class include Senior Director of Football Recruiting Lee Wilbanks and Director of Football Recruiting Engagement Rod Gibson. “The one that makes us go” is Senior Director/Recruiting Strategy Andrea Hollis. “She runs the show on visits, setting up things and getting them into school.”
Georgia Tech finished with On3’s No. 24 recruiting class. Cody Collins (offense) and Roman Goode (defense) lead the scouting efforts. Recruiting coordinator Td Bahhur was always on the phone into the late hours talking to recruits and their families. DeAndre Smelter being a former player is someone that helps top prospects visualize a future as a Yellow Jacket.
Florida State General Manager Darrick Yray, High School Relations Gerard Ross and Director of Recruiting Strategy DJ Daniels helped the Seminoles hold together the country’s
It was a Top 25 recruiting class for Washington with Director of Player Personnel Matt Doherty at the controls.
The post College football’s off-field recruiting stars of the 2025 cycle appeared first on On3.
