On3 Elite Series recruiting intel
NASHVILLE – On3 is hosting close to 50 of the top recruits in the 2025 for the Elite Series this week. Many recruits are committed, and while some are locked in, others are still taking visits and exploring their options.
Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal Steve Wiltfong and Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons are on the ground and spoke to each of the recruits that arrived Tuesday. Here is the latest intel:
5-star OT David Sanders
The buzz: The On3 Industry’s No. 1 offensive tackle David Sanders grew up loving Clemson. His favorite atmosphere he’s been apart of belongs to Tennessee. He sees the tradition with Ohio State and Georgia. All of the programs continue to make positive impressions but these are the four that look to be in the best position. The Vols were the program we both chose as our best guess earlier in the week and will continue to ride with that but certainly the Tigers, Buckeyes and Bulldogs could make a move. A decision is expected late summer.
5-star WR Dakorien Moore
The buzz: Texas has emerged as the team to beat, but he has scheduled an official visit to LSU on June 7. It looks like it will be tough for the Tigers to get Dakorien Moore back in this class, but getting him back to Baton Rouge is a start. We feel both Ohio State and Oregon are going to make strong runs at Moore in June when they get him on campus for official visits. He likes both staffs and is genuinely excited about both the Buckeyes and the Ducks. The Longhorns are trending to keep Moore home heading into official visits.
5-star CB DJ Pickett
The buzz: LSU, Miami and Oregon are three battling at the top for DJ Pickett. Miami could be hard to beat if it has a good season in the fall. We both believe that. The buzz has picked up around the Hurricanes, but LSU and Oregon are going to be this until Oct. 5 when he commits. LSU has had a lot of chatter around it since the first visit this year, but Oregon is very strong in this as well. Georgia, Florida and Florida State are still on his radar also.
5-star CB Na’eem Offord
The buzz: Oregon will get an official visit from Na’eem Offord and Auburn is expected to get him back on campus. Alabama could get an official visit as well, but the Ohio State commit still looks to be strong with the Buckeyes. The intel coming out of Tuesday has Ohio State in a stronger position than it may have looked to be going into the day. The visits will take place. Oregon impressed when they had him on campus earlier this month. Alabama and Auburn are in-state schools too.
5-star OT Ty Haywood
The buzz: Ty Haywood grew up an Alabama fan and he will visit Tuscaloosa for the first time this weekend. He has officially visited TCU and the Horned Frogs did a great job. Alabama gets its turn this weekend. The buzz continues to be strong around Oklahoma, with Alabama having a chance to make a move this weekend. Florida State is a contender too and Haywood will be in Tallahassee on June 21. Texas and Texas A&M are on his list and he trips to College Station on June 6. We expect the Aggies to be a contender in this race. Oregon is another school he’d like to officially visit.
5-star QB Julian Lewis
The buzz: Julian Lewis is committed to USC and Auburn has been viewed as the biggest threat to the Trojans, but he downplayed that on Tuesday. He spoke more on Colorado, and the Buffaloes will host him on an official visit o June 21. We still feel Auburn is a strong contender, but you can never sleep on Deion Sanders’ program in Boulder. Indiana is hanging around as well. Lewis continues to say the right things about his commitment to Lincoln Riley.
5-star SAF Jonah Williams
The buzz: Jonah Williams said the three standing out are LSU, Texas A&M and Oregon are standing out with USC, Oklahoma and Texas still under consideration. This will be a 50/50 decision with the baseball element just as important as football. We still like the Aggies going into the official visits.
5-star WR Kaliq Lockett
The buzz: Texas has emerged as the favorite going into the four upcoming official visits. In addition to Steve Sarkisian’s track record – Kaliq Lockett pointed towards Jerry Jeudy, Jayden Waddle and DeVonta Smith – he also loves the culture and where the program is at. LSU was an early favorite and he’s back there this weekend. Texas A&M has been gaining ground under the new staff and Florida State rounds out the final four. He loves the energy around the Seminoles.
5-star WR Jaime Ffrench
The buzz: We placed picks for Texas on the On3 Recruiting Prediction on Tuesday and the Longhorns are the frontrunner for Jaime Ffrench going into official visits. The one-time Alabama commit had Ohio State on top of his list earlier this year and he will be back in Columbus this weekend. LSU is a contender and keep an eye on home-state Miami. Tennessee is not going away either, but Ffrench’s recruitment starts with the Longhorns with a summer decision likely.
5-star ATH Michael Terry
The buzz: Nebraska is recruiting Michael Terry the hardest. Texas A&M may still be the favorite. Those are the two we like the best right now with Oregon and Texas two others he’s high on. Terry was recently in Eugene and the Ducks are a darkhorse.
5-star SAF Trey McNutt
The buzz: Oregon could be an inch ahead but this recruitment is tight with several players. Trey McNutt takes an official to USC this weekend and he’s excited about them. Florida is next weekend and they’re probably in the second-tier as well. Look for Texas A&M and the Ducks to get officials this summer. Ohio State is another top school and Georgia is rising. McNutt won’t decide this summer so the latter two probably get officials in the fall.
5-star EDGE Isaiah Gibson
The buzz: Isaiah Gibson is committed to USC and he showed up to the Elite Series in Trojan gear, but the Big Ten program still has work to do. We both feel USC will have a hard time holding on to Gibson in the end. Georgia is a big threat. The in-state school continues to be high on his list and Tennessee is rising. He takes official visits to both SEC schools in June. Florida, Ohio State and Oklahoma are still on his list too.
5-star CB Dorian Brew
The buzz: We said during the week that we like USC’s position in the best-guess article and we still like the Trojans standing. But their main competition may be Ohio State. Dorian Brew spoke highly of the Buckeyes, their track record and relationship with staff. We were hot on Ohio State early and they have not fallen back in this recruitment. LSU is certainly in the thick of it heading into this weekend’s official and Oregon and Texas round out the top five. Brew has officials scheduled to LSU, Texas and Oregon the next three weekends and is looking to get the Trojans and Buckeyes on the schedule.
5-star CB Dijon Lee
The buzz: Alabama and Georgia have been battling for Dijon Lee going back to early spring visits to Tuscaloosa and Athens. The two SEC powers are still fighting as he approaches official visits and a late June commitment. Texas, Texas A&M and Washington are also in the mix. The buzz has picked up around the Crimson Tide, but it is still a very tight race as we close out the month of May.
4-star ATH Darrell Johnson
The buzz: Alabama commit Darrell Johnson will officially visit UCF this weekend and Auburn on June 14. He is set to return to Tuscaloosa on June 7. Auburn is the school recruiting him hardest at this time. He has visited Orlando close to half a dozen times. Florida State has re-entered this race too, and the Seminoles will likely receive an official visit during the season. Johnson was close on multiple occasions to committing to Florida State before committing to Alabama.
4-star WR Vernell Brown III
The buzz: Florida and Florida State look to be in the best position for Florida legacy Vernell Brown III heading into the official visits. Ohio State will get him on campus this weekend. The Buckeyes have some ground to make up. Miami is hanging around too. The Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes and Buckeyes all will make their final pitch to Brown and his family in the coming weeks. Family is a big part in his decision.
4-star QB Deuce Knight
The buzz: Deuce Knight is committed to Notre Dame, but he remains in contact with Alabama and Ole Miss. Coming out of Tuesday, we lean toward Ole Miss being the biggest threat to the Irish. There is still confidence that he stays in this class, but Knight is keep his options to visit other schools open. He plans to be in South Bend this weekend, then again for his official visit in June.
4-star LB Tavion Wallace
The buzz: Florida State is in the best position heading into official visits Tavion Wallace. Florida is a contender too, and they were the favorite for Wallace growing up, but we like Georgia as the strong competition for the Seminoles. Georgia has turned up their recruitment for Wallace, but Florida State has been setting the pace in this race for around a year. Wallace is set to commit in July.
4-star EDGE Chad Woodfork
The buzz: Chad Woodfork has his eye on LSU, the school he official visits on June 14, but heading into June, the leader is TCU. Texas Texas is the other finalists, but this looks to be coming down to the Tigers and Horned Frogs. Unless LSU moves the needle on the official visit, TCU could be tough to beat.
4-star LB Ty Jackson
The buzz: Nothing has changed since Ty Jackson narrowed his list to 10 schools earlier this spring, but buzz is starting to pick up around a handful of schools. Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Miami are schools we feel have put themselves in a favorable position as Jackson works to make his next cut. He is still planning to take his recruitment into the fall. Jackson has official visits to Florida State, Georgia, Penn State and Tennessee locked in.
4-star WR Travis Smith
The buzz: Alabama and Auburn will receive official visits from Travis Smith, but they have some ground to make up to compete with Georgia and Tennessee. Smith likes the Bulldogs and Vols, and although the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine reads in heavy favor for the Bulldogs, the Vols look to be right there. Official visits will be key for Smith and his family with a July decision approaching.
4-star WR CJ Wiley
The buzz: CJ Wiley is a LSU legacy. The Tigers are a strong player in this race. His father played football and his mother ran track in Baton Rouge. Georgia looks to be LSU’s top competition and both will receive official visits next month. Auburn, Florida State and USC are also on his list. Depending on who you talk to, LSU or Georgia is viewed as the favorite heading into the final month of visits.
4-star SAF JaDon Blair
The buzz: Notre Dame has set the tone going into June official visits, the Irish now have to hold off Penn State and Michigan going into his July 5 decision date. The relationship with Marcus Freeman on down is second to none. JaDon Blair likes the trajectory of the program and and sees a big need in the secondary. All three programs have rich-tradition and pageantry. The next big thing for Blair is getting around the players from each program and seeing how he fits in with those guys.
4-star RB James Simon
The buzz: James Simon commits on Wednesday and Texas goes into the final few hours with the buzz around it. The Longhorns had the Louisiana running back on campus two times this spring and they have grabbed the momentum in this race. LSU was the early favorite and Notre Dame has been a contender in this race as well.
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