Wiltfong Whiparound: Intel on predictions, big visit weekends and five-star recruits
The On3 Recruit Prediction Machine was churning on Sunday into Monday morning, following big recruiting weekends across the country.
In the latest Whiparound article, we get you up to speed on these forecasts as top programs are closing in on commitments from coveted targets.
We also get into the five-star buzz later in the article.
Good news expected soon for Michigan
Palatine (Ill.) High On300 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams took his official visit to Michigan over the weekend and the Wolverines are trending heavy for good news in the near future.
The On3 Industry tabs the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Williams as the nation’s No. 22 defensive lineman and No. 278 prospect overall.
Williams is good friends with current Michigan commit Nathaniel Marshall who took an official visit to Auburn over the weekend. While there is confidence around The Plains they can turn Marshall, Michigan will get him back for an official visit the weekend of June 21, and it doesn’t hurt that Williams is now trending towards Ann Arbor.
The defending National Champs sit at No. 18 in the On3 Recruiting Rankings
Alabama trending for two offensive linemen
I wrote back in the spring that Alabama was the program to beat for Doylestown (Pa.) Central Bucks East On300 offensive lineman Michael Carroll and following this past weekend’s visit to Tuscaloosa I doubled-down with an On3 RPM. Michigan will try and turn it with a slated official visit on June 21 but the Crimson Tide appear to be in pole position.
Phenix City (Ala.) Central offensive lineman Mal Waldrep is closing in on a decision and says Alabama leads over Clemson and Florida among others. Easy RPM to make there.
Hit on one Georgia RPM, tracking for another
The Bulldogs moved up to No. 6 in the On3 Industry Recruiting Rankings following the commitment from Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue School On300 defensive lineman Christian Garrett. Kirby Smart and his staff beat Clemson and Tennessee to keep the local target home.
Georgia is also trending for Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes offensive lineman Dontrell Glover. He told On3 that the Bulldogs lead coming out of his official visit.
“You win,” Glover said of Georgia. “You get looked at. It’s simple.”
Notre Dame appears to be closing in on coveted linebacker
The Irish have On3’s No. 5 class and over the weekend they hosted a few of their top remaining targets including San Diego (Calif.) J Serra Catholic On300 linebacker Madden Faraimo. As the Irish battle Ohio State, Washington and Texas, a source says they like where ND stands coming out of the weekend and my On3 RPM now reflects that.
The On3 Industry tabs Faraimo as the No. 8 linebacker in the country and No. 78 prospect overall.
Aggies the favorite for dynamic in-state receiver
Houston (Texas) Hitchcock On300 receiver Kelshaun Johnson took his official visit to College Station over the weekend and now has Texas A&M in pole position over Arkansas, Texas and Texas Tech.
“I had a good time meeting with all the coaches on how they will use me,” Johnson said.
He added he enjoyed spending a lot of time with Aggies quarterback commit Husan Longstreet.
Texas A&M currently has On3’s No. 10 ranked class. Johnson and his 10.4 speed in the 100m dash ranks as the On3 Industry’s No. 23 receiver and No. 192 prospect overall.
Florida State the favorite for On300 safety Ladarian Clardy
Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia On3 Industry four-star safety Ladarian Clardy says the Seminoles lead following his OV over the weekend.
“The love they show, the coaching staff, also the players and the way they bond together!” Clardy said. “It’s a big family over here and that’s what I’ll love to be a part of.”
Clardy ranks as the On3 Industry’s No. 17 safety and No. 197 prospect overall.
Florida State has On3’s No. 13 class.
Penn State No. 1 for California DB
Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei On3 industry four-star cornerback Daryus Dixson said the Nittany Lions are his top program following his weekend official. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him do something soon.
Penn State coach James Franklin and his staff would love to add him to a class ranked No. 16 nationally.
A trio of picks in favor of Texas Tech
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and his staff have been good for a huge in-state recruiting win or two since taking over in Lubbock and in the 2025 cycle they’re trending for Houston (Texas) Alief Hastings On300 edge rusher Smith Orogbo. A source indicated he could be in the fold for McGuire and company soon. While the On3 Industry tabs Orogbo as the country’s No. 13 edge and No. 90 prospect overall, we have him at No. 3 and No. 26 respectively at On3.
Moved my prediction from Ohio State to Texas Tech regarding Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley On3 Industry four-star offensive lineman Henry Fenuku following his mid-week visit to Lubbock. The Red Raiders are pushing a lot harder than the Buckeyes right now.
Another intriguing target for Texas Tech is NFL legacy recruit Swayde Griffin out of Leander (Texas) Lago Vista. The Red Raiders offered in May. He is a plus athlete that would bring a lot of versatility to any program. His father Cedric was a second round pick out of Texas in 2006.
Texas Tech currently has 13 commits and the nation’s No. 29 recruiting class.
USC crushes another weekend
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans have On3’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class and they already added to it with the commitment of in-state On300 edge rusher Hayden Lowe on Sunday.
Five-star cornerback Dorian Brew was back on campus and we continue to like USC as one of the front-runners if not the favorite for the Conroe (Texas) High blue-chipper.
All three receivers on campus could ultimately end up in the class in four-stars Andrew Marsh, Daylan McCutcheon and Corey Simms.
Sources that spent time with On300 offensive lineman Nick Brooks and Miami (Fla.) Central’s Floyd Boucard like the way it’s trending for the Trojans. That would especially be a big development with Brooks who gave Georgia reason to feel good during his official the weekend prior.
Five-star quarterback commit Julian Lewis was back on campus as well. Any time he gets back around Riley and the staff, we feel better about the Trojans chances of keeping the ballyhooed passer in the fold. Him also seeing in person that USC is building a championship-level class around him is key. Particularly on defense. Lewis is slated to visit Auburn and Colorado the next two weekends.
Five-star Quick Hitters
Georgia hosted two of the nation’s top 10 prospects in the On3 Industry’s No. 1 offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. and cornerback DJ Pickett. Sources indicate Sanders and his family had a great time. He’s been to campus numerous times including the recent Kirby Smart Scavenger Hunt. I continue to believe the Bulldogs, Ohio State and Tennessee are best positioned with Alabama, Clemson, Nebraska and South Carolina rounding out the finalists. Pickett had a bunch of family with him as UGA worked to make up ground on the front runners in LSU, Oregon, Miami and Florida.
Sources around Baton Rouge feel they are right back in the thick of it with On3’s No. 1 ranked receiver Dakorien Moore. The Duncanville (Texas) High five-star plus was the only visitor on campus and Brian Kelly and his staff were able to devote all their energy to Moore and his family. His mother Marjahn gave the experience big returns here. A source that spent time with the Moores believes that LSU is the biggest challenger to Texas. Ohio State and Oregon round out the top four with the Longhorns and Ducks slated for the next two officials. LSU has On3’s No. 2 ranked class.
Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County five-star receiver Caleb Cunningham told On3 his visit to Florida was a “10 and a half” following another great experience in Gainesville. Recent trips to Auburn, Ole Miss and Florida have seemed to be needle movers for Cunningham as he continues through his process.
It was a five-star recruiting weekend at Texas A&M as offensive tackles Ty Haywood and Michael Fasusi, safety Jonah Williams, receiver Kaliq Lockett and tight end Linkon Cure were all on campus. Fasusi raved about his latest experience.
“Man just love being up there and seeing what the program is all about.”
Lockett talked about making a big impact in the Elko era.
Williams family pointed to the resumes of Elko and the defensive coaching staff.
It was a great weekend at Texas for the On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked athlete Michael Terry III.
“It was great!” Terry stated. “Coach Milwee finally showed me and explained what they’re looking for with me and it’s to play multiple positions. He just wants me to develop into a better athlete.”
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