Daily Headlines: Michigan gets 2nd LB Commit in 2 days with entertaining commit video

Just yesterday, Michigan got the welcome news of linebacker Junior Colsen’s commitment, and they got a double dosage of good news on Memorial Day, with linebacker/athlete Jaydon Hood announcing his intentions to don the maize and blue. The Wolverines have been producing NFL-talent at linebacker, and that prowess is showing with these recent commitments. Hood, a four-star commit out of Florida, was seriously pursued by several teams, including Louisville, Virginia Tech, Miami, West Virginia, and others. However, he ultimately joins Colsen in Ann Arbor, and he released his decision in entertaining fashion – featuring some impressive (?) gymnastics from the Michigan coaching staff.

Committed 100%… Go Blue 〽️ @UMichFootball @JayHarbaugh @luc_brian @FBCoachDBrown @247Wolverine @MichOpinion @espn @247Sports @CoachHarriott @TwanRussell @FeetHipsHands @TheCribSouthFLA @EraPrep @Iam_SheaHood @HoodShandon @Shepp42 pic.twitter.com/ycVhFYgd9v

— Jaydon hood (@JaydonHood_7) May 25, 2020

The video was entertaining, but Michigan fans will also certainly enjoy the highlights of Hood terrorizing opposing offensive lines, as he will look to do the same in the Big 10, with Michigan’s pursuit of conference supremacy an ongoing struggle.

Terrance Ferguson narrows list to 5

Recruiting was a little slow over Memorial Day Weekend, but on of the best tight ends in the 2021 class narrowed his official list to five schools, spread over three conferences. Auburn, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Oregon, and USC remain in play for Terrance Ferguson’s services. The Colorado product did not leave any in-state schools on his list. Oregon and Wisconsin are considered slight favorites, but it’s been tough to get a read on Ferguson, who hasn’t taken an official visit to any of these schools. He took multiple visits to Colorado, and visited LSU, Georgia, and Arkansas, but he ultimately left all of those teams off his list. Ferguson is the seventh-ranked tight end in the 2021 class, and he has the athleticism to play wide receiver too – he’ll be a great pick-up for whoever can secure the Colorado talent.

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Daily Headlines: Ohio State Boosts #1 Recruiting Class with 4-star Cornerback

Ohio State continues to build a monster 2021 recruiting class, picking up four-star cornerback Denzel Burke’s commitment on Sunday. Burke is ranked 262 in the ESPN top-300 prospects, making him a stunning 16th commit to the Buckeyes out of that group. That’s by far the most of any team so far in the 2021 class. Burke had cut his last down to Ohio State and four Pac-12 schools – Colorado was thought to be a potential destination for the Arizona product, but ultimately, Burke elects to head for the three-time defending Big 10 champions. The Buckeyes most recently saw stud cornerback Jeff Okudah drafted third overall, and Damon Arnette picked nineteenth, so they are a great destination for top-10 cornerbacks like Burke with NFL aspirations. Burke is the 19th overall commitment for Ohio State’s #1 ranked recruiting class. 

Michigan picks up big linebacker commit

Michigan also made waves on the recruiting trail on Sunday, bringing in Junior Colsen, one of the top linebackers in the 2021 class. ESPN has Colsen at 184 in their top-300 but Rivals.com is very high on the four-star Tennessee product, ranking him in their top 100 prospects. Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, and Oregon were also players in Colson’s recruitment. For the Vols, who made a late charge in an effort to secure Colsen’s services, it’s tough to see such an elite in-state talent elude their grasp, but they’ve been dominating the recruiting front recently, so they have plenty of other options. Meanwhile, Michigan lands one of their priority targets of the 2021 class, as Colsen becomes their third-best prospect according to ESPN’s rankings. The Wolverines have had a lot of success producing linebackers in recent years, with Josh Uche being a second-round draft pick and one of three Michigan LBs to head to the NFL, while Devin Bush Jr. was the tenth overall pick in 2019, so Colsen will hope to become next Michigan stud at linebacker.

Daily Headlines: Tennessee continues to build 2nd-ranked 2021 recruiting class

4-star DE Saivion Jones commits to LSU

One of the first steps towards becoming a powerhouse is securing the top recruits from your state, and LSU, the defending national champions, did just that and continued to impose their will on the recruiting scene, picking up a 4-star commitment from Defensive End Saivion Jones. Jones is a top-10 defensive end in the 2021 class, becoming their second premier defensive commit, after safety Khari Gee picked LSU over Clemson earlier this week. Jones was favored to pick LSU for most of his recruitment, but he was also recruited hard by Florida State, Virginia, and others. It’s still a big win for the Tigers, as Coach O is building a monster of a defense with this 2021 class.

4-star Athlete Kaemen Marley commits to Tennessee

Tennessee may have struggled on the gridiron recently, but that is not stopping the Volunteers from reeling in big-time recruits at a rapid-fire pace. It’s almost a snowball effect at this point, as Tennessee landed a commitment from four-star athlete Kaemen Marley, one of the top players out of North Carolina in the 2021 class. Marley was a high-impact player at a bevy of positions in high school, playing as a receiver, running back, wildcat quarterback, safety, and occasionally corner. He’s an absolute luxury to add to the Tennessee roster, who can really slot him in where he best fits on their team. Along with in-state offers from UNC and NC State, Marley was a known target of Georgia Tech. However, choosing from a current slate of 15 offers, Marley joins the 2nd-ranked recruiting class in Tennessee, as the Volunteers continue to build for a very promising future in Knoxville.

Recruiting Headlines: Clemson gets 4-star linebacker, and a baseball player at QB?

Clemson lands a few big recruits

Clemson landed one of their biggest defensive targets, as they earned a commitment form four-star Barrett Carter. Carter is considered one of the best, if not the best, linebacker in the Class of 2021, and his recruitment was largely a battle between the ACC power and Georgia. Ohio State and Auburn were also considered fairly strong contenders for his services. Carter didn’t make a spectacle of his recruitment, as he had over 40 offers, and he publicly cut that list down only once, to eleven teams a few months ago.

Carter said each of the four serious contenders for his commitment were around the top of his list, but his pre-virus visit to Clemson was a major factor in his decision. This decision was a major victory and a pleasant surprise for Clemson, who, like many, believed the Georgia product was bound to stay in-state with the Bulldogs.

However, Carter wasn’t the only player Clemson stole from Georgia – they took from their baseball team as well. Bubba Chandler, a commit to the Bulldogs on the diamond with no prior FBS offers, received one from the Tigers. Without so much as an official campus visit, Chandler de-committed from Georgia, swinging to Clemson, where he will be playing both baseball and football. Although he may be a better prospect at shortstop or on the mound, Chandler had over 2500 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns as a high school senior, and he’s certainly an intriguing add for the Clemson team.

4-star S Josh Moore commits to Stanford

Clemson wasn’t the only team bringing in big recruits on the gridiron, as Stanford managed to swindle a commitment from Josh Moore, bringing the Georgia product coast-to-coast, as the four-star safety will be taking his talents to the Palo Alto. Staying in state didn’t seem to be a huge priority for Moore – Georgia Tech seemed like a potential contender for Moore’s service, but in-state powerhouse Georgia didn’t offer Moore. Stanford’s talent and great coach in David Shaw, even coming off a 4-8 season, enticed Moore to join the Cardinal’s secondary.

4-star OT Jonah Miller commits to Oregon

Barely a week after landing a big-time tackle in Bram Walden, the Ducks continues to add to the trenches in their 2021 class. Oregon also dipped into the state of Arizona’s talent to snare Jonah Miller. Miller was thought to be headed out of state, but Texas was considered his most likely destination. However, the Ducks, in their ongoing quest to strengthen their offensive line and running game, secured Miller’s commitment, taking him away from the Longhorns and into the Pac-12 in another big victory in the trenches for the Ducks.

Daily Headlines: LSU lands top-10 2021 Safety

A product of Woodward Academy in Georgia, safety Khari Gee firmly announced his commitment to the LSU Tigers, giving the defending national champions a key defensive asset in their 2021 class. Gee’s recruitment was a wild one, as the offers for his services rolled in all winter, but Gee narrowed his list from thirty down to four or five, before his decision came down to LSU or their victim in last year’s national championship, Clemson. The #9 safety in the class, Gee said he was leaning towards LSU, and the commitment that head coach Ed Orgeron and his staff showed during his recruitment was a major factor.

The four-star safety is an elite athlete with great range and ball skills, and he will be a great piece in LSU’s defense, as the Tigers look to keep pace with the rapidly evolving air-raid attacks that are beginning to dominate college football. Gee, who was also a potential baseball prospect before quitting to focus on the gridiron, will likely look to add to his figure to prepare for the physicality of the SEC. It’s a huge pickup for LSU, as the Tigers land one of their top priorities of the 2021 recruiting cycle.

Notre Dame announces adjusted fall class schedule

Notre Dame may have set a very important precedent on Monday, as they announced that they intend to hold classes on campus in the fall, albeit with an adjusted schedule. They plan to start classes August 10 – two weeks earlier than their original start date – and work straight to Thanksgiving without their traditional one-week Fall Break. They will then break for the semester at Thanksgiving, minimizing the possibilities of students leaving campus and transmitting the virus upon their return. Notre Dame’s final football game is currently scheduled for the weekend after Thanksgiving, so this potential plan doesn’t affect them too much, but it does seem to hamper the idea of a delayed start to the year. Expect a lot of schools to follow this trend, as schools search for feasible and safe ways to return to campus.

Daily Headlines: Oklahoma with a great weekend of recruiting

Oklahoma addresses LB and WR with a pair of 4-stars

The Sooners continue to rake in elite recruits, as they added a four-star linebacker and receiver (4 or 5-star depending on the ranking) to bolster their 2021 class. They secured a commitment from LB Clayton Smith – this decision was made far sweeter given that Red River rival Texas was considered favored to land the linebacker, but Smith heads for the Sooners, who just lost first-round pick Kenneth Murray to the NFL. Meanwhile, wide receiver Mario Williams, a 5-star by rivals.com and the second best receiver in the class, opts for the offense-happy Big 12, specifically the Sooners. With Lincoln Riley having cultivated Heisman finalists in four consecutive years, Williams figures to have plenty of opportunities to thrive. This decision wasn’t much of a surprise, as the Florida product was always forecasted to head to Oklahoma, but it’s still a huge get for the Sooners who enjoyed a great weekend on the recruiting trails. 

Auburn gets versatile Dawson, 4-star tackle

This headline was going to address what side of the ball Auburn focused on with their recruits, but in securing Tar’Varish Dawson, a 2021 athlete, the Tigers not only pulled a small surprise, but they landed an elite athlete capable of helping Auburn out on both sides of the ball. Dawson is from Florida, and the general consensus was that he was headed for the U to help Miami climb back to national relevancy, but instead, the two-way threat announced he was 1000% committed to Auburn, with an emphatic “WAR EAGLE” at the end of his commitment post. Auburn has often had the short end of the stick in their battle for SEC supremacy with Alabama and LSU, but Dawson, regardless of where he slots in, should help boost their prospects. Along with Dawson, Auburn focused on the trenches, bringing in four-star tackle Caleb Johnson. Auburn was a long-time frontrunner for the Florida product, who was one of their top offensive line targets, and they fended off Notre Dame and Florida State among others for his commitment. 

OK State, Alabama pick up defensive assets

With in-state rival Oklahoma bringing in an elite linebacker, Oklahoma State countered, landing their own four-star defensive star in linebacker Collin Oliver. The Sooners never seriously pursued Oliver, and the Cowboys quickly became favorites for the in-state product. Even still, a border-line top 10 player from Oklahoma, this is a very solid four-star pickup from Oklahoma State.
Meanwhile, Alabama was doing Alabama things in recruiting, securing a commitment from four-star safety Kaine Williams. This was a particularly great get for the Crimson Tide, as Williams is an elite Louisiana product who nearly committed to LSU before waiting. Alabama, seemingly third on his list to the Tigers and Texas A&M, rose to the top of Williams’ list and earned his commitment. Tabbed as the nation’s sixth-best safety, Williams is a great addition to what has been a lackluster Alabama recruiting season, as they look to improve on their current 59th-ranked 2021 class. 

Baylor picks up a 4-star receiver

Baylor fought their way back close to the top of the Big 12 this season, and they’re hoping to stay there. Winning that war requires winning battles on the recruiting front, and the Bears did that by earning a commitment from in-state product Elijah Bean, a four-star receiver. Bean long seemed to favor the Bears, although SMU, Vanderbilt, Louisiana Tech were among the thirteen offers he had. Bean’s an intriguing prospect who hopes to add potency to Baylor’s offense, a component desperately needed in the Big 12.

Recruiting Headlines: LSU gets Kiner, Georgia Tech adds another playmaker

In today’s recruiting headlines, we certainly have a few notable names that made their verbal commitment from the Class of 2021. 

LSU steals Corey Kiner from Cincy, Louisville

Kiner is a four-star running back from Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite visiting the Bearcats twice, Cincinnati never seemed to be a huge favorite for the backfield star. Kiner was looking for Power-5 programs, and for a while, most people predicted him to commit to Louisville, remaining close to home while taking the chance to play for team on the rise in the Cardinals. However, LSU was a late comer, and despite his three visits and intense recruitment with Louisville, Kiner was convinced by the reigning national champions, who saw their workhorse back, Clyde Edwards-Hillaire, get picked in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Kiner had also visited Ohio State and Michigan twice each, but he said a virtual tour of LSU sealed the deal for him. Having averaged a touch under 2300 all-purpose yards in three years of high school, Kiner is the 7th-ranked back in his class. He joins recent LSU commit, four-star Garrett Nussmeir, in creating a formidable looking offense in the bayou. 

Georgia Tech gets a pleasant surprise

Four-star wide receiver James Blackstrain had previously announced his top-ten, with offers coming from Florida, LSU, among other big-name schools. Georgia Tech was not on his list, but the Yellow Jackets kept recruiting Blackstrain. Blackstrain then announced he would visit Georgia Tech before making a decision, and he then completely turned the tables by verbally committing to the Yellow Jackets after a virtual tour. Paired with fellow receiver recruit Malik Rutherford, Georgia Tech has clearly moved on from the triple option, and they look to be gaining momentum in the ACC from a recruiting standpoint.

Florida State comes in late, grabs 4-star cornerback
Long thought to be headed to LSU, the forecast on four-star cornerback Hunter Washington flipped last week, and the Tigers ceded their spot as favorites to the Florida State Seminoles. Washington confirmed that forecast yesterday by announcing his commitment to FSU. According to Washington, a borderline top-10 corner in his class, FSU was always on his list, even if the coronavirus pandemic prevented him from taking a spring visit. The Seminoles, who also beat out Oklahoma and Texas for Washington’s commitment, needed this, as they had not added a player to their Class of 2021 recruiting class since April 13. 

Recruiting News: Kentucky lands huge in-state prospect

There were some big waves on the recruiting front this past weekend, as a bevy of power-5 conference teams continue to add 4-star recruits. Here’s a rundown of some of the notable commitments made in the past couple of days. 

Dekel Crowdus, WR, Kentucky
Crowdus may have been the most notable signing from a college football impact standpoint, as the Lexington, Kentucky product elected to stay in-state and commit to the Wildcats, choosing the SEC East squad over a bevy of powerhouse squads. Oklahoma was known to be among his top choices, and his preference for Kentucky is a major statement for the Wildcats’ program. As they look to climb back towards SEC relevancy, to land a major wide receiver commit over a team like Oklahoma, which as a receiver-friendly air-raid offense, is a huge boost. Crowdus had also visited and been offered by Louisville (twice), Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia, and Duke. 

Bram Walden, OT, Oregon
While Crowdus stayed in state, Walden turned down offers from both Arizona and Arizona State, opting to head north to Oregon, joining the reigning Pac-12 champions as another Class of 2021 commit. Walden is one of the best prospects out of Arizona, and a top-20 offensive tackle in the recruiting class. He’s a big commitment for Oregon, as the very athletic Walden will fit well with their speedy backfield and rushing attack. 

Jacorey Brooks, WR, Alabama
Alabama continues to reel in top-level talent, picking up a huge Class of 2021 commit in Brooks, a Miami, Florida product who chose the Crimson Tide over in-state offers from Florida and Florida State. Ranked as the second best wide receiver in his class, Brooks could potentially be paired with incoming five-star Alabama quarterback Bryce Young for a season, which would be an electric combination to watch.

OTHER NOTABLE COMMITMENTS

Lonnie White Jr., Athlete, commits to Penn State

Mar’Keise Irving, RB, commits to Minnesota

KaTron Evans, DT, commits to Tennessee

Recruiting Updates: LSU gets a big-time quarterback, Tennessee continues to dominate

Recruiting News

There was some big recruiting news dominating the college football headlines yesterday, with a few big names making commitments, but there will be bigger news tomorrow, as the #1 All-Purpose back of the 2021 class in Will Shipley announced he will commit on Tuesday, likely deciding between Clemson and Notre Dame. How about the major commitments that came out yesterday? Here are the top ones. 

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – LSU
Nussmeier is a four-star quarterback, who 247Sports has occasionally floated around as the top QB in the 2021 class. Although he had initially said he wanted to wait until he had a chance to visit all the schools who offered him, he decided earlier than expected, and he’s headed to join Coach Orgeron and the defending national champions, picking them over Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, and others. 

Running Back Cody Brown – Tennessee

Tennessee continues to kill things on the recruiting front, as they landed a commitment from 4-star running back Cody Brown. He’s the #9 running back in his class, and Tennessee scored big on this one, beating out Ohio State, Georgia, and Auburn for his services. Brown is the second running back to commit to the Volunteers and the seventh recruit they’ve landed in the past week. Tennessee on the come up?

Defensive End Najee Story to Northwestern
When Northwestern was ranked #5 on ESPN’s list of top defenses in their FPI projections, there was a lot of questioning about the ranking – does ESPN know something about the Big 10 cellar-dwellers that everyone else doesn’t? Even if the ranking was generous, the Wildcats are trying to back it up, and they took a big step in that direction, landing four-star defensive end Najee Story. Northwestern beats out a bevy of Big Ten rivals for Story, including perennial powers Ohio State and Penn State. They even beat out the recent recruiting heavyweights in Tennesse, as well as Minnesota. 

Other Notable Recruits

4-star Defensive End Rodney McGraw to Penn State

4-star TE Elijah Arroyo to Miami 

4-star Defensive Tackle Victory Vaka to Texas A&M