All articles tagged with #college football recruiting
Texas A&M dominated June on the recruiting trail with two top-50 commitments, Notre Dame followed with two five-star offensive linemen and another top-100 WR, and LSU climbed into the elite with two top-100 edge rushers and potential flips on the horizon, signaling a dramatic shift in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou committed to Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes a second five-star DL in the 2027 class behind DJ Jacobs; the 6-7, 275-pound California native from Sierra Canyon is versatile for DT or DE in OSU's 4-2-5 scheme, after visits to Columbus, Georgia, and Texas. He joins Jacobs and Wyatt Smith as OSU's third DL pledge in the class, with the program aiming to add four-star DT Karlos May later in the cycle, marking OSU’s first twice-five-star DL haul since 2021.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin could face a public reprimand or fine from the SEC after suggesting that some recruits cited racial concerns about playing in Oxford; he says he was relaying a parent's words rather than stating his own opinion and defended his remarks, noting the context from a Vanity Fair piece about former Ole Miss recruits; the SEC is weighing disciplinary action, and Kiffin’s history with Ole Miss adds to the tension amid ongoing conversations about campus diversity in college football recruiting.
RJ Day, son of Ohio State coach Ryan Day, committed to Northwestern, reuniting with Chip Kelly who is now Northwestern’s offensive coordinator. The 2027 quarterback prospect from DeSales High School in Columbus is ranked No. 86 nationally, has thrown for 2,710 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and owns 5,710 career passing yards and 54 TD, with Northwestern among 18 Division I offers (including five from Power conferences).
Notre Dame locked in its 2027 quarterback through Wonderful Monds IV, who reclassified from 2028 to 2027 and chose the Irish over Florida, Ohio State and others after a campus visit, giving ND 12 commits in the class and their fifth offensive pledge as the quarterback board stabilizes.
West High (Salt Lake City) quarterback Kamden Lopati, a four‑star prospect and No. 9 QB in Rivals’ ranking, flipped his commitment from Illinois to Michigan after visits to Notre Dame and Michigan, citing strong relationships with the Wolverines’ staff, the program’s tradition, the Big House atmosphere and top facilities; he had previously committed to Illinois last July amid interest from several programs including Notre Dame, Michigan State and Tennessee.
Michigan secured four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati for the 2027 class after he decommitted from Illinois, aided by strong relationships with the new staff and an upcoming official visit; ESPN lists Lopati as the top quarterback in 2027 while Rivals ranks him No. 115 overall nationally (and No. 2 in Utah).
Four-star quarterback Andre Adams from Tennessee committed to Colorado after taking late visits to Colorado and Kentucky; he cited the Buffaloes' underdog mentality, strong relationships, and Deion Sanders's authenticity, with the Boulder visit sealing the decision.
Georgia secured a commitment from 5-star running back Kemon Spell, choosing the Bulldogs over Penn State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Miami after a visit, bolstering Georgia's 2027 class and its national-title aspirations.
Nebraska's 2026 recruiting class, consisting of 10 signees, shows promise with key additions like Luke Sorensen and Danny Odem, but also notable misses at quarterback, defensive line, and linebacker positions, leading to an overall grade of C. The class's success will depend on player development and portal additions to fill gaps.
Five-star running back Kemon Spell has decommitted from Penn State following the firing of head coach James Franklin, leaving Penn State with no commits in the 2027 class and opening his recruitment to other programs. Spell, a top-ranked RB and highly touted prospect, had previously committed to Penn State but is now exploring other options amid coaching changes and Penn State's recent struggles.
Following Oklahoma State's firing of head coach Mike Gundy, three-star offensive tackle Aiden Martin, who had committed to the Cowboys, decommitted and reopened his recruitment, joining a list of players leaving the program amid coaching changes.
Devin Fitzgerald, son of NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald, committed to Notre Dame as a 2026 wide receiver, turning down offers from Arizona State and other schools, despite interest from ASU and a family connection to the program.
Five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech with a groundbreaking fully guaranteed revenue-sharing deal worth $5.1 million over three years, making him the highest-rated recruit in school history and highlighting the evolving landscape of college athlete compensation following recent NCAA settlement changes.
Jackson Ford, a four-star defensive end from Phoenixville, PA, has decided to commit to Penn State, choosing the Nittany Lions over Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, after visiting all four schools and receiving positive feedback about his visit to Penn State.