The excitement for the start of the college football season is palpable. While the focus is on the present, coaches and programs can never truly take their eyes off the future. As a result, recruiting never stops.
How Tennessee will fare on the field in 2024 remains to be seen, but the Volunteers are building plenty of excitement for the future with big recruiting wins. First, they flipped ESPN 300 linebacker Jaedon Harmon from rival Alabama, and they followed that up by landing No. 1-rated offensive tackle David Sanders. Now sitting on the cusp of the top five in our 2025 class rankings, Tennessee is assembling one of the premier O-line classes for the cycle. The lengthy, agile and tenacious Sanders gives the Vols three ESPN 300 commits on the line with two ranked among the five-stars.
Michigan was able to hold off a late run by new Big Ten foe Washington and landed top-10 wide receiver Andrew Marsh, a smooth target with good hands who had more than 1,000 yards receiving as a junior.
Georgia Tech climbs for the second consecutive update, moving into the top 25. The Yellow Jackets added a third in-state ESPN 300 OL in Josh Petty, who is the highest-ranked commit for the program in the ESPN 300 era.
coverage:
Recruits to know in 2025 rankings
CFB's future power rankings
Previewing every conference
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN 300 commits: 16
Top offensive prospect: QB Tavien St. Clair
Top defensive prospect: CB Na'eem Offord
Previous ranking: 1
The Buckeyes missed the College Football Playoff last season, but they're signaling a return to the national title mix soon. They signed a top-five class and have made headlines with impactful transfer portal additions in 2024. While those efforts are exciting, OSU is also enjoying great success with its 2025 class. Defensively, the Buckeyes have commitments from a pair of five-star cornerback prospects in Offord and Devin Sanchez. Offord is a versatile high school player who projects to defense with outstanding quickness and an aggressive style of play. The 6-foot-2 Sanchez has coveted length. He also has the speed and suddenness to match up with a variety of receivers. Sanchez could be in the mold of current Buckeyes standout corner Denzel Burke.
After bringing in two of the top 2024 quarterbacks in Julian Sayin and Air Noland, Ohio State continues to add more talent to that position room in St. Clair. He's an in-state prospect with physical tools to develop -- his mobility and arm strength. St. Clair has been very productive at Bellefontaine High School, throwing for nearly 6,000 yards the past two seasons while displaying consistency and completing roughly 70% of his passes.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
ESPN 300 commits: 15
Top offensive prospect: OT Ty Haywood
Top defensive prospect: CB Dijon Lee Jr.
Previous ranking: 2
Alabama raced to a fast start in the 2025 cycle, but many of the initial commitments fled following Nick Saban's retirement. The new staff quickly rebounded and returned the Crimson Tide to near the top of the rankings, even if the class looks quite different. Losing highly touted 2024 QB Julian Sayin during the staff transition was a tough blow, but Kalen DeBoer was able to flip Keelon Russell from SMU and as a player that reminds us of a right-handed Michael Penix with excellent speed, it seems like a natural fit and big add at the position. A future big-play target could be WR Caleb Cunningham who is a rangy receiver with good speed and tremendous ball skills. A multisport athlete (basketball and track), he racked up over 1,000 yards receiving as a junior.
Darrell Johnson is a versatile player who contributed at multiple positions in high school and is expected to develop on defense. ESPN 300 LB Abduall Sanders Jr. was a nice pickup out of California. He lacks elite height and length but can be active against the run between the tackles with good agility and quickness. Sanders also moves deceptively well and showed he can be productive in coverage and be a three-down defender. Lee was another big score out of California as he is a corner with elite size (6-foot-4) and is also fluid in his movements. Having lost several starters along their O-Line to the NFL and likely to lose more over the next few seasons, including OG Tyler Booker, the Tide are loading up in the offensive trenches as well with several four-star commits, including Haywood and in-state OL and one-time Georgia commit Micah Debose.
3. LSU Tigers
ESPN 300 commits: 14
Top offensive prospect: QB Bryce Underwood
Top defensive prospect: ATH D.J. Pickett
Previous ranking: 3
Few programs protect their home turf like the Tigers, and they're taking advantage of Louisiana's strong talent in 2025. LSU landed commitments from several of the state's top prospects, including the top-rated offensive player. Running back Harlem Berry, the No. 1 player in Louisiana, has quick feet and home run speed and can be a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Fellow in-state ESPN 300 RB J.T. Lindsey adds more talent to the position and brings a nice blend of speed and power and rushed for over 1,700 yards as a junior.
The Tigers went out of state as well to land Underwood. A rangy five-star quarterback, Underwood has good mobility and natural arm strength while being a poised, decisive passer. He threw for over 3,100 yards with 40 touchdowns to only two interceptions as a junior. When you land one of the premier passers in the class, you also need to make sure you can protect him, and LSU has added several OL prospects to help do that, including ESPN 300 big men Carius Curne, Devin Harper and Tyler Miller. They also are adding some potential future big-play targets, including Derek Meadows. A player bursting with potential, he is a lengthy target at 6-foot-6 with excellent body control. The Tigers won a big battle on the recruiting trail, edging out Oregon and in-state Miami to land five-star athlete Pickett, a rangy and smooth player that could play on either side of the ball but projects to the secondary.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
ESPN 300 commits: 14
Top offensive prospect: TE Elyiss Williams
Top defensive prospect: LB Zayden Walker
Previous ranking: 4
The Bulldogs signed the No. 1 class for the 2024 cycle and are working to line up a ninth straight top-three class. Tight ends played a key role in their recent title runs, and they're reloading at the position in 2025. Georgia holds commitments from the top two tight ends in the class. Ethan Barbour moves well with good hands. Williams has a 6-7 frame and could develop into a player in the mold of former Georgia tight end Darnell Washington.
Bo Walker can give UGA another talented running back. He is a versatile playmaker who possesses good vision as a runner but also has solid hand-eye coordination and can be a receiving target as well. Having sent multiple defenders to the NFL over the last few drafts, the Dawgs are continuing to work to keep that unit elite. Initially headed out of state with a commitment to USC, Georgia was ultimately able to keep Edge defender Isaiah Gibson at home. He has tremendous length and can be a disruptive pass rusher, having notched over 20 sacks in his previous two high school seasons. Walker is among the top defensive prospects in the state and gives the Bulldogs an explosive and physical LB that has tallied over 40 TFLs heading into his senior season.
5. Auburn Tigers
ESPN 300 commits: 13
Top offensive prospect: ATH Derick Smith
Top defensive prospect: CB Blake Woodby
Previous ranking: 5
The Tigers did a nice job addressing their need at receiver in 2024 but continue to add talent to that position. They flipped from rival Alabama Derick Smith; one of the state's top prospects that is a lengthy, explosive player who could contribute on either side of the ball but projects to wide receiver for the Tigers. On offense they also added several big men to their OL unit, including ESPN 300 big men Tavaris Dice and Broderick Shull. Dice is a physically impressive offensive linemen with good flexibility and power. Shull is an intriguing and agile big man that brings tremendous upside. A player that could benefit from those OL additions is RB Henderson who the Tigers flipped from Penn State and gives them an aggressive, decisive runner with big play game speed.
They're adding several pieces to the defensive front. Auburn has a handful of in-state ESPN 300 defensive linemen on the board: Jourdin Crawford, Jakaleb Faulk, Malik Autry and Antonio Coleman. Crawford is a stout 300-pounder who stands out because he moves quite well for his size. Faulk is an edge player with length, quickness and the ability to redirect. Autry is another 300-pounder who is a big, aggressive presence in the trenches. Coleman has gone back-and-forth with his commitments between rivals Auburn and Alabama but has landed back with the Tigers and is an explosive and powerful interior defensive lineman who can be disruptive, having recorded 30 tackles for loss as a junior. Jared Smith was a key in-state keep along their defensive front as he gives Auburn a lengthy and agile Edge defender with a high ceiling for development.
Eric Winters while listed as a safety with his blend of size (6-2, 205) and speed (20.7 Max Speed) he can be a versatile back-seven defender for them. They landed top-five CB, Woodby who has excellent speed and exudes the confidence needed to play the position.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: OT David Sanders
Top defensive prospect: S Lagonza Hayward Jr.
Previous ranking: 9
The Volunteers won a key recruiting battle to keep George MacIntyre, the highest-ranked player in Tennessee and one of the nation's top quarterbacks, at home. He's a tall, rangy quarterback who also excels at basketball. He combines athleticism and pedigree with a smooth stroke and good arm strength as a passer. Fellow in-state commit Radarius Jackson could become a key target as he is a lengthy receiver with outstanding body control and can adjust to make tough catches. Three-star running back Justin Baker is a decisive runner who also can be productive without the ball and does well in pass protection.
Keeping tackle Ethan Utley at home was a big win for Tennessee's defensive line. He has a nice frame to develop along with good reach and first-step quickness. They went out of state to land LB Gass, an excellent addition who needs to continue to fill out but is a lengthy and versatile defender who can play the run, drop and be effective in space and displays a high ceiling for development as an edge rusher. Along with Gass, they also pulled Lagonza Hayward, a physical and aggressive safety, out of Georgia, and landed linebacker Jaedon Harmon, a flip from rival Alabama..
They have also added some key pieces to the offensive line unit in ESPN 300 big men Nic Moore, a key in-state keep, No. 1 ranked OT Sanders and Douglas Utu out of national power program Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). A powerful blocker with good flexibility and feet, Utu could be the Vols' next impact OL in the same manner of former five-stars Trey Smith (2017) and Darnell Wright (2019). The same could be said for Sanders, a lengthy, agile and tenacious fellow five-star.
7. Miami Hurricanes
ESPN 300 commits: 11
Top offensive prospect: OG S.J. Alofaituli
Top defensive prospect: CB Jaboree Antoine
Previous ranking: 8
After signing a top-10 class in 2024, which included some key in-state wins, Miami is looking to build upon its success in 2025. Linebacker Elijah Melendez saw his junior season cut short by injury, but he has a nice blend of speed, explosiveness and instincts when healthy. Running back Girard Pringle Jr. shows good power to break tackles and quick lateral movement to elude defenders. He ran for over 1,600 yards as a junior. A former Miami offensive lineman himself, head coach Mario Cristobal landed one of the elite big men in the class in Alofaituli. A player with elite body quickness and good power, the five-star has the tools to be a quick contributor and standout interior OL for the Hurricanes.
They went to the Midwest to land a pair of ESPN 300 tight ends in Luka Gilbert (Ohio) and Brock Schott (Indiana). Gilbert, at 6-7, is a massive target who can develop into an asset as a blocker, and Schott is a nice compliment, who while not as big, possesses good speed and body control and can be a productive receiving target. Originally committed to USC, they were able to keep in-state Stubbs, a safety with good length and instincts. They also went into Louisiana and pulled one-time LSU commit Antoine, a fluid CB with nice height at a little over 6-foot-1.
8. Oregon Ducks
ESPN 300 commits: 12
Top offensive prospect: WR Dakorien Moore
Top defensive prospect: ATH Trey McNutt
Previous ranking: 6
The Ducks are bringing in a familiar name at the QB position in the son of former Oregon QB Akili Smith. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, Akili Smith Jr. is a lean prospect with good physical upside. While he needs to fill out, he already displays good arm strength which should only improve, and is good at adjusting and changing arm angles. In 2023, he led his high school to an 11-1 record while throwing for over 2,400 yards with 25 TDs. Oregon signed a handful of four-star WRs during the 2024 cycle but are looking to add more big-play talent to that position with several ESPN 300 prospects committed. Leading the way is five-star Moore, a speedy target that can generate big plays with the ball in his hands. As a junior he helped lead Duncanville to a state title as its primary target with over 60 catches and 1,200 yards. Top-10 receiver Dallas Wilson, out of Florida, is a tall, rangy target (6-3) with good hands and feel for getting open. Cooper Perry could be a quick contributor as he is a polished route runner for this stage.
On defense, Wyatt can be a disruptive edge rusher with good initial quickness and bend, while showing the ability to get after the QB. He has over two dozen sacks over the course of his sophomore and junior seasons. Dorian Brew projects to the secondary where he will bring good speed as the son of two accomplished former college track stars but also has a physical element to his game. McNutt is a versatile two-way player that projects to the secondary as well and gives them more speed in the back end having been recorded hitting well over 21 mph in game play.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
ESPN 300 commits: 12
Top offensive prospect: QB Husan Longstreet
Top defensive prospect: CB Adonyss Currie
Previous ranking: 7
Mike Elko now has a full year to work on the recruiting trail as he looks to build the Aggies into a consistent SEC contender. Landon Rink is a very good in-state addition to their defensive line. A competitive prospect who has shown consistent improvement throughout his high school career, Rink blends agility, technique and effort. He could be a quick contributor to the defensive line unit once he arrives. One of the top inside linebackers in the class, Kelvion Riggins, can be a physical and active presence.
In the secondary Deyjhon Pettaway needs to continue to fill out but is a corner with nice length and good movement skills. Despite not being a big body, he has shown physicality in his play. Currie was a big addition of California as a corner who blends excellent speed with sound technique as well great effort.
Despite efforts down the stretch of the 2024 cycle, the Aggies were not able to sign an ESPN 300 QB, but they have early on in the 2025 cycle landed one in Longstreet. He is a passer with a quick release and strong arm who also moves well enough to create with his legs. A&M also added a four-star running back in Deondrae Riden who has a nice blend of size and speed and has rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
ESPN 300 commits: 11
Top offensive prospect: OT Michael Fasusi
Top defensive prospect: DE C.J. Nickson
Previous ranking: 12
The Sooners' first official class as a member of the SEC already has a strong foundation. It's anchored by offensive firepower, including multiple ESPN 300 wide receivers in Elijah Thomas, Gracen Harris and Marcus Harris and Cortez Mills. Gracen Harris is quick and has good hands. Thomas, an in-state commit, is a precise route-runner and offers a wide catch radius. Marcus Harris comes out of West Coast power program Mater Dei and is competitive player with quick hands and can create after the catch. Mills is a long, rangy target who had a big junior season with over 70 catches for over 1,600 yards. Running back Tory Blaylock can be an electric playmaker with excellent speed -- he has registered a max speed north of 21 mph in games. The offensive playmakers will benefit from the addition of one of the top OTs in the class in Fasusi. He's a lengthy tackle with a nice frame to further develop and good quickness to go with an aggressive style of play.
The Sooners also landed ESPN 300 QB Kevin Sperry who has a quick release and good accuracy and threw for over 2,500 yards and completed 68% of his passes as a junior. In-state defensive end Alexander Shieldnight has first-step quickness and active hands and tallied 11 sacks as a junior. The top-rated player in the state, Nickson gives OU a lengthy Edge defender that is a multi-sport athlete and two-way player in high school. With focus on football, he is an easy mover with a high ceiling for development. While much of their class hails from OU's primary recruiting base, Trent Wilson was a nice win out of Maryland. He's a defensive lineman with good initial quickness as well as agility, and he can be an active presence in the trenches.
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: QB Deuce Knight
Top defensive prospect: S Dallas Golden
Previous ranking: 10
The Fighting Irish created buzz with their transfer portal pickup of Riley Leonard at quarterback, but they continue to add young talent to develop at the position. They signed top-five 2024 quarterback C.J. Carr and have Knight, one of the top signal-callers in the 2025 class. He's a lefty who pairs good arm strength and mobility with nice physical tools and upside. Justin Thurman is a running back with a good blend of speed, quickness and explosiveness, which he demonstrated by posting consistently strong testing numbers over the past two camp cycles. Notre Dame is working to keep their offensive line unit a strength with several additions there including a pair in the ESPN 300 in Owen Strebig and Will Black. Black has the physical tools to be one of their next premier big men as he is an aggressive blocker with good flexibility and feet.
Landing James Flanigan, an ESPN 300 prospect, continues Notre Dame's tradition of identifying and developing tight ends. Anthony Sacca is a nice add to their defense. A prospect with ties to Penn State (father Tony was a QB for the Nittany Lions) the Fighting Irish landed a versatile defender that can play on all three levels and should immediately be a strong special teams contributor.
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: WR Lyrick Samuel
Top defensive prospect: CB Daryus Dixson
Previous ranking: 11
In-state offensive talent is en route for the Nittany Lions. Tight end Brady O'Hara has excellent size at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. He uses it to block effectively, but also runs well for his size. He can contribute as a big target in the passing game. They landed a pair of in-state backs. Tiqwai Hayes is a slashing runner who has already tallied more than 5,000 career rushing yards entering his senior year. Jabree Wallace-Coleman is a downhill runner with good size and power to break tackles. Defensively, Alex Tatsch is a quality in-state addition who has good length, range and body control. He can be a well-rounded defender equally comfortable getting upfield to apply pressure or dropping and playing in space.
While Penn State has done well close to home, it have also found success outside their borders. Samuel is a nice pickup out of New York as he a target with elite length at 6-foot-4 with nearly an 80-inch wing span and also possesses excellent vertical speed for his size. Dixson, from California, is a physical DB with good length.
13. Clemson Tigers
ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: RB Gideon Davidson
Top defensive prospect: S Tae Harris
Previous ranking: 13
Despite ranking just 15th for the 2024 cycle, the Tigers have already checked several boxes in 2025 with big commitments at multiple positions. Davidson and in-state prospect Marquise Henderson are a pair of key running back pledges. Davidson, a top-five running back, runs with a nice blend of size, speed and power. He posted impressive numbers as a junior, rushing for 2,700 yards and 43 touchdowns. Henderson is more slightly built at roughly 5-10, 170 pounds, but has explosive, big-play speed. He rushed for more than 2,300 yards as a junior. Four-star quarterback Blake Hebert missed most of his junior season with an injury, but he has good size, he has a smooth and compact delivery, and he moves well and extends plays.
Clemson landed several defensive linemen ranked in the ESPN 300. Watford is a lengthy player with good initial quickness who can develop into a disruptive edge rusher. In the trenches, Clemson landed defensive tackle Amare Adams, the top-ranked player in South Carolina. The Tigers also pulled tackle Isaiah Campbell out of neighboring North Carolina. Campbell has a big frame and good movement skills. One-time Georgia commit Tae Harris is a nice addition to the secondary. He projects to safety, but he's versatile enough to play corner. He posted some of the top numbers on the spring camp circuit, including a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash.
14. Michigan Wolverines
ESPN 300: 8
Top offensive prospect: WR Andrew Marsh
Top defensive prospect: CB Ivan Taylor
Previous ranking: 18
The defending national champions start a new era with Sherrone Moore at the helm. Quarterback Carter Smith is a poised passer with good arm strength. He threw for over 2,000 yards, rushed for over 700 and was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida as a junior. WR Jacob Washington is a good, underrated pickup out of Louisiana. He tested very well this offseason on the camp circuit and offers a big target at nearly 6-foot-3 with close to an 80-inch wingspan. ESPN 300 WR Marsh, gives the Wolverines an elusive runner with good hands who can adjust well to the ball and create yards after the catch. Andrew Olesh can be a productive target in the passing game from the TE position. He needs to fill out his frame but has excellent ball skills and body control and is good route runner for this stage.
Moore is a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach, so it isn't surprising he added more talent to that unit with a pair of four-star big men in Avery Gach and Kaden Strayhorn. On defense, Kainoa Winston can be a well-rounded defender in the secondary with good speed. He makes plays in coverage and has the physicality to also come up and support the run. Taylor was a big flip from Notre Dame. He has good genes. His father, Ike, won two Super Bowls. Ivan displays solid technique for this stage and good speed.
15. Washington Huskies
ESPN 300: 6
Top offensive prospect: WR Chris Lawson
Top defensive prospect: LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Previous ranking: 15
Jedd Fisch did a nice job rebuilding Arizona through recruiting. Now he heads into a more favorable situation at the helm of a Huskies program coming off a national championship appearance. He did a good job of retaining some key pieces of the class he inherited. He also used transfers to solidify his transitional 2024 class. Now with a full year to work, Fisch looks to keep a strong foundation of high school talent coming in.
The class includes a pair of quarterbacks in Dash Beierly and Treston McMillan. The quarterback MVP at this spring's Under Armour Seattle camp, Beierly is a focused player and a smooth operator as a passer who can throw with power and accuracy. McMillan, last year's Gatorade Player of the Year in Hawaii, should deepen the depth of the quarterback room and strengthen competition. In the trenches, Washington landed ESPN 300 offensive lineman Champ Taulealea, a flexible and powerful big man who can quickly get into defenders and generate push. Vander Ploog was among the most impressive TE prospects we saw on the camp circuit this offseason and is tall, lengthy target with good body control and can be a tough matchup down the seam and in the red zone. Lawson brings good speed and has shown he can be a productive target with over 150 receptions for over 2,000 yards heading into his senior season.
Four-star linebacker Jonathan Epperson is a key in-state win. He has good movement skills and can make plays in coverage in addition to being an aggressive downhill defender. Dylan Robinson was a very nice pull out of California who projects to CB and brings a wonderful blend of size (6-foot-3, 190) and speed (laser 4.49 in the 40).
16. Florida State Seminoles
ESPN 300 commits: 9
Top offensive prospect: OT Solomon Thomas
Top defensive prospect: DE Javion Hilson
Previous ranking: 17
Mike Norvell has rebuilt Florida State back into a College Football Playoff and national title contender and is working to keep the Seminoles progressing upward. Knowing games are won and lost up front, they have landed several ESPN 300 big men. On offense, Thomas was a key early recruiting win as he is a 300-pounder who carries his weight well with good feet and body control. The five-star has the tools to be a multiyear starter and one of the top linemen in the country. On defense, Hilson and Myron Charles were big in-state keeps. Hilson has a nice frame to develop with excellent length and as a junior tallied double digits sacks, and Charles is an interior defensive lineman with a good blend of quickness and power.
WR C.J. Wiley was a huge recruiting win as the Seminoles beat out several other top programs, including Georgia and LSU. A big riser during the offseason, Wiley is a sizable target at over 6-foot-4 and possesses good speed. He can be a productive, big play target, having hauled in over 60 catches for 1,400 yards as a junior. Daylan McCutcheon gives the Seminoles another talented target with proven production as he had nearly 100 catches for more than 1,400 yards as a junior.
17. Texas Longhorns
ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: WR Kaliq Lockett
Top defensive prospect: DE Lance Jackson
Previous ranking: 14
The Longhorns didn't sign an ESPN 300 quarterback in 2024, but K.J. Lacey is one of the more promising signal-callers in the 2025 class. He lacks ideal size at 5-11 and 180 pounds, but he throws a good deep ball, can create and also change arm angles. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns as a junior. Tight end Emaree Winston lacks ideal height at the position, but he's a physical presence with good hands and body control. He can move the chains as a receiver and develop into a productive blocker. Lockett was a big in-state win as one of top offensive players in the Lone Star state; he is a rangy receiver with good speed that also attacks the ball and can high point and win contested matchups. RB Rickey Stewart is an explosive runner with proven production, having rushed for over 5,000 yards and 50 TDs over the last two seasons.
Defensive lineman Lance Jackson has coveted size and frame for the position. He could be a disruptive player in the trenches with good initial quickness and agility. Smith Orogbo is an edge defender with an explosive first step, active hands and very good range.
18. USC Trojans
ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Julian Lewis
Top defensive prospect: LB Jadon Perlotte
Previous ranking: 20
Lincoln Riley has developed some of the top QBs in college football in recent years. Lewis could be next. USC will have to work to hold on to the five-star passer, who reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025. He has a smooth, quick release, possesses good fundamentals and has shown the tools to become one of college football's next elite quarterbacks. Lewis' commitment is key, but the Trojans need to strengthen their defense, which ranked No. 116 in 2023, if they want to become a true national title contender. They're taking the steps to do it.
That process has had its up and downs during this cycle with some key losses, but they have still added talent to that side of the ball. The Trojans have added several ESPN 300 defenders including cornerback Trestin Castro, a fluid player with excellent speed having been measured hitting over 21 mph in game play. Matai Tagoa'i is a versatile linebacker who can play downhill and be active versus the run but also be effective dropping into coverage. USC landed onetime Georgia commit Perlotte, who is a rangy edge defender who can rush the passer and make plays in space. It flipped Kendarius Reddick, an ESPN 300 top-10 safety, from UCF. He is fluid in his movements and an active defender who hauled in four interceptions and forced two fumbles as a junior. It beat rival UCLA, among others, for the commitment of Hayden Lowe, who can be a versatile player for them along the defensive front.
19. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
ESPN 300: 4
Top offensive prospect: WR Michael Thomas III
Top defensive prospect: S Tariq Hayer
Previous ranking: 16
Rutgers has just two winning seasons since joining the Big Ten. Finding success could become even more difficult as the conference evolves. Coming off a seven-win season, the Scarlet Knights are taking the task head-on and working to build their roster with enough talent to compete. Keeping a deep pool of in-state talent at home has always been both key and a struggle for Rutgers, but it successfully did that in the 2025 cycle.
Ja'Elyne Matthews is one of the top offensive linemen in the state. Rutgers also lured linebacker D.J. McClary back home after he previously committed to Penn State. A very productive high school player with more than 300 career tackles, McClary has solid quickness, ability and range. WR Michael Thomas III was another big in-state win. He is a lengthy target with big-play speed, consistently hitting over 21 mph max speed in games.
20. Missouri Tigers
ESPN 300: 5
Top offensive prospect: OT Lamont Rogers
Top defensive prospect: DE Daeden Hopkins
Previous ranking: 19
The Tigers are looking to build on their 11-win season in 2023. Quarterback Matt Zollers has good arm strength, a tight release and can also adjust arm angles. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards as a junior and is mobile enough to move the ball with his legs when necessary. To help protect their QB they landed top-ten OT Rogers out of Texas. He is a big man at over 6-foot-6 and 300-pounds with elite arm length and good agility that can be multi-season anchor for them at tackle.
Missouri has battled to keep top talent within the state. The Tigers landed the No. 1 player in Missouri for 2024 in Williams Nwaneri. They've now added the top two in-state players in 2025 as well in offensive lineman Jack Lange and defensive end Daeden Hopkins, who is lean but long with good first-step quickness. Hopkins shows promising upside as an edge defender.
21. Maryland Terrapins
ESPN 300: 6
Top offensive prospect: OT Jaylen Gilchrist
Top defensive prospect: DT Bryce Jenkins
Previous ranking: 23
Good recruiting starts at home, and while it has been difficult to defend the DMV recruiting turf that surrounds the Terrapins, they have won some key battles to keep top talent at home. In-state ESPN 300 QB Malik Washington gives them a player with a big frame to develop who also possesses a strong arm and can be dangerous when he runs, having been measured hitting over 21 mph in game play. Smith, who looked like a steal for Alabama when the Tide initially landed him, has decided to stay home, which is a huge win for the Terps. A prospect who could project to CB, he looks poised to be used on offense as a versatile weapon that could be utilized at RB or WR. As a junior, he had more than 600 yards rushing and nearly 400 receiving while accounting for double-digit TDs between offense and special teams.
Another in-state pickup is Iverson Howard, a thickly built and muscular back with good speed of his own, having consistently been clocked hitting 21 mph himself. Out of local power DeMatha, multisport athlete (baseball) Bud Coombs is a runner with good quickness and further adds to the talent in the backfield. On defense Jenkins, out of Washington, D.C., is a massive presence at well over 300 pounds with an over 80-inch wingspan.
22. UCF Knights
ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: RB Taevion Swint
Top defensive prospect: DT Christian Hudson
Previous ranking: 21
The Knights have recruited well with their transition to the Big 12 under Gus Malzahn and are in the mix for one of the top classes in the conference. They're leaning on a deep pool of surrounding talent in the Southeast. In-state running back Taevion Swint has a compact, sturdy build with good lateral quickness and vision. He has rushed for over 2,000 yards over the past two seasons.
WR Santonyo Isaac is another in-state offensive weapon. Though he has a slight build, he has some wiggle in the way he moves and tracks the ball well. On defense, they have made some strong in-state additions. DT Christian Hudson may not have ideal size, but he is a prospect who has tested well in camp settings and is an explosive defender with active hands and good mobility on film. Rukeem Stroud, a onetime Wisconsin commit, was a good flip the Knights were able to keep closer to home. He is a lean prospect that needs to fill out, but is still aggressive in is play and is smooth in his movements with good game speed.
23. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
ESPN 300: 4
Top offensive prospect: OT Josh Petty
Top defensive prospect: CB Dalen Penson
Previous ranking: 26
The Yellow Jackets are wisely taking advantage of the deep pool of prospects in talent-rich Georgia. Versatile defensive back Dalen Penson is an excellent pickup. He contributed at wide receiver, quarterback and secondary in high school. He's also a good track and field athlete. Projecting to defense, Penson plays aggressively with good quickness and ball skills.
Andre Fuller and Kamron Cullins are among Georgia Tech's strong in-state defensive line additions. Cullins moves well for his size, uses his reach well and displays good power. Fuller is simply a good football player with active hands. Both lack some ideal measurables, but have the tools to be tough, productive players up front for the Yellow Jackets. Head coach Brent Key has an offensive line background and landed some of the top OLs in the class. Justin Hasenhuetl and Damola Ajidahun are flexible and mobile blockers with high ceilings. Josh Petty was a big recruiting win and is the highest-ranked commit for the Yellow Jackets in the ESPN 300 era. A top-10 OT prospect, he is a two-sport athlete who also wrestles and possesses good body quickness and bend.
24. TCU Horned Frogs
ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: QB Adam Schobel
Top defensive prospect: DE Chad Woodfork
Previous ranking: 22
The Horned Frogs made a run to the national title in 2022. But now, coming off a five-win season, they're looking to infuse more talent and spark another ascension. They added some potential productive receiving targets in Ed Small, who displays strong ball skills, and Chance Ables, who has good length and body control to adjust. RB Jon Denman runs with power and determination to be effective between the tackles, but also has good speed when gets to the perimeter having posted a sub-11 second 100-meter time. TCU lost a QB commit over the summer but quickly rebounded by flipping Schobel from Oklahoma State. A prospect with family ties to the program, he gives the Frogs a passer with consistent mechanics and good touch. He has thrown for over 2,000 yards each of his first three high school seasons.
On defense, the Frogs have added some talented pieces to their front. Woodfork was a big in-state win and is an explosive defender while Jared Martin was an excellent addition out of California as he possesses good initial quickness and can bend well and both can not only get after the QB but can be well-rounded defenders. From in-state, defensive tackle Floyd Guidry can use good initial quickness and leverage to be disruptive.
25. Kentucky Wildcats
ESPN 300: 5
Top offensive prospect: RB Marquise Davis
Top defensive prospect: DE Javeon Campbell
Previous ranking: 24
The Wildcats' offense featured Ray Davis, one of the top rushers in the SEC now with the Buffalo Bills, in 2023. Marquise Davis gives them another talented rusher, even if it'll be another season before he arrives. A versatile player who could also project to defense, Davis has a sturdy build at 5-foot-11, 204 pounds with a nice blend of speed and quickness. He's a productive runner who rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a junior.
Kentucky has used transfers in recent years at quarterback, but ESPN 300 QB Stone Saunders give the Wildcats a promising option to develop within the system. A competitive player with good arm strength, Saunders will be a four-year starter in high school. He threw for more than 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns as a junior. The Wildcats have kept some of the state's top defensive prospects at home in ESPN 300 safety Martels Carter Jr. and DE Campbell. Carter has good speed, ball skills and can contribute in the return game. Campbell is a basketball player with limited prep football experience having started playing as a junior but has shown he is a quick study notching over a dozen sacks last year and still has room to grow as a player and could be a disruptive and versatile defensive lineman for the Wildcats.
26. Arkansas Razorbacks
ESPN 300: 3
Top offensive prospect: QB Grayson Wilson
Top defensive prospect: LB Tavion Wallace
Previous ranking: 25
Arkansas' win totals have steadily decreased since its nine-win season in 2021. The Razorbacks are working the recruiting trail to help get them rising once again. Keeping in-state quarterback Grayson Wilson home was a nice start. He's a coachable player that has shown good accuracy and the ability to change ball speeds. Wilson also runs well and can make plays with his legs. He had a strong performance at the Under Armour Next Dallas camp this spring, sharing quarterback MVP honors with Alabama commit Keelon Russell.
Markeylin Batton is a versatile addition. His upside might be highest on defense as a corner, but he could also contribute on offense. Wallace was a big win on the recruiting trail beating out SEC foes Florida and Georgia for the commitment of the LB with excellent speed and range, having posted a 10.61 100-meter. Wide receiver Kamare Williams out of Florida is a big target at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with nice reach and can use his size to win contested matchups.
27. Nebraska Cornhuskers
ESPN 300: 4
Top offensive prospect: QB T.J. Lateef
Top defensive prospect: CB Bryson Webber
Previous ranking: 29
The Huskers made headlines signing five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola last cycle, but maintaining quarterback depth and optionality has never been more vital. Nebraska added T.J. Lateef, another ESPN 300 quarterback, who is a confident player with an effortless release. Lateef can drive the ball into tight windows when needed, but can also throw with touch. Jamarion Parker can be a versatile offensive weapon as a multipurpose back. He is elusive with the ball in his hands in space and has the speed to finish plays. Tight end Bear Tenney is a big target at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds that offers a wide catch radius with good hands and body control.
In-state recruiting is always important to the Cornhuskers. They have several top prospects from Nebraska, including athlete Caden VerMaas, who projects to defense and is the longest-tenured commit in the class. Tyson Terry is another. He is a competitive, physical and stout defensive lineman who can be a sound, consistent performer in the trenches. Also on defense, the Huskers pulled out of Texas ESPN 300 CB Webber, who possesses good height (6-2) and speed, having posted a 4.54 40 on the camp circuit this offseason.
28. SMU Mustangs
ESPN 300: 3
Top offensive prospect: OT Dramodd Odoms
Top defensive prospect: CB Zay Gentry
Previous ranking: 27
The Mustangs must feel good rolling into the ACC. They notched an American Athletic Conference title, and although their recruiting has experienced some dips, they have shown the resilience to bounce back and adapt. They lost highly touted QB commit Keelon Russell to Alabama but rebounded by flipping ESPN 300 QB Ty Hawkins from TCU. He is dual threat who as a junior threw for over 2,000 yards while rushing for nearly 1,000.
One prospect who has stayed true to the Mustangs is Daylon Singleton, a diminutive but fast wide receiver who has shown he can be a productive target -- he caught 17 touchdowns as a junior. SMU landed some big additions in the offensive trenches with in-state ESPN 300 tackle Odoms and powerful and tenacious guard Abel Hoopii, who was an MVP performer at the Under Armour Maui camp this summer. Gentry is a very good in-state keep on defense as he is a corner with desired length and excellent speed, having been measured at 21 mph in game play.
29. Wisconsin Badgers
ESPN 300: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Logan Powell
Top defensive prospect: LB Mason Posa
Previous ranking: 30
Known for fielding big, powerful offensive lines, the Badgers keep one of the state's top big men at home in Michael Roeske. He moves well with good strength and balance and has a big frame to develop into one of the Badgers' next massive people movers. They pulled OT Logan Powell out of Arizona. He is a versatile lineman that has filled out his frame nicely throughout high school. He also moves well and can offer the unit position flexibility.
Former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell returned to the area to land talented three-star corner Jai'mier Scott. He pairs good overall height and length with speed and closing ability. Wisconsin went outside its normal recruiting base to land LB Mason Posa. A state championship wrestler in New Mexico, he has good length, flexibility and instincts. He tallied just shy of 100 tackles as a junior with seven sacks. The Badgers pulled quarterback Landyn Locke out of Texas. He has a good frame, arm strength and throws an accurate deep ball, plus he has tools to develop.
30. Mississippi State Bulldogs
ESPN 300: 3
Top offensive prospect: OL Mario Nash Jr.
Top defensive prospect: LB Tyshun Willis
Previous ranking: 28
Jeff Lebby's hire helped the Bulldogs close the 2024 cycle strong and finish with a class on the cusp of the top 25. Now, Lebby has a full year to work. Quarterback Michael Van Buren was a very nice late add last cycle. They already have their quarterback on board for 2025 in KaMario Taylor. A passer with a strong arm and good mobility, he threw for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for nearly 800 yards as a junior. In-state offensive lineman Mario Nash took home offensive line MVP honors at a loaded Atlanta Under Armour camp. He is a big man with very good feet and mobility and does a good job of creating leverage with his hand placement. Nash needs to add some more mass, but he can be a versatile player for them along the offensive line.
Linebacker Tyshun Willis was a big in-state keep. He can play multiple spots defensively, has excellent range for his size, good length and is a productive player who tallied more than 100 tackles during his junior season.
31. Kansas State Wildcats
ESPN 300: 2
Top offensive prospect: TE Linkon Cure
Top defensive prospect: CB Martel Jackson
Previous ranking: 33
Chris Klieman has tallied 19 wins over the past two seasons, and while he continues to evaluate and develop talent well, he has also elevated the Wildcats' recruiting. Keeping Cure, an ESPN 300 prospect, at home was key as he is a big target who runs well and can be a productive weapon in their offensive attack. Dillon Duff, who threw for over 1,800 yards as a junior, gives them a scrappy player to develop at QB. They landed a pair of four-star receivers in R.J. Collins and Adonis Moise. In the trenches, Brock Heath needs to continue to fill out his frame but is a flexible and agile blocker with an aggressive demeanor and can be a good fit along the offensive line.
32. Utah Utes
ESPN 300: 2
Top offensive prospect: OT Aaron Dunn
Top defensive prospect: LB Christian Thatcher
Previous ranking: 39
The Utes went into California to land their QB in four-star Wyatt Becker. He is a passer with a strong arm and smooth release who can also run well and make plays with his feet. They landed one of the top prospects in their state to help keep their QB upright and open running lanes in ESPN 300 OT Dunn. At nearly 6-foot-8, he has a big frame with nice arm length and good agility and flexibility for his size. On defense, Cyrus Polu is another nice in-state addition. An MVP performer at this spring's Under Armour camp, he is a prospect who can be a well-rounded defender with further development and maximization of his physical tools. They further strengthened their LB corps with ESPN 300 LB Thatcher, who is an aggressive player and can be a presence sideline to sideline. He has tallied over 300 career tackles through his first three prep seasons.
33. Ole Miss Rebels
ESPN 300: 3
Top offensive prospect: WR Dillon Alfred
Top defensive prospect: CB Cortez Thomas
Previous ranking: 36
The Rebels have made some noise in the transfer portal, but for 2025, they have also been active on the recruiting trail and in mining some of the in-state talent. The top defensive prospect in the state, Thomas is an explosive player who can quickly close and is not afraid to throw his body around. LB Jarcoby Hopson is also one of the top defenders within the state and can be a physical presence with his range and ability to deliver punishing hits as a tackler.
Although defense anchors the class, they have added some offensive players as well. Samari Reed is a nice pickup out of Florida as he is a receiver with the size and speed to play on the outside but also displays the agility and toughness to be an inside receiver. He had over 50 receptions for over 1,000 yards as a junior. WR Alfred, who originally hails from Mississippi, was a previous Ole Miss commit who is returning home and to the class. A bit more of a diminutive target, he can be shifty as a route runner and create after the catch.
34. Florida Gators
ESPN 300: 5
Top offensive prospect: WR Vernell Brown III
Top defensive prospect: DE Jalen Wiggins
Previous ranking: 35
The Gators navigated a turbulent 2024 recruiting cycle to still finish with a top-10 class. Looking to return the program to the national title hunt, Billy Napier is still working to add more impact talent to the roster. Wiggins was a key in-state keep, pulling him out of rival Florida State's backyard. He is an aggressive DL with excellent length and good initial quickness and range. He has shown he can be tough to handle, recording 16 sacks and more than 30 TFLs as a junior.
On offense, Waltez Clark is a smooth runner with the speed to generate explosive plays when he gets in the open field. Brown has good hands and a nice blend of speed and quickness, and can not only be a playmaking target on offense, but also a dangerous weapon in the return game. Josh Moore gives the Gators another receiver who can be a productive target but with more size at 6-foot-4.
35. South Carolina Gamecocks
ESPN 300: 1
Top offensive prospect: WR Lex Cyrus
Top defensive prospect: S Damarcus Leach
Previous ranking: 32
Coming off a five-win 2023 season, the Gamecocks are working to elevate within the SEC. They signed a top-20 class in 2024 and are adding more talent this cycle as well. In-state defensive back Damarcus Leach is a strong addition to the secondary. He possesses very nice height and length and blends it was excellent play speed, having been recorded hitting over 21 mph in game play. Anthony Addison is an Edge defender with good flexibility and active hands and has a nice ceiling for development.
On offense, wide receiver Brian Rowe is slightly built, but he can fly. Rowe has excellent leaping ability and can create after the catch. He had over 1,000 yards receiving as a junior. Cyrus is another lean, wiry target that can run having hit over 21 mph in game play and can make defenders miss after the catch. In-state receiver Jayden Sellers is another slightly built target, but brings good speed as well to their receiver room.
36. Stanford Cardinal
ESPN 300: 1
Top offensive prospect: WR JonAnthony Hall
Top defensive prospect: DE Adam Shovlin
Previous ranking: 33
Bear Bachmeier has a thick, sturdy build and displays good anticipation while throwing with accuracy. The quarterback has thrown for more than 2,500 yards each of the last two seasons while completing at least 66% of his passes each year. He can also move well and rushed for over 600 yards each of the last two years. A potential future top target is Hall, a receiver with good size and short-area quickness, as a junior he tallied over 60 receptions for over 1,000 yards.
On defense, Shovlin is a competitive, high-energy player who can win battles with power and moves well for his size. He can be a disruptive presence. Fellow defensive line commit Kole Briehler has some similar traits and should complement Shovlin well.
37. Baylor Bears
ESPN 300: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Michael Turner
Top defensive prospect: DE Kamauryn Morgan
Previous ranking: 34
As the Bears try to climb back to the top of the Big 12, they are able to build their class around some of Texas' deep pool of talent. Turner, one of the top RB prospects in the state, is a prospect with nice size at roughly 6 feet and more than 200 pounds. Though he may be a little quicker than fast, he plays hard and can shake defenders with enough speed to generate big plays when he gets into space. To further strengthen the offensive backfield, the Bears have landed high three-star RB Caden Knighten out of Oklahoma, a rugged runner with a nice blend of speed and suddenness. WR Ashton Jones, at roughly 6-foot-3 with nearly a 79-inch wingspan, is a rangy target with good speed.
On defense, Morgan was a strong in-state pickup who has shown the ability to be disruptive and pressure the quarterback. Interior DL Jackson Blackwell put forth an MVP performance at a talent-rich UA Dallas camp this offseason. He has good initial quickness for a 300-pounder and has shown he can take and process coaching well. Demetrius Brisbon was a nice flip from SMU as he is a versatile, fluid athlete who has been utilized at QB but projects to the secondary in college.
38. Virginia Tech Hokies
ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: ATH Micah Matthews
Top defensive prospect: LB Brett Clatterbaugh
Previous ranking: 40
The Hokies have been able to keep some top in-state talent at home. Matthews is listed as an athlete but projects to receiver, where he can be a big-play target with excellent hands and plenty of speed. As a junior, he had nearly 90 receptions for over 1,400 yards. He is a true athlete who also plans to play baseball in college. Matthew Outten was another key in-state commit and further bolsters the receiving unit with his length and speed. With some deep threats on board, the Hokies landed a QB with a strong arm who can drive the ball downfield in three-star A.J. Brand. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards as a junior and rushed for over a 1,000. Clatterbaugh is among the top defensive prospects in the state. He displays good recognition skills and can close well and be a physical presence.
39. Syracuse Orange
ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: OT Jayden Mann
Top defensive prospect: LB Antoine Deslauriers
Previous ranking: 37
Former Georgia assistant Fran Brown hit the recruiting trail running. He quickly boosted Syracuse's 2024 class to a strong finish. Now, with a full year to work, he's ready to build on that momentum in the 2025 cycle. Maintaining a strong presence in the tri-state area -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- is key for the Orange. They have landed multiple good commitments from that footprint, including wide receiver Darien Williams and corner Javon Lawrence. A hometown prospect, Williams is a polished route-runner for a player at this stage and has good body control to adjust to the ball. Lawrence possesses a solid frame with length and brings upside.
Antoine Deslauriers is a commit to watch. A Canadian that played his junior year in the states, he is a physically impressive and instinctive LB that can develop into a highly productive and punishing presence in the middle of their defense. Quante Gillians is another good in-state keep as he brings good raw tools to develop. Playing both ways in high school (TE) he will benefit from ability to focus on defense where he displays good power and range and as a junior tallied double-digit sacks.
40. UCLA Bruins
ESPN 300: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB Madden Iamaleava
Top defensive prospect: S Jadyn Hudson
Previous ranking: 38
It is a new era for the Bruins as they enter a new conference and have a new coach leading the program. While things are changing, alum DeShaun Foster is making sure the program is still led by a top QB. He landed in-state ESPN 300 QB Iamaleava. The younger brother of Tennessee QB Nico, Madden has a live arm while also displaying touch and poise and can make plays on the move. He'll have a familiar face among potential targets as UCLA also landed his teammate Jace Brown, a big target at nearly 6-foot-4 who possesses strong hands and can make plays in contested matchups. On defense, Hudson is a safety with good range and has shown he can be a ball hawk, notching six interceptions last season.