While many big names have come off the board in recent weeks, several heavy hitters are still working towards commitments – especially on the offensive line. Here is the latest news, notes and intel from the recruiting trail as summer comes to an end and more top prospects finalize their college plans.
Commitment coming for No. 1 OT
Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School five-star plus offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. will announce his college plans on Saturday during a 12:30 pm ceremony at this school. The nearly 6-foot-6, 276-pound Sanders finalists are Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee. The Vols are humming on the On3 RPM.
There was a time in the early spring and summer where the Buckeyes looked like a formidable challenger to the Vols, but five visits to Knoxville this calendar year including the final stop of the process has put the Checkered Orange in prime position to land the coveted franchise tackle target.
Tennessee has On3’s No. 9 ranked recruiting class headlined by quarterback George MacIntyre . MacIntyre has been pivotal from a peer recruiting aspect in courting Sanders who enjoys being around the Vols commits and players.
Between the trajectory of Tennessee’s program, proximity to home, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee’s recent track record of developing players and the resources the Vols have poured into this recruitment, they stand in great position to score Sanders commitment this weekend.
The On3 Industry ranks Sanders as the country’s No. 2 prospect overall. Pair Sanders with another class jewel in the On3 Industry’s No. 3 interior offensive lineman Douglas Utu and that is a fantastic offensive line haul that could set a program at the point of attack for years to come.
Vols landing championship level prospects
Josh Heupel and his staff have had several big recruiting wins in this 2025 cycle.
Alongside On3’s No. 1 ranked prospect and quarterback Bryce Underwood , MacIntyre was as coveted as any prospect in the land at the position. He chose to stay in-state and play in Knoxville over Alabama, LSU, Michigan and many others. No program is recruiting high school quarterbacks better right now than Tennessee.
Like Sanders and MacIntyre, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Utu could’ve chose any program in the country he wanted.
The Vols have brought in a nice blend of receivers and tight ends this cycle. Four-stars Travis Smith Jr. and Radarious Jackson highlight the work done at wide out. The 6-foot-2, 184-pound Jackson particularly has all the traits to be one of the most dynamic pass catchers in the SEC. As a junior Jackson averaged over 11 yards per carry gaining 782 yards and scoring nine touchdowns and was explosive when the ball was thrown his way averaging over 23 yards per catch on his way to 696 yards and 13 more scores. He had 63 touchdowns, eight interceptions, two pick sixes and a punt return for a score. Not many stuffed the box score like Jackson did last season.
Tennessee has one of the top tight end hauls in the country flipping the No. 4 prospect at the position DaSaahn Brame from Oregon and also pulling in four-star Jack Van Dorselaer out of the Lone Star State addressing a huge position of need in 2025. Brame averaged over 20 yards per catch, racking up 45 receptions for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns. Van Dorselaer is a big target that averaged over 21 yards per catch, scoring six times on just 15 receptions. He is a complete player at the position.
Tennessee beat nearly all the top programs in the SEC for safety Lagonza Hayward , pass rusher Christian Gass and defensive lineman Mariyon Dye have as much upside as any prospects committed in the conference.
Heupel and company have 21 commitments and looking for a few more.
Other Tennessee targets
Four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny will commit on Aug. 23 and like Sanders the Vols are trending on the On3 RPM. Hayward is one of five defensive backs already committed and Konanbanny would put the finishing touches on a strong haul in the secondary.
Tennessee is still on the hunt for another running back in the 2025 cycle. Buford (Ga.) High’s Justin Baker has been in the fold since October 2023.
I believe the Vols would like to take another linebacker and will evaluate senior risers during the season while also hunting potential flips.
Latest with 5-star OT Andrew Babalola
Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest five-star Andrew Babalola has told On3 in the past he’s been trying to commit by Aug. 12.
“Still navigating my decision, not sure but I want to decide soon,” Babalola told On3 on Thursday afternoon.
Around Michigan sources feel good about their position. The balance of high-level football and academics is attractive. Babalola has visited Ann Arbor a few times and he and his mother are high on the program.
Around Auburn they feel they’re right in the thick of it with the Wolverines. Babalola’s brother attends school in the area. No relationship is stronger than the one with the Tigers staff.
Around Stanford they feel they’ve done everything they can. The two offensive line coach approach in Palo Alto is a nice little wrinkle for the Cardinal. The academic prestige is a major factor for Babalola.
Around Oklahoma they feel they’re in the thick of it as well. Babalola continues to have dialogue with the coaches and players on the team.
Missouri will go till the final bell for any top target. We’ve seen Eliah Drinkwitz and his staff have the chops to go toe to toe with any program this cycle.
I don’t feel as strong about the Stanford RPM. I like the way Michigan has been trending this summer and view Auburn as the darkhorse that could get it done. What a coup that would be for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers as they aim to build on On3’s No. 6 ranked recruiting class .
The On3 Industry tabs the nearly 6-foot-6, 295-pound Babalola as the country’s No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 15 prospect overall.
Latest with 5-star OT Michael Fasusi
Texas is the On3 RPM favorite for Lewisville (Texas) High’s Michael Fasusi who has a commitment date for Aug. 21.
However there is a lot of buzz around Oklahoma. Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and the Sooners have done a terrific job with Fasusi.
And don’t sleep on the Aggies. Texas A&M has been having regular dialogue with Fasusi each week led by the efforts of offensive line coach Adam Cushing.
The 6-foot-5, 299-pound Fasusi ranks as the On3 Industry’s No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 12 prospect overall.
Texas A&M is working to add him to a class ranked No. 7 nationally . The Longhorns stand strong at No. 13 and the Sooners are in at No. 15.
Georgia Tech pushing for a Top 25 class
Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets sit on 21 commits and On3’s No. 32 ranked recruiting class . It’s a haul that includes beating Georgia for four-star offensive tackle Damola Ajidahun and beating Miami for coveted defensive lineman Derry Norris .
Two big fish could be on the way.
Roswell (Ga.) Fellowship Christian Academy On3 Industry five-star offensive lineman Josh Petty will commit Monday at 2:30 pm. Finalists include Ohio State, Florida State and the Yellow Jackets. This one is trending Georgia Tech’s way. The On3 Industry tabs Petty as the No. 2 interior offensive line prospect and No. 29 player overall. The Buckeyes particularly made a big late push for Petty but we like him staying in the Peach State and playing for Key and company.
“They have been first class from the beginning,” Petty said of Georgia Tech last Monday night. “I like the fact that the head coach is a lineman. It is also a great degree.”
Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue School On300 defensive lineman Christian Garrett backed off his commitment to Georgia on Sunday evening. Georgia Tech is quickly trending on the On3 RPM. The Yellow Jackets were a finalist the first time around alongside Tennessee and never stopped communicating. The On3 Industry ranks Garrett as the country’s No. 11 defensive lineman and No. 129 prospect overall. Vanderbilt and Stanford are two others Garrett will be eyeing a source tells On3. We’ll see if the Vols aim to get back in it.
Georgia Tech has never finished higher in the On3 Industry recruiting standings than No. 27 back in 2020. Dating back to 2017 that’s one of just two times they’ve finished higher than No. 43. Petty and Garrett likely push them to new heights.
Blue-chip quick hits
USC will work finally wrap up the recruitment of prized On3 Industry five-star quarterback Julian Lewis this week. We’ll see what happens if things don’t get finalized as the Trojans have had dialogue with Texas A&M quarterback commit and local target Husan Longstreet . More on USC flirting with Longstreet here.
Iowa has battled back in the recruitment for On3 Industry five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa after Utah and Miami have had much of the momentum through the spring and summer. A major legacy recruit, for much of his process Epenesa remained steadfast on doing his own thing.
But as he’s working to make a college decision before the start of his senior season, the consistency around Iowa is resonating more and more. This is the best I’ve felt about the Hawkeyes chances in quite some time but the Epenesa family continues to have dialogue with the other favorites. Penn State also gave him a great official visit and a lot to think about.
It’s setting up nicely for Florida to land a commitment from Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington On300 cornerback and legacy recruit Ben Hanks Jr. The four-star defensive back will announce on Thursday. Miami and Louisville are the other finalists. I’ve added my On3 RPM to the mix regarding the Gators. Florida has On3’s No. 29 ranked recruiting class to date but when looking at average rank per the 12 current pledges they stand at No. 19. Hanks would be another big boost as he’s the No. 11 cornerback and No. 99 prospect overall.
Don’t sleep on Miami for On300 safety Bryce Fitzgerald who will commit on Saturday. Florida State, LSU and Florida are the other finalists. Florida State has always been a favorite and LSU has seen an uptick in buzz as they build on the country’s No. 3 class but I get the sense around Coral Gables and even Gainesville they feel they’re in the thick of it.
On300 running back Shekai Mills-Knight will commit soon and I like Ole Miss. The Rebels have the No. 24 class per the On3 Industry.
The post Wiltfong Whiparound: Vols trending for 5-star, Georgia Tech closing on two big commits & more appeared first on On3 .
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