Rivals Five-Star: Recruiting intel from elite Florida prospects
LIVE FROM RIVALS FIVE-STAR MEDIA DAY: All the news, notes and interviews
RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Ten prospects to watch closely | Ten matchups we can't wait to see | ACC programs in the spotlight | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Key OL storylines | Key DL storylines | Key LB storylines | Key DB storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy
Clemson discourages its committed recruits from taking trips elsewhere and this one isn't interested in any other program at this time. Burroughs continues to receive calls from other programs but is not entertaining much communication at this time. He is all Clemson Tiger.
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A half-dozen programs have hosted the top-ranked running back recruit and now we know when a decision is expected to come in. Cooper will announce his college commitment on July 12 between Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Texas. The Buckeyes got the most recent official visit and impressed from Ryan Day on down. Alabama is playing dark horse, Georgia remains in the thick of the race and Miami continues to angle staying home so this race could have a twist or two remaining.
The IMG Academy standout showed up in a Florida State jacket and many think the Seminoles are the team to beat. We hear Florida is right there and a pair of UMs, Michigan and Miami, won't go quietly in this recruitment either. Forkpa was considering a June decision but he will now hold off and evaluate further into the summer months and possibly the season if a program like Ohio State or Clemson pushes further.
It's still early for the Tampa native who has racked up nearly 50 scholarship offers. The in-state programs continue to push for Henderson, who most recently visited Miami, but the visit trail has taken him well beyond of late. A trio of programs he elected to single out included defending national champion Ohio State and SEC programs Tennessee and Texas A&M. A list of top programs could soon emerge for the nation's second-ranked linebacker recruit.
One of the most coveted pass-rushers in the country wrapped up a busy summer on the visit trail with a weekend stop at Oklahoma, the program that has perhaps courted him longest nationally. The detail from the program has the Sooners remaining in the thick of it as Florida, Texas and Ole Miss also look to contend. Visits to each went down in June, with the Rebels hosting him for the first time and surging up the list. Kreul is in no rush to make a final decision, so the college football season and additional visits seem likely.
The last two visits may signal two of the long-term contenders for the 2028 star. McFarland was at Ohio State and Miami most recently and each program is amid an early push for the top talent. Even the head coaches, Ryan Day and Mario Cristobal, are personally attached to pushing for the IMG Academy athlete. LSU was labeled the dream school and recently offered, too.
One of the youngest competitors set to work out in Indianapolis, Monds is also very early in his recruitment despite considerable national offers to his name. The passer was on the road recently, however, taking in both Ohio State and Notre Dame camps. The time with the national title game participants
The top underclassman passer has been busy on the camp circuit of late, hitting Texas, Oregon and Georgia before his stop at the Rivals Five-Star. Each trip impressed and those national programs figure to remain in the mix for the California native by way of IMG Academy. Wade is shifting his focus to the 2025 season but admits a top group of programs could emerge soon after. The trio he just saw feel like a relatively safe bet at this stage.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Cal Raleigh ties Ken Griffey Jr.'s Mariners record for home runs before All-Star break with 35
SEATTLE — On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a laundry list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners following their 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. Ichiro was one of the first names off the board, followed by the likes of stud starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., who he tied for the franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break with 35 with a pair of blasts. Advertisement 'To be mentioned with that name, somebody that's just iconic, a legend, first ballot Hall of Famer, I'm just blessed,' Raleigh said. 'Trying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it's a good guy to look up to.' From Raleigh's perspective, Griffey would have 'smashed' the major league home run record rather than come up 132 short of Barry Bonds if not for injuries. Thankfully for Raleigh's sake, that admiration hasn't been reserved for the public eye. Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with 'The Kid.' Advertisement 'It's always fun to have him around the clubhouse to just talk to him a little bit and figure out how he went about his business,' Raleigh said. 'So, I've talked to him on the phone once or twice as well. So, he's a good one. He's one of the best of all-time. It's hard to beat talking to somebody like that.' It's also hard to find many comparable runs to what Raleigh — who will participate in the Home Run Derby — is in the midst of, and what Griffey accomplished ahead of the 1998 All-Star break. Manager Dan Wilson, who was a teammate of Griffey's in 1998, is among the few folks who can truly put Raleigh's fast start to 2025 in perspective. 'It's remarkable. It feels like he hits a home run every game, that's what it feels like,' Wilson said. 'And I can remember feeling it as a player, that (Griffey) just felt like he hit a home run every day. Again, that's the consistency that (Raleigh) has shown. It hasn't been a streak where he has hit a bunch of home runs in a short amount of time. It's been kind of 10 per month.' Advertisement 3 Cal Raleigh, belting a two-run homer in the first inning, hit his 34th and 35th homers in the Mariners' 6-0 win over the Pirates on July 4, 2025. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images To Wilson's point, Raleigh has been remarkably consistent. He walloped nine home runs in April, 12 in May and 11 more in June. Griffey's figures were a tad more mercurial, but just barely (10 in April, eight in May, 14 in June). Advertisement All told, the 28-year-old Raleigh has more than lived up to the early stages of his six-year, $105 million contract extension, which he signed just ahead of the 2025 season. 3 Cal Raleigh celebrates with teammates after belting a solo homer in the sixth inning of the Mariners' victory over the Pirates. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Not only has Raleigh set a career high for home runs, but he's on track to post new marks for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Raleigh chalked those developments up to his maturing a little over halfway into his fourth full major league season. 'I have the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,' Raleigh said. 'I mean, it's part of my game and I'm a strong guy. It's learning how to hone it in and take your hits when maybe you're not getting those pitches in the heart of the plate.' 3 Cal Raleigh holds up the trident and celebrates with the fans after the Mariners' win over the Pirates. Getty Images Such an approach is all well and good, but the results have been starkly different. Raleigh has racked up just 36 singles, or one more than his home run total. Advertisement Suffice to say, Raleigh's offensive output has justified every dollar the Mariners have sent his way so far, and then some. 'Want to make sure I'm doing everything I can every single day to earn that paycheck and earn what they gave me,' Raleigh said. 'But it's a lot more than just that. It's being a leader, doing things in the clubhouse and making sure you're ready to go every single day.'
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
4 reasons Longhorns may have dodged a bullet by losing 5-star Felix Ojo to Texas Tech
On the afternoon of Independence Day, five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech. Thought to be a heavy Longhorns lean, the Mansfield, TX native reportedly accepted a late deal from the Red Raiders for $5.1 million dollars over three years. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect didn't even list Tech as a final four and told Rivals last week it was between Ohio State and Texas. In the end, Ojo took the big money from Texas Tech mega-booster and Matador Club founder Chad Campbell. Could this end up being a blessing for Texas? Ojo was reportedly the Longhorns No. 1 target during this recruiting cycle. Texas spent a lot of time, effort and capital to get him to Austin. No one blames a 17 or 18 year old for taking the biggest offer. But it is how Ojo handled himself over the past 10 days that should put up red flags. Cash over player development While taking the biggest offer is understandable, it is shortsighted. No one would say the player development at Texas Tech is as good as the Longhorns have been under Steve Sarkisian. Texas has the most NFL Draft picks over the past two years and have a great record of getting offensive lineman drafted high. Kelvin Banks Jr. went No. 9 to the Saints in the most recent draft. Ojo simply won't get the quality of coaching at Tech as he would at UT. Most agents want the biggest deal possible. It seems logical. But sometimes that goal is at odds with the player's future. The agent wants his percentage of the money to be as much and as soon as possible. Ojo's representative Derrick Shelby probably won't be his agent when it comes time to negotiate his first NFL contract. But the cost for the client, in this case Ojo, is player development. Disingenuous in the final days Bobby Burton has covered the Longhorns for decades. The media legend helped found Rivals and 247Sports. Burton says Ojo purposely strung the coaching staffs of Texas and Ohio State along in the waning stages of his recruitment, even though his camp had made the decision to head to Lubbock. Playing coy in the press and on social media is one thing. Being less than truthful with other coaching staffs for spot is another level. Disrespectful commitment ceremony Many recruits play the old "hat switcheroo" at their commitment announcement. A lot of prospects, and even fans, find it funny. But coaches HATE it and they remember it. It is patently disrespectful to the staff that spent their time, effort, money and emotions to recruit you. Of course, the losing school has a lot of self interest each time they recruit a prospect. But unless you were treated poorly, there's no need to rub it in their faces at the end. Ojo did a real song and dance with the Longhorns cap at his commitment ceremony. Recent struggles on the field Ojo really struggled at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge last week. I have been to several of these events. When a guy struggles as bad as Ojo struggled, it can mean the player is over-ranked. High School players can spend most of their career dominating the opposition in their own district. Mansfield Lake Ridge High School is in a district with other Mansfield, Crowley and Weatherford schools. It is a district with decent, but not great, opposition. Sometimes when a prospect meets elite talent for the first time at a national event, they are overwhelmed. The Five-Star challenge has the hundred best players in the nation and the defensive lineman Ojo faced ran over, around and through him all day. It was so bad Ojo had to issue a national statement after the camp. Ojo looked slow and lackadaisical and flat-out bullied. Ojo might be incredible in Lubbock. He might be the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NFL Draft. He is certainly guaranteed to make a lot of money for himself and his family. But his entire recruitment does send up some warning signs that make it less likely Texas missed out on a generational talent and more likely the Horns dodged a bullet. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
Chicago Tribune
3 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits 34th and 35th homers before All-Star break — tying a Ken Griffey Jr. record
SEATTLE — On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners after their 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Ichiro Suzuki was one of the first names, followed by starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., whose franchise record of 35 home runs before the All-Star break Raleigh tied with a pair of blasts. 'To be mentioned with that name, somebody that's just iconic, a legend, first-ballot Hall of Famer, I'm just blessed,' Raleigh said. 'Trying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it's a good guy to look up to.' From Raleigh's perspective, Griffey would have 'smashed' the major-league home run record — rather than come up 132 short of Barry Bonds — if not for injuries. Thankfully for Raleigh's sake, that admiration hasn't been reserved for the public eye. Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with 'The Kid.' 'It's always fun to have him around the clubhouse to just talk to him a little bit and figure out how he went about his business,' Raleigh said. 'I've talked to him on the phone once or twice as well. So he's a good one. He's one of the best of all time. It's hard to beat talking to somebody like that.' It's also hard to find many comparable runs to what Raleigh — who will participate in the Home Run Derby — is in the midst of and what Griffey accomplished ahead of the 1998 All-Star break. Manager Dan Wilson, who was a teammate of Griffey's in 1998, is among the few folks who can truly put Raleigh's fast start to 2025 in perspective. 'It's remarkable. It feels like he hits a home run every game,' Wilson said. 'And I can remember feeling it as a player, that (Griffey) just felt like he hit a home run every day. 'Again, that's the consistency that (Raleigh) has shown. It hasn't been a streak where he has hit a bunch of home runs in a short amount of time. It's been kind of 10 per month.' To Wilson's point, Raleigh has been remarkably consistent. He walloped nine home runs in April, 12 in May and 11 more in June. Griffey's figures were a tad more mercurial but just barely (10 in April, eight in May, 14 in June). All told, the 28-year-old Raleigh has more than lived up in the early stages to the six-year, $105 million contract extension he signed just before the 2025 season. Not only has Raleigh set a career high for home runs, but he's on track to post new marks for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Raleigh chalked up those developments to his maturing a little more than halfway into his fourth full major-league season. 'I have the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,' Raleigh said. 'I mean, it's part of my game and I'm a strong guy. It's learning how to hone it in and take your hits when maybe you're not getting those pitches in the heart of the plate.' Such an approach is all well and good, but the results have been starkly different. Raleigh has racked up only 36 singles — one more than his home run total. Suffice to say, his offensive output has justified every dollar the Mariners have sent his way so far, and then some. 'Want to make sure I'm doing everything I can every single day to earn that paycheck and earn what they gave me,' Raleigh said. 'But it's a lot more than just that. It's being a leader, doing things in the clubhouse and making sure you're ready to go every single day.' ___ AP MLB:
