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In the final weeks of the 2018 recruiting cycle, there are new names emerging as high priority targetsby Barton Simmons
The recruiting finish line may be in sight for college football programs around the country, but in a lot of individual recruitments, the race is just beginning. Around this time every year, some fresh names emerge as high priority targets for college football's blue bloods. These guys may have been afterthoughts for the better part of their recruitments, but by January of their senior years, they're living the five-star lifestyle as their recruitments intensify.
With the first ever Early Signing Period instituted this year, limiting January's available prospects, the late finds have become more critical than ever before. Whether due to senior film, academic question marks clearing up, positional value or simply a late appreciation for their body of work, these 11 prospects have gone from faces in the crowd to center stage down the stretch.
1. Four-star DT Malik Langham
Contenders: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee
Where'd he come from: The only unique circumstance in Langham's recruitment is that he's 6-foot-5.5, 270 pounds and he put together a tremendous senior tape. Lineman bodies with like that -- who can move -- are rare and there's always one or two every year that become the critical final piece to a host of major programs.
Buzz: Had Langham signed in December, there's a good chance he would've ended up at Vanderbilt. But he's since become a top priority for Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, and now he's considering an Auburn visit after a late offer. Alabama is considered the favorite here coming off of a Florida official visit, but he will choose between Auburn and Tennessee for his last visit this weekend and the Tigers could become a real threat.
2. Three-star DT Moro Ojomo
Contenders: Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M
Where'd he come from: A late developer, Ojomo was good as a junior but he earned Defensive MVP honors for his district as a senior, taking his game to a different level. He won't turn 18 until after he hits a college campus so for a very athletic and physically gifted defensive lineman, he's still very much on the early end of his development.
Buzz: Ojomo's rapid rise began in part with a Texas offer in early December. Since then, Tennessee, Oregon, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Miami have all followed. He had a good official visit with Texas last weekend with TCU, Oregon and Texas A&M all jostling to get him on campus before signing day. Oklahoma may be Texas' biggest threat, but the Longhorns appear to be holding the lead.
3a. Three-star QB Brock Purdy/3b. Four-star QB Brevin White
Contenders: Alabama and Princeton for White; Alabama, Iowa State, UCF and Boise State for Purdy
Where'd they come from: Because every school tries to get their quarterback committed early and signed early, the quarterback position is a barren desert beyond the Early Signing Period. After a season in which he threw for 4,400 yards, Purdy wisely passed on signing with New Mexico State or UNLV that were his options in December and immediately saw the likes of Boise State, Kansas, UCF and Iowa State come calling. Then an Alabama offered raised the stakes even more.
White had already passed on a host of major college offers from the Pac-12 and beyond to commit to Princeton, but Ivy League prospects don't sign letters of intent which allowed White to remain available to January poachers. Alabama is one of the few that may have been able to tempt him away from that Ivy League pledge.
Buzz: Both Purdy and White took official visits to Alabama over the weekend, so we could quickly see some returns from that experience. For White, it's either Alabama or Princeton. For Purdy, Iowa State is likely Alabama's biggest competitor, but Boise State and UCF have also gotten official visits.
4. Three-star TE Matt Alaimo
Contenders: Texas A&M, Auburn, UCLA
Where'd he come from: Alaimo's high school quarterback Nick Patti committed to Pitt back in May. Alaimo joined him one month later, but after electing to abstain from signing early, he parted ways with Pitt. Once back on the open market, the 6-5, 235-pounder quickly became a popular prospect.
Buzz: Auburn was one of the first elite programs to really prioritize Alaimo after the Early Signing Period and took an early lead, but it appears that Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M have since taken command. After an official visit to UCLA, Chip Kelly may have made this a two-team race between the Aggies and Bruins. Florida has also offered within the last few days and will try to get Alaimo on campus for an official visit in the final weekend before signing day.
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Check out #1
In the final weeks of the 2018 recruiting cycle, there are new names emerging as high priority targetsby Barton Simmons
- @bartonsimmons
- 21h ago • 7 min read
The recruiting finish line may be in sight for college football programs around the country, but in a lot of individual recruitments, the race is just beginning. Around this time every year, some fresh names emerge as high priority targets for college football's blue bloods. These guys may have been afterthoughts for the better part of their recruitments, but by January of their senior years, they're living the five-star lifestyle as their recruitments intensify.
With the first ever Early Signing Period instituted this year, limiting January's available prospects, the late finds have become more critical than ever before. Whether due to senior film, academic question marks clearing up, positional value or simply a late appreciation for their body of work, these 11 prospects have gone from faces in the crowd to center stage down the stretch.
1. Four-star DT Malik Langham
Contenders: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee
Where'd he come from: The only unique circumstance in Langham's recruitment is that he's 6-foot-5.5, 270 pounds and he put together a tremendous senior tape. Lineman bodies with like that -- who can move -- are rare and there's always one or two every year that become the critical final piece to a host of major programs.
Buzz: Had Langham signed in December, there's a good chance he would've ended up at Vanderbilt. But he's since become a top priority for Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, and now he's considering an Auburn visit after a late offer. Alabama is considered the favorite here coming off of a Florida official visit, but he will choose between Auburn and Tennessee for his last visit this weekend and the Tigers could become a real threat.
2. Three-star DT Moro Ojomo
Contenders: Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M
Where'd he come from: A late developer, Ojomo was good as a junior but he earned Defensive MVP honors for his district as a senior, taking his game to a different level. He won't turn 18 until after he hits a college campus so for a very athletic and physically gifted defensive lineman, he's still very much on the early end of his development.
Buzz: Ojomo's rapid rise began in part with a Texas offer in early December. Since then, Tennessee, Oregon, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Miami have all followed. He had a good official visit with Texas last weekend with TCU, Oregon and Texas A&M all jostling to get him on campus before signing day. Oklahoma may be Texas' biggest threat, but the Longhorns appear to be holding the lead.
3a. Three-star QB Brock Purdy/3b. Four-star QB Brevin White
Contenders: Alabama and Princeton for White; Alabama, Iowa State, UCF and Boise State for Purdy
Where'd they come from: Because every school tries to get their quarterback committed early and signed early, the quarterback position is a barren desert beyond the Early Signing Period. After a season in which he threw for 4,400 yards, Purdy wisely passed on signing with New Mexico State or UNLV that were his options in December and immediately saw the likes of Boise State, Kansas, UCF and Iowa State come calling. Then an Alabama offered raised the stakes even more.
White had already passed on a host of major college offers from the Pac-12 and beyond to commit to Princeton, but Ivy League prospects don't sign letters of intent which allowed White to remain available to January poachers. Alabama is one of the few that may have been able to tempt him away from that Ivy League pledge.
Buzz: Both Purdy and White took official visits to Alabama over the weekend, so we could quickly see some returns from that experience. For White, it's either Alabama or Princeton. For Purdy, Iowa State is likely Alabama's biggest competitor, but Boise State and UCF have also gotten official visits.
4. Three-star TE Matt Alaimo
Contenders: Texas A&M, Auburn, UCLA
Where'd he come from: Alaimo's high school quarterback Nick Patti committed to Pitt back in May. Alaimo joined him one month later, but after electing to abstain from signing early, he parted ways with Pitt. Once back on the open market, the 6-5, 235-pounder quickly became a popular prospect.
Buzz: Auburn was one of the first elite programs to really prioritize Alaimo after the Early Signing Period and took an early lead, but it appears that Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M have since taken command. After an official visit to UCLA, Chip Kelly may have made this a two-team race between the Aggies and Bruins. Florida has also offered within the last few days and will try to get Alaimo on campus for an official visit in the final weekend before signing day.
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