College Football Recruiting

Quarterback Elijah "EJ" Warner announced Wednesday he's committed to play college football at Temple as part of the Owls' 2022 recruiting class.

Warner, the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, is rated as a 3-star prospect by 247Sports coming out of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix.

Brophy head football coach Jason Jewell told Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic the signal-caller is ready to conquer the challenges of college football.

"EJ is one of the sharpest and smartest football players I have ever been around," Jewell said. "He absolutely loves football and is a student of the game."

Warner held scholarship offers from several other programs, including Colorado State, Hawai'i, Marshall and UConn, before choosing Temple, per 247Sports.

Jewell explained to Obert the Broncos "asked him to do a ton" in their offense and he rose to the occasion.

"He was our point guard. Got us in the right plays and protections," Jewell said. "So happy that he landed at Temple. No doubt in my mind that he has the intelligence, quick release and arm strength to be a good football player for them."

Warner is a bit undersized (5'11'', 185 pounds) but has otherwise displayed impressive arm talent and a high football IQ. He could immediately compete for the Owls' backup quarterback role behind D'Wan Mathis after the transfer of Justin Lynch to Northern Illinois.

The elder Warner took a unique path to NFL stardom, famously spending time working at a grocery store and playing in the Arena Football League before finally getting a chance to shine leading the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" offense to the Super Bowl XXXIV title at the end of the 1999 season and winning the game's MVP.

The 50-year-old was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2017 and a movie about his journey, American Underdog, was released in December.

Now his son will continue writing his own football story at Temple beginning next season.

Harold Perkins, a 5-star linebacker from Cypress Park High School in Texas, has decommitted from Texas A&M, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

"His options are open right now," his uncle, Alvin Walton, told Wiltfong.

Perkins has already visited Florida and will visit LSU this weekend.

While potentially losing the No. 4 overall recruit in the country is a blow for Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher still has compiled the top-ranked class of 2022, per 247Sports.com's composite rankings.

The incoming Aggies have a whopping six 5-star incoming recruits: wideouts Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall, defensive linemen Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Walter Nolen, cornerback Denver Harris and quarterback Conner Weigman.

Five of those players are considered top-20 recruits nationally for next season. 

The top-ranked linebacker and the top-ranked player from the Longhorn State, Perkins would have bolstered the Aggies defense in a big way, though. Per Gabe Brooks of 247Sports, he's a "dynamic two-way player with big-play ability with the ball in his hands and as an attacking defender" who could "legitimately could be a high-major running back prospect in addition to elite linebacker recruit."

He added that Perkins "possesses the potential to become a multiyear impact starter at the high-major level with long-term early-round NFL draft upside."

So schools like Florida and LSU, among others, will be monitoring this situation closely. Nabbing Perkins would help bolster any incoming recruiting class. 

The recruiting battle for 2023 quarterback Arch Manning looks to be getting more intense with several top college coaches visiting Isidore Newman School.

Isidore Newman football coach Nelson Stewart told Koki Riley of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser that Alabama's Nick Saban and Georgia's Kirby Smart will be among the coaches heading to New Orleans this week.

Riley did note that NCAA recruiting regulations prevent coaches from interacting with Manning or his family at this time, but they are allowed to speak with Stewart.

"I know they're limited in their interactions (with Manning), but obviously anytime he can briefly speak with somebody or really even have a Zoom or go on campus, I think he's really enjoyed it," Stewart told Riley.

Other notable coaches visiting the school this week are Brian Polian and Mike Denbrock from LSU, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and Texas quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee. Alabama is also sending offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and defensive coordinator Pete Golding with Saban.

Per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports, Mississippi offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. visited the school last week and was in attendance for one of Manning's basketball games this week.

Manning—the oldest son of Cooper Manning, brother of Peyton and Eli Manning—has already generated tremendous hype as the next great quarterback recruit, and he is ranked as a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class, per 247Sports.

Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Mississippi, Texas and Oklahoma are among the schools that have offered Manning a scholarship.

He finished the 2021 season with more than 2,000 yards passing, 26 passing touchdowns, eight rushing touchdowns and four interceptions. Isidore Newman lost 49-7 to Lafayette Christian Academy in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division III playoff semifinals.   

Spencer Rattler may not be the only quarterback to transfer from Oklahoma before the 2022 season.

Caleb Williams, who took over as the starting signal-caller during the 2021 campaign after Rattler struggled with consistency, announced he will enter the transfer portal:

Williams explained "according to NCAA rules, the only way I can speak with other schools and see who may offer the best preparation and development for my future career is by entering the portal. Staying at OU will definitely be an option as I begin this process."

His father, Carl, spoke with Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports and discussed what the family is looking for with this move:    

Williams notably highlighted the "sudden changes this season sent shockwaves through Sooner Nation and were really hard for the whole team" in his statement.

That is putting it mildly.

Oklahoma started the 2021 season with Rattler on the short list of realistic Heisman Trophy candidates, Lincoln Riley as its head coach and national championship aspirations. However, narrow wins over Nebraska, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas and Kansas suggested the ceiling was limited, and losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State dropped the Sooners from the College Football Playoff discussion.

Rattler lost his starting job and transferred to South Carolina, Riley took the head coach position with USC, and the program hired Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as the new head coach.

Venables already has a major recruiting battle on his hands before he even coaches a game when it comes to keeping Williams aboard as the starting quarterback.

A former longtime Sooners assistant coach, Venables and athletic director Joe Castiglione released a statement saying they respect Williams' decision but still "believe OU provides Caleb the best opportunity to develop as a player and realize his goals for college and beyond."        

Frankly, whether the Sooners can keep Williams or not will likely go a long way toward determining how their 2022 campaign unfolds.

He threw for 21 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding six touchdowns on the ground and is someone who can hurt opposing defenses with his arm and legs. Williams figured to be the face of the program for the immediate future, especially with Rattler gone, and the Washington D.C. prep star already started living up to the expectations that accompanied him as a 5-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Losing him would be a major blow for a program looking to return to the CFP discussion next season.      

Ohio State is having a good two days. On the heels of their victory over Utah in the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes got a commitment from Omari Abor during the Under Armour All-America Game.

"The main reason [I picked Ohio State] is Larry Johnson. Just the way he coaches his players, I just really feel like it [will] be a great experience," he said to On3's Joseph Hastings. "[We’re] close. Real close. He called me after every game, like, ‘Yo, you messed up on this. You messed up on that.'"

The 6'4", 240-pound edge defender is the 38th player overall and ranks fourth at his position in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2022. A native of Duncanville, Texas, he's also the No. 8 recruit in his home state.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports compared Abor to Denver Broncos pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, who had 25 sacks and 54.5 tackles for loss over his final three years at North Carolina State before becoming a top-five pick. Drawing a parallel to Chubb is lofty praise, and Brooks explained what Abor can bring to the table:

If he gets you on your heels, will literally throw you aside. Active hands. Regularly disengages to make plays, whether vs. run or as a pass-rusher. A natural pass-rusher who is particularly dangerous in that department when lined up wide. Shows encouraging fluidity and bend relative to size. Noticeably more fluid with improved lateral range in junior season. Runs the arc well and goes for the ball when he gets home. Instincts and feel for rushing the passer are obvious. Great at setting you up outside and countering inside.

Brooks added that Abor has lined up in multiple positions along the defensive line but spent the bulk of his time on the edge as a junior at Duncanville High School. 

His frame probably leaves him better suited to an edge role. As a comparison, Walter Nolen is the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country. Nolen is the same height as Abor but has 85 pounds on him.

Regardless of where he's starting, Abor figures to spend a lot of time in the pocket harassing opposing quarterbacks.

Rushing the passer has always been critical, and it has only grown in importance as Power Five programs ditched pro-style offenses for the spread and read-option. It's not a coincidence that Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have become College Football Playoff regulars while at the time regularly sending skilled defensive linemen to the NFL.

Abor figures to be a major difference-maker when he joins the Buckeyes.

Ohio State's loss to Michigan perfectly encapsulated how what was once one of the team's biggest strengths had fallen off. The Wolverines were constantly harassing C.J. Stroud in the pocket with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo off the edge, and that was a weapon the Buckeyes didn't have in their defensive arsenal.

Perhaps Abor can help the program return to the days when Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Chase Young were causing nightmares for opposing quarterbacks.

Texas A&M's future defense got even better Sunday.

That is because highly regarded outside linebacker Harold Perkins chose the Aggies during the Under Armour All-America Game, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

Perkins, who checks in at 6'2½" and 210 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 overall player, No. 1 linebacker and No. 1 player from the state of Texas in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He caught the eye of some of the best programs in the country, as Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and USC were all on his list of interested schools at some point during the recruiting process.

There is no better testament to Perkins' athleticism as a linebacker than the fact he was also a dangerous running back during his high school career.

The speed that helps him play the running back position translates to the defensive side of the ball, with the ability to pursue ball-carriers in space and rush the quarterback off the edge. Opposing offensive linemen will have a difficult time keeping him out of the backfield as a pass-rusher, which should help him play his way into the rotation during his freshman season.

Perkins is also solid against the run and can make tackles in space.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports pointed to Perkins' versatility as a defensive playmaker, which should allow him to contribute in 4-3 and 3-4 sets while remaining on the field for passing downs as someone who can keep up with tight ends or running backs coming out of the backfield.

Between his explosiveness as a pass-rusher, his tackling ability and that tendency to impact the game in a number of ways, Perkins has the potential to be one of the best players in the entire 2022 recruiting class.

If he lives up to that potential, he can help Texas A&M compete in the daunting SEC.

The Aggies nearly made the College Football Playoff during the 2020 campaign, which was just their second season with fewer than three losses since 1994. The best way to maintain more consistency moving forward is by landing playmakers like Perkins on the recruiting trail, so this was a significant victory for the program.

Team Icons won Sunday's Under Armour All-America Game, 23-17, holding off Team Legends' second-half comeback attempt. 

Future Michigan Wolverine Derrick Moore, a 4-star defensive line recruit, was named the game's MVP after registering multiple sacks:

Team Icons raced out to an early 17-0 lead in this one, with 5-star wideout and Missouri signee Luther Burden—the top receiver in the Class of 2022, per 247Sports' composite rankings—scoring on the first play from scrimmage. 

But 4-star tight end and Texas A&M signee Donovan Green started the comeback effort for Team Legends:

As for some of the big names playing, No. 2 overall prospect Walter Nolen showed up in a big way, which included forcing a fumble to prevent a touchdown:

It was a good day for Texas A&M, which received a commitment from 5-star linebacker Harold Perkins:

The Aggies now have six 5-star recruits in the Class of 2022 and top the 247Sports team rankings for the class. Jimbo Fisher is putting together a powerhouse.

And top overall recruit Travis Hunter, heading to Jackson State, looked better in his defensive reps at cornerback, though his man wasn't targeted often. He was also mic'd up during the game:

Hunter might have a future as a two-way player, but he didn't make a huge impact on the game at wideout on Sunday. 

Other notable commitments included 4-star edge Omari Abor announcing he would sign with Ohio State and 4-star running back Jovantae Barnes committing to Ohio State.

Former Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs announced Tuesday that he will transfer to Alabama:

The rising junior rushed 143 times for 746 yards (5.2 YPC) and four touchdowns in 2021. He also added 35 receptions for 465 yards and two more scores.

For his efforts, Gibbs earned All-ACC first-team all-purpose back honors. The conference also named him to the second team as a specialist and the third team as a running back.

The news comes six days after ex-LSU cornerback Eli Ricks, a former 5-star recruit, announced he would be transferring to Alabama.

Alabama's current No. 1 running back, Brian Robinson Jr., is a fifth-year senior in his last year of eligibility.

Trey Sanders is Robinson's backup. The sophomore had 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries (4.3 YPC) alongside four catches for 51 yards.

As noted by ESPN's Alex Scarborough, two other Alabama backs (Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams) suffered season-ending injuries this year.

Gibbs should have opportunities to carve out a significant role in the Alabama backfield, especially after a successful 2021 season with Georgia Tech.

Charlie Potter of Bama OnLine gave a rundown of where Gibbs could fit:

So where does Gibbs fit in in a position room that could feature seven players next year? With a few players coming off injuries, especially McClellan who will likely be the No. 1 back when fully healthy again, having a guy with Power 5 experience like Gibbs allows them to take their time in recovering. That’s not to say the injured players won’t be ready for the start of the 2022 season, but if they’re not, Gibbs could certainly step in and provide UA with immediate help.

But say everyone returns and is at 100-percent health for the opener against Utah State, then what? Well, Gibbs is a do-it-all back that can not only carry the ball but make plays with it out of the backfield as a receiver. In his two seasons at Georgia Tech, he has averaged 3.2 receptions per game and 12.9 yards per reception as the Jackets’ second-leading receiver.

Gibbs also could continue a positive Alabama trend.

The Crimson Tide have found excellent talents through the transfer portal, with the team notably finding its top wide receiver (Jameson Williams from Ohio State) and tackler (Henry To'o To'o from Tennessee) there.

Thanks in part to those two, the Crimson Tide are riding into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team in the country. They'll play Cincinnati in the CFP semifinal on Dec. 31.

High school quarterback Jaden Rashada, a 4-star prospect out of Pittsburg, California, has signed a four-figure endorsement deal with recruiting app AIR (Athletes in Recruitment), per ESPN's Dan Murphy.

Rashada will be promoting the app on social media, and he "is believed to be the first high school football player to profit from endorsements" since the NCAA changed its NIL rules over the summer, Murphy added. Prior to the rule change, high school players who were paid for endorsements were ineligible to compete in the NCAA.

James Sackville, a former punter at SMU and founder of the AIR app, told Murphy the program was "designed to help college coaches, high school athletes and their advisers simplify the process and find good matches" during recruitment.

"There's no better person to talk about recruiting than someone who has recently gone through the process or is currently going through the process," Sackville said. "It's been a resounding success so far, and after talking with Jaden it was a literal no-brainer to work with him."

Rashada also told Murphy he is excited to promote the AIR app and hopes his new endorsement deal is the first of many for high school athletes. 

"It feels pretty good," Rashada said. "Maybe it can open up more opportunities for others and people can be more aware of it. It's a blessing to be able to make some money and promote a good brand."

Rashada is also partnering with Safeway grocery stores to provide gift cards to help homeless people in Northern California, per Murphy. 

The 6'4", 179-pound quarterback told Murphy he plans to narrow down his list of potential colleges over the next couple of months. According to 247Sports, he has received offers from Arizona State, Auburn, Oklahoma, Penn State, UCLA, Oregon and more. 

Rashada is the No. 5 quarterback in the 2023 class, per 247Sports. Arch Manning, Malachi Nelson, Dante Moore and Nicholas Iamaleava are ranked above him. Rashada is also the fifth-ranked prospect out of California and is ranked 41st nationally.