Ever since the implementation of the early signing day, the vast majority of programs around the country have the bulk of their recruiting classes signed, sealed and ready to be delivered by early December.
Wednesday is the big day, and while most of the top-rated players in the country are already committed, there are some whose destinations remain up in the air. Others will still flip, but that’s not what we’re looking at here.
In this case, the undecided prospects who have yet to announce a collegiate destination are the focus, and there are quite a few. Some of them are freshly decommitted and back on the market, too.
So, even though the regular season is winding down, recruiting is heating up as kids everywhere are making their final decisions and putting pen to paper.Let’s take a look at the top players who have yet to make up their minds where they’re going to start their college careers.
There have been several twists and turns in the recruitment of Justus Terry, who has at one point in time been committed to Georgia and USC.As the 6’5″ 275-pounder from Manchester, Georgia winds down to his final decision, though, there could well be remaining shockers.
The nation’s No. 10-ranked player overall and second-rated defensive lineman is the biggest prize left in the class. Right now, the latest buzz suggests Terry ultimately will choose between Auburn (where he visited last weekend) and Georgia, after the Trojans, Texas and several others have been in the mix.
The Tigers and Bulldogs are closest to home, and while choosing the Dawgs seems most likely at this point, the class coach Hugh Freeze is putting together at Auburn is elite, and Terry could shock everybody and add to it.
Truly, it would be a stunner if he wound up anywhere but instate and playing for coach Kirby Smart in Athens. Considering how many times Terry has changed his mind and the ups and downs of his recruitment, though, would you really be surprised if he did the unexpected?
This is one to watch as we enter the early signing session.
Jahkeem Stewart, Defensive Lineman
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Credit: 247Sports
Ever since Jahkeem Stewart reclassified from the 2026 to the 2025 recruiting class, it’s been a hot-and-heavy race to get him interested for several programs.
Homestate LSU had been an expected destination for the 6’6″, 270-pound defensive lineman who has as high of a ceiling as any prospect in the class, but he hasn’t been seemingly trending to stay at home for some weeks now.
He’s visited all over the country, including USC and Oregon, and all of his predictions on 247Sports’ Crystal Ball points toward the Trojans ultimately winning one of the biggest remaining prizes left in the class.
Stewart is a 5-star prospect, the No. 16-ranked overall player in the class and the third-rated defensive lineman, but he is a can’t-miss who has the potential to be special and an All-American.
If he heads to Los Angeles, he would go a long way toward making that defense legit in the Big Ten. Of course, sticking instate to play for the Bayou Bengals wouldn’t be surprising either, considering just how many kids Brian Kelly keeps home.When Isaiah Campbell decided he no longer wanted to be a part of Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class, teams everywhere tried to get in the mix.
Why wouldn’t they? The 6’4″, 275-pounder from Durham, North Carolina is the No. 37-ranked overall player in the country and the fifth-ranked defensive lineman. A player of his talent and raw strength would be a jewel in any class.
Campbell’s decision will come down to whether he wants to stay instate and close to home, or whether he wants to play in the SEC, play for a legendary defensive line coach and still not be too far away.
Recently, the D-lineman visited the home-state Tar Heels, but since then, coach Mack Brown has been fired, so you’d think the uncertainty around the program would be a knock against staying near home.
Instead, he may decide to head to Rocky Top and play for defensive line coach Rodney Garner and be a part of what head coach Josh Heupel is building with the Vols. Right now, it would be surprising if Campbell decided to go anywhere else.
Regardless of where he heads, somebody is going to get one of the most college-ready defensive line prospects in the nation.There may not be a recruitment that has been more all over the place than elite edge-rusher Javion Hilson’s.
The 6’3½”, 235-pound long-armed, quick-burst edge-rusher is the No. 42-ranked overall player in the nation and the third-rated edge-rusher, so he is going to be a great pickup no matter where he goes.
That’s why the twists and turns of his recruitment are worth the drama.
Hilson has experienced some bad luck in his journey to find where his heart is. First, he was committed to Alabama, but Nick Saban retired, so he decided against going to Tuscaloosa. He then chose Florida State, but the Seminoles’ epic collapse had him rethinking that decision, too.
Now, it appears he will choose between Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, as it seems the Seminoles and Crimson Tide are no longer a part of the picture. Most recently, he visited Ann Arbor for the Wolverines’ domination of Northwestern, and coach Sherrone Moore’s team could be a late favorite.
It would also be a big-time pull for the Longhorns or Aggies, and Hilson seems interested in the Lone Star State programs, too. It’s going to be a race to the finish line for his signature, and he’s one of the top players at an extremely important position.
Michael Terry III, Athlete
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Credit: 247Sports
Much like Justus Terry, it would be a surprise if Michael Terry III chose to go anywhere outside of his home state. Most likely, the San Antonio native is going to play for Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns in Austin.
The nation’s top-ranked athlete nationally is also the No. 43-rated overall player, and whoever gets him is going to get a guy who is ready to come in and compete, no matter where he plays.
That’s the best thing about Terry: He can play anywhere.
Most likely, the San Antonio native is going to be a wide receiver, but he could play running back, in the secondary or even linebacker. At 6’3″, 217 pounds, he’s extremely well put-together, is uber-intelligent on the field and can make plays everywhere.
Sarkisian is likely going to win the Terry sweepstakes, and if he does, he could step in and join Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench in solidifying a talented, young receiving corps in Austin alongside Ryan Wingo.
Nebraska and coach Matt Rhule are still in this thing, though, and Terry would be the centerpiece of the Cornhuskers’ recruiting class. If they can pull him away from Texas, it would mark one of the biggest wins of any team in the entire cycle.
Madden Faraimo, Linebacker
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Credit: 247Sports
This past weekend, there was an end-of-season clash between two cross-country rivals as Notre Dame traveled to take on the USC Trojans.
The two programs are battling again this week, this time for the signature of elite linebacker Madden Faraimo, the 6’3″, 230-pound second-level defender from San Juan Capistrano, California.
Throughout the recruiting process, he hasn’t been one to trumpet any favorites, commit and decommit or manufacture drama. He’s stayed quiet, and that’s led to some uncertainty as we near the end of his recruitment when it’s time to sign on the dotted line.
If you follow the visits, Faraimo recently visited Southern Cal, where coach Lincoln Riley’s program is experiencing a bit of a late surge for several defensive prospects, which is the area of greatest need for the team.
If defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn can somehow close with Jahkeem Stewart and Faraimo, it would secure two of the top remaining defensive players in the nation and give the Trojans a pair of players who could start right away.
There isn’t a more college-ready linebacker in the nation than Faraimo, who is big, physical and has a nose for the football. Where he signs is definitely worth watching because you could hear his name a lot right away.
Zahir Mathis, Edge
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Credit: 247Sports
It’s pretty uncommon for a player of Zahir Mathis’ ilk to just up and decommit from a program like Ohio State this late in the game, but the No. 75-rated prospect and sixth-ranked edge-rusher did just that in the past couple of weeks.
Now, it’s a free-for-all to sign the Philadelphian who is a high-ceiling prospect.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for him to recommit to the Buckeyes, who still want him. But he also has recently visited and had multiple conversations with Penn State and coach James Franklin.
The Nittany Lions would love to keep Mathis instate, and as they appear to be on a collision course with the playoffs, star high school recruits are going to take notice.
At 6’6″, 225 pounds, he probably needs to add some weight and strength to get on the field for any extended amount of time, but he will because he has a huge frame and is an explosive athlete.
Other teams are going to try to get in the mix at this late juncture, but this feels like a Big Ten battle between two rivals. Will he sign in the early session, or will Mathis’ recruitment bleed over into the late cycle?
It’s a storyline to watch.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Linebacker
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Credit: 247Sports
If Madden Faraimo is the most college-ready linebacker remaining uncommitted in the 2025 recruiting class, there’s no doubt Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng is the most athletic.
The Maryland native plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, so he went up against some of the best talent in the nation week-in and week-out on the high school level. Still, he proved he is among the elite.
While Owusu-Boateng is the biggest ‘backer at 6’0½”, 205 pounds, he can gallop after running backs with the best of them, and he isn’t bad in coverage, either. He’s the No. 102-ranked overall player and the eighth-rated linebacker in the class.
“He’s one of the best linebackers in the country,” EJ Holland of The Wolverine said. “He’s a really athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed and is physical enough lay the wood. I think he would be a great fit as a WILL. I still think it’s a close battle with Colorado. I’m not leaning one way or the other right now. He will make his decision on signing day in the afternoon.”
As Holland said, even though Owusu-Boateng’s brother, Jeremiah, starred at Notre Dame and the Irish are still in the mix for the younger sibling, this appears to be a battle between Michigan and Colorado.
It could go either way, and whoever gets Owusu-Boateng will get a bouncy athlete who can play soon.
Anthony Rogers, Running Back
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Credit: 247Sports
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has experienced several painful decommitments in his first full recruiting class at the helm of the Crimson Tide.
One of the most recent came when 5’9″, 190-pound Montgomery speed-burning running back Anthony Rogers decided he doesn’t want to play his college ball in Tuscaloosa.
The nation’s No. 9-ranked running back is also the 148th-rated overall player, and he could use his speed to get on the field no matter where he goes.
Right now, it looks like that’s going to wind up being at Ohio State or Georgia.
The Buckeyes already have a couple of running backs committed to them in the 2025 class, but with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson both expected to depart to the NFL, there are going to be a lot of carries to go around.
Rogers could have a package for him right away if he heads to Columbus to play for coach Ryan Day, coordinator Chip Kelly and alongside all that young talent.
Georgia has a couple of backs committed as well, but with Auburn still coming after Ousmane Kromah late in the game and the concern he could flip, Rogers could be the best back in the Dawgs’ class if he heads to Athens.
No matter which powerhouse Rogers chooses, he will have the potential to play and is easily the best uncommitted runner left in the 2025 class.
LaJesse Harrold, Edge
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Credit: 247Sports
LSU head coach Brian Kelly had pieced together a very strong class, spearheaded by the nation’s top-ranked prospect in quarterback Bryce Underwood. But he bolted for home-state Michigan, and the Bayou Bengals are watching some key pieces of the class decide to head elsewhere.
The most recent decommitment came last week when 6’5″, 215-pound Tampa, Florida, edge-rusher LaJesse Harrold decided he no longer wanted to head to Baton Rouge to play his college football.
He is the nation’s No. 18-rated edge-rusher and the 182nd-ranked overall player, and while he needs to add some weight to get on the field, he has a strong upside.
There are still a lot that needs to come together in Harrold’s game, but he’s got a lot of things to like about his game.
Even though it’s been a rough recruiting cycle following a horrific season for the Florida State Seminoles, it looks like Mike Norvell’s team may stand to benefit from his decision to decommit.
If he chooses not to leave the state, heading to Tallahassee looks like a strong option for the defender, and while he may not be one of the top-rated players at his position, he still has a lot to love about his game down the road.
Getting Harrold in the fold would mark a nice, late recruiting win for a program desperately needing it.
Donovan Murph, Wide Receiver
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Credit: 247Sports
Even more heated and hated than the Notre Dame-USC rivalry, Clemson and South Carolina battled this past weekend on the gridiron.
It’s going to come down to the finish line for the Gamecocks and Tigers as they go head-to-head in the race for elite pass-catcher Donovan Murph, too.
The 6’1½”, 188-pound wide receiver from Irmo High School right there in Columbia, South Carolina, would be a major recruiting win for coach Shane Beamer, and the Gamecocks have shown Murph a nice rebound season that contended for the playoffs.
But they may be on the outside looking in at his recruitment, possibly trailing their instate rival Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney. The pass-catcher visited Clemson last weekend for the win over The Citadel, and it made an impression on him.
“Clemson kind of put themselves on the top after the visit,” Murph told 247Sports’ Anna Adams. “Basically there’s a long pipeline of wide receivers at Clemson that have done it, and the development under Dabo.”
Those sound like fairly definitive words in the favor of Swinney’s program, but it also may be intriguing to play in the SEC right in your backyard for a program clearly on the upswing like the Gamecocks.
Ranked No. 240 overall and the 30th-rated receiver, Murph is the best receiver who hasn’t chosen a school yet, so a lot of eyes will be on his decision.
Winston Watkins Jr., Wide Receiver
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Credit: 247Sports
Every year, there is a ton of interest in IMG Academy football players, because that’s where the best of the best go to play. For receiver Winston Watkins Jr., it’s no different.
For a while, the 5’10”, 172-pound Venice, Florida native was committed to Texas A&M, and it looked like he was going to play his college ball in College Station. But all that is up in the air now.
As he nears a decision, Watkins released a top eight a few weeks ago. That doesn’t sound like a guy who knows where he’s going to play. He is the No. 244-ranked overall player and the 32nd-rated pass-catcher, just a couple notches below Murph.
He is an in-space receiver who can get the ball, make a move and surge toward paydirt. He is the kind of player who is instant offense, and whoever gets him will be getting a nice prospect.
Still, he recently told SI.com’s Ryan Wright that he is close to knowing where he’s going.
“I would say I am close to the finish line,” Watkins said.
With the Aggies out of the picture, Watkins is down to Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, and Syracuse. One of those schools will be his destination, and while it’s anybody’s guess where he goes, the Rebels and Hoosiers may be at the top for former Clemson star Sammy Watkins’ younger cousin.
Tobi Haastrup, Edge
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Credit: 247Sports
If you want an awesome story for the 2025 recruiting cycle, look no further than 4-star edge-rusher Tobi Haastrup of Mayde Creek in Texas.
The No. 268-ranked overall player in the nation and 24th-rated edge-rusher didn’t play organized football until his senior year of high school after moving to the United States from England. But he’s a natural, elite athlete who is built for the game.
According to Grace Raynor of The Athletic, Haastrup didn’t even know what a first down was not very long ago. But some kids are just naturals.
Still, while he is raw, the upside is immense. Somebody is going to get a moldable prospect who has the potential to be special down the road.
Recently, he visited Ann Arbor to see the Michigan Wolverines, and coach Sherrone Moore’s program is right in the thick of the race to earn his signature. But Haastrup has a long list of suitors he reportedly has narrowed down to a top six.
Florida State, Missouri, USC, Texas Tech, Oregon and Michigan are the finalists for Haastrup, and he had glowing things to say about each of them, per 247Sports’ Mike Roach.
The 6’4″, 230-pound defender will have a classic early signing period decision as he will announce his collegiate destination on Wednesday. This isn’t a kid who’ll be ready to play in 2025, but the way he’s catching on, it won’t be long.
All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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