By Alec Nederveld
After finding the top uncommitted offensive players in the class of 2025, it’s time to look at the defensive side of the ball. Again, all rankings are from the 247 Sports Composite and even fewer players remain uncommitted.
Defensive Line
The best player in Georgia, Elijah Griffin, and the eighth-best player overall is also the top defensive lineman and he is currently uncommitted. The Bulldogs have been the leader for the Savannah (Savannah Christian Prep) native for some time now and I expect them to land the coveted 6’5″ 285-pound defensive lineman.
Griffin recently announced a top three with Georgia alongside Miami and USC. No commitment date has been announced as of publication.
Edge Rusher
Jared Smith from Alabaster, AL and powerhouse Thompson HS is the best EDGE uncommitted in 2025. Ranked 57th nationally, fifth for EDGEs, and fourth in Alabama, Smith got 20 offers to choose from. Of them, Auburn is the leader, with many predictions from recruiting analysts to continue their incredible recruiting run.
We’ll find out soon where Smith chooses to go. The 6’6.6″ 235-pound edge is set to commit on August 3rd, this coming Saturday.
More Sports News
Four-star edge Jared Smith just rolled up to Big Cat in an Auburn-themed Tesla Cybertruck. pic.twitter.com/hCO6U8VH9g
— Jeffrey Lee (@JLeeAUSports) July 27, 2024
Linebacker
The top linebacker in the class has a very exciting recruitment to watch down the stretch. Galveston, TX (Ball) Jonah Williams is the top linebacker in the country (although he may play safety at the next level), is tenth nationally, and third in Texas. LSU, Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M all look to be in this recruitment.
I have no confidence in predicting a commitment here but it is notable that Texas will have the last visit before the August 24th commitment date. Additionally, Williams is a prized baseball recruit and could be a dual-sport athlete in college. Whichever university ends up with the 6’3″ 203-pound athlete will certainly be better off for it.
Jonah Williams might be the pound for pound most talented athlete in high school right now
— Eric (@PointGods) July 29, 2024
Cornerback
The cornerback position is more cemented than most, and while we could see a guy like Na’eem Offord flip, the top uncommitted player is Ben Hanks Jr. He’s a four-star ranked 101st nationally, 15th in Florida, and 12th among cornerbacks from Booker T Washington in Miami. Hanks seems to be down to hometown Miami and upstate Florida, where his father played linebacker.
No commitment date has been set and the Gators appear to be in the lead with two recent predictions. It is rumored that Hanks will commit sometime in August, however.
JUST IN 🚨
4⭐️ CB and Gator legacy Ben Hanks Jr just received another prediction via @On3Recruits 🔥
The Top 100 South Florida prospect is a can’t miss for Napier as he looks to build up his 2025 recruiting class 👀
Hanks is looking to commit this summer. Let us know if you… pic.twitter.com/gmHmQOq1uF
— In All Kinds Of Weather Recruiting 🐊 (@IAKOWRecruiting) July 25, 2024
Safety
Oregon’s the big leader for top-ranked safety and five-star Trey McNutt. The second-best Buckeye State recruit and top-20 player also commits this Saturday, August 3rd. McNutt did move his commitment from July 19th to the day of with Texas A&M applying pressure, but I’m confident in Dan Lanning and the staff to close it.
